No matter what your opinions surrounding free soloing, most climbers do stand in some type of awe when considering the achievements of many of the big name, high-profile soloists in the climbing community at large.

 

Have you seen Free Solo? If you have not and are a member of the climbing community, you likely know about the activity about which we are talking. And if you don’t know who Alex Honnold is, you might be living under a rock rather than on a wall. For any gym rats or newbs reading this, free soloing refers to free climbing a rock climbing route (or sections of it) sans the ropes. Alex Honnold is one of the most well-known soloists of our generation having become a household name for his soloing activities in the mecca: Yosemite National Park.

 

On the Seriousness of Soloing

 

This article does not condone free soloing. This point needs to be stressed as the American Alpine Club’s Accident Reports in North America yearly mentions the dangers of soling fourth and fifth class easy terrain and solo accidents occur more than the community would like. Soloing is a personal choice.

 

A Brief History of Free Soloing

 

Driven by something that most cannot understand, the late and greats John Bachar (whom many tote as the father of free solo) and Dean Potter were both prolific soloists of their respective generations. Both were known for their extreme free solos—Southern California climber Bachar notably soloed the infamous “Leave it to Beaver” on Sport’s Challenge Rock in Joshua Tree National Park while Dean Potter was known for his wild Yosemite solos like “Separate Reality”.

 

Soloing is a risky activity, and the consequences are high. There is no margin for error. A fall could mean severe injury or death. For this reason, there are a lot of climbers that choose to forgo the activity. John Bachar died soloing near Mammoth Lakes, California. There is much speculation about whether he simply slipped, or a hold broke. Despite the circumstances, climbers continue to free solo (alpine climbers will often solo easier fourth and fifth class terrain or pitches that they consider easier depending on personal comfort). Then there is Alex Honnold. A man who has soloed America’s crown jewel of big walls: El Capitan.

 

Alex Honnold Scales New Heights in Free Solo

 

If you are at all familiar with who is who in the world of big wall and expedition climbing, then you probably know who Jimmy Chin is. In case you don’t, he is a famous climber and adventure sport enthusiast as well as an accomplished photographer, videographer, and filmmaker. Spoiler alert: He won an Oscar for “Free Solo”—a documentary following Honnold’s pursuit of free soloing Freerider on El Cap. 

 

The subject matter is gripping, and the documentary has no short dramatic effect. Chin captures stunning footage of Honnold on the Wall working through the process. This free solo documentary captivated the eye of not only the fan boys and girls of the climbing world but the general public as well. Doing something as big as El Cap solo is astronomical, and Honnold earns all the respect for his earth-shattering accomplishment because it was one that left the climbing world shook. If you have not seen the documentary, it is worth watching.

 

Are you interested in rock climbing and looking for a gym community in the greater Manassas area? Vertical Rock Climbing and Fitness is a locally owned and operated climbing gym dedicated to growing the local climbing community and helping to foster mentorship. Visit our website to learn more about what Vertical Rock has to offer.