ultimately like the process of climbing is very rewarding to people
it’s very difficult physically but it’s
it’s very difficult physically but it’s also a very kind of cerebral support
also a very kind of cerebral support
also a very kind of cerebral support it’s slow and methodical and you have to
it’s slow and methodical and you have to
it’s slow and methodical and you have to think
you can’t move very well when you’re
you can’t move very well when you’re scared you have to be able to kind of
scared you have to be able to kind of
scared you have to be able to kind of control that fee
control that fee
control that fee maintain your breathing there’s very
maintain your breathing there’s very
maintain your breathing there’s very real consequences when you make mistakes
you make a wrong move when you’re free
you make a wrong move when you’re free soloing you fall hundreds or thousands
soloing you fall hundreds or thousands
soloing you fall hundreds or thousands of feet died
so I grew up in Mankato Minnesota my
so I grew up in Mankato Minnesota my parents were from China they were both
parents were from China they were both
parents were from China they were both working at the University and this is
working at the University and this is
working at the University and this is actually my backyard so I grew up kind
actually my backyard so I grew up kind
actually my backyard so I grew up kind of in the flatlands pretty much you know
of in the flatlands pretty much you know
of in the flatlands pretty much you know if you go outside of Mankato you can
if you go outside of Mankato you can
if you go outside of Mankato you can stand in spots where there’s cornfields
stand in spots where there’s cornfields
stand in spots where there’s cornfields like 360 degrees and just you know I
like 360 degrees and just you know I
like 360 degrees and just you know I think a lot of people think it’s very
think a lot of people think it’s very
think a lot of people think it’s very unlikely place for an alpinist to come
unlikely place for an alpinist to come
unlikely place for an alpinist to come from but I think in some ways it
from but I think in some ways it
from but I think in some ways it prepared me well because it was really
prepared me well because it was really
prepared me well because it was really cold and but I grew up with you know
cold and but I grew up with you know
cold and but I grew up with you know kind of a lot of expectations from my
kind of a lot of expectations from my
kind of a lot of expectations from my parents they wanted me to do a lot of
parents they wanted me to do a lot of
parents they wanted me to do a lot of different things I started playing the
different things I started playing the
different things I started playing the violin when I was three and a half and
violin when I was three and a half and
violin when I was three and a half and you know did a lot of different sports I
you know did a lot of different sports I
you know did a lot of different sports I swam competitively and and studied the
swam competitively and and studied the
swam competitively and and studied the martial arts and was competing every
martial arts and was competing every
martial arts and was competing every weekend and there was a lot of kind of
weekend and there was a lot of kind of
weekend and there was a lot of kind of expectations to do well and especially
expectations to do well and especially
expectations to do well and especially in school so I was kind of set up to you
in school so I was kind of set up to you
in school so I was kind of set up to you know be a it’s not I always thought
know be a it’s not I always thought
know be a it’s not I always thought there’s only three things I could be
there’s only three things I could be
there’s only three things I could be when I grew up whoo that was like a
when I grew up whoo that was like a
when I grew up whoo that was like a lawyer or a doctor or a businessman or
lawyer or a doctor or a businessman or
lawyer or a doctor or a businessman or something like that you know because so
something like that you know because so
something like that you know because so when I kind of went to college I studied
when I kind of went to college I studied
when I kind of went to college I studied international relations Asian Studies
international relations Asian Studies
international relations Asian Studies focused a lot on kind of international
focused a lot on kind of international
focused a lot on kind of international law and policy and during that time I
law and policy and during that time I
law and policy and during that time I really fell in love with with climbing
really fell in love with with climbing
really fell in love with with climbing and I also grew up skiing there was a
and I also grew up skiing there was a
and I also grew up skiing there was a little hill behind my house called Mount
little hill behind my house called Mount
little hill behind my house called Mount kado which is like 400 vert or something
kado which is like 400 vert or something
kado which is like 400 vert or something and it’s actually not a hill it’s it’s
