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camhead
Trad climber
Yewtah
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In Europe, virtually no one free solos, and it does not draw the same amount of attention. Were it not for alex huber, whose writings/slide shows put soloing on the map of the average euro climber, i doubt many people here would even consider it a proper part of climbing.
Uhh... there are plenty of free soloists across the pond, and I'll bet if you compared high level soloing by Euros and Americans, they would have us beat; ever hear of Alain Robert, Edlinger, Alpert, Kammerlander (13d free solo), Destiville, Bernhault, Steck, not to mention scores of Brits, too.
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brotherbbock
Trad climber
Alta Loma, CA
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Anyone got the pic of Reardon on this thing from Climbing Magazine? It was such a gnary picture and I cant find it in my mags. If you got it post it up please.
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spectreman
Trad climber
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Honnold is amazing!
I watched a guy free solo the Naked Edge in Eldorado yesterday and it was a pretty cool thing to see. He seemed in perfect control and there wasn't any fear of seeing him fall, it was just a beautiful display of physical and mental control. He had no idea that anyone was watching him and it seemed like it was a private and personal thing for him and he wasn't trying to show off, he was just out doing his thing. I happened to see him go by on the bridge and, knowing who he was, I thought he may be going to solo something hard so I sat over by the Bastille and watched it happen. I think it's awesome that guys like Alex and the guy I watched can do things that I could never dream of or even imagine. It doesn't make me want to solo and I don't romanticize the achievement but I think it's cool to know that these things can be achieved.
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Ed H
Trad climber
Santa Rosa, CA
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AP
Trad climber
Calgary
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Maybe the reason for all the press is these are long routes and not many people solo long hard routes?
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nah000
climber
canuckistan
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i don't know if it gets press because we romanticize it, as much as there is just a larger percentage of climbers who have at least a degree of understanding regarding the difficulty that these solos represent.
ie. what does 15c mean vs 14c and what would 16c mean relative to either... to 99.99% of climbers it's meaningless gibberish...
otoh, probably a good 75% of climbers have at least felt the holds on 12b problems, and so there is a much larger percentage who understand the difference between 10b, 11b and 12b. because of this there is a much better/larger understanding of the physical and mental strength that a 12b multipitch solo would require...
and so while some do romanticize it, i'd bet there are an equal or likely larger number of people whose interest is driven purely by amazement combined with a side order of squeamishness...
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ms55401
Trad climber
minneapolis, mn
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it doesn't matter whether the Taco gallery of has-beens and never-were "romanticize" soloing. It seems clear that this guy is doing his own thing, oblivious to Team Taco
he may bite the dust before long. But it's his gamble to take.
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katiebird
climber
yosemite
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I never said anything about soloing or Honnold's ability or reason - just the simple question of why do we romanticize. Some responses here bring up good points though. Thanks.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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I think it's cool to know that these things can be achieved.
That is it right there.
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Hummerchine
Trad climber
East Wenatchee, WA
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Oct 27, 2016 - 06:08pm PT
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Sorry to be late to the party...but let's all be real and admit that there is NO FREAKING WAY that Reardon onsight free-soloed Romantic Warrior.
To claim something THAT FAR beyond which has ever been done...which to this day STILL hasn't been done...well, I'm sorry, I need video proof of that.
ESPECIALLY from someone so eager to have themselves videotaped at every moment.
Total burn to Honnold too...here he does something insanely mega yet...well...Reardon's lie taints it.
Let's call a spade a spade. Reardon was a great climber. And an equally great self-promoter. Maybe to a genius level...they say there is no such thing as bad advertising...but does anyone seriously think he was better than Alex Honnold???
I think not.
RIGHT FRIGGING ON ALEX! Free soloing RM is so badass!
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ec
climber
ca
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No need to speculate on what can or cannot be substantiated, Readon died with the truth. Create your own adventures and enjoy them. I did. 39 years ago, October, I convinced a friend to walk in there to climb this thing; neither of us had a clue what lie ahead. Those 3 life-changing days are mine & my partner's, as Reardon's are his. It really doesn't matter what anybody thinks; it a personal experience.
 ec
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
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Hummerchine
Trad climber
East Wenatchee, WA
Oct 27, 2016 - 06:08pm PT
Sorry to be late to the party...but let's all be real and admit that there is NO FREAKING WAY that Reardon onsight free-soloed Romantic Warrior.
To claim something THAT FAR beyond which has ever been done...which to this day STILL hasn't been done...well, I'm sorry, I need video proof of that.
ESPECIALLY from someone so eager to have themselves videotaped at every moment.
Total burn to Honnold too...here he does something insanely mega yet...well...Reardon's lie taints it.
Let's call a spade a spade. Reardon was a great climber. And an equally great self-promoter. Maybe to a genius level...they say there is no such thing as bad advertising...but does anyone seriously think he was better than Alex Honnold???
I think not.
RIGHT FRIGGING ON ALEX! Free soloing RM is so badass!
fuk you.
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brotherbbock
climber
Alta Loma, CA
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Reardon soloed this too right?
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