Is Becca Caldwell Tommy Caldwell's first wife?
She isn't his first wife. Before he met Becca Caldwell, Tommy Caldwell was previously married to Beth Rodden. They were married in 2003 and divorced in 2010, the same year he met his current wife. She actually wrote on her blog about his past relationship and how it impacted his desire to climb The Dawn Wall.
How did Tommy Caldwell and Rebecca Pietsch meet?
Caldwell met Rebecca Pietsch, who goes by Becca, in 2010. Soon after they met, he reportedly took her to the infamous setting of the documentary: Yosemite. Together, they fell in love climbing part of El Capitan. "Tommy and I met at the end of 2010," she wrote on her blog.
Who is Tommy Caldwell's mother Terry Caldwell?
His mother, Terry, was also a mountain guide. The family, including Tommy's sister, went on annual trips to Yosemite National Park where Tommy's love for the park and rock climbing flourished. Caldwell and three fellow climbers Beth Rodden, John Dickey, and Jason 'Singer' Smith were held hostage for six days by rebels in Kyrgyzstan in August 2000.
Who is Tommy Caldwell married to?
Rebecca Pietschm. 2012Beth Roddenm. 2003–2010Tommy Caldwell/SpouseCaldwell and Beth Rodden married in 2003, and subsequently divorced in 2010. In 2010 he met photographer Rebecca Pietsch. They married in 2012. The couple have a son, Fitz, and a daughter, Ingrid Wilde, and live in Estes Park, Colorado.
Is Beth Rodden still married?
Rodden has since re-married, to Randy Puro, a climber who works in the technology and food industry in San Francisco, and they had a son, Theo. As a mom, she suddenly became sensitive to just how much trauma she still carried from her experience in Kyrgyzstan.
How old was Beth Rodden when she was kidnapped?
With Smith were John Dickey, at 25 the oldest member of the group, and two Californians, Tommy Caldwell, 22, and Beth Rodden, 20, at 5ft and six stone, a tiny but brilliant woman who had quickly become one of world's most famous female climbers.
How old is Beth Rodden?
42 years (May 5, 1980)Beth Rodden / Age
What happened to Beth Caldwell?
Beth Caldwell was dying. The 41-year-old former civil rights attorney and mother of two was dying the way she had been living since being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer 3½ years ago — out loud on Twitter and her blog.
How old is Tommy Caldwell?
44 years (August 11, 1978)Tommy Caldwell / Age
Why did Tommy Caldwell cut off his finger?
As detailed in his book, The Push, Caldwell describes the horrific accident, surgeries, and rehabilitation. He sustained a complete amputation of his left index finger while using a power saw during a woodworking project.
Is Tommy Caldwell still married?
5. She isn't his first wife. Before he met Becca Caldwell, Tommy Caldwell was previously married to Beth Rodden. They were married in 2003 and divorced in 2010, the same year he met his current wife.
When did Tommy Caldwell cut off his finger?
November 29, 2001On November 29, 2001, Tommy Caldwell, then a promising 23-year-old climber, suffered an accident that should have ended his career. While using a table saw during a renovation of his home in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado he slipped and chopped off the index finger on his left hand above the knuckle.
How did Tommy Caldwell meet Becca?
Becca Caldwell met Tommy Caldwell in 2010, when she was fresh out of nursing school and just getting into climbing. After six months of friendship, Tommy asked her to join him in Yosemite. It was a seminal trip.
Did Kevin climb the dawn wall?
Kevin Jorgeson (born October 7, 1984) is an American rock climber. He was one of the first two climbers, alongside his climbing partner Tommy Caldwell, to successfully complete a free climb of the Dawn Wall of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park....Kevin Jorgeson.Personal informationType of climberBouldering, free climbing7 more rows
Who climbed the dawn wall first?
The first free ascent of Dawn Wall, a 31-pitch 5.14 on El Capitan, took American climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson 19 days. Their historic ascent, which they completed in January 2015, became a media spectacle, even President Obama reached out with congratulations.
Climbing career
Rodden started climbing in 1995 at The Rocknasium, a local climbing gym in Davis, California. She won the Junior National JCCA Championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998; ranked first overall in the ASCF adult national series in 1997 and 1998; and placed third at the ASCF Fall Nationals in 1998.
