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President Obama and the White House Show Love to Rock Climbing

Natalie Siddique
POTUS in Yosemite

It’s not every day that you see the POTUS hanging out in Yosemite Valley (the last one was JFK in 1962!), which is why President Obama’s visit to this iconic climbing destination this past weekend (and other incredible national treasures of this country) was a giddy moment for all of us.

“I want to make sure that the whole world is able to pass on to future generations the God-given beauty of this planet.” —President Obama on preserving America’s national parks. Over the past seven years, he’s protected more public lands and water than any U.S. president in history — and this weekend, he’ll take in two of America’s greatest treasures, Carlsbad Caverns National Park and @YosemiteNPS, with his family. #FindYourPark

A video posted by The White House (@whitehouse) on

Change of scenery: Marine One sets down in @YosemiteNPS with Half Dome in the background. The First Family disembarked in the Yosemite meadow last night as part of a trip in celebration of the @NationalParkService’s one hundredth anniversary. Head to wh.gov/live today at 2 PM ET to watch President Obama speak at Yosemite about preserving our natural heritage for future generations. #NPS100 #FindYourPark

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Moreover, it’s certainly not every day that you see rock climbers featured all over the White House Instagram … What a huge testament to the growing respect and appreciation for the outdoors and this sport!

Hi, I’m Kevin Jorgeson (@KJorgeson), and I’m here with some of my friends from the climbing world to take over the @WhiteHouse account before President Obama arrives at Yosemite National Park, my home away from home! Last January, I realized my six-year dream of climbing the Dawn Wall of El Capitan with my partner, @TommyCaldwell. From a young age, my parents got me into the outdoors via camping, rafting, fishing, and hiking. Now, as a climber, I spend the majority of my life in the outdoors pursuing my passion. For all climbers, I want to thank President Obama for protecting more land and water than any other president in history. #FindYourPark #NPS100 #ElPrezAtElCap

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Alex Manelis (@AManelis) here. Yosemite Valley has been a special place for me. I learned most of my climbing there and have experienced the good and the bad. I’ve met some great friends there who have taught me most of the skills I’ve needed to grow as an individual and climber. The hikes can be a bit long at times, but when you reach your destination, the rewards are always worth the time and effort. Seen in this photo is veteran Yosemite climber and former member of Yosemite’s Search and Rescue Team, Cheyne Lempe (@CheyneLempe), standing at the very edge of an empty Upper Yosemite Falls. I’ve always liked this place because it’s not seen by many of the visitors that stay on the valley floor. If you put in the effort and make the longer hikes, it opens a world of possibilities for seeing amazing things in the park. #NPS100 #FindYourPark #ElPrezAtElCap

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Professional rock climber @SashaDigiulian here! Under President Obama, the @WhiteHouse has been an important ally to those of us who work outdoors, helping us to preserve wild places in the United States for everyone’s use. More than 305 million people from all over the world visited national parks last year. Clearly conservation and outdoor recreation help drive our economy in so many ways. Thank you President Obama for taking the bold steps to preserve our public lands. #NPS100 #FindYourPark #ElPrezAtElCap

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Hey everyone, @KatieBoue here! I’m not quite a professional athlete, but here’s what I am: an American whose passion for public lands was inspired by climbing. I started climbing in the South, and dreamt about witnessing the beauty of Yosemite National Park for years. When I finally stood at the base of El Capitan for the first time, the magnificence of nature prompted me to dedicate my career to getting Americans outdoors. President Obama has protected more than 265 million acres of land and water in our country—without his work to support conservation and recreation, I wouldn’t be able to play in some of the places I love most. Whether you’re a pro athlete, or just an everyday climber like me, the President’s efforts to protect public lands and make them accessible to all Americans is something to celebrate. I am truly honored to see #ElPrezAtElCap this weekend. #NPS100 #FindYourPark

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Hi, my name is Kai Lightner (@KaiLightner), and I’m the next climber to take over the @WhiteHouse account! I started climbing at age six in a small gym in a small city, far away from mountains and state parks. I was fortunate to find a sport that led me to discover the great outdoors. I’ve had many life-changing experiences climbing and exploring various national parks around the country, and I would love for more kids to have similar opportunities. The White House’s #EveryKidInAPark initiative to promote greater access to the outdoors will do that, giving more people the opportunity to get outside and try something new. Thanks to President Obama, some of the kids who get to visit our national parks might fall in love with the experience—and grow up to become climbers too. #FindYourPark

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Hi I’m Conrad Anker (@Conrad_Anker), and I’m honored to be a part of the climber take over of the @WhiteHouse account. President Obama is “on” 24-7. So at Yosemite he’ll highlight the centennial of the National Park Service, the economic importance of the outdoor recreation industry and the importance of acting to protect our climate for future generations. We need nature to survive. #FindYourPark #NPS100

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Hi! I’m Nina Williams (@Sheneenagins). I’ve been climbing for 14 years, and only recently visited @YosemiteNPS for the first time. I figured, “It will be here forever so why rush?” But the reality is that we can’t take these places for granted. We have a responsibility to preserve and protect our parks. So take the time to #FindYourPark and find your love—I found mine in the beauty of Yosemite. Photo: @BeauKnowsPhotos #NPS100 #ElPrezAtElCap

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Hi I’m Alex Honnold (@AlexHonnold). Yosemite National Park has always been my primary source of inspiration. It’s the one place that I always come back to and always want to keep exploring. I’m extremely grateful that it’s been protected as a park for over one hundred years. Happy anniversary, @NationalParkService—and thanks, President Obama, for carrying this legacy forward. #FindYourPark #NPS100 #ElPrezAtElCap

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Hi—I’m Jimmy Chin (@Jimmy_Chin), and I’m the last in a series of climbers to take over the @WhiteHouse Instagram today. I’m excited to be heading back to Yosemite National Park, one of my favorite places on the planet, to see President Obama and the First Family tomorrow. It says a lot about the First Family that they’re taking time to appreciate a slice of nature and beauty at @YosemiteNPS, one of the gems within our incredible national park system. Having spent years of my life climbing and adventuring on the walls there, I am deeply thankful for the foresight to protect and preserve such an important and beautiful landscape. This visit from the President will highlight the importance of preserving these wild places for generations to come. #FindYourPark #NPS100 #YosemiteAmbassador Photo: @AlexHonnold walking the walk on Thank God Ledge, Half Dome Northwest Regular Route, Yosemite National Park.

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Related: WTF Is a Dawn Wall?! A Laymen’s Guide to What the Hell Happens Up There

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