“One of the most challenging things in climbing is fear of the unknown, and keeping your mind under control as you encounter difficulties. And first ascents are an amplified version of this because when you’re doing a first ascent, you really don’t know what’s there – it could be anything.” ~ ALEX HONNOLD
Dear Readers, Community, Friends,
We are but a drop in the spec of time that is this earthly experience. Yet, we are not always aware of the impact we have. You never know when you will help someone, plant the seed of support, or shift someone’s trajectory through an inspiring act.
Have you seen National Geo’s “The Last Tepui?” Talk about a window into how one person can make the most of life. Meet Dr. Bruce Means, biologist, 80 years old, with a deep desire to complete his life’s work documenting the rare biology found in the ecological systems of Guyana. His passion for his work not only stems from his love of the intricate web of amphibians and reptiles that occupy this special place, but he wants this work to inscent the country to protect these epic ecosystems. In a most poignant moment of the film where Bruce (holding a newly discovered species of frog) is blissfully enraptured, he stops the National Geographic interviewer, and says he just wants to be quiet and still with the jungle. With tears of both joy and sadness, he whispers, “I will be leaving this life soon, ... and I will miss it.”
The backdrop for this story? Look up to see countless, thousand-foot waterfalls plunge into the jungle. And down at the foot of the jungle, you will wonder at how this rock juts out of the jungle and up to the sky at an unimaginable scale. With the area on the cliffs and tops of these Tepuis being geologically isolated, many rare species of amphibians and plants are only found here. Because of this, these species show a series of evolutionary advances, dating back to ancient times.
So, you are 80 years old, you want to hike in 60 miles, sometimes knee-deep in mud, to the base of these Tepuis – and then document the never-explored cliffs. How will you ascend these sheer cliffs at your age? Meet Alex Honnold, the most accomplished climber of our day. With his team, the climbers stage a plan to hoist Dr. Means up the cliff with a series of ropes, allowing the beloved scientist access to undocumented species. In his favorite spot on Earth, he hopes to discover the missing links in its evolutionary lineage. His love for purpose overrides the fears he encounters on this dangerous trek.
I won’t spoil it for you – it is a beautiful tale of returning, relishing, and awe-enveloping a place few, if any, have had the experience of visiting. Experts in their fields share and lend support, while simultaneously leaning on wise ones in realms they know nothing, in order to make this journey a success. It is a story that teaches us how we can face life and problems with curiosity and love.
So, where are you on your career path? Are you the teacher, the apprentice – or both? Who inspires you, and what legacy do wish to leave our community and the world? Drop me a line, I am always ready to hear a good story.
