There are people who come into your life at unexpected times, and end up being sources of inspiration in equally unexpected ways.
In the climbing world, we're accustomed to finding inspiration in the physical majesty of the badass of the moment, that climber who sends the hardest lines, endures the biggest epics, climbs the highest, hardest, fastest, finest.
While that's all well and good, I've always been more inspired by the folks who do what many of us see as pedestrian, but which for them is pushing the personal limits of the possible.
I first met Art Adams on one of my Kilimanjaro climbs in 2006. If I'm being honest, I gave him about a 0% chance of reaching the roof of Africa. But, 6 days later, still smiling and laughing and cracking jokes, Art proved me and others wrong.
We went on to many more adventures - Fuji in winter and Kinabalu in a downpour, Toubkal with 2 feet of fresh snow and Ararat in a blinding blizzard - and Art has always managed to make me laugh when most would cry, and to climb onward and upward with grace, aplomb, an admirable amount of self-deprecation, and a brilliant sense of humor.
Our last trip was to Kala Pattar and the Khumbu Valley 6 years ago, when these shots were taken. On this trip, as all the others, Art inspired me to keep going, keep smiling, and keep living and loving in the amazing world around us.
Art Adams enjoying the majesty of the Himalaya with Thamserku rising behind, Solu Khumbu, Nepal. 
Art, with typical humor, pointing out stickers of interest in Solu Khumbu, Nepal. 
Art Adams sharing with a young Nepali girl in Monjo, Solu Khumbu, Nepal.
Thanks, Art.
Where to next?
