In fact his dad did that, died when Alex was 17/18 running through an airport. He’s talked a lot about that notion shaping his view on things.

hey man, i was agreeing with you. accomplishing something that pushes the boundaries of human achievement after years of training and personal dedication isn’t cool. what’s cool is making your boss more money before you die of a heart attack. 

I know I used the word “sociopathic”, but the more I think about it, the less right it feels, because he does think about the context and his friends/acquaintances, and he’s only doing El Cap because he knows he can.

When I came home and his achievement went viral, I just couldn’t comprehend it. Like, I just witnessed this beautiful park in person and I was just staring at that seemingly flat granite face. And this guy went out and free climbed it...without any ropes?!?! I was floored, and I’m not even a rock-climber so I’m very…

There are certain things, certain places that you have to experience in person to fully appreciate.  That’s how I felt at the base of the NYC skyscrapers and that’s how I felt the first time I was in Yosemite Valley.  NOTHING could prepare me for the sheer scale of all of it.

I was there the same week he did this, completely unaware of his plan. Wasn’t until after I came home did his achievement go viral. But we did see people climbing El Cap just a few days before so it could have been him or the crew getting ready. Who knows but I’ve been waiting to watch this ever since.

The Late Davlo

But there’s actual documentation of this climb.

OK. I will ensure, however, that your NYT obituary makes note of your dedication to helping others keep it all in perspective online.

When 127 Hours came out, someone asked me in a crowded elevator if I’d seen it. I said “I want to, but it sounds too long...” and someone behind me audibly groaned. I still well up with pride when I think about it.

I’m sorry, I usually stay out of this, but this is a miserable take.

He’s done these climbs with ropes (many, many times) before, and in fact holds a sub-2 record on The Nose on El Cap. Different route, but still.

This is something I can barely even imagine being possible, let alone fathom attempting. Like, I can run, so I can imagine what it’s like to run really, really fast like Usain Bolt. I can ride a bike, so I can imagine what it must be like to ride the Tour de France. This, however, is completely alien to me.

Always someone like you isn’t there. One fucking extreme or the other. Is it not reasonable to think that he *could* do these climbs with fucking ropes, like other sensible climbers? Isn’t it a giant “fuck you” to his family and girlfriend that he pursues something that is inevitably suicidal? Hey, play fucking…

yea, why can’t he work a meaningless desk job for thirty years and die of a heart attack like the rest of us!

Ah, the 1930 Miskatonic Expedition

“ Norwegian explorers had named Jörmungandr, which is a giant half human Mid-Gardian sea serpent that can wrap himself around the earth and grab his own tail.”

Even Cthulhu runs in terror from the Antarctic.

Im infinitely impressed by these people and their abilities and also infinitely sure that i will never do this. I live in Colorado and know some good amateur climbers and what they can do blows me away let alone what these pro’s can do. I stop at about class4 with minimal exposure and call it a very good day.

I’m seeing some non-Euclidean geometry in those pics.