Alex Honnold

“I hope for the generations to come... they will realize you don’t need to be light to be strong.” - @janja_garnbret We’re back with the GOAT – Janja Garnbret. For over a decade, she’s redefined what’s possible in competitive climbing, and last summer, she made history again with her second Olympic gold. So what keeps her pushing boundaries after conquering it all? Tune in as @janja_garnbret sits down with @alexhonnold to talk legacy, motivation, and the power of redefining strength. Available wherever you get your podcasts. (Link in bio) #climbinggold Photo : @gregavalancic and @austin_siadak @climbinggold is created by @ducttapethenbeer in collaboration with @alexhonnold. Made with the generous support of our sponsors @thenorthface, @kodiakcakes, @drinkag1 and @drinklmnt.

A few photos from climbing Dickel’s Delight (6 pitch 5.13c) with @joshkmccoy in Sedona. We’re here on a bit of a family vacation and had to sample some of the amazing new multi pitches around town. This was my first foray and it did not disappoint. Amazing climbing, incredible wall. Great scenery. All we could hope for!! I managed to send all the hard pitches second try, so we sent the route in a day. But we sure felt pooped by the end!

Two books that I’ve finished this week and my current project. I had some flights for work travel and plowed through the Netflix book and the Psychology of Money - I enjoyed both of them much more than I expected. Really interesting and educational. The Smil book is my current project - his writing always feels a bit more like 5.14… Reading! What better way to learn about the world?!?

We are back with the Greatest of All Time – Janja Garnbret. For the last decade, Janja has dominated competitive climbing, capping it off with her second gold medal at the Olympics last summer. Where does she find the motivation to keep improving when she’s won everything there is to win? Hear @janja_garnbret and @alexhonnold wherever you find your podcasts. #climbinggold Photo by: Matic Klansek Velej and @austin_siadak @climbinggold is created by @ducttapethenbeer in collaboration with @alexhonnold. Made with the generous support of our sponsors @thenorthface, @kodiakcakes, @drinkag1, @drinklmnt.

I got to climb The Big Payback (13 pitch 5.13c R) with @ropeandsummit up on the Rainbow Wall the other day. It was particularly meaningful because it’s the last free route on the wall that I haven’t done and I’d tried it briefly last year and basically been too scared to send the crux pitch. It’s a rare example of the hardest climbing being the worst protected - the 13+ ish crux being protected by ball nuts with a potential ledge fall below if the gear fails. I really appreciate Scott coming up to support me - I’d literally texted everyone I know in town and couldn’t find a partner until he came to the rescue. Neither of us quite knew what he was signing up for - I’d only worked the crux pitch down low and it turns out that the whole rest of the route was quite engaging - relatively loose and dirty and not very easy. We had an adventure! Also, here’s my climbing ethics rant for the day, since I’m up on my soapbox: This route is dangerous for free climbing because the first ascentionists, the folks who aid climbed it, didn’t want it modified in any way. Which is the prevailing ethic in climbing and I totally understand. But in this case it’s totally stupid. The pitch currently has a bolt and 2 rivets, for a total of 3 holes. If they were moved around a little bit and the rivets were replaced with bolts it would be a totally safe free climb and it wouldn’t change the aid climbing experience at all - the reality is that anyone aid climbing up there is almost certainly just going to hammer pitons into the few key handholds, not only altering the climbing but making it as safe as if there were bolts anyway. My general thought is that climbs should change with the times, at least when it’s a minor thing and it makes sense…

My friend @jumbohoss and I recently climbed Brown Recluse (10 pitch 5.12b) on the Rainbow Wall. It was maybe the slowest route that we’ve climbed up there - somewhat friable and thought provoking and a bit scary. But actually pretty cool in its own way. I suppose it’s the one to do when you’ve climbed all the other classics. But we had a great time and got to rappel past two parties sending up on the Original Route. Nice day out!

A few terrible photos from a recent adventure up Gift of the Wind Gods (1,500ft 5.10d) on Mt Wilson. I onsight soloed it while exploring for a potential Wilson link up. I was really impressed by the quality of the climbing - it’s a beautiful route that I’m surprised doesn’t get climbed more. I think if you look really closely you can see two parties over on Inti Watana in the back of my selfie photo. But I think Gift was actually a better route. Also got a photo of the impressive bird’s nest at the top of the route. I made it car to car in Oak Creek in 4 hours, which is a personal best I think for climbing a big route on Wilson.

Throwback to climbing Matthes Crest in Yosemite with @alexhonnold for my series Great Wide Open 🧗‍♂️

Does Alex Honnold need an introduction? No, of course he doesn’t. However, he’s particularly suited for this conversation about Bachar and Croft for several reasons: 1️⃣ Alex is a student of history. He cares about this stuff. If you haven’t listened to his @climbinggold podcast, you should. I highly recommend the Dope Lake series. 2️⃣ He’s the obvious torch bearer for what these guys did - the soloing, yes, but also the pushing of Valley standards and furthering the conversation about what’s possible in this style. 3️⃣ Because as much as I want these stories to be larger than life, I also want them to be rooted in a realistic look at what we can learn. And if there’s anyone who can just be logical, it’s Alex Honnold. In this episode we get into an interesting progression that Alex didn’t even realize he was part of, meeting your heroes, mythologizing, big link ups, soloing, and what John Bachar and Peter Croft mean for climbing and for Alex personally. Everywhere you get pods 🎧 • Brought to you by @rab.equipment @nolsedu and @tensionclimbing

Sometimes the right path isn't the most obvious one and your passion can serve as a compass. Extracted from my last (and fourth) conversation with @alexhonnold–Episode 864. ✌🏼🌱 - Rich

A few fun photos I took while belaying my friend @roylance1992 on Desert Gold the other day. Such a classic! Though I haven’t been crack climbing much recently and the jamming kinda hurt my hands… this is why sport climbing and bouldering are so popular…

My friend @james_lucas got these photos of me sessioning in @movementgymscolorado in Boulder the other day. It was my first time climbing on commercial setting in a while and I had a great time. I’ve just been board climbing at home and it was nice to do a greater variety of movement. But mostly it was nice to see a bunch of old friends in the gym.