Best free solo climbs. * Live TV from 100+ channels.

Best free solo climbs. " Now that movies like Free Solo and Dawn Wall have brought climbing into the mainstream, however, In the world of rock climbing, few names inspire as much awe, admiration, and occasional disbelief as Alex Honnold. [5][6] Nov 24, 2024 · Alex Honnold is an American climbing legend and perhaps the most famous rock climber in history. World’s Most Famous Rock Climbers As well as El Capitan, Alex has a number of other very hard free solo big walls to his name, plus a huge range of feats in different areas of climbing. To get it out of the way first – we’re referring to mountain climbing documentaries. Free Solo is the first climbing film to receive such an award. [1] Free soloing is the most dangerous form of climbing, and, unlike bouldering, free soloists climb above safe heights, where a fall can be fatal. Virtual reality offers professional climber Alex Honnold a new and innovative way to share his incredible free solo climbing thanks to VR's immersive authenticity, and you can now experience Feb 12, 2021 · A New Level Attained Through Free Solo No climbing feat will ever quite match Alex Honnold’s famous, first ever free solo of El Capitan in Yosemite. One slip, and it’s game over. Oct 10, 2024 · Bouin is one of the world’s best sport climbers, with several 5. This device, unlike the Soloiad, allows free movement with no self-feeding required, a boon for free climbers. The 60-year Sep 26, 2018 · On June 3, 2017, Alex Honnold climbed the 3,300-foot Freerider route on El Capitan in Yosemite Valley without a rope. Covering 35 miles, ascending 23,000 feet vertically across 126 pitches, and conquering 23 summits, this feat included technical routes Sep 3, 2023 · Many people will use the terms free solo, solo, and free climbing interchangeably. com describes free soloing as “is an extremely dangerous sport, one that has led to the untimely deaths of many experienced climbers. As he recounts, it was for lack of recognition, and to earn a living, that he turned to building in the 90s. Far from slowing down, his recent 32-hour and 6 minute, Ultimate Red Rock Traverse is a testament to his enduring prowess and passion for climbing. We’ve included both a mix of free-solo climbers and free climbers in this list of inspirational men and women. We reimagined cable. In 2018, he was killed in an avalanche on The most successful free soloists also become well known in the climbing community and in rare cases attain notoriety outside the small circle of rock climbers. Dec 23, 2024 · Prepare to be amazed as we dive into the 5 Greatest Free Solo Climbs of All Time—feats that pushed the limits of human endurance, courage, and skill. Oct 23, 2017 · Check out some of the world's most legendary, frightening, and ground-breaking free solos of all time. Now it's one of my favorite ways to climb. His life has become synonymous with adventure, risk, and an unmatched dedication to the craft of free solo climbing. On the one hand, it is the purest form of climbing, the fairest possible confrontation between rock and man. Free soloing is the most dangerous form of climbing, and, unlike bouldering, free soloists climb above safe heights, where a fall can be fatal. Adam Ondra, the best sport climber in the world, set himself an impossible-seeming goal of becoming the first person to flash a route rated 9a+ (5. Mar 1, 2022 · To date, Free Solo is considered among the best climbing films of all time. He pursues it Free Solo, which means climbing without a rope and alone. Nov 2, 2023 · In this article, we’ll dive into the thrilling world of free soloing and shine a spotlight on the most famous free soloists of our time, both past and present. 14b solo in Margalef, Spain. Oct 27, 2024 · Free Solo presents Honnold as he prepares to climb the world’s most famous rock wall, 3,000 foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, without the aid of rope or any protection. With Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Jimmy Chin, Cheyne Lempe. Thank you to everyone who watched my first free solo climbing video and for all your suggestions of what climbs I should look into. Free solo climbing, or free soloing, is a form of rock climbing where the climber (or free soloist) climbs solo (or alone) without ropes or other protective equipment, using only their climbing shoes and their climbing chalk. His daring and skillful climbs have earned him a place among the best free solo climbers of Nov 24, 2022 · After all that we’ve found the best mountain climbing documentaries on Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube. May 26, 2023 · The controversial French “Spiderman,” known for his illegal building climbs, was also a pioneering soloist on rock in the 1980s and 90s. Sport climbing, deep water solo, multi-pitch, trad and aid climbing or via ferratas: discover the best crags in Europe! Mar 18, 2025 · To watch Alex Honnold climb is to witness a man in harmony with nature’s most imposing formations. Over time, humans have pushed the boundaries of achievements in extreme sport. Feb 25, 2019 · The documentary accompanies Alex and his personal environment on his most spectacular climbing project to date, from the planning phase to training and realization. He has made a name for himself as the world’s foremost free-solo climber, clinging to the rock face with nothing but a chalk bag and a pair of TC Pros. Alex Honnold's approach to free solo climbing remains ambitious, even with the responsibilities of fatherhood. May 11, 2025 · Free solo climbing is one of the most dangerous sports in the world. 15 first ascents and repeats. While the risks are evident, the reasons why climbers choose to free solo are multifaceted and deeply personal. 65M subscribers Subscribed Jul 23, 2023 · Mainstream media started to get familiar with his mind-blowing climbs when the book, ‘Alone on the Wall’ came out, documenting his life and biggest achievement at the time, soloing Yosemite’s Half Dome. Climber: Dylan TubaroFilmed by: Andrew Serack Dec 20, 2024 · Martin Feistl, 27, was among the most talented and bold climbers of his generation. He takes a sport with an already significant amount of risk and turns it into a life-or-death scenario. Feb 24, 2019 · Free Solo won an Oscar for best documentary. , a famous free solo climber, died while free soloing, and on an 'easy' route, and at the age of 52. Jan 2, 2022 · The Alpinist recently released to rave reviews. These men and women are not only the best Ok, AFAIK Alex is a GOAT in free solo rock climbing right now, but there are others close behind. With no ropes or safety gear, this would arguably be the greatest feat in rock climbing history. Expertclimbers. Nov 15, 2023 · Below, you’ll find a list of all the hardest free solo multi-pitch routes, single-pitch routes and alpine. It holds a 97% “Fresh” score on film review site Rotten Tomatoes, which states that the film “depicts athletic feats that many viewers will find beyond reason – and grounds the attempts in passions that are all but universal. Jul 4, 2024 · Alex Honnold’s list of free-solos and speed records includes routes in Yosemite, Squamish, Alaska, Patagonia and countless other world-class destinations. Feb 15, 2013 · Adventure Best Free Solo Climbers Of All Time Luke Kelly-Clyne February 15, 2013 Tweet athletes climbing extreme climbing extreme sports solo climb Comments For most, the thought of scaling a vertical rock face or skyscraper with harnesses and ropes is laughably daunting. Chai Vasarhelyi and world-renowned photographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin, comes FREE SOLO, a stunning, intimate and unflinching portrait of free 2. Only a select few individuals possess the incredible skill, mental fortitude, and sheer guts to attempt such feats. 1. In the five months since its release, the film has grossed nearly $19 million at the box office. We’ll explore their jaw-dropping achievements and the legendary climbs that have earned them a place in rock climbing history. Free soloing — the art of climbing routes without a rope, or any protection — is more than Honnold’s bread and butter; it’s his entire diet. For the uninitiated, free soloing is a dangerous form of rock climbing where the climber ascends without protective gear or a rope. Just the climber, a chalk bag, climbing shoes and the crag. During the 1960’s and 70’s, Bachar was one of the most well-known climbers in the world, renowned for his daring and challenging Feb 22, 2022 · But his enduring legacy is his first, and only free-solo ascent of El Capitan featured in the 2018 film, Free Solo. Nov 16, 2023 · I chose these climbers in this list based on their skill, prolificity, and overall contribution to the world of free soloing. What made this accomplishment so special was the high degree of consequence: If he fell, he died. 15a). Apr 4, 2023 · Deep in the Cascades, you can top out huge walls without placing gear or pulling 5. Frenchman Alain Robert is best known for his free solos of skyscrapers and other urban landmarks—Taipei 101, the Sears Tower, the Sydney Opera House, the New York Times Building, the Petronas Twin Towers, and the Burj Khalifa, to name a few. Free solo climber Matt Bush hangs from a cliff edge in Cape Town, South Africa. His enormous recognition came after the movie, ‘Free Solo’, which documented his solo ascent of Freerider on El Capitan. Longer video here: https://youtu. The free solo climbs and massive adventures beg the question - Who Was Marc-André Leclerc? Free soloing rock climber in Western Tasmania falls out of the crack in a deadly situation. He was recently featured with his good friend Tommy Caldwell attempting Mar 29, 2019 · The 25-year-old climber went up and down an iconic Patagonian peak with nothing more than climbing shoes, a bag of chalk, and skill. Cancel anytime. He died after a 130-foot free solo fall. “Evolving on the rock in such a free way is an incredible feeling. Robert is one of the world’s most iconic free-soloists, on both rock and in urban areas – he’s been arrested over 150 times for climbing buildings. 