Westside Messenger - February 10th, 2019

PAGE 6 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - February 10, 2019
Accuratax of columbus
3099 Sullivant Ave. • 614-274-6900
(at the corner of Westgate & Sullivant)
Bring in This Ad and Receive a Discount!
“Serving The Hilltop Since 1983”
APPLIES ONLY TO
TAX RETURN PREPARATION
Hrs: Mon.-Thurs.
10 am - 6 pm
Fri. & Sat. 10 am-5 pm
Not Valid With Any Other Coupon
3rd Annual
Alleviate The Pain
Conference on Healing
Sponsored by
The Westside Pastor’s Fellowship”
We are a group of pastors and congregations focusing on
bringing unity to our faith community and to our
community as a whole. We welcome other pastors and
congregations to join in our fellowship
February 10th thru 13th , 2019
Nightly Free – Soup and Salad Supper 6:30 PM
Worship & Teaching 7:15 PM
All Are Welcome
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March 24 th , 2019
Deadline: March 15 th , 2019 At 2pm
Special employment Section Featuring:
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Full and Part Time Employment
Seasonal Job Opportunities and more
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advertising rates that are available for this section as well as combination rate
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Westside • Southwest • Eastside • Southeast • Madison
614-272-5422
Kathy@columbusmessenger.com
Doughenry@columbusmessenger.com
Produce giveaway at YMCA
The Hilltop YMCA hosts a fresh produce giveaway
the third Wednesday of each month from 4 to 6 p.m. at
2879 Valleyview Drive in Columbus. For more information,
call the YMCA at 614-276-8224.
www.columbusmessenger.com
In Entertainment
“Free Solo” should climb to your must see list
I remember the moment when word broke that Alex
Honnold had made history by becoming the first individual
to free solo El Capitan, a 3,000 foot high granite
monolith nestled in the famed Yosemite National
Park. I was flipping through the news stations, wondering
what fresh horror this world had to offer, when
the chyron announced this historic event. I did not,
and still do not, know much about big-wall climbing
and those who do it, but I was swept up in this achievement,
cognizant of this feat of human skill and celebrating
in the fact that this person realized a dream
and was alive to share the story.
In the weeks that followed, however, I forgot the
most important detail. I could tell you that someone
recently climbed El Capitan without the use of a rope
or other safety gear but I would have had to rack my
brain to remember the name of the man who did it.
Then came the film that documented his journey.
“Free Solo,” a National Geographic feature which has
only been shown in IMAX, puts you right there with
Honnold as he makes his attempt. It’s frightening,
dazzling, mind-boggling, exhilarating and it makes
sure that you (and I!) will never forget his name again.
It begins by introducing us, the general public, to
Alex Honnold, a 30-something year old who predominately
lives inside of a camper. Since his introduction
to wall and rock climbing as a teen, Honnold has been
travelling the world, honing his Spiderman-like skills
on some of the most challenging granite terrain in the
world — most of them done without the use of safety
equipment.
At first, he tries to explain what attracts him to this
dangerous activity but comes to the realization that he
cannot get others to understand. He is fully aware that
he may die while free soloing, but to him his chances
are no greater than getting in a car and being hit by a
drunk driver.
The dream of free soloing El Capitan, he says, came
to him some time ago. As a famous free soloist, he was
constantly asked about making an attempt during
interviews but was always cagey in his answers. He
said this was done so there was no undue pressure or
expectations put on him but once he got it into his
mind that climbing El Capitan was something he
wanted to do, he went all out to achieve his dream.
For more than three years, Alex and his fellow
expert climbing friends mapped out his path to the top.
He would begin by taking the Freerider route and following
all 33 pitches with special attention being paid
community events
The Reel Deal
Dedra Cordle
to ‘The Boulder Problem,’ which
is considered the most treacherous
part of the route due to its
pencil-thin handholds and slippery
wall that is near completely
vertical. After that was completed,
he would then traverse
another thousand or so feet to
make his way to the Enduro Pitch and its sharp,
exposed corners and sculpt his body to them as he continues
to ascend. After, it is all mind over the prospect
of celebration until he traverses another couple hundred
feet to the top. Or so they desperately hope.
“Free Solo” documents these trial and error runs —
all done with their safety equipment fully in place —
and then takes us into Alex’s mind as he comes home
to write about which moves would work best. It also
shows us the toll his dream takes on his family and
friends, one of which is co-director Jimmy Chin. Like
his fellow climbers and filmmakers, Chin knows the
importance of documenting this attempt but he also
knows he would be on hand to witness the death of his
best friend should a finger or soft sole slip.
Though the outcome of Alex’s free solo attempt is
now known, it doesn’t take away from that sense of
suspense as he makes the decision to attempt El
Capitan. In fact, the film amplifies it through up-close
shots of Alex’s rosin encrusted hands gripping barely
there grooves, the muscles in his legs stretching as he
balances and grips the rock wall, and the bottomless
view of ground below.
“Free Solo” is going to be tough for some people to
get through — the camera sweeps along the landscape
at dizzying heights, the mid-section that lulls with
relationship drama, the lack of understanding of why
he does the things he does — but if you think you can
handle it go see it before it leaves the theater. “Free
Solo” is a terrific documentary offering a glimpse into
the mindset of a thrill-seeking man few will ever want
to emulate, but one that many ought to get to know.
Grade: A
Dedra Cordle is a Messenger staff writer and
columnist.
Free meal at Lamb of God
The Church of the Lamb of God will host a free community
meal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. the fourth
Saturday of each month at 272 Fernhill Ave. in
Columbus. For additional information, call 614-706-
4945.
westside
Messenger
(Distribution: 25,168)
Andrea Cordle...................................Westside Editor
westside@ columbusmessenger.com
Published every other Sunday by the
The Columbus Messenger Co.
3500 Sullivant Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43204-1887
(614) 272-5422