Exactly 24 years ago today is when I mark my official start as a climber: 4-20-99. I finally mastered the figure 8 knot that day, the knot of infinity.
This was during the worst year of my life, I was severely depressed, and was on a dangerous cocktail of substances. I told no one about how I was feeling, and I thought I was going to die soon.
Later that day I learned of the Columbine high school shooting.
For some 4-20 is a day to celebrate cannabis, and I do love cannabis (sativa especially) and celebrate its legality where I live in Colorado, but I always think of these heavier, bigger events in my life.
I am an OG in climbing, and I am so happy to be alive, even though we are living through apocalyptic, tragic times.
All the darkness that I’ve experienced makes me value the light. And as a writer I not only want to show people my truths, but I also want to bring some levity into a heavy world.
Climbing has proved to be tragic and heavy at times, but it is the driving force for positivity in my life. I used to say climbing saved my life, but now the more I think of it, my climbing community saved my life; climbing alone would have never been enough.
This morning I’ll go out and climb. Funny, I still feel young in the world of climbing, perhaps it is because the giants that loom above.
Thank you to everyone, for my climbing partners who kept me alive in more ways than one, and to all who have appreciated a story of mine, or one in The Zine.
Peace, Luke
Publisher, The Zine
Author: American Climber and The Desert
Photo: Taylor Luneau
