2,650' rappel off El Capitan in Yosemite, July 2016

[@kentuckybeardsman]

Of all this,I find the fact we have ropes this long the most amazing.

[@ESHANABROOK]

Yes, and what does a 26 hundred foot rope weigh? Found the answer, further down the comments, 200 pounds of rope.

[@roflbotfpv9168]

Wait untill you learn about the cables that cross the ocean from US to Europe.

[@kentuckybeardsman]

@@roflbotfpv9168 rope not cables and yes I've seen documentary's on em. Very cool

[@phototristan]

@@ESHANABROOK How do they all get the rope up to the top?

[@yup9451]

@@phototristan Alex carried them all on his back. He was a pioneer

[@goathead3579]

imagine this dude just sees a guy in a red tshirt climbing up without a rope

[@lookherelooklisten7850]

This was 1 year before Alex free solo it

[@sixfigureskibum]

Lynn Hill free soloed el cap first

[@lookherelooklisten7850]

@@sixfigureskibum that’s free climb not free solo

[@sixfigureskibum]

@@lookherelooklisten7850 yeah I got confuzed from a film of her climbing the Devils tower. and I was free soloing in toulomne Meadows back 89 90 .

[@deckisknezije4447]

This is like polish guy who ski down k2 summit and climbers go pass him

[@brentontrenney7396]

It's absolutely insane how high and just immense El cap is. Crazy that Alex free soloed that. So scary man. Even decending with gear would be terrifying.

[@SuperSayinSolidSnek]

there's no descending, the walk down is on a hiking trail

[@fallinginthed33p]

I think a free soloist would think a single rope abseil was insane. You need total faith in your gear.

[@killrkiddx007]

I was already feeling scared on his way down man

[@ccrider3435]

@@SuperSayinSolidSnek Except: It is a video of people descending with gear. But, I know what you meant! 🙄

[@OMiskell]

He different

[@GearZenChannel]

Never had nerves climbing, but backing over the edge to rap down always got me. Trusting gear is different than trusting your hands and feet.

[@Segphalt]

Gear Zen My hands and feet aren't made from aircraft grade aluminum. They also get tired over time.

[@drummingearth5326]

Precisely my problem with climbing would much prefer to reach the top annd unclip then walk down.

[@ptrckkkkkkkkk]

sometimes not an option :)

[@oldgamer49]

100%

[@severalwolves]

I never get nervous when I’m about to rap. Whether I’m on a mountain or on a stage, I just flow. Then I take a nap.

[@evansaber7642]

Absolutely amazing how Alex honnold was that high without anything but his finger tips. Absolutely insane 😳😳😳😳

[@anthonyclarkjr.243]

Evan Saber I love how much recognition he’s getting tho like he set the fucking bar for being the hungest person on this planet. No fear is an understatement

[@lilali360]

It truly is fucking incredible! That man was on a mission.

[@trentsc4929]

Yeah it was fake, he is a foreign actor.

[@silkroad1201]

@@trentsc4929 there's always that one guy. I found him. It's you Trent. You're that one guy

[@trentsc4929]

@@silkroad1201Listen kid. I'm not your dad, ok.

[@thebearded4427]

When you realize that Alex Honnold free solo'd El Cap in less than 4 hours and see this video......that sure puts things into a COMPLETELY different perspective. Theres no way it wasnt the greatest feat of athletisicm in the history of mankind. The combination of endurance, mental strength, pure strength, technique and preparation is just on a completely different level. If you ever have trouble do your everyday tasks, look at this and think of what Alex did. That will get you going! 😅

[@geometerfpv2804]

That was a different part of the wall to be fair. But yes, very high up.

[@phuckfays]

Not even close.Free solo on that rock is crazy ,amazing

[@mixflip]

That was amazing. I haven't rappelled since the early 90s. I learned how to rappel from my dad with old equipment. A swiss seat and a figure 8. All this newer advanced gear looks fun to use. This video really shows how flat el cap is. Basically never touched the wall all the way down.

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

Very flat. One spot we would rub on for 7 or 800 feet if not belayed out from below but still. Pretty smooth

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

The equipment they used predates the 90s. It is just what caverns have used. If you were using Swiss seats repelling it was only because your dad wasn't a climber or caver.

[@AdventuresInReach]

Did you ever go rappelling again after watching this?

[@Luke-uh7lq]

Wa you mean just do it with a lasso

[@Janet_Airlines802]

Pretty insane that Alex climbed it with no ropes.

[@austinrogers44]

Seeing the full size and flatness of this wall makes me appreciate Mr. Honnold's free solo

[@blacksunapocalypse]

First thing I thought about... How the hell did he do that.

