Full Circle

In Full Circle°, a group of ski mountaineers, including Erich Roepke, Stein Retzlaff, Rafael Pease, and Thor Retzlaff, set out to achieve the first-ever ski descent of Volcán Corcovado, a remote peak in Chilean Patagonia. The journey proved to be far more challenging than expected, with the team battling through leech-infested bogs and torrential rainstorms—just getting to the base of the mountain was an extraordinary feat few had ever undertaken.

As they neared the summit, they faced a philosophical and emotional challenge: Was the true purpose of the adventure to simply reach the top, or was there more to the journey? With the summit still out of reach, the team wrestled with the idea of reconciling their respect for their heroes and the meaning of adventure itself, even if the peak was never conquered.

The film captures not just the physical trials of the expedition, but also the deeper exploration of adventure’s purpose and the lessons learned along the way. This unique blend of high-stakes mountaineering and introspective storytelling highlights the personal and collective growth the team experienced throughout their journey.

Credits:

• Starring: Erich Roepke, Stein Retzlaff, Thor Retzlaff, Rafael Pease
• Directed by: Erich Roepke
• Executive Producers: Ben Warner and Ben Classen
• Director of Photography: Thor Retzlaff
• Edited by: Katharine Carrol