Free Solo Nat Geo Documentary!!!

[SteveNU]

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Originally Posted by LiveBelowMeans Another good climbing movie is “The Dawn Wall” now playing on Netflix. Tommy Caldwell, the lead climber is interesting.

Just finished watching The Dawn Wall, quite the story.

[Jerry1]

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Originally Posted by HFWR Not “no”, but “HELL NO!”...

I can watch stuff like this. And I will. What I can't watch is cave explorers. The minute they get into constricted areas, I'm done. The claustrophobia kicks in and I can't take it.

[anonymous_fred]

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Originally Posted by harllee It appears he grew up in a fairly dysfunctional childhood-- he was never hugged and nothing he ever did was good enough. It almost seems if he has a death wish.

I was on a long bike ride and ended up riding with a gal for about 160 miles. In 10 hours of riding you end up talking quite a bit. Turned out the gal is Alex' sister, and from the discussion they actually both seem like pretty well-adjusted kids. I didn't get the sense at all that theirs was a dysfunctional childhood at all.

This was maybe 8 years ago. I'd *heard* of Alex, but it wasn't until several years later that he became really well known.

[Pellice]

Coincidentally, I just noted a NY Times book review by a somewhat underwhelmed woman, Blair Braverman, reviewing "The Impossible Climb," a book by Mark Synnott, a friend of Honneld's, subtitled "Alex Honnold, El Capitan and the Climbing Life." The review itself (not the book) casts a rather cold eye on the whole culture (which is overrun with jealousies, competition for money and for fame, etc. As the Russian proverb says, "Everything is mixed, in this world."

The review intrigued me. I think I may try to read the book in combination with the film.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/07/b...x-honnold.html

[stepford]

A former office mate at work was a pretty serious rock jock and would try to get in an El Cap climb every summer. He would climb the "standard" routes, use proper climbing equipment and protection and typically take 2-3 days to make it to the top.

Maybe 5-6 years ago, when Alex Honnold was already famous for his free solo ascents, but well before the El Cap climb, I told my friend that what he did sounded a lot like what Honnold did. My friend just laughed and said they weren't even in the same universe - like comparing your typical recreational cyclist to Lance Armstrong (back when it was still cool to admire Lance Armstrong).

As far as the Free Solo movie is concerned, DW and I watched it a few days after seeing The Dawn Wall (on Amazon Prime). Since Tommy Caldwell figures prominently in Free Solo, seeing the Dawn Wall (about his own remarkable recent climb a few years earlier) provides some interesting context to his thoughts and actions in the later movie.

[socca]

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Originally Posted by Pellice The review itself (not the book) casts a rather cold eye on the whole culture (which is overrun with jealousies, competition for money and for fame, etc.

I just watched the documentary - enjoyed it - thanks for the recommendation.

In my younger days, I spent a fair amount of time in the mountains (used to live in Denver). I went into the mountains to (1) enjoy their beauty, and (2) get exercise. I only did non-technical climbs. Rightly or wrongly, I viewed the technical climbers as being less-evolved individuals - primarily thrill-seekers and egotists. This documentary merely reinforced my pre-existing bias against technical climbing. Nevertheless, it was well worth watching.

[SteveNU]

Found one of my old pictures from when I was rappelling on the Nose Route of El Capitan. This was back in the mid 70's when I was probably around 17. The first pitch off of the top is an overhang and we swung over to the anchors.

We spent two days just going down the route. Now they climb it in 4 hours!

Not something I would be doing nowadays!

[MuirWannabe]

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Originally Posted by SteveNU Found one of my old pictures from when I was rappelling on the Nose Route of El Capitan. This was back in the mid 70's when I was probably around 17. The first pitch of of the top is an overhang and we swung over to the anchors. We spent two days just going down the route. Now they climb it in 4 hours! Not something I would be doing nowadays!

Pretty impressive. Thanks for sharing. I tip my hat to your past adventure. It may not be a free solo, but you’ve done something a limited few have accomplished.

[Ronstar]

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Originally Posted by MuirWannabe Pretty impressive. Thanks for sharing. I tip my hat to your past adventure. It may not be a free solo, but you’ve done something a limited few have accomplished.

+1.

[Rianne]

Something I cannot comprehend. It does not compute. The height draws me towards it, as though I have no control. If I look over a cliff, it feels like a magnet is drawing me to the bottom. This all started on our honeymoon 35 years ago at Mayan ruins. I climbed tiny steps to top of ruin, walked around to the back, not paying attention, and the drop off came out of nowhere, into the rocks in the ocean. It's taken this long for me to feel comfortable on a ledge.

Weird how one experience can change your life.

[mickeyd]

I saw the doc an believe that that guy is not only an incredible athlete, but also has nerves of steel.

[ExitLeft]

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Originally Posted by Rianne Something I cannot comprehend. It does not compute. The height draws me towards it, as though I have no control. If I look over a cliff, it feels like a magnet is drawing me to the bottom. This all started on our honeymoon 35 years ago at Mayan ruins. I climbed tiny steps to top of ruin, walked around to the back, not paying attention, and the drop off came out of nowhere, into the rocks in the ocean. It's taken this long for me to feel comfortable on a ledge. Weird how one experience can change your life.

Did you land clear of the rocks or were you stopped from taking that leap?
I don’t know what it is about heights that makes me feel similar.
I also enjoyed the doc. Amazing.
Another great climbing movie (not a doc, but based on a true story) is North Face.

[Rianne]

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Originally Posted by ExitLeft Did you land clear of the rocks or were you stopped from taking that leap? I don’t know what it is about heights that makes me feel similar. I also enjoyed the doc. Amazing. Another great climbing movie (not a doc, but based on a true story) is North Face.

Oh, sorry. I did not fall over. I dropped to my knees, sweating and shaking and crawled down the stairs while other tourists stared at me. I 100% identify with "High Anxiety" the Mel Brooks movie. This is embarrassing. When we went to Yosemite, the road into Yosemite...I was in a fetal position in backseat on the floor with my eyes shut in a panicked state. DH drove calmly and confidently along the road with no guardrails, no shoulder to pull over, campers and trucks coming in the opposite direction on a thin two lane road (that's how I ended up in the backseat on the floor). How he stayed married to me is a mystery. He has no fear of heights.

[Helen]

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Originally Posted by mickeyd I saw the doc an believe that that guy is not only an incredible athlete, but also has nerves of steel.

Not to diminish his accomplishments, but I successfully parked in Trader Joe's parking lot today around 5pm.

[MuirWannabe]

Based on other recommendations in this thread, I’ve now watched The Dawn Wall, Meru, and Valley Uprising. All were just great and my palms were sweating through each one just like Free Solo.
Thanks for the recommendations!

[Rianne]

I watched Meru, The Dawn Wall and of course, Free Solo. These young men supersede any super hero. I'm able to concentrate and put myself in their experience (as long as it's on TV or IMAX). In the real world, I'm mush. I guess that's the beauty of imagination.

[googily]

I watched Free Solo but then was afraid that if I tried to get off my sofa I'd plummet to my death.