In the climbing world, climbers always look for the next climb as each ascent clears the way for other climbers. With this in mind, we are delighted to highlight as our Positive Profile of the Week – Tommy Caldwell.
Considered one of the best climbers in the world, Tommy Caldwell has faced many challenges that made him stronger, not only as a climber but also as a person. Growing up in Colorado, Caldwell got his love for climbing from his parents, especially his father, who was a mountain guide and climber. A world traveler in climbing, Tommy has a number of notable climbs under his belt, but also has had some incredible trials.
In 2000, militants kidnapped him in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan while on a trip with several climbing partners. He escaped after pushing the assailant off a cliff and fleeing to local government soldiers. About a year later, his finger was cut off by a table saw; even though his finger could be reattached, the doctors told him that he might not be able to climb again. He took the news as a challenge and, with a missing finger, continued to defy the impossible and keep climbing the hardest cliffs.
A trailblazer of free climbing, Caldwell is known for being the first to climb Yosemite’s 3,000-foot El Capitan’s Dawn Wall in 2015. The 19-day climb of the Dawn Wall took six years of planning and was documented in two films, ‘The Progression,’ and ‘The Dawn Wall.’ His memoir, ‘The Push,’ tells the story of his historic climb and other stories of his adventures of finding the next climb.
Not much keeps Tommy down as he’s always looking up - to that next ascent. We admire the courage, the grit and the spirit of Tommy Caldwell. An individual who will always be looking for the next challenge, the next mountain to climb – and inspiring us all to attack our lives with a deep passion and positive energy. Thank you, Tommy Caldwell!
|