Mine was more than a passing fascination with Howell's stunts: Though I've been a climber for over a decade now, I've suffered from depression for far longer. My lowest point followed a major depressive episode after college in 2012; my high school sweetheart had dumped me, I hated my job, and my social network felt paper-thin. My memories of that time are ones of deep loneliness. Of wandering snow-covered streets around Cambridge, Massachusetts, until 4 A.M. Of nights spent drinking alone. Rock climbing became a refuge, an escape from a brain that felt like it needed a reboot. The physical problem-solving—being forced to think about nothing but the moves, the thrill of executing a sequence just right—helped to temper the darkest darkness. I had never free soloed, but Howell's pronouncements about how climbing helped him deal with his demons felt like they spoke directly to me.
https://www.climbing.com/people/profile-free-solo-climber-austin-howell/
_- Steve
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