Climbing History
A selected history of climbing and mountaineering through the climbers, climbs and media.
4092 Climbers
7945 Climbs
21018 Ascents
Featured
Alex Honnold
Alex Honnold is one of the most accomplished solo climbers of all time. His ascents throughout North America and the rest of the world have pushed the soloing standard to new heights.
Most notably, Alex was the first – and to date only – person to free solo a route on El Capitan in Yosemite with his ascent of Freerider in 2017. The ascent was the product of years of preparation, on top of an already groundbreaking solo ticklist, that included Moonlight Buttress (E6), El Sendero Luminoso (7c) and the Regular Northwest Face of Half Dome (E5).
In January 2026 Alex soloed Taipei 101 in Taiwan in an event that was live-streamed on Netflix. [1]
Other Work
Alex co-presents the Climbing Gold podcast alongside Fitz Cahall.
In 2012 Alex founded The Honnold Foundation. The foundation's aim is to improve access to solar electricity.
References
[1] https://www.netflix.com/watch/81987107
[2] Honnold Foundation https://www.honnoldfoundation.org/
[3] Free Solar? Alex Honnold's Other Mission by Natalie Berry (2023) https://www.ft.com/content/fdc13b02-43de-4fce-9068-0d613fa83760
Alex Honnold is one of the most accomplished solo climbers of all time. His ascents throughout North America and the rest of the world have pushed the soloing standard to new heights.
Most notably, Alex was the first – and to date only – person to free solo a route on El Capitan in Yosemite with his ascent of Freerider in 2017. The ascent was the product of years of preparation, on top of an already groundbreaking solo ticklist, that included Moonlight Buttress (E6), El Sendero Luminoso (7c) and the Regular Northwest Face of Half Dome (E5).
In January 2026 Alex soloed Taipei 101 in Taiwan in an event that was live-streamed on Netflix. [1]
Other Work
Alex co-presents the Climbing Gold podcast alongside Fitz Cahall.
In 2012 Alex founded The Honnold Foundation. The foundation's aim is to improve access to solar electricity.
References
[1] https://www.netflix.com/watch/81987107
[2] Honnold Foundation https://www.honnoldfoundation.org/
[3] Free Solar? Alex Honnold's Other Mission by Natalie Berry (2023) https://www.ft.com/content/fdc13b02-43de-4fce-9068-0d613fa83760
Pics + Vids
Featuring 10202 pictures and videos. Try searching for a climber, climb or summit to see pics and videos.
Nathaniel Coleman on Lee Majors 8c+
Leo Cea on Trip Tik Tonik 9a
Jakob Schubert on Vecchio Leone SDS 8C+
Support
If you've enjoyed using climbing-history.org please consider supporting the project by joining the patreon. Your support helps pay for the hosting required to keep the site running. Everyone who donates gets added to the supporters page.
You may also be interested in the Mountain Heritage Trust, a charity dedicated to preserving the rich history of climbing and mountaineering. Their collection includes many unique and valuable items, from rare guidebooks through to the boots worn by Doug Scott on the 1977 Ogre expedition.
Explore
Fancy a look around? You can browse by climber or by climbs, or you can check out some lists. For example
- All sport ascents of 9b or above
- British women who have climbed 7C or above
- British men who have climbed 8c or above
Podcasts
Featuring 4038 podcasts. Try searching for a climber to see podcasts with them, or check out some of these podcasts:
- Hayden Kennedy on The Enormocast (2012)
- John Sherman on The Nugget (2022)
- Caleb Robinson on The Nugget (2023)
- Tommy Caldwell and Alex Honnold on The Cutting Edge (2018)
Library
Featuring 15076 items in the library. Try a search to see what you can find, or check out these library items:
- Pilgrimage (2003) Film
- Alpine Journal 1923 Vol 35 75-80 Visser Saser (1923) Journal
- Craig Yr Ysfa Interim Guide (1943) Guidebook
Recent updates
References
Cleaned on abseil but not practiced.
Two pegs added and the line slightly straightened.
Top pitch had previously been climbed by Richard Harrison at E3.
No fixed gear on the first ascent. Martin Crocker added two pegs and slightly straightened the line for the second ascent in 1992. The two pegs were replaced by bolts in 2024.
Top pitch had previously been climbed by Richard Harrison at E3.
No fixed gear on the first ascent. Martin Crocker added two pegs and slightly straightened the line for the second ascent in 1992. The two pegs were replaced by bolts in 2024.
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Top pitch had previously been climbed by Richard Harrison at E3.
Top pitch had previously been climbed by Richard Harrison at E3.