Alex Honnold is one of those individuals who is literally at the top of their chosen avocation. The only climbing I've done was on a rock wall at sea on a RCCL cruise ship - and I swear they rigged it by 'pulling' up the weaker climbers (like me).
Excellent article about Alex Honnold that I submitted months ago and fell into the canyon. Makes you realize that fear is just a construct that can be minimized.
As a climber for the past 25 years, I have mixed feelings about Alex Honnold.
He's incredibly talented, very humble, and definitely destined to be a name remembered in climbing history.
Unfortunately, I have a horrible feeling his name will be remembered along side John Bachar and Derek Hersey. Free soloists, no matter how skilled, are living a dangerous life.
I used to solo in my younger days, until I had a hold break off around 100m off the deck at Arapiles. It's not you that kills you, it's nature.
I really hope he lives to a ripe old age and continues to push the limits, but I also hope he does it in a way that doesn't involve playing Russian Roulette with rock.
Rarely do I get sweaty palms just by reading a text. But Honnold on that ledge, that was like watching some russian kid doing stupid things on a high rise on Youtube. I hope hes not gonna fall too soon...
alex honnold is a climber whose van looks nicer than my apartment: https://www.google.com/search?q=alex+honnold+van&safe=off&cl... (granted my place is a shithole)