Alex Honnold facts for kids

Honnold in 2023
Quick facts for kids Personal information
Born	(1985-08-17) August 17, 1985 (age 40) Sacramento, California, U.S.
Education	University of California, Berkeley
Occupation	Rock climber
Spouse(s)	Sanni McCandless ​ (m. 2020)​
Climbing career
Type of climber	Free solo climbing Big wall climbing Bouldering Sport climbing Traditional climbing Alpine climbing Buildering
Highest grade	Redpoint: 5.14d (9a) Bouldering: V12 (8A+)
Known for	First-ever to free solo a 5.13a (7c+) grade big wall route The first person to free solo a full route (from base to summit) on El Capitan via Freerider (5.13a) Speed record holder on The Nose route of El Capitan First person to free solo Taipei 101 building

Alex Honnold, born on August 17, 1985, is a famous American rock climber. He is best known for his incredible "free solo" climbs. This means he climbs huge rock walls without any ropes, harnesses, or safety gear. It's one of the most challenging and daring forms of climbing.

In June 2017, Alex became world-famous. He was the first person to free solo a complete route on El Capitan. This massive rock formation is in Yosemite National Park. His climb, called Freerider, was about 880 meters (2,900 feet) tall. Many people called it one of the greatest athletic achievements ever.

Alex also achieved another amazing feat on January 25, 2026. He free soloed the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan. This made it the tallest building ever climbed without ropes.

He has written a book, Alone on the Wall, about his adventures. He was also the main subject of the movie Free Solo. This film won an Academy Award because it showed his amazing climb of El Capitan.

Growing Up and Starting to Climb

Alex Honnold was born in Sacramento, California. He started climbing at a gym when he was just 5 years old. By age 10, he was climbing several times a week. As a teenager, he competed in many climbing championships.

Alex says he wasn't naturally the strongest climber. He just loved climbing so much that he kept doing it all the time. This constant practice helped him get better and better.

After high school, Alex went to the University of California, Berkeley. He planned to study civil engineering. However, during his first year, his grandfather passed away. This was a difficult time for him. He started spending more time bouldering alone at Indian Rock instead of going to classes.

Living for Climbing

Alex left college to focus on climbing. He lived in his mom's old minivan for a while. This allowed him to travel to different climbing spots. He loved being able to follow good weather and find the best places to climb.

Becoming a Famous Climber

In 2007, Alex became well-known in the climbing world. He completed two famous free solo climbs in Yosemite. These were Astroman and The Rostrum, both done in one day. This matched a legendary feat from 1987.

A year later, he free soloed Moonlight Buttress in Zion National Park. This climb was 366 meters (1,200 feet) tall. People were so amazed that some thought it was a joke!

Later that year, he free soloed the Regular Northwest Face of Half Dome. This huge rock face is 610 meters (2,000 feet) high. Another famous climber called it the most impressive climb without ropes ever. Alex's climb was even shown in a film and on the TV show 60 Minutes.

Setting Speed Records

Alex also became known for speed climbing. In 2012, he and Hans Florine set a new speed record on The Nose route on El Capitan. They climbed the 884-meter (2,900-foot) route in an amazing 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 46 seconds.

Honnold at the Trento Film Festival in 2014

Different Views on Risk

In 2014, a company called Clif Bar stopped sponsoring Alex. They felt that some types of climbing were becoming too risky. They decided not to support climbers who pushed the boundaries of safety in ways they weren't comfortable with.

How Alex's Brain Works

Scientists have studied Alex's brain. They used special scans to see how it reacted to scary pictures. They found that the part of his brain linked to fear, called the amygdala, didn't react much. This is different from most people. Alex says he still feels fear sometimes. But he uses his imagination and practice to prepare for scary situations. This helps him feel less afraid.

Conquering El Capitan

The Famous Free Solo

On June 3, 2017, Alex achieved his most famous climb. He became the first person to free solo El Capitan. He climbed the Freerider route, which is 884 meters (2,900 feet) high. He did it in just 3 hours and 56 minutes.

This incredible climb was filmed for the documentary Free Solo. The movie showed the world how amazing and challenging this feat was. It later won an Academy Award.

Breaking More Records

On June 6, 2018, Alex teamed up with Tommy Caldwell. They broke the speed record for climbing The Nose on El Capitan. They climbed the 914-meter (3,000-foot) route in an astonishing 1 hour, 58 minutes, and 7 seconds. They were the first climbers to finish it in under two hours.

More Adventures and Projects

Exploring Greenland and Podcasts

In 2021, Alex started working with National Geographic. He starred in a TV series about his journey to climb peaks in Greenland. That same year, he also launched a podcast called "Climbing Gold." The podcast shares stories about amazing climbers throughout history.

The Honnold Ultimate Red Rock Traverse

On October 12, 2022, Alex completed an incredible challenge. It was called the "Honnold Ultimate Red Rock Traverse," or HURT. He spent over 32 hours running, scrambling, and climbing in Red Rock Canyon. He covered 35 miles and climbed 18 peaks, gaining 24,000 feet in elevation.

Climbing Buildings

In 2025, Alex announced his plan to free solo the Taipei 101 skyscraper. This building in Taiwan is 508 meters (1,667 feet) tall. He completed this amazing climb on January 25, 2026.

The climb was shown live on Netflix in a special called Skyscraper Live. Alex reached the top in 1 hour and 35 minutes. He became the first person to free solo this building without any help.

Life Outside Climbing

Honnold in 2022

For over ten years, Alex lived in a van. He explains that he didn't love living in a car itself. Instead, he loved being able to live in many different beautiful places. The van allowed him to follow good weather and find the best climbing conditions. He found it comfortable to have everything he needed close by.

In 2017, Alex bought a house in Las Vegas. Even then, he lived in his van in the driveway for a few weeks. It felt more like home to him than an empty house. He still uses a newer van for most of his travels and climbing trips.

His Family

Alex met Sanni McCandless in 2015. Their relationship was shown in the documentary Free Solo. They got engaged in 2019 and married in September 2020. They have two daughters: June, born in February 2022, and Alice Summer, born in February 2024.

Alex's mother, Dierdre Wolownick, also became a climber at age 60. She is the oldest woman to climb El Capitan. She first did it at 66 and then again at 70, breaking her own record!

Helping the World

In 2012, Alex started giving away a lot of his money. He wanted to support projects that brought solar energy to people around the world. This idea grew into the Honnold Foundation.

The foundation helps communities get access to clean energy. Alex believes in trusting the people they help. He says, "in climbing, you trust your partner with your life. Why should philanthropy be any different?"

Books and Films

Alex has written a book about his adventures:

• Alone on the Wall: Alex Honnold and the Ultimate Limits of Adventure. (2015)

He has also appeared in many films and TV shows, including:

• Alone on the Wall (2008)
• Free Solo (2018) - This film won an Oscar!
• The Alpinist (2021)
• Explorer: The Last Tepui (2022)
• Arctic Ascent with Alex Honnold (2024)
• Skyscraper Live (2026)

Awards and Recognitions

• 2010: Golden Piton Award for endurance climbing.
• 2015: Piolet d'Or with Tommy Caldwell for climbing the Fitz Roy Range in Patagonia.
• 2018: Robert and Miriam Underhill Award for excellence in climbing.
• 2018: Special mention of Piolet d'Or for his amazing climbing in 2017.

His Incredible Climbs

Big Wall Climbs

Bouldering Feats

Building Climbs

Single Pitch Climbs

Alpine Adventures

See also

In Spanish: Alex Honnold para niños

• History of rock climbing
• List of grade milestones in rock climbing