Vertical Pursuits with Hans Florine

What this episode covers

“We are on this planet to do, not to observe.” says Hans Florine; a longtime climbing partner of Erik’s When Erik wanted to climb Mt. Everest, kayak the Grand Canyon, paraglide or any of the other seemingly improbable challenges, there were believers and naysayers. Hans was a believer. When Erik wanted to be the first blind person to climb a 3000 foot vertical wall of granite he recalled Hans saying “This absolutely can be done, and I’m absolutely the guy who can help you do it." Since that day in 1996, Erik and Hans have adventured and climbed all around the world, including places like Cartzenz Pyramid in Papua New Guinea, Mt. Kenya, and even went back that afore-mentioned 3000 foot wall of granite to set a record becoming the first blind person to climb El Cap in a day. In this conversation you’ll hear why that wall of granite (that’s Yosemite’s El Capitan) became an obsession for Hans (not just climbing it, but being the fastest in the world on it), how he dealt with setbacks like breaking both legs in a climbing accident, and other life lessons in his quest for speed.

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