PSA - Free Solo - This Sunday Night - Nat Geo Channel

[spystud13 2371]

His buddies may need to chill for awhile. 

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/top-climber-emily-harrington-survives-wild-sideways-fall-yosemite-s-n1092411

 

[Asithappens 974]

I just watched (twice) Free Solo on Hulu. 

Words can't describe how good this movie is (imo) and the incredible feat that Alex Honnold accomplished. I was more in awe the second time I watched it than the first. It's like (Tommy Caldwell?) said, those who know a little bit about climbing (and not saying that I know a lot) think basically "no big deal", while those who know more think "what the fuck! this is crazy/amazing/whoa!". 

After this I watched "The Dawn Wall" (think it's on Netflix) about Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson's ascent (is that the correct term?) of the Dawn Wall of El Capitan. These guys are not only incredible climbers they are also inspiring people. 

Mr. Caldwell and Mr. Honnold are amazing. 

Fyi, Alex and Sanni got engaged last Christmas. 

 

If you haven't seen this yet, please watch it. Get Hulu for a month if you have to. 

Just. Fucking. Amazing. Probably the single biggest physical/athletic feat in the history of mankind. 

Oh, and a shout out to Jimmy Chin (the guy who basically did the movie). He deserved his Oscar for this. 

Edited February 28, 2020 by Asithappens

[futureman 22497]

27 minutes ago, Asithappens said:

Probably the single biggest physical/athletic feat in the history of mankind. 

that’s a bold statement. 

[Asithappens 974]

1 minute ago, futureman said:

that’s a bold statement. 

Yeah, but I stand by it. 

Sorry Hercules (half man, right?).

 

 

[Carl Spackler 3487]

15 minutes ago, futureman said:

that’s a bold statement. 

It is.  And I think I may agree with him.

[Not a cat 5660]

Bold statement, but I agree.  Name one better.  

Swimming English channel?  Impressive but if you fail the boat picks you up.  Same with ultra marathons or any other endurance feat.

I've honestly tried to come up with something more impressive and have come up empty. 

[futureman 22497]

I'm sure there was a guy 10,000 years ago who killed a saber-tooth tiger with his bare hands or something.  I'd say that's more impressive.

[Asithappens 974]

8 minutes ago, futureman said:

I'm sure there was a guy 10,000 years ago who killed a saber-tooth tiger with his bare hands or something.  I'd say that's more impressive.

Ok, you do you. 

You like Og, I like Alex.

[Not a cat 5660]

How many people in the world have the physical and technical skills to even attempt that? 

In other words how many people have the ability to execute all those climbing maneuvers in a row without falling once, even if they were hooked up to a safety line while doing it?  I'm no climbing expert but I'm assuming it's in the single digits.  

Now take all those people and find one with balls big enough to risk death to try it, and more importantly, has the mental ability to do it when failure means certain death. 

I know I'm getting futuremanned here, but if you gave me the option of fighting a sabre-tooth tiger bare handed or climbing El Cap free solo, I'd take the sabre tooth.   .00000001% > .00%

[Asithappens 974]

24 minutes ago, Not a cat said:

How many people in the world have the physical and technical skills to even attempt that? 

In other words how many people have the ability to execute all those climbing maneuvers in a row without falling once, even if they were hooked up to a safety line while doing it?  I'm no climbing expert but I'm assuming it's in the single digits.  

Now take all those people and find one with balls big enough to risk death to try it, and more importantly, has the mental ability to do it when failure means certain death. 

I know I'm getting futuremanned here, but if you gave me the option of fighting a sabre-tooth tiger bare handed or climbing El Cap free solo, I'd take the sabre tooth.   .00000001% > .00%

Here's how Tommy Caldwell put it. It's just his opinion, but it's interesting:

Imagine an Olympic-gold-medal-level athletic achievement that, if you don't get that gold medal, you're gonna die. That's pretty much what free soloing El Cap is like.

[SuingToGetAMessageBoard? 3861]

2 hours ago, Not a cat said:

I know I'm getting futuremanned here, but if you gave me the option of fighting a sabre-tooth tiger bare handed or climbing El Cap free solo, I'd take the sabre tooth.   .00000001% > .00%

I'd get to, like, 4 feet up and then fall.  Give me El Cap.

[miguelito 11266]

 

 

 

 

[Mach 1 1677]

4 hours ago, Asithappens said:

Yeah, but I stand by it. 

Sorry Hercules (half man, right?).

 

 

If you want to be even more blown away by the accomplishment, go to Yosemite, walk up to the base of El Cap and look up.  The documentary was fantastic, however the sheer enormity of El Cap can't really be grasped on a screen.  Me and my kids just stood there for a few minutes in complete silence, stunned that someone climbed the thing with their bare hands.

 

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4976]

Y'all go watch Valley Uprising if you haven't already. It covers the history of climbing in Yosemite very well. It's amazing how far climbing has come in the last 100 years.

[Biff Tannen 45692]

1 hour ago, NotActuallyALonghorn said:

Y'all go watch Valley Uprising if you haven't already. It covers the history of climbing in Yosemite very well. It's amazing how far climbing has come in the last 100 years.

This

[Anton Chigurh 3319]

Yep, that’s a great one.

Also, drug plane!

[ss13 1832]

On ESPN tonight at 8. Whenever it’s aired with commercials, the girlfriend winds up on the cutting room floor. 

[futureman 22497]

34 minutes ago, ss13 said:

On ESPN tonight at 8. Whenever it’s aired with commercials, the girlfriend winds up on the cutting room floor. 

too bad.  she doesn’t take up much space. 

[Dutch 4474]

It’s on Disney+ now, also. We watched it this morning, and I’ll echo what everyone had said: just an outstanding film. Drama, great scenery/cinematography, and Alex is an interesting and compelling individual. I literally had nervous stomach watching Alex’s attempt at the end, even though I was ~98% sure the movie would not be released if he failed (ie died). The wife and I both lol’d when he said he almost dumped the GF after he sprained his ankle. Anyone who haven’t seen it... it really is worth a viewing.

Edited June 14, 2020 by Dutch