and it’s actually not a hill it’s it’s
and it’s actually not a hill it’s it’s there’s cornfields on top and then it
there’s cornfields on top and then it
there’s cornfields on top and then it drops it’s a river valley so the hill
drops it’s a river valley so the hill
drops it’s a river valley so the hill that drops from where the cornfields
that drops from where the cornfields
that drops from where the cornfields start into the river valley that’s that
start into the river valley that’s that
start into the river valley that’s that was my ski hill and basically like if I
was my ski hill and basically like if I
was my ski hill and basically like if I did well in school
did well in school
did well in school I got to go skiing and I kind of always
I got to go skiing and I kind of always
I got to go skiing and I kind of always knew that I had this you know I had this
knew that I had this you know I had this
knew that I had this you know I had this little song that I would sing that it
little song that I would sing that it
little song that I would sing that it was based in Chinese is basically like I
was based in Chinese is basically like I
was based in Chinese is basically like I want to go outside and play that’s yeah
want to go outside and play that’s yeah
want to go outside and play that’s yeah and I’ve just repeated over and over and
and I’ve just repeated over and over and
and I’ve just repeated over and over and over and they’d be like well they’ll
over and they’d be like well they’ll
over and they’d be like well they’ll finish your violin or go finish that and
finish your violin or go finish that and
finish your violin or go finish that and I’d be like okay so I knew I wanted to
I’d be like okay so I knew I wanted to
I’d be like okay so I knew I wanted to go outside and play and in college I
go outside and play and in college I
go outside and play and in college I found I skied on ski team and then I am
found I skied on ski team and then I am
found I skied on ski team and then I am found climbing and so after college you
found climbing and so after college you
found climbing and so after college you know I went to the Bay Area and I was
know I went to the Bay Area and I was
know I went to the Bay Area and I was looking for a job trying to you know
looking for a job trying to you know
looking for a job trying to you know thinking that I would find something in
thinking that I would find something in
thinking that I would find something in the professional realm but then I just
the professional realm but then I just
the professional realm but then I just didn’t I couldn’t get myself excited
didn’t I couldn’t get myself excited
didn’t I couldn’t get myself excited about it and so I kind of made up my
about it and so I kind of made up my
about it and so I kind of made up my mind I had this great idea I was like
mind I had this great idea I was like
mind I had this great idea I was like hey mom dad I’m gonna take a year off
hey mom dad I’m gonna take a year off
hey mom dad I’m gonna take a year off I’m just gonna get it out of my system
I’m just gonna get it out of my system
I’m just gonna get it out of my system I’m gonna climb and ski full-time don’t
I’m gonna climb and ski full-time don’t
I’m gonna climb and ski full-time don’t freak out it’s it’s really temporary I
freak out it’s it’s really temporary I
freak out it’s it’s really temporary I just I got to do it for me so
just I got to do it for me so
just I got to do it for me so essentially their worst nightmare was
essentially their worst nightmare was
essentially their worst nightmare was realized when probably close to seven
realized when probably close to seven
realized when probably close to seven years later I was still living in the
years later I was still living in the
years later I was still living in the back of my car and just doing odds and
back of my car and just doing odds and
back of my car and just doing odds and ends for jobs
ends for jobs
ends for jobs shoveling Roos and waiting tables and
shoveling Roos and waiting tables and
shoveling Roos and waiting tables and the really you know in love with what I
the really you know in love with what I
the really you know in love with what I was doing and where I was spending my
was doing and where I was spending my
was doing and where I was spending my time I would wake up in the back of my
time I would wake up in the back of my
time I would wake up in the back of my Subaru in Yosemite or in the Eastern
Subaru in Yosemite or in the Eastern
Subaru in Yosemite or in the Eastern Sierras or in the Tetons and I would
Sierras or in the Tetons and I would
Sierras or in the Tetons and I would just think like you know there’s no
just think like you know there’s no
just think like you know there’s no other place that I would rather be how I
other place that I would rather be how I
other place that I would rather be how I just felt so fortunate and every day I
just felt so fortunate and every day I
just felt so fortunate and every day I would you know I knew that since I
would you know I knew that since I
