
that’s not my slide well we’ll start off I’m Joe and I’m a climber I’m here to
I’m Joe and I’m a climber I’m here to
I’m Joe and I’m a climber I’m here to explain no go back to the Lion King I’m
explain no go back to the Lion King I’m
explain no go back to the Lion King I’m gonna give this a minute it’s sort of
gonna give this a minute it’s sort of
gonna give this a minute it’s sort of like my pictures I’m here to explain why
like my pictures I’m here to explain why
like my pictures I’m here to explain why I and many of my friends aren’t crazy
I and many of my friends aren’t crazy
I and many of my friends aren’t crazy why what I do is not abnormal my entire
why what I do is not abnormal my entire
why what I do is not abnormal my entire life people have treated me like yeah
life people have treated me like yeah
life people have treated me like yeah that’s sort of okay you’re weird I’ve
that’s sort of okay you’re weird I’ve
that’s sort of okay you’re weird I’ve been involved in sports that many people
been involved in sports that many people
been involved in sports that many people consider extreme I really just like that
consider extreme I really just like that
consider extreme I really just like that term I’d call them adventurous at best
term I’d call them adventurous at best
term I’d call them adventurous at best I’ve climbed rock I’ve climbed ice I’ve
I’ve climbed rock I’ve climbed ice I’ve
I’ve climbed rock I’ve climbed ice I’ve climbed in Himalayas I’ve climbed on
climbed in Himalayas I’ve climbed on
climbed in Himalayas I’ve climbed on overhanging rock in the Bondi agar
overhanging rock in the Bondi agar
overhanging rock in the Bondi agar escarpment of West Africa I climbed
escarpment of West Africa I climbed
escarpment of West Africa I climbed that’s what I do I’ve been a
that’s what I do I’ve been a
that’s what I do I’ve been a professional guide for 40 years
professional guide for 40 years
professional guide for 40 years ah here we are I think
okay gonna back up I’m a conquistador of
okay gonna back up I’m a conquistador of a useless but I’m here to tell you why
a useless but I’m here to tell you why
a useless but I’m here to tell you why I’m normal I started climbing in 1969
I’m normal I started climbing in 1969
I’m normal I started climbing in 1969 and I climbed with a group of friends
and I climbed with a group of friends
and I climbed with a group of friends one of which when I was 19 years old I
one of which when I was 19 years old I
one of which when I was 19 years old I met and we went climbing in a place
met and we went climbing in a place
met and we went climbing in a place called smugglers notch Vermont long
called smugglers notch Vermont long
called smugglers notch Vermont long narrow icicle is we went to do a climb
narrow icicle is we went to do a climb
narrow icicle is we went to do a climb that was about 500 feet of mixed snow
that was about 500 feet of mixed snow
that was about 500 feet of mixed snow and ice we would belay our way up one of
and ice we would belay our way up one of
and ice we would belay our way up one of us would climb up placing pieces of
us would climb up placing pieces of
us would climb up placing pieces of protection anchoring systems along the
protection anchoring systems along the
protection anchoring systems along the way for one hundred hundred and
way for one hundred hundred and
way for one hundred hundred and twenty-five feet manipulate the rope for
twenty-five feet manipulate the rope for
twenty-five feet manipulate the rope for the next person up they would come up
the next person up they would come up
the next person up they would come up we’d get together one of us had lead the
we’d get together one of us had lead the
we’d get together one of us had lead the next section eventually we got to the
next section eventually we got to the
next section eventually we got to the top of the climb I led the last vertical
top of the climb I led the last vertical
top of the climb I led the last vertical ice section which was quite exciting for
ice section which was quite exciting for
ice section which was quite exciting for me when I got to the top I went over to
me when I got to the top I went over to
me when I got to the top I went over to one side of the gully there was a rock
one side of the gully there was a rock
one side of the gully there was a rock wall I put some Pitons in Pitons or this
wall I put some Pitons in Pitons or this
wall I put some Pitons in Pitons or this is old school where chrome moly alloy
is old school where chrome moly alloy
is old school where chrome moly alloy steel spikes that we’d stick into the
steel spikes that we’d stick into the
steel spikes that we’d stick into the rock pound into the rock and then I’d
rock pound into the rock and then I’d
rock pound into the rock and then I’d anchor myself to it with the rope that
anchor myself to it with the rope that
anchor myself to it with the rope that was attached to me clip it in and I’d
was attached to me clip it in and I’d
was attached to me clip it in and I’d manipulate the rope my partner he came
manipulate the rope my partner he came
manipulate the rope my partner he came up to me and now above us who was two or
up to me and now above us who was two or
up to me and now above us who was two or three hundred feet of load moderate
