Alex Honnold has soloed the Regular Northwest Face (VI 5.12a, 23 pitches) on Half Dome and The Nose (VI 5.9 C1, 31 pitches) on El Capitan in Yosemite, California - taking just over eight hours for both routes.

Alpinist.com report that "His ascent of the Regular Northwest Face took 2 hours and 9 minutes—a new record that is 41 minutes faster than his September 2008 free solo. Honnold then climbed The Nose in 5:59, just under six hours. It is possible that Honnold also has set a link-up record for the two routes. Combined, the routes involve about 5,000 feet of serious climbing."

You can see more pictures and a report on Tom Evans' El Cap Report Website, where Tom States:

"Alex Honnold drove up this morning and was eating a leisurely breakfast, when I went over and looked at his new van interior. Pretty cool! He mentioned that he had just done the Reg on the Dome in a sporty 2:09 and was about to go on the Nose for the link-up. That time is the NEW solo record on the route. We chatted a while and he walked off to the Nose, with a considerable rack and a rope. He muttered something about having read Han's book about speed climbing last night and was eager to see how the roped solo stuff would work for him. He wandered off around 10:30 and I soon saw him in the Stovelegs, carrying all his gear and a light pack, but 3rd classing everything..."

Honnold was attempting to break the speed record on The Nose on El Cap partnered with Ueli Steck (See UKC News), but the pair seem to have given up their attempts. The current record of 2.37 is a tough nut to crack - Steck and Honnold managed a time of 3.45 but didn't get any faster.

Commenting on his website Ueli said:

"To break the record it will take a great effort. The last record by Yuji Hirayama and Hans Florine is the result of a prolonged training on the route. Hans Florine climbed the Nose at least 82 times, I am looking to the great mountains of the Himalayas for my challenge... We will now devote time to other routes in Yosemite National Park, Alex has his projects and I have mine."

Alex Honnold is sponsored by Black Diamond , La Sportiva , The North Face

Ueli Steck is sponsored by Petzl , Beal , Mountain Hardwear and Scarpa