The Art of Manliness #498: Lessons in Persistence From Climber Tommy Caldwell
Apr 10, 2019
Tommy Caldwell, a celebrated rock climber known for scaling the Dawn Wall on El Capitan, shares his incredible journey. He discusses the evolution of rock climbing, explaining the nuances of free climbing and its misconceptions. Tommy recounts a harrowing hostage experience in Kyrgyzstan, revealing his resilience. He opens up about personal losses, including a divorce and losing a finger, and the significance of 'elective suffering' in pursuit of goals. Each story unfolds powerful lessons on persistence and overcoming life's obstacles.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Climbing
- Tommy Caldwell's father, a mountain guide, introduced him to climbing at age three.
- Climbing wasn't a passion until his teens when climbing gyms and competitions fostered a sense of community.
Early Climbing Scene
- In the 70s and 80s, rock climbing was a fringe activity with higher risks due to less developed safety equipment.
- Tommy Caldwell's dad quit climbing when his sister was born, taking up bodybuilding until safer sport climbing emerged.
Climbing Styles
- Traditional climbing involves placing your own protection into natural rock features.
- Sport climbing uses pre-placed bolts, making it safer and allowing climbers to push difficulty limits.