[@TheArmyKnifeNut]

Not taking away from Alex Honnold's Free Solo, but this rappel is actually in front of the Dawn Wall. Honnold climbed Freerider which is on the other side of El Cap, around and to the left, and it follows a much easier and more heavily featured route. That said, the Dawn Wall really is super flat and featureless which is why you should totally go watch Dawn Wall on Netflix. Cool time stamps for those interested... 5:38-5:49: You see his shadow descending towards Wino Tower, a well recognized land mark that marks a turning point in the Dawn Wall's difficulty. 7:24-7:25: When he looks to his right, in the bottom right of the video, you see the infamous Dyno with the loop pitch below it. Not shown, to his left, is the traverse pitch, "Pitch 15."

[@gigantomastiaCuddler]

because mountains only have one face lol

[@brierk2769]

@@TheArmyKnifeNut this is random but i wanted to let you you know i read you comment earlier and i had never heard of the Dawn Wall. i went on to netflix and thought i would give it a try. just finished watching, and it was really good! for some reason i had no prior knowledge to any of this. i guess i’m just saying thank you for mentioning it! lol

[@TheArmyKnifeNut]

@@brierk2769 it is truly my pleasure. I love climbing and it is a joy to share any part of that passion with others. I'm glad you enjoyed it, and if you want more, find Meru on Amazon Prime.

[@KermitEFrog-nv7dv]

I watch videos like this to terrify myself. Every time I hear the rope start to speed up my palms begin to sweat. Braver than me for sure! well done

[@TheGhostOfFredZeppelin]

I remember hearing about Honnold's free solo climb shortly after he did it and I still can't get over how insane it is, he has pretty much become synonymous with El Cap in a lot of ways.

[@sixfigureskibum]

Now hear about Lynn Hill who pioneered the free solo of el cap, alex would likely never done it if she had not first

[@TheGhostOfFredZeppelin]

@@sixfigureskibum Not taking anything away from her or her accomplishments, she's amazing but she didn't free solo it, she free climbed it. Big difference.

[@sixfigureskibum]

@@TheGhostOfFredZeppelin i think he climbed a different rout. She climbed the nose in a day in 94 so maybe I'm wrong, before alex was born she free climbed the nose and did in a day the next year. Thetes a sweat ass film of her free soloing the Devils Tower in Wy where she starts out setting pro then gets to end of rope, unties and climbs on. I lived in Yosemite in 89 90 and 95 , she always been my shero

[@TheGhostOfFredZeppelin]

@@sixfigureskibum Yeah she's incredible, don't know exactly what route she climbed but I remember her from Valley Uprising. Badass woman! Yosemite has always been on my bucket list, I know a guy who jumped off the El Cap a few times too. Base of course haha

[@richskater]

Lynn was the first free assent of The Nose, Alex free soloed Freerider. Not gonna say anymore than that, don't have the time to argue on the internet.

[@bennettlewis5495]

"If you carry up the rope, I'll carry the other gear."

[@goldfieldgary]

Folks that rappelled Sotaño de las Golondrinas in Mexico would hire burros to carry their 1200' rope.

[@1q2w3e4r5t6zism]

This is undoubtedly one of the craziest bad ass videos in the world. People who do something like this in their free time, voluntarily (!), are cut from a different cloth. Chapeau!

[@eMBeaR]

"Alright, the top rope is set, climb on"

[@virusheat]

Where's my Jumar?

[@fredbmurphy]

"Give me some slack."

[@billr5842]

Imagine microtraxioning this with many directionals in place. That would be fun

[@picklerick7731]

😂😂😂

[@dereks7061]

I legit laughed out loud at that comment, perfection

[@PonderosaSoundStudio]

I'm a former climber, and that exposure (to say nothing of the number and difficulty of the pitches) would have wigged me right out. Way, way, way beyond anything I could have managed. I'm also shocked to see a static rope of that length!

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

Ain't gonna lie first time I approached that lip I was a little nervous. More than I thought but not enough to bother me. Climbing the rope bakc up I was one with the world. Pure Bliss.

[@bobbypatton4903]

@@onropewithcmfm4430 how long to jug up the whole thing? Was that a Texas rope walker?

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

@@bobbypatton4903 a Texas system is different than a rope walker. A rope Walker is all legs, it's literally like climbing a ladder and the ladder is the rope. A Texas system still requires your arms to move the ascenders up the rope and pull your body into the rope. It took me 2 hours and 15 minutes to climb to the top on the Rope Walker which is fairly slow compared to what other people can climb that same pitch with a rope Walker

[@penguiin12]

@@onropewithcmfm4430 how much does a like ~3000 foot rope like this cost? im assuming thousands of dollars since youre life is literally riding on it... crazy. what brand makes it?

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

@@penguiin12 this is a PMI pit rope. Made for caving. Usually $0.69 a foot but I'm sure a deal was made due to it being ordered in bulk. That would put it at $2100.my assumption is it was a bit less.

[@kskdtr]

the legend says he is still rappelling down to this day

[@brentontrenney7396]

Lol right. Def takes forever.

[@denislejeune9218]

So now I'll work El Cap on top rope please.

[@ClemensHerold]

imagine falling on such a rope, the stretch would be insane hahaha

[@davidswanson9606]

Yeah, but how would you get back onto the wall, aren’t there a lot of spots you’d be free hanging if you came off the wall?

[@Jeremyrockjock]

@@davidswanson9606 bat grapple gun LOL

[@KarstRats]

Rope ascender on the gear belt. Attatch t. Step up into it. Attach a rappel device. Unclip the grigri. Tension the rappel device unclip the rope ascender. Rappel back down.

[@e.solano3963]

🤣🤣🤣

[@karennay5993]

I've rock climbed 30 yrs and always loved to rapell but watching this gave me heart palpitations!

[@mathewhenderson7019]

I keep imagining him rappelling right off the end of the rope. I know that's not how this rig is set up, but I used to have nightmares about that when I was teaching my youngest son how to rock climb.

[@truckerenoch8824]

I'm not a big fan of heights passed 100', but I love watching stuff like this. I _really_ like watching Alex Honnold climb!

[@ccrider3435]

Anything over 50' is referred to as 'The Coffin Zone'. 😬

[@Jeff-bv1ek]

Would've been nice to get a single look back up at the end. Missed opportunity.

[@palbo4]

Yeah I was betting I wasn't the only one who was pretty bummed he didn't look back up

[@matthewmurray4159]

Right.

[@thisismyname1701]

I know..rich ppl now a days be like its chill i got another one scheudled this week ill have my assistant remind me to look uplmao

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

@@thisismyname1701 rich people. That's a laugh. I dont know a single caver that does this that is independently wealthy. where all broke because we spend all our time caving and buying gear.

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

I should have but I didnt care where I was coming from. I spent a couple hours looking up on the climb back up the rope to the top.

[@YesNoMaybeSometimes]

Is that a 60 or 70 m?

[@rkphilpot]

This made me lol

[@loganhulstine737]

30m gym rope for sure

[@bengarcia9612]

logan hulstine yall got me rolling

[@corneliusseremptus2932]

Can someone explain the joke?

[@corneliusseremptus2932]

AMFKevin Ahhh. I see. Thank you!

[@Robnord1]

Very cool! That's one hell of a rope! Back in the late 70's, myself and friends did vertical caving using this same line with lengths up to 600'. We used shorter 5-6 bar racks and went back up using gibbs ascenders in a chest/knee/ankle arrangement. Even using static 1/2" line there was bounce when climbing or braking. Good times.

[@goldfieldgary]

Yes, and before braided rope became widely available, twisted nylon Gold Line rope was the standard. On a long free rappel you'd start slowly spinning. I built a jig and made a number of brake bar racks out of 304 stainless steel for myself and friends back in the day. Great times!

[@MidnightatMidian]

I've done a little bit of climbing when I was younger, I never knew ropes could be so long. Always thought there was some kind of limit to the lenght of the rope like 500 meters. This is enlightening for me!!

[@jonathans6653]

whats your reasoning?

[@Immortal_BP]

@@nw73000 i get that is just an example but unless you got an insanely thick rope and are as high as this you wont see 1000kg rope lol. a rope like in the video weighs a couple hundred pounds

[@JohaarjoshimanthGhaurinanda]

*WOW! INCREDIBLE! So breathtaking! Full of adrenaline rush!* At this vertical wall, which is anyway considered one of world's tallest and most famous ones, you feel the unimaginable gigantic void under the feet!

[@canidsong]

This video always inspires me. It's crazy that this is just what, 2,300ft more than my longest single rappel.

[@failuretocommunicate4976]

Oh hell yeah that was sick, this is how you get the most out of modern day life. So awesome.

[@Schrodinger_]

I'd want to go down too if I saw all those pieces of untouched broccoli.

[@Bphillips2808]

I didn't really laugh but I still think that your comment was very funny, well done

[@qqtrol1774]

Catskill are even more broccoli.

[@andrewe6839]

Huh

[@JustPlainRob]

I'm more impressed you have a single 2650'+ rope than I am by the rappelling. Also, if you aren't touching the rock face and you're descending through free space, isn't it abseiling instead of rappelling?

[@deang.7483]

same same. ab = down / seil = rope

[@Paularite]

Rappel come from "rappeler" in french, which means "to call back", because you usually slip the rope through the anchor so that once on the ground you can pull on it and take it back with you. So here I guess it's technically isn't a rappel since the rope is fixed to the top, but I don't think that it's related to your feet touching the wall or not

[@fossil6845]

the term Abseilling and Rappelling are interchangeable, they literally mean the same thing.

[@Buho17]

where can i buy my 2600 foot rope?!

[@mountainguyy]

@@Buho17 I'd rather hike the beer up to the top than that looooooong rope 😀

[@BoiseG]

I have sooo many questions about this rope. First off, I had no idea a rope this long even existed; how much does it weigh and most importantly, how in the hell do you coil it up without tangling!?

[@rolandmdill]

The diameter looks like the older climbing ropes which had 12 or 13mm, so roughly 1/2". A proper 12mm static rope has a strength of 40-45 kN and probably weighs about 90g/m. 2650 feet = 807m so the rope would have a weight of about 73kg = 160 lbs.

[@rolandmdill]

I just read the description, they use a 3000 feet rope and it weighs about 210 lbs at the top, so I was not too far off (3000' of the 90g/m rope I assumed they might use would weigh 180 lbs + wind load). So it is probably something like a 12 or 13mm static rope

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

BoiseG climbing ropes can be special ordered to any length. If I am not mistaken, Highline Ropes made a rope over 5000 feet long one time for some crazy zip line in Canada. The founder of that company told me about it, forget the details. The rope weight for this 11mm PMI rope is about 7.5 - 8 lbs per 100 feet so the entire rope weghed 240 pounds. As the rope was lowered down at the end of the week, it was stuffed into 6 duffle bags as it was lowered from the top and carried out. After we got it back to camp it was carefully coiled back into a 55 gallon steel drum for transport in the gear trailer.

[@rolandmdill]

@@onropewithcmfm4430 Interesting, thank you! But it is a static rope, right?

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

@@rolandmdill yes but at that length it felt very dynamic. Well over 100 feet of stretch when climbing the rope back up.

[@isaacvlahos1652]

Holy cow, just finished a rope rescue class today so I’m going down the rabbit hole on rope videos, this is absolutely insane!!! Can’t imagine the feeling, it’s funny you use the same brake bar to repel off El Capitan that we used on a three story parking garage. Can’t wait to dive into climbing/repealing more. I’d like to have some yearsss of experience before I tried a feat like this!!

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

Same rack just 10 inches longer assuming you were using a standard 14 inch 6 bar rack. Greater ability to spread the bars and add more for greater heat dissipation.

[@isaacvlahos1652]

Chad McCain That’s right it was 6 bar. Super interesting stuff

[@MasterClassComments]

You should do a rig rundown of the equipment you're using here in like 3D and super easy to understand!

[@sharktooth2888]

I love the hum of the roller rack, that was really nice. I climb in the Canadian Rockies, and some day I gotta come down there and see that Monolithic slab for my self. Great edit. I had that tight gut feeling when he was getting in position, check gear, check gear check..

[@PossumMedic]

Wow it gives me anxiety just to watch this! I never could have done that and seen that awesome view! Congrats and thanks for sharing! 😃

that is the longest rope i heve ever seen its awesome 3000 feet long, wow you have my respect SR.

[@Relic_of_You]

Did you shout "rope!" when you pulled the rope down from the top?

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

Peter Stangl hahaha no. We lowered it on 4mm cord.

[@Relic_of_You]

Chad McCain haha I figired, very cool video! I'm used to going up, so it's interesting to see the view of going down for once. I wouldn't mind trying this someday on this wall. anyways, thumbs up!

[@josephastier7421]

Could you explain your lowering process? Why not just slowly pay the rope out, maybe with a weight on the end so it doesn't blow around in the wind?

[@BostonsF1nest]

Joseph Astier do you realize how dangerous that would be

[@josephastier7421]

Mike lafrance I do not. I have climbed El Cap a few times, and rappelled from as high as Gray Ledges on two 50 m ropes. How would lowering a weighted rope be dangerous? And how would you get it to the base any other way? You can't take it with you in a bag and pay it out. You can't let it out unweighted because it would blow 20 routes over and get stuck.

[@hamstarr100]

everytime he touched the mike I had a small stroke

[@n.h6001]

Who's The Mike?

[@elcoollow5955]

N.H Mike the situation from Jersey shore

[@tukuminn7217]

horrible sound too!! thats funny

[@erinc.1610]

Omg me too lol

[@rmm2000]

So let me get this. He touched Mike. You had small stroke. Was that of Mike or yourself? And if you enjoyed it why not have a bigger stroke.

[@knuckledragger2412]

Alex is insanely talented to climb that, and also insane...

[@RyanMiller3039]

I can't believe that el captain has been free soloed

[@DimexoneR]

all the way up?

[@Kghost0311]

Yeah he sat on his balls and grabbed the top

[@josephastier7421]

Yeah that was insane.

[@TsurfBangz]

@@Kghost0311 what balls , isn’t that nikka gay? Lmao and why you mentioning that anyways gay boi come out the closet or is that why you go by “ghost” 😝

[@Kghost0311]

@@TsurfBangz its a reference to masculinity, not being gay. Obviously you must be born in the last 20 years or you would know. Child spelling boy, boi. You never heard a quote " man that guy must have nuts the size of watermelons to do that" if not, your a commie. And that would explain everything including how when you saw the word "nuts" your brain when straight to being gay??? Seems like you might have told on yourself little boy

[@Scott.Farkus]

The hardest part of that rappel must have been finding a 2,650' hank of rope.

[@BrianDgreat123]

A couple thousand feet of rope would weigh quite a bit, I would imagine. Hopefully, a group of guys didn't have to haul that up there.

[@ThePcarroll001]

@@BrianDgreat123 The hard part is carrying the rope up... I would know. Sherpa'd one up there once w/3 people -- 65 lbs of rope per person + personals-- you just keep it running between each persons pack.

