Who is the greatest free solo climber of all time. Here are the best mountaineers of all time.
Who is the greatest free solo climber of all time. His ropeless ascent of El Capitan’s Freerider route in 2017 is considered one of the greatest athletic achievements of all time. Many people think this is one of the greatest climbing achievements ever. However, tragically, some of these climbers have paid the ultimate price for their passion. 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. Oct 12, 2024 · Who’s considered the greatest free solo climber? Alex Honnold is widely regarded as the most famous and accomplished free solo climber. Nov 24, 2024 · Alex Honnold is an American climbing legend and perhaps the most famous rock climber in history. He was the first person to climb all 14 eight-thousanders, doing so without American rock climber Alex Honnold has shot to international fame with his free solo climbs of big walls. He also completed the first solo ascent of Mount Everest in 1980. He was 31. " He is famous for climbing tall buildings. The variables involved with getting to the top of any given route are fewer and more controllable. Michael Ybarra died (July 2012) climbing solo on The Matterhorn Peak in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains. Reinhold Messner A Pioneer of Solo Ascents: Reinhold Messner of Italy is often regarded as one of the greatest mountaineers of all time. Her dominance in the sport and unparalleled skills make her an easy addition to this list. In this heart-stopp Aug 3, 2016 · Neuroscience The Strange Brain of the World’s Greatest Solo Climber Alex Honnold doesn’t experience fear like the rest of us. Pretty mad, right? Annually there are around 30 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. Jun 4, 2017 · Considering how Alex Honnold's first free solo of El Capitan will be remembered in the climbing world, and the sports world at large. We’ll explore their jaw-dropping achievements and the legendary climbs that have earned them a place in rock climbing history. His biggest achievement to date: On June 3, 2017, he crested the El Capitan in Yosemite Valley on the “Freerider” route, free solo, in 3:56 hours. " Mar 18, 2025 · To watch Alex Honnold climb is to witness a man in harmony with nature’s most imposing formations. In this article, we will explore the lives and achievements of the most inspiring female rock climbers of all time. Nov 15, 2023 · Honnold, the best free solo climber of our time, meticulously prepared Freerider for over a year, memorizing every handhold and foothold, every crux and rest spot. The verb was Jan 30, 2024 · The Most Inspiring Female Rock Climbers of All Time Rock climbing has always been a male-dominated sport, but throughout history, there have been exceptional women who have shattered this stereotype and pushed the boundaries of what is possible. We’ll explore their jaw-dropping From award-winning documentary filmmaker E. Reinhold Messner Reinhold Messner is an Italian climber known for being the first to ascend all fourteen eight-thousanders without supplemental oxygen. One of the most famous free solo climbers is Alex Honnold. Nov 24, 2022 · After all that we’ve found the best mountain climbing documentaries on Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube. When we do routes graded 6-7 (uiaa), we also free solo the pitches graded 2-3 because they're trivial and it saves a lot of time. This list contains my personal top ten climber ever — the legends who stand above the rest. 8 route on Yamnuska. On June 3rd, 2017, Alex Honnold became the first person to free solo Yosemite's El Capitan—to scale the wall without rope, a partner, or any protective gear—completing what was described as "the greatest feat of pure rock climbing in the history of the sport 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. But who exactly are the top climbers pushing the limits of the sport today? What Makes a Top Climber? Nov 11, 2024 · Undoubtedly one of the most famous rock climbers of all time, Lynn Hill is a Yosemite icon and dominated the world of female sport climbing during the 1980s along with France’s Catherine Destivelle, who went on to become one of the world’s greatest alpinists. Nov 22, 2016 · Adam Ondra, a world champion Czech climber, just achieved the second free ascent of Yosemite’s hardest big-wall free climb, the Dawn Wall—in record time. These men and women are not only the best Feb 12, 2021 · Who are the world’s most famous rock climbers? Look no further, we’ve compiled this ultimate list of the best climbers in the world! Aug 10, 2020 · Climbers and normies alike gripped their armrests watching Alex defy gravity and all common sense in the Free Solo documentary. Oct 3, 2018 · Exclusive: Alex Honnold Completes the Most Dangerous Free-Solo Ascent Ever The climber is the first person to reach the top of Yosemite’s 3,000-foot El Capitan wall without ropes. In this article, we will take a look at the top 10 best free solo climbers who have died, as well as explore some emerging trends in the world of solo climbing. I think Alex has the strongest mental game and is the best free soloist and possibly the best 'speed' climber (probably due to his mental game), but those are such specific niches of climbing there's no way you can ever label him the 'best climber. Jan 2, 2022 · The Alpinist recently released to rave reviews. 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. Alex Honnold is the best in the world, and the best of all time, in the particular niche of climbing he has chosen to specialise in, namely free soloing big walls. Here are nine of the greatest free soloists of all time (and a few more that could easily have made the list). 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. In 2017, he climbed El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without any safety gear. 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. Jan 27, 2024 · Who is Alex Honnold? Alex is a 38-year-old rock climber who rose to fame in 2018 after climbing the world's most famous rock face, El Capitan, without any ropes — a style of climbing known as 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. He pursues it Free Solo, which means climbing without a rope and alone. Can you list some rock climbers who’ve impacted the sport? Join us as we count down the 5 Greatest Free Solo Climbers of All Time! a lineup of legends who redefine the limits of human achievement. Nov 22, 2021 · How many people have died climbing El Capitan free solo? Over thirty fatalities have been recorded between 1905 and 2018 while climbing El Capitan, including seasoned climbers. ) It's been long overdue to feature another greatest free solo climbs video, so here it is. 13b), Yosemite Valley. 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). 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. For these five free solo climbing legends, it’s just another day at the office. Mr. The grade isn't the reason he gets his notoriety. While there are several well-known free-solos that he’s accomplished, there are many more that have gone unreported. What is the most legendary achievement in the history of mountaineering? I’ve recently gone on a kick watching videos and reading about this subject which has gotten me thinking: Is there like a number 1 achievement in the history of alpine climbing? what is the most bat-shit insane thing that has happened? Mar 1, 2022 · To date, Free Solo is considered among the best climbing films of all time. Check out some of the world's most legendary, frightening, and ground-breaking free solos of all time. The historic free solo (no ropes, just your hands and feet) ascent of the 3,000 ft face of El Capitan in Yosemite was the hardest big wall climb ever done – and will probably stay that way. At the top of the rock climbing mountain (both figurative and metaphorical), you’ve got names like Alex Honnold, who has transcended into mainstream consciousness through the film Free Solo. Apr 29, 2025 · From Olympic stars and millennials to Gen Z's rising talent, sport climbing is evolving at lightning speed. Soloing can also mean going alone with a rope, but free soloing means no rope. Pretty mad, right? Annually there are around 30 Jul 23, 2024 · The best climbing documentaries of all time, from Free Solo to Mountain Queen These nerve-shredding films shine a light on some truly remarkable human feats Jun 1, 2023 · American Alex Honnold (*August 17, 1985) is a free solo climber and extreme mountain climber. He’s best known for his daring free solo climbs on the big walls of Yosemite and beyond. By J. Sep 21, 2023 · Check out some of the world's most legendary, frightening, and ground-breaking free solos of all time. This is a list of climbers and mountaineers who are notable for their activities in mountaineering (including alpine climbing), rock climbing (including aid climbing, free climbing, bouldering, speed climbing and competition climbing) or in ice climbing (including mixed climbing). He is known for his solo ascents–often in winter–of major ice and alpine climbing routes. Oct 22, 2018 · For most of the documentary, the filmmakers do an admirable job of scrutinizing Honnold's plan, which is why it's so jarring when they stop. Akihira Tawara died (September 13, 2011) while free solo climbing the Directissima 5. B. Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, it won the 2018 Academy Award for Best Documentary. His solo ascent of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen in 1980 set a milestone in high-altitude climbing. Alex Huber has free soloed 14a. Oct 31, 2023 · This head-to-head multi-pitch climbing competition features 12 mixed teams made up of 24 of the world’s best climbers across various disciplines battling it out on 180m-long artificial routes. Oct 9, 2013 · An article posted by The Adrenalist also named John Bachar, Katie Brown, and Dan Osman on its list of “Best Free Solo Climbers of All Time. Mar 19, 2019 · Alex Honnold is without a doubt the best free climber in the world. 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. 13a, the first-ever big wall free solo ascent at that grade), [3] a climb described in The New Jul 23, 2023 · Honnold’s free solo achievements and big wall speed records have started to spread worldwide, and he became, without a doubt, one of the most accomplished climbers of all time. For technical rock climbing (like Free Solo) check out the best climbing documentaries. His life has become synonymous with adventure, risk, and an unmatched dedication to the craft of free solo climbing. This is the same just on a whole different level of skill Oct 29, 2024 · Catherine Destivelle: The French sport climbing great who evolved into a daring solo alpinist. He died after a 130-foot free solo fall. Chai Vasarhelyi (“MERU”) and world-renowned photographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin comes National Geographic Documentary Film’s FREE SOLO, a stunning, intimate and unflinching portrait of the free soloist climber Alex Honnold, as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream: climbing the face of the world’s most famous rock … the 3,000ft El May 10, 2023 · Alex Honnold is likely the world’s greatest free-solo climber of all time. Alex's hardest free solo is at the grade of 13a iirc. When it comes to rock climbing as a whole, it is a generally safe sport. To get it out of the way first – we’re referring to mountain climbing documentaries. The star of Free Solo has accomplished incredible feats like 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. Sep 4, 2020 · Michael Reardon was one of the best free solo climbers of his time – and the unroped style is what he climbed for. Sep 6, 2022 · Beyond the climbing footage, Free Solo seriously attempts to answer the question of why climbers are compelled to risk it all for such an elusive reward; it turns out, that answer can’t really Free Solo: Directed by Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi. And just to be pedantic: to all the people saying Ondra is the only person to win Boulder/Lead in a year, Sorato literally got first in both Free soloing or free solo climbing is a type of rock or ice climbing where climbers, or more commonly known as free soloists, climb alone without using safety equipment such as ropes, harnesses, helmets, and the like. [1] [2] [3] Another famous free solo climber is Alain Robert, also known as "The French Spider-Man. While he initially studied civil engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, he later dropped out of university and started exploring Chris Sharma Chris Omprakash Sharma (born 23 April 1981) is an American rock climber who is considered one of the greatest and most influential climbers in the history of the sport. Alex Honnold has his own verb. Alex free solo climbed the 3,000-foot vertical wall, the first person in the world to do so. From Olympic stars and millennials to Gen Z's rising talent, sport climbing is evolving at lightning speed. Dec 13, 2018 · Alex Honnold is a professional adventure rock climber whose audacious free solo ascents of America's biggest cliffs have made him one of the most recognized and followed climbers in the world. Reinhold Andreas Messner (German: [ˈʁaɪnhɔlt ˈmɛsnɐ]; born 17 September 1944) is an Italian climber, explorer, and author from the German-speaking province of South Tyrol. 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). 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. Nov 20, 2024 · This makes comparing the greatest sport climbers in history a tad more straightforward than, say, comparing the world’s greatest mountaineers. ” The death of Osman in 1998 and Bachar in 2009 showed the climbing community the dangers of the sport. From the granite walls of Yosemite to the rugged peaks of the Alps, free soloists have left their mark (and probably a few sweaty palm prints) on some of the world’s most iconic climbing routes. Messner’s bold and unconventional approach to mountaineering has left an indelible mark on Including two new chapters on Alex Honnold’s free solo ascent of the iconic 3,000-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. To face fear, literally. Just the climber, a chalk bag, climbing shoes and the crag. 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. The climb and the documentary easily made Alex Honnold the most famous Feb 22, 2022 · Making a list of the most famous rock climbers of all time starts out easy. Alex Honnold (born August 17, 1985) is an American rock climber best known for his free solo ascents of big walls. Although even in the niche others have achieved things nearly as impressive, for example Hans-Jörg Auer's solo of The Fish in the Dolomites, on a similar scale to Freerider, only slightly easier, and done with much less prior Apr 10, 2022 · Alex Honnold is perhaps the most famous climber in the world. (See trailer here. [1] Famous rock climbers, from the first free ascent of the Dawn Wall to the first woman to complete a V15, we've ranked the ten best rock climbers to have ever lived. Jun 4, 2022 · “Free Solo” chronicles Alex Honnold’s mission to achieve his historic free (and the first ever) solo of the iconic 3,300-foot El Capitan, in Yosemite Valley, California, completed June 3, 2017. Brad Gobright, an acclaimed American free solo climber, has died after falling nearly 1,000 feet while rappelling a well-known route in Mexico with a rope, the authorities said. 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. Conrad Anker: American great who famously discovered George Mallory’s body. In many ways, it’s the purest form of climbing. Nov 11, 2024 · Undoubtedly one of the most famous rock climbers of all time, Lynn Hill is a Yosemite icon and dominated the world of female sport climbing during the 1980s along with France’s Catherine Destivelle, who went on to become one of the world’s greatest alpinists. [1] Dec 20, 2024 · Martin Feistl, 27, was among the most talented and bold climbers of his generation. Junko Tabei: Trailblazing Japanese mountaineer and the first woman to climb Everest. What is the greatest free solo of all time? Alexander Honnold (born August 17, 1985) is an American rock climber best known for his free solo ascents of big walls, in particular his free soloing of El Capitan, in Yosemite National Park in 2017. What free solo I'm guessing the couple treated it like an exposed hike, rather than what immediately springs to mind when I hear "Free solo" climbing. For the uninitiated, free soloing is a dangerous form of rock climbing where the climber ascends without protective gear or a rope. The non climber lay person on the street would probably say Alex Honnold is the best climber in the world, but they wouldn’t be wrong in terms of free soloing, it’s just all so different. Jun 5, 2017 · The climber scaled the granite wall in under four hours, in what Alpinist magazine says "is indisputably the greatest free solo of all time. So, is Alex Honnold the best climber in the world? In the specific sport of free soloing, Alex is the best climber of this generation (and maybe ever). With the increased attention a new generation of superstar climbers has emerged. With Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Jimmy Chin, Cheyne Lempe. ” Alex Honnold free soloing Cosmic Debris (5. You either can climb it, joining the dots set out by whoever dreamed up the project, or you can’t. He made the first solo ascent of Mount Everest and, along with Peter Habeler, the first ascent of Everest without supplementary oxygen. ' Nov 16, 2023 · No rope? No problem. The free solo climbs and massive adventures beg the question - Who Was Marc-André Leclerc? Sep 28, 2018 · What’s required for a free solo climb is an intimate knowledge of the surface you intend to climb, and Honnold, after multiple climbs using ropes, fills notebooks with descriptions of specific “pitches” on the rock, which he then memorizes, along with the moves necessary to navigate them. MacKinnon August 3, 2016 Photography by Jimmy Chin Jul 30, 2024 · From free soloing to tackling challenging trad climbs, she is an all-around climber. Janja Garnbret is often referred to as the greatest in competition climbing. Don’t believe me? Hear it straight from the horse’s mouth:. Ok, AFAIK Alex is a GOAT in free solo rock climbing right now, but there are others close behind. “To honnold” is to stand in some high, precarious place with your back to the wall, staring into the abyss. He initially started as a sports climber, where the long hair and spandex from his rock band days blended into the scene. From groundbreaking ascents to Marc-André Leclerc (October 10, 1992 – March 5, 2018) was a Canadian rock climber, ice and mixed climber, and alpinist. The sheer (in more ways than one) difficulty of the In terms of climbing grades, Alex Honnold has done some hard free solo's but there are a few climbers who have solo'd harder routes - grade wise. Oct 27, 2023 · In no particular order here's a list of our favorite female climbers, mountaineers, trekkers, and all-round badass women! May 17, 2021 · Check out some of the world's most legendary, frightening, and ground-breaking free solos of all time. But it all started with mountaineering. Oct 23, 2017 · Check out some of the world's most legendary, frightening, and ground-breaking free solos of all time. Sep 22, 2017 · Here’s what the brain of the world’s greatest free-solo rock climber, Alex Honnold, can teach us about fear. Alex Honnold faces the biggest challenge of his career, climbing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. The high-altitude pioneer made both the first solo ascent of Mount Everest (8,048 meters) and the first ascent without supplementary oxygen. No need for a Nov 22, 2021 · Is free solo climber still alive? The American free solo climber, one of the world’s best, fell nearly 1,000 feet on Wednesday while using a rope. Here are the best mountaineers of all time. Many in the climbing community unquestionably refer to him as the best mountaineer of all time. Mar 12, 2015 · Caldwell, who is probably the world’s greatest free-climber, has said that the only time he ever considered free-soloing was in the winter of 2007, during a painful time in his marriage, which Feb 14, 2023 · Reinhold Messner, however, was a surefire choice. Nov 16, 2023 · Free soloing is the most dangerous discipline in climbing. Hazel was the first female to climb an E9 and has scaled El Capitan multiple times. (Mikey Schaefer 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. While saying that, it’s important to state that each famous climber was or is probably one of the best, in one or more disciplines. FREE Mini-Training on Overcoming Fear of Falling, and Find Your Fear Index With Hazel Findlay and Feb 14, 2023 · Climbing disciplines range from bouldering to trad to sport to deep water soloing. Meet the athletes pushing limits and defining the future of the sport. By his own admission, however, Alex is far from being the best climber in the world. Jan 19, 2025 · Climbing is becoming more popular than ever, with movies like Free Solo and The Dawn Wall bringing the sport into the mainstream. Dec 11, 2017 · Expedition Profile: Alex Honnold He's known by many as the world's greatest free-solo climber and has an uncanny ability to control his fear. Simply the best of all time. Discover the most legendary free solo climbers who made history like 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. Feb 13, 2025 · He’s one of only eight climbers to have reached the top of all the world’s 8,000m mountains with no supplementary oxygen and has set countless new routes around the world including the Lynn Hill is a living legend in rock climbing, and one of the greatest climbers of all time. Jerzy Kukuzcka: Polish high-altitude legend with many first ascents and winter summits. 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 first to ascend all 8000m peaks, to do the unimaginable without oxygen. Apr 10, 2023 · 2. Jul 23, 2023 · Just like the first computer wasn’t the best of all time, the first climber wasn’t the best rock climber of all time. He scripted history in 2017, after becoming the first person to successfully complete a free solo climb of Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan. May 9, 2024 · Known as one of the best female free solo climb ers and for her significant contributions to big wall climbing, Harrington has carved a niche for herself as one of the most daring and skilled climbers of her generation. We mention some names that have not been featured in previous lists, among the most astonishing From daring free soloists, to impossibly strong athletes, to big wall legends, climbing has seen its share of icons throughout the years. According to a UK study UK, you have more chances dying running or playing tennis while dying rock climbing. In 2018, he was killed in an avalanche on Catherine Destivelle Catherine Destivelle (born 24 July 1960) is a French rock climber and mountaineer who is considered one of the greatest and most important female climbers in the history of the sport. Aged just 31 years old, he has made a huge name for himself worldwide for scaling some of the world’s toughest faces without any safety equipment in record time. A pursuit that brings rock climbing down to its barest essentials. 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. Oct 25, 2023 · This head-to-head multi-pitch climbing competition features 12 mixed teams made up of 24 of the world’s best climbers across various disciplines battling it out on 180m-long artificial routes. cmzdrtclnextlbwcgurylrjxhlaeqkbkgjqfoxcemjetgehtd