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[brockd15]

Originally Posted by Matthew

How in the hell would you even know which route to take specifically? The face of that is huge and you would think there would be spots of just sheer smoothness. What do you hold onto? And how do your hands not completely seize up. I get scared on a ladder!! This is just insane.

According to the article, there were...

Crazy


"On Freerider, one of the most daunting physical and mental challenges Honnold faced was two pitches of steep, undulating expanse of rock about 600 feet up. Polished smooth by glaciers over the millennia, the granite here offers no holds, forcing a climber to basically walk up it with his feet only. Honnold used a delicate technique called “smearing,” which involves pressing his rubber shoes against the rock to create just enough grip to support his weight on the incline. He had to keep his weight perfectly balanced and maintain enough forward momentum to avoid sliding off. “It’s like walking up glass,” Honnold said."

[brownhound]

Originally Posted by rodcad

Yet, if one spends their life totally focused and preparing for something like this, I would presume the risks are greatly diminished. I would even wager the risks are a lot less than the guys who do the wingsuit thing, where wind comes into play. Huge risk with climbing still obviously, but if every handhold and foot placement is carefully thought out and rehearsed beforehand.......Seems like this guy has mastered controlling his mind and body to another level.

Reminded of a good friend of mine who did first descents (i.e., mountain climbing then ski un-charted routes) in Himalayas, Hindu Kush, Andes, etc. Part of the Exum guide world out of Jackson, WY. He was extremely intelligent (Ivy League), sober and realistic. He said, i"t's not scary - if you do it right and nothing happens it's totally safe."

He died when something didn't go right.

[RonW87]

Originally Posted by Tickdoc

It's an incredible achievement.

What will be even more incredible is if he makes it to old age.

Yup. From the article linked above:

"There are no other sports in which the penalty for even the most modest of errors is certain death."

[bitt3n]

Originally Posted by batman1425

died at age 52 in a free-solo accident.

seems kind of like saying "died in a Russian roulette accident"

[Louis]

Originally Posted by Matthew

What do you hold onto?

In some cases, tiny ledges and / or tiny cracks.

I don't know if he gets to use mechanical aids that have been placed by others (or by him on previous climb).

[Black Dog]

Originally Posted by Louis

In some cases, tiny ledges and / or tiny cracks.

I don't know if he gets to use mechanical aids that have been placed by others (or by him on previous climb).

No aids allowed. The routes are all well known and he has climbed every centimetre of the route many times before he attempted the solo climb.

[gasman]

It's a well established route on El Cap. He did it numerous times before he went up on it free solo. He even made small chalk marks next to key (tiny)footholds last week. He also rappelled down the route the day before to make sure the marks were still there. He didn't use any mechanical devices left by others. He did have some food and water that had been left there for him. Nat Geo had several cameramen high on the route and they also set up some remote controlled cameras on some of the hardest parts of the route. There should be a great Nat Geo special out sometime on his climb.

There really is no room for error. it's scary even for other climbers to contemplate what he has done. On one forum I visit the comments included, "He should now just put himself out to pasture and collect stud fees" " I want to duct tape him to a tree"

I worry that it won't have a long life either. John Bachar climbed passed me and various partners several times in the 70's and early 80's. These were climbs I could barely get up and he was there with no rope !! Dean Potter was active in free soloing until he died in a wing suit accident. Peter Croft was an accomplished free soloist who stopped free soloing some 10 years ago. Henry Barber was an active free soloist in the 70's. The later two are still climbing but not free soloing (as far as I know) and alive.

[dbrown]

Saw some of the video tonight on the news. Honest question: How does he get down once he has free climbed to the top of El Cap?

[charliedid]

Originally Posted by dbrown

Saw some of the video tonight on the news. Honest question: How does he get down once he has free climbed to the top of El Cap?

You can hike El Cap.

We did Falls Trail years ago. Hiking, not climbing.

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvis...fallstrail.htm

[gasman]

Actually it's a long ways from the Falls route. Most climbers go down the East ledges descent. There's a couple of rappels (I'm sure he had access to a rope) then lots of down climbing. At least that's how I came down about 40 years ago and I think it's still the most common route.
Anyway, it's more than a hike and unless you were a climber you wouldn't think about doing it.
The falls trail is a great hike though !

[pdmtong]

The mental and physical aspects of alex' feat are beyond comprehension.

It is just so far outside the realm of consideration for anyone, let alone his few peers. and, if you have been to Yosemite...you know the wall.

To be that focused for four hours? with the penalty of death? think about it.

The "boulder problem"...is this the section where he has to go laterally left?

can someone point me to a better description / video?

[gasman]

Here's a climber website with a description.

https://www.mountainproject.com/v/freerider/106261545

But it doesn't really do it justice. I've been to the base of the route and it's scary to look up. The Nat Geo documentary will be amazing but we gotta wait.

[cadence90]

.... ..
.

[charliedid]

Originally Posted by gasman

Actually it's a long ways from the Falls route. Most climbers go down the East ledges descent. There's a couple of rappels (I'm sure he had access to a rope) then lots of down climbing. At least that's how I came down about 40 years ago and I think it's still the most common route.
Anyway, it's more than a hike and unless you were a climber you wouldn't think about doing it.
The falls trail is a great hike though !

Makes sense.

My climbing never got beyond top rope stuff 30 years ago.

[beeatnik]

An Important Moment in Black History II

Boss.....Chris Parnell
Kenny Wilkins.....Finesse Mitchell


[ open on History Channel logo ]

Announcer: And now, The History Channel presents [ over SUPER ] another "An Important Moment in Black History."

[ dissolve to an office setting in 1985, Kenny Wilkins being interviewed by his potenial boss ]

Announcer: The year was 1985.

Boss: So, everything looks great. you can start on Monday.

Kenny Wilkins: Thank you.

Boss: You just, uh, need to sign here, if you want Direct Deposit.

Kenny Wilkins: What's that?

Boss: Your paycheck will be deposited immediately into your account, so you don't have to bother making a trip to the bank.

Kenny Wilkins: So, I don't get a check?

Boss: Oh, you get it. It just goes directly to your bank.

Kenny Wilkins: But how do I cash it?

Boss: You don't. It just goes into your account.

Kenny Wilkins: How do I know that?

Boss: Well, I'm sure your bank will send you monthly statements.

Kenny Wilkins: Okay.

Boss: So, you want to enroll?

Kenny Wilkins: Let me think about it. [ an extended beat ] Hell, no!

[ scene freezes, as the Announcer's words scroll up ]

Announcer: The History Channel honors Kenny Wilkins, the first black man to say "No" to Direct Deposit.

[ dissolve to title card ]

Announcer: This has been an Important Moment in Black History.

[ fade ]