Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
|
|
Yup. I have made many a deal with god that if i live through this i will never do anything this stupid again......
|
|
anita514
Gym climber
Great White North
|
|
I'm sure Alex Honnold is logging in to SuperTopo right now to see whether or not he has the approval of all the super important climbing figures that hang around here all day long...
🙄
|
|
Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
|
|
Alex is a person of exceptional qualities and has demonstrated that he may perhaps be the greatest living human athlete as well as one of the top ten in human history.
If we are lucky he will figure out what he has that others don't and write a book so we can all be a little better off.
|
|
GDavis
Social climber
SOL CAL
|
|
Did you write a letter like this for everyone who does very dangerous activities, or just the one best guy? Is it only a problem if it's Alex who dies soloing, because he's the best?
Get outta here dude.
|
|
rick sumner
Trad climber
reno, nevada/ wasilla alaska
|
|
He looked steady and well under control in the pictures. Practiced enough that the chosen climb was well below his abilities.
That still doesn't rule out objective hazards such as a broken hold, falling rock, or something dropped or focus broken by the extensive camera crew.
He'll meet his maker someday. To an extent, the manner of departure is his choice and currently he doesn't exhibit suicidal tendencies.
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
|
|
eKat, I love you too, but...
Let's say that this "remarkable human being" was your son.
What kind of "advice" would you give him without "telling him what to do" Be serious here. I doubt you would tell him "Go for it and be remarkable honey!" If you are honest with yourself, you'll see the sense in what people are saying. I have kids. They are all remarkable. I would advise them against free soloing.
|
|
skcreidc
Social climber
SD, CA
|
|
Alex seemed very methodical about his preparation (over a 2 year period) for this climb. Somehow, I doubt Nat Geo forced him into this. Not saying I don't feel some anxiety for him doing this kind of stuff. Just saying Alex acts extremely rational and logical and it is this character in part that has gotten him to where he is now. He gets to fly on his own like all kids do when they grow up. And boy, does he fly; where no man has gone before. Hopefully some of Peter Croft's longevity rubs off on him.
|
|
JLP
Social climber
The internet
|
|
If Honnold does not stop hard free soloing, he will fall. Yes. That 1:1000000 chance does eventually become an absolute certainty.
You can warp that reality for yourself all you want, but the end result is the same.
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
|
|
Yes, Peter Croft. Exactly.
|
|
skcreidc
Social climber
SD, CA
|
|
As a father, I doubt I could watch him solo that without knowing he makes it.
|
|
SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
|
|
Absolutely nobody has the right to tell this remarkable human being what to do!
NOBODY!
THIS ISN'T SOMEBODY TELLING (ALEX)WHAT TO DO?
Why do I feel I'm being told what to do, post, think?
When did we lose the "right" to post opinion, thoughts, commentary, and yes even recommendations no matter how contrary or different they may be to you, me or anyone?
Growing up, all of us, were told what to do, even Alex, I suspect. A major part of maturation is developing the filters of what to let in, what to filter out, what resonates, what doesn't. We all have those filtering capabilities, and Alex's seem quite profound.
I believe that those that post do so with positive intention...not to be a bully (generally) or demand a certain course of action. I, for one, enjoy reading the sentiments that folks have expressed, regardless of my concurrence with them. There is much humanity when people speak from the heart.
There's a chilling effect when people are suddenly told they don't have a right to express their thoughts on a forum.
The sharing of sentiments about the dissonance between the drive to engage in risky activities and (more or less) lead a long life is very moving to me.
Susan
|
|
10b4me
Mountain climber
Retired
|
|
Alex is a person of exceptional qualities and has demonstrated that he may perhaps be the greatest living human athlete as well as one of the top ten in human history.
Chris,
I think that is a biased viewpoint. What about people who idolize extreme kayakers, mountain bikers, etc. Are their heroes less athletic?
In regards to people who would rather die doing what they loved, I just don't buy that.
|
|
NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
|
|
Well said Susan. Actually lots of good stuff to mull over here, and that dissonance between seeking the joy/adventure/enlightenment/transcendence/whatever, versus living a long and happy contented life not dependent on risky behavior... that is an interesting space to explore, and extremely relevant for parents who don't want to raise their kids to just be reproducing robots, but also don't want them to throw away their life on something stupid.
|
|
blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
|
|
Alex is a person of exceptional qualities and has demonstrated that he may perhaps be the greatest living human athlete as well as one of the top ten in human history.
Chris,
I think that is a biased viewpoint. What about people who idolize extreme kayakers, mountain bikers, etc. Are their heroes less athletic?
In regards to people who would rather die doing what they loved, I just don't buy that.
Yeah, I'm sure the best athletes are all climbers, extreme kayakers, and mountain bikers--activities that are done by .01% (or whatever) of the population, almost exclusively in First World countries.
Those couple billion people who have played soccer or virtually the entire planet that's run at some time or another couldn't have a leg up on us climbers.
|
|
Splater
climber
Grey Matter
|
|
I can't know but will just have to go with the thought that he really is that good that the moves all feel secure to him.
As far as "objective hazards such as a broken hold, falling rock, or something dropped or focus broken by the extensive camera crew,"
I'd say the danger of those things happening is less than common hazards such as loose holds, rockfall, or avalanche in places many of us go. Of course that is usually only a small part of a route for me, not the entire thing.
Although he is getting paid for this, it seems like he would probably have done it even without the cameras and pay.
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
|
|
Anita sure did pick up a lot of smart ass pointers from Burchey.
Many of these "important climbing figures that hang out around here" have done more to notch street cred than you can dream of sister.
You have done what, jugged a big wall? And yet you feel justified in posting your opinion.
|
|
aspendougy
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
|
|
When Alex told his mom about Freerider, she said, "Congrats, and thanks for not telling me ahead of time."
It sounds to me like she has come to terms with it better than some of the folks on this Forum. Of course, she's been living with it for years.
People go through phases in life. Fifteen years down the road, if Alex has a wife and kids, he would not do the same thing most likely.
After Bachar had a couple of accidents, and had a 13 yr. old son, he must have thought twice about continuing to free solo, but he decided to continue. It's not for me to say if that was right or wrong, but conditions keep changing, and people need to evaluate and adapt. Alex will make his own choices down the road.
|
|
anita514
Gym climber
Great White North
|
|
Anita sure did pick up a lot of smart ass pointers from Burchey.
Many of these "important climbing figures that hang out around here" have done more to notch street cred than you can dream of sister.
You have done what, jugged a big wall? And yet you feel justified in posting your opinion.
Survival: Why do you always get offended when I refer to "important climbing figures"? Aren't you the person who once emailed me to give me a detailed list of all the climbs you'd done 30 years ago and who was who on SuperTopo so I could basically know that I was surrounded by greatness that I needed to respect and worship no matter what stupidities they posted here?
I'm glad you feel the need to come down on me because of the little climbing I've done. At least I'm not ragging on Honnold because I'm jealous and a nobody trying to bring his accomplishments down to a level I can relate to.
You have done what, jugged a big wall?
Yup. Not 6 months after having my leg surgically lengthened by 4cm. Jealous?
|
|
tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
|
|
the only way a runner could possibly compare would be if they were in a 4 hour race with the best runners in the world and everyone except for the winner gets killed in the end. The thing that seperates this achievemnent from all the ball players, runners, paddelers, bikers and skiers etc in the world is the fact that the athlete will die with any mistake made in the 4 hours to complete the task and the fact that there is only one person in the world that can do this.
|
|
aspendougy
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
|
|
It would be interesting to have a panel discussion with people like Alex's Mom and Tyrus Bachar, people who have been powerfully affected emotionally by free soloing.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!