Honnold just climbed 290 pitches. In a dy. For his 29th Birthday

That is it, just thought I would share. Pretty inspirational.

Story here: rvproj.com/2014/08/22/alex-…

More like a birthday challenge times 10. Impressive.

Must be training for some crazy endurance comp or something...

Probably not training for anything. Just a day out.

The next John Bachar - for better or for worse?

sharyl wrote:Must be training for some crazy endurance comp or something...

It was his 29th birthday challenge

My comment was a little tongue in cheek. I realize it was his bday challenge, but he is also listed as a competitor for an endurance comp later this fall... :) inside joke but I was the only one on the inside...lol

spencerparkin wrote:Please don't missunderstand... I think what Alex Honnold has achieved in his life-time so far is amazing! It is unlikely that anyone will repeat any one of his daring free soloing accomplishments. In speaking about him, I would never try to take anything away from what he has accomplished. It's amazing and inspiring. Sigh... That said... I really, really don't want to hear about Alex falling on a free solo. You can get something right 1,000 times in rock climbing, but (especially if soloing) it potentially takes just 1 (ONE!) little mishap for it to all go wrong and end in disaster. Some of these things are out of your control. Even still, a piano savant might hit a wrong note. It's possible, right? I respect everyone's right and freedom to take their own risks, and to make climbing what they want it to be for them. Nevertheless, I somehow feel like Alex's risks are also our risks (i.e., when he takes a risk, we risk hearing about him getting killed and the grieving emotions that follow.) But it's not right to intervene, I guess. I could not bring myself to ever encourage Alex to free-solo something, no matter how talented he is. EDIT: I'm not so sure that soloing is the "next level" in the sport of rock climbing. If we invent anti-gravity harnesses, then I think that would be the next level. But maybe that's not true, because it takes out a critical mental aspect to the whole thing. I don't know. What I do know is that my sins and my mortality are never more poignant to me than when I'm on the sharp end of the rope. Let the flaiming begin! (No, I am not a troll!)

Were you the guy who was complaining about "promiscuous" women climbing in sports bras not too long ago because you couldn't control yourself?

Honnold's risks are not your risks. You don't know the guy and how hard are you actually going to grieve if he does have an accident? Maybe you should take take a look in the mirror sometime - critiquing other people's lives/choices may make you feel better about yourself for a little while, but it isn't going to make you happy.

You are right...his risks are not ours but soloing those big wall routes certainly isn't smart. There is no way anyone cant argue against that. I completely understand why he does it though and he has a right to if he wants. After all...we all are guilty of doing things that aren't smart.

His 290th birthday is going to be epic.

I'd be surprised to hear that Alex Honnold had ever driven drunk, how many on this forum have? Let's talk risk, not consequence. Yes, it only takes one mistake, but that could be said about thousands of things in life. I for one am inspired by his unique point of view.

Who here has climbed 290 pitches in a week - with a rope?? Yea not me. I am inspired that AH is a professional in what he does, not meaning he gets paid, meaning he wants to do things no one has even thought of because he is crazy and knows the impossible is almost always possible. I'm just wondering what the else he is thinking of, hasn't he climbed EVERYTHING yet?

I'll be impressed when he turns fifty

Matt Lemke wrote:You are right...his risks are not ours but soloing those big wall routes certainly isn't smart. There is no way anyone cant argue against that. I completely understand why he does it though and he has a right to if he wants. After all...we all are guilty of doing things that aren't smart.

I have no idea what "smart" means in this context. If you were the best in the world at something you loved to do, seems like it would be "smart" to do that thing.

I know it's cliche but, there is a difference between living longer and dying later.

That being said maybe I'm in the minority but I would actually be pretty surprised if he dies soloing. Seems to be pretty in control of his ego and risk management to me.

Someone is ALWAYS pushing the ceiling...Honnold is the man, and it makes the rest of us easier to motivate for our birthday challenges! word!

I think this debate is a little comical. Everyone seems to have passionate points of view on either side of the free solo debate when it does not affect them in the slightest ... Unless you yourself free solo ... in which case I'd imagine you are just doing your thing and aren't concerned about injecting opinion into a debate that will remain unresolved until people quit yappin about it. Also, Alex Honnold isn't going to stop free soloing because a commenter is worried about his own potential for emotional distress if Honnold takes a fall. Plus one for people doing whatever they wanna do.

Eric Fernandez wrote:I'd be surprised to hear that Alex Honnold had ever driven drunk, how many on this forum have? Let's talk risk, not consequence. Yes, it only takes one mistake, but that could be said about thousands of things in life. I for one am inspired by his unique point of view. Who here has climbed 290 pitches in a week - with a rope?? Yea not me. I am inspired that AH is a professional in what he does, not meaning he gets paid, meaning he wants to do things no one has even thought of because he is crazy and knows the impossible is almost always possible. I'm just wondering what the else he is thinking of, hasn't he climbed EVERYTHING yet?

for sure. He's actually never drank, done any drugs/weed

As long as Honnold doesn't cause any access issues for soloing (which is redicilous to suggest) let him be. I'm not a fan of soloing. Stakes are too high for me. Pretty incredible to watch someone do what he is doing. Makes me wonder how soloists before him would be viewed if we had tech we got now (social media, camera phones, etc).

I don't think we need to get on a soap box to talk about how dangerous soloing can be. We get it. He falls, he dies. I don't think any climb is worth dying for and I'm sure Honnold would say the same.

Carry on...

Edit: I'll be impressed if he turns 50.

Jon Frisby wrote: for sure. He's actually never drank, done any drugs/weed

I've never been drunk nor done drugs/weed. Only the weak succumb.

Syd wrote: I've never been drunk nor done drugs/weed. Only the weak succumb.

Some of my friends told me they once tried marijuana. I run with a rough crowd like that.

I free solo because I have BALLS OF STEAL.

This is just...... wow