The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsAsking for a favor.
There is a remarkable article about climbers who rappelled down El Capitan using a 3000 foot long rope. My internet is down and my iPhone is not allowing me to capture the link. Can someone do a search and post the article on General Discussion? I appreciate it!

Irish_Dem
(72,736 posts)Baitball Blogger
(50,590 posts)Do you want to post it? Or do you want me to do it?
Irish_Dem
(72,736 posts)Post it further if you like.
Baitball Blogger
(50,590 posts)I have been fascinated with rock climbing and especially EL Capitan since Alex Honnold solo climbed it.
Irish_Dem
(72,736 posts)I once watched a documentary about a rock climber and he seemed to live in his own world.
I guess you have to if you want to do this work/hobby.
Baitball Blogger
(50,590 posts)Especially when they go to secluded places on their own. Came across. YouTube video that documented two climbers who fell and died. They are of a different mind than the rest of us,
Irish_Dem
(72,736 posts)I cannot remember the guy's name.
He was fairly young, had climbed some big mountains.
He seemed like a rock climbing genius, the way he could negotiate the rocks.
I think he did it with no safeguard harnesses, etc.
They call that free soloing?
And he did practice runs by himself.
Then he got a girlfriend and she would go along with him, stand on the ground
watching him.
The guy seemed a bit autistic and narrow focused.
But he knew his climbing and had done it since quite young.
Yes I felt his days were numbered and he kind of knew it but didn't care.
He was obsessed and loved the hobby.
Baitball Blogger
(50,590 posts)It was so bizarre because he didnt seem to offer resistance. Just like a an inanimate object falling.
Irish_Dem
(72,736 posts)I really liked this young man and his girlfriend.
I used to check every year or so to see if he was still alive.
But I stopped doing that and have no idea if he is alive or not.
Maybe I can find his name.
Yes it sounds like something this guy would do, just fall with no resistance.
When he was climbing and would slip, a big semi-fall, he would be quite calm
and nonchalant about it.
Baitball Blogger
(50,590 posts)They are unique among us.
Irish_Dem
(72,736 posts)He did achieve his dream of climbing 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without a rope.
He is still alive and he and his girlfriend got married and have two children!
Scientists have done many brain scans on Alex and he has a huge brain anomaly.
He has no fear, literally.
He is in full control of the amygdala and his pre-frontal lobe is so highly trained and activated that it does not allow any fight-or-flight reaction.
So yes if he fell to his death he was just relax and float down.
Baitball Blogger
(50,590 posts)And how he prepared for the climb. Didnt know about the rest. I did hear that after he married and had children he stopped taking that level of risk. Probably a requirement from his wife.
Irish_Dem
(72,736 posts)If you can watch the documentary, it is fascinating, I recommend it.
I have no interest in rock climbing but the movie was mesmerizing.
And it stayed with me to the point I kept checking to see if Alex was still alive.
Irish_Dem
(72,736 posts)Post it as a stand alone OP.
rsdsharp
(11,099 posts)How do you transport it?
Baitball Blogger
(50,590 posts)ProfessorGAC
(73,754 posts)Climbing ropes weigh about 1/12th of a pound per foot. So, a 3,000' rope would be around 250#.