El Capitan free solo

[windoggi]

Since we all play with the energy of our planet, it seems logical to share this with all my online friends. And Im sure many of us have rock climbed before.

I can't overstate how monumental this is. Just unbelievable. Nothing comes close.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/features/athletes/alex-honnold/most-dangerous-free-solo-climb-yosemite-national-park-el-capitan/

[swchandler]

The guy must be incredibly rock strong and totally fearless. No doubt, a monumental feat, and he did it in less than four hours. A phenomenal achievement. Looking at the guy, you could hardly guess his power and strength from his general appearance.

[rigitrite]

I saw this yesterday as well: it's unbelieveable. Alex is the guy (1st person ever) to free solo half dome as well a couple years ago. He free soloed it, then he went back and did it again for a photographer.....just for kicks. He's super human. If you've stood at the bottom of El Cap and looked at that thing, you wonder how anyone can even climb it with ropes and anchors.

[scottwerden]

Have you looked at Alex's hands? His fingers are like big sausages. I have seen pic of Honnold doing pull-ups with one finger of each hand. But really what separates him from the rest is he has steel cajones.

Now that he has accomplished what he has done, I hope he quits soloing. At some point something out of his control will go wrong and he will fall. It happened to John Baccar. It is just a matter of time.

[windoggi]

What really makes my blood run cold is not the power and endurance involved with the crack climbing, but the delicate (and powerful) face moves needed to get from one crack system to another.

[windoggi]

Once you get 40 feet off the deck, any slip is going to be a life changing event anyway. Anything after that just gives you more time to think about the ultimate outcome. Actually, an awkward fall on to the talus at ten feet will do the trick...its astounding how much energy you can generate in just a short fall.

[windward1]

Truly an amazing feat! And the thought control involved! Most amazing!

I have watched his YouTube free climb of Half Dome over and over. Never gets old.

[d0uglass]

Extremely impressive. But somehow I feel like I am already mourning this guy's death. Agree with Scott Werden's "it's a matter of time" comment. I'm sure there are daring climbers, and old climbers, but probably no old daring climbers.

[nw30]

I'll take huge surf any day, but this kind of shit makes my toes curl.
Different person, different place, same effect.

[rigitrite]

Ditto. I see that and I'm like:
"Nope.....nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope"