Posts
2039
Joined
11/8/2010
Location
Washougal, WA
US
Edited Date/Time
6/6/2017 4:36pm
Massive balls. Or mental illness.
"Free soloing is when a climber is alone and uses no ropes or any other equipment that aids or protects him as he climbs, leaving no margin of error.
The route Honnold chose to reach the top of El Capitan, known as Freerider, is one of the most prized big wall climbs in Yosemite. The route has 30 sections—or pitches—and is so difficult that even in the last few years, it was newsworthy when a climber was able to summit using ropes for safety.
There are other climbers in Honnold’s league physically, but no one else has matched his mental ability to control fear. His tolerance for scary situations is so remarkable that neuroscientists have studied the parts of his brain related to fear to see how they might differ from the norm."
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/features/athletes/alex-honnold/most-dangerous-free-solo-climb-yosemite-national-park-el-capitan/
"Free soloing is when a climber is alone and uses no ropes or any other equipment that aids or protects him as he climbs, leaving no margin of error.
The route Honnold chose to reach the top of El Capitan, known as Freerider, is one of the most prized big wall climbs in Yosemite. The route has 30 sections—or pitches—and is so difficult that even in the last few years, it was newsworthy when a climber was able to summit using ropes for safety.
There are other climbers in Honnold’s league physically, but no one else has matched his mental ability to control fear. His tolerance for scary situations is so remarkable that neuroscientists have studied the parts of his brain related to fear to see how they might differ from the norm."
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/features/athletes/alex-honnold/most-dangerous-free-solo-climb-yosemite-national-park-el-capitan/
Not taking anything away from this guy but putting your life in someone else's hands in a life or death situation is insane.
Someone was with him taking pictures so I guess if he felt he was in any kind of danger he could of hooked himself up but it only takes a split second and it's goodbye world.
Either way he's got a big set of balls.
The Shop
Huge props to him though – he'd make a great MX trainer for mental strength.
Crazy.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiBCfXg5HoSxWQ9vMXUJbgg
He scaled it in roughly 4 hours.
When Royal Robbins first ascended it with all equipment needed, it took him 7 full days.
http://elcapreport.com/content/elcap-report-6317-special-edition-honnol…
I was lucky to meet and climb for a short day with Alex back in 2008, right before he soloed the Moonlight Buttress in Zion. He was pretty young at the time, but one of the most level headed humble and good dudes I ever met. His mental and physical ability is amazing. Congrats to him for making history.
Heres an interesting article by Tommy Caldwell (who climbed the Dawn Wall a year or 2 ago)
www.outsideonline.com/2190306/why-alex-honnolds-free-solo-scared-me
That thing dwarfs the empire state building very top tip by double.
He's lucky, because it can turn into a blizzard up there all 12 months in literally minutes and he doesn't need much time. The mountains make their own weather.
The pics on the post above on the el cap report are gnarly.
Post a reply to: Climber Completes the Most Dangerous Ascent Ever