I like the simplicity of soloing. You've got no gear, no partner. You never climb better than when you free-solo.

Seven years ago, when I started free soloing long, hard routes in Yosemite - climbing without a rope, gear or a partner - I did it because it seemed like the purest, most elegant way to scale big walls. Climbing, especially soloing, felt like a grand adventure, but I never dreamed it could be a profession.

Anytime you finish a climb, there's always the next thing you can try.

There's only a handful of chicks in the world who can climb big walls on my level.

'Dirtbag' is just the term we use, like a 'gnarly dude' in surfing. Within the climbing culture, it means being a committed lifer: someone who has embraced a minimalist ethic in order to rock climb. It basically means you're a homeless person by choice.

You'll never find a better sparring partner than adversity.