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Free-Solo Fall Changes Everything: Watch ‘Dear Mother’

Cody Kaemmerlen was given up for adoption in South Korea right after he was born. He was adopted by an American couple, but the feeling of abandonment was ever-present, leading to a self-destructive period that ended a free-soloing fall that could have ended the misery, along with his life. But Kaemmerlen's story remains one of redemption — and hope.

Written by Seiji Ishii Feb 10, 2025 11:41 a.m. ET

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Produced by: American Alpine Club, Louder Than Eleven, and Mountain Hardwear

Run time: 40 minutes

Seiji Ishii

371 articles

Seiji Ishii is the Climbing, Cycling, Fitness, Travel, and Powersports editor at GearJunkie.

For 20+ years, he has been writing about cycling, climbing, outdoor endeavors, motorsports, and the gear and training for those pursuits. Ishii has trained elite and professional endurance, action, and powersports athletes for 30 years.

Before GearJunkie, Ishii was a freelance contributor to print and web publications related to his interests and professional experiences. He continues to pursue climbing and cycling objectives seriously.