would you know I knew that since I wasn’t doing anything else I was going
wasn’t doing anything else I was going
wasn’t doing anything else I was going to throw myself at climbing and skiing
to throw myself at climbing and skiing
to throw myself at climbing and skiing and really kind of taking myself as far
and really kind of taking myself as far
and really kind of taking myself as far as I could in that realm so Yosemite was
as I could in that realm so Yosemite was
as I could in that realm so Yosemite was a very kind of influential home for me I
a very kind of influential home for me I
a very kind of influential home for me I spent a lot of time there
spent a lot of time there
spent a lot of time there over the course of seven years made a
over the course of seven years made a
over the course of seven years made a lot of friends I felt like I found my
lot of friends I felt like I found my
lot of friends I felt like I found my community there people that were really
community there people that were really
community there people that were really passionate about what they were doing
passionate about what they were doing
passionate about what they were doing and every day you know you’d go out and
and every day you know you’d go out and
and every day you know you’d go out and climb and I mean really living the good
climb and I mean really living the good
climb and I mean really living the good life
life
life after spending a lot of time there you
after spending a lot of time there you
after spending a lot of time there you know my aspirations changed and I really
know my aspirations changed and I really
know my aspirations changed and I really wanted to go and take what I learned in
wanted to go and take what I learned in
wanted to go and take what I learned in Yosemite to some of the greater ranges
Yosemite to some of the greater ranges
Yosemite to some of the greater ranges of the world and it was in Yosemite that
of the world and it was in Yosemite that
of the world and it was in Yosemite that I picked up a camera for the first time
I picked up a camera for the first time
I picked up a camera for the first time I took a photo with a friend’s camera
I took a photo with a friend’s camera
I took a photo with a friend’s camera who wanted to be a photographer I took a
who wanted to be a photographer I took a
who wanted to be a photographer I took a photo with it and he eventually tried to
photo with it and he eventually tried to
photo with it and he eventually tried to sell his photos and a client bought the
sell his photos and a client bought the
sell his photos and a client bought the one photo having me the one that I took
one photo having me the one that I took
one photo having me the one that I took so and they paid me and at the time you
so and they paid me and at the time you
so and they paid me and at the time you know I could live on nothing forever
know I could live on nothing forever
know I could live on nothing forever basically and they paid $500 for this
basically and they paid $500 for this
basically and they paid $500 for this photo of course now I know for the
photo of course now I know for the
photo of course now I know for the usages that they used it for they should
usages that they used it for they should
usages that they used it for they should have paid me like many thousands of
have paid me like many thousands of
have paid me like many thousands of dollars but at the time I didn’t know
dollars but at the time I didn’t know
dollars but at the time I didn’t know and I was like if I take one photo a
and I was like if I take one photo a
and I was like if I take one photo a month I could do this forever you know
month I could do this forever you know
month I could do this forever you know and I was like okay this is awesome so I
and I was like okay this is awesome so I
and I was like okay this is awesome so I wish I you know I’m sure some
wish I you know I’m sure some
wish I you know I’m sure some photographers probably cringe and
photographers probably cringe and
photographers probably cringe and they’re like god he has no sense of
they’re like god he has no sense of
they’re like god he has no sense of creativity or the tradition of
creativity or the tradition of
creativity or the tradition of photography but that was really how I
photography but that was really how I
photography but that was really how I started I didn’t really have a sense of
started I didn’t really have a sense of
started I didn’t really have a sense of like wanting to be a artist or
like wanting to be a artist or
like wanting to be a artist or photographer in any other way than to
photographer in any other way than to
photographer in any other way than to continue what I was doing so I took you
continue what I was doing so I took you
continue what I was doing so I took you know a camera and I started to head out
know a camera and I started to head out
know a camera and I started to head out into the world and really you know you
into the world and really you know you
into the world and really you know you 70 is a special place for me because it
70 is a special place for me because it
70 is a special place for me because it launched me into this career and you
launched me into this career and you
launched me into this career and you know over the course of the next 10 11
know over the course of the next 10 11
know over the course of the next 10 11 12 years I traveled the world and and
12 years I traveled the world and and
12 years I traveled the world and and really got to shoot on some really
really got to shoot on some really
really got to shoot on some really insane assignments with some amazing
insane assignments with some amazing
insane assignments with some amazing people and some amazing
people and some amazing
people and some amazing occasions
I think after kind of traveling around
I think after kind of traveling around for years and years and really you know
for years and years and really you know
for years and years and really you know sometimes spending 300 days a year on
sometimes spending 300 days a year on
sometimes spending 300 days a year on the road I’ve come to find that you know
the road I’ve come to find that you know
the road I’ve come to find that you know my heart really is in places that are
my heart really is in places that are
my heart really is in places that are close to home and you Semele kept
close to home and you Semele kept
close to home and you Semele kept drawing me back and I don’t think it was
drawing me back and I don’t think it was
drawing me back and I don’t think it was a an accident that I pitched the story
a an accident that I pitched the story
a an accident that I pitched the story to National Geographic about Yosemite so
to National Geographic about Yosemite so
to National Geographic about Yosemite so part of the story
part of the story
part of the story is definitely about the culture the
is definitely about the culture the
is definitely about the culture the climbing culture so you know I really
climbing culture so you know I really
climbing culture so you know I really wanted to capture the kind of the
wanted to capture the kind of the
wanted to capture the kind of the cutting edge of climbing what was
cutting edge of climbing what was
cutting edge of climbing what was happening there and then kind of what
happening there and then kind of what
happening there and then kind of what the lifestyle was and I remember when I
the lifestyle was and I remember when I
the lifestyle was and I remember when I spent time there
spent time there
spent time there we are always laughs we like yeah
we are always laughs we like yeah
we are always laughs we like yeah there’s you know a leisure class at both
there’s you know a leisure class at both
there’s you know a leisure class at both ends of the economic spectrum and we
ends of the economic spectrum and we
ends of the economic spectrum and we know which one we’re at hahaha and you
know which one we’re at hahaha and you
know which one we’re at hahaha and you know all you did was climb and you know
know all you did was climb and you know
know all you did was climb and you know watch your friends up on the wall here a
watch your friends up on the wall here a
watch your friends up on the wall here a couple guys messing around on the alcove
couple guys messing around on the alcove
couple guys messing around on the alcove swing it says giant swing it goes like
swing it says giant swing it goes like
swing it says giant swing it goes like 200 feet up in this kind of overhanging
200 feet up in this kind of overhanging
200 feet up in this kind of overhanging cave so when you went off the end you
cave so when you went off the end you
cave so when you went off the end you would just fly over the valley I was
would just fly over the valley I was
would just fly over the valley I was trying to get an interesting angle so I
trying to get an interesting angle so I
trying to get an interesting angle so I had Joo marred up the rope and I was
had Joo marred up the rope and I was
had Joo marred up the rope and I was hanging off the rope and I was telling
hanging off the rope and I was telling
hanging off the rope and I was telling this guy hey okay run off the end and
this guy hey okay run off the end and
this guy hey okay run off the end and then he’d run off the end and I would
then he’d run off the end and I would
then he’d run off the end and I would hold on for dear life and I got got
hold on for dear life and I got got
hold on for dear life and I got got lucky with one of these images also very
lucky with one of these images also very
lucky with one of these images also very critical on this shoot was my good
critical on this shoot was my good
critical on this shoot was my good friend Mikey Shafer he was incredible on
friend Mikey Shafer he was incredible on
friend Mikey Shafer he was incredible on this shoot he took very good care of me
this shoot he took very good care of me
this shoot he took very good care of me while I was running around trying to
while I was running around trying to
while I was running around trying to figure out what to shoot he kind of made
