UKC

Honnold Solos The Phoenix - Yosemite

© Tom Evans - El Cap Report
American climber Alex Honnold, known for his bold solo ascents and hard trad climbs, has soloed The Phoenix (5.13a) - a famous crack in Yosemite National Park, first climbed by Ray Jardine in 1977.

Sean Leary and Alex Honnold in Yosemite  © Tom Evans - El Cap Report
Sean Leary and Alex Honnold in Yosemite
© Tom Evans - El Cap Report

The crux pitch of The Chouinard-Herbert  © The Mountain project
The crux pitch of The Chouinard-Herbert
© The Mountain project
Recently Honnold spent time at The Jailhouse crag outside San Francisco, where he got into shape by doing a couple of 8c sport routes.

The day after his solo of The Phoenix, Alex went on to solo the Chouinard-Herbert Route, a 15 pitch 5.11c on the Sentinel Rock.

Alex commented to UKC:

"It's been a crazy few days and I'm really tired right now. I've been filming with 60 Minutes for a profile they want to air in the Fall. I don't know if that's even a program in the UK, but it's a big news thing here I guess.

The CH was something for them, the Phoenix was something for me... I'm happy with both routes, though they were vastly different experiences."


Alex Honnold is sponsored by: The North Face, La Sportiva, Black Diamond, New England Ropes, Clifbar


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17 Jun, 2011
The 15 pitch route he soloed, did he clip into the bolt belays to rest? Shirley he didn't do the whole thing in one go?!
17 Jun, 2011
Based on past form I wouldn't be surprised if he did do it all in one go.
17 Jun, 2011
It took him 2 h or so (source SuperTopo and/or Climbing), because he had to wait for the film-people to get into new postions for filming the climb... Alex didn't mention anything about resting on bolts, so I would assume he rested/waited on ledges or other proper rest spots...
17 Jun, 2011
Cheers for the info. In that case, it's all the more amazing. What a machine.
17 Jun, 2011
Sorry I am a bit confused, he didn't free solo here right? If not, how would you climb by yourself using ropes, I don't understand that
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