I don’t have Netflix so I haven’t seen the skyscraper climb. Hope I can soon. Was it cool to watch? I have Free Solo so I watch the last 21 minutes, the climb save the drama fairly often. I get more scared every time. Haha. That was sick - as they say. It’s almost hard to believe, but there it is on film.

Anybody see the movie, The Alpinist? Great story with a tragic ending. Can’t remember his name, but seemed like a great guy. It is definitely worth watching. His name was Andre Leclerc. I checked.

I've always been more into mountaineering than rock climbing but have to appreciate the skill and dedication he brings to his craft.

Whenever I hear about someone doing stuff like this I have to feel a bit sad as well though as so many of the top athletes in climbing and mountaineering end up giving their life to the obsession. I get it because I used to climb mountains as well and understand the addiction and the thrill of pushing into more and more difficult endeavors and higher summits, but the thing about testing your limits and your luck with thin margins is that often times your luck runs out. I've always been a huge fan of Ueli Steck and his incident was kind of a realization moment for me. One of the most skilled alpinists in the world and he ran out of luck on a relatively easy part of a mountain in normal conditions doing a training run. Just takes one little misstep, equipment failure, or slip and that's it.

I am a fan. I am a fan in the same way I will be this weekend watching the Superbowl and the Olympics. I tune in to see those "thrill of victory, agony of defeat" moments.

I watched and enjoyed every moment Free Solo. That was a remarkable athletic achievement. Alex in particular has a captivating personality. I have listened to a few podcasts featuring him as a guest. He possesses both superior athletic talent and charisma.

I did not watch the building climb. For someone with his talent, I perceive this to be as mundane as climbing a standard ladder. I watch sports to witness the unexpected and the spectacular. Alex Honnold cimbing a building is not a compelling story for me.

This might be an unpopular take, but I think it's incredibly selfish to continue taking such risks now that he has a wife and young children. When you're single, go ahead and live dangerously if you want, but when you have a family it's time to think about them rather than yourself. Just my opinion.

Some of the things Andre Leclerc does on the The Alpinist were in my mind some ways more insane than the Free Solo climb. He has only a pick axe into an overhanging icicle - totally crazy. You have to see it to believe it.

I have read of a couple recent deaths when the climber ran out of rope rappelling on the way down. Successful climb ends in tragedy. I have to ask, how does that happen?

We watched the Netflix show live. ”Free Solo” it ain’t, especially when you see from certain camera angles that a huge part of the climb is not actually vertical, although it is certainly exposed.

Been watching this guy since the beginning of his career.
He seems to defy gravity itself. Interesting dude.
And that's awesome. But just one slip up and you end up like Dan Osman. who was on the same level. That was so unfortunate.
Conrad Anker is a guy who has seemed to skirt the roll of the dice. He's very cool and calculated. And is more a traditional climber that the other two.

Although they have different specialties, they are all very interesting to follow.

NEIowapaddler: "This might be an unpopular take, but I think it's incredibly selfish to continue taking such risks now that he has a wife and young children. When you're single, go ahead and live dangerously if you want, but when you have a family it's time to think about them rather than yourself. Just my opinion. "

His skill and the perceived risks he faces are highly lucrative. One could argue that he is doing exactly what he should be doing to support his family. There are millions of men working in risky professions that also have wives and children they support. No one expects a firefighter or long-haul truck driver to quit their job when the have a child.

Totally agree. It is what he does for a living and trains year round to be the best. There are a lot more jobs more risky than him doing that tower climb given his level of expertise. It was a money grab and a way to keep his name relevant, he makes a lot of dough giving speeches. I would like to see it one of these days out of curiosity.
Long may it last…

OCDave: "

NEIowapaddler: "This might be an unpopular take, but I think it's incredibly selfish to continue taking such risks now that he has a wife and young children. When you're single, go ahead and live dangerously if you want, but when you have a family it's time to think about them rather than yourself. Just my opinion. "

His skill and the perceived risks he faces are highly lucrative. One could argue that he is doing exactly what he should be doing to support his family. There are millions of men working in risky professions that also have wives and children they support. No one expects a firefighter or long-haul truck driver to quit their job when the have a child."

I understand where you're coming from, but comparing the relative risks of being a trucker or firefighter to what he does is laughable. There are lots of ways he could support his family that are much lower risk than what he does. I seriously doubt any insurance company will give him life insurance, for example, no matter how high the premiums.

NEIowapaddler: "

OCDave: "

NEIowapaddler: "This might be an unpopular take, but I think it's incredibly selfish to continue taking such risks now that he has a wife and young children. When you're single, go ahead and live dangerously if you want, but when you have a family it's time to think about them rather than yourself. Just my opinion. "

His skill and the perceived risks he faces are highly lucrative. One could argue that he is doing exactly what he should be doing to support his family. There are millions of men working in risky professions that also have wives and children they support. No one expects a firefighter or long-haul truck driver to quit their job when the have a child."

I understand where you're coming from, but comparing the relative risks of being a trucker or firefighter to what he does is laughable. There are lots of ways he could support his family that are much lower risk than what he does. I seriously doubt any insurance company will give him life insurance, for example, no matter how high the premiums. "

No need for life insurance. He is worth in excess of $2 million. He makes $100,000 a shot in speaking and appearance fees plus more on sponsorships on top. My understanding is he still lives a relatively debt free lifestyle. If he did want to take advantage of a life insurance policy, he could certain find someone willing to write a policy that would exclude death or injury while climbing.