figure out what to shoot he kind of made
figure out what to shoot he kind of made sure I didn’t fall off the cliff
sure I didn’t fall off the cliff
sure I didn’t fall off the cliff we spent tons of time moving gear like
we spent tons of time moving gear like
we spent tons of time moving gear like very little time shooting you know it’s
very little time shooting you know it’s
very little time shooting you know it’s like to get one shot sometimes took two
like to get one shot sometimes took two
like to get one shot sometimes took two days of prep on the front end getting
days of prep on the front end getting
days of prep on the front end getting all the gear up you know
all the gear up you know
all the gear up you know he’d spend like three four five days
he’d spend like three four five days
he’d spend like three four five days sometimes just to get a shot we had
sometimes just to get a shot we had
sometimes just to get a shot we had hundreds and hundreds of meters of rope
hundreds and hundreds of meters of rope
hundreds and hundreds of meters of rope thousands of feet of rope constantly
thousands of feet of rope constantly
thousands of feet of rope constantly climbing up and down I’ll cap and this
climbing up and down I’ll cap and this
climbing up and down I’ll cap and this is a very common scene I’d be like
is a very common scene I’d be like
is a very common scene I’d be like shooting I turn around I might give you
shooting I turn around I might give you
shooting I turn around I might give you like did you get it man okay yeah I
like did you get it man okay yeah I
like did you get it man okay yeah I think I got it and like all right let’s
think I got it and like all right let’s
think I got it and like all right let’s get out of here I like this photo only
get out of here I like this photo only
get out of here I like this photo only because the this is signing up to stay
because the this is signing up to stay
because the this is signing up to stay in camp four and I really think climbing
in camp four and I really think climbing
in camp four and I really think climbing is a very cerebral sport it’s very slow
is a very cerebral sport it’s very slow
is a very cerebral sport it’s very slow it’s a very methodical you have to be it
it’s a very methodical you have to be it
it’s a very methodical you have to be it requires a lot of mental discipline and
requires a lot of mental discipline and
requires a lot of mental discipline and often requires a lot of planning and I
often requires a lot of planning and I
often requires a lot of planning and I thought that is interesting you know you
thought that is interesting you know you
thought that is interesting you know you show up at 6:00 in the morning and
show up at 6:00 in the morning and
show up at 6:00 in the morning and people are waiting to sign up and
people are waiting to sign up and
people are waiting to sign up and everybody’s reading could be trashy
everybody’s reading could be trashy
everybody’s reading could be trashy stuff I don’t know but so I think the
stuff I don’t know but so I think the
stuff I don’t know but so I think the three kind of styles of climbing that
three kind of styles of climbing that
three kind of styles of climbing that are really getting pushed is free
are really getting pushed is free
are really getting pushed is free soloing which is where you’re climbing
soloing which is where you’re climbing
soloing which is where you’re climbing without a rope free climbing which is
without a rope free climbing which is
without a rope free climbing which is where you’re climbing with a rope but it
where you’re climbing with a rope but it
where you’re climbing with a rope but it allows you to push the technical aspects
allows you to push the technical aspects
allows you to push the technical aspects of it so the really really difficult
of it so the really really difficult
of it so the really really difficult physical climbing but there’s some
physical climbing but there’s some
physical climbing but there’s some mental space that you can reserve extra
mental space that you can reserve extra
mental space that you can reserve extra mental space you can reserve for the
mental space you can reserve for the
mental space you can reserve for the climbing because you know that if you
climbing because you know that if you
climbing because you know that if you fall the Rope is going to catch you and
fall the Rope is going to catch you and
fall the Rope is going to catch you and then there’s speed climbing so in terms
then there’s speed climbing so in terms
then there’s speed climbing so in terms of free soloing undoubtedly the greatest
of free soloing undoubtedly the greatest
of free soloing undoubtedly the greatest free soloists that ever lived
free soloists that ever lived
free soloists that ever lived is this kid Alex Honnold
is this kid Alex Honnold
is this kid Alex Honnold here he’s soloing separate reality which
here he’s soloing separate reality which
here he’s soloing separate reality which comes out this 40-foot roof it’s about
comes out this 40-foot roof it’s about
comes out this 40-foot roof it’s about almost a thousand feet off the deck and
almost a thousand feet off the deck and
almost a thousand feet off the deck and I’m absolutely sure that I was way more
I’m absolutely sure that I was way more
I’m absolutely sure that I was way more terrified than he was at this moment
terrified than he was at this moment
terrified than he was at this moment he’s pulling the lip here he is soloing
he’s pulling the lip here he is soloing
he’s pulling the lip here he is soloing on 2,000 feet off the deck on Half Dome
and of course thank God ledge and this
and of course thank God ledge and this is called thank God ledge because it’s
is called thank God ledge because it’s
is called thank God ledge because it’s actually one of the biggest ledges that
actually one of the biggest ledges that
actually one of the biggest ledges that you get on that face and it’s obviously
you get on that face and it’s obviously
you get on that face and it’s obviously not very big it’s a very sheer face so
not very big it’s a very sheer face so
not very big it’s a very sheer face so back to I’ll cap I want to talk a little
back to I’ll cap I want to talk a little
back to I’ll cap I want to talk a little bit about kind of one of the final areas
bit about kind of one of the final areas
bit about kind of one of the final areas of climbing that is being really pushed
of climbing that is being really pushed
of climbing that is being really pushed and that’s that’s free climbing and
and that’s that’s free climbing and
and that’s that’s free climbing and there are two guys that have been
there are two guys that have been
there are two guys that have been working on this route one of the longest
working on this route one of the longest
working on this route one of the longest most sustained and most difficult routes
most sustained and most difficult routes
most sustained and most difficult routes on El Cap probably in the world and
on El Cap probably in the world and
on El Cap probably in the world and that’s Tommy Caldwell
that’s Tommy Caldwell
that’s Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgenson Tommy on the right
and Kevin Jorgenson Tommy on the right
and Kevin Jorgenson Tommy on the right Kevin inside his poor ledge and they’re
Kevin inside his poor ledge and they’re
Kevin inside his poor ledge and they’re climbing at night because it was too hot
climbing at night because it was too hot
climbing at night because it was too hot to climb during the day this is a fairly
to climb during the day this is a fairly
to climb during the day this is a fairly common scene on El Cap hanging out in
common scene on El Cap hanging out in
common scene on El Cap hanging out in the portaledge solar panel because
the portaledge solar panel because
the portaledge solar panel because they’ve got their iPhones up there
they’ve got their iPhones up there
they’ve got their iPhones up there they’re working you know it’s like it’s
they’re working you know it’s like it’s
they’re working you know it’s like it’s like their apartment essentially and
like their apartment essentially and
like their apartment essentially and they’ll go up there for a couple weeks
they’ll go up there for a couple weeks
they’ll go up there for a couple weeks and just hang out up there and work
and just hang out up there and work
and just hang out up there and work through these different pitches they
through these different pitches they
through these different pitches they have to kind of stock camp and then they
have to kind of stock camp and then they
have to kind of stock camp and then they move in and it’s kind of regular life up
move in and it’s kind of regular life up
move in and it’s kind of regular life up on the wall again they’re climbing at
on the wall again they’re climbing at
on the wall again they’re climbing at night because it’s cooler and the rubber
night because it’s cooler and the rubber
night because it’s cooler and the rubber on the shoes stick a little bit better
on the shoes stick a little bit better
on the shoes stick a little bit better and it really comes down to it and I
and it really comes down to it and I
and it really comes down to it and I mean there’s all of the climbs have
mean there’s all of the climbs have
mean there’s all of the climbs have different names and some pitches have
different names and some pitches have
different names and some pitches have different names which is it like a rope
different names which is it like a rope
different names which is it like a rope length on a root so if you know this
length on a root so if you know this
length on a root so if you know this root has 36 pitches on it and you know
root has 36 pitches on it and you know
root has 36 pitches on it and you know some pitchers will get different names
some pitchers will get different names
some pitchers will get different names and there’s kind of some famous pitches
and there’s kind of some famous pitches
and there’s kind of some famous pitches on El Cap that you hear about that are
on El Cap that you hear about that are
on El Cap that you hear about that are notorious for being difficult and to