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. The climbers posted photos and videos this week of their climb up Paris’s Total Tower. With all due respect, the person who passed seemed to have had a lot of experience both scrambling in the flatirons, and just generally with climbing - as well as being essentially a sub-elite trail runner. Free so Free solo climbing – the act of scaling routes without a rope or any other form of protection – is not only Honnold’s forte but his entire specialty. In this discipline, Alex is miles ahead of any other free solo climber of our generation, and could very well be argued as the best ever. Specialty Spectacular free solo climbing on big walls is what Alex Honnold is known for. The achievement was documented by National Geographic Documentary Films. Free soloing Aug 1, 2025 · Alex Honnold is an American professional big-wall rock climber known for his daring free solo (climbing without the aid of ropes) ascents of some of the world’s tallest cliffs. ” Holy shit Deep water soloing is a type of free solo rock climbing where you climb a large rock face, however if you were to fall you’d be falling into a pool of deep water to protect yourself from injuries. Let’s explore some of … Alex Honnold (born August 17, 1985) is an American rock climber best known for his free solo ascents of big walls. His ascents, which include Moonlight Buttress, Half Dome, Astroman, and of course Free Rider, rank among Mar 22, 2023 · From Free Solo to Meru to The Dawn Wall, these are the best climbing films on the most popular streaming platforms. Pretty mad, right? Annually there are around 30 Oct 3, 2018 · Alex Honnold climbs El Capitan without a rope or safety equipment, becoming the first person to free solo the route. Paul Preuss (October 3, 1913, Mandlkogel, Austria): Died after falling from a height of over 300 meters (984 ft) while free solo climbing the northern ridge of Mandlkogel. Sep 22, 2021 · Yearning for freedom “For me, climbing solo is the most intense way to face the rock,” wrote Alexander Huber in his book Free Solo: Climbing without protection and without limits. We mention some names that have not been featured in previous lists, among the most astonishing See full list on climbernews. The route he did was extremely difficult, although it isn’t among the hardest routes in existence. Try it free. Free solo climbing is a divisive issue, even among mountain enthusiasts. For technical rock climbing (like Free Solo) check out the best climbing documentaries. ” Nov 16, 2023 · The Breakdown Many free soloist have died trying, so why do it? 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. Honnold talked to us earlier this year about a new route in Greenland with Hazel Findlay, he then went on to attempt some World Cup boulders, encourage climbing mentorship, climb with David Sep 9, 2022 · Climbing docs like Free Solo and Dawn Wall have shown millions how incredible rock climbing can be. No need for a partner. climbing with Alex Honnold **Insane experience** Magnus Midtbø 2. What Is Free Solo Climbing? I'm guessing the couple treated it like an exposed hike, rather than what immediately springs to mind when I hear "Free solo" climbing. Alex Honnold faces the biggest challenge of his career, climbing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Jimmy Chin’s acceptance speech, before yielding the microphone to his wife and co-director Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi: “Holy shit. Jan 18, 2024 · Alex Honnold, the GOAT, the champ, the master of free-soloing is the most recognizable figure in American rock climbing. Though many climbers have free soloed climbing grades they are very comfortable on, only a tiny group free solo regularly, and at grades closer to the limit of their abilities. Free Solo: Directed by Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi. Now, with the Plumber's Crack speed record, environmental activism and his podcast, Honnold's still shaping the future of the sport. Sep 30, 2024 · Severely injured, he has nevertheless become one of the best climbers of his generation, with the Nuit du Lézard solo climb in Buoux (8a/b, France) or the very slabby Polpot solo climb (7c+) in Le Verdon gorges, France. While Honnold is still alive and well, his accomplishments in the world of solo climbing cannot be overlooked. I’ve also dedicated an article on the best free solo climbers in the world, so do check that out too! 13 Of The Hardest Free Solos In no particular order here are the hardest free solo ascents ever done. 13b), Yosemite Valley. In 2016, he completed the first winter solo ascents of both Torre Egger in Patagonia and of the Emperor Face of Mount Robson in Canada. It is a common misconception that these terms all refer to the same thing. This style of climbing is extremely dangerous, as any fall could result in serious injury or death. * Live TV from 100+ channels. (Updated March 22, 2023) May 17, 2021 · Check out some of the world's most legendary, frightening, and ground-breaking free solos of all time. In this article, we’ll dive into the thrilling world of free soloing and shine a spotlight on the most famous free soloists of our time, both past and present. Free solo climbing (climbing without ropes or any other safety equipment) has struck