Alex Honnold


Quick Info

From: USA 🇺🇸
Date of birth: 17th August 1985
Age: 40 years old
Gender: Male
Hardest Boulder (Worked): 8A
Hardest Sport (Worked): 9a
Hardest Sport (Onsight): 7c
Hardest Sport (Flash): 8b
Hardest Trad (Worked): E10
Hardest Trad (Onsight): E8
Hardest Trad (Flash): E8
Notable Partnerships
Tommy Caldwell

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 person to free solo a route on El Capitan in Yosemite with his ascent of Freerider in 2017.

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.

Contributors
179 contributions since 24th January 2021.
53 contributions since 15th July 2025.
12 contributions since 12th October 2025.
TdG
9 contributions since 13th September 2025.

Quick Info

From: USA 🇺🇸
Date of birth: 17th August 1985
Age: 40 years old
Gender: Male
Hardest Boulder (Worked): 8A
Hardest Sport (Worked): 9a
Hardest Sport (Onsight): 7c
Hardest Sport (Flash): 8b
Hardest Trad (Worked): E10
Hardest Trad (Onsight): E8
Hardest Trad (Flash): E8
Notable Partnerships
Tommy Caldwell

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 person to free solo a route on El Capitan in Yosemite with his ascent of Freerider in 2017.

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.

Contributors
179 contributions since 24th January 2021.
53 contributions since 15th July 2025.
12 contributions since 12th October 2025.
TdG
9 contributions since 13th September 2025.

Lists


Podcasts


Library


Pics + Vids

No pics or vids yet.


Ascents

50 recorded ascents.

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Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Arrested Development 9a Lead | worked 13th Sep 2019
Manphibian 9a Lead | worked 14th Sep 2024
Man-Bod 9a Lead | worked 8th Oct 2024 8c+
The Green Mile 8c+ Lead | worked 7th Apr 2010
Dad Bod 8c+ Lead | worked 4th Oct 2024 8c
Peace 8b Lead | worked 1st Oct 2010
Reggae 8b Lead | flash 10th Apr 2024
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade

Awesome! Super psyched. Thanks to everyone for a bunch of pads. Different beta than Kevin, which made it easier, but I'm still calling it 8a, just cause it's so tall.

Other than the shoulder-stand start this is an amazing problem. Sonnie's vision.

Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade

[I was] shaking a bit up there. It's f***ing scary!

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2012/01/alex_honnolds_big_balls_in_bishop-66088

Parthian Shot (Pre-2011 Break) E9 Lead | worked 16th Nov 2008

Light rain, standard english fare...

The Book of Hate E9 Lead | worked 2nd May 2011
Cobra Crack E9 Lead | worked 11th Aug 2011
Passage to Freedom First ascent. E9 Lead | worked Between 28th Oct 2019 and 31st Oct 2019

I wouldn't call myself an offwidth climber but I just did the hardest offwidth in the creek.

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2dIZt4FCeE

End of the Affair E8 Lead | flash 7th Nov 2008

Not a true onsight since I've seen movies, but there was no chalk. Good times one way or another.

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYbRNt4GjXE

[2] https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/alex-honnold-flashes-gaia-e8-6c.html

I climbed the easiest way up to the gear on Born Slippy, then finished up the slab. Don't know what this is supposed to be but it's the most natural way up the cool slab.

Awesome line. Much, much harder than the EOTA [End of the Affair] or Gaia. Thank to the random folk nearby for lending a few pads.

No Way Jose E8 Lead | onsight 17th Mar 2010

Marc-André Leclerc:

Alex is an incredible climber.... a while ago I was all happy, just having finished the second ascent of 'Bruce Lee Vs. The Kiss Army', the infamous 5.13R at Neat and Cool. Then Alex joins us and after spraying him down with the beta, he ties in and flashes it.... flashes a 5.13R! Then seeing as there were no biners at the anchor he just unties, drops the rope then down free solo' Neat and Cool to get down... pretty sick! [1]

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/DJXgU1wTxDa/

The Complete Scream E8 Solo | worked 2016
Pineapple Express Variation First ascent. With Sonnie Trotter. E8 Alternate Leads | worked 2017

6 days on the route.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/DSDRwjDDs-v/

The Excellent Adventure E7 Lead | onsight 27th Sep 2007
Tricks Are for Kids E7 Lead | onsight 21st Mar 2008
The Master's Edge E7 Lead | onsight 21st Nov 2008
Cobwebs E7 Lead | flash 11th Mar 2015

Via The Boulder Problem. Surely one of the wildest solo ascents ever. Honnold climbed some minor variations to the usual line of Freerider which he considered more secure for a soloist: a line on the right of the second Freeblast slab (pitch 6, no change in grade); a 5.10c pitch leaving Heart Ledge to avoid an insecure 5.11c friction move; and taking a lower traverse into a hand crack that widens to the Monster Offwidth to avoid a 5.12a undercling move (Pitch 18). This crack had previously been climbed by Bermuda Dunes. The two pitches Honnold considered the most challenging for a soloist were The Boulder Problem and the first Freeblast Slab (Pitch 5). These were unavoidable.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/BU5oSrWhFWW/

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/C9xj6Kwv2-y/

[3] https://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/13201214748/

Equinox E6 Lead | onsight 11th Nov 2006

I turned on my iPod at the beginning, played my Top 25, rocked that to the top, and had a couple songs to spare.

References

[1] https://alpinist.com/newswire/honnold-free-solos-moonlight-buttress/

Equinox E6 Solo | worked 28th Mar 2011

One day on the continuous ascent. Had previously climbed first 9 pitches. All pitches onsight except for the Unfinished Ninth.

Led all pitches belayed by Stacey Pearson who jumared the route.

References

[1] https://web.archive.org/web/20170213064201/http://www.stanford.edu/~clint/yos/longhf.htm#apron

The same day Alex soloed The North Face on The Rostrum, emulating Peter Croft's effort in 1987.

London Wall E5 Solo | onsight 21st Nov 2008

The same day he soloed Astroman.

First free solo ascent, via the usual Huber variation to the Zig-Zags (5.12a).

References

[1] https://www.climbing.com/news/honnold-free-solos-half-domes-nw-face-2

Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Hupolup Kempf 8a+ Deep Water Solo | worked 18th Sep 2009