Free Soloing Videos

Yes, I have already posted about free soloing, the (crazy) extreme sport in which you rock climb without a rope.  You can read my past blog post here.  For all the people out there who worry about me, please know that I am in no way tempted to pursue this sport.  (Well, sometimes people go free soloing on short walls over a body of water.  I'd consider that, but that isn't really the same because of the distinct lack of DEATH involved.)

This week, I once again became fascinated about free soloing because of this video.  The guy in the video, Alex Honnold, has climbed some world-class routes like half dome and The Nose of El Capitán without ropes.  Seriously, watch this video:

Here are some still shots of Alex Honnold free soloing various routes, with some nice music by Emancipator:

I am in awe of this guy's abilities.  Seeing him climb is inspirational.  I am not tempted to try free soloing in the slightest, but I can sort of appreciate the beauty of the sport.  He must have such a sense of freedom when he's up on the rock (at least, when he's not in fear of falling).

Here's a video in which Steph Davis talks about her reasons for free soloing.  She talks about the freedom she feels up on the rock, and the sense of being in control.  She uses it as a way to work out other things in her life.

Watching that video, I'm just thinking that I can't really imagine climbing a ladder as tall as that cliff without a rope.  But Steph Davis is more hardcore than me.  She says that free soloing the diamond is "an expression of mastery."  Yup.

There are also people who free solo barefoot.

I don't even know, man.

To end our day of extreme vertigo, here is a video from Dad about the world record high dive from a few years ago:

Now there are butterflies in my stomach and I'm done blogging for the day.  Bye bye.

Extreme Sport of the Week: Free Soloing

Short post this week.  I mostly wanted to show you some inspirational photos and stories about rock climbing.  In particular, there is this crazy sport called free soloing, which is rock climbing to dangerous heights without a rope.  This goes on the list of things I'd never do myself, but please direct your attention to this article I found in the National Geographic:

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/05/yosemite-climbing/jenkins-text/1

(from the flickr photostream of Rick Tew's NinjaGym™ Martial Arts)

The above photo is of ropeless rock climbing at Phi Phi in Thailand, where my mom is vacationing right now, actually.  But it's not free soloing, because the guy is low enough that he could fall without getting severely hurt or dying.  

Free soloing... okay, fine, here's the awesome photo from the National Geographic.  I'm not sure if they allow others to use their images.  If they give me trouble, I'll take it down.  Until then:

(from the National Geographic)

Now take a look at the article that goes along with that photo.  Free soloing is stupid, scary, and awe-inspiring.

The article goes on from free soloing to talk about other rock climbing styles that are less stupid.  Feeling inspired, I went on to find this video of Lynn Hill and Katie Brown climbing together.  Lynn Hill is one of the best climbers in the world, and is mentioned in the National Geographic article.  May she inspire you as she inspires me: