Alex Honnold (born August 17, 1985) is an American rock climber best known for his free solo ascents of big-wall climbing routes. Honnold rose to worldwide fame in June 2017 when he became the first person to free solo a full route on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park (via the 880-metre (2,900 ft) route Freerider at grade 5.13a, the first-ever big-wall free-solo ascent at that grade),[3] a climb described in The New York Times as “one of the great athletic feats of any kind, ever”.[4][5]
In 2015, he won a Piolet d’Or in alpine climbing with Tommy Caldwell for their completion of the enchainment (known as the Fitz Traverse) of the Cerro Chaltén Group (or Fitzroy Group) in Patagonia over 5 days. On January 25, 2026, he free soloed the Taipei 101 tower in Taipei, Taiwan, the tallest buildering free solo climb in history.[6]
Honnold is the author (with David Roberts) of the memoir Alone on the Wall (2015) and the subject of the 2018 biographical documentary Free Solo,[7] which won an Academy Award and a BAFTA.
“I’ve climbed with Exum mountain climbing school in the Grand Tetons. Those small beginner climbs humbled me. To see Alex climb these magnificent peaks, walls and structures is magical. Truly inspiring” – Trinity
“INCREDIBLE!!!!!”
Grand Teton National Park 4K Ultra HD
Indoor Climbing & Community
Major metropolitan areas host extensive indoor facilities and organized teams:
- Austin: Home to Austin Bouldering Project and Crux Climbing Center, providing massive bouldering and lead climbing spaces.
- Collegiate Teams: The University of Texas Rock Climbing team is a top-ranked competitive organization.
- Advocacy: The Texas Climbers Coalition works to secure and maintain climbing access across public and private lands.
Seasonal Considerations for 2026
- Peak Season: Fall through spring offers the best temperatures and friction.
- Summer Climbing: While hot, shaded areas like Reimers Ranch or deep-water soloing at Lake Travis provide options to stay cool.
- Reservations: Many popular state parks, particularly Enchanted Rock and Hueco Tanks, require advance day-pass or tour reservations, which can be booked through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The fault line that shaped Austin: A guide to the Balcones Escarpment
Escarpment formed by the Balcones Fault at Mount Bonnell
The Balcones (/bælˈkoʊnɛz/) Fault or Balcones Fault Zone is an area of largely normal faulting[1] in the U.S. state of Texas that runs roughly from the southwest part of the state near Del Rio to the north-central region near Dallas[2] along Interstate 35. Derived from the Spanish word in architecture for “balcony,” or “vantage point” in geology and nature, the Balcones feature is said to have been named by Spanish explorer Bernardo de Miranda in 1756, part of El Camino Real, or the “King’s Highway” that skirted the fault line.[3] The Balcones Fault zone is made up of many smaller features, including normal faults, grabens, and horsts.[4] One of the obvious features is the Mount Bonnell Fault.[5]