three hundred feet of load moderate
three hundred feet of load moderate angle snow well we were we were hot
angle snow well we were we were hot
angle snow well we were we were hot shoes through her good climbers so we
shoes through her good climbers so we
shoes through her good climbers so we decided we just climbed this last
decided we just climbed this last
decided we just climbed this last section without having to blame other I
section without having to blame other I
section without having to blame other I took the equipment out of the wall we
took the equipment out of the wall we
took the equipment out of the wall we started to climb up two or three steps
started to climb up two or three steps
started to climb up two or three steps into it all of a sudden I had this very
into it all of a sudden I had this very
into it all of a sudden I had this very uncomfortable feeling to this very day I
uncomfortable feeling to this very day I
uncomfortable feeling to this very day I can close my eyes right now and I can
can close my eyes right now and I can
can close my eyes right now and I can see the diagonal and fracture line like
see the diagonal and fracture line like
see the diagonal and fracture line like lightning shooting left to right
lightning shooting left to right
lightning shooting left to right diagonally up in watching in being aware
diagonally up in watching in being aware
diagonally up in watching in being aware of my rate of acceleration how what I
of my rate of acceleration how what I
of my rate of acceleration how what I was in was moving down and the first
was in was moving down and the first
was in was moving down and the first four inches took longer than the next
four inches took longer than the next
four inches took longer than the next four inches and I was actually aware of
four inches and I was actually aware of
four inches and I was actually aware of that and then I was under the snow
that and then I was under the snow
that and then I was under the snow I took my ice axe which is also called a
I took my ice axe which is also called a
I took my ice axe which is also called a PLA pio le t pluralized with an S for
PLA pio le t pluralized with an S for
PLA pio le t pluralized with an S for anybody who plays Scrabble it’s in the
anybody who plays Scrabble it’s in the
anybody who plays Scrabble it’s in the Scrabble word dictionary my wife says
Scrabble word dictionary my wife says
Scrabble word dictionary my wife says that’s cheating but it’s a scrabble word
that’s cheating but it’s a scrabble word
that’s cheating but it’s a scrabble word dictionary and you take that and you put
dictionary and you take that and you put
dictionary and you take that and you put it diagonally across your chest and you
it diagonally across your chest and you
it diagonally across your chest and you press it into the snow underneath to
press it into the snow underneath to
press it into the snow underneath to stop yourself it’s called self arrest if
stop yourself it’s called self arrest if
stop yourself it’s called self arrest if you have to think about it it’s not
you have to think about it it’s not
you have to think about it it’s not going to work it has to be instinctual
going to work it has to be instinctual
going to work it has to be instinctual it has to be practiced eventually I came
it has to be practiced eventually I came
it has to be practiced eventually I came to a stop by decelerated in the snow
to a stop by decelerated in the snow
to a stop by decelerated in the snow that was and I was enveloped in shed off
that was and I was enveloped in shed off
that was and I was enveloped in shed off me I looked to my left I didn’t see my
me I looked to my left I didn’t see my
me I looked to my left I didn’t see my partner I hadn’t really thought about
partner I hadn’t really thought about
partner I hadn’t really thought about the fact that if in fact he had been
the fact that if in fact he had been
the fact that if in fact he had been pulled down off the rest of the climb I
pulled down off the rest of the climb I
pulled down off the rest of the climb I would know soon enough the tug on the
would know soon enough the tug on the
would know soon enough the tug on the Rope pulling me over the climb would be
Rope pulling me over the climb would be
Rope pulling me over the climb would be enough he was I looked to my right and
enough he was I looked to my right and
enough he was I looked to my right and he was about ten feet from where the
he was about ten feet from where the
he was about ten feet from where the climb dropped off vertically
climb dropped off vertically
climb dropped off vertically he was pretty badly hurt it was a bit of
he was pretty badly hurt it was a bit of
he was pretty badly hurt it was a bit of an epic to get him up and it was a long
an epic to get him up and it was a long
an epic to get him up and it was a long complicated descent to get him to the
complicated descent to get him to the
complicated descent to get him to the hospital but we did it we had to move
hospital but we did it we had to move
hospital but we did it we had to move fast
fast
fast we had moved cautiously my slides
we had moved cautiously my slides
we had moved cautiously my slides actually are sort of illustrate sort of
actually are sort of illustrate sort of
