Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll
Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll believes he didn’t choose to climb—climbing chose him. He considers his first expedition to Patagonia as a turning point in his life because he felt utterly connected with the forces of nature and the adventure of just being alive. Climbing teaches Sean to live life to the fullest and that he can do whatever he wants if he puts his mind to it.
Fire in the Belly What were we thinking? Was it arrogant of us to go straight up this blank-looking headwall? The chances that this line would go free were pretty slim. Was it the aesthetics of the blankness and steepness that had attracted us? Why didn’t we choose to follow more obvious features that were…
“Climb it for me!” he yelled as I walked out of the hospital room. I gladly would if I could, I thought to myself, but this one might just be too hard. I can’t make any promises. A few days earlier, after a nice enjoyable day of climbing, we were heading back to my friend…
All photos courtesy of Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll If you are chained to a wall in a dark dungeon famished rats will slowly nibble at your flesh. You can kick, scream and quiver all you want but the rats will sluggishly keep nipping away until they reach your heart and your body goes lifeless. Then they…