Maybe you've already heard the inspirational story of the first couple of rock, Beth Rodden and Tommy Caldwell. As professional climbers, they were on a "job" in Kyrgyzstan where they found themselves in a 6 day struggle for their lives. Kyrgyzstani rebels of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) kidnapped the vulnerable Americans while they were resting on the side of a cliff. In the end, they and the others in their group were under the supervision of a single rebelwhile they fled Kyrgyz soldiers by scaling the slopes of the mountains. Seeing an opportunity for escape, Tommy pulled their captor, the inexperienced climber that he was, from his grip on the mountain, causing him to fall 2000 feet.
Not believing he could ever kill a man, Tommy broke down, stricken with grief. Only under the support and comforting from his group did he go on.
Later, after finding refuge at a Kyrgyz army camp, Tommy was temporarily relieved to discover the rebel had miraculously survived the fall and subsequently captured (but then, of course, sentenced to death).
Today, despite all the horror they experienced while doing what they loved best, Beth and Tommy are married, continue to live their professional climbing lives, occasionally appear on National Geographic climbing and park programming, and are building a home with their bare hands near Yosemite National Park and El Cap.
It's got me wondering, what have I done today?
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