Free solo climbing news Mar 30, 2024 · We have lost some climbing legends to free soloing, but if this is any consolidation, they died doing something they loved. Otherwise, you’re talking about bouldering. The gear isn’t there to pull on or aid you actually getting up the route. The news of the free solo on the 1,000-meter wall spread like wildfire worldwide in summer 2017, taking the whole climbing scene by surprise. 10+) up the center of the face. Free Solo is the first climbing film to receive such an award. Styles of free climbing: Sport climbing; Traditional climbing; Bouldering; Free soloing; Deep water soloing; Aid climbing is NOT free climbing. In 2007, he free-soloed Astroman and The Rostrum in Yosemite, becoming only the second person after Peter Croft in 1987 to do it. Long before the likes of Alex Honnold graced magazine covers, Bachar was setting standards and pushing the limits of what was deemed possible in free soloing, many of his ascents done around Yosemite . A news release from the agency detailed the woman’s fatal Nov 28, 2019 · According to NBC News, Gobright, 31, Free solo climbing gained attention after the 2018 documentary Free Solo, which won the 2018 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. The result? Over time, climbing’s media has moved the bar. ” Feb 23, 2023 · Free solo climber Matt Bush hangs from a cliff edge in Cape Town, South Africa. Openend in 1995 by Alexander Huber and freed by him in 1998 together with his brother Thomas Huber, this climb was later made world-famous by Alex Honnold’s free solo in June 2017. 10c/6a+ 25th March 2019: Not the hardest free solo, but the length and elements of snow and ice make it an Feb 21, 2022 · Please support us with a membership and you’ll receive Climbing in print, plus our annual special edition of Ascent and unlimited online access to thousands of ad-free stories. Mar 19, 2024 · Nowadays, however, V14 is child’s play. 11c, 8 pitches) in Yosemite Valley in a single day. Chai Vasarhelyi and world-renowned photographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin, the directors of MERU, comes FREE SOLO, a stunning, intimate and unflinching portrait of free soloist climber Alex Honnold, as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream: climbing the face of the worlds most famous rock the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park Most free soloists don’t consider these shams as real free solo climbs. be/r Up to date climbing news, climbing gear guides and articles. While free solo climbing remains a pursuit of personal challenge and freedom, it’s crucial to acknowledge the inherent risks involved. Oct 22, 2018 · By watching Free Solo, by clicking Alex Honnold YouTube videos, by reading news stories, by going to his book signings, we create the market for the free-soloing content that gives Honnold sponsors and opportunities in the first place. Longer video here: https://youtu. Jul 11, 2023 · A 26-year-old woman plummeted 500 feet to her death while free-solo climbing inside a national park in Colorado Sunday, according to officials. Jun 7, 2017 · Climbing’s Associate Editor James Lucas climbed Freerider with Honnold on May 19, two weeks before his free solo ascent. Nov 2, 2023 · John Bachar, known as the father of free soloing, was a true pioneer in the world of free solo climbing. Natalie Greisen, one of his three children, told Climbing, “I will be totally honest, when he told me that [he was downclimbing upside down] I said he was full of shit. Alex Honnold, one of the world’s most daring climbers, has his sights set on free climbing The Nose on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California. Honnold climbed all of the harder variations on Astroman, including the 5. In his own words, Oliver Tippett reflects on his team’s in-a-day ascent of the ‘Reticent’ (A4+; 2700 feet) on May 24, 2025. Apr 22, 2025 · The Washington climbing community knew him for both his kindness and his signature climbing style: downclimbing routes hands first, then free soloing back up. “Alex climbed well on the route. A free solo climb is just you and the rock. Consider this: When’s the last time you’ve seen a photo of Honnold climbing with a rope? 《徒手攀岩》是我很喜欢的一部纪录片，它的英文原名是《Free Solo》，Free Solo 就是无保护攀岩，是攀岩运动中最危险、最极限的一种。 这部纪录片是由金国威（Jimmy Chin）和他的妻子伊丽莎白·柴·瓦沙瑞莉（Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi）联合执导的纪录片。 Sep 22, 2021 · Within the climbing community, free soloing fascinates some and is a taboo subject for others. So long as hands and feet are used, we are talking about free climbing. It’s perhaps best known as the route Alex Honnold climbed in the film Free Solo. Sport and trad are examples of free climbing because, despite the use of items like bolts, quickdraws, nuts, hexes and cams, these devices are used to protect against a fall, rather than to assist upward progress. Apr 28, 2021 · James Lucas, a former editor at Climbing, wrote an article two years ago running through some of the most unlikely free-solo fall survival stories—not least of which was his own. I think Leto’s stunt is pure gumbification of our sport—and, yes, I know he has some cred for staring in climbing films yada yada yada. Jul 11, 2023 · A 26-year-old woman from Boulder, Colorado, died after falling approximately 500 feet while free-solo climbing a ridge in the state’s Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday, the park said. Honnold rose to worldwide fame in June 2017 when he became the first person to free solo a full route on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park (via the 2,900-foot route Freerider at 5. 14 big wall route is Learning from Free Solo Deaths. Apr 14, 2024 · An intimate and unflinching portrait of free solo climber Alex Honnold as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream – scaling the famous 3,200ft vertical rock formation El Capitan Mountain climber Alex Honnold seems to defy gravity, scaling sheer, steep rock faces with no rope and apparently no fear. 12c) was so audacious and unbelievable that many thought it was a joke when the news broke. In 2008, Honnold free-soloed Moonlight Buttress in Moab, Utah, a popular nine-pitch 5. However, it was Honnold’s free solo ascent of the Regular Northwest Face of Half Dome (5. What Is Free Solo Climbing? Free solo is the discipline of climbing without safety. But it’s been a stunning showcase of internet lunacy to see one news outlet joke that Leto is actually prepping for a role as Spider Man while another describes his climbing as a “crazy stunt. Free solo climbing means climbing without any form of protection from a fall. From award-winning documentary filmmaker E. ” Sep 26, 2007 · The East face of Washingtom Column. Jul 11, 2023 · A 26-year-old Boulder woman died Sunday after she fell 500 feet during a free-solo climb on the Four Aces of Blitzen Ridge in Rocky Mountain National Park, park officials said. He was a big Jan 24, 2025 · Reality Bath may have been the most newsworthy moment of Miller’s winter so far, but the real news, to our mind, is the mental and physical fortitude required to link together a solo ascent of Cerro Chaltén, a multi-day travel sequence, a WI 6 free solo, and the second ascent of Reality Bath, all within a week. Lara Logan reports. What Is Free Climbing Vs Free Soloing. Back then Smoot was one of America’s strongest climbers; he wasn’t uber-elite like Lynn Hill or Todd Skinner, but he was deep in the scene, a regular contributor to magazines like Climbing and Mountain, strong enough to send routes near the top of the grade scale, and solid enough ClimbingJunkie Nov 19, 2024 · One of Midtbø’s most famous videos is from 2022 when he and Honnold free-soloed a big route together. We ment Jul 11, 2023 · A 26-year-old woman fell to her death during a free-solo climb in Rocky Mountain National Park, according to the National Park Service. Without a rope or protection he took just 2 hours 25 minutes. Apr 26, 2021 · Pete Whittaker has just made the first free solo ascent of the 800 meter Kjerag mountain in Norway. ”Overall, he looked quite good on the route. Oct 3, 2022 · Jeff Smoot begins his latest book by describing a moment in the mid-1980s when his life nearly came to an end. On their third and final day, Vicha and Menšík climbed back up to their high point. Free soloing or free solo climbing is a type of rock or ice climbing where climbers, or more commonly known as free soloists, climb alone without using safety equipment such as ropes, harnesses, helmets, and the like. They think that it’s better not to mention free soling for fear of inciting others to take unnecessary risks. The unidentified 26-year-old died while climbing on the Four Oct 3, 2018 · Watch Alex Honnold’s journey toward his rope-free climb of Yosemite National Park's El Capitan in Free Solo, the Oscar-winning film by E. 12d, 9 pitches). Feb 2, 2024 · All the news and tips you need to get the most out of services, apps and software you use every day. 5 days ago · Since 1970, Climbing Magazine has been the voice of the climbing world, publishing climbing news, interviews, features, opinions, and advice. French freeing means . Even high-ball bouldering isn’t the same thing. Free climbing uses protection, free solo climbing doesn’t. May 21, 2024 · Honnold’s first news-making Yosemite free-solo was in 2007 when he became the second climber to free-soloe Astroman and The Rostrum in a day after Peter Croft did it in 1987. Read about famous rock climbers who have made world first ascents, ground-breakingly difficult routes, and death defying climbs – You won’t believe what they do. The reason free climbing holds its name is to contrast aid Mar 22, 2024 · As we all know, Alex Honnold made history in June 2017 by free soloing Freerider—becoming the first (and only) person to free solo a grade VI route on El Capitan. The film saw a younger Alex – still living in his van – contemplating the first free solo of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, via the Free Rider route. Then he was already known as an El Capitan solo climber and was looking for solitude again. In 2018 it blew up, with Alex Honnold's mind-bending solo of El Capitan and the award-winning film that chronicled it. Apr 18, 2023 · He also broke his own speed climbing world record. It seems like everyone can climb it. 355. Hell, some crazies can even flash it. 11c, 10 pitches) and the Rostrum (5. His choice of big wall climbing route on El Capitan is called Freerider, a route that was created by Alexander Huber in 1998, and which Honnold has completed several times with protection equipment. Midtbø said after, “This is a nice experience and everything, but I’m never doing this again. Jun 5, 2024 · While the route now serves as the standard free climbing route on El Cap, this spring it became a race track for rope soloing. Aug 11, 2022 · Any type of roped climbing in the gym is also considered free climbing. “In 2004, I pushed the height envelope by falling 100 feet off North Overhang (5. 