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Alex Honnold's El Capitan Free Solo Climb a First

Alex Honnold's El Capitan Free Solo Climb a First

This Jan. 14, 2015, file photo shows El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)

By    |   Monday, 05 June 2017 01:38 PM EDT

Alex Honnold became the first person to climb the 3,000-foot granite wall El Capitan without the use of rope or safety gear Saturday in what National Geographic is calling possibly the greatest feat in rock climbing history.

Honnold, 31, climbed to the peak of El Capitan at Yosemite National Park in three hours and 56 minutes, getting to the top at 9:28 a.m., Pacific time, National Geographic noted.

El Capitan is a vertical rock wall of sheer granite in the Yosemith Valley, according to the Yosemite website. The wall is one of the major attractions for tourist and the ultimate challenge for climbers.

Honnold celebrated the accomplishment on Twitter.

"The whole pursuit of this dream has allowed me to live my best life, that makes me hopefully the best version of me," Honnold said in an interview with National Geographic afterward.

Filmmakers followed Honnold's efforts up the wall for an upcoming National Geographic Documentary Films feature. It was Honnold's second attempt at scaling the wall without equipment, after he backed off in November after climbing an hour because of conditions, National Geographic noted.

The toughest part of the climb was a stretch called "Freerider," and Honnold described the portion as "walking up glass," CBS Sports reported.

Honnold prepared for the portion by hiking up it with ropes a few days before the climb, marking holding spots with chalk, noted CBS Sports.

Many recognized and celebrated Honnold's feat on social media.

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TheWire
Alex Honnold became