actually are sort of illustrate sort of my climbing career to some degree
my climbing career to some degree
my climbing career to some degree they’re not specifically based on the
they’re not specifically based on the
they’re not specifically based on the parts of the story I’m talking about but
parts of the story I’m talking about but
parts of the story I’m talking about but sitting in the hospital in the emergency
sitting in the hospital in the emergency
sitting in the hospital in the emergency room it wasn’t fear that was
room it wasn’t fear that was
room it wasn’t fear that was overwhelming affect me at that point it
overwhelming affect me at that point it
overwhelming affect me at that point it was what had I done how had I gotten
was what had I done how had I gotten
was what had I done how had I gotten myself into the situation I had realised
myself into the situation I had realised
myself into the situation I had realised enough that the snow was unstable but
enough that the snow was unstable but
enough that the snow was unstable but how did I even get myself into that
how did I even get myself into that
how did I even get myself into that position where I was standing in
position where I was standing in
position where I was standing in unstable snow without being properly
unstable snow without being properly
unstable snow without being properly attached so that’s more what I was
attached so that’s more what I was
attached so that’s more what I was thinking about I have to go back to
thinking about I have to go back to
thinking about I have to go back to three years earlier this same friend of
three years earlier this same friend of
three years earlier this same friend of mine who take me climbing think
mine who take me climbing think
mine who take me climbing think carefully about your friends asked me to
carefully about your friends asked me to
carefully about your friends asked me to go rock climbing when I was 16 years old
go rock climbing when I was 16 years old
go rock climbing when I was 16 years old and having never done it of course if
and having never done it of course if
and having never done it of course if you’re 16 years old you say yes I can’t
you’re 16 years old you say yes I can’t
you’re 16 years old you say yes I can’t explain the level of terror
explain the level of terror
explain the level of terror I felt a hundred feet up a 900 foot
I felt a hundred feet up a 900 foot
I felt a hundred feet up a 900 foot cliff I swore if I ever get out of here
cliff I swore if I ever get out of here
cliff I swore if I ever get out of here alive I’ll never do this again I will
alive I’ll never do this again I will
alive I’ll never do this again I will never I’ll never climb again
never I’ll never climb again
never I’ll never climb again I’ll never drink I’ll never smoke I’ll
I’ll never drink I’ll never smoke I’ll
I’ll never drink I’ll never smoke I’ll become a priest I won’t have sex I’ll do
become a priest I won’t have sex I’ll do
become a priest I won’t have sex I’ll do anything if I just get out of here alive
anything if I just get out of here alive
anything if I just get out of here alive after a couple hundred feet of climbing
after a couple hundred feet of climbing
after a couple hundred feet of climbing we pretty much had used up all of our
we pretty much had used up all of our
we pretty much had used up all of our skills and we decided we have to rappel
skills and we decided we have to rappel
skills and we decided we have to rappel back down and when I got back down to
back down and when I got back down to
back down and when I got back down to the ground fear wasn’t the first emotion
the ground fear wasn’t the first emotion
the ground fear wasn’t the first emotion I felt it was exhilaration which is pure
I felt it was exhilaration which is pure
I felt it was exhilaration which is pure exhilaration so of course I went back
exhilaration so of course I went back
exhilaration so of course I went back and was gonna do it again now I assumed
and was gonna do it again now I assumed
and was gonna do it again now I assumed he knew what he was doing and I can tell
he knew what he was doing and I can tell
he knew what he was doing and I can tell you as a guide for last month I
you as a guide for last month I
you as a guide for last month I celebrated 40 years as a professional
celebrated 40 years as a professional
celebrated 40 years as a professional climbing guide I’ve never had anybody
climbing guide I’ve never had anybody
climbing guide I’ve never had anybody more afraid of heights and I was that
more afraid of heights and I was that
more afraid of heights and I was that first day that’s why I sort of works
first day that’s why I sort of works
first day that’s why I sort of works very well for me being a guide because I
very well for me being a guide because I
very well for me being a guide because I can empathize I understand the fear I
can empathize I understand the fear I
can empathize I understand the fear I also and this is a note to anybody who
also and this is a note to anybody who
also and this is a note to anybody who has a friend who’s a great climber who’s
has a friend who’s a great climber who’s
has a friend who’s a great climber who’s gonna take them climbing look into their
gonna take them climbing look into their
gonna take them climbing look into their credentials a little bit my friend he
