Today, I watched two documentaries about mountaineering - "Dawn Wall" and "Freehand Rock Climbing". The two films are very similar: they both climbed El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California, USA. This rock The most influential in the global climbing world - El Capitan is the climber's universe. Below, I will talk about my perception from two perspectives. It's about the courage to watch two films, whether it's Tommy, who has protection measures in the former, or Alex, who climbs solo without protection, it fills my spirit with strength. When life encounters difficulties and setbacks, it is very suitable for two films to watch. For Tommy in "Wall of Dawn", it goes without saying that he bravely challenged himself with tenacity, but for Alex in "Free Solo", I think there may be more people with different opinions.
Free Solo Unprotected Climbing: Climbing without bezels, ropes and harnesses, this type of climbing is deadly risky and is one of the most extreme adventures in rock climbing. Any small mistake can lead to miscalculation and even tragedy. A gust of wind, a falling gravel, or a bird stealing a biscuit may cause the climber to lose his balance and fall to his death from a height of several hundred meters. Alex also sadly mentions in the film that most of the athletes who played unprotected solos have died, including many of the top athletes who used to be partners.
With so much risk, why would Alex need to climb?
What impressed me most was the photographer standing under the rock. He repeatedly turned his face and couldn't bear to watch Alex's risky climb. Some people think climbers are selfish. Because they put their own safety aside and ignore or despise the family and social responsibilities that individuals need to shoulder, which is disrespect for their own lives and irresponsibility to those who have a close relationship with them.
However, I would like to say that there is no success without risk in the world, as Alex said, there is nothing good in the world that is happy and comfortable! Anyone dies any day, either this way or that way. Even if you choose to live a peaceful and mediocre life without taking any risks, it is just a few decades longer. What is the use for the vast universe?
On the other hand, if we really come to this world with some kind of responsibility, how can we give up our love and career, and go through life without accomplishing anything?
The winner is the king and the loser is Kou. At least Alex gave us wonder and courage didn't it? At least he made it to the top with his bare hands, didn't he? Now that people are successful, don't worry about the purpose of other people's rock climbing! Don't dislike the "method" of other people's rock climbing is too cruel! Human history has always only looked at the results, not the means! Besides, did Alex climb El Capitan by luck? He has put in an unimaginable amount of hard training behind his back, and only then has his style on the Emirates Rock, isn't it? Pull-ups with fingers, finger strength exercises, push-ups, hanging training... Which training can be achieved without persevering perseverance?
A study found that Alex's finger tendons were twice as thick as the average person's. No matter from which point of view, Alex's climbing El Capitan is a proof of strength, and it has given us ordinary people great courage.
It's about family, about education. Tommy in "Wall of Dawn" has been a stunted child since he was a child. In his own words, it is "developmentally stagnant." The miracle of climbing is inseparable from his family and the education he received since childhood.
Although Tommy is a fragile boy who learns everything slowly, his father is a bodybuilder and a master climber. How can a tiger father have a dog? He took young Tommy to participate in various outdoor and rock climbing activities, some of which we all dread as adults, and little Tommy has completed them.
His father's educational purpose: Giving your child the ability to deal with setbacks is one of the best gifts you can give your child. Because of this, Tommy didn't blame others and let himself sink when he was tortured by "killing", sawing off his fingers, and encountering divorce.
Look at Alex in "Freedom Rock Climbing". Alex claims to have a "heart of darkness" as a child. His father was suspected of having Asperger's syndrome and had little communication with him since he was a child. "We would drive for hours without talking, and it was not comfortable for him to express our emotions," he recalled in his autobiography. His mother seldom encouraged and appreciated him, and no matter what he did, it was always "not good enough". In addition, Alex's parents were unhappy in their marriage. The family never hugged and hardly ever used the word "love". It was an atypical American family.
Fortunately, he was exposed to rock climbing at a young age, and he never put it down once he picked it up. By the time he was 19, although Alex was admitted to the University of California at Berkeley, he was out of tune with the environment. In this elite environment that was supposed to be full of interesting souls, he couldn't make friends and felt like he was wasting time. After the most isolated and lonely year of his life, Alex chose to drop out of school and seek refuge in rock climbing. The risk of death is extremely high in solo rock climbing. But the more serious the consequences of extreme sports, the higher the sense of accomplishment after success, and the more you can shut up the "heart of darkness" monster in your heart.
Alex admits that he has gone solo rock climbing several times because of emotional failures, and it sounds self-destructive. Alex is really pathetic! Because of his family and education since he was a child, he couldn't really love his girlfriend. He had no warmth on his body, he was too autistic, and his heart was too cold!
When his girlfriend asks him if he can take her into consideration when making a decision? "If I had an obligation to live a long time, obviously I would have to give up free climbing," Alex replied, "but I don't think I have that obligation."
“You always tell me to be careful, I tried my best. I can stop doing these things (free climbing), but it will make me hate you because the thing I love most in my life is crushed.” Alex’s The answer is both cool and cold!
Alex can't find satisfaction in ordinary life, and there is no intimacy to rely on. His life is only rock climbing, and it is the most dangerous one.
In a word. Alex's world is too small, which is the biggest difference between him and Tommy.
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