Alex Honnold last weekend shocked the world of climbing (and beyond) by free-soloing a 3,000-foot route on El Capitan in Yosemite. Now you can get a taste of the climb in this video by National Geographic.
Anyone else’s palms sweating? This video gives just an inkling of the remarkably difficult route, called Freerider, that Honnold climbed without a rope.
Honnold’s free-solo climb of El Capitan has been heralded as one of the greatest achievements in the history of the sport. The route is rated at 5.13, a difficult level unattainable by all but the most elite rock climbers.
Again, he did it without a rope. If he fell, he would have died.
While hugely celebrated, Honnold’s route also spurred fresh conversation about the risks and rewards of dangerous pursuits.
Climber Tommy Caldwell, a friend of Honnold’s, penned a smart piece, “Why Alex Honnold’s Free Solo Of El Cap Scared Me,” for Outside. It’s worth a read.
No matter your view, Honnold’s climb will go down as legend. As climbing author Mark M. Synnott reported, it is “the greatest feat of pure rock climbing in the history of the sport.”
We can’t wait to see the additional footage National Geographic captured on the route.
