Steph Davis is one the world’s very best climbers. She is the only woman to have free solo climbed a 5.11 climb, the first woman to summit all the peaks of the Fitzroy Range in Patagonia, the second woman to free climb El Capitan in a day, the first woman to free climb the Salathė Wall on El Capitan, the first woman to free solo The Diamond on Longs Peak in Colorado, and the first woman to summit Torre Egger.

Check out this great video of her free solo climbing and then BASE jumping (Time 2:52 minutes)

Check out this amazing video of her free solo climbing The Diamond located in the Rocky Mountains of North America, and which has a vertical gain of more than 900 feet (270 m) all above an elevation of 13,000 feet (4,000 m).

It is a world famous alpine climb and notoriously difficult for seasoned climbers. She was the first woman to ever do it. I got sweaty palms just watching this video. (Time 7:45 minutes)

In addition to being a world class climber, she is also a BASE jumper and wingsuit flyer. Her list of accomplishments is simply amazing.

As a fellow vegetarian she shows that endurance athletes that eat solely a plant-based diet can compete at a world class level.

What I most admire about her is her inner fortitude and resilience in the face of adversity.

Having dealt with her fair share of “problems” and probably more than most people could handle, she has risen like a phoenix from the ashes time and time again.

It’s a true inspiration and one of the many reasons I am super grateful for the opportunity to interview her.

It is a great privilege and honor to bring you this interview.

Welcome Steph, and thank you for being with us, to begin….

For all those aspiring athletes that would like to follow in your footsteps what advice or pearls of wisdom do you have?

There’s absolutely no road-map.  The main thing I would suggest to anyone is to make sure you are self sufficient and you can take care of yourself.  This is true in the mountains and in the modern world.

You seem to live the embodiment of what Joseph Campbell called the Hero’s Journey facing both personal and professional challenges, what do you attribute your ability to continue on in the face of adversity?

Trial by fire, and a lot of experience. You get better at it.

Of course no one is immune to facing one’s fear, you seem to handle it though better than most, what would you like others to know about this thing called, fear?

When something is scary, I often go toward it.  I try not to be controlled by fear, in two ways—not to just avoid and run away, but also not to do something that feels wrong in an attempt to exorcise the feeling.

You are an inspiration to people all around the world, if you had to choose one person who had the biggest impact over the course of your life and that inspired you, who would that be?

My late husband Mario Richard.

What’s the most important lesson you have learned?

To take time before reacting to anything and to consider potentials that aren’t immediately apparent.

In one sentence or phrase how would you define success?

Living a free and happy life.

What was the best decision you have made?

Living in my truck for several years instead of paying rent, and then eventually buying an inexpensive, fixer-upper house without a mortgage.   Basically, the decision to stay out of debt no matter what.

What was the most difficult decision you had to make?

I can’t think of just one, but deciding to drop out of law school to live in a car and climb was a scary decision.

What is your happiest moment or accomplishment of your life who would that be?

That’s hard to answer: most every day is an amazing day and I’m happy for it.

Looking over your life thus far, is there anything you would have done differently or that you regret?

Everything that’s happened has brought me to where I am now: I can’t wish for anything different.

Check out this great video of Steph, free climbing and BASE jumping. (Time: 4:57 minutes)

To learn more about Steph Davis, check her out at her site High Infatuation.

You can also check her out at her Facebook page.