Discussion Topic |
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FeelioBabar
climber
Sneaking up behind you...
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Topic Author's Original Post - Sep 9, 2008 - 05:11pm PT
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guess who?
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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Sh#t - BURT soloed it 25 years ago.
STFU
Juan
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
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If this went down, my money would be on young Alex.
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FeelioBabar
climber
Sneaking up behind you...
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 9, 2008 - 05:23pm PT
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PROUD!
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the Fet
Knackered climber
A bivy sack in the secret campground
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Wow!
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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Alex Who?
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hobo_dan
Social climber
Minnesota
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wow
total balls
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
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Alex Honnold. Total badass.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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That is a super proud send to say the least, but, uh, I've never heard of Alex Trebek (but then I'm not in the game). Young eh, how young? I'm just curios.
Congrats Alex.
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Captain...or Skully
Big Wall climber
up Yonder (the edge of Treason)
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Dude, they're effin' with you. Alex Trebek is the host of the game show "Jeopardy".
And a Canadian.
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
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Patrick - are you ready for this? 23 years old. Maybe 24 now, but I believe 23. Yikes!
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S.Leeper
Sport climber
Austin, Texas
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When do you think he will free solo freerider?
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GDavis
Trad climber
SoCal
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there's no way thats possible. It is IMpossible.
but I know he did it.
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Alex Trebek knows the questions before the answers...
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malabarista
Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
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I'm blown away. What an incredible accomplishment.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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"Alex Trebek knows the questions before the answers..."
That sounds like a Wernerism, only backwards.
Trebek is also a Canadian. Along with Celine Dion, Paul Anka and others. Be nice, or we'll send more.
Edit: Don't watch TV at all. Too busy posting. What's "Jeopardy"?
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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you don't watch Jeopardy™ much do you, Anders?
I've said it before and I'll say it again, We will keep Alex, Neil Young, Dan Ackroid, and maybe even Michael J. Fox, as long as you keep us Bryan adams and Shania Twain, free, forever! Oh and we want William Gibson back, too.
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MisterE
Social climber
My Inner Nut
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That's amazing. Thanks for the link.
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Curt
Boulder climber
Gilbert, AZ
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That's one bad-ass boulder problem.
Curt
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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whoah...duuude....
stellar send!!!
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itso
climber
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Awesome Alex!!!
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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What are his political views?
Juan
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MisterE
Social climber
My Inner Nut
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STFU, Juan - a public service announcement
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JSmith
climber
Squamish
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Absolutely huge. One of the most inspiring climbers of our time!
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Matt
Trad climber
primordial soup
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sick!
begs the question:
after the dude does freerider with just a chalk bag-
how long before he free solos both HD and el cap in the same day?
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Lambone
Ice climber
Ashland, Or
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unbelievable! sickness...
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Dudeman
Trad climber
Hansen, Idaho
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Way Proud!!!
Individuals like this lend perspective to the human race. They are actually doing something different in life and not just wasting space and oxygen on this planet. I mean have you looked around lately to see what’s going down? Pretty pathetic we are.
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steelmnkey
climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
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Pretty freakin' out there.
Just one question... I'm guessing he did it beforehand to suss it out before launching up it? Seems like that's what he did on Moonlight.
That guy is shaking the foundations of what's possible.
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salad
climber
Escondido
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haha! could you imagine?
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steelmnkey
climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
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You gotta believe El Cap is right there in his mind. Just has to figure out what route and get 'er done.
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Watusi
Social climber
Newport, OR
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Sep 10, 2008 - 12:06am PT
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Really incredible I might say!...
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Largo
Sport climber
Venice, Ca
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Sep 10, 2008 - 12:13am PT
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Flat out amazing. Curious how many times he'd done the route before.
jL
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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Sep 10, 2008 - 12:19am PT
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We should be very careful about everything we think is impossible because as our vision expands, our capabilities expand with it and more impossible happens all the time.
Awesome. Is there any doubt that (not that it would be a smart thing) that El Cap will be free soloed someday? We used to thing even freeing the thing was very unlikely.
Peace
Karl
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WBraun
climber
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Sep 10, 2008 - 12:47am PT
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He is breathing air far above the normal scale ......
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le_bruce
climber
Oakland: what's not to love?
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Sep 10, 2008 - 12:51am PT
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Oh my. Boggles the mind. I mean f#ck! This guys has ice in the blood, and his mental focus has got to be positively ironclad. A superlative level of mental control that I can't even imagine.
I'm no doubt the ninny of the group, but my god when I think of someone trying to solo El Cap I get a knot in my stomach and anxiety washes over me like a pale of cold water.
If you are a friend of Alex's, and he tells you that tomorrow morning he's going to give Free Rider a go w/o a rope - could you stand in the meadow to watch? Shudder.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Sep 10, 2008 - 01:35am PT
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Did I mention that I'd soloed the regular route on HD, too? Both up and down? With several hundred not-so-close friends for company? There's a picture here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half_Dome
Oh, you meant the Regular Northwest Face. My bad.
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Brian Kimball
Sport climber
Westminster, CO.
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Sep 10, 2008 - 03:33am PT
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WOW-impressive! I mean when you really think about it...the chances that he would DIE soloing Moonlight or Half Dome are REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, HIGH! I mean just one slip is all it takes and his life is OVER...WOW! The chances of falling off Free Rider would be even higher. I personally belayed him while he feel twice at the boulder crux.
I have said it before and I will say it again "there is a insecure cross over/dyno move to a loose-chossy bread loaf that is most definately going to come ripping off one day and anyone that attempts to solo this route needs his head examined". SO to anwser the gentelmans question "would I hang in the meadow with loved ones and telescopes to cheer my friend on for a solo asscent of El Cap." HELL NO!
Alex is a WORLD CLASS CLIMBER-and a hell of a guy too boot! Why he finds it nessissary to put his life at such high risk like this on such long hard routes...I will never know! I do know this-it would be a tradgic loss to the world and climbing community to have a guy like Alex who climbs 5.14 fall to his death on some 23 pitch 5.12- like Half Dome or some 8 pitch 5.12+ like moonlight
Do I think that Alex's free solos are COOL, AWESOME AND AMAZING...well YEAH!
The question is how cool would it be if he fell???
Most of you seem to care more about seeing El Cap. get free soloed than you do about the life of Alex Honnald.
Nice send Alex...just remember bro...your NOT wearing a BASE RIG-no second chances!
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MisterE
Social climber
My Inner Nut
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Sep 10, 2008 - 03:44am PT
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That's a check, Brian. Thanks
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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Sep 10, 2008 - 07:45am PT
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Brian's got a totally rational, reasonable point and it's totally fair to state it.
However, historically, for some karmic or 'divine' reason, the hard-ass soloists seem to die or get hurt in some other way, the exception being Derek and he ate it on 5.9, so go figure.
Sometimes the visionaries have to do their crazy thing. If they die, it on to the next epic, so don't hold on to them too tight.
Funny to see a picture of the guy. World class athlete with nerves of steel doing stuff that would make any Olympian sh#t themselves and puke from fear.....and he looks like the neighborhood friendly video game nut that couldn't lift the spare tire to change a flat!
peace
Karl
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AbeFrohman
Trad climber
new york, NY
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Sep 10, 2008 - 09:18am PT
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sick sick sick, but only a matter of time before he's a grease stain.
(nothing wrong with soloing, not starting a dont solo blablabla thread, im just sayin'.)
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More Air
Big Wall climber
S.L.C.
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Sep 10, 2008 - 09:55am PT
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Free soloing that last slab pitch...
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guyman
Trad climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Sep 10, 2008 - 10:16am PT
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WOW...Pretty cool, these kids today can sure crank.