notorious for being difficult and to
notorious for being difficult and to give you an idea I liked one of the
give you an idea I liked one of the
give you an idea I liked one of the pitches is called something like lifting
pitches is called something like lifting
pitches is called something like lifting the car off the baby pitch
the car off the baby pitch
the car off the baby pitch that’s the kind of effort and strength
that’s the kind of effort and strength
that’s the kind of effort and strength it requires to do that I was like wow
it requires to do that I was like wow
it requires to do that I was like wow that’s a good name they’re like yeah
that’s a good name they’re like yeah
that’s a good name they’re like yeah what do you think I think it makes
what do you think I think it makes
what do you think I think it makes pretty good point
pretty good point
pretty good point uh-huh and then finally a base-jumping
uh-huh and then finally a base-jumping
uh-huh and then finally a base-jumping which is a very contentious issue in
which is a very contentious issue in
which is a very contentious issue in Yosemite because it’s illegal but a lot
Yosemite because it’s illegal but a lot
Yosemite because it’s illegal but a lot of climbers have started BASE jumping
of climbers have started BASE jumping
of climbers have started BASE jumping because if there was BASE jumping
because if there was BASE jumping
because if there was BASE jumping allowed in Yosemite it would be just
allowed in Yosemite it would be just
allowed in Yosemite it would be just like rock climbing it would be the
like rock climbing it would be the
like rock climbing it would be the center of the universe for BASE jumping
center of the universe for BASE jumping
center of the universe for BASE jumping it’s like the ultimate place and a lot
it’s like the ultimate place and a lot
it’s like the ultimate place and a lot of the people there cannot help
of the people there cannot help
of the people there cannot help themselves here they are in squirrel
themselves here they are in squirrel
themselves here they are in squirrel suits and they’ll literally fly for two
suits and they’ll literally fly for two
suits and they’ll literally fly for two minutes without pulling their chutes and
minutes without pulling their chutes and
minutes without pulling their chutes and they’ll proximity fly across the faces
they’ll proximity fly across the faces
they’ll proximity fly across the faces and then turn out to the valley and fly
and then turn out to the valley and fly
and then turn out to the valley and fly all the way across the other side and
all the way across the other side and
all the way across the other side and then turn all the way up and go down
then turn all the way up and go down
then turn all the way up and go down Valley and then come back and they have
Valley and then come back and they have
Valley and then come back and they have there’s this whole system of
there’s this whole system of
there’s this whole system of communications you know they’ve got
communications you know they’ve got
communications you know they’ve got spotters to make sure you know they know
spotters to make sure you know they know
spotters to make sure you know they know the schedules of the you know Rangers
the schedules of the you know Rangers
the schedules of the you know Rangers and there’s all the like I’m delivering
and there’s all the like I’m delivering
and there’s all the like I’m delivering the pizza and it’s like okay ready for
the pizza and it’s like okay ready for
the pizza and it’s like okay ready for delivery you know it’s like it’s it’s a
delivery you know it’s like it’s it’s a
delivery you know it’s like it’s it’s a cat-and-mouse game for sure and it’s
cat-and-mouse game for sure and it’s
cat-and-mouse game for sure and it’s it’s been kind of serious but part of
it’s been kind of serious but part of
it’s been kind of serious but part of the reason for this BASE jumping is that
the reason for this BASE jumping is that
the reason for this BASE jumping is that you know a huge part of the goal for
you know a huge part of the goal for
you know a huge part of the goal for them is to link these different
them is to link these different
them is to link these different formations in the shortest amount of
formations in the shortest amount of
formations in the shortest amount of time because again speed is one of the
time because again speed is one of the
time because again speed is one of the things so they want to link the South
things so they want to link the South
things so they want to link the South Face of Mount Watkins in the background
Face of Mount Watkins in the background
Face of Mount Watkins in the background with Half Dome and Al Capp all in a day
with Half Dome and Al Capp all in a day
with Half Dome and Al Capp all in a day and obviously the fastest way down is
and obviously the fastest way down is
and obviously the fastest way down is when they get to the top of Half Dome
when they get to the top of Half Dome
when they get to the top of Half Dome they run off the edge and then they get
