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I'd love to watch him climb in person. He is like a ballet dancer on the rock face, just one wrong move from death and he is as cool as a cucumber |
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Dan Osman was also free solo speed climber. Simply insane. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX7p3jfr0mA View Quote |
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I was in Yosemite last summer photography some rock climbers. Met a cool woman there. I learned a lot about climbing.
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When Potter was doing solos in Yosemite using the rope only for pendulum swings and the such, you could tell that somebody was going to get here, and finally solo the face free and clear.
A truly awesome accomplishment for Honnold, and without equal, but one that carries with it a lot of emotional baggage, both past, present and future. |
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Listen to his appearance on Joe Rogan's show
Joe Rogan Experience #319 - Alex Honnold |
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That dude is amazing. I remember seeing videos of him on YouTube, years ago. And the things like 60 minutes.
He might be the best climber in history. And nobody really gives the attention that is due. |
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[in reference to the Rogan video]
"just kind of the gradual progression of the style" Alex Honnold is a master of the understatement. |
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View Quote I've stood on that exact spot and signed the book up there. I didn't use any safety gear either. I hiked up the back. |
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Maybe, but he's been doing this for well over a decade. Watch the documentary on him. Lack of normal amygdala function may let him live a while longer. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes |
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So was Backar and those other top soloist who are all dead View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I'll expect to read his obituary in a year or two. Watch the documentary on him. Lack of normal amygdala function may let him live a while longer. Dean Potter would likely be alive if not for base jumping. Bottom line, who cares if they solo. I mean k terms of their life, their rules. Having climbed a lot in the past these dudes are bad ass and I am in awe of what they can do physically as well as overcome mentally. There is a lot to learn on how they they function in such a situtation. |
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In the words of Darth Vader, "Impressive. Most impressive." View Quote Attached File |
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Amazing.
There's a good doc on Netflix called Valley Uprising about the generations of climbers in Yosemite. There's a bit on Honnold. |
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Life is either a daring adventure or nothing - Helen Keller
ETA: The full quote - Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. |
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This was last year before the climb.
Alex Honnold: No rope El Capitan climb in Yosemite Alex Honnold: I visualize my death to stay alive Climbers getting passed by a free solo climber. Passed by Free Solo Climber - Dark Shadows, Red Rocks, Neveda |
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Wow.
About 12 years ago I was struggling with a 5.10 with ropes. Awesome work he's done. |
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2,650' rappel off El Capitan
2,650' rappel off El Capitan in Yosemite, July 2016 |
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It's not the physical, but mental strength that is simply unfuckingbelievable. That is focus we can only hope to harness for seconds at a time...
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I used to free solo 5.10 rock and grade 3 ice. I was much younger and had no responsibilities in life. Now that I have 4 kids I can't climb without roping up. I get scared. That never happened before I had kids.
This guy will eventually die if he keeps going for harder climbs. It's just the way it works. You can't be perfect every single time. What he has accomplished is truly amazing. That's coming from an old school climber. |
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Amazing. There's a good doc on Netflix called Valley Uprising about the generations of climbers in Yosemite. There's a bit on Honnold. View Quote |
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He'll die doing what he loves. View Quote If that was my son I'd be beyond pissed off. It's not even like "if he just has enough skill" - shit happens, rocks break, birds fly into you, you pull a muscle, all kinds of shit and he's dead. It's impressive, but so foolhardy that it actually makes me angry I think. It's like being an expert in Russian Roulette. "My kid is the best, he's played 50 times and never lost!". |
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If screaming as he plunges to the Earth is what he loves. If that was my son I'd be beyond pissed off. It's not even like "if he just has enough skill" - shit happens, rocks break, birds fly into you, you pull a muscle, all kinds of shit and he's dead. It's impressive, but so foolhardy that it actually makes me angry I think. It's like being an expert in Russian Roulette. "My kid is the best, he's played 50 times and never lost!". View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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He'll die doing what he loves. If that was my son I'd be beyond pissed off. It's not even like "if he just has enough skill" - shit happens, rocks break, birds fly into you, you pull a muscle, all kinds of shit and he's dead. It's impressive, but so foolhardy that it actually makes me angry I think. It's like being an expert in Russian Roulette. "My kid is the best, he's played 50 times and never lost!". |
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One of the smartest things in the valley uprising documentary was Dean Potter (IIRC) free solo climbing while wearing a BASE parachute. At least there is one thing between you, a missed hold, and death. Too bad he got so hooked on BASE that it killed him. View Quote |
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Alex is pretty much superhuman. He was born and raised in the ultra safe environs of the climbing gym and got incredibly strong and confident. Then took it outdoors on real rock. Then started skipping the rope... I've ran into him a few times, the first time in 2010 after getting insanely lost on the East Ledges El Capitan decent route. We gave up sometime around 3 am after I rappeled the second deadened fixed rope that ended hanging in space and we decided to sleep on some random ledge. Turns out we were only a few hundred meters from walking territory. Alex wanders up around 6 am, alone, carrying a huge load of gear for rehearsing some of the harder pitches of the Salathe Wall. So I know that he puts in the time to master his craft. He's a nice kid and since this isn't a climbing forum I'll say end with this: I wish him well but climbing history is filled with death and well wishes :( . |
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What Honnold does is no more dangerous (dangerous, not difficult; he climbs things I couldn't climb with a ladder) than I did when I was a free solo climber.
After the first 50 ft the only difference is how long it takes to hit the ground. I believe he is the best climber ever. |
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And to think I am intimidated at the thought of buying a motorcycle and leaving my little girl without a dad...
Guy is amazing, but something is just a little bit off. |
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OK, so none of this shit is for me. But what really adds pepperation H to my already puckered sphincter is the thought of having to climb... back... down...
Fuck my palms are sweating just thinking about all of this. |
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I was a rescue/medevac pilot in California for many years. These types of people kept me in business...
They don't ever think about those of us who risk our lives to save them from their stupid decisions. |
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His window for free soloing is going to close fast. He can only do this at his peak physical and mental state in his life which is now. 5 years from now, if he's alive, he will still be an amazing climber but probably won't be able to do this. He has to execute 100% during these climbs. Not 99%. 100%.
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