Alex-honnold

Photo: Alex Honnold Breaking Speed Climbing Records in Yosemite

ByMary Anne Potts
July 22, 2010
2 min read



Thanks to Tom Evans for this photo of Alex Honnold's record-setting speed climb on El Cap last month. Check out Honnold and other remarkable adventurers in our Today's Ultimate Adventurers photo gallery. We also need your tips! If you know of someone taking on an extraordinary adventure, please drop me an email at mpotts@ngs.org.

Alex Honnold


Feat: Set speed records on two iconic climbing routes in Yosemite—on the same day.

For most rock climbers, conquering Yosemite’s Half Dome or El Capitan is the dream of a lifetime. For Alex Honnold, it’s simply another day at the park. On June 22, Honnold conquered both routes on the same day, setting two speed records in the process. The morning started with Honnold going up the regular route on the northwest face of Half Dome in just two hours and nine minutes, shaving a full 41 minutes off the old record. From there he proceeded to El Cap, where he also scaled The Nose in just six hours, giving him a combined time for both routes of eight hours and nine minutes. That impressive time also happens to be a new speed record for completing both routes back-to-back.

In the Field: June 22, 2010

–by Kraig Becker

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