Only one person has ever free soloed a full route on El Capitan, the 3,000-foot granite wall that dominates Yosemite National Park.
That climber is Alex Honnold, who in June 2017 climbed the Freerider route without ropes or protective gear.
Honnold's ascent was completed in 3 hours and 56 minutes and remains one of the most consequential achievements in the history of climbing. It was documented in the Academy Award-winning film Free Solo.
The distinction is critical. Free soloing means climbing without any ropes or safety systems, relying entirely on physical ability and precision. That is different from free climbing, where climbers use ropes for protection but do not pull on gear to advance.
Many elite climbers have free-climbed El Capitan, but none besides Honnold have done so completely unroped.
MORE: Why Alex Honnold's live climb of Taipei 101 on Netflix was postponed
Among them is Lynn Hill, who made history in 1993 by becoming the first person to free-climb The Nose in a single day. Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson completed their famed free climb of the Dawn Wall in 2015 after 19 days on the rock, using ropes for safety. Brad Gobright was also among a small group to free-climb demanding El Cap routes, though never free solo.
Honnold’s achievement stands alone not because others lack talent, but because the margin for error is zero. He prepared by climbing Freerider countless times, memorizing every hold and movement.
Despite the risk, Honnold has said he does not chase danger, free soloing only under ideal conditions.
In addition to El Capitan, Honnold holds the speed record for Yosemite’s “Triple Crown,” linking Mount Watkins, The Nose and Half Dome in 18 hours, 50 minutes — further evidence of a career defined by discipline rather than recklessness.
Now Honnold tackles the Taipei 101 live on Netflix Saturday night (8 p.m. ET).
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- How Alex Honnold's Taipei 101 climb compares to El Capitan