The Life & Times Of Luke Weaver

Steph Davis free soloing Outer Limits (5.10c 2 pitches) in Yosemite, California

I can’t remember [my first free solo climb]! I’ve been bouldering and scrambling alone for years, and it’s always been a part of climbing for me. I love heading off for an adventure alone. It gives me time to think, with no distractions.  I see free soloing as ultimate self-reliance. Soloing is the best way I have to be truly clear with myself, and to practice self-control. When I was soloing, I didn’t think about death. I felt alive… Soloing was not just an expression of freedom and a way to flirt with death; it was a rebellion against fear. Immersing myself in high-risk activities gives me perspective, and makes me feel pretty relaxed about most things in life.