[@mikegaskin5542]

@@BrianDgreat123 The rope for this rappel only weighs around 200 pounds, and they had mules carry it up.

[@randybob275]

Dang it Bobby

[@TKettle]

My mentor was on a mountaineering expedition with a custom 2k ft rope and it got tangled at one point. Well, some individual pulled an end through (you NEVER pull an end through a tangle) and they had to work in shifts for I believe a day to get it untangled.

[@EdNieThePianoGuy]

Some people are just born different, I swear. This is just insane. I probably wouldn't even do it for a million dollars.

[@tacticaljackson]

You're going the wrong way....

[@Lyonwashburn]

he's just an abseiler bro go easy on him 😂

[@Digipengi]

He's just setting up the TR.

[@wazzy336]

why does this seem way more sketchy than climbing up haha, had my palms sweating

[@valkyritza]

Because you rely on only one rope...

[@ForestAnon]

Retarded question lmao.

[@_4lec]

Knees weak arms are heavy

[@erich9270]

@@_4lec vomit on his sweater already

[@BlueSkiesVinny]

@@erich9270 mom's spaghetti

[@copernicofelinis]

Could not stop watching. I HAD TO KNOW how tall were those trees at the bottom.

[@silveg87]

Watching this makes it even more impossible to free solo. Damn Alex.

[@rienn8559]

He did the other side of the mountain, where it is less steep.

[@silveg87]

@@rienn8559 elevation is elevation. Less steep takes nothing away from this climb.

[@joeymedina7115]

@@rienn8559 He soloed both sides.

[@joseph1845]

@@silveg87 Well it's easier, which doesn't mean it is easy

[@fallingjeff]

I can’t imagine how much weight is on the decent belay. Seems like you’d almost have to push the line thru at first. Not to mention the heat, even when going slow that distance. Looks awesome.

[@NYpaddler]

Look at the very beginning to see how the top bars are spaced far apart.

[@orangegorilla7550]

Imagine they were at the top and like "John did you bring the rope?" John: what rope?

[@christinegerard4974]

So funny ! !

[@emylievyrling534]

best twelve minutes of my day! Thanks!

[@connorvanorden5988]

"Hey can you flake this rope for me"

[@seandunn8657]

what does flake a rope mean

[@samb4577]

lol!!! ha ha ha ha ha!!! So funny. I couldn't stop laughing. Thanks bro.

[@TripleTapHK]

It's a way of "coiling" a rope up so you don't get knots/kinks. AKA coil up this absurdly long rope.

[@tomdv6049]

+TripleTapHK incorrect sir, the term means cheacking the rope to see if its still viable to use for climbing/rappeling

[@you2tooyou2too]

At the top or bottom? I'm not sure which would be worse ;) (I presume they use a power winch at the top, because 200# of rope falling at terminal velocity might be terminal.)

[@kajinsoul8543]

out of this world friend. keep pushing the limit.

[@littlebits6231]

Roses are red Violets are blue Video starts at 2:32

[@DarknessGamingAtYoutube]

You have 101 likes 😁👍 that 101 is lol

[@howardOKC]

roses are blue

[@lakaiskates8064]

Violets are purple, idiot.

[@JustHereToWreck]

@@lakaiskates8064 "Violets are blue, ... And, in the gardening world they use the word blue for any flower that is in the color range of blue and purple. So violets, even though they are purple, are classified as a blue flower." Idiot.

[@larry2toes904]

I am no climbing expert but it seems like his life revolved around that one little carabiner... Crazy stuff

[@andreslinares6429]

Those little devil's are made to support more than 1 ton

[@MacGT_theOriginal]

@@andreslinares6429 1 ton? That would be aproximatly half of the weight of the shit in my pants if I would do this…

[@drrubi3944]

​@@andreslinares6429 To be precise up to 24 kN of force longitudinally, which would be 2.400kg/ 2,4t in a stationary weight (laterally or with opened hook most carabiners support 7 kN). In a moving climber, you need to factor in the gravitational acceleration g of 9,81 m/s2. With no movement, so g=1, a 100kg climber would stress the carabiner with 1kN. If his fall is accelerating with 2g, the carabiner would need to be able to withstand 2 kN and so on. So the carabiner would never be the issue because falling with 24g is pretty unlikely. The issue is our body. We can roughly withstand a force of 12 kN before we are torn apart. When you are now falling and are suddenly stopped by your equipment, you are probably experiencing a few gs, which could lead to "minor issues" in terms of missing extremities etc.. That's the reason why you not only have your carabiner with 24kN but you also have your ropes that are elastic, so a lot of the energy is "used " by tensioning the rope or your Via Ferrata kit and not going straight into your spine.

[@UkrainianBazooka]

@@drrubi3944 all of my industrial personal fall restraint/arrest equipment is 25 kN+

[@drrubi3944]

@@UkrainianBazooka true. 24 kN is just the bare minimum here in the EU that you need to be allowed to sell e.g. a carabiner as a climbing carabiner.

[@joshuaprivett3552]

I’m afraid of heights, and even just watching videos like this makes my insides feel like glass.

[@linesided]

I'm not sure what kind of accomplishment this really is but it's cool and fun to see people pushing the boundaries of whatever they are pushing here.

[@emcee2603]

The “Playing with Death” trophy 🏆!?

[@the99thtimelord16]

I think it's the get down the mountain you just climbed accomplishment.

[@MrJackal43]

Climbing EL Capitan isn’t an accomplishment where you’re from? Well aren’t you just special? Phhhft… go away.

[@1Deejay7]

Wonder how hot that belay thingy was after the descent. Lot of friction there.

[@ysf-psfx]

The friction is distributed between several contact points to minimize heat buildup. An ATC where there is one one point of contact builds up a lot more heat because that single point has a LOT of frictions, as opposed to multiple points of less friction each, as here.

[@princenabby1]

As a rock climber, I've rappelled hundreds and hundreds of times, but it's always just been a means to an end: a way to get down. I've never quite understood rapping as a standalone sport. Glad you enjoyed the trip, though!

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

Great comment. Usually when I am rappelling it's going underground to map caves. That's just evolved into deeper pits. Taller cliffs and eventually this just for the hell of it. Climbed the rope back up. He'll of s view. Closest thing I'll get to climbing thr wall. Doing it again next summer.

[@princenabby1]

@@onropewithcmfm4430 Thanks for the reply! I love the evolution of your interest. I can totally see how rapping and jugging El Cap would be thrilling in that context!

[@anonanon8974]

The descent was absolutely beautiful.

[@brutismaximus1]

And to think a dude climbed that thing without ropes.

[@joelewis9178]

different side. Honnold climbed Freerider which is on a different part of the wall

[@johnsonsyoutube]

@@joelewis9178 who gives a fuck😂😂

[@joelewis9178]

@@johnsonsyoutube This route would be a lot harder to climb without ropes Freerider is an easier one. I dont think this is a possible climb even at least where he descended

[@davidtelford4160]

@@joelewis9178 they said the dawn wall would be impossible to climb as well, shit happens 😂

[@dherman0001]

Overrated!

[@herbertbrandle348]

A insane downgoing on oder Single rope. Astonishing. Thanks for sharing.

[@drfdfe]

Know the feeling ... I rapped from Sickle Ledge to the ground around midnight in June '82. Five teams on the ledge and no where to stand. Fixed 3 ropes and loaded on the haul bag. Built a carabiner brake and started down with headlamp on. No Moon! Rebuilt the brake twice on the way down. Got to the ground with about 20 feet of rope left. Longest single rappel I have ever done. MOUSE.

[@SeaJayBelfast]

CAT

[@grapeabe1]

How much you suppose that rope weighs? What's the name of the rappelling device used?

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

Rope weight at the lip is approximately 190-200 lbs, not including the wind belay. The rappelling device is called a rack and its a variable friction device that cavers use in the USA. This on is a 24" long El Cap rack. Standard caving racks are only 10-14". The length is needed due to the rope weight at El Cap. Have to be able to spread the bars quite a bit to get moving.

[@grapeabe1]

Thanks

[@flaviucernescu]

does this rack ever heat up enough to burn the rope or is just dissipates heat in "real time"? How do you think the Petzl Rack would do in this case?

[@you2tooyou2too]

As he gets lower on the face, you might notice that he pushes the brake bars away from himself, to compress them, & increase the bends in the rope, to increase the friction, compensating for the lower weight tension. At the bottom, he will be compressing the near bars of the rack so it 'looks' to the rope like an ordinary one.

[@endlesssearchofknowledgean6998]

The rack does heat up. and the faster you go the more friction and the more heat... the rack can get so hot that it glazes the rope and if you touch the rack at the bottom, it can cause 2nd degree burns and blister you immediately. From what I know. Petzl does not sell a rack long enough to be able to do this rappel. but the rollers and the ascender in the beginning of the video, I think are petzl...

[@recoverysam]

I've done industrial rope access for over 20 years and seeing you doing this on a single line is terrifying..

[@nicholas320]

my hands and feet won’t stop sweating

[@bkl8804]

It's cuz you're gay

[@Catbus-Driver]

So this video has taught me that technically we could have a rope that leads to space...

[@daviddemaria3982]

How do you get the rope back when you are done?

[@davidstiles6260]

I wonder how hot the belay device got. I kept imagining him stopping to take a look around and the hot metal melting through the rope.

[@jellyman1735]

That could be calculated! The total energy that went into the rope and his belay device would be equal to his mass, say 100 kg, times 9.8 m/s^2, times the distance he rappeled in meters (2650' = 808 m). Then, figure out what percent of that energy went into the belay device (assume, conservatively, 25%), as well as what percent of that heat dissipated into the air during the descent (say, 50%). Finally, it appears that the belay device is perhaps 1 kg of aluminum (specific heat capacity 900 J/kg C). Thus, we have a final raise in temperature of (100 * 9.8 * 808)J * .25 * .5 * (1 kg C/900J) /1kg = 110 degrees Celcius. In other words, the thing could likely have boiled droplets of water by the end. Wow.

[@Mousehansen]

It has happened to people before. They didn't live to tell the tale.

[@scottschnarr4707]

Would be cool to see the friction points before and after that rap

[@goofsupreme5205]

could cure world thirst with the amount of sweat on my hands watching this

[@derrickwalker538]

Man that’s crazy high!!! I thought fast-roping out of a Helo was high when I was in the Army but that ain’t crap compared to this!!

[@healthwisdomproject4352]

It takes about 12 seconds (1500ft) for a person to reach terminal velocity or 124mph/181.867ft/second. After the initial 12 seconds to reach TV, it would take a person an additional 6-7 seconds to impact the deck below. They would fall for only 18- 19 seconds at this video’s stated height.

[@csrac23]

18-20 seconds is an eternity in that situation

[@healthwisdomproject4352]

@@csrac23 Yeah, A person could think of a lot of things in that amount of time.

[@jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj0]

I've nutted in under 20 before. Damn.

[@davidsumner7604]

Doesn't terminal velocity change based on altitude and air thickness/resistance?

[@eijahmartin2260]

Can you do this with an ATC? Like, is it even possible? To maybe do it really slowly...

[@johngo6283]

I highly recommend watching this on the largest screen that you can. I plugged my phone into my TV and it was even more amazing. =^)

[@vict0ree]

One of the most insane things to happen during my lifetime so far was watching Alex Honnold climb this with no ropes.

[@karamveerb2708]

You were there personally?

[@vict0ree]

@@karamveerb2708 i wish 😄

[@ruanof7]

I wouldn't do this even for $50K. These people are border line crazy with huge guts, much respect from me!.

[@RePaperBag]

they really needed some sort of angle like this in the movie, even if just for a few seconds. this perspective looks way more intense/high off the ground

[@saullandiof5768]

yeah i didn't really like the way they filmed free solo tbh. I feel like they tried to make the compositions too artsy rather than showing it from his perspective

[@jakub8302]

That would’ve been way more dangerous for Alex. Having a go pro on could have easily messed with his mind and cause him to lose full focus

[@RePaperBag]

@@jakub8302 didnt say he had to use a gopro

[@weirdshibainu]

Until you're in the valley and looking up at this, you can't appreciate the scale and scope of El Cap. It's like watching a lion on a 13 inch laptop and thinking " He doesn't look that big to me"...then you're on the serengeti and you feel the hot breath on your neck and the low growl on your ear...as you break out in a cold sweat in abject terror.

[@roo9569]

the fact your in the middle of 3000ft on a single rope. what size rope is that? static i assume?

[@SMHman666]

@roo. Usually 9 - 10 mm. Yep, static to abseil and dynamic to climb / fall onto.

[@circuloperfecto21]

That's a lot of trust on a single rope

[@TexasRedOutlaw]

3000 foot of rope, its strong enough to support itself which weighs probably 10x your weight.

[@bendone3978]

Welcome to climbing

[@abefromansausagekingofchic6480]

@@TexasRedOutlaw no way it weighs 3500lbs

[@diabl2master]

@@abefromansausagekingofchic6480 Right that would be around 1.15 lb per foot. No way.

[@DuncanBoynton]

Willomit Lmao that’s so wrong the mass doesn’t change

[@BCRandom69]

the rope weight at the top of that must be crazy. thanks for the vid

[@alfatti1603]

This is awesome! I'd love to do this on the face of half dome. is there technical report for this project somewhere?

[@ppgedez]

Reminds me of Fred Dibnah descending a chimney stack up North in the UK. Fred is the UK’s version of Alex Honnold. 🙂

[@ClickClack_Bam]

He is a fuckin legend! Loved watching his videos & his methods. Imo he ran circles around most of these guys. Hell half the time he was shit-faced!

[@pieterveenders9793]

Fred is a legend, the product of a very different era, long before the UK was paralysed by health and safety regulations.

[@BillyG869]

Before Chuinard the hardware was non existent, this gear is incredible. Let alone a piece of climbing rope over half a mile…

[@robertgreen9980]

Just one piece that long? What they had. Mile long rope and cut a piece from it?

[@mangore623]

A couple of curiosities: the rope beneath him would easily weigh over 100lbs, and you can completely stop someone’s normal rappel just by pulling on the rope beneath them; the amount of heat building up in that device should have melted that rope if he even slowed down a little.

[@stereothrilla8374]

The device so large and contains so much metal it acts a heat sink with heat being transferred to portions of the metal not touching the rope in addition to the device never touching the same place on the for a short period of time.

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

210 pounds actually. And as stated below the amountt of stainless is a huge heat sink. You have to go way faster than what I was going to melt the rope.

[@biffrapper]

This gives me the willies. Thanks for sharing!

[@kentac1911]

I would try that...But I would be afraid that my parachute would get in the way. You've got balls of steel my man!!!

