Don’t look down! Daredevil freeclimber scales 2,500ft cliff WITHOUT a rope

Don’t look down! Daredevil freeclimber scales 2,500ft cliff WITHOUT a rope

Mangalore Today News Network

Dec 01, 2014: Jaw-dropping video captures the moment Alex Hannold free climbed the dangerous El Sendero Luminoso route in Mexico - one of the most dangerous climbs in the world.

 

 

A daredevil climber achieved the impossible when he became the first person to scale a 2,500ft sheer rock face - WITHOUT a safety rope.

Adventurer Alex Honnold, 29, climbed the rock face in Mexico - widely recognised as one of the most difficult climbs in the world - in just under three hours.

 

Alex,  from the US, who is the first person in the world to have successfully free-soloed the Shining Path climb, initially climbed up with ropes, accompanied by his friend, to clean the rock surface.

After completing his test run, Alex said: "I kept picturing myself without a rope. I’d get really scared."

 

His friend Cedar, who shared his apprehension, said: "When I was cleaning the wall for Alex, I was cleaning every little thing.

"Anything that looked loose or any piece of dirt, I was trying to clean it off the wall. I want my buddy to live. It’s just kind of weird, helping your friend do something that you know could potentially lead to his death."

Although Alex’s first assessment of the cliff face was less that ideal, describing the rock as ’quite damp’ and ’sub-optimal,’ he decided to persevere.

He added: "At some point during the day when I was up there, I was like "I’m ready, I’m sick of hanging around on ropes. It went from being sort of an intimidating idea to being kind of excited to do this."

Alex is the only known person to have climbed the Yosemite Triple crown - three of the park’s most famous peaks - without a rope.