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howlostami
Trad climber
Southern Tier, NY
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Sep 10, 2008 - 10:49am PT
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That's some awesome inspiration to get out there and live.
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Sep 10, 2008 - 11:24am PT
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Honedbold strikes again! If you're solid and you know it, hike the Dome! Truly amazing climbing.
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graham
Social climber
Ventura, California
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Sep 10, 2008 - 11:39am PT
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what Brian said
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steelmnkey
climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
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Sep 10, 2008 - 12:07pm PT
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I don't think anyone wants to push anyone else to solo El Cap. Just commentary on the next logical step in the progression of the "impossible." I'd much rather it never saw a free solo ascent than to see someone die trying it.
As with Bachar and Croft before him, from his interview he seems to have a pretty good head on his shoulders and he's able to decide for himeself. Think it was Croft who said in some climbing movie or another that if you're soloing for anyone but yourself, then you've had a horrible joke played on you.
Reports say Honnold had done the Half Dome route five times before, with two free ascents (one two days before the solo).
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James
climber
Leavenworthless
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Sep 10, 2008 - 12:46pm PT
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Alex climbed the route in 2 hours 50 minutes taking the Higbee Hedral, the 5.10 traverse around the Robbins traverse, and the fourth zig-zag. He ran the 5.7 to the top on Saturday morning seeing close to a hundred people on the summit, none of whom took notice of the fact that he'd soloed the Regular Route on Half Dome. No gold medal for Alex, though on the cables down a dozen people noted he was super tough for hiking barefoot.
Soloing's dangerous. I hope that Honnold never falls.
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Andy Puhvel
climber
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Sep 10, 2008 - 04:10pm PT
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The next level Alex! The diciest one yet. I freed all three of Alex's big solos this year, and none of them are even close to as scary as Half Dome. Hard 5.11 dime edge slab 2000 feet off the ground, holds sometimes crumble, hands are almost non-existent at times. This is probably the all around craziest and most insecure free-solo of all time. Rad Alex...the universe in the palm of your hands.
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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Sep 10, 2008 - 04:29pm PT
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anyone giving odds on how long before jh posts up that it's a physical impossibility?
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k-man
Gym climber
SCruz
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Sep 10, 2008 - 04:48pm PT
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Fully above awesome.
And what Brian said--my stomach shrinks and explodes just thinking about an El Cap solo. I don't want to encourage that in any way. BTW, I believe the bread loaf is already gone, so the Teflon Corner is the most "reasonable" approach.
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bldr
Trad climber
roseville
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Sep 10, 2008 - 06:17pm PT
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I certainly commend alex for all his achievements but I appreciate Brian's comments the most. Certainly something for all of us to consider as we both revere and encourage those among us.
Sometimes I find it sad that I enjoy seeing these posts largely because I enjoy hearing my old friend is still among the living.
As always congratulation to Alex.
-J
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randomtask
climber
North fork, CA
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Sep 10, 2008 - 07:09pm PT
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I don't think it should count-the NPS fired Half Dome a long time ago, didn't they?
-JR
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
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Sep 10, 2008 - 07:16pm PT
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It's old news anyway - I've already solo'd Half Dome.
Snake Dike. Twice. Once by moonlight. :)
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The Wedge
Boulder climber
Bishop, CA
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Sep 10, 2008 - 08:34pm PT
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How high is the BAR now? Amazing.
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marty(r)
climber
beneath the valley of ultravegans
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Sep 10, 2008 - 09:21pm PT
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Cheers to Alex! And to Andy too. No small feet for a working dad. Well done!
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mikeyschaefer
climber
Yosemite
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Sep 10, 2008 - 10:19pm PT
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Just a note about the supposed grade of .12a given to the route. Its only 12a to a 5.14 climber. To everyone else it is probably somewhere around the 12b/c grade. I doubt Honnold can tell the difference anymore. In my opinion it is of very similar difficulty to Moonlight which regularly is said to be 12d.
Way to go Honnold!
