Best free solo climbs. Climber: Dylan TubaroFilmed by: Andrew Serack Dec 20, 2024 · Martin Feistl, 27, was among the most talented and bold climbers of his generation. 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. 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. 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. On the one hand, it is the purest form of climbing, the fairest possible confrontation between rock and man. Alex Honnold faces the biggest challenge of his career, climbing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. 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. This film won the 2018 Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, a watershed moment in climbing culture. It's been long overdue to feature another greatest free solo climbs video, so here it is. 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. Alex Honnold's approach to free solo climbing remains ambitious, even with the responsibilities of fatherhood. 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. 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. Alex Honnold climbs to the top of El Capitan without ropes. 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. 15 first ascents and repeats. 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. 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. , a famous free solo climber, died while free soloing, and on an 'easy' route, and at the age of 52. It is a common misconception that these terms all refer to the same thing. 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. 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. Over time, humans have pushed the boundaries of achievements in extreme sport. 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. Now it's one of my favorite ways to climb. With no ropes or safety gear, this would arguably be the greatest feat in rock climbing history. What made this accomplishment so special was the high degree of consequence: If he fell, he died. 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. Try it free. 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. Read about six of his amazing free-solos here. According to a UK study UK, you have more chances dying running or playing tennis while dying rock climbing. . [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. Soloing can also mean going alone with a rope, but free soloing means no rope. Apr 4, 2023 · Deep in the Cascades, you can top out huge walls without placing gear or pulling 5. 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. 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. He takes a sport with an already significant amount of risk and turns it into a life-or-death scenario. 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. 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. Marc-André Leclerc (October 10, 1992 – March 5, 2018) was a Canadian rock climber, ice and mixed climber, and alpinist. ” 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. 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. 13b), Yosemite Valley. 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. Only a select few individuals possess the incredible skill, mental fortitude, and sheer guts to attempt such feats. 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. This device, unlike the Soloiad, allows free movement with no self-feeding required, a boon for free climbers. Jan 2, 2022 · The Alpinist recently released to rave reviews. 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. The climbers posted photos and videos this week of their climb up Paris’s Total Tower. 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 soloing is the most dangerous form of climbing, and, unlike bouldering, free soloists climb above safe heights, where a fall can be fatal. 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. 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. Oct 23, 2017 · Check out some of the world's most legendary, frightening, and ground-breaking free solos of all time. 3. 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. 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. We mention some names that have not been featured in previous lists, among the most astonishing See full list on climbernews. 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. Jun 18, 2022 · Of the climbers that climb 'hard' free solo routes, maybe literally none have died while climbing a 'hard' free solo route. 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. 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). No cable box or long-term contract required. 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. be/r I found this article on Climbing Narc from 2008, about Dave MacLeod's 5. 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. Oct 10, 2024 · Bouin is one of the world’s best sport climbers, with several 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). 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. 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). He pursues it Free Solo, which means climbing without a rope and alone. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. " 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. climbing with Alex Honnold **Insane experience** Magnus Midtbø 2. We’ll explore their jaw-dropping achievements and the legendary climbs that have earned them a place in rock climbing history. This drone shot captures his epic climb. 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. No need for a partner. Nov 16, 2023 · I chose these climbers in this list based on their skill, prolificity, and overall contribution to the world of free soloing. 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. 15a). Earlier this month, it also won the British Academy of Film and Television From award-winning documentary filmmaker E. [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. Chai Vasarhelyi and world-renowned photographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin, comes FREE SOLO, a stunning, intimate and unflinching portrait of free 2. Feb 24, 2019 · Free Solo won an Oscar for best documentary. 9. 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. Free solo climbing is a divisive issue, even among mountain enthusiasts. While Honnold is still alive and well, his accomplishments in the world of solo climbing cannot be overlooked. The route he did was extremely difficult, although it isn’t among the hardest routes in existence. ” Alex Honnold free soloing Cosmic Debris (5. 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. The achievement was documented by National Geographic Documentary Films. * Live TV from 100+ channels. 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. Oct 31, 2023 · His legendary free solo of El Capitan changed climbing forever. We reimagined cable. 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. 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. Specialty Spectacular free solo climbing on big walls is what Alex Honnold is known for. (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. 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. 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 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. This style of climbing is extremely dangerous, as any fall could result in serious injury or death. 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. 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. 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. One slip, and it’s game over. 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. Expertclimbers. We’ve included both a mix of free-solo climbers and free climbers in this list of inspirational men and women. He died after a 130-foot free solo fall. It involves climbing massive rock faces without any ropes, harnesses, or other safety equipment. 14b solo in Margalef, Spain. com describes free soloing as “is an extremely dangerous sport, one that has led to the untimely deaths of many experienced climbers. 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. 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. Cancel anytime. His life has become synonymous with adventure, risk, and an unmatched dedication to the craft of free solo climbing. 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. While the risks are evident, the reasons why climbers choose to free solo are multifaceted and deeply personal. 1. For these five free solo climbing legends, it’s just another day at the office. He’s best known for his daring free solo climbs on the big walls of Yosemite and beyond. 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. 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. This achievement was considered a 90-percent free solo climb. 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. For the uninitiated, free soloing is a dangerous form of rock climbing where the climber ascends without protective gear or a rope. Now, with the Plumber's Crack speed record, environmental activism and his podcast, Honnold's still shaping the future of the sport. Mar 12, 2015 · On Jan. 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. Check out some of the world's most legendary, frightening, and ground-breaking free solos of all time. 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. 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. Jimmy Chin’s acceptance speech, before yielding the microphone to his wife and co-director Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi: “Holy shit. “Evolving on the rock in such a free way is an incredible feeling. 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. In the five months since its release, the film has grossed nearly $19 million at the box office. Free Solo is the first climbing film to receive such an award. In many ways, it’s the purest form of climbing. 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. 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. As he recounts, it was for lack of recognition, and to earn a living, that he turned to building in the 90s. A pursuit that brings rock climbing down to its barest essentials. To get it out of the way first – we’re referring to mountain climbing documentaries. 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. 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. 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. Free Solo: Directed by Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi. His enormous recognition came after the movie, ‘Free Solo’, which documented his solo ascent of Freerider on El Capitan. Nov 24, 2022 · After all that we’ve found the best mountain climbing documentaries on Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube. Mar 1, 2022 · To date, Free Solo is considered among the best climbing films of all time. 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. 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. 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. Jan 18, 2024 · Alex Honnold, the GOAT, the champ, the master of free-soloing is the most recognizable figure in American rock climbing. 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. 10 moves on routes like Flyboys, which climbs 1,800 fully bolted feet at an achievable 5. Nov 15, 2023 · Below, you’ll find a list of all the hardest free solo multi-pitch routes, single-pitch routes and alpine. Just the climber, a chalk bag, climbing shoes and the crag. ” 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. Free solo climber Matt Bush hangs from a cliff edge in Cape Town, South Africa. He is known for his solo ascents–often in winter–of major ice and alpine climbing routes. Several were chosen because they pushed the difficulty cap of the free solo grade; others because of the quantity and regularity of their soloing. (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. Longer video here: https://youtu. 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. For technical rock climbing (like Free Solo) check out the best climbing documentaries. 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. 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. With Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Jimmy Chin, Cheyne Lempe. 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. May 11, 2025 · Free solo climbing is one of the most dangerous sports in the world. 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. When it comes to rock climbing as a whole, it is a generally safe sport. cmjogm euwbxnu lmosq yklezyj gyfup ouhr cwcsdd cfknk etzkzz crqr