Alex has found a way to get paid an enormous amount of money doing something he would likely be doing for fun anyway. He is using his talents to maximally support those that depend on him financially. I am not clear on why the comparison to any other high risk profession is laughable. Would a comparison to someone serving in the military or law enforcement be more straight forward? Could those in these professions not find opportunities to support their families involving lower risk? Or, in the spirit of Superbowl LX, how many jobs could an Offensive lineman find than might subject them to a far lower level of occupational risk?

Finally, He is living his dream. There really insn't a greater gift or example he could provide his family.

OCDave: "

NEIowapaddler: "

OCDave: "

NEIowapaddler: "This might be an unpopular take, but I think it's incredibly selfish to continue taking such risks now that he has a wife and young children. When you're single, go ahead and live dangerously if you want, but when you have a family it's time to think about them rather than yourself. Just my opinion. "

His skill and the perceived risks he faces are highly lucrative. One could argue that he is doing exactly what he should be doing to support his family. There are millions of men working in risky professions that also have wives and children they support. No one expects a firefighter or long-haul truck driver to quit their job when the have a child."

I understand where you're coming from, but comparing the relative risks of being a trucker or firefighter to what he does is laughable. There are lots of ways he could support his family that are much lower risk than what he does. I seriously doubt any insurance company will give him life insurance, for example, no matter how high the premiums. "

No need for life insurance. He is worth in excess of $2 million. He makes $100,000 a shot in speaking and appearance fees plus more on sponsorships on top. My understanding is he still lives a relatively debt free lifestyle. If he did want to take advantage of a life insurance policy, he could certain find someone willing to write a policy that would exclude death or injury while climbing.


Alex has found a way to get paid an enormous amount of money doing something he would likely be doing for fun anyway. He is using his talents to maximally support those that depend on him financially. I am not clear on why the comparison to any other high risk profession is laughable. Would a comparison to someone serving in the military or law enforcement be more straight forward? Could those in these professions not find opportunities to support their families involving lower risk? Or, in the spirit of Superbowl LX, how many jobs could an Offensive lineman find than might subject them to a far lower level of occupational risk?

Finally, He is living his dream. There really insn't a greater gift or example he could provide his family."

I was an Alex fan after free solo and my first take on this was he understands the risk, but then I heard his actual comments about if he died how it would go for his kids and family and think they are trash. I have kids the same age.

Say what, you lost me there. What is your point.

OCDave: "

"No need for life insurance. He is worth in excess of $2 million. He makes $100,000 a shot in speaking and appearance fees plus more on sponsorships on top. My understanding is he still lives a relatively debt free lifestyle. If he did want to take advantage of a life insurance policy, he could certain find someone willing to write a policy that would exclude death or injury while climbing."

Then my point is even more valid. He doesn't need to do this to support his family. If he invested wisely they could live very comfortably off interest alone even if he never made another penny. If he doesn't need to do this to provide for his family financially then it's nothing more than him flexing his ego at this point. And finally, if you don't understand my point about the relative risks of different jobs, I don't know what else to say other than you're entitled to your opinion just like me. Probably best to leave it at that.

It’s a free country last I heard. If that is his chosen profession what gives you the right to question him. It bugs me when a person tries to decide what is best for another person. You do what you do, let other people do what they do.

NEIowapaddler,

Tripping in the wilderness is inherently riskier than staying home. I assume you've no spouse nor children if you are undertaking such risks. (employing sarcasm)

Should we leave it at that?

scat: "It’s a free country last I heard. If that is his chosen profession what gives you the right to question him. It bugs me when a person tries to decide what is best for another person. You do what you do, let other people do what they do."

Yes, it is a free country, and that gives him the right to question him.

OCDave: "NEIowapaddler,


Tripping in the wilderness is inherently riskier than staying home. I assume you've no spouse nor children if you are undertaking such risks. (employing sarcasm)


Should we leave it at that?"

Yes, all things include some level of risk, and just where that level of risk precludes one from doing something is usually a personal limitation. But when you bring a kid into this life, it’s no longer just about you. The level of risk you’re willing to assume should be adjusted.

Someone who tries to tell another person how to live their life is a politician. Don’t like politicians. It’s a personal choice. We can make our own choices in the US. Last I heard.

OCDave: "NEIowapaddler,


Tripping in the wilderness is inherently riskier than staying home. I assume you've no spouse nor children if you are undertaking such risks. (employing sarcasm)


Should we leave it at that?"

I don't, actually. So your point just tripped and fell flat on its face. :)

NEIowapaddler: "

OCDave: "NEIowapaddler,



Tripping in the wilderness is inherently riskier than staying home. I assume you've no spouse nor children if you are undertaking such risks. (employing sarcasm)



Should we leave it at that?"

I don't, actually. So your point just tripped and fell flat on its face. :) "

I've done occasional mountaineering trips over the past 40-plus years. Not a fan of free climbing, because your number eventually comes up.
There are plenty of times when you have to make decisions about balancing risk with saving time as it is. I had some very lucky, close calls in my youth that still give me the chills when I think about them...