Known as Alex “No Big Deal” Honnold, he has just become the contrary. The near 4-hour free solo climb, which was completed on Saturday, has made Honnold the biggest deal in climbing. As if he wasn’t already…

In case you’ve missed the news over the past few days, Alex Honnold became the first person to free solo the 3,000-foot monster, El Capitan, Yosemite. ‘Free solo’ meaning he did so without using any safety gear whatsoever. That’s right, no ropes, no harnesses, and no helmets. Many are calling this one of, if not the, greatest feat in rock climbing history.

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

Of course, this is taking the news by storm and media sites beyond the outdoors and climbing scope are covering the remarkable story. As the story becomes more widespread, it is important to recognize and remember that his achievement is more than just a cheap thrill and adrenaline rush. In order to achieve this, there has to have been a lifetime of preparation.

A Bit of Background

Honnold began climbing seriously around the age of 11. After dropping out of an engineering degree at age 19, he went all-in on the sport and devoted everything to it. Speed climbing is what Honnold is known for and he holds some pretty impressive records, many of which are in the Yosemite area.

As well as being incredibly talented, Honnold keeps his head down and works hard. He’s recognized for being extremely humble, which is manifested through the way he chooses to live his life; in a van chasing adventures.

For Honnold, free solo climbs aren’t a way to cheat death and in many ways, he views his climbs as ‘safe’, always sticking with what he is capable of doing. It’s just that his capabilities are far beyond what most people could even imagine, never mind achieve.

The Climb

A free solo of El Capitan in its entirety had been on Honnold’s radar for years, having completed many parts of it already. Aside from a lifetime of practice, it was a year of preparation, testing out different routes, and only a small circle of his friend’s knowing about the plan. In fact, in November just last year, Honnold made a stab at the climb but backed out when he didn’t feel right about it.

@alexhonnold composed and casual free soloing (sans cord) 2000ft above the deck on the Enduro Pitch of Freerider yesterday. Alex’s process to prepare for his dream of free soloing El Cap has been an incredible, and sometimes stressful, journey to witness and be a part of over the last two years while filming him for a feature documentary (co-directed by @mochinyc). In some ways I expected (and prayed for) nothing less on his big day but it was still mind bending to see how relaxed he was in the final days leading up to the climb and of course during the climb – as seen here locked off reaching full extension with mere finger tips in contact to granite, feet smeared on nothing. What I’ve learned over the last 10 years about Alex is he isn’t the kid that shows up to do well on the exam. If it counts, he’s there to ace it, knock out the extra credit questions and finish early. I’d say he aced his final exam yesterday with extra credit for style and composure. When he got to the top, he looked at me and said “I’m pretty sure I could go back to the bottom and do it again right now.” Congrats bud. You crushed. It was historic, it was brilliant, it was moving beyond words. Thanks to all of Alex’s climbing partners who supported along the way and especially to one helluva film crew for staying committed through thick and thin doing some of the best work I’ve ever seen. So so proud of everyone. See the @natgeo link in my bio for more.

A post shared by Jimmy Chin (@jimmy_chin) on Jun 4, 2017 at 9:01am PDT

On Saturday, Alex began the climb at precisely 5:32 am and at 9:28 am, just 3 hours 56 minutes later, he had completed it. Filmmakers accompanied him for the climb to capture the event and will turn it into a documentary for the National Geographic.

To be able to complete a climb like this, there is no doubt that you need to have a natural talent and put in the physical hours of training on top of that. However, there is an additional layer and that is the ability to control your fear. Free solo climbing is undeniably technical and you need to be able to think logically and analytically. It doesn’t matter how physically capable you are, as soon as you let your emotions take charge, you’ve had it.

Honnold’s ability to control his fear is a culmination of practice, planning, and just sheer natural talent. It’s so impressive that neuroscientists have even put him through tests to see if his brain handles fear differently to most.

Parting Thoughts

Alex’s thoughts after the climb? “Honestly even now I feel like I could go do another lap right now. I feel so amped,” he stated in an interview with the National Geographic.

“It’s been a strategy the whole time I’ve worked on El Cap is to look past it, so that it’s not just all this one moment. To think about what’s beyond, what other stuff I’m excited about. So this just feels like a semi-normal day.”

It’s safe to say that no matter how high Alex climbs, his feet will remain firmly planted on the ground, forever humble about his achievements. Read the full Nat Geo coverage of the climb here.