they run off the edge and then they get
they run off the edge and then they get to the bottom and then they’re you know
to the bottom and then they’re you know
to the bottom and then they’re you know down two hours faster than if they had
down two hours faster than if they had
down two hours faster than if they had to hike so that’s kind of like it’s it
to hike so that’s kind of like it’s it
to hike so that’s kind of like it’s it sounds funny but you know the final
sounds funny but you know the final
sounds funny but you know the final evolution in climbing might be flying
so it was really great to spend you know
so it was really great to spend you know time with a lot of guys that I used to
time with a lot of guys that I used to
time with a lot of guys that I used to spend time with and also watch this new
spend time with and also watch this new
spend time with and also watch this new generation of climbers come up the final
generation of climbers come up the final
generation of climbers come up the final we’ll edit a video is kind of an on
we’ll edit a video is kind of an on
we’ll edit a video is kind of an on assignment piece that is a little
assignment piece that is a little
assignment piece that is a little overview of the shoot I’ve been assigned
overview of the shoot I’ve been assigned
overview of the shoot I’ve been assigned to shoot a feature story for National
to shoot a feature story for National
to shoot a feature story for National Geographic about the climbing culture
Geographic about the climbing culture
Geographic about the climbing culture and the cutting edge of climbing that’s
and the cutting edge of climbing that’s
and the cutting edge of climbing that’s happening u7t today I had almost 60 days
happening u7t today I had almost 60 days
happening u7t today I had almost 60 days of shooting in Halle we’ve had some
of shooting in Halle we’ve had some
of shooting in Halle we’ve had some pretty epic days
semele is the epicenter of climbing a
semele is the epicenter of climbing a lot of the greatest climbing feats in
lot of the greatest climbing feats in
lot of the greatest climbing feats in history have happened here and they’re
history have happened here and they’re
history have happened here and they’re happening right now I started climbing
happening right now I started climbing
happening right now I started climbing here 15 years ago and making a community
here 15 years ago and making a community
here 15 years ago and making a community here with with all the other dedicated
here with with all the other dedicated
here with with all the other dedicated you 70 climbers so it’s really special
you 70 climbers so it’s really special
you 70 climbers so it’s really special for me to be able to come back here and
for me to be able to come back here and
for me to be able to come back here and shoot with my peers climbers don’t
shoot with my peers climbers don’t
shoot with my peers climbers don’t perform in an arena or Stadium
perform in an arena or Stadium
perform in an arena or Stadium they don’t have stands full of fans
they don’t have stands full of fans
they don’t have stands full of fans watching them really I see my job is
watching them really I see my job is
watching them really I see my job is being able to tell that story carrying
being able to tell that story carrying
being able to tell that story carrying loads today top of El Cap and it gets a
loads today top of El Cap and it gets a
loads today top of El Cap and it gets a good couple shots climbing in general is
good couple shots climbing in general is
good couple shots climbing in general is about understatement I think it’s
about understatement I think it’s
about understatement I think it’s impossible for people to express their
impossible for people to express their
impossible for people to express their experiences up there about to drop in
experiences up there about to drop in
experiences up there about to drop in and not shoot with Leo I think you
and not shoot with Leo I think you
and not shoot with Leo I think you cemani climbing has a certain purity to
cemani climbing has a certain purity to
cemani climbing has a certain purity to it because the climbers are up there
it because the climbers are up there
it because the climbers are up there battling it out pushing through physical
battling it out pushing through physical
battling it out pushing through physical and mental challenges far from the eyes
and mental challenges far from the eyes
and mental challenges far from the eyes of the world there’s nobody there to see
of the world there’s nobody there to see
of the world there’s nobody there to see it be able to bring that story back
it be able to bring that story back
it be able to bring that story back bring those moments back to people is is
bring those moments back to people is is
bring those moments back to people is is really inspiring for me because part of
really inspiring for me because part of
really inspiring for me because part of my life’s work
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