В Роаноке мужчина совершил исторический свободный восхождение на звезду горы Милл

Roanoke man climbs Mill Mountain Star ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - A Roanoke man had a one-time privilege to legally free-solo climb the Mill Mountain Star. Chad Heddleston, a rock climber with 30 years of experience, made the ascent up the front of the star in about nine minutes, without a rope and without a rehearsal run. Twelve years in the making Heddleston moved to Roanoke 12 years ago and said he had his eye on the star from the start. “You come to town and you’re like, ‘Oh yeah, I could climb that,’” Heddleston said. “But I would get arrested. And so, one thing leads to another... and twelve years later, you get to climb it.” He applied for permits in January and spent months uncertain whether the climb would be approved. “I swear, I didn’t think it was going to happen until the morning of,” Heddleston said. “I was just, for sure, this is going to get canceled somehow, somewhere. Somebody’s going to say no.” The climb and what was at stake Heddleston said his greatest concern during the climb was not the height; it was the star itself. “To break the star would be like the second worst thing that you could do,” he said. “So if I somehow broke neon tubing or electrical wires or something, like, that would be a big disaster. And I would feel so bad.” Beyond the climb The ascent was not solely a personal milestone. Heddleston said he wanted to draw attention to Roanoke’s outdoor scene and promote his award-winning documentary about pioneer rock climbers. Heddleston said the climb reflects a broader belief about pursuing ambitious goals. “Sometimes the big dream happens - and if you shoot for the moon, you land amongst the stars,” he said. Despite the achievement, Heddleston said the recognition feels unearned. “It’s an honor I don’t think I deserve,” he said. “I think that so many people here care so much about this place and have done so much for this town, and I’m just a rock climber.” Copyright 2026 WDBJ. All rights reserved.