Hostage in Kyrgyzstan
On a climbing trip to Kyrgyzstan's Kara Su Valley in August 2000, Rodden, then-boyfriend Tommy Caldwell, and fellow climbers Jason "Singer" Smith and photographer John Dickey were held hostage for six days by rebels from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. The four climbers overpowered one of their captors and escaped to a Kyrgyz army camp.
Personal life
Rodden met Tommy Caldwell through competition in 1995 and they started dating shortly before Kyrgyzstan. They married in 2003, lived in Yosemite, and both worked establishing themselves as professional climbers. Rodden and Caldwell divorced in 2009.
Where did Tommy Caldwell grow up?
Caldwell grew up in Loveland, Colorado. His father is Mike Caldwell, a former teacher, professional body builder, mountain guide and rock climber, who introduced Tommy to rock climbing at a young age. His mother, Terry, was also a mountain guide. The family, including Tommy's sister, went on annual trips to Yosemite National Park ...
Where was Caldwell held hostage?
Taken hostage in Kyrgyzstan. Caldwell and fellow climbers Beth Rodden, John Dickey and Jason 'Singer' Smith were held hostage for six days by rebels in Kyrgyzstan in August 2000. Caldwell pushed a lone captor, Ravshan Sharipov, off a cliff, and subsequently escaped to government soldiers.
How long did it take Caldwell to climb the nose?
Two days later, on October 16, Caldwell free-climbed The Nose in less than 12 hours. A few days later, Caldwell climbed The Nose in 11 hours, descended the East Ledges, and then climbed Freerider, topping out 12 hours later – the first ascent of two El Capitan free climbs in 24 hours.
What happened to Caldwell's left index finger?
Doctors were able to reattach the severed portion, but Caldwell decided he didn’t want the useless finger, which doctors said would never heal fully and he would never be able to use to climb with again, and the damaged part of the finger was later permanently removed.
How long did Adam Ondra climb the Dawn Wall?
The following year Czech climber Adam Ondra free climbed the Dawn Wall in 8 days. Ondra praised Caldwell and Jorgeson saying, "Tommy and Kevin put so much effort into the climb and faced so many question marks and logistical problems that I cannot really compare my effort to theirs.
When did Rebecca Caldwell get married?
A post shared by Rebecca Caldwell (@beccajcaldwell) on Sep 28, 2018 at 3:40pm PDT. 2. They were married in 2012. In 2012, the couple was married, even though when they first got together Caldwell said Becca was "way out of my league.".
How many kids did Caldwell have?
Soon after they were married, they had two children: a son named Fitz and a daughter named Ingrid Wilde. The family lives in Estes Park, Colorado. "I am always thinking about the kind of dad I want to be,” Caldwell wrote on Facebook, along with a photo of him embracing Fitz. “I know that the best way to teach is to show by example.
Where is the Dawn Wall on Netflix?
For those of you who don't, essentially the film focuses on Caldwell, a world-famous rock climber, as he scales the infamous 3,000-foot Dawn Wall in Yosemite National Park in California ...
When did Caldwell meet Rebecca Pietsch?
Here's everything we know about her. 1. They were met in 2010. Caldwell met Rebecca Pietsch, who goes by Becca, in 2010. Soon after they met, he reportedly took her to the infamous setting of the documentary: Yosemite. Together, they fell in love climbing part of El Capitan.
Who is Becca Caldwell?
She's a photographer . in addition to her blog, Becca Caldwell is also a photographer. She used the blog to update Caldwell's progress on the Dawn Wall.
Who is Emily Blackwood?
#loveyou @tommycaldwell. A post shared by Rebecca Caldwell (@beccajcaldwell) on Feb 14, 2018 at 8:37pm PST. Emily Blackwood is a writer and editor living in California. She covers all things news, pop culture and true crime.
Is Tommy Caldwell married?
She isn't his first wife. Before he met Becca Caldwell, Tommy Caldwell was previously married to Beth Rodden. They were married in 2003 and divorced in 2010, the same year he met his current wife. She actually wrote on her blog about his past relationship and how it impacted his desire to climb The Dawn Wall.
Who was reunited with Caldwell at pitch 20?
On his next attempt, Jorgeson made a slight adjustment on a small foothold and made it through the pitch. Soon, he was reunited with Caldwell at Pitch 20.
What did Caldwell say about the Kyrgyzstan experience?
But, he adds, it also left him some gifts. “Life is so valuable and the Kyrgyzstan experience brought that into the front of my mind so much,” says Caldwell. “It made me push so hard on everything else because it made life tangible. I know I can’t take it for granted.”
Is Caldwell still married?
Failing in a marriage just isn’t that. I couldn’t control that at all,” says Caldwell, who is now happily remarried and the proud father of a twenty-month-old boy.
Did Caldwell have a good time with his friends?
Despite the failure of that attempt, Caldwell had a good time with his friends on the film crew, which led to a revelation about how to tackle Dawn Wall. “I was like, man, if the Dawn Wall can be done with good people all up there together having this cool adventure, maybe that’s what I need.”
Who is Beth Rodden?
After bursting onto the scene as a teenage gym rat, Beth Rodden became one of the most accomplished climbers of all time. Here, for the first time, she opens up about the price of perfectionism, the kidnapping that almost grounded her, finding love again after her marriage to big-wall prodigy Tommy Caldwell, and balancing motherhood and rock.
Where is Beth Rodden's porta ledge?
Beth Rodden and Tommy Caldwell take a break on a porta-ledge on the West Buttress of El Capitan. (Aurora Photos) Gearing up during an all womans expedition in 1999 to establish a new route up the Tasranora Massif in Andrigintra National Park, Madagascar.
What did Tommy's dad do for climbing?
During his bodybuilding prime, he’d welded his own barbells and dumbbells and made his own lifting benches. Tommy’s mother crafted cushions for them. When Tommy became serious about climbing, his father added a freestanding garage, complete with an apparatus we dubbed the Finger Machine, a handful of metal scraps welded together for the purpose of turning Tommy’s digits into steel. His parents were avid do-it-yourselfers; they believed we were capable of anything.
What happened to Tommy Caldwell?
Shortly after, he lost his index finger in an accident, but resolved to come back stronger.
Where did Caldwell live?
Back home in Colorado, Caldwell sat with the burden of believing he had killed someone. He became "darker", more thoughtful and introspective.
What did Caldwell hear when he woke up?
While sleeping in their portaledges, a kind of small tent which climbers fasten to rock so they can spend multiple nights on a big wall climb, Caldwell and his group awoke to the sound of bullets cracking into nearby granite. Splinters of rock zinged and sprayed around them.
How long did it take Caldwell and Jorgeson to climb the Dawn Wall?
In January, 2015, Caldwell and Jorgeson captivated the world as they set out to climb the Dawn Wall. They spent 19 physically and mentally demanding days on El Cap, before making it to the top.
What hand did Caldwell chop off?
A year after returning from Kyrgyzstan, Caldwell chopped off most of the index finger of his left hand while using a power saw.
Did Caldwell survive the fall?
The rebel Caldwell had pushed off the cliff was alive and languishing in a prison. Incredibly, he had somehow survived the fall. Caldwell felt a tremendous sense of relief at that news.
Is Tommy the best rock climber in the world?
His subsequent free climbing accomplishments in Yosemite National Park remain unmatched and made Tommy one of the best rock climbers in the world.
Overview
Climbing career
Rodden started climbing in 1995 at The Rocknasium, a local climbing gym in Davis, California. She won the Junior National JCCA Championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998; ranked first overall in the ASCF adult national series in 1997 and 1998; and placed third at the ASCF Fall Nationals in 1998.
In 1998 Rodden redpointed the sport route To Bolt Or Not To Be, the historical first 5.14 established in America, and became the youngest woman to ascend 5.14a. Her work impressed free climbing
Hostage in Kyrgyzstan
On a climbing trip to Kyrgyzstan's Kara Su Valley in August 2000, Rodden, then-boyfriend Tommy Caldwell, and fellow climbers Jason "Singer" Smith and photographer John Dickey were held hostage for six days by rebels from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. The four climbers overpowered one of their captors and escaped to a Kyrgyz army camp. During their capture they were forced to hide around the valley as their captors avoided the military. At midnight on Augus…
Personal life
Rodden met Tommy Caldwell through competition in 1995 and they started dating shortly before Kyrgyzstan. They married in 2003, lived in Yosemite, and both worked establishing themselves as professional climbers. Rodden and Caldwell divorced in 2009.
In 2014, she had a son with husband Randy Puro.
Rodden has also said that she struggled with an eating disorder early on in her career, and she cu…
Notable ascents
• est.1997: Country Boy (5.13d, 2nd ascent) at Lumpy Ridge, Estes Park Valley, Colorado.
• 1998: To Bolt or Not to Be (5.14a, 8b+) in Smith Rock State Park, Oregon.
• 1999: Bravo les Filles (VI 5.13d A0, 13 pitches, with Lynn Hill, Nancy Feagin, and Kath Pyke) in Tsaranoro Massif, Madagascar.
Filmography
• 2005: Dosage Volume III (bigUP productions) - Rodden on The Optimist.
• 2005: A Day In The Life: 5 Women Who Climb (Vasentertainment)
• 2006: Wall Rats (Form Follows Function/Yegg Central Productions)
See also
• History of rock climbing
• List of first ascents (sport climbing)
• Dave MacLeod, Scottish traditional climber
• Sonnie Trotter, Canadian traditional climber
External links
• "Beth Rodden profile". Marmot Pro Athletes. 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-07-11. Retrieved 2007-05-13.
• Rodden, Beth (2007). "Beth Rodden's La Sportiva Blog". La Sportiva Blogs. Archived from the original on 2006-12-19. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
• Ryan, Mick (April 2005). "Climb Like a Girl - Part 1". UKClimbing.com. Retrieved 2007-05-13.
Overview
Tommy Caldwell (born August 11, 1978) is an American rock climber accomplished in sport climbing, hard traditional climbing, big-wall speed climbing, and big-wall free climbing. Caldwell made the first free ascents of several El Capitan routes in Yosemite National Park.
He made the first ascents of some of the hardest sport routes in the U.S., inclu…
Personal life
Caldwell and Beth Rodden married in 2003, and subsequently divorced in 2010. In 2010 he met photographer Rebecca Pietsch. They married in 2012. The couple have a son, Fitz, and a daughter, Ingrid Wilde, and live in Estes Park, Colorado.
Early life and education
Caldwell grew up in Loveland, Colorado. His father is Mike Caldwell, a former teacher, professional body builder, mountain guide and rock climber, who introduced Tommy to rock climbing at a young age. His mother, Terry, was also a mountain guide. The family, including Tommy's sister, went on annual trips to Yosemite National Park where Tommy's love for the park and rock climbing flourished.
Taken hostage in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
Caldwell and three fellow climbers Beth Rodden, John Dickey, and Jason 'Singer' Smith were held hostage for six days by rebels in Kyrgyzstan in August 2000. Caldwell pushed one of the kidnappers off a cliff, and subsequently escaped to government soldiers. They later learned that the man had survived the fall. A book about their ordeal, Over the Edge: The True Story of Four American Climbers' Kidnap and Escape in the Mountains of Central Asia was written by Greg Child. …
Loss of a finger
Caldwell accidentally sawed off much of his left index finger with a table saw in 2001. Doctors were able to reattach the severed portion, but Caldwell decided he did not want the useless finger, which doctors said would never heal fully and he would never be able to use to climb with again, and the damaged part of the finger was later permanently removed.
Historic climbs
He made the first ascents of some of the United States' hardest sport routes (as of 2008) including Kryptonite (5.14c/d) and Flex Luthor (5.15a/b) at the Fortress of Solitude, Colorado. The latter route remained unrepeated for 18 years, before finally being repeated by Matty Hong in October 2021, who suggested the grade 5.15b (9b). This would make Flex Luthor the first confirmed 9b in the world, 5 y…
Documentaries
Caldwell was one of the climbers featured in the 2009 film Progression. The film discussed his quest to climb the Dawn Wall, and it was after seeing the film that Jorgeson contacted Caldwell to join him in the effort.
The Dawn Wall, a documentary following Caldwell and Jorgeson on their free climb of the Dawn Wall, was released on September 19, 2018. The documentary was directed by Josh Lowell and P…
Notable ascents
• 2001: The Honeymoon is Over V 5.13 Longs Peak, Colorado. FA with Beth Rodden belaying.
• 2003: Flex Luthor (5.15a/b), Fortress of Solitude, Colorado
• 2003: West Buttress (FFA) VI 5.13c, El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, California