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Christopher Solomon's moving story, "The Boy Who Lived on Edges," explores the lives and experiences of a unique person, Adam, who has chosen to live on the periphery of society, both physically and figuratively. The writer of the piece introduces us to a man who enjoys isolation and self-discovery in some of the most difficult locations on earth.

By examining the protagonist's motivations, the difficulties he encounters, and the strong bond he forms with nature, Solomon takes readers on a trip through the atypical life of the main character. The man's life on the outskirts of society is a reflection of his persistent devotion to simplicity and honesty in philosophy.

Themes of self-sufficiency, the appeal of the wilderness, and the existential issues that arise when one chooses a life far distant from the comforts and traditions of mainstream civilization are introduced as the plot develops. When Adam was lost during one of his daring adventures friends were worried about where he was, “I want to know if Adam was skiing alone, or if he had a partner with him.” (Solomon 2018) said Adam's friends. It is clear that Solomon takes his readers on an adventure and invitation to consider the fascination of the wild and the important lessons that might be learned from living on the periphery of human existence by Solomon's great writing and evocative descriptions.

In the end, "The Boy Who Lived on Edges" serves as an engrossing examination of the human spirit's ability for resiliency, adventure, and the unwavering pursuit of a life in accordance with one's most deeply held principles.

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When extreme skier Adam Roberts was killed by an avalanche in the mountains of Washington State, some people wondered if he’d died on purpose. Christopher Solomon reconstructs a life in which athletic talent, fearlessness, and mental illness combined to create an unbearable reality.

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Wingsuit Flyers (REUTERS/China Daily, 4 Nov 2015)

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Wingsuit flying could be considered one of the most extreme sports to participate in. It is one of the deadliest forms of BASE (buildings, antennae, spans, and earth) jumping. And with 72% of BASE jumpers witnessing a death or serious injury, wingsuit flying has the highest risks of death.

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Option 1: How does the adventure tourism industry impact local communities?

Possible Source: https://www.currentaffairs.org/2020/02/adventure-tourism-colonization-and-the-mount-everest-mystique

This article chronicles the history of colonization's impact on Mt. Everest itself and the indigenous communities surrounding the mountain. You could study the economic, political, and social impacts and use the Everest case study to make broader claims about adventure tourism.

Option 2: What are the effects of long-term participation in extreme sports on athletes' mental health and physical well-being?

Possible Source:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7005245/

This article discusses the rise in popularity of extreme sports and it's effect on the participants compared to conventional sports. Research suggests that extreme sports can have profound benefits on participants' physical, social and psychological well-being. On top of that, the knowledge and skills that are necessary for participation in extreme sports can be useful in other aspects of life.

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Julia, Robert, Audrey, and Elian discuss their personal coping mechanisms for stress and disappointment.

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coping mechanisms podcast final - Made with Clipchamp

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Brymer, E., Feletti, F., Monasterio, E., & Schweitzer, R. (2020, January 31). Editorial: Understanding extreme sports: A psychological perspective. Frontiers in psychology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7005245/

Brymer, E., & Oades, L. G. (2007). Extreme sports. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 49(1), 114–126. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167808326199

Harding, Lizzy. "The Guy Who Stayed Out in the Cold." BOOKFORUM, June 2022. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IPG7kbNj2bYOgrAPfoP8kHJMFeac6fEF/view.

Myers, Caitlin. "Adventure Tourism, Colonization, and the Mount Everest Mystique." Current Affairs, 18 Feb. 2020. https://www.currentaffairs.org/2020/02/adventure-tourism-colonization-and-the-mount-everest-mystique. Accessed 11 Sep. 2023.

Reuters/China Daily. https://www.newsweek.com/brain-thrill-seeker-dare-devil-wingsuit-base-jump-bungee-brain-dopamine-495994. Accessed 11 Sep 2023.

Solomon, C. (2018, March 22). The Boy Who Lived On EDges. Outside. Retrieved September 8, 2023, from https://www.outsideonline.com/2287926/terror-way-beyond-falling

Thau, Lea, host. Schmidt, Sequoia, interviewee. “The Schmidts, Part 2.” Strangers, 30 Oct.

2020, http://www.storycentral.org/the-schmidts-part-2/. Accessed 5 Sep. 2023.

YouGov. "Most Popular Reasons for Participating in Extreme Sports or Activities in The United States as of December 2022." Statista, Statista Inc., 10 Jan 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1366674/reasons-participating-extreme-sports/

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Most popular reasons for participating in extreme sports or activities in the United States as of December 2022

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This data comes from a survey taken by YouGov, an online polling service, where participants were asked what draws them to extreme sports. We wanted to highlight the second most popular answer, stress relief, because that is what we discussed in our podcast and saw as a common theme throughout our sources.

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Source 1: The Guy Who Stayed Out in the Cold - Wim Hof’s extreme approach to human potential

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Source 1: The Guy Who Stayed Out in the Cold - Wim Hof’s extreme approach to human potential

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This article discusses the life and teachings of Wim Hof. A Dutchman, also known as “The Iceman”, who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro shirtless, has run marathons in extreme conditions, likes to wear just a T-shirt outside during winter and has twenty-six world records to his name. Hof claims that his method of cold exposure and breathing techniques can heal illnesses and disorders and even allows practitioners to manipulate their immune systems. In 1995, Hof lost his wife to suicide. He stilled his grief by exposing himself to the cold, which led him to develop his method as a coping mechanism. Scientific evidence showed that Hof’s method granted him unprecedented control over his vagus nerve. His twin brother Andre came in very handy for the comparison. The article also mentions the popularity of his teachings among celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Joe Rogan and the media attention he has received, including a reality TV show and a biopic.

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A study conducted by E. Brymer and L. G. Oades where they gathered 15 athletes who performed extreme sports. They considered extreme sports leisure activities where the most likely outcome of a mismanaged mistake or accident is death. The study consisted in interviewing the athletes and using anecdotal evidence to find intersecting behaviors or experiences among all of them. One of the emerging experiences that the study revealed is that through extreme sports, they experienced “personal transformation”. Those personal transformations are permanent, they are expressed by the participants who take action in activities that they thought of as a death warrant before performing them. Two other factors that resembled among the athletes' stories are Humility and Courage. BASE jumper reflects about humility by explaining how: “it’s about accepting that you’re mortal and that you’re very vulnerable and that you’re like a piece of dust or a leaf in the wind”. (Brymer, Oades, 2009). Courage was displayed as overcoming their fears; they revealed that although they were aware of the high chances of death, they knew that powerful positive psychological experiences are probable. (Brymer, Oades, 2009). The participants merely felt a true connection with nature. The humility and courage learned from extreme sports spilled in other areas of their lives.

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The 2-part Schmidt podcast stars Sequoia Schmidt, an avid BASE jumper and entrepreneur, who tells the story of how extreme sports repaired her relationship with dead family members through changing how she thought about forgiveness. Sequoia and her brother, Denali, were neglected as children by their mountaineering father, Marty, who worked as an international mountaineering guide. In her teens, Sequoia cut contact with her father because of his neglect and a few years later he and Denali were killed in an avalanche on K2, the second highest mountain in the world. Destroyed by their deaths and angry at Marty for causing Denali’s death, Sequoia experienced a “really powerful healing journey” about seven years after their deaths because “as Sequoia started making similar decisions for herself, taking similar risks and finding them not only worthwhile but life changing in the best way. She was better able to accept Denalis death. She also changed her view on death itself…” (Thau). The “similar decisions” refer to Sequoia’s BASE jumping where she found her own passion in the extreme, leading her to better understand Marty’s love of the extreme and also to grapple with the permanence of death and journey of forgiveness.

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Meet Sequoia Schmidt - a most interesting and unusual young woman from a most interesting and unusual family. This is Part 1 of her story. Part 2 drops next week. Enjoy! You can find Sequoia at http://www.sequoiaschmidt.com.