[@NateClay]

0:17 "because I'm a big pussy." Dude. You are kidding yourself. 99% of viewers wouldn't attempt this LOL

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

Spur of the moment. All I could think of lol

[@Nyce2Everyone]

More like rappelling down to Earth from space

[@abigdingus2409]

Jafar - I think it’s a joke you fuck 😂

[@Jester_72]

Jafar - Jesus have some humor

[@timange124]

Damn you guys put a lot of faith in that equipment.

[@toothlessguy2544]

the chances of the system failing is slim to none

[@testboga5991]

Trad dad overload... 😂 Props for managing such a heavy, long line!

[@alexmynard6206]

Would not want to be the unlucky guy who has to untangle a knot from that rope. Cant really just give that one a shake an hope it falls out!

[@justinzaff]

One unchecked knot halfway down could be a serious problem .

[@jakestech28]

And to think there's mineshafts this deep.

[@fernandopo6399]

3 or 4 times deeper

[@falconemoto6943]

There’s a mine up in wrightwood Ca, Allen Big horn mine, me and a bunch of buddies used to go there all the time, it literally looked like something out of the old Scooby Doo episodes when they go in the mine, it had endless tunnels, parts where you would have to crawl on your stomach though a hole then enter a room where the ceiling went up 80 feet in a huge room. We were walking and my friend yelled STOP. We looked down and right in front of us was a shaft, we though a rock down it. I shit you not it must have fallen for at least 8 seconds before we heard a noise. The mineshaft are insane!!!!

[@Pengroves]

Well color me intrigued

[@oldhardrock2542]

@@falconemoto6943 That's exactly why "Stay Out! Stay Alive!" is the best advice.

[@squishycookies9926]

Well yeah you have to go to y:11 to get diamonds

[@EvenStarMN]

Is it the same mountain that Alex honnold did free solo climb?

[@dvorak2676]

yes

[@kotastrophie]

Im having 2nd thoughts just from watching this. Still can’t believe Alex Honnold did what he did

[@sumtingwong8768]

Alex Honnold and David Goggins really inspire the human race

[@AdventuresInReach]

Did you watch his Alex's Ted talk?

[@sumtingwong8768]

@@AdventuresInReach yes also his movie

[@timandbrittanysadventures1012]

How much does a rope that long cost?

[@drone-time]

My butt is firmly planted in my chair, a whopping 2 feet off solid ground, yet I damn near pissed myself every time he touched the camera or spun around. No thank you.

[@AG-ne3rh]

😂amen

[@technomancer_066]

Guess that shows im purely a climber because I kinda wished he was facing the other way so I could look at all that sweet sweet granite

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

I agree. Unfortunately the slight belay from the bottom made that impossible. Put the slightest angle in the rope that forced out backs to the wall.

[@technomancer_066]

@@onropewithcmfm4430 Oh I see, well I loved the video nonetheless!

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

@@technomancer_066 I would have loved to see more of the wall on the way down as well. When climbing the rope up I couldn't grasp how someone could climb that rock. So slick. So smooth. My helmet is off to anyone who climbs out there.

[@CCrohny]

Wouldn't it make you more of a geologists if u wanted to look at rocks.

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

@@CCrohny climbers look for the holds. They look for the routes. Geologists study the actual building blocks of the rock itself.

[@knarftrakiul3881]

This gives alex climb more meaning to people who have never been there. To think anyone can climb that its awesome

[@konstantinosv.9858]

After a hundred meters of repelling "I found a serious damage on the rope. What have I do now?" - Keep going body and pray, pray hard....

[@gerpsh]

You know what's crazy? It took this guy about 8 minutes to rap El Cap, and it only took Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell less than 2 hours to _climb_ it. Unreal.

[@DesertCookie]

Honnold made gis climb (free solo) in 3:56 hours. It was a sub-four hour ascent, not a sub-two hour one :).

[@ebowden1168]

@@DesertCookie that was his free solo attempt but him and Tommy Caldwell free climbed it in sub 2 hours, it’s on KZbin

[@DesertCookie]

Crazy that they undercut the time that dramatically. In an interview about Free Solo he stated that getting sub-four hours was a crazy achievement already. Cutting 50% even of that, truly mind-boggling.

[@markiehunter5535]

Hollow bars or U-bars on your rappel rack? I would feel more secure with solid bars. A couple of your U-bars looked to me to be seriously worn at the bottom. And as a vertical rope work caver I always avoided loose straps - anything which even hypothetically could get caught in the rack.

[@onropewithcmfm4430]

Hey Markie, I use U bars mainly due to them being lighter but also becuase they have more surface area exposed to the air, thus cool faster. None of the bars on this rack are burned through, just deep grooves from use over the past 14 years on various racks. The loose straps are a good point; however the straps you see flopping around in the video are all too short to get sucked into the rack by long shot. The fish eye lense definintely plays a visual trick on that.

[@harpoon_bakery162]

wow, that's just amazingly scary and brave. thanks for sharing this. the guy who scaled this with no ropes must have been on ambien to do what he did.