2015 Presentation: Tommy Caldwell

It’s been a big year for Tommy Caldwell — and that’s saying a lot for a man who is one of the best all-around climbers in the world. During the course of a spectacular run in 2014 and 2015, Caldwell completed the first ascent of the Fitz Traverse (seven toothy granites peaks spanning four miles and 13,000 feet in southern Patagonia) with Alex Honnold and followed that with the first free ascent of the Dawn Wall on Yosemite’s El Capitan with Kevin Jorgeson. The Dawn Wall captivated the nation in a way seldom seen with climbing achievements: News outlets from The New York Times to National Geographic and NPR clamored for the story.

Those historic accomplishments cap an already-storied career for the 36-year-old Colorado native. Caldwell is an expert in trad climbing, sport climbing, big wall free climbing and speed climbing. Among his feats: the first free ascent of El Capitan’s Muir Wall, the first free ascent of Patagonia’s Linea di Eleganza and the first ascent of The Honeymoon is Over on Colorado’s Longs Peak (all routes well beyond the reach of most mortals).

The modern climbing legend credits his pursuits to his father, who taught him to embrace fear and doubt and turn them into inspiration.