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dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
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Sep 10, 2008 - 10:58pm PT
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Holy cow!
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Loomis
climber
o(>_
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Sep 10, 2008 - 11:36pm PT
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The reggae route is a boulder problem now, Cool!
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the Fet
Knackered climber
A bivy sack in the secret campground
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Sep 11, 2008 - 12:21pm PT
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Climbing History. So much cooler than any other thread.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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Sep 11, 2008 - 01:05pm PT
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that celebration beer must have tasted good!
i drank one in cheer of your accomplishment and mine even tasted better than the average can.
well done youth.
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michaellane
climber
Spokane, WA
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Sep 11, 2008 - 06:26pm PT
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>>>
I've said it before and I'll say it again, We will keep Alex, Neil Young, Dan Ackroid, and maybe even Michael J. Fox, as long as you keep us Bryan adams and Shania Twain, free, forever! Oh and we want William Gibson back, too.
>>>
Who gets Shatner?
He free-soloed The Nose.
--ML
EDIT: Congrats, Alex. Mind-blowing accomplishment.
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Dr. Rock
Ice climber
Castle Rock
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Sep 11, 2008 - 09:16pm PT
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OK, great Alex, now knock that sh#t off before you give us a bad name.
Nobody decks as long as I'm alive.
That's The Law.
Three paws down.
Always keep at least three paws down for maximum immortallity.
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wack-N-dangle
Gym climber
the ground up
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Sep 11, 2008 - 09:44pm PT
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Cheers
and
safe climbing
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MisterE
Social climber
My Inner Nut
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Sep 11, 2008 - 09:59pm PT
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"Just a note about the supposed grade of .12a given to the route. Its only 12a to a 5.14 climber. To everyone else it is probably somewhere around the 12b/c grade. I doubt Honnold can tell the difference anymore. In my opinion it is of very similar difficulty to Moonlight which regularly is said to be 12d.
Way to go Honnold!"
Talked to the Doctor today, who on-sighted the crux "12" pitch. He said it was .12b slab.
shudder
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jbar
Mountain climber
The Dirty South
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Sep 11, 2008 - 10:13pm PT
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Man, I solo 5.6 slab all the time and I never made Alpinist!
All I can say is BALLS man, BALLS! Makes my hands sweat thinking about it. Awesome job Alex. I respect anyone who can muster that level of focus and commitment.
MH - Don't forget Peter Croft. He was Cnanadian.
Am I missing something on the Elcap issue? Didn't Dunn, Croft, Bachar, Potter and others already solo it?
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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Sep 11, 2008 - 10:17pm PT
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Anyone know when the El Cap Solo is set for. It would be so cool to watch, kind of like Evil Knievel.
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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Sep 11, 2008 - 10:19pm PT
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Anyone know when the El Cap Solo is set for. It would be so cool to watch, kind of like Evil Knievel.
Where is the 12b slab pitch? Is that after thank god?
Juan
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wack-N-dangle
Gym climber
the ground up
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Sep 12, 2008 - 10:29pm PT
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Cos
Trad climber
California
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Sep 14, 2008 - 11:30pm PT
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Absolutely incredible effort by Alex - congratulations and stay safe. Does anyone have a link to photos of the Higbee Hedral pitch? Thanks.
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TC
Social climber
No matter where you go, there you are.
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Sep 15, 2008 - 12:02am PT
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Alex is working up to free soloing HD and El Cap in a day.
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Dr. Rock
Ice climber
Castle Rock
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Sep 15, 2008 - 01:49am PT
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Can you get a hang glider from the top of El Cap to the base of Half Dome?
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Yorock1
Boulder climber
El Portal, Ca.
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Sep 18, 2008 - 01:03pm PT
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no you cant land a glider @ the base of 1/2 stone
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Brock
Trad climber
RENO, NV
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Sep 18, 2008 - 01:07pm PT
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I will never know the freedom nor the accomplishment of being able to freesolo something like that.
Alex, stay alive to climb more routes. Amazing!
