Mike and I traveled to Nevada together about six months after we started dating. We actually planned the trip within the first month that we were together. I remember thinking even though we barely knew each other, it felt right planning that far ahead. I had no trepidations about it, no fear that we wouldn’t still be together.

My twin and her husband had invited us. They were meeting friends out there as well. Mike hadn’t even met Vicki and Scott at that point when we agreed to go, but I just knew they’d love him. I never thought twice about it.

I even remember thinking maybe we’ll do something insane like go to a wedding chapel and have Elvis marry us. I totally would have said yes had Mike asked. It was a fleeting thought but a thought all the same. :-p

***

I am currently watching anything I can get my hands on that Alex Honnold has done. To say he is an American rock climber seems too generic of a description. He is as extreme as they come.

I don’t know if any of you saw the Netflix special where he free solo climbed Taipei 101 this past Saturday. It was absolutely fascinating and terrifying all at once! I felt like I was watching a horror movie at times where I just couldn’t bear to look and had to cover my eyes.

I think I must have said the word “insane” about a hundred times. I was so completely blown away by his strength and graceful finesse in climbing that 101-story, 1,667-foot building. I started looking for anything I could to read about him and find out what else he’s done.

It’s safe to say that his brain works a little differently than the rest of us. Climbing is in his blood. At a very young age, he started climbing and did a lot of it alone. In his adult years, he’s done some pretty dangerous climbs. But he doesn’t just decide one day to get up and go climb a crazy mountain without ropes. He trains beforehand properly attached to safety harnesses and consults as well as climbs with other experienced climbers. He practices challenging sections over and over. He journals about it, troubleshoots it, eats and sleeps it until he figures out a way that he can free solo climb it.

He calculates every single move, no matter how slight, and how it needs to be executed, from the toe placement to the finger placement, the way he shifts his weight, the slightest hip and leg adjustment needed in order to navigate an area where there is almost nothing to grab onto. He basically uses just the pressure of his fingertips against the rock without needing to hold onto anything. He is as close to a living spiderman as we will ever see. He is truly a phenomenon.

The biggest takeaway from my research is that he is living his dream. This brings him peace and joy and an inner fulfillment that he can’t get from anything or anyone else in the world.

What is truly impressive is that his wife gets it. She understands it. And she doesn’t take it personal. It’s not that he doesn’t care about her or his children. It’s more that this is what he needs to exist. He’s not risking his life for money or fame. He minimizes the risk to the point where it is slim to none. Because he knows what he’s doing. And she trusts him.

To him, yes, there is always a risk that he will not succeed in his attempt. But to not make the attempt at all would be death for him.

If you’re interested, the documentary on Netflix where he free solo climbed El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California, was very well done. It follows him around and reveals his own internal process and method of preparation.

It also captures the beginning stages of his relationship with his future wife and there is a raw honesty that is quite impressive about his view of what he’s doing and how she’s trying to understand it and see if and where she can fit into it.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I found it so inspirational seeing what a mere human being is capable of doing when driven by sheer determination and an inner passion to reach a personal goal that brings him happiness.

***

For those of you who know Mike, you know he has a super strong thrill-seeking side. When we first met, I loved how crazy active he was and all of the different interests he had. From hiking to scuba diving and skydiving, there wasn’t much he hadn’t done. These were things he wanted to introduce to me over time. We started out slow and just did some hikes the first few months of our relationship.

Over the first year, I quickly came to love the challenge of a high peak, the endurance you need to build to get to the reward of the summit and even the grueling descent as well.

I remember how fast Mike could shoot up a mountain. At first, it annoyed me. Aren’t we supposed to be doing this together? Experiencing the beautiful trees and scenery? But that was his pace and I came to respect it. I’ve gotten quite fast myself. It takes time to build up to it for sure.

There’s a saying in running to run your own race. I suppose in hiking, you should climb your own mountain. It means something different to everyone, but it’s a time where I connect with God and nature and I listen to my body, what it needs and how it’s feeling.

***

When we talked about traveling to Nevada early on in our relationship, it was surprising to me that Mike had never been to that part of the country. I’d been out that way at least three times before and was familiar with the breathtaking landscape. It was exciting to be able to introduce him to that.

We pretty much planned to hike the whole week we were out there. On our first full day there, we traveled to Red Rock Canyon. There is a part of the road where suddenly, the mountains emerge almost from out of nowhere. I told him “Just wait and you won’t believe your eyes.”

As the mountains began to appear before us, I watched the expression on his face. It was one of wonder and awe. I will never forget it.

He was like a kid in a candy store. He couldn’t stop snapping pictures and commenting on how beautiful everything was.

When we finally parked and started out on a hike, it was obvious early on that I didn’t have the right shoes for the type of rocks we were climbing. I felt very unstable and, being an inexperienced climber, I was too afraid to continue.

Of course, I felt bad because he NEEDED to climb! So I told him go ahead, I’ll wait for you down here.

Well, he DID NOT hesitate and pretty quickly disappeared!

I had my phone with me so I wasn’t worried. I had a snack and some water, so I sat on a rock and occupied myself for about an hour.

I figured he’d just check out the area, then return to me and we’d head back to Vegas. There were stores that I could go to and get better hiking shoes.

But as we headed into the second hour, he still had not returned.

I tried calling him but there was no signal. I hadn’t even thought of that possibility. I started panicking. I didn’t know what I should do.

Did he fall? Is he injured?

Is he lost?

Was he kidnapped?

Is a mountain lion currently snacking on him?

Then, giving into my ever-changing crazed imagination, I thought, what do I tell his kids? Will this make headlines and, somehow, I’ll be blamed for his disappearance? I won’t do well in jail, I just know it!

I was fighting back both tears of worry and anger. How could he put me in this position? As I was still so new to hiking, it felt dangerous and I didn’t think he could be gone that long without something bad having happened. That was the only explanation in my mind. He wouldn’t just leave me here like this. And if he was okay, then he is just the rudest person ever and I need to reevaluate this relationship!

Finally, he appeared. Looking very satisfied. And very high up…

I was both relieved and furious! Thank God he’s alive so now I can kill him!

:-p

We had a “talk” afterwards and he apologized for worrying me. He told me he was exploring different caves and just taking it all in and lost track of time. Of course, I couldn’t stay mad for long. He had a permanent smile on his face, he was so happy. Truly, the man was in his glory.

I have grown to love hiking. It was hard for both of us this past year with everything Mike’s going through not to be able to get out there. I have no doubt we will return soon. And I have a feeling we will appreciate it a little bit more next time. 🙂

***

Watching Alex Honnold has been so inspiring for Mike. He aches to climb. It’s in his blood.

Luckily, Mike has no death wish, though. He just wants to get back to his usual level of insanity.

Mike’s goals right now are a little bit less “extreme”. He is training every day in his gym working out his left arm and leg, trying to build strength and endurance.

I think Mike has always strived to push limits. It may have classified him as a bit insane in the past. But that motivation and drive is helping him now get through these challenges.

And his goal of walking without a cane for the wedding? Not insane at all.