Quote

I have had an experience which might perhaps be described as being shot down. At the same time, I call shot down only when one falls down. Today I got into trouble but I escaped with a whole skin.

This planet Earth, the act of putting a roof over our heads, our flesh and blood existence, it's all very temporary.

You have to develop a very thick skin.

Well, I always run the risk of falling on my face, which has in fact happened.

I just try to think of all the things that could go wrong so in that split second when it happens, maybe your body reacts in a way where it protects you just a little.

I'm 300 pounds. If I fall on anybody, it's going to hurt.

From a climbing standpoint, gravity is the adversary. You and your fellow humans are striving together to get to the same place at the same time. And I think that's a really good way for humans to interact.

It's good to have to put yourself in someone else's skin. It's all-consuming.

However, further research has shown that it is the normal condition for humans and for most other mammals. It seems pretty clear why this is the case for most mammals and for most human beings.

There are specific things in our world that are incredibly dangerous. Wingsuit BASE jumping is the very, very top of that. Big alpine climbing objectives are maybe right below that. I've probably had 20 friends die - people who were pretty close to me. I would say about 18 of them were because of snow.