Movie Theater Free Solo

[earthquake]

Nat Geo documentary/movie about Alex Honnold's climb of the 5.12d (extremely difficult) route Freerider, on El Capitan, without a rope!



Holy Sh*t! This should definitely be experienced on the big screen...wish I had seen it in Imax. As a climber myself, I was in awe of Alex's accomplishments in the past, but when I heard he climbed the 3,000' Freerider route on El Cap without a rope, I was shocked.

I know he made it and lived, but I still had a hard time watching this movie through some of the moves he had to make on the route....smears on credit card sized edge holds and fingertip locks on pebbles with big moves in between, with 2,500' of air below you. Shift your weight a micrometer the wrong way or at the wrong time and you're dead.

I think even non-climber will enjoy this movie. It's very oriented on his drive, focus and achievement. Just f'cking amazing what he did. Warrior ethos. Go see it!

 

[Laseredge]

+1, Former climber here, saw it a month or so ago. Everything you said, my palms were sweating watching it, even though I knew he made it ok. Awesome flick.

 

[OpenSpace]

I made my living as a professional climber for many years. Climbed El Cap and multiple other big walls and agree his accomplishment is unbelievable. I do worry about his future though, as his family history had illness in it and almost all highly accomplished free soloists are no longer with us. Highly recommend the film.

 

[mzvarner]

Ditto, this is amazing. Props to Honnold, but hopefully he uses a rope exclusively now. Quit while your ahead my friend.

 

[mdmp5]

Dude, I can’t even do a fucking pull-up (nerve damage). I don’t know if my heart could handle watching that shit

 

[Derek200]

My 17 year old daughter wants to be a climbing bum. So I took her to see it.

He clearly has issues. No one has that kind of drive without some serious psych issues. But those issues have led him to amazing accomplishments.

The most impressive thing to me. Don’t be fooled. He rehearsed this thing a lot. He basically seemed to have every move memorized. Listen as he describes where he is gonna put his fingers and feet. Nuts.

And. He will die of his disease. Although who knows what he will do to top this one. He has since gone back and set some speed records on el cap I think.

 

[yakstone]

Eventually his drive will most likely result in his death. Folks needing that kind of rush are seldom satisfied for very long.

 

[BR7.62]

Thanks for posting, I'll watch this tonight for sure.
I used to be an avid boulderer (little trad and sport mixed in) these free solo videos really get my heart racing.
As mentioned these guys have a short life generally...

 

[Starbuck]

Another climber here, FWIW.

An amazing talent Alex. Have yet to see the film, but I will. I can't imagine soloing or even climbing at 5.12, and Alex is a hero to many.

As has been noted above, there is a thing called "the soloist's death": Derek Hersey, John Bacher, and I have probably omitted many.

I solo from time to time, but only really easy stuff, like 5.5 and below, and Grade 3 ice. It is fun to be in the mountains alone, and there is a great tradition behind it.

 

[earthquake]

Another climber here, FWIW.

An amazing talent Alex. Have yet to see the film, but I will. I can't imagine soloing or even climbing at 5.12, and Alex is a hero to many.

As has been noted above, there is a thing called "the soloist's death": Derek Hersey, John Bacher, and I have probably omitted many.

I solo from time to time, but only really easy stuff, like 5.5 and below, and Grade 3 ice. It is fun to be in the mountains alone, and there is a great tradition behind it.

Same here. I've soloed a few rock routes, mainly the Flatirons, and put up an FA on a 12k' peak that was mildly technical, by myself. That day in the mountains on that route stuck with me as the best of them all. Out of the hundreds of ice/rock/mixed routes I'd done, that solo trip was the one.

They were all within my capabilities though, but yeah, a mistake would be or could be fatal. Sometimes you just have to go. I think that's the draw to climbing anyway. But El Cap? H-O-L-E-E S-H-E-I-I-I-T!!