The tone when he told Magnus to relax after the first two pitches... Precious. Sincere reminder that he was safe there, and could take a breather and really take it all in. So delightful.
Alex inspired me to climb the stairs without a hand on the railing. Some say it is unsustainable and eventually I'm going to fall. But it's not like I just go up unprepared. I have climbed those stairs using the railing many times. I know where all the good steps and holds are. I am careful to be sure I am able to down climb it if I get into an unsafe spot. When you have a certain level of skill, free stair solo looks more difficult than it really is. People are always asking my wife if she worries I will fall to my death or maybe to a bruise. Her reply is always the same: "It is his life and he has to choose his own path. But if he doesn't clean all that damn chalk off the stairs, I'm going to push him down myself."
I've got 6 flights to my front door, but if I tackle it 1 flight at a time like these guys did maybe just maybe 1 day I'll make it! ....ps what's the best way to clean up all the chalk?
There is a moral point of no return, beyond which you just cannot do that. Of course Magnus can climb that mountain and knows it. I wonder if he will ever repeat the experience though.
UPDATE: After a lot of back and forth UA-cam turned monetization back on! Thank you for all your support! Sadly UA-cam demonetized this video. I don't care about not getting paid, but it also means UA-cam will not push the video to people. I worked extra hard on this one and I want as many people as possible to see it, so if you can share it with your friends that would mean the world to me❤
@@Stop_It_Just_Stop ok just agreeing to what he said. but he did say hes never doing it again and alex just posted a video of him climbing with his wife.
I think the funniest thing about this is that Alex is also free soloing but also recording, commentating and encouraging at the same time... Absolute legend!
@@stereomachine probably because he was being realistic and it’s extremely dangerous with high risk low reward. Since Magnus has never done it before he expressed a purely positive demeanour as it would be cruel to Magnus if he was talking about the danger and make him panic when he could die
Guy is not all there and has sociopathic/psychopathic tendencies. He simply doesn’t feel what others feel or has very minimal reaction to feeling in general like the netflix document showed
@@jjjyli686 Tbh I think he does care. I understand in a way, but I also feel that he doesn't want magnus to dread on fear that may cloud his mind. Kinda like a live in the moment thing and just focus on progressing forward
i wouldn't make it out to be that alex's lonely, he's way too badass for that. but it goes to show how dangerous and demanding a sport this is, and how seriously and disciplined he takes this.
@@alandeutsch9987 Loneliness can affect anyone lmao I really hope he isnt lonely but the way he said it did seem like that. Plus having a lot of friends die also doesnt raise spirits
My dad had a massive stroke while driving highway speeds. His foot came off the gas and he gradually slowed down until the car went off the side of the road. He did overturn the vehicle but amazingly didn't have a scratch on him from the accident. He died 3 days later from the stroke. As scared as Magnus was, he will always remember that day and that climb.
"Obviously it's a little scary since you could die but they're very easy and quite joyous.' This man is built so different he doesn't even realize how freaking insane that is.
@@booboodafoo3247 That's the thing man. It's not deep. Life being dangerous is the most common mundane thing there is. The fact that you'd think it was deep proves my point.
I think I realized why I keep coming back to this video. Though it is slow-paced and mostly just talking while climbing, there are some lessons you can glean from this. The first is that having a companion to be with you through difficult areas may mean a world of difference. Magnus at multiple points would have talked himself out of this if weren’t for Alex’s advice and encouragement. The second lesson is that sometimes you have to take things one step at a time, not worrying about what could happen or regretting some past decisions. At some points Magnus was doubting himself and thinking to himself that it wouldn’t end well, but again thanks to Alex’s coaching, he was able to find the right holds one step at a time until the end. In my mind this video is a story about encouragement and focusing on the present-disguised a rock climbing video.
cannot wrap my head around the fact that Alex is hanging on to the tiniest crevice in the rocks like a damn mountain goat, filming with a heavy camera while LOOKING DOWN, and providing constant commentary and encouragement like wtf i have tears in my eyes
I love how Alex is accepting Magnus's complaints but spends no time on them. "The rock is hot.", "Yea, but you have a lot of chalk.". He doesn't ignore the anxiety, he just always make sure to tell him he's doing great or that the rock ahead of him is great, he's an excellent teammate.
@@evastern231 He got one in a lifetime expierience. He doesnt have to do it ever again and can say "I freesoloed this mountain " without lying. I dont think its nothing
@@evastern231 Its a once in a life time experience. It may come with some anxiety and fear but you will never feel or experience that control again. Some people just want to LIVE, not just worry about all the BS all the time.
@@xTheTOSHIBAx exactly. I grew up performing in the circus, many of the acts i participated in were super dangerous but it was an experience and a family like nothing I've had since... maybe my BJJ teammates, there is a pretty tight bond there too. These types of experiences where your life is on the line builds a kind of bond between the people involved that is impossible to form any other way... this is why police are so tight and military members frequently become lifelong friends.
Unlimited respect for Magnus who clearly battled through scary moments mid climb. You can tell he wasn't confident even being one of the best climbers in the world, but he still made it. My palms are sweaty.
Yeah when you are par tof the community the hands can't handle watching this most of the time...actually skipped a bit. The mental capacity is just mind boggling to me as I even got nervous and hyper focused on a few pitches on rope. Probably why I stick to kayak fishing now lol figured it wasn't for me after 8 years.
Alright that was my dose of adrenaline for the day... It's crazy how relaxed and comfortable Alex is free solo'ing this while filming, while I'm out here with super sweaty palms just watching this. Props to Magnus for pulling through the way he did.
Don't forget that Alex doesn't feel fear at all and it is not only about training and getting used to it. The organ that makes humans exhibit fear-related behaviors (Amygdala) is not reacting to extreme condtitions in Alex's case the same way it does on the average human according to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. My point is that Magnus really surpassed himself and it was way more difficult comparing to Alex try cause he had to overcome the biggest fear a human can have. Huge respect! **I read a misleading article but didn't check what tests they did. There is no reliable proof that Alex' Amygdala isn't working properly, therefore no reliable proof of him not feeling fear.
@@Darckfire43 exactly this, conditioning can definitely give you more control over the situation but Alex is a different breed, something clearly doesn't quite work the same 😂. I have seen similar "super human" traits come from trauma
Honnold really can't empathize, so it's unwise to follow his advice/encouragement/energy. Only solo with him if the floor is lava and the summit means survival.
I met Alex Honnold in the most odd place you can even imagine. I met him on a NYC subway platform. I was on my way to work going uptown manhattan as i waited for the 6 train i see Alex Honnold standing there about 10 ft away from me with a north face backpack dressed exactly how he is in this video accept no hat. I said hey Alex he turned looked at me and walked over and said how are you doing with his huge smile and big ears lol he shook my hand and ill tell you his freaking hand was huge and rough thick leather callus feel. First question he asked me was do you climb i said yea but never free solo and i swear he is the most down to earth person very humble. We talked and the train arrived we got in and we sat together talked the entire time. While in the train i asked if i could take a picture so he said yea and i pull out my phone and accidentally put it on record lol we both get closer for the picture and i said ohhh i pressed record by mistake he said a video is better than a picture lol. We talked a lot and finally he got off at 42nd street grand central station.
@@mikegoodwin5951 he's a grown man. It's a weak boy who claims someone pressured them into anything. Your friends may try hard to convince you to do something, but once you do it or not, you own that decision... As an man you better own it, "I'm doing X, it's my decision". Also, let's not forget, this guy is a social media guy. If he didn't want to do it, turn off the camera and have a conversation. He kept filming and kept progressing towards doing it. It's like sometimes people forget guys like this are "content creators". This maybe reality, but 100% reality. Do I think he would have free solo'd with Alex if there was no video content, no. He went there with the soul purpose to video with Alex FOR VIEWS. And Alex gave him a choice, you want a video, and I want to see you free solo. Dude made his own choice.
@@Manmodor007 You’re probably a very manipulative person yourself and see yourself in Alex . Either that or you’re just a giant Alex fanboy and can’t see the truth here. Alex even said to Magnus at the top of the mountain “you didn’t have a choice “ Magnus also agreed . Pretty obvious Magnus felt a ton of pressure to please Alex here and Magnus seems like a people pleasure personality type in general which Alex exploited.
it shouldn't be understated how good of a job Alex did in helping to manage Magnus's fear. this is someone constantly and vigilantly providing a calm and positive atmosphere because someone's life literally depends on it. consistently talking and filling the silence, making little jokes, every negative that came up, instantly - look at the bright side. slippery sandstone? solid holds. hot rock? lots of chalk. you're doing great, you look like a fashion model! haha my camera's all dangled up. there's a hold up to your right that's PERFECT, it's so good. oh it's nice up here.
Brilliant coaching all the way, not only with the negative thoughts. Also every time Magnus starts prematurely celebrating and relaxing he immediately gets him focused again.
This is made even more impressive by the fact that Alex physically doesn’t process fear at nearly the same capacity the average human or in this case Magnus does. His ability to empathise with and understand Magnus’ fear when he himself has probably never felt it to anywhere near that extent is incredible.
@@libbybishop5697 He definitely doesn't empathize with Magnus's fear, but I think Magnus seeing Alex so calm relaxed him, almost like a father figure calming his child's fear of ghosts or something.
@@libbybishop5697 Alex's amygdala doesn't fire at the same rate as a normal persons, but that wasn't always the case. He talks about it with Pat McAfee in their interview. He still gets a fear response, but he's just so desensitized to the fear response that for his brain to have that response would require orders of magnitude more fright than a normal person. However, he still knows fear and is able to empathize with that fear because he's already gone through dealing with all of that way earlier in his climbing career.
I like how Alex says the queit parts out loud. It's hilarious "all of my old friends have either died or retired" and "I don't want you to go infront of me because if your nervous and fall I don't want to die" brutally honest! Good stuff
I think he's just joking. Obviously Alex wants to go first so that Magnus can get an idea of where to climb because Alex already knows the route, and Magnus is on sighting
@justinrea1741,, I get in a hurry too and spell wrong just for being in a hurry and sometimes the phone does the errors because my phone has some MAJOR PROBLEMS, But I know you know how to spell *quiet* but got in a hurry and spelled it *queit*,, Have a good day !!!
This video made me so nervous and nauseas, it's absolutely insane from the POV camera and every time they turned around I felt so sick lol. What an experience watching, can't imagine Magnus throughout the entire time.
This is weirdly harder to watch than Free Solo, watching a master at work who is totally confident in their craft is one thing, watching Magnus visibly uncomfortable while putting himself through a life/death scenario he isn't accustomed to is something else.
Exactly! Doing his first solo without a rope is mind boggling. But he's capable of doing it and Alex and Magnus himself knew. Alex was also a great coach though!
Exactly. This wasn't cool. Magnus was very freaked multiple times. Even if the Route is a technically easy one, you don't just spring a, "Oh, and today the mistake penalty is death" on a person and peer pressure them to do it. This was F'ed up.
Yeah, it was more intense than Free Solo for sure. Just had to keep reminding myself that he won't die, or isn't dead. Because I've seen videos Magnus made after this one, and it wouldn't be on UA-cam if he did die. But, Holy crap, still had me freaking out.
Fucking Alex Honnold climbing while filming and stabilizing the camera is so insane man, pretty much climbing with only his feet, very Alex Honnold haha
This has to be the single most stressful thing I've ever been involved with. My involvement being sat in a chair in front of my TV with my heart in my mouth that is. What a fantastic video!
He is absolutely a 1/1.. Average folk just don't understand what he did on El Cap, it's SO MASSIVE that it's even a job just hiking to the base of it..
@@aaronroelants994 it looks like there's 9 free solo deaths a year on average, Alex has been at it for about 27 years now, thats 243 people dead in his field since he started. I'm not too educated on the topic of free soloing, but Im sure half or more of those are deaths of guys like Alex who are obsessed with climbing, and I can't help but imagine the free solo community is pretty small and close knit. I would guess that he's lost some good friends and partners to the sport
"all the people that i used to climb with are DEAD or retired or moved" "Usualy the least confortable climber goes behind, because if you fall i don't wanna die" "i just hope i don't kill magnus" damn that's a savage 5 min start for the video
Magnus you’ve got balls, this is the first video I’ve watched of yours and could see myself getting into climbing, but definitely not solo of course. I just can’t wrap my head around Alex, he’s so chill in the maddest of scenarios, it’s simply ludicrous.
Between eating the raw pepper and standing on the side of a cliff that is basically 90 degrees to the ground without using his hands. I have concluded that Alex is insane.
Alex is a fatalist. He believes he will die on the day he was destined to die, therefore until that day he is invincible, many extreme sports people are fatalists.
Since the first time I discovered Alex and listened to him speak I thought right away that there is something mentally wrong with him. No natural fear. Having a healthy fear helps protect us from dying. He doesnt have that. Also he just seems like a psychopath to me. Not sure.. . But something wrong with that dude for sure.
@@petrpumpkineater Yea but Alex is built different because of just how comfortable he seems with absolute risk. It's normal to become comfortable with something like driving where one mistake _could_ kill you, but not typical to be so relaxed doing something where the _tiniest_ mistake for just an instant WILL kill you.
@@hodge12009 I get it, but when it comes down to it, climbers have all the control; cars are an illusion of safety. When an airbag is punctured, it can kill you from the toxic, explosive materials implanted in the assembly. Many have died from this. Or the airbag sensor could fail. WeatherTrek tires can still hydroplane. OnStar could be out of signal range. Seatbelt could fracture your collarbone. Airbag can break your nose. Crumple zone could be improperly welded, causing your legs to be crushed. My HS history teacher had this happen to his ankle. You could survive the accident in the winter but die from exposure and blood loss. Its about personal responsibility
When Magnus keeps saying “Thank you.” And “This has been incredible” … Alex always corrects with “Let’s finish the route first”. Such great insight into the mentality needed to free solo. You have to be completely present and focused. The movie free solo made Alex seem a bit disconnected emotionally, but obviously, nothing could be further from the truth. He knows exactly what Magnus needs to hear and when… incredible video.
That's a great observation. I think we perceive Alex as being 'disconnected' since most average people cannot control their emotional state so consciously as Alex does. It's crazy to see
I like how Alex just has so much experience by himself he can't help but talk the whole time cuz he doesn't normally have anyone to share the info and experiences with
@Jason Voorhees How in the world was that the take you got???? If anything he was trying to keep Magnus' mind off the climb so he didn't psych himself out and probably just felt like talking, when you talk to someone driving a vehicle do you want to distract them, undermine their confidence, and make them crash and die?
i dont see many people talk about this but its kind of insane the version of alex that magnus was able to capture in this video. he's always seemed fairly stand off ish and cold, even in his own documentary. still funny and charming, but distant. but here, he seems like our best friend and its so rad to see this like, hype mode friend who gets you inspired to do something.
Not to mention seeing this other side of magnus that is completely out of his element. He's usually so chill, but Alex notes in the video how stressed magnus is and it shows.
Alex is hardly the most social person, but when he sees someone willing to try out his lifelong passion with him, you can just see him light up like a christmas tree. I imagine it's the kind of enthusiasm you go through when your girlfriend is willing to try a game or sport that you love. My guess is that he can count the number of climbers who have never soloed before and are down to get that first experience with him with one hand.
@@genegade hes not putting anyone in danger. He offered to take another adult expert climber, who they mention in the video that they both free solo climbed together a few year s before already, to one of the safest and most beautiful places to do a solo climb. The fact they free solo'd once before together already and they are both adult expert climbers, they are accountable for themselves. Stop pretending magnus is a baby cause you wanna virtue signal.
That fact that he’s free soloing while filming on a full frame camera is absolutely nuts. You guys are amazing. And I just want to add how calming Alex’s instructions were. He was calming down my anxiety😂
After Alex filmed his free solo movie he got his brain scanned and he lacks the receptor's in his brain that spark "fear". Meaning, Alex feels no fear for anything which makes it easier to climb because he cannot get as nervous as the average person.
This video is historic. This is Alex being himself, in his element so much more than was revealed in his movie, and that I've ever seen in his interviews and stuff - and Magnus - you are incredible!!!!
well he has probably been to a lot of therapy to help with w/e neurodiversity he has going on under the hood coz that man's be lookin difficult to be around on da regularrrrrr.
Wiped my hands on my pant leg about 50 times while wishing the sinking feeling in my stomach would go away. When watching this it really feels like you’re on the wall with them.
Alex Honnold is simultaneously an incredible badass and such a goober. I love the moment where you see he's just eating a whole bell pepper like an apple. Charmingly eccentric to a degree I wouldn't expect from someone who generally spends their free time alone.
Some context because I was curious. Alex has talked about at least 3 friends he lost, 1 was an ice climber, one was base jumping, one was free soloing. His worst cited injury was when he had a mishap with a fall on a rope and it didn't catch him. I was quite surprised how few of these accidents were related to free soloing
it's not crazy actually, i don't climb but i know the feeling, when you spent you entire life doing something and dedicated your entire life to something, you really are calm when you do it. actually theses routes are ultra easy for an exceptional climber, it's only in the head. i believe they would do it in running shoes very fast without falling if there was no void. for your knowledge hard routes free solo are repeated like 300times during months or years before being free solo'ed *for the camera* (or not). it's like they have a instinct of every possible part of the rock and how to climb it. but for your knowledge every years free soloers die from a fall so it's like, a business where you put your life at risk all the time at the litteral level. it's sad i dont think there is a respect to have from that i dont respect them im just neutral like ok you want to feel that go but be ready to have shorter life.. maybe. *crisp*
@@JamesJames-ux8wn Yeah its like going on a playground 100m in the air to these guys. They've done stuff 100x more difficult. It's just in their head and iirc Alex doesn't have that feeling of fear like a normal person.
I think I’ve never watched a UA-cam video before where I’ve had sweaty palms from the beginning till the end 😂! What an amazing adventure, the amount of skill and cool this took is insane
Damn my palms are sweaty as fuck watching this haha my hearts beating fast when Magnus kind of has stress in his voice as he’s trying to figure sections out
Alex eating a red pepper + Magnus being peer pressured = immaculate vibes Throughly enjoyed this video Magnus hahah! Laughed and felt every “yea, yea” “I just don’t wanna die” hahha
I belive the editor make it feel like that. no freeclimber would ever engage in such activity with someone who is not aware and willing to take part in the climb.
Haha. Same. Even though you know they are going to make it to the top (they aren't going to post a video of dude falling to his death) i was a nervous wreck the whole time. Props to Megnus!!!
I was a bit relieved when I heard Magnus say "I'm never doing this again!". As much as I enjoyed this absolute nerve-racking masterpiece, I think I'd prefer it to be a one-time thing.
I think Alex was so talky because he too got scared seeing Magnus so stressed out for his life. Glad they made it, but it was somewhere between 1-5 percent.
@@gackerman99 Well some people want to be remembered in history. History remembers the brave, not people like you who judge them and laugh while having nothing to show for yourself. And some people chase their dreams regardless of what others say while someone like you will do what other people will tell you to do for the rest of your life. But at least you can cope and call people "stupid" to make yourself feel better, which btw you wouldn't be doing if you actually had something worthwhile going in your life.
@@MrTVx99 yeah great thing this guy did, climbing a rock without safety equipment. absolutely fucking revolutionary. world-changing. I can count your braincells on one hand.
Shows that what Alex is doing is 10x more impressive than any other climber, you not only have to be a great climber you also need the mental fortitude of a godamn monk.
I can't believe I'm only seeing this video now a few years late, but holy shit no UA-cam video has made my heart pound this hard. Magnus has my respect.
props to magnus for committing. but i’m mind blown alex is so chill and convincing him to free solo especially after saying several of his friends died climbing. that’s a lot to risk
It's just like wing suit pilots, you either quit or you die doing it. Most of those guys aren't happy unless they're pushing themselves to the absolute limit, and that's where people die.
Yes. And I felt that to the bone. I remember being scared lead climbing on a route a few grades below my capability at the time, but it was sketchy and slippery. There was a ledge below, an anchor above and I had to make a long move and though I knew it was easy, I kept thinking what if I fail, will I shatter my knees on the ledge? So, a thing like this is not about climbing at all and it's beautiful.
tbh I think it's insanely dumb to free solo scared, Alex has said many times that feeling calm is what keeps him safe. Magnus was starting to shake quite a bit, that can't be helpful for making safe moves
Alex is so funny, he should do a series of interviews while solo climbing. Probably wouldn't get that many takers though. That is coolest rock I've ever seen.
@@vortex555 Yes. A beautiful day, perfect rock, and for a few hours out of a day nothing else matters. This video makes me miss climbing and that feeling.
Saw Magnus day after that. You can tell this was an experience that will be with him forever! 💪🔥 Alex is amazing! 🤘 Did he charge Magnus for the camera work? 🤔😂
It's not stupid, it's amazing watching but... having seen this, and having recently seen Alex's Greenland expedition, and "reading into that" I'm getting the feeling that it's more likely that Alex will get someone else killed in the future then him self. He's so confident and he seem unable to feel and understand other peoples anxiety. It's like "I'm super afraid, let's not do this" and he's like "A yeah that's ok, it's cool". He can really push people, in a good way... and in a terrible way. Don't get me wrong, the video was amazing, the climbing was superb, Magnus' videos are awesome. Period.
Alex is literally just built different. The guy does not operate at the same level as the rest of us humans. His ability to remain to calm, focused & present in a literal life threatening situation is incredible. My hands might as well be a river they're so sweaty.
The text messages are so Honnold. The "since you could die" is so matter of fact, even though he's trying to convince you it's fun. Great video Magnus!
Yeah Alex is something else, but I'm sure he has to have this insane mindset or he would have died long, long ago. Any doubt creeping in is one step closer to that one fall.
@@tankmaster1018 Think he was trying very hard to not let negative thoughts take over by shutting that talk down. He was a lot more open, cracking jokes about dying after they finished
Alex reminds me of like an experienced tripper keeping you level when things start to get a little too intense, like reminding you you're doing it for an experience and good time, that it definitely can be scary but can be great too. Really impressive.
This is the most intense video on UA-cam. Should have a billion views. Huge props to Magnus. And glad to hear he will not be soloing again - once in a lifetime experience is enough for a lifetime.
Håller helt med. Så otroligt intensiv video. Mina handflator blev helt svettiga. Jag ångrade nästan att jag började kolla. Gör aldrig om det där Magnus. Och om du gör det, filma inte det.
So raw and insane. Literally hanging on to dear life, the possibility of death is so real. The dynamics between a master and novice. The craziest video I’ve seen on 10+ years of UA-cam.
If you pass out for 2 seconds because of the heat or because you didn't have enough sleep... You are dead. So even stuff that you CAN'T CONTROL can be your cause of death, just think about strong winds or loose rocks... People really overlook how crazy this is.
this video is underrated. It's not often you get this type of pov look at free solo like this. You can sense the nerves and the calmness at the same time of these climbers
this is hands down the best "interview" of alex. he really shows his exitement about soloing in a way nobody else could get him to do. really fits your video scheme of trying hard stuff too!
As much as we hate it, this truly demonstrates the beauty of social media. The fact that we can watch 30 minutes of the scariest moment of your life and have our palms sweating with you, while soaking in what it looks like up there with no ropes. Add in Full HD and professionals narrating it, and this makes it one of the most enjoyable videos I've seen online since the creation of UA-cam. Absolutely incredible. Bravo and thanks for not dying.
@@cry_now_laugh_later everyone has theirown specific reasons to free solo, it's a choice, they are risking their life but they also know their limits, he is with one of the greatest if not the greatest free solo climber of all time. Social Media might be bad, but it's not all bad, their is beauty behind it
@@cry_now_laugh_later he’s literally not risking his life just for a vide he could have made any video and got the same amount of views and what not it’s not like this was a one hit wonder video.
The moment that hit me the hardest is when Alex calmly says he rarely climbs with others anymore because most of his friends are dead or retired. The extreme sport community is held together via adrenalin binging and trauma bonding. It's simultaneously beautiful and inspiring while also being heartbreaking. Thanks for sharing.
The second where he gets a distant look in his eyes and moves his mouth in contemplation is really sorrowful. @3:21 Was looking for this comment before watching any further. Maybe I'm wrong.
the contrast of the nonchalantness of Alex and the fear in Magnus’ voice makes this video so incredible. This is a masterpiece and so raw this is an experience very few people in the world will ever experience, bravo!
A seemingly unnoticed lil bit: Magnus: "I don't trust it.:" (at the crack climbing part) Alex: "yeah, but you CAN." Alex knows the whole cliff route like a speedrunner knows every block and movement in a video game. He knows if and how much each and every bit can be trusted.
just watching this was so nerve-wrecking, i was sweating buckets. when he put the gopro on it puts the thing into prespective of how crazy this whole free solo thing is. huge respect
Man I can't help but come back and rewatch this video over and over again. Idk why, but I have an extreme amount of appreciation for this video. It's truly a masterpiece and I imagine Magnus is extremely proud of this video.
The heart of agreement from Magnus. And obviously we all want the Video to blow up. It's nice to see someone put soo much effort into a Video like doing something they really wouldn't otherwise and risking their life. As a Viewer you can't but greatly appreciate that.
@@greennin yeah totally agree. It's just something about how out of his comfort zone he is and how the video genuinely sends me chills while still being entertaining. Just all round one of the best videos I've ever seen
Wow, man.. I just stumbled across your channel today for the first time to see how you held up against the US Marines. Those coins are something to treasure. Congratulations! Then I just happened to see this climbing with Alex video in the suggestions afterwards. My god. The POV from the GoPro footage almost instantly caused my heartrate to spike and body to slightly shake. I couldn't even imagine the struggle you kept corralled inside your head to remain so calm and collected. Intense. Reinforced my fear of heights for sure. I can't wait to see what is next!
I love how Alex is the best and worst peer pressure at the same time
19:35
The tone when he told Magnus to relax after the first two pitches... Precious. Sincere reminder that he was safe there, and could take a breather and really take it all in. So delightful.
It's like Sean Evans of Hot Ones: "You don't have to if you don't want to..."
Effective peer pressure, best and worst
He's autistic is what you mean lol
Alex had this confidence and serenity not because of years of experience, but because he held the camera. and the cameraman never dies.
😂
the one trick that free solo climbers dont want you to know!
Aw I really thought this was going to be a comment worth reading
except in as above so below. ;)
@@tamas5931me if I hated comedy:
"It's a little scary since you can die but it should be fine"
never change Alex
😄😄😄😄
hahaha great quote
Laughed harder than I should😂😂😂
The reality is, we can die at any moment doing the most mundane thing. Might as well go out doing what you love.
Hell anyone can die anyways just walking a doggie .
Bro Magnus did NOT want to do this. Props to him for overcoming the fear. Unbelievably scary
NOTHING IS SCARY WITH JESUS CHRIST WE ONLY FEAR OUR GOD LORD OF LORDS JESUS CHRIST AMEN AND AMEN HALLELUJAH🕊️💯❤🙏
666
@@manguydude905 LETS SEE IF YOU KEEP THAT SAME ENERGY WHEN YOU FACE JESUS CHRIST💯❤🕊️🫡🙏
@@ksadjdadjaifenamen
@@smokysmoky8467Allah #1 🎉
Alex stood there on the mountain filming like some kind of bipedal mountain goat.
he is
🤣🤣🤣
my thoughts exactly wtf dude stood there like he some typa goat
Lol! Alex on the side , just straight acting out his inner Ibex
And just casually talking... my god :D
Alex inspired me to climb the stairs without a hand on the railing. Some say it is unsustainable and eventually I'm going to fall. But it's not like I just go up unprepared. I have climbed those stairs using the railing many times. I know where all the good steps and holds are. I am careful to be sure I am able to down climb it if I get into an unsafe spot. When you have a certain level of skill, free stair solo looks more difficult than it really is. People are always asking my wife if she worries I will fall to my death or maybe to a bruise. Her reply is always the same: "It is his life and he has to choose his own path. But if he doesn't clean all that damn chalk off the stairs, I'm going to push him down myself."
Bwahaha, had me spit out my coffee!
I applaud your bravery, keep pushing yourself! I hope to be this brave someday.
I've got 6 flights to my front door, but if I tackle it 1 flight at a time like these guys did maybe just maybe 1 day I'll make it! ....ps what's the best way to clean up all the chalk?
Do you usually go shirtless or wear a shirt whenever you climb?
GOATED
“I don’t have many partners left to do this with… they either died or retired or had kids!” Yeah I would be walking back to the car at that point haha
😂
He snuck in died so casually
😂🤣right?
😂😂😂 I had to rewind to make sure I heard that correct
There is a moral point of no return, beyond which you just cannot do that. Of course Magnus can climb that mountain and knows it. I wonder if he will ever repeat the experience though.
Alex is so disarmingly well adjusted in every other part of his life, he makes you feel like you’re the crazy one for fearing death.
No he’s not, he’s got legit mental issues.
@@nigellax454hell yeah brother same here
@@nigellax454 i wouldnt say a lack of the fear of death is a mental issue
@@ronaldwestbeal2269hes been diagnosed with some kind of amygdala disabikity where he doesent process fear the same way a norma perosn does
If you think Alex comes across as well adjusted, I IMPLORE you to seek mental help
UPDATE: After a lot of back and forth UA-cam turned monetization back on! Thank you for all your support!
Sadly UA-cam demonetized this video. I don't care about not getting paid, but it also means UA-cam will not push the video to people. I worked extra hard on this one and I want as many people as possible to see it, so if you can share it with your friends that would mean the world to me❤
Wait what? Why?
Unbelievable! This is literally the very best of UA-cam.
Probably because it shows "life dangering activities", nevertheless, amazing video!
And why is that? Is it too shocking for them? Wtf, UA-cam...
UA-cam is fucking stupid
Magnus is never gonna call Alex to hangout again.
its been almost two years i agree with you.
I get why he said what he said 3:25
@@ChrisJ05 just because we haven’t seen a video doesn’t mean they haven’t hung out.
😁
@@Stop_It_Just_Stop ok just agreeing to what he said. but he did say hes never doing it again and alex just posted a video of him climbing with his wife.
This is unreal, big up for that 1.5 hour mental battle
Shiit STORROR wazzup! You guys are mental too
Magnus x Storror next? (please, and thank you)
Hi Toby
Been commenting for a Magnus + Storror (or maybe Toby) parkour/climbing collab for a while, trying to manifest it into happening!
@@llabronco commenting for the YT alg, that collab sounds awesome
I think the funniest thing about this is that Alex is also free soloing but also recording, commentating and encouraging at the same time... Absolute legend!
Alex literally will not let any negative thought manifest into something.
yes, and he also stops magnus as soon as he trails off into the future negative thoughts
amazing self awareness
@@stereomachine probably because he was being realistic and it’s extremely dangerous with high risk low reward. Since Magnus has never done it before he expressed a purely positive demeanour as it would be cruel to Magnus if he was talking about the danger and make him panic when he could die
1000% true well said!
Loved the way he helped by just constantly casually talking to relax the tension
Jesus never did too when he climbed mountains
"magnus is getting slighty stressed but he is doing great" is a hilarious response to this situation
what is the timestamp for this
@@devonck195 literally just saw this comment as I heard that quote :P It's at 14:42
I was thinking the same.
Alex: "He's doing great." Magnus: (staring at his feet) "Mep." Alex: "See? He's doing great."
Magnus should have never been up there.
Magnus: I'm pretty scared.
Alex: Cool.
Guy is not all there and has sociopathic/psychopathic tendencies. He simply doesn’t feel what others feel or has very minimal reaction to feeling in general like the netflix document showed
@@jjjyli686yeah I kinda know what u mean man, I noticed it too
@@jjjyli686 Tbh I think he does care. I understand in a way, but I also feel that he doesn't want magnus to dread on fear that may cloud his mind. Kinda like a live in the moment thing and just focus on progressing forward
@@thomaslarkin5222 maybe but the guy is off putting without a doubt
@@jjjyli686u definitely have to be off putting and a little tweaked in the head somewhere to achieve the feats he has no question
Alex's strategy of having normal conversation while filming Magnus to curve the fear is absolute genius.
Gave me shivers when Alex talked about the lack of climbing partners… he seemed lonely - and seemed to savour and enjoy every minute with Magnus.
i wouldn't make it out to be that alex's lonely, he's way too badass for that. but it goes to show how dangerous and demanding a sport this is, and how seriously and disciplined he takes this.
He seemed pretty lonely
@@alandeutsch9987 Too badass to be lonely lmao
@@alandeutsch9987 everyone gets lonely you goober lol
@@alandeutsch9987 Loneliness can affect anyone lmao
I really hope he isnt lonely but the way he said it did seem like that. Plus having a lot of friends die also doesnt raise spirits
"If you faint while driving, you'll probably die too"... Words of encouragement from the great, AlexHonnold
My dad had a massive stroke while driving highway speeds. His foot came off the gas and he gradually slowed down until the car went off the side of the road. He did overturn the vehicle but amazingly didn't have a scratch on him from the accident. He died 3 days later from the stroke. As scared as Magnus was, he will always remember that day and that climb.
Forreal though driving is the most dangerous thing most humans do each day.
"Obviously it's a little scary since you could die but they're very easy and quite joyous.'
This man is built so different he doesn't even realize how freaking insane that is.
same with me when I'm driving my car..we really are built different
lol calm down baby goat
Lots of things could kill you, people just don't think about it usually.
@@davidpeters6743you’re so deep bro. Tell us more
@@booboodafoo3247 That's the thing man. It's not deep. Life being dangerous is the most common mundane thing there is. The fact that you'd think it was deep proves my point.
I think I realized why I keep coming back to this video. Though it is slow-paced and mostly just talking while climbing, there are some lessons you can glean from this. The first is that having a companion to be with you through difficult areas may mean a world of difference. Magnus at multiple points would have talked himself out of this if weren’t for Alex’s advice and encouragement. The second lesson is that sometimes you have to take things one step at a time, not worrying about what could happen or regretting some past decisions. At some points Magnus was doubting himself and thinking to himself that it wouldn’t end well, but again thanks to Alex’s coaching, he was able to find the right holds one step at a time until the end.
In my mind this video is a story about encouragement and focusing on the present-disguised a rock climbing video.
cannot wrap my head around the fact that Alex is hanging on to the tiniest crevice in the rocks like a damn mountain goat, filming with a heavy camera while LOOKING DOWN, and providing constant commentary and encouragement like wtf i have tears in my eyes
This man is a goat, metaphorically and literally
and saying "I'm standing on some great holds"
They did find I believe that he lacks in the part of the brain that causes fear.
@@jayfedder1578 that makes magnus a freaking legend
@@prodMAggs I was talking about Alex
I have never been this stressed while watching a video in my entire life. Magnus has gained my absolute respect
Watching Free Solo made my hands AND feet sweat
@@rupert_harvey was just about to comment the same thing. CLAMMY HANDS AND DRENCHED FEET OVA HERE 😅
@@rupert_harvey Fuck me I'm so stressed even though I know he makes it. My feet and hands are so sweaty. I also have really bad fear of heights.
my hands sweat just thinking about the topic of free soloing
Bro 😫
The way Alex kept reinforcing “Look at Magnus, completely *relaxed*”
@Tom Sawyer yeah, he seems nice
Daniel do more videos please 🙏
Love how he’s helping Magnus. That’s someone who’s helping someone stay calm.
That was my impression! The way Alex walked him through it was absolutely flawless.
“No no, these are *incredible* holds”.
“That’s a freakin’ hold, huh?”.
“This one here, you’ll like that one”.
Alex is so giddy someone actually agreed to free solo with him lol.
He found someone crazy enough to follow in his footsteps. 🤣😂
I love how Alex is accepting Magnus's complaints but spends no time on them. "The rock is hot.", "Yea, but you have a lot of chalk.". He doesn't ignore the anxiety, he just always make sure to tell him he's doing great or that the rock ahead of him is great, he's an excellent teammate.
@@evastern231
He got one in a lifetime expierience.
He doesnt have to do it ever again and
can say "I freesoloed this mountain " without lying.
I dont think its nothing
@@evastern231 Its a once in a life time experience. It may come with some anxiety and fear but you will never feel or experience that control again. Some people just want to LIVE, not just worry about all the BS all the time.
@@xTheTOSHIBAx i wish i would have read your comment first but this person needed to hear it twice lol.
@@bobbarker1342 its ok. Thanks to you I found a typo
@@xTheTOSHIBAx exactly. I grew up performing in the circus, many of the acts i participated in were super dangerous but it was an experience and a family like nothing I've had since... maybe my BJJ teammates, there is a pretty tight bond there too. These types of experiences where your life is on the line builds a kind of bond between the people involved that is impossible to form any other way... this is why police are so tight and military members frequently become lifelong friends.
Unlimited respect for Magnus who clearly battled through scary moments mid climb. You can tell he wasn't confident even being one of the best climbers in the world, but he still made it.
My palms are sweaty.
Knees weak, arms are heavy?
Alex does a great job of making it seem like no big deal at some points but still grounding him when he really needs it.
@@benscott3603 If the rock is slippery, you might end up like mom's spaghetti
@@benscott3603 theres vomit on his sweater already?
@@gorgorletyran7424 He‘s nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready 20:35
My hands, watching this, has never been more sweaty.
Yeah when you are par tof the community the hands can't handle watching this most of the time...actually skipped a bit. The mental capacity is just mind boggling to me as I even got nervous and hyper focused on a few pitches on rope. Probably why I stick to kayak fishing now lol figured it wasn't for me after 8 years.
yeah my hands and soles are sweating and sort of tingling just by watching this, it's insane...
Just realised my hands are sweating when I read your comment! Such a cool watch...
Watching Free Solo I had no sweaty hands. This just felt so much different. Peer pressure is one hell of a thing.
So true😄
The mental fortitude it takes to free solo is what makes Alex Honnold 1 of 1.
There’s an old french dude free soloing with no equipment, bare foot. At this point it’s just a death wish
I love how Alex records Magnus like a dad recording his family on holiday . This was beautiful to watch the physical and mental climb
You like climbing?
XD - He is such a Dad - Every second comment is like "That's Magnus... and That is my shadow"
wow you're here
"This is my new rock climbing trap base"
lmao i saw ur comment , and by curiosity i checked ur channel, what are the odds that u make Rust video, and i have seen 3 of ur video ? xD
A MILLION PROPS to Magnus for mustering up the courage to go for it. That's honestly the most impressive thing about this video. Wow.
Seriously… wow.
Yes
its 5A bro it is not even climbing its a scramble
@@thedude5599 i wanna see u do it, big boi.
@@thedude5599 why dont i see a video you doing this on your channel then?
the reason alex is so relaxed is because he has the power of being the camera man. the cameraman always survives😁
Not really, if the cameraman falls you can probably still recover the video from the camera.
@@leandrog2785 It was a joke.
Way to be original
I think Alex just doesnt have sense of fear
@@rexosaurus_rex5582 No shit sherlock
Alex is a good dude. He’s patient, gracious, and so happy to share his knowledge and love for his sport.
Alright that was my dose of adrenaline for the day...
It's crazy how relaxed and comfortable Alex is free solo'ing this while filming, while I'm out here with super sweaty palms just watching this.
Props to Magnus for pulling through the way he did.
I felt exactly the same lol
Don't forget that Alex doesn't feel fear at all and it is not only about training and getting used to it. The organ that makes humans exhibit fear-related behaviors (Amygdala) is not reacting to extreme condtitions in Alex's case the same way it does on the average human according to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.
My point is that Magnus really surpassed himself and it was way more difficult comparing to Alex try cause he had to overcome the biggest fear a human can have. Huge respect!
**I read a misleading article but didn't check what tests they did. There is no reliable proof that Alex' Amygdala isn't working properly, therefore no reliable proof of him not feeling fear.
@@Darckfire43 exactly this, conditioning can definitely give you more control over the situation but Alex is a different breed, something clearly doesn't quite work the same 😂. I have seen similar "super human" traits come from trauma
don't forget the actual eerie music the whole time not helping.
Honnold really can't empathize, so it's unwise to follow his advice/encouragement/energy. Only solo with him if the floor is lava and the summit means survival.
Alex is the funniest dude, Magnus is shitting it and he's just like "lol hope you don't die" and eating a pepper like an apple
im craving munching on a pepper now
I got way more weirded out by the apple like eating of the pepper, than the free soloing
😂😂😂
The only other person I've seen eat a pepper like an apple was off his balls on magic mushrooms.
@@georgestone8099 red peppers are so good raw
I met Alex Honnold in the most odd place you can even imagine. I met him on a NYC subway platform. I was on my way to work going uptown manhattan as i waited for the 6 train i see Alex Honnold standing there about 10 ft away from me with a north face backpack dressed exactly how he is in this video accept no hat. I said hey Alex he turned looked at me and walked over and said how are you doing with his huge smile and big ears lol he shook my hand and ill tell you his freaking hand was huge and rough thick leather callus feel. First question he asked me was do you climb i said yea but never free solo and i swear he is the most down to earth person very humble. We talked and the train arrived we got in and we sat together talked the entire time. While in the train i asked if i could take a picture so he said yea and i pull out my phone and accidentally put it on record lol we both get closer for the picture and i said ohhh i pressed record by mistake he said a video is better than a picture lol. We talked a lot and finally he got off at 42nd street grand central station.
I'm gonna pretend this was me
What a cool experience! Glad to hear he is a cool dude
Amazing story!
awesome!
That is awesome!
The GoPro action had my heart in my throat... Alex is the perfect mixture of peer pressure and friendly support.
The perfect mix huh? Do you like being pressured into doing crazy shit that you really dont want to do?
@@mikegoodwin5951 he's a grown man. It's a weak boy who claims someone pressured them into anything. Your friends may try hard to convince you to do something, but once you do it or not, you own that decision... As an man you better own it, "I'm doing X, it's my decision".
Also, let's not forget, this guy is a social media guy. If he didn't want to do it, turn off the camera and have a conversation. He kept filming and kept progressing towards doing it. It's like sometimes people forget guys like this are "content creators". This maybe reality, but 100% reality. Do I think he would have free solo'd with Alex if there was no video content, no. He went there with the soul purpose to video with Alex FOR VIEWS. And Alex gave him a choice, you want a video, and I want to see you free solo. Dude made his own choice.
@@Manmodor007 You’re probably a very manipulative person yourself and see yourself in Alex . Either that or you’re just a giant Alex fanboy and can’t see the truth here. Alex even said to Magnus at the top of the mountain “you didn’t have a choice “ Magnus also agreed . Pretty obvious Magnus felt a ton of pressure to please Alex here and Magnus seems like a people pleasure personality type in general which Alex exploited.
it shouldn't be understated how good of a job Alex did in helping to manage Magnus's fear. this is someone constantly and vigilantly providing a calm and positive atmosphere because someone's life literally depends on it. consistently talking and filling the silence, making little jokes, every negative that came up, instantly - look at the bright side. slippery sandstone? solid holds. hot rock? lots of chalk. you're doing great, you look like a fashion model! haha my camera's all dangled up. there's a hold up to your right that's PERFECT, it's so good. oh it's nice up here.
This is incredibly true. He was doing a great job.
Brilliant coaching all the way, not only with the negative thoughts. Also every time Magnus starts prematurely celebrating and relaxing he immediately gets him focused again.
Yeah right? I wish I had an Alex to coach me through all the difficult anxiety times in my life. Holy shit. What a great and empathetic dude
I found the chatter distracting. I think he would have been better just keeping it to technical details with a small amount of encouragement mixed in.
@@Joghurt2499 He will make a great father.
Alex’s ability to keep Magnus calm is beyond professional. While himself also climbing. And filming.
First time seeing Magnus visibly nervous.
This is made even more impressive by the fact that Alex physically doesn’t process fear at nearly the same capacity the average human or in this case Magnus does. His ability to empathise with and understand Magnus’ fear when he himself has probably never felt it to anywhere near that extent is incredible.
@@kevinr6871 same!
@@libbybishop5697 He definitely doesn't empathize with Magnus's fear, but I think Magnus seeing Alex so calm relaxed him, almost like a father figure calming his child's fear of ghosts or something.
@@libbybishop5697 Alex's amygdala doesn't fire at the same rate as a normal persons, but that wasn't always the case. He talks about it with Pat McAfee in their interview. He still gets a fear response, but he's just so desensitized to the fear response that for his brain to have that response would require orders of magnitude more fright than a normal person.
However, he still knows fear and is able to empathize with that fear because he's already gone through dealing with all of that way earlier in his climbing career.
I like how Alex says the queit parts out loud. It's hilarious "all of my old friends have either died or retired" and "I don't want you to go infront of me because if your nervous and fall I don't want to die" brutally honest! Good stuff
I think he's just joking. Obviously Alex wants to go first so that Magnus can get an idea of where to climb because Alex already knows the route, and Magnus is on sighting
@@jerryworld1223 no he was definitly not joking with the going first part.
@justinrea1741,, I get in a hurry too and spell wrong just for being in a hurry and sometimes the phone does the errors because my phone has some MAJOR PROBLEMS, But I know you know how to spell *quiet* but got in a hurry and spelled it *queit*,, Have a good day !!!
It's a joke but has some truth to it
11:14 he was actually directly under him at one point.
This video made me so nervous and nauseas, it's absolutely insane from the POV camera and every time they turned around I felt so sick lol. What an experience watching, can't imagine Magnus throughout the entire time.
Magnus was wanting to be chilling with his girlfriend at that time, not tempting death
This is weirdly harder to watch than Free Solo, watching a master at work who is totally confident in their craft is one thing, watching Magnus visibly uncomfortable while putting himself through a life/death scenario he isn't accustomed to is something else.
Exactly! Doing his first solo without a rope is mind boggling. But he's capable of doing it and Alex and Magnus himself knew. Alex was also a great coach though!
Exactly I felt fucking ill watching this
Exactly. This wasn't cool. Magnus was very freaked multiple times.
Even if the Route is a technically easy one, you don't just spring a, "Oh, and today the mistake penalty is death" on a person and peer pressure them to do it. This was F'ed up.
im sweating my balls off watching this 😰
Yeah, it was more intense than Free Solo for sure. Just had to keep reminding myself that he won't die, or isn't dead. Because I've seen videos Magnus made after this one, and it wouldn't be on UA-cam if he did die. But, Holy crap, still had me freaking out.
Fucking Alex Honnold climbing while filming and stabilizing the camera is so insane man, pretty much climbing with only his feet, very Alex Honnold haha
Phrasing
it was pretty ba
When Alex said he has to hold on becouse keeping the camera steady is throwing him of the ballance I almost fall of my chair.
i dont think anybody was fucking anybody up there.
Felt like I could feel it when Magnus looked up and saw him free standing with it. Just a "Holy shit" moment.
This has to be the single most stressful thing I've ever been involved with. My involvement being sat in a chair in front of my TV with my heart in my mouth that is. What a fantastic video!
And my body weirdly leaning at 45 degrees toward the mountain side of the screen...
@@vivianrobert8224 haha relatable
If you haven’t already, you should watch Free Solo. Guaranteed sweaty palms every time.
@@davidsagar86 was literally shitting myself and i wasnt even the one doing it, its so stupid but so interesting and cool 😂
Palms sweating just watching. "God is at the top rope" - Alex Honald
Alex is like the most positive person I've seen in a long time. It's contagious as hell.
MAJOR points to Alex doing all the filming, supportive talking, and all of this while still climbing himself!! WOW!! Truly a mega legend!!
He is absolutely a 1/1.. Average folk just don't understand what he did on El Cap, it's SO MASSIVE that it's even a job just hiking to the base of it..
He's wired different, this is a walk in the park to him
That long pause after Magnus asks who do you usually climb with.. Ruminating on his fallen friends no doubt. Craziness.
yeah noticed that. Scrolling through comments rn looking for anyone who might have as well
What gave it away? Was it him saying that most of his partners died literally the second after that ruminating?
@@mojojojo3141 It's strange though because there's barely any documented free solo deaths
Fallen friends in crazy…
@@aaronroelants994 it looks like there's 9 free solo deaths a year on average, Alex has been at it for about 27 years now, thats 243 people dead in his field since he started. I'm not too educated on the topic of free soloing, but Im sure half or more of those are deaths of guys like Alex who are obsessed with climbing, and I can't help but imagine the free solo community is pretty small and close knit. I would guess that he's lost some good friends and partners to the sport
"all the people that i used to climb with are DEAD or retired or moved"
"Usualy the least confortable climber goes behind, because if you fall i don't wanna die"
"i just hope i don't kill magnus"
damn that's a savage 5 min start for the video
Magnus you’ve got balls, this is the first video I’ve watched of yours and could see myself getting into climbing, but definitely not solo of course.
I just can’t wrap my head around Alex, he’s so chill in the maddest of scenarios, it’s simply ludicrous.
Between eating the raw pepper and standing on the side of a cliff that is basically 90 degrees to the ground without using his hands. I have concluded that Alex is insane.
Yeah, I saw that too! Just like an apple… ha!
I confess - I don't see what's so weird about eating a bell pepper like an apple.
Alex is a fatalist. He believes he will die on the day he was destined to die, therefore until that day he is invincible, many extreme sports people are fatalists.
Since the first time I discovered Alex and listened to him speak I thought right away that there is something mentally wrong with him.
No natural fear. Having a healthy fear helps protect us from dying. He doesnt have that.
Also he just seems like a psychopath to me.
Not sure.. . But something wrong with that dude for sure.
@@icecoldchilipreppers Fatalism isnt specificly about dying, or being invincible. It's just the belief that events and life is pre-determined.
its insane how relaxed Alex is, and is able to film the entire climb barely holding on to his life. This guy is definitely in a whole other level.
His brain is different. I don’t think normal humans can be so chill in a situation like that
His brain is def wired different, the man's a legend!
its actually totally sane & normal for a human to act casually in a situation that is routine for them. like anytime you drive your car.
@@petrpumpkineater Yea but Alex is built different because of just how comfortable he seems with absolute risk. It's normal to become comfortable with something like driving where one mistake _could_ kill you, but not typical to be so relaxed doing something where the _tiniest_ mistake for just an instant WILL kill you.
@@hodge12009 I get it, but when it comes down to it, climbers have all the control; cars are an illusion of safety. When an airbag is punctured, it can kill you from the toxic, explosive materials implanted in the assembly. Many have died from this. Or the airbag sensor could fail. WeatherTrek tires can still hydroplane. OnStar could be out of signal range. Seatbelt could fracture your collarbone. Airbag can break your nose. Crumple zone could be improperly welded, causing your legs to be crushed. My HS history teacher had this happen to his ankle. You could survive the accident in the winter but die from exposure and blood loss. Its about personal responsibility
Imagine being half way up and Alex say, “ this bit here will probably be tricky for you “ 😦
17:42 Alex tells him, "I forgot about the crack part", right after Magnus tells him that was scary
@@phoratv7639 literally a real life nightmare
🤣
Had to comeback and rewatch this classic video. Simply amazing.
same
When Magnus keeps saying “Thank you.” And “This has been incredible” … Alex always corrects with “Let’s finish the route first”.
Such great insight into the mentality needed to free solo. You have to be completely present and focused.
The movie free solo made Alex seem a bit disconnected emotionally, but obviously, nothing could be further from the truth. He knows exactly what Magnus needs to hear and when… incredible video.
Thought the same thing. Alex being a life coach
He's a true leader. He had the will of convincing a man to embark on a absurd quest, and actually see him all the way through it. Insane, hats off
That's a great observation. I think we perceive Alex as being 'disconnected' since most average people cannot control their emotional state so consciously as Alex does. It's crazy to see
@@Lordcamilli I know right, that is truly insane
@@TimmWith2Ms this all makes so much sense now. Because he must have perfect control of his emotions from doing this so many times by now
I like how Alex just has so much experience by himself he can't help but talk the whole time cuz he doesn't normally have anyone to share the info and experiences with
@Jason Voorhees this is pretty dramatic why would he ever want that???
@Jason Voorhees How in the world was that the take you got???? If anything he was trying to keep Magnus' mind off the climb so he didn't psych himself out and probably just felt like talking, when you talk to someone driving a vehicle do you want to distract them, undermine their confidence, and make them crash and die?
@Jason Voorhees terrible bait bro
@Jason Voorhees bro ur def reading too much into it - maybe he just wanted to talk
@Jason Voorhees how do you get that? Don’t give tell me you don’t climb without telling me. Give an explanation
i dont see many people talk about this but its kind of insane the version of alex that magnus was able to capture in this video. he's always seemed fairly stand off ish and cold, even in his own documentary. still funny and charming, but distant. but here, he seems like our best friend and its so rad to see this like, hype mode friend who gets you inspired to do something.
I was thinking the same thing! This Alex is cutting up and chill af
Not to mention seeing this other side of magnus that is completely out of his element. He's usually so chill, but Alex notes in the video how stressed magnus is and it shows.
@@MattRasgaitis So true! Hadn't thought about that. This video can probably teach us something about the human brain and stress lol
Alex is hardly the most social person, but when he sees someone willing to try out his lifelong passion with him, you can just see him light up like a christmas tree. I imagine it's the kind of enthusiasm you go through when your girlfriend is willing to try a game or sport that you love. My guess is that he can count the number of climbers who have never soloed before and are down to get that first experience with him with one hand.
@@genegade hes not putting anyone in danger. He offered to take another adult expert climber, who they mention in the video that they both free solo climbed together a few year s before already, to one of the safest and most beautiful places to do a solo climb. The fact they free solo'd once before together already and they are both adult expert climbers, they are accountable for themselves. Stop pretending magnus is a baby cause you wanna virtue signal.
That was crazy! I was nervous the whole time just watching it. It was also a masterclass by Alex on how to manage Magnus's emotional state.
That fact that he’s free soloing while filming on a full frame camera is absolutely nuts. You guys are amazing. And I just want to add how calming Alex’s instructions were. He was calming down my anxiety😂
yeah he made the situation feel much more casual and under control, really made me forget that they're literally doing an extremely dangerous thing
After Alex filmed his free solo movie he got his brain scanned and he lacks the receptor's in his brain that spark "fear". Meaning, Alex feels no fear for anything which makes it easier to climb because he cannot get as nervous as the average person.
@@thomzyyhe can still feel fear he’s just kinda broken his rev limiter so his level of “I’m scared” is way past most people’s
it honestly looks like a stroll in the park for Alex 😂
is alex freacking saitama ? @@jtorola
This video is historic. This is Alex being himself, in his element so much more than was revealed in his movie, and that I've ever seen in his interviews and stuff - and Magnus - you are incredible!!!!
The best historic stuff always has guys saying “this is historic” it’s well known
Facts
@@connorissexy4209 Connor has spoken!
well he has probably been to a lot of therapy to help with w/e neurodiversity he has going on under the hood coz that man's be lookin difficult to be around on da regularrrrrr.
Alex "For this type of easy scrambling"
Anybody else have sweaty palms watching this ? Huge respect to you both. Incredible.
I'm a baby v3 climber and what is this
Yep me !
have sweaty palms and also sweaty feet 🙂
Wiped my hands on my pant leg about 50 times while wishing the sinking feeling in my stomach would go away. When watching this it really feels like you’re on the wall with them.
You should watch Free Solo. It's the best documentary I've ever seen I was sweating and on the edge of my seat for 45 Mins nonstop
Alex might be the best camera man of all time what a great job. The shots he got was so amazing because he has so much knowledge about free climbing
Alex Honnold is simultaneously an incredible badass and such a goober. I love the moment where you see he's just eating a whole bell pepper like an apple. Charmingly eccentric to a degree I wouldn't expect from someone who generally spends their free time alone.
who eats a whole bell pepper like that tho like wat
@@adamhuberman4387 They do be good tho
many charming eccentric people became unique like that due to being alone.
@@adamhuberman4387 It's not that strange. Bell peppers are kind of sweet. Tastes better than celery or cucumbers.
@@adamhuberman4387 I do it all the time. It’s a tasty fruit
"all of my friends have retired or died, so let's get started"
Lol!😊
Yeah, that's what I thought I heard
Some context because I was curious.
Alex has talked about at least 3 friends he lost, 1 was an ice climber, one was base jumping, one was free soloing. His worst cited injury was when he had a mishap with a fall on a rope and it didn't catch him.
I was quite surprised how few of these accidents were related to free soloing
@@Mallchad well I mean you can't have many accidents free soloing...
You mean can't have any
its insane to me how calm alex is... like its just simply another day at the office
Yep, you have to see free Solo
it's not crazy actually, i don't climb but i know the feeling, when you spent you entire life doing something and dedicated your entire life to something, you really are calm when you do it. actually theses routes are ultra easy for an exceptional climber, it's only in the head. i believe they would do it in running shoes very fast without falling if there was no void. for your knowledge hard routes free solo are repeated like 300times during months or years before being free solo'ed *for the camera* (or not). it's like they have a instinct of every possible part of the rock and how to climb it.
but for your knowledge every years free soloers die from a fall so it's like, a business where you put your life at risk all the time at the litteral level. it's sad i dont think there is a respect to have from that i dont respect them im just neutral like ok you want to feel that go but be ready to have shorter life.. maybe. *crisp*
@@JamesJames-ux8wn Yeah its like going on a playground 100m in the air to these guys. They've done stuff 100x more difficult. It's just in their head and iirc Alex doesn't have that feeling of fear like a normal person.
@@JamesJames-ux8wn they did a brain scan of Alex's brain and he unsurprisingly doesn't respond to fear as much as the standard human
It is.
I think I’ve never watched a UA-cam video before where I’ve had sweaty palms from the beginning till the end 😂! What an amazing adventure, the amount of skill and cool this took is insane
Damn my palms are sweaty as fuck watching this haha my hearts beating fast when Magnus kind of has stress in his voice as he’s trying to figure sections out
I was having to breathe away the adrenaline, not usually something i usually need to do for a YT video lol
Yes, same, I was sweating, knowing how scary it must be to be that high up, without a rope or any security
right, and alex like chilling with no hands at times, damn
same, i was so scared for him
yeeep. Every climbing video my palms and feets are dripping as soon as they touch stone.
Alex eating a red pepper + Magnus being peer pressured = immaculate vibes
Throughly enjoyed this video Magnus hahah! Laughed and felt every “yea, yea” “I just don’t wanna die” hahha
I belive the editor make it feel like that. no freeclimber would ever engage in such activity with someone who is not aware and willing to take part in the climb.
Magnus could've said no but they both knew his skills weren't the issue it was his mindset
That pepper gives him finger strength
Alex’s head looks like a bell pepper.
@@alphasheep99 pepper power
This actually felt scarier than watching a scary movie. Heart was pounding, hands sweating.
Incredible video. True respect to this guys👏🏻
hands are sweating and they have not started climbing
Haha. Same. Even though you know they are going to make it to the top (they aren't going to post a video of dude falling to his death) i was a nervous wreck the whole time. Props to Megnus!!!
Mom’s spaghetti!
sweatiest my hands have been in a while
Haha my palm are so sweaty from watching I wouldnt have made it 5 meters up
My hands were uncontrollably sweaty during this whole video. Blows my mind how people can do stuff like this lol. Mad respect.
I was a bit relieved when I heard Magnus say "I'm never doing this again!". As much as I enjoyed this absolute nerve-racking masterpiece, I think I'd prefer it to be a one-time thing.
Absolutely agreed
Definitely!
This is clearly a one time thing 😂
My palms were sweaty while they were merely talking about climbing up this mountain wall 🙈🙈🙈
I think Alex was so talky because he too got scared seeing Magnus so stressed out for his life. Glad they made it, but it was somewhere between 1-5 percent.
getting sprung into free soloing by alex honold and actually doing it. Insane amounts of respect.
there's no reason to respect this. it's stupid top to bottom.
@@gackerman99 Well some people want to be remembered in history. History remembers the brave, not people like you who judge them and laugh while having nothing to show for yourself. And some people chase their dreams regardless of what others say while someone like you will do what other people will tell you to do for the rest of your life. But at least you can cope and call people "stupid" to make yourself feel better, which btw you wouldn't be doing if you actually had something worthwhile going in your life.
@@MrTVx99 yeah great thing this guy did, climbing a rock without safety equipment. absolutely fucking revolutionary. world-changing. I can count your braincells on one hand.
@@gackerman99 it feels good to them. You don't need to understand it
@@apetska4817 it's not hard to understand, it's a matter of not glorifying incredibly stupid shit. very simple.
You just can't hide Magnus' nervousness. It's not the difficulty of the climb but the finality of one mistake that boggles your mind.
He is used to taking risks when he climbs, cant do that here so its different from his style
No shit
@@alexp.6406 Sometimes you need to visually confirm your footing or how high you are.
Magnus's *
You only omit the s for plurals. It's written how it's pronounced.
Shows that what Alex is doing is 10x more impressive than any other climber, you not only have to be a great climber you also need the mental fortitude of a godamn monk.
I can't believe I'm only seeing this video now a few years late, but holy shit no UA-cam video has made my heart pound this hard. Magnus has my respect.
props to magnus for committing. but i’m mind blown alex is so chill and convincing him to free solo especially after saying several of his friends died climbing. that’s a lot to risk
Honnold is a psychopath.
Those are serious free solo climbers, many or most of them die eventually. That's because they did this often and on more dangerous climbs etc.
Alex will as well one day
@@Gazzi79 and he will die a happier man than all of us
It's just like wing suit pilots, you either quit or you die doing it. Most of those guys aren't happy unless they're pushing themselves to the absolute limit, and that's where people die.
Loved Alex constantly trying to distract him from giving into the fear
Alex is a special dude.
He KNOWS what the mind can do. He steers away from dumb thoughts to keep focus.
As the classic saying goes: "If you can't beat the fear, do it scared.". Magnus sure demonstrated that fortitude here. Truly impressive
Yes. And I felt that to the bone. I remember being scared lead climbing on a route a few grades below my capability at the time, but it was sketchy and slippery. There was a ledge below, an anchor above and I had to make a long move and though I knew it was easy, I kept thinking what if I fail, will I shatter my knees on the ledge? So, a thing like this is not about climbing at all and it's beautiful.
Can you explain how did you get back down?
@@dingdingdingdiiiiing You could put a ladder up the side of that mountain... I would still be paralyzed with fear trying to free solo it.
@@Rottensparrow I think Alex said you could hike this mountain
tbh I think it's insanely dumb to free solo scared, Alex has said many times that feeling calm is what keeps him safe. Magnus was starting to shake quite a bit, that can't be helpful for making safe moves
Dude, my palms are sweaty watching this, insane
Alex is so funny, he should do a series of interviews while solo climbing. Probably wouldn't get that many takers though. That is coolest rock I've ever seen.
cg
I'll take
@@vortex555 Yes. A beautiful day, perfect rock, and for a few hours out of a day nothing else matters. This video makes me miss climbing and that feeling.
He's in his environnement and you can feel it by the way he's socially interacting
Hot Ones with dire physical consequences
Saw Magnus day after that. You can tell this was an experience that will be with him forever! 💪🔥
Alex is amazing! 🤘
Did he charge Magnus for the camera work? 🤔😂
😄
I feel it's safer when you guys make a video together and my heart can handle it way better than with Alex f***ing Honnold 😅
cake for magnus
The best cameraman award should be given to him, Alex Honnold🔥
Anton, don't be getting any ideas now!! Can't be dealing with this stress again 😂
I love how when Alex is freesoloing he’s completely in the zone and silent but when he takes Magnus he’s yabbering on. Classic. Awesome video
Mostly he yabbers on as at only a grade of 5.9 and he has done it many times before plus is ‘used to’ free soloing mentally.
@@epincionThe main reason for talking a lot is to try and keep it casual and keep Magnus at ease.
Yep, called him handsome twice, gotta keep the spirit up
He also says in this video he's done this many times on this exact route so he's probably really comfortable.
It's not stupid, it's amazing watching but... having seen this, and having recently seen Alex's Greenland expedition, and "reading into that" I'm getting the feeling that it's more likely that Alex will get someone else killed in the future then him self. He's so confident and he seem unable to feel and understand other peoples anxiety. It's like "I'm super afraid, let's not do this" and he's like "A yeah that's ok, it's cool". He can really push people, in a good way... and in a terrible way. Don't get me wrong, the video was amazing, the climbing was superb, Magnus' videos are awesome. Period.
Alex is literally just built different. The guy does not operate at the same level as the rest of us humans. His ability to remain to calm, focused & present in a literal life threatening situation is incredible. My hands might as well be a river they're so sweaty.
He is not. He has a problem with his amigdala that doesn't work
@@mariobotti1952so you're saying a part of him that makes up who he is is different compared to others with a working amygdala?
@@cpett92 I wrote what I red!! His amigdala is not working so he doesn't have any dangerous impulse
Ur saying he's not build different while saying that he is built different
@@cpett92when you have problems with you amygdala, u lose the sense of fear
The text messages are so Honnold. The "since you could die" is so matter of fact, even though he's trying to convince you it's fun. Great video Magnus!
Yeah hahaha
yeah and it's also super responsible of him. he is not bullshitting. making it as clear as can be.
Bless you both for being universal humans
I know why we people are impressed but, I hear your souls.
🙏🌎✌️🪄
magnus: "this is kinda scary tho"
Alex: "yeah...yeah"
We're a few times also where he responded to "That was scary/stressful," with a straight up "cool." Lmfao Alex is something else...
´Hahaahah
Yeah Alex is something else, but I'm sure he has to have this insane mindset or he would have died long, long ago. Any doubt creeping in is one step closer to that one fall.
@@tankmaster1018 Think he was trying very hard to not let negative thoughts take over by shutting that talk down. He was a lot more open, cracking jokes about dying after they finished
Alex reminds me of like an experienced tripper keeping you level when things start to get a little too intense, like reminding you you're doing it for an experience and good time, that it definitely can be scary but can be great too. Really impressive.
Magnus: speaks about fearing death, deep feelings about climbing...
Alex: *scronch scronch scronch* on the red pepper
Thanks Magnus for being real and not holding back about your emotional state. Respect and thanks again from Germany.
problem with honnold is that because he has the brain profile of a psychopath he might push you off the edge
This is the most intense video on UA-cam. Should have a billion views. Huge props to Magnus. And glad to hear he will not be soloing again - once in a lifetime experience is enough for a lifetime.
dude I don't know how more people aren't commenting this, they are so fucking high up on a 85 degree slope
The camera angles at times is insane it’s pretty much a short movie 🎥 that’s first hand experience
Håller helt med. Så otroligt intensiv video. Mina handflator blev helt svettiga. Jag ångrade nästan att jag började kolla. Gör aldrig om det där Magnus. Och om du gör det, filma inte det.
So raw and insane. Literally hanging on to dear life, the possibility of death is so real. The dynamics between a master and novice. The craziest video I’ve seen on 10+ years of UA-cam.
If you pass out for 2 seconds because of the heat or because you didn't have enough sleep... You are dead. So even stuff that you CAN'T CONTROL can be your cause of death, just think about strong winds or loose rocks... People really overlook how crazy this is.
this video is underrated. It's not often you get this type of pov look at free solo like this. You can sense the nerves and the calmness at the same time of these climbers
this is hands down the best "interview" of alex. he really shows his exitement about soloing in a way nobody else could get him to do. really fits your video scheme of trying hard stuff too!
Couldn't have said it better myself
The go-pro at 23:24 of Alex no-holds running the video camera is absolutely terrifying.
I mean not many interviewers or content creators would be willing or able to free solo with Alex... This was amazing to watch for sure.
This made me laugh but its so true haha
As much as we hate it, this truly demonstrates the beauty of social media. The fact that we can watch 30 minutes of the scariest moment of your life and have our palms sweating with you, while soaking in what it looks like up there with no ropes. Add in Full HD and professionals narrating it, and this makes it one of the most enjoyable videos I've seen online since the creation of UA-cam. Absolutely incredible. Bravo and thanks for not dying.
@@cry_now_laugh_later everyone has theirown specific reasons to free solo, it's a choice, they are risking their life but they also know their limits, he is with one of the greatest if not the greatest free solo climber of all time. Social Media might be bad, but it's not all bad, their is beauty behind it
@@cry_now_laugh_later he’s literally not risking his life just for a vide he could have made any video and got the same amount of views and what not it’s not like this was a one hit wonder video.
obviously you havent watched any cat videos yet.
@@thewinesmith HA!!! Good point there. The internet's success is largely due to cat videos.
It was hard to watch
you guys had some great energy together - the content you've been pumping out has been nuts
is that woolie risk of rain 2?
Hey, one of my twitch streamers I follow also likes Magnus! very cool.
Wtf are you doing here? Pivoting from monsoon to free soloing ?
Mr Streamer ????
do you climb?
No matter how many times you watch this it never gets any easier.
The moment that hit me the hardest is when Alex calmly says he rarely climbs with others anymore because most of his friends are dead or retired. The extreme sport community is held together via adrenalin binging and trauma bonding. It's simultaneously beautiful and inspiring while also being heartbreaking. Thanks for sharing.
The second where he gets a distant look in his eyes and moves his mouth in contemplation is really sorrowful. @3:21
Was looking for this comment before watching any further. Maybe I'm wrong.
@@jasperbaas450 I noticed that as-well and agree with you
Also because the majority of free solo climbers basically have a death wish.
dude they are just good at climbing. they are not "trauma bonding"
@@electricearth1101 he’s talking about free soloing not just normal climbing
My hands were sweating so bad while watching this. Alex is truly an incredible human with some amazing abilities to overcome fear
He doesn't overcome fear, he just doesn't feel it like the rest of us
My fingers actually wrinkled from all that sweat. I think I might be afraid of heights :D
@@zaketenyu1932 Exactly
@@janvalis727 Your hands sweat because that moisture increases your grip strength on many surfaces.
wass trying to roll a spliff :)) no go while watching
the contrast of the nonchalantness of Alex and the fear in Magnus’ voice makes this video so incredible. This is a masterpiece and so raw this is an experience very few people in the world will ever experience, bravo!
A seemingly unnoticed lil bit:
Magnus: "I don't trust it.:" (at the crack climbing part)
Alex: "yeah, but you CAN."
Alex knows the whole cliff route like a speedrunner knows every block and movement in a video game. He knows if and how much each and every bit can be trusted.
just watching this was so nerve-wrecking, i was sweating buckets. when he put the gopro on it puts the thing into prespective of how crazy this whole free solo thing is. huge respect
imagine your last meal being a whole, raw, red pepper..
Lol that tripped me out I thought I was the only one who ate peppers like that 😂
Vitamins, fiber, a few carbs, biodegradable. As Sportacus said, it's sports candy.
@@KevinJDildonik W reference
@@KevinJDildonikwait what the fuck I used to eat these on the way to class sometimes
They're so juicy and it's good fiber
I too thought I'm the only one who eats em like that. So juicy good!
Man I can't help but come back and rewatch this video over and over again. Idk why, but I have an extreme amount of appreciation for this video. It's truly a masterpiece and I imagine Magnus is extremely proud of this video.
Same
The heart of agreement from Magnus.
And obviously we all want the Video to blow up. It's nice to see someone put soo much effort into a Video like doing something they really wouldn't otherwise and risking their life.
As a Viewer you can't but greatly appreciate that.
My two favorite climbers. Crazy Magnus is doing this freesolo before doing it with a rope a couple times
I got anxiety by watching this, could barely watch it.
@@greennin yeah totally agree. It's just something about how out of his comfort zone he is and how the video genuinely sends me chills while still being entertaining. Just all round one of the best videos I've ever seen
Wow, man.. I just stumbled across your channel today for the first time to see how you held up against the US Marines. Those coins are something to treasure. Congratulations! Then I just happened to see this climbing with Alex video in the suggestions afterwards. My god. The POV from the GoPro footage almost instantly caused my heartrate to spike and body to slightly shake. I couldn't even imagine the struggle you kept corralled inside your head to remain so calm and collected. Intense. Reinforced my fear of heights for sure. I can't wait to see what is next!