9) in Joshua Tree National Park, breaking my neck and back, suffering a compound Nov 2, 2022 · Now that movies like Free Solo and Dawn Wall have brought climbing into the mainstream, however, it can be hard to know the difference between free climbing and other forms of the sport. This drone shot captures his epic climb. Chiaro di Luna: Brette Harrington: 5. The woman’s climbing partner, who was uninjured and called for help on his cellphone, was hoisted off the ridge by a Colorado Air National Guard helicopter Sunday night. 11. (That’s exactly one day of Sep 28, 2018 · Free Solo is a stunning, intimate and unflinching portrait of the free soloist climber Alex Honnold, as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream: climbing the face of the world’s most famous rockthe 3,000ft El Capitan in Yosemite National Park…without a rope. Video: Cerro Fitz Roy: Jim Reynolds: 5. 13a, the first-ever big wall free solo ascent at that grade), [3] a climb described in The New York Climber Alex Honnold has been dreaming of free-soloing the 3,000 feet (900 m) rock wall of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, a feat no one has performed. Watch more HERE: Nov 15, 2023 · One of the most recognized free solo with an exposed roof. The idea of going ropeless on a 2,900-foot free climb up slick granite on El Capitan, with multiple pitches of 5. NEW MEMBER OFFER! Get 40% off KAYA PRO, the ultimate climber’s toolkit Jun 18, 2022 · Alex Honnold is of course the star of the award-winning documentary “Free Solo“. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, Sunday March 3 at 9/8c Jun 15, 2012 · Honnold had previously climbed the route five times, including a roped free ascent last year and another free ascent two days before his solo. Here’s how it works. Climbing reached out to Nisky to learn more about the incident, the conditions he experienced leading up to it, and what was going through his mind as he entered *Do not attempt any of the activities shown in this video. Alex Honnold (born August 17, 1985) is an American rock climber best known for his free solo ascents of big walls. 12a) that propelled him into the mainstream's consciousness. 11b pitch above the Harding Slot, according to James Lucas, a friend from the Valley. By definition, a free solo climb is one where falling is not one of your options. Nov 16, 2023 · Free soloing, the act of climbing without the use of ropes or safety gear, is one of the most daring and controversial forms of rock climbing. 'Free Solo' Star Alex Honnold Climbs Unexplored Arctic Mountains to Track Climate Change From award-winning documentary filmmaker E. Honnold, 23, made headlines earlier this year with his free-solo of Moonlight Buttress (5. Apr 11, 2021 · Yes, free climbing uses a rope, harness, and protection in the wall to protect from falls. 5 hours bike-to-bike on Middle and 2:20-ish bike-to-bike on El Cap,” Honnold said about his recent Yosemite solos. Search and rescue workers recovered Prunty’s body from the base of the south side of the falls, just above Wells Creek. 12+. For this reason, many free soloists avoid discussing it. ” While this video doesn’t involved such a committing free-solo, Honnold does go sans rope on a techy crag route that Midtbø backs off on. See the latest sport climbing and bouldering sends, climbing videos, and articles right here Jun 7, 2023 · Not me. A 2008 free solo on Zion’s Moonlight Buttress (5. Jul 5, 2024 · Free soloing is therefore a form of free climbing, along with both sport climbing and trad climbing climbing. * It's been long overdue to feature another greatest free solo climbs video, so here it is. Their free solo climbs are deeply personal acts. Jul 12, 2023 · A Colorado woman died Sunday after falling 500 feet while free-solo climbing a ridge at Rocky Mountain National Park, authorities said. He is only the second person to make this climb in this manner, the first being Peter Croft. There’s no one there to help you. You’re probably thinking of free solo climbing described below. Climbing Nov 28, 2019 · Acclaimed American free solo climber Brad Gobright died Wednesday attempting to descend down the side of a cliff face in El Potrero Chico, Mexico, a popular rock climbing destination in northern Dec 6, 2024 · Free Rider, a Huber-brothers variation to the Salathé Wall (VI 5. 13a), the 1000-meter big wall on El Capitan, Yosemite. The iconic 5. Featured in a September Weibo post by Shandong TV, Luo Jun 7, 2017 · Free soloing means climbing with no rope, a genre that verged into American consciousness in the 1970s. Some people call free soloing the purest way to climb. As he looked up at the 300 feet of granite above him, he thought to himself, “No way. He carried no rope or harness during his solo, which he completed before noon on September 6. Alex Honnold has free-soloed Astroman (5. 11a/6b+ 22nd February 2015: Brette became the first women to free solo a tower in the Fitz Roy Massif. Free climbing simply means using your hands and feet to ascent, with the rope and safety gear there only to catch a fall. Feb 3, 2025 · They would try and free this last crux in the morning. 12, will seem ‘horrifying’ or ‘unrelatable’ to most climbers, but it’s clear that Alex prepared long and hard for his ascent and that he felt he could control the variables, his mind included, while he climbed. 9 C2; 3,500ft), is one of the most famous routes in Yosemite Valley. Chai Vasarhelyi and world-renowned photographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin, the directors of “MERU,” comes FREE SOLO, a stunning, intimate and unflinching portrait of free soloist climber Alex Honnold, as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream: climbing the face of the world’s most famous rock the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite Apr 12, 2021 · If you’re totally new to climbing then you should most rock climbing is done free as in the style is done as a free climb. While the risks are evident, the reasons why climbers choose to free solo are multifaceted and deeply personal. ” Oct 29, 2024 · A 43-year-old resident from China’s Guizhou province has been dubbed “Spider-Woman” for her extraordinary free solo climbing skills. ” “V16 isn’t news anymore but a V16 FA is. May 22, 2025 · Last November, Barbara Babsi Zangerl completed the amazing flash-style ascent of Freerider (VI 5. Free climbing is when a person ascends a cliff using no other tools besides their hands and feet to make upward progress. “I did 1. 11c Boulder Problem and the 5. Unlike its neighbor, the Nose , where intense competition has pushed the current speed solo record down to 4 hours and 37 minutes, the Salathé has seen just a few fast rope solo ascents in its lifetime. He seemed apprehensive about the less secure sections, namely the slab pitches on the Freeblast, The Boulder Problem of pitch 23, and the Enduro Corner pitches,” Lucas said. Aug 12, 2022 · Alex Honnold has long dreamed of solo climbing El Capitan. A month later, James Lucas’s now classic piece, “The Freerider,” appeared in Climbing No. Jun 7, 2017 · Matt Samet, Editor of Climbing. Categories News , Speed Climbing Reel Rock 17 Featuring Alex Honnold + Seb Bouin – How To Stream + Download Mar 18, 2019 · He had decided this would be his first-ever free solo — a style of climbing where you ascend without a rope or protective equipment of any kind. 11 and 5. The film was widely praised and won seven Emmys and the Oscar for Best Documentary in 2019. For years, 36-year-old Zangerl has proven to be one of the most versatile climbers in the game. “A V15 send isn’t news anymore but a V16 is. The 27-year-old ice and mixed expert was climbing the Spitzenstätter (VII/5. Nov 20, 2024 · When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Nov 24, 2024 · Astroman and the Rostrum were just the beginning. Apr 2, 2025 · King County resident Earl Prunty died on March 17 doing what he loved most: climbing Nooksack Falls, according to the 68-year-old’s family. John Bachar, a legend in the rock climbing world, is often remembered for his near-mythical status long before the likes of Alex Honnold took to the stage. Discussing free solo climbing deaths openly allows climbers to: Understand the Dangers: Recognizing real-life consequences helps climbers make informed decisions. Dec 20, 2024 · Martin Feistl died on Saturday, May 18, following a 130-foot fall in his native Austria, while free soloing on the steep 1,000-foot South Face of the Scharnitzspitze (8,097ft). Feb 25, 2019 · Last night, Free Solo, the film about Alex Honnold’s iconic ropeless ascent of El Capitan’s Freerider, won the Academy Award for best documentary feature. This time Menšík took the lead, and, using Vicha’s variation, managed to free this long and intense pitch: 40 meters of sustained and steep M9/5. Others call it suicide. 6 days ago · His free-solo took three hours and 56 minutes. Dec 9, 2024 · Honnold, star of the Oscar-winning 2018 climbing film Free Solo has spent the last few weeks attempting to free climb El Capitan’s famed route The Nose, the 2,900-foot vertical climb that is Jun 4, 2022 · In April of 2000 Dean Potter achieved the second free solo, after Croft, of Astroman, as described by Steve Schneider in a summary of the season in the American Alpine Journal: “The other big news was Dean Potter’s free solo of Astroman. By 2017, he was already one of the world’s best free-soloists. ” And so on. esm xwesl xupkcj ajsdiqx jopb tcqmn tpu gin wlq hhfwqr