Yesterday, I suddenly saw a news:
Veteran documentary filmmaker Andrew Berends has died at the age of 46.
The documentary "Free Rock Climbing" in which he is one of the photographers just won this year's Oscar for Best Documentary .
This work has also become the best way to remember him:
Free Solo
Freehand rock climbing, as the title says, is a type of rock climbing.
But 99% of climbers don't touch it.
Because it's so crazy!
Without any tools and without any protection measures, only relying on the limbs and body to rub against the cliffs, behind the abyss.
What does this mean?
It means that once you miss, the price is death.
Everyone who does free soloing eventually dies of free soloing.
John Baker: Solo rock climbing pioneer who fell from a cliff and died at 52.
Derek Hersey: Fell while climbing Sentinel Rock, 37 years old.
Dan Osman: Talented rock climber who died in a climbing accident at age 35.
. . . . .
According to statistics, the fatality rate of free-hand rock climbing is as high as 50%, which is the limit of extreme sports .
However, there are people who serve before, and there are people who follow.
These living figures and bloody examples can't stop this "madman": Alex Honnold.
Thin, curly hair, and big fawn-like eyes.
Shy, quiet, with no expression on his face.
He is more like a programmer sitting in front of a computer than a passionate rock climber.
However, anyone who has watched his climbing videos will be impressed by his flexible posture and focused expression.
For rock climbing, he lives in an RV most of the time.
The equipment in the car is rather rudimentary, and what he eats every day is very simple.
Just use a frying pan to fry some green vegetables, even without a bowl, just eat it with the pot.
This ascetic life, he had long been used to, even if his income is equivalent to a dentist (dentist is generally considered to be the highest-paid occupation in the United States).
Because all he really cares about is climbing itself.
Everyday life is not rock climbing, it is on the way of rock climbing.
He has always had a goal: to free climb El Capitan .
This may be the most difficult wall to climb in the world, but he prefers to do it with his bare hands.
Everyone thought he was crazy.
Alex's idol, rock master Tommy, even if he has climbed El Capitan for 20 years, would definitely not choose to free solo.
"Think about it, it's an Olympic sport. And you die if you don't get a gold medal." "Climbing El Capitan is the sport."
And before that, no one had successfully climbed El Capitan with bare hands.
Aren't he afraid of Alex?
of course not.
He had been thinking about climbing the Emirates Rock with his bare hands for many years, but he never dared to go.
Looking at the mountain from a distance, he also persuaded:
"Maybe this shouldn't be done by me, maybe someone who doesn't want to live should be here."
But after all, he is afraid of being afraid, he will do this sooner or later.
Before filming "Freehand Rock Climbing", director Jin Guowei was quite hesitant.
He kept thinking: "What if he fell?"
He was afraid that his friend would die under his camera.
Because once it all starts, there is no turning back . It's like a big gamble, and life is the gamble.
In the documentary, there is a scene where the filming team discusses contingency plans before the climb begins.
"If there is an accident, do you know who to call?" "Call the police as soon as possible, and they will take a record directly for us."
Then, several people were silent.
They had to plan for the worst: this might be Alex's last day.
Climbing on El Capitan, even with a safety rope on, is easy to miss.
During the pathfinding training phase, Alex had fallen several times (with protection).
The marble walls were bare, with only a tiny depression to step on.
Some places are like two large vertical pieces of glass. At this time, you must stretch your body to prevent yourself from sliding down.
Sometimes, it can only be supported with half a finger.
When changing positions, you may also need to step, kick or jump, and you will fall off a cliff if you are wrong.
During the shooting, there were several times when the photographer couldn't bear to look at it and turned his head away.
In the end, the dude even shouted: "I will never do this again in the future!"
Heart can't take it!
Fortunately, in the end, Alex successfully reached the top, otherwise we would not have seen this film.
However, even though the result was known for a long time, the whole process was still worrying.
When I saw his final success, I was so excited that I jumped up! It's really awesome!
Some people say that if Alex does this, his family doesn't care?
of course not.
His mom used to say: I'd be happy if he didn't free solo.
Every time his girlfriend hugs him, she thinks: Don't let that hug be the last.
Yet they chose to support him.
Because, "He can feel the vitality of life most when he is free climbing."
"How can you take such a thing from a man?"
For Alex himself, climbing is his hobby, no different from anyone else's.
As for danger, he also sees it very openly.
"Everyone dies one day, and free climbing just makes that day go faster."
He felt that most people would choose to prolong their lives as long as possible.
But for me, that's just an obligation, not my choice.
Now, he just wants to choose to do what he wants to do.
After a successful climb, Alex sat for an interview, smiling like a child.
I like what netizens said about him:
"It must be because he has seen so many beautiful scenery that ordinary people can't imagine, and there are shining stars in his eyes ."
In fact, if you think about it carefully, rock climbing is a bit like life .
Isn't each of us walking on the "big rock wall" of our own life?
There are no so-called protective measures, and no chance to do it all over again.
Once you start, no matter what the outcome is, you can only go up, not back.
That being the case, why not choose what you love and do it without looking back!
After all the enthusiasm and effort, look back:
Maybe you can also see the most beautiful scenery on the rock wall of your life.
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