pics

I wrote below that I am also critical.

Interviewer: Does having a family make it impossible to climb without fear entering your mind?

Alex: "Time will tell. It’s maybe possible, but it might be a challenge. I think it's easier to free solo when you can tell yourself that your life doesn't matter that much. You’re kind of like, “Well, I'm just doing my thing, and it's my own choice.” And if you have any real acceptance that your life matters a lot to other people, then you are sort of like, “Well, you know, it's sort of my responsibility to not squander that.”

On the other hand, with a lot of the hard free soloing, the whole point is to make it feel safe and relatively comfortable. To basically prepare enough that it doesn't feel like you're rolling the dice.

Actually, last fall I did a big soloing traverse in Red Rock, near my home in Las Vegas. It was a 32-hour soloing traverse by myself, climbing up over all the major peaks in Red Rock. I think to the average viewer, they'd be like, “Holy shit, he’s still soloing at a really high level.” But the reality is that, for me personally, that just doesn't feel like extreme free soloing in the same way. It was kind of more akin to ultrarunning or like a giant endurance event or something. I was free soloing, but it’s a far cry from El Cap."

My thoughts: While he is skilled he isn't taking the natural environment in his equation. It might be a easypeasy climb like he mentions in the interview above. Sure, but the risk of Rockfall, high winds, adverse weather, unexpecited animals mid route, sudden noises etc. that scare you are still real. In Nevada where he climbs they have air force jets, if you get caught off guard during a climb things can get friggin' dangerous.

Yeah I understand this doesn't happen every day but once you have children I wouldn't want to risk a single solo climb. It's not required and he is climbing at a level he doesn't have to prove anyone anything. He is rich and already extremely good. At this point it's selfish and stupid. I don't know normally I really don't care but well I don't think free soloing should be glorified and he is a person that younger people look up to. He is a person younger people SHOULDN'T look up to. Climbing without a rope shouldn't look like they are better climbers than climbers with ropes. Especially because we have access to ropes, we have them for a reason.

Most climbs he solos are nothing and I'd say most of the climbs might go well but nature can screw him up. A fly lands on your nose and you get distracted - you die. Free solo equates with being totally alone on the rock, not being able to call anyone for help, and not being able to bail if things go wrong. You either go up, or you fall (and very probably, die). Another option might be climb back down, but.... dunno why would you climb down if you already know the route and are confident?

That's all it is. Nothing a man should risk once you have children.

Wow, knowing that dude has kids at home changes the whole equation. I guess I just assumed the kinds of people that took those risks were the kinds of people that wouldn't let themselves have attachments or dependents because of the risks. I guess that just shows I understand people that take those risks even less than I thought I did.

Well said. This guy is a selfish idiot.

I wonder what his premiums on life insurance are, I'm guessing those he leaves behind will be well taken care of.

Every corpse on Everest was once a highly motivated individual

That's probably his preferred way to go.

Are your knees weak?

not to forget that you can fall even if you don't make a mistake: rocks do break

Eh, some of us climb. Using ropes. I'm no where near as good as him, so I want safety. If I were as good as him? Still want that safety.

Don't need to be a professional cook to know when food is bad.

Same that I don't need to be a professional mountain climber to know the only incredible thing about it is how incredible dumb this guy is for being so dangerous.

I’ll just do some coke at home thanks

Almost as bad as sitting on your ass being mad and making comments about people making comments about someone doing something incredible.