Alex Honnold

Early years

Alex Honnold grew up in Sacramento and began climbing in a gym as a child. After leaving university, he lived in a van to climb full time, travelling between Yosemite and other areas. He became known for remarkable rope-free ascents of long routes, carefully prepared with roped practice.

El Capitan

In June 2017 he free soloed Freerider on El Capitan, about 900 metres of granite, in under four hours. The climb, filmed for the Academy Award-winning documentary Free Solo, brought him worldwide fame. He prepared for years, memorising sequences and rehearsing the hardest sections, such as the Boulder Problem near the top.

Speed and partnership

Honnold also climbs with ropes and partners. In 2018 he and Tommy Caldwell set a speed record on The Nose of El Capitan, climbing it in under two hours. He has completed many big wall routes around the world and continues expeditions to remote cliffs.

Did you know?

Honnold keeps detailed journals of his climbs, noting sequences and conditions, a habit he credits with helping his preparation. Despite his fame, he still spends much of his time climbing with partners and ropes, and he has spoken about how preparation, not bravery, drives his decisions.

Giving back

He founded the Honnold Foundation, which supports solar energy projects for communities with limited access to electricity. He has spoken often about risk, preparation and fear, explaining that what looks reckless is built on years of careful training, and that free soloing is not something he recommends to others.

Professionals, don't try this: these athletes train for years with coaches, safety systems and spotters. Start at a supervised gym or club and progress slowly.

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