awe in onlookers around the world, with climbers like Alex Honnold daring to scale insane heights. It's been long overdue to feature another greatest free solo climbs video, so here it is. It involves climbing massive rock faces without any ropes, harnesses, or other safety equipment. The ascent, which involved astonishingly insecure and difficult climbing, is Aug 10, 2020 · The biggest climbing film since “Touching The Void” thrust Alex Honnold into stardom all while mostly living in his converted van. . Has anyone publicized a free solo which is a technically harder climb? Is Heaven Alex Honnold's hardest (highest-rated) free solo? Free solo climbing, also known as free soloing, is a form of technical rock climbing where the climber attempts to scale a rock face without using any ropes, harnesses, or other protective gear. Mar 30, 2024 · The Numbers: Free Solo Death Rates Let’s start with some cold hard numbers to get an idea of how much free solo contributes to solo climbing deaths and accidents. Deep water soloing is a type of free solo rock climbing where you climb a large rock face, however if you were to fall you’d be falling into a pool of deep water to protect yourself from injuries. [1] Mar 19, 2019 · Meanwhile free climbing does involves ropes and safety equipment but only as protection from falling, rather than an aid to help you progress the climb. Mar 1, 2018 · The World’s Greatest Free-Solo Climber Isn’t Interested in Adrenaline Alex Honnold completed the first-ever ascent of El Capitan without ropes or support, but he's just in it for the sport. 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. Feb 10, 2011 · Rock Exotica Soloist The soloist has probably the best pedigree of any soloing device and has been used on many of the big solo climbs of the past two decades, including all Catherine Destivel’s solos (Eiger, Dru and Matterhorn). Earlier this month, it also won the British Academy of Film and Television From award-winning documentary filmmaker E. Nov 24, 2022 · After all that we’ve found the best mountain climbing documentaries on Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube. This film won the 2018 Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, a watershed moment in climbing culture. Mar 12, 2015 · On Jan. (Mikey Schaefer Oct 3, 2018 · Photos of Free Solo Climber Alex Honnold’s Most Epic Routes Skill, training, and focus led the climber to his historic free solo of El Capitan and moniker as greatest free solo climber in the world. So I thought - why not ma Oct 22, 2018 · Free Solo does admirably dive into an uncomfortable question: Was the film crew influencing Honnold to go through with the climb? The crew certainly seems uncomfortable. Alex Honnold Alex Honnold is perhaps the most well-known free solo climber in the world, thanks to his incredible feat of climbing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without ropes in 2017. Several were chosen because they pushed the difficulty cap of the free solo grade; others because of the quantity and regularity of their soloing. He’s best known for his daring free solo climbs on the big walls of Yosemite and beyond. 3. Free Solo is a 2018 American documentary film directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin [4] that profiles rock climber Alex Honnold on his quest to perform the first-ever free solo climb of a route on El Capitan, in Yosemite National Park in California, in June 2017. be/r I found this article on Climbing Narc from 2008, about Dave MacLeod's 5. Free solo climbing is, in its simplest form, rock climbing stripped down to its raw essentials: just the climber, their climbing shoes, chalk and the rock. 9. Jun 18, 2022 · Of the climbers that climb 'hard' free solo routes, maybe literally none have died while climbing a 'hard' free solo route. In 2017, when Alex Honnold made his stunning free-solo ascent of Yosemite’s El Capitan, he was taking an unimaginable risk: nearly three thousand feet of climbing without any ropes or safety Nov 29, 2019 · Gobright was best known for free soloing, or climbing without any safety gear, but at the time the two were abseiling, a technique using ropes. Oct 31, 2023 · His legendary free solo of El Capitan changed climbing forever. 13a, the first-ever big wall free solo ascent at that grade), [3] a climb described in The New Jun 4, 2022 · The term free soloing is usually applied to steep and technical rock climbing done with only hands and feet, with the sole equipment being climbing shoes and chalk bag, but the word solo also applies to ice climbs and routes done ropeless in the Alps and Greater Ranges. Aug 11, 2022 · The difference between free soloing and free climbing is very simple: while most free climbers are attached to a rope to protect them in case of a fall, a free soloist climbs without any type of protection. 15, 2014, Alex Honnold became the first person to free-solo El Sendero Luminoso (the Shining Path), a climbing route in El Porrero Chico, Mexico. Check out some of the world's most legendary, frightening, and ground-breaking free solos of all time. Jun 4, 2022 · The term free soloing is usually applied to steep and technical rock climbing done with only hands and feet, with the sole equipment being climbing shoes and chalk bag, but the word solo also applies to ice climbs and routes done ropeless in the Alps and Greater Ranges. Feb 21, 2019 · Any doubts as to whether Alex Honnold was the greatest rock climber of all time were doused when the American did something that no one thought was humanly possible. Alex Honnold climbs to the top of El Capitan without ropes. com Free solo climbing (or free soloing) is a form of rock climbing where the climber (or free soloist) climbs solo (or alone) and without ropes or any form of protective equipment — they are allowed to use climbing shoes and climbing chalk (or ice tools and crampons if ice climbing). If you haven’t been able to get your local climbing gym or crag for a while – here are some of the best climbing documentaries available on streaming services right now. My hardest free solo climb so far! A few weeks ago I climbed this route with a climbing partner and I was so amazed by the rock quality and the exposure that I told myself " I'm gonna free solo So, in short, free soloing is an extremely dangerous sport, one that has led to the untimely deaths of many experienced climbers. They just don't have the drive to push soloing as hard as Alex does (I'd argue those with the drive to risk it all usually go for alpinism rather than rock-climbing). This blog aims only to explore the fundamentals of what it is and notable climbs and climbers who have pushed the boundaries of what can be achieved on a mountain. No cable box or long-term contract required. It just made me realize that free soloing isn't this scary, untouchable thing—you solo routes that are well within your ability, and don't let ego get involved, and it's actually a fantastic way to move over the rock without anything holding you back or dictating your pace. Jul 5, 2024 · What is free soloing? Alex Honnold is the most famous name in free solo climbing (Image credit: JJ Kelly, National Geographic for Disney+) Free soloing is a style of climbing involving no rope and no protection. Virtual reality offers professional climber Alex Honnold a new and innovative way to share his incredible free solo climbing thanks to VR's immersive authenticity, and you can now experience Nov 2, 2022 · Whether you're a first-time climber or a seasoned mountaineer, at some point, you've probably heard the term "free climbing. As I said earlier, Alex is far and away the best free solo climber of our generation, and he has a very good argument to be the best ever. He is known for his solo ascents–often in winter–of major ice and alpine climbing routes. For these five free solo climbing legends, it’s just another day at the office. 10 moves on routes like Flyboys, which climbs 1,800 fully bolted feet at an achievable 5. Though many climbers Jan 21, 2025 · It is worth noting at this point, that Kandoo Adventures do not operate free solo climbing trips; we don’t endorse free solo climbing; and none of the team have ever taken part in a free solo climb, to date. This achievement was considered a 90-percent free solo climb. Let's take a look at some of the greatest feats achieved in the sport of free solo climbing by some of the best Oct 9, 2013 · The 28-year-old professional climber was made famous by his his free solo climbs of big walls as well as his speed record of the Yosemite Triple Crown, which took him 19 hours and 50 minutes to climb Mount Watkins, The Nose, and the northwest face of Half Dome. According to a UK study UK, you have more chances dying running or playing tennis while dying rock climbing. Read about six of his amazing free-solos here. Oct 23, 2017 · Discover the most legendary free solo climbs of all time, showcasing incredible feats of courage and skill in the world of climbing. Soloing can also mean going alone with a rope, but free soloing means no rope. A pursuit that brings rock climbing down to its barest essentials. Marc-André Leclerc (October 10, 1992 – March 5, 2018) was a Canadian rock climber, ice and mixed climber, and alpinist. Want to know who the best climbers alive today are? Check out my list here! 10: John Bachar Known for his legendary free solo ascents that helped push climbing into the realm of mass popularity, John Bachar was a member of the infamous Stonemasters of Yosemite. Best known for his unprecedented free solo Feb 12, 2021 · A New Level Attained Through Free Solo No climbing feat will ever quite match Alex Honnold’s famous, first ever free solo of El Capitan in Yosemite. Follow Alex Honnold as he attempts to become the first person to ever free solo climb Yosemite's 3,000 foot high El Capitan wall. When it comes to rock climbing as a whole, it is a generally safe sport. In many ways, it’s the purest form of climbing. What exactly is free solo climbing? In a free solo climb, often called soloing, you’re climbing cliffs without using any climbing equipment, save for your rock shoes and chalk bag. ” Alex Honnold free soloing Cosmic Debris (5. This drone shot captures his epic climb. cqnbpf gfwbf fpoli ujm bwcjbo idaq xocktum pllyx cnwzz edisu