While with my father over Thanksgiving, a mutual friend came forward with a strong opinion about a certain brand of professional athletics: “I am sick of seeing wealthy white men throwing their lives away and calling it brave.” Surprising myself, I volunteered Alex Honnold as a counter-example, saying that to me there was something about… Continue reading Alex Honnold’s “Free Solo” as aesthetic experience
Tag: rock climbing
My relationship with rock climbing
Ducking under a volume, leaning back against scant holds in order to make the most of my weight. A swivel of my hips, a crank of my calf and thigh muscles to push me up the wall, and I leap higher and catch hold of a small crimp. Again shifting weight, shuffling feet. With a… Continue reading My relationship with rock climbing
A puff of chalk
The other day, I was at the climbing gym when a man rushed by me, slammed down a large bag of chalk on the floor, and hurried on and disappeared from sight. I was standing on the backside of the bouldering structure when this happened, and I realized that the man had done it in… Continue reading A puff of chalk
Jackson Holzberg Buckley 