credentials a little bit my friend he
credentials a little bit my friend he was a good climber
was a good climber
was a good climber so of course I was going to be safe in
so of course I was going to be safe in
so of course I was going to be safe in retrospect many of the things we did
retrospect many of the things we did
retrospect many of the things we did were wholly unsafe and the fact that we
were wholly unsafe and the fact that we
were wholly unsafe and the fact that we get out of there was fairly remarkable
get out of there was fairly remarkable
get out of there was fairly remarkable now what’s the difference if I was at
now what’s the difference if I was at
now what’s the difference if I was at home today I live in Conway New
home today I live in Conway New
home today I live in Conway New Hampshire I would gladly go off and
Hampshire I would gladly go off and
Hampshire I would gladly go off and climb one of the cliffs in my local area
climb one of the cliffs in my local area
climb one of the cliffs in my local area either one that’s 500 and 900 feet high
either one that’s 500 and 900 feet high
either one that’s 500 and 900 feet high and I’d climb without a rope without a
and I’d climb without a rope without a
and I’d climb without a rope without a second thought my wife often encourages
second thought my wife often encourages
second thought my wife often encourages me to go out and just just go sole or
me to go out and just just go sole or
me to go out and just just go sole or something it could be something else
something it could be something else
something it could be something else there but I’m not sure well the
there but I’m not sure well the
there but I’m not sure well the difference is my path of Education in
difference is my path of Education in
difference is my path of Education in high school I was your classic A or F
high school I was your classic A or F
high school I was your classic A or F student if I was engaged in a class I
student if I was engaged in a class I
student if I was engaged in a class I got a is school is very very easy for me
got a is school is very very easy for me
got a is school is very very easy for me if I wasn’t engaged
if I wasn’t engaged
if I wasn’t engaged I got apps they kept telling me all you
I got apps they kept telling me all you
I got apps they kept telling me all you have such potential why don’t you try
have such potential why don’t you try
have such potential why don’t you try harder so being being me in my junior
harder so being being me in my junior
harder so being being me in my junior year
year
year I decided to live up to my potential I
I decided to live up to my potential I
I decided to live up to my potential I walked into the principal’s office and I
walked into the principal’s office and I
walked into the principal’s office and I said see ya I had heard about another
said see ya I had heard about another
said see ya I had heard about another school I had heard about a school that
school I had heard about a school that
school I had heard about a school that had been founded a couple of years
had been founded a couple of years
had been founded a couple of years earlier in Watertown Massachusetts it
earlier in Watertown Massachusetts it
earlier in Watertown Massachusetts it was called the warehouse cooperative
was called the warehouse cooperative
was called the warehouse cooperative school it was a free school based on the
school it was a free school based on the
school it was a free school based on the work partially of the Summer Hill School
work partially of the Summer Hill School
work partially of the Summer Hill School but it was a school it was a school that
but it was a school it was a school that
but it was a school it was a school that encouraged in required an immense amount
encouraged in required an immense amount
encouraged in required an immense amount of personal control in personal
of personal control in personal
of personal control in personal motivation the school was well first of
motivation the school was well first of
motivation the school was well first of all I should say that my parents were
all I should say that my parents were
all I should say that my parents were Italian immigrants and me leaving a
Italian immigrants and me leaving a
Italian immigrants and me leaving a somewhat well-known high school to go to
somewhat well-known high school to go to
somewhat well-known high school to go to a weird alternative school really was
a weird alternative school really was
a weird alternative school really was way outside the norm for them they were
way outside the norm for them they were
way outside the norm for them they were not going to be involved in this I had
not going to be involved in this I had
not going to be involved in this I had to get a job and work nights weekends
to get a job and work nights weekends
to get a job and work nights weekends all summer long to pay my own tuition to
all summer long to pay my own tuition to
all summer long to pay my own tuition to get into the school I had to show that I
get into the school I had to show that I
get into the school I had to show that I had the self motivation to be able to
had the self motivation to be able to
had the self motivation to be able to survive in the school to thrive in the
