The North Face presents: Unknown Factors
The North Face presents: Unknown Factors drops you into India’s remote Baspa Valley as a small team of elite climbers chases the kind of expedition that can’t be planned on paper. Sparked by a vision first floated by the late Hansjörg Auer, the trip brings together Jacopo Larcher, Siebe Vanhee, the Pou brothers, and Matty Hong for a journey built around big walls, shifting ambitions, and the pull of unexplored terrain. What makes this film click is its honest embrace of uncertainty: fickle mountain weather, changing conditions, and a “no single objective” mindset that turns every decision into a test of creativity and commitment. It’s a tight, atmospheric watch that captures the real flavor of exploration—problem-solving on the fly, the tension of going all-in without guarantees, and the quiet moments that remind you why climbers keep seeking the unknown.
The North Face · 18:58
Last autumn, five climbers from The North Face athlete team headed to India’s Baspa Valley in search of adventure, big wall climbing and a new perspective on exploration. First suggested as an expedition destination by the late Hansjörg Auer in 2018, the team to finally head to North West India evolved, with Matty Hong joining Jacopo Larcher, Siebe Vanhee and the Pou brothers to make the trip. The richness of the valley combined with fast-changing weather brought both temptation and challenges to exploration and ensured the expedition remained fluid, with no single objective, no fixed route and no final itinerary. #NeverStopExploring