During the time it took to gain his Bachelor of Science degree at University of Riverside and then his Doctor of Medicine at UCLA, Dr. Nakagawa grew to love all of the adventures Southern California holds for an outdoor enthusiast. He finally settled on the Hill in Rancho Palos Verdes and at Torrance Memorial after finishing his residency in 2004. Nakagawa’s favorite quick spot to hit on the Hill is Del Cerro Park. “There’s lots of hiking there, though usually you’ll find me on two wheels if I’m at Del Cerro.” PULSE: You’re quite an accomplished climber—having tackled rock, ice, mountains and even volcanoes. What do you love about climbing?
Joe Nakagawa ( JN): I like the challenge, the self-discipline you need to succeed. Success depends entirely on you. When you are climbing, the mental fortitude, motivation and suppression of fear is what determines if you will succeed or fail. And it is great just to get outside. I’m happy just being out there, even if I never lace up the climbing shoes or boots. On a roped climb, it’s also about teamwork. Your life very literally depends on the person on the other end who feeds the rope out and keeps you from falling too far if you come off. Something about trusting someone completely and not having to worry about if they’ll save your life or not creates great friendships.
PULSE: Are you ever afraid you are going to fall? JN: It’s always a concern, but fear usually becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Concentrating on what happens if you fail often prevents you from succeeding. That said, I’ve fallen and fallen quite badly. It does hurt, but you get over it and keep moving. PULSE: What is your absolute favorite place to climb, backpack and/or just be outdoors? JN: I like the Eastern Sierra quite a bit. It’s close, it’s huge and has endless climbing. The scenery is gorgeous, and just walking to the base of the climb is worth the trip. The rock is generally very solid, and the climbing is world-class.
MAYBE WE DON’T MAKE HUGE DIFFERENCES ON A SOCIETAL LEVEL, BUT WE DO MAKE HUGE CHANGES TO EACH INDIVIDUAL’S LIFE.
36 | PULSE
SUMMER 2013