alex honnold how did he get down
Alex Honnold, famed for free soloing El Capitan in Free Solo , typically gets down from climbs by downclimbing or practical means rather than dramatic descents. Recent buzz around his Taipei 101 stunt highlights this smart approach.
Taipei 101 Descent
Honnold free soloed up Taiwan's iconic skyscraper on January 24, 2026, grabbing global headlines. Instead of reversing the intense ascent, he chose a short rappel from the spire followed by the elevator—pure pragmatism over showmanship.
This mirrors his philosophy: the risk is in the climb up, not forcing a risky down trip. Forum chatter on Reddit notes it as a "no big finish," emphasizing safety.
Free Solo Basics
Free soloing means no ropes or gear—just climber vs. rock. Honnold scouts routes exhaustively beforehand, ensuring he can downclimb if needed.
- He practices moves on rappel first (e.g., Freerider prep or Buttermilks V9).
- For El Cap's Freerider, he bailed early once via rappel, not downclimbing slabby sections.
Typical descent options:
- Downclimb : Feasible for routes he's mastered; Joe Rogan podcast confirms he picks soloable down paths.
- Walk-off : Scrambling easy terrain from the top (common on shorter walls).
- Rappel : Rare in pure solos but used for bailouts or structures like Taipei 101.
Past Close Calls
Honnold's no stranger to dicey moments. A youthful 400-foot fall on Half Dome (pre-solo fame) saw him tumble into a tree—lucky survival that shaped his caution.
Another scramble on a snowy peak ended in a pedestal landing, dodging disaster. These stories, shared in Alone on the Wall and podcasts, underscore why he avoids unnecessary descent risks.
Trending Chatter
Reddit's r/climbing and r/AlexHonnold lit up post-Taipei: users marvel he downclimbs solos but praises walk-offs/rappels as standard.
"I think it's usually good practice to scope out the route down before you start climbing."
CBS interview clips (Jan 23, 2026) fuel the hype, with fans debating his "bad- ass" downclimb skills. No self-harm vibes here—it's calculated mastery.
TL;DR : Honnold downclimbs soloable routes, walks off summits, or rappels smartly—like the quick spire drop at Taipei 101. Safety trumps spectacle.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.