survive in the school to thrive in the
survive in the school to thrive in the school and because I was paying my own
school and because I was paying my own
school and because I was paying my own tuition I was my own parent listed in
tuition I was my own parent listed in
tuition I was my own parent listed in the school not that my parents weren’t
the school not that my parents weren’t
the school not that my parents weren’t loving caring people but this was way
loving caring people but this was way
loving caring people but this was way outside the norm for them if the school
outside the norm for them if the school
outside the norm for them if the school older students weren’t required to do
older students weren’t required to do
older students weren’t required to do anything you’ve had to be self-motivated
anything you’ve had to be self-motivated
anything you’ve had to be self-motivated you weren’t graded you had to be
you weren’t graded you had to be
you weren’t graded you had to be comfortable with your own level of
comfortable with your own level of
comfortable with your own level of satisfaction of what you were
satisfaction of what you were
satisfaction of what you were accomplishing in the school teachers
accomplishing in the school teachers
accomplishing in the school teachers would advertise their classes and we
would advertise their classes and we
would advertise their classes and we would have to go and look at the
would have to go and look at the
would have to go and look at the different classes talk to the teachers
different classes talk to the teachers
different classes talk to the teachers and then select what courses we wanted
and then select what courses we wanted
and then select what courses we wanted and this was a hundred kids K through 12
and this was a hundred kids K through 12
and this was a hundred kids K through 12 if there wasn’t a class that interested
if there wasn’t a class that interested
if there wasn’t a class that interested you you could then go through our log of
you you could then go through our log of
you you could then go through our log of volunteer teachers and you could then
volunteer teachers and you could then
volunteer teachers and you could then pick a professor interview people I took
pick a professor interview people I took
pick a professor interview people I took a philosophy class that way
a philosophy class that way
a philosophy class that way so in this class I was also lucky enough
so in this class I was also lucky enough
so in this class I was also lucky enough to be involved in a evening class that
to be involved in a evening class that
to be involved in a evening class that involved graduate students from Harvard
involved graduate students from Harvard
involved graduate students from Harvard it was educational analysis and it was
it was educational analysis and it was
it was educational analysis and it was there that I learned about a theory
there that I learned about a theory
there that I learned about a theory called upon origin theory which was
called upon origin theory which was
called upon origin theory which was expounded upon by Richard – arms from
expounded upon by Richard – arms from
expounded upon by Richard – arms from Saint Louis University in this he states
Saint Louis University in this he states
Saint Louis University in this he states that we are all born as origins we
that we are all born as origins we
that we are all born as origins we control everything that happens to us as
control everything that happens to us as
control everything that happens to us as a child you cry if you want food but as
a child you cry if you want food but as
a child you cry if you want food but as life goes on you were pushed towards the
life goes on you were pushed towards the
life goes on you were pushed towards the pond side where life wants you to
pond side where life wants you to
pond side where life wants you to conform it wants you to continue the
conform it wants you to continue the
conform it wants you to continue the path other people think you should you
path other people think you should you
path other people think you should you should be subscribing to Knowles
should be subscribing to Knowles
should be subscribing to Knowles Daugherty who is now dr. Doherty the
Daugherty who is now dr. Doherty the
Daugherty who is now dr. Doherty the founder of the school when I talked to
founder of the school when I talked to
founder of the school when I talked to him last week for the first time in 40
him last week for the first time in 40
him last week for the first time in 40 years said well you know when you came
years said well you know when you came
years said well you know when you came into the school you already had a full
into the school you already had a full
into the school you already had a full head of steam which I did but I have to
head of steam which I did but I have to
head of steam which I did but I have to say if it wasn’t for the nurturing for
say if it wasn’t for the nurturing for
say if it wasn’t for the nurturing for the positive reinforcement of what the
the positive reinforcement of what the
the positive reinforcement of what the school gave me a traditional school
school gave me a traditional school
school gave me a traditional school would have continued to try to push me
would have continued to try to push me
would have continued to try to push me back to make me normal or their
back to make me normal or their
back to make me normal or their definition of normal I wouldn’t have got
definition of normal I wouldn’t have got
definition of normal I wouldn’t have got to travel the places I have around the
to travel the places I have around the
to travel the places I have around the world and do some of the things I’ve
world and do some of the things I’ve
world and do some of the things I’ve done because I have this attitude that I
done because I have this attitude that I
done because I have this attitude that I can do whatever I want
can do whatever I want
can do whatever I want upon graduation from the warehouse
upon graduation from the warehouse
upon graduation from the warehouse school I went into full time climbing
school I went into full time climbing
school I went into full time climbing mode I climbed I trained I read I
mode I climbed I trained I read I
mode I climbed I trained I read I studied at one point because I felt I
studied at one point because I felt I
studied at one point because I felt I was incredibly strong and I felt that
was incredibly strong and I felt that
was incredibly strong and I felt that was detrimental I took three years of
was detrimental I took three years of
was detrimental I took three years of modern dance to improve my weight
modern dance to improve my weight
modern dance to improve my weight transfers over my feet to allow me to
transfers over my feet to allow me to
transfers over my feet to allow me to move more smoothly on the rock it was
move more smoothly on the rock it was
move more smoothly on the rock it was never really pretty but it really helped
never really pretty but it really helped
never really pretty but it really helped out it was that type of attitude that I
out it was that type of attitude that I
out it was that type of attitude that I isolated what I
isolated what I
isolated what I to accomplish and I moved in that
to accomplish and I moved in that
to accomplish and I moved in that direction debt has allowed me to travel
direction debt has allowed me to travel
direction debt has allowed me to travel around the world and do the things I
around the world and do the things I
around the world and do the things I love to do in my early 20s I was also
love to do in my early 20s I was also
love to do in my early 20s I was also offered a job to be a professional
offered a job to be a professional
offered a job to be a professional climbing guide to offer to be a job
climbing guide to offer to be a job
climbing guide to offer to be a job which I never really knew if it would be
which I never really knew if it would be
which I never really knew if it would be if I could share my passion in my
if I could share my passion in my
if I could share my passion in my profession a couple of years into it I
profession a couple of years into it I
profession a couple of years into it I realized this really works for me and
realized this really works for me and
realized this really works for me and I’ve spent the last 40 years working to
I’ve spent the last 40 years working to
I’ve spent the last 40 years working to improve my guiding skills along with my
improve my guiding skills along with my
improve my guiding skills along with my climbing skills they’re very different
climbing skills they’re very different
climbing skills they’re very different climbing and guiding are very different
climbing and guiding are very different
climbing and guiding are very different types of jobs but both of them fulfilled
types of jobs but both of them fulfilled
types of jobs but both of them fulfilled the needs of my personal life I picked
the needs of my personal life I picked
the needs of my personal life I picked up other interests in my life other than
up other interests in my life other than
up other interests in my life other than climbing mountaineering ice climbing all
climbing mountaineering ice climbing all
climbing mountaineering ice climbing all types of climbing I flew paragliders
types of climbing I flew paragliders
types of climbing I flew paragliders competitively for a number of years and
competitively for a number of years and
competitively for a number of years and I approached it the same way I
I approached it the same way I
I approached it the same way I approached climbing it wasn’t a matter
approached climbing it wasn’t a matter
approached climbing it wasn’t a matter of fear you know this is exciting I
of fear you know this is exciting I
of fear you know this is exciting I looked at it I studied aerodynamics
looked at it I studied aerodynamics
looked at it I studied aerodynamics I studied weather I studied anything I
I studied weather I studied anything I
I studied weather I studied anything I could that had to do with aviation and
could that had to do with aviation and
could that had to do with aviation and then got very involved in flying
then got very involved in flying
then got very involved in flying competitively we would fly courses
competitively we would fly courses
competitively we would fly courses during competitions that were anywhere
during competitions that were anywhere
during competitions that were anywhere from 10 to 100 miles long where we have
from 10 to 100 miles long where we have
from 10 to 100 miles long where we have to launch our paragliders catch thermals
to launch our paragliders catch thermals
to launch our paragliders catch thermals ride the thermals up jump over to the
ride the thermals up jump over to the
ride the thermals up jump over to the next one we’d be flying for hours at a
next one we’d be flying for hours at a
next one we’d be flying for hours at a time I also am part of a technical
time I also am part of a technical
time I also am part of a technical rescue squad that does above treeline
rescue squad that does above treeline
rescue squad that does above treeline rescue work mostly in northern New
rescue work mostly in northern New
rescue work mostly in northern New Hampshire up in the White Mountains but
Hampshire up in the White Mountains but
Hampshire up in the White Mountains but it’s that same type of we’re we are
it’s that same type of we’re we are
it’s that same type of we’re we are given a responsibility we are given a
given a responsibility we are given a
given a responsibility we are given a this is where somebody is you need to
this is where somebody is you need to
this is where somebody is you need to try to get to them and it’s the same
try to get to them and it’s the same
try to get to them and it’s the same sort of I can do this I hear the skills
sort of I can do this I hear the skills
sort of I can do this I hear the skills I need a lot of my close personal
I need a lot of my close personal
I need a lot of my close personal friends
friends
friends who are climbers and also professionals
who are climbers and also professionals
who are climbers and also professionals not everybody has taken the path I have
not everybody has taken the path I have
not everybody has taken the path I have because that’s a path I took I decided
because that’s a path I took I decided
because that’s a path I took I decided to be a professional climbing guide and
to be a professional climbing guide and
to be a professional climbing guide and that’s how I’d make my living but I have
that’s how I’d make my living but I have
that’s how I’d make my living but I have many friends who have are just as
many friends who have are just as
many friends who have are just as serious a climber but also have other
serious a climber but also have other
serious a climber but also have other professions but also my close personal
professions but also my close personal
professions but also my close personal friends all have the same attributes of
friends all have the same attributes of
friends all have the same attributes of control of their own destiny I don’t
control of their own destiny I don’t
control of their own destiny I don’t know where I’d be today if I hadn’t gone
know where I’d be today if I hadn’t gone
know where I’d be today if I hadn’t gone to this school that empowered me that
to this school that empowered me that
to this school that empowered me that gave me the ability to say there is no
gave me the ability to say there is no
gave me the ability to say there is no norm I need to subscribe to I can make
norm I need to subscribe to I can make
norm I need to subscribe to I can make the decision about what is normal and
the decision about what is normal and
the decision about what is normal and what isn’t normal for me so I can tell
what isn’t normal for me so I can tell
what isn’t normal for me so I can tell you that being in control of my own
you that being in control of my own
you that being in control of my own destiny has allowed me a path that I
destiny has allowed me a path that I
destiny has allowed me a path that I really have nothing but thanks for the
really have nothing but thanks for the
really have nothing but thanks for the teachers in the environment that said to
teachers in the environment that said to
teachers in the environment that said to me hey whatever you want can be yours as
me hey whatever you want can be yours as
me hey whatever you want can be yours as proof to the fact that which I said here
proof to the fact that which I said here
proof to the fact that which I said here at the beginning that I’m normal I have
at the beginning that I’m normal I have
at the beginning that I’m normal I have this proof which is out of the new world
this proof which is out of the new world
this proof which is out of the new world dictionary obviously this is a real
dictionary obviously this is a real
dictionary obviously this is a real picture of the word normal and it is a
picture of the word normal and it is a
picture of the word normal and it is a picture of me I took this out of the
picture of me I took this out of the
picture of me I took this out of the book it’s all too easy to let life carry
book it’s all too easy to let life carry
book it’s all too easy to let life carry along to let others determine what you
along to let others determine what you
along to let others determine what you should be in to define the definition of
should be in to define the definition of
should be in to define the definition of success and happiness it’s up to you to
success and happiness it’s up to you to
success and happiness it’s up to you to make those decisions thank you very much
make those decisions thank you very much
make those decisions thank you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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