Free Solo

Austin Howell soloed harder and more often than almost anyone else in the country, documenting his exploits on Instagram and a podcast. But behind the scenes his mental health was faltering.

The air under me when I had started up didn’t seem consequential, but now it was all I could think about, the foot slipping, hands skipping off the polished rock, a long fall to the base.

We’re launching a new weekly series celebrating a few outstanding ascents that caught our attention recently. We hope you enjoy it.

22-year-old Nathaniel Masahi Takatsuno fell about 200 feet.

You've heard of Alex Honnold and all of his groundbreaking ropeless ascents. But here are a few things you may not have known about Honnold, many of which are also quite impressive.

When Ken Murphy soloed up an overhanging route to help a climber in a dire situation, he said, climbing “never felt so easy.”

Alex Honnold's free solo of El Capitan did not occur in a bubble of solitude and inspiration. In this archive piece, originally published shortly after Honnold's ascent, James Lucas dives into the story (and backstory) of Honnold's path to Freerider.

In the past I’d had the same concerns, but this time it all hit me again. That could have been me.

Free soloing means climbing with no rope, a genre that verged into American consciousness in the 1970s. In 2018 it blew up, with Alex Honnold's mind-bending solo of El Capitan and the award-winning film that chronicled it. Let's take a look back.

"Marc-André deserves to be there at the Emmys with us"—though being in a city and a suit, and the center of attention, might be his worst nightmare. PLUS: the many climbing films to receive Emmy or Academy awards or nods over the years.

And what does virtual reality technology mean for the future of climbing film?

52 minutes to solo nearly 700 feet. The two climbers want to draw attention to the courage and bravery of the Ukrainian people.

There are two miracles in this week's whipper: 1) He survived. 2) He caught the fall on video.

1:00 a.m., on the way back from the Mountain Room Bar, wet rock after a rain. What could go wrong?

The fearless American free soloist brought climbing into the limelight, and upped the risk ante so high it may never be surpassed.

The Colorado-based alpinist was 400 feet up The Ribbon when an avalanche released. He caught the ensuing moments on video.

Bickering goes bad—way bad—at Red Rocks.

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"In terms of mental effort and physical effort, this is a way harder day than El Cap. That’s harder climbing, but I think overall with this link-up, it’s more vertical feet of climbing, probably more sustained climbing, and way more mileage."

The 52 year old Italian has made history by free soloing one of the most difficult pitches to date.

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Born and raised in Yosemite Valley, Ahwahneechee Tribe member—and pro climber/snowboarder—Lonnie Kosuko Kauk is taking Valley climbing to the next level, with 5.14 cracks, 5.14+ projects, and beyond.

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Presented by Evolv

The impact of a 60-foot free soloing fall on Boulder's Second Flatiron

Presented by Evolv

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Meet the YOSAR beast and onetime Nose speed record holder

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The human side of the superhuman climber who free soloed El Capitan

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Flash—Our monthly climbing photo gallery

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As pro climbers strive to maintain sponsor attention, they are often forced to seek out harder, bigger, or bolder lines—and then to do them for the camera.

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Breakout climber Brette Harrington gained notoriety with a 5.11 free solo in Patagonia, but this young phenom can’t be pigeonholed

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He Knows climbing. And he KNOWS it.

Celebrating the life of Dean Potter with inspiring photos and original quotes

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