Ask a Badass: Alex Honnold

Alex, 

How has your increased profile in recent months affected the Foundation, and has this changed its role in your life at all? 

Part 2: I would be interested it hearing you discuss the different kinds of satisfaction you get from your amazing solos and your work with your foundation. Do you find that the two types of work provide personal rewards that are inherently similar? Or do they fill completely different roles for you, because of the selfless vs. selfish nature of them? "Selfish" is not meant in a negative way in this context. 

Can you walk us through the mental picture of your first few multi-pitch free solo climbs? How has your mental game progressed over the years? Were there 1-2 things that contributed to a breakthrough that allows you to solo at levels near your free climbing limits?

Sometimes the need to heed nature's call comes on quickly and unexpectedly. How do you handle this on long, difficult solos?

sharp cheddar or soy cheese? 

Hey Alex!

Super cool you are up for answering questions. Just want you to know, you inspire me incredibly. What you do makes me feel like I can climb anything (on a rope). I also want to thank you for being a role model to the climbing community. Many climbers look up to you, and when they see you are a man of principle, you stick to your beliefs, and you are kind, humble, and compassionate, they will follow. You have so much celebrity power. Thanks for using it like a pro. 

Do you and your climbing friends have any traditions after a long day of climbing? Do you go to a particular restaurant? Do you always eat or drink a certain thing? Always do something in particular? 

I almost always eat hot dogs after climbing. Its honestly more of a coincidence but has turned into a tradition. My buddies and I go to this sweet cafe in western New York. They serve the best dogs with the best sauce. 

Right on, dude. Hope to see you round the crag.

-Crimp Daddy

Hello Alex!

I read an article about you working with a neuroscientist (Jane Joseph) and the following readings of MRI scans of your brain. In reading it, the lack of situational activity of your amygdala was interesting, as well as Joseph's conclusion following that result; that "there probably is no threat response" in life-threatening situations. 

Later in the article, the author writes "there is no way to know how much nature and how much nurture went into his fearlessness", citing both genetically low activity of the amygdala in addition to learned and practiced "self-imposed strategies". 

Joseph is quoted, toward the end of the article, saying '“Don’t let the impulsivity win out over the conscientiousness”'.

__

Did you choose to do this testing on your own accord? If so, Why?

What was your honest reaction to this article, the conclusions drawn (as above) and to the advice given? 

Did you feel that this kind of observation was beneficial to you, in either your climbing or personal metacognitive reflection? 

Happy sending,

Ty

Link to article:

http://nautil.us/issue/39/sport/the-strange-brain-of-the-worlds-greatest-solo-climber

How do you get the rope up there?

Hey Alex

What's the sketchiest thing you have ever done? To clarify don't mean solo slippery granite slab sketch, i mean you are on a death run out and pumped out of your mind and are barely holding on but you still pull it off, that kind of sketch.

Alex,

Profeasional climbers(and other recreationalists who recreate on public lands in the process of making their living) have a unique position as stakeholders in the conversation around the presevation of such spaces.

What have public lands meant to you personally and what space does recreation hold in a national conversation about protecting the future of public lands?

Cheers,

Austin Beck-Doss

Alex,

If you had the opportunity for our government to change one thing that would impact climbing and public lands, what would it be?

Thanks,

J

Is it true, if you don't use it you lose it?

Have you ever developed any weird emotional attachments to certain pieces of gear or clothing? 

Hi Alex!

Whats your take on bolting ethics specifically in yosemite? There are a couple parts to such a topic: Bolts added to existing routes? Grid bolting? Bolts placed somewhere but not needed for safety?  And, what to do about persons who dont abide by the area's consensus on bolting?

Hey Alex, if you could only climb one route over and over again for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Alex! the world wants to know: what are some guilty pleasures you're comfortable discussing on the internet? Music, food, bubble baths, hoarding, bro-mance? Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks!

What's your favorite pizza and beer?

I've been researching solar for my house. I'm curious, What are you up to with the Honnald foundation? What's next?

What are your thoughts on the recent rock falls on el cap? Are you bummed that established routes are gone or severely altered, or are you more excited for new rock to climb?

Did you end up partying with Redban's porn star friends after you were on JRE?

Hi Alex,

Since it's a timely and important issue, how do you see the sport of climbing being affected by climate change in the next decade or two? 

Also, do you feel like there is any cognitive dissonance between wanting to protect the environment but also going on sponsored trips all over the globe, and if so, how do you deal with that?

Thanks! -Gavin