A Night Amongst The Stars

Judging by my title you might think I am writing about another adventure sleeping outside on a portaledge somewhere away from it all and staring up at the stars. Not this time, this time I am writing about the stars of climbing.

I recently had the opportunity, thanks to Google Maps and Sandy Russell, to spend an evening in Westminster Colorado, at the Access Fund annual dinner and fundraiser. I went to Google Maps this summer to visit Sandy and she offered to give me a ticket to the dinner and sit at the Google table. There was no way I could pass that up so I of course said yes. As luck would have it another ticket became available and my girlfriend also known as Sandy got to go with me.

This truly was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I was able to listen to Tommy Caldwell, who most of you may know from he and Kevin Jorgensons successful attempt to pull off the first free ascent of the Dawn Wall on El Capitan in 2014. If you aren’t a climber a free ascent is using ropes only to catch your fall. I actually got to meet him at the end of the night right before we caught our taxi back to the hotel. We talked about my recent ascent of Zodiac and how he had done the same route previously. I had actually seen him before in the cafeteria at Yosemite but he was with his family so I chose to leave him alone. I am really grateful for the opportunity I had to meet him and be able to actually talk to and learn from him. He is a fine example of what a famous athlete should strive to be. His presentation was funny, engaging, and I learned a lot about the history of climbing.

While I was waiting to talk to Tommy I had the privilege of talking to Kelly Cordes another famous climber and as he put it Tommy’s sidekick haha. That isn’t really true though Kelly is definitely a major climber and on just as high a level. I had a great time talking to him about why we climb and other things related to climbing. I also got to sit with Kelly at our table the entire night too.

I also had the unbelievable experience of sitting next to Lynn Hill the entire night and being able to talk to her about the things Tommy was saying and hearing her tell me about some of the people he mentioned really added a lot to what I was hearing. I actually knew I would be meeting her from the email list that Sandy Russell sent out before the dinner. I peeked at the other recipients of the email and saw Lynn Hill’s name and I have to say I didn’t quite believe it was that Lynn Hill until I saw her at the table haha. I saw that name in the list and thought to myself there is no way that is really her but sure enough it was. Tommy actually mentioned her accomplishment of being the first person ever to free climb the Nose, coincidentally Tommy Caldwell did the third and fifth free ascents of the Nose. When Tommy mentioned Lynn’s accomplishment she leaned over to me and said “It took me 10 years”, to which I replied ” But it happened”. Which reminds me of something Kelly and I talked about, the approach-ability of the worlds best climbers. It is unlike any other sport where you can just stroll up to a Tommy Calwell or Lynn Hill and they treat you like you are part of the group, Other sports don’t have that aspect where you most likely have to pay to meet a star of the sport at an autograph signing and for the most part they are cut off from their fans. It really is a community.

A friend and also famous climber Timmy O’ Neill was the MC for the event and before starting he came over talk to Sandy and I. He wrote down some info and I knew then that he was going to mention us at some point during the night. It happened right before Shelma Jun’s speech. It was pretty surreal to have Lynn Hill, Tommy Caldwell and other world famous climbers clapping for my achievement as little as it may be. I say that because I know others who have done it before me so I see it as a big self accomplishment but in the world of climbing it really isn’t that big of a deal.

This is definitely a night I will never forget and I came away with a great appreciation for all the people that have paved the way for people like me and my friends to be able to dream of the impossible and make it possible.