Videographer Cedar Wright and his partner in adventure, world-renowned rock climber Alex Honnold, have endured a lot of discomfort together.  During their epic 2013 expedition—which they dubbed Sufferfest—they pushed their bodies to the limit cycling across California to hike and climb (without ropes) the state's fifteen tallest peaks.  

A year later they embarked on an even more ambitious journey—biking over 700 miles of the American Southwest to climb 45 towering rock formations. Part way into this grueling trip, naturally titled Sufferfest 2, an unexpected guest star appeared.  On a barren desert road, the men were making a pit stop when Wright heard nearby whimpering.  Looking around, he spotted a raggedy black-and-white puppy curled up inside an old tire.  Alone in the vast surroundings, the tiny fluffball clearly would not have survived on his own, so they added him to the team and named him Sufferpup.

Honnold and Wright were grateful to have a literal creature comfort around to improve morale, even though when they fed him string cheese—the closest thing to milk available—he thanked them by pooping on their sleeping bags.

When the trip came to a close, it was a happy ending for all three.  The men had completed another punishing and impressive series of climbs and rides, and Sufferpup found a loving home in Boulder, Colorado, with a friend of Wright’s.  And while the dog’s days of sleeping in a Tecate box are over, Honnold and Wright’s rugged, on-the-road lifestyle continues. You can read more about Sufferpup's rescue, and watch the complete BANFF film festival winner, Sufferfest 2: Desert Alpine, AKA 34 Pieces of Choss and 5 Horrendous Life Experiences on Vimeo now.

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