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brotherbbock
Trad climber
Alta Loma, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 18, 2015 - 11:19am PT
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I don't like conjecturing about his demise either.
So I apologize to anyone who is uneasy with the topic.
Like I said before... the incident with my friend just got me thinking about soloing and life in general.
When you find your self worth in physical things that you do like climbing, running, etc., and they are taken away from you it can be a living hell. Depression sinks in and questions of whether life is even worth living can arise.
I just turned 37 last month making me a bit older than Alex. So I really admire what he is capable of, and I wish I could climb half as hard as he could.
My buddy who is now barely out of the hospital just turned 33. I just see how altered his life has become and I think about him often when I do simple things like taking a run, or picking my son up and rough housing with him. We take so much for granted in our daily lives and don't realize it till its gone.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Mar 18, 2015 - 11:20am PT
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Will we climbers stop paying Honnold to solo?
Apogee, of course it's a fair connection to make. We all purchase gear from the companies that support him. We're not boycotting them or calling for the end of sponsorship. We love to watch the professional videos that he's in.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Mar 18, 2015 - 11:29am PT
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We do love to watch those videos, and that is our choice, just like it's Honnold's choice to do these amazing things as a part of his commercial identity.
That's not the same thing as paying Honnold directly to solo crazy sh#t, or forcing him to entertain us with his mastery. It's his choice.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Mar 18, 2015 - 11:35am PT
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"Welcome my son,....welcome to the machine."
"All in all it's just another brick in the wall."
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brotherbbock
Trad climber
Alta Loma, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 18, 2015 - 11:41am PT
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I agree Locker!
Well said. My friend will have to find something else to keep the depression from rooting deep.
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nah000
climber
no/w/here
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Mar 18, 2015 - 11:47am PT
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i think dmt asks the more important question...
except i don't think it should be asked of just climbers...
only reason we, and at this point the general public, know about alex and guys like jeb corliss is because they and their teams promote themselves and we eat it all up in a wonderful cycle of recurrent emotional and financial affirmation...
while it's a tricky one, with a pretty grey line, i'm not a big fan of the commodifying of research into human potential that happens where an individual's life is hanging onto such a fine line...
not saying it shouldn't happen, just that it'd be great if we could at least wait until they live to old age or retirement before we start the rewarding and the celebrating... let them fund their own personal wars/adventures... when/if they survive, then let's fete and reward them for the battles and dragon slaying that they were successfully able to navigate.
for me it's as distasteful as if soldiers in the heat of battle started wearing sponsors logos and go pros on their heads all while promoting themselves on their own personal youtube channels.
everybody has a fate, and i have nothing but respect for alex's path.
otoh, how we as a collective have responded for the last 75 or so years [at least?] to these types of ventures is a bit too far towards the roman gladiator end of the spectrum for my tastes...
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Mar 18, 2015 - 12:01pm PT
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I come at it from the person doing it point of view. I don't care if folks get a thrill out of watching it. That is their issue. Alex has found a way to do what he loves as much as he wants and perhaps he enjoys the recognition and respect.. perhaps he can make good money...perhaps thats just a price he pays..hell if i know..it's his life...whatever. Most of that seems an enviable position to be in if it's what you want.
Fact is he regularly hangs his life on factors outside his control with no backup. His choice and he is well aware of it. Bumped into him on several occasions, had conversations.. I like the guy so I dread hearing the day he is gone....I knew Alex Lowe much better..I absolutely expected it with that Alex..a little less with this one but still consider it likely.. Perhaps it will not happen.. I hope not.
Regardless I love the fact that he can live his way, his choice eyes wide open. What an amazing enjoyable living..so rare and worthwhile.
In the end we all die.. but that dude is megaliving right now,
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little Z
Trad climber
un cafetal en Naranjo
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Mar 18, 2015 - 12:09pm PT
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We love to watch the professional videos that he's in.
watching the videos that were on that NY Times link that was posted a little while ago, we get a very up close and personal look of Alex in action. There are Alex's fingertips in the crack of The Phoenix...there is Alex's cool and calm face... It makes it all the more chilling in my opinion. Not like watching someone solo something from the ground.
So if the unspeakable happens, will it be on film, up close and personal?
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Mar 18, 2015 - 12:10pm PT
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Unlikely since the vast majority of his solo's are truly solo...although that is what happened to McConkey.
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son of stan
Boulder climber
San Jose CA
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Mar 18, 2015 - 12:18pm PT
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Buying and using trad gear is much much cheaper than the $5000
deductible obamacare fee hospitals require before they will start to set
multiple broken bones.
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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Mar 18, 2015 - 12:48pm PT
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Let me get it straight, you want us to throw out some dates of when we think Alex will meet his creator? This is one tasteless troll.
If you are seriously wondering this, for a better answer, approach Alex when he is in Yosemite and ask him. None of the internet experts know what Alex does.
Personally, I think he takes calculated risks just like all of us and he will do everything in his powers to stay safe, like most of us. He is not my best friend, but he was very successful at everything he has done in his life, based on articles written about him. So I think he is very smart and has things figured out. I honestly think risks he takes are smaller than risks some gumbies take on munginella.
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brotherbbock
Trad climber
Alta Loma, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 18, 2015 - 01:03pm PT
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No Vitality I don't want dates.
If it was a troll then thanks for biting.
I think I clarified my thoughts more than adequately, and positively responded to those posts I agreed with....so maybe reread the thread.
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crankster
Trad climber
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Mar 18, 2015 - 01:08pm PT
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He's one of the most visible professional climbers in the world. He free solos at the highest level of the sport. He's working on a free solo of El Cap. Seems to me this thread, perhaps wrongly worded, puts out a valid point for discussion.
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brotherbbock
Trad climber
Alta Loma, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 18, 2015 - 01:09pm PT
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Yes Crankster, you seem to get it.
I'm not the most eloquent with words, I'll be the first to admit that.
EDIT I made a slight edit to my OP for clarification.
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Andy de klerk
Mountain climber
South Africa
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Mar 18, 2015 - 01:55pm PT
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Odds are against him. That's just the fact of the matter. His choice though. Wouldn't stop him if I could.
Long long ago realized that this type of true extreme lifestyle gets a lot of the best. Boivan, Vallencant, Alex Lowe. Bachar, the list goes on forever it seems. Especially if you look at all the really extreme sports. Early hanggliding, Extreme skiing, 8000m Mountaineering, Top end alpinism, BASE.
Listing the guys at the top who made it to old age/retirement is a shorter list it seems. Mesner, Roskelly, Cassin, Bonnatti, Donini.
Nice one climb2ski
Let's all let Alex do what he wants to do
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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Mar 18, 2015 - 02:46pm PT
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Ok, sorry, maybe I didn't get it, thought the title "how long do you guys give Hondo?" is asking us to estimate how long his free soloing career will last. Comprehension may not be on the same level as my visual appearance, English is my second language. :)
I think we all can agree that Alex is pushing the limits of soloing, which is risky, but this is why he is currently considered to be the best at what he does (in USA at least). Prior to him there were others. Some are alive some are dead. Riordan didn't die soloing. Croft didn't. Bachar didn't die soloing his big project. Like headpointing, redpointing or sending the bouldering proj, these guys work out every move and only when they believe that they have it completely dialed they go out and perform. He doesn't just go out onsight soloing things at his limit everyday.
Personally, I believe your typical climber takes more risk soloing the Evolution Traverse vs Honnold soloing Astroman.
For me it is hard to comprehend how one could feel solid doing the slabby crux of half dome and some of the other stuff he and some others do, but this is exactly what separates them from us. If he was careless or crazy he would be gone by now. Seems like he is a complete opposite of crazy or careless. More like smart, very hard working and talented. He is one of the few climbers that are making an impact on this world with his public articles about the impact people are making on this world, view of diet, religion etc. I like that he has views and expresses them.
His roped climbs are quite impressive too. Linking up El Cap, HD and Watkins set a new standard for link ups in the Valley. It is becoming the new El Cap/HD link up, with numerous people wanting to work up to that. Traversing the Fitz Roy Range and almost getting the Torre Traverse in a day with Colin Haley is super awesome as well. So is his Alaska trips, speed records on El Cap and how about those 7 El Cap walls in 7 days. Holly sh#t. I am destroyed for 2-3 days after doing any El Cap route in a day or otherwise. Very impressive.
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sac
Trad climber
Sun Coast B.C.
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Mar 18, 2015 - 03:10pm PT
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Can we talk about something else?
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brotherbbock
Trad climber
Alta Loma, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 18, 2015 - 03:13pm PT
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Touché Vitality. Good post, I agree wholeheartedly.
I am in no way wanting to hinder anything anyone does.
But...do we just not talk about such things?
Or is everyone fired up because of the thread title!!??!
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Mar 18, 2015 - 03:20pm PT
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I think it's a reasonable subject. The thread title is a little hyperbolic, though, complicated by the usual unwillingness to read the entire thread before commenting.
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