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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Sep 18, 2008 - 02:48pm PT
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holy cow!
one's huevos shrivel at the mere thought :)
amazing...
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Michael Lecky
Mountain climber
Harvard, MA
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Sep 19, 2008 - 02:05pm PT
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I remember trying to climb 5.10 routes on Suicide, around 1970, and feeling that I was looking at absolute impossibility. This climb is completely beyond my imagination. It utterly dwarfs the accomplishments of China's "Flying Munchkin" child gymnasts. I saw that route, decades ago, back when I had hair, a pair of EB's, and a pair of white painter's pants. How in the name of god could anyone free-climb that?
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
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Sep 19, 2008 - 02:14pm PT
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"Am I missing something on the Elcap issue? Didn't Dunn, Croft, Bachar, Potter and others already solo it?"
What you're missing is that those folks used aid and ropes in sections. EC has never been free soloed, sans rope.
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Robinson
Trad climber
Chattanooga
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Sep 19, 2008 - 04:00pm PT
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One man mission to Mars without a rocket. Incomprehensible.....
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nutjob
Stoked OW climber
San Jose, CA
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Sep 19, 2008 - 10:07pm PT
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It is stupefying to behold such outrageous confidence, skill, conditioning, and just plain mastery of the body and mind. It really doesn't seem within the realm of humanity! It is a blazing bright light of inspiration for our spirits, but the part of me that is tied to this mortal coil is fearful and a bit saddened, grieving in advance.
But I, like all others here, am merely projecting my hopes and dreams and fears onto you, Alex. I hope you're smart enough to live your life as free of all that baggage as your body is free of gear!
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jbar
Mountain climber
The Dirty South
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Sep 19, 2008 - 10:25pm PT
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"What you're missing is that those folks used aid and ropes in sections. EC has never been free soloed, sans rope."
I'm not that familiar with Yosemite history but I thought I remembered something about Peter Croft being so put out he had pulled on an old sling during his El Cap solo that he went back and did it completely free. If none of this it true I wish people would stop using the term "free solo" so loosely. Aid and free are antonymous.
Back to the topic of HD free solo. I could only imagine having that much skill. Hanging near the top where the "harder" stuff starts and knowing the only way off is to keep going up. Whew. Kutzpa!
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steelmnkey
climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
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Sep 19, 2008 - 10:32pm PT
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As I recall, the story about Croft was on the Rostrom and he didn't use the sling, he simply shifted the sling so that it was surrounding his hand on a hold and he reasoned if he slipped, he might be able to grab it that way. As you said, he went back and repeated the solo because of it.
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GDavis
Trad climber
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Sep 19, 2008 - 11:43pm PT
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JBar
You, sir, need a history lesson!
:D
Come have some beers I will extrapolate.
-Armchair Alpinist Extreme
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Captain...or Skully
Big Wall climber
Nunya, America
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Sep 19, 2008 - 11:53pm PT
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One o' the Tall Stones,.........
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Dirk
Trad climber
The Middle of the Pacific Ocean
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Sep 20, 2008 - 12:02am PT
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A note to all the climbers in the world who don't know HD... I know this is the wrong forum for this message--well, if you read the report on climbing.com they emphasize how moonlight is 12+ AND HD has "just one" pitch of 12a... but HOLY CRAP those last few pitches after the zig-zags--i cannot imagine it, 5.14 climber or not: you are pushing the boat out.
NICE WORK ALEX!
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WBraun
climber
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Sep 20, 2008 - 12:10am PT
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I did almost the same thing on the Rostrum free solos at that transition face move between the cracks where the sling hung to fixed pin.
Only I clipped it with a sling to a piece of 1 inch webbing around my waist. for that move.
If you slipped there you're instant dust. That move is the scariest and hardest move on the whole route when you free solo it.
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jbar
Mountain climber
The Dirty South
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Sep 20, 2008 - 12:30am PT
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I freely admit I am in need of a history lesson. And I learn much quicker when there is beer involved!
It must seem strange to the posters here but I am just starting to learn about most things climbing when it comes to the American climbng revelotion. I think there are no finer climbers in the world than us Americans. Some Canadians included. lol I was always a huge technical diver. I guess you could say I was sort of a Dean Potter figure in my field. I dove way beyond the typical limits. I also taught mixed gas in the service and for TDI when it started being used in the sports field. That lead me to living in Italy where I took to the mountians like a moth to a porch light. Read everything I could about the mountains and mountaineering. I can talk about Buhl, Walter Bonnati, the Leco spiders, and many of the great climbs of the Alps but I don't know squat about my home. I took a trip out to Yosemite this past year and I'm starting my education. Better late than never. eh?
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bhilden
Trad climber
Mountain View, CA
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Sep 20, 2008 - 03:01am PT
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I think the critical question Alex needs to answer about his solo is..... did he walk Thank God Ledge?
Bruce
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the Fet
Knackered climber
A bivy sack in the secret campground
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Dec 23, 2008 - 12:38pm PT
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Bump 'cause this is one of the most impressive accomplishments of the year!
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Captain...or Skully
Trad climber
North of the Owyhees
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Dec 31, 2008 - 12:18am PT
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Free solo bump.
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MisterE
Trad climber
One Place or Another
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Feb 25, 2009 - 02:12pm PT
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Big cojones bump
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altieboo
Boulder climber
Livermore, Ca
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Aug 22, 2009 - 07:50pm PT
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Don't think that this has been posted yet.
Brand new video of Alex free soloing Half Dome.
http://vimeo.com/6102557
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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Aug 22, 2009 - 09:36pm PT
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Where were all the hot chicks when he topped out?
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WBraun
climber
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Aug 22, 2009 - 09:55pm PT
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Classic
A checkered buttoned shirt, shorts, shoes and chalk bag.
Mr. casual.
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dwell
climber
Pollock Pines
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Aug 22, 2009 - 10:14pm PT
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Why does watching this trouble me? Such a acheivement, such a demonstration of vision, discipline, bravery and effort comes across as trivial and meaningless. What an accent!
What a lame choice of audio captured here to represent a morning that could and should inspire poets. Best wishes Alex.
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Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
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Aug 22, 2009 - 10:29pm PT
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Boy, for one of the proudest solos ever, that video (montage hell) portrayed none of the excitement of soloing 5.12 up so high because the person editing the footage was either too impatient or didn't trust the footage enough to settle on a shot long enough to grock onto what was really happening. It's the curse of much of this new climbing stuff - just way too hurried and no sense of visual diction - like writing a story with two and three word sentenses the whole time.
Que lastima . . .
JL
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Jim Herrington
Mountain climber
New York, NY
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Aug 22, 2009 - 11:28pm PT
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I agree, I want to see a re-edit of the video, sans music. Nobody loves music as much as me, but Jesus, I can barely hear him talking... kind of defeats the purpose.
And... when what is happening in front of the camera is absolutely spellbinding, you really don't need to cut much...
But Alex's climb. That is so out there I can barely comprehend.
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JakeW
Big Wall climber
CA
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Aug 22, 2009 - 11:57pm PT
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yeah, what the heck...I don't understand why any of these guys solo for the camera, but if they're going to...why don't we see more than Potter on the Enduro corner during the credits, or Honnold chalking up at a no hands looking over at Half dome. Why not a video of them doing Astroman, real time. It would only be like an hour and a half, and I would gladly sit through the 2hr.50min. version of this Half Dome one...and if it does get boring during the 5.6..there's always fast forward. I've never paid for a climbing video in my life...but I would support a real time, complete version of one of those...or Hans and Yugi on the Nose.
Alex is solid and inspiring. He's super supportive of all the rest of us lightweights too, and makes climbing seem fun instead of edgy and dangerous...but I still worry about him, and the people he might influence in certain ways.
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fluffy
Trad climber
boulder
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Aug 23, 2009 - 12:10am PT
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incredible accomplishment
shitty video
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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Aug 23, 2009 - 12:19am PT
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He is so talented and solid, doing stuff that I can't even imagine. Very impressive individual.
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Hardman Knott
Gym climber
Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, Ca
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Aug 23, 2009 - 12:31am PT
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Warbler - It's knott the video, it's the editing...
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Aug 23, 2009 - 04:04am PT
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You would almost need to hauled to keep up with the speed these young ins climb at, or some kinda winch.
edit- Oh yeah, lame video.
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Delhi Dog
Trad climber
Good Question...
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Aug 23, 2009 - 07:38am PT
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He seems so casual...the video did too. Almost as though they complemented each other. Wonder what the story was with the filming.
I'm not sure anything less than watching the whole climb would be enough for me-
sheesh, what a mind boggle...!
DD
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bob
climber
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Aug 23, 2009 - 09:42am PT
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Was that the all the way go for it send or was it a go back and do the comfy pitches for the camera. Hence, no 12 slab, just looking up at it? I'm not dissing and I don't know about this one, but don't some of those guys do that sort of thing? Send, then go back for comfort pics. Whoa would it be nice to consider the Zig-zags comfort pitches without a rope!!!!!!!!!!
Yikes. Amazing accomplishment. Not that people need pushing through video of that sort of thing.
Jakey, AZ needs you.
Bob J.
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JakeW
Big Wall climber
CA
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Aug 23, 2009 - 09:48am PT
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It was a repeat earlier this year...I think he re-soloed everything but the last pitch...I'm not positive though.
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Brendan
Trad climber
Yosemite, CA
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Aug 23, 2009 - 09:48am PT
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agreed, this thing needs to be seen as a feature length movie. I would gladly sit through a 45 minute (or however much footage there actually is) version of this solo.
...amazing and inspiring beyond words.
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wack-N-dangle
Gym climber
the ground up
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Aug 23, 2009 - 10:42am PT
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I can't fault it as an internet commercial. An amazing accomplishment to say the least. He deserves the food stamps he got for filming it too.
Anyone remember the video, maybe by National Geographic? It was very quiet. First the guy was training, slacklining and doing lock offs or one arms. Then during the climb, the camera was tightly focused on the guy who was soloing. I remember him reaching back over small roofs, hanging, chalking one hand at a time, and then mantling. At the end they panned out, and he was a couple or a few hundred feet off the deck. Anyway, it kind of blew my mind.
Much more art in both solos than I will ever know. Still, I remember more art in the older movie. Then again, maybe "These are the good ole days.". Climb safe out there.
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Bad Climber
climber
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Aug 23, 2009 - 11:28am PT
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I'm with Largo. The editing drove me crazy on this. But the ascent--Alex is one with the gods! What a feeling that must be to walk up and zip to the top in a few hours--no hassles of belay, gear, just pure movement. I've only soloed a few easy things and didn't get much out of it other than the desire to not do it anymore, but I see the appeal.
This screams for a better director/editor.
BaD
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Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
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Aug 23, 2009 - 01:41pm PT
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"yeah, what the heck...I don't understand why any of these guys solo for the camera. . . "
The now-uncommon misconception issuing from the previous quote is that the "reason" these guys are doing what they are doing is simple to document the climb on tape. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.
A lot of recreational adventure sport enthusiasts don't quite understand that these guys are huge time adventure athletes, and the demand for media of them is also huge - from both sponsors and from us. People like Potter, Surfer Kelly Slater, the Moto-X guys, all the big air sketeboarders and Half pipe masters, alpine and half pipe skiers, etc. - they all have photographers and video doos following them all over because they're so often doing historic stuff.
We're not talking about weekend warriors "soul climbing" on 5.10 hand cracks, and wishing they were, or thinking they be should be, or that the sport is somehow less because they aren't, is IMO, not reflective of today's world.
JL
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