Tommy Caldwell and Jared Leto on Honnold’s El Cap Free Solo

Tommy Caldwell is arguably one of our generation’s best climbers, with impressive ascents at crags, on big walls and in the alpine. His new book, The Push, was released earlier this year.

Caldwell has climbed a lot with Alex Honnold in dangerous places, perhaps more than anyone. They were awarded a Piolet d’Or for their Fitz Roy traverse. So if anyone’s thoughts about Honnold’s recent free-solo of Freerider on El Cap should count, it’s his.

So stoked to realize a life dream today 🙂 @jimmy_chin photo

A post shared by Alex Honnold (@alexhonnold) on Jun 3, 2017 at 7:12pm PDT

The internet went crazy after Honnold’s big ascent, with most comments reading something like, “It’s awesome, but I hope he doesn’t die soon.”

Caldwell wrote a piece titled “Why Alex Honnold’s Free Solo of El Cap Scared Me” for Outside Online which talks about Honnold’s three-hour-56-minute solo of the 1,000-metre 5.12d on Yosemite’s biggest wall. The crux is a V7 boulder move half-way up the face.

In his piece, Caldwell wrote, “Free soloing El Cap has been the most anticipated climbing feat of our generation, but only because of Alex. There have been very few people potentially capable of accomplishing this, and sadly most of these individuals are no longer with us. In the past I’ve equated the possibility of this climb to the moon landing of free soloing. Today, knowing that it has been done, I think that is a fair assessment of the significance. It’s a generation-defining climb.”

I have tried many times to mentally transport myself into the head of @alexhonnold . Looking for comfort in what I knew was inevitably coming. Last week, high on Freerider, I still could not fathom being up there without a rope. This was a generation defining climb, badass, and beyond words. I sure am glad it's over. Good job, dude.

A post shared by Tommy Caldwell (@tommycaldwell) on Jun 3, 2017 at 12:15pm PDT

Read Caldwell’s full story here. To see zoomed-in photos of Honnold on Freerider by Tom Evans, check out El Cap Report here.

After his solo, Honnold answered some questions from Mark Synnott for National Geographic here. Honnold said it felt easier than most of his other solos, that he was heading to the valley to do a hangboard workout and noted, “The whole pursuit of this dream has allowed me to live my best life, that makes me hopefully the best version of me.

“Just because I’ve achieved a dream doesn’t mean that I just give up on the best version of me. I want to be the guy that trains and stays fit and motivated. Just because you finish a big route doesn’t mean that you just quit.”

Oscar winning actor Jared Leto got his audience at a Thirty Seconds to Mars concert to say “Congrats Alex.” Click on the clip below.

I've been overwhelmed by the well wishes I've received post El Cap. I'm moved by all the messages from friends and the greater climbing community. It's been incredible. But this text from @jaredleto might take the cake… big thanks to @30secondstomars and the city of Nashville for giving me such a gift. I really appreciate all the positive thoughts – thanks, everyone!! Such an honor.

A post shared by Alex Honnold (@alexhonnold) on Jun 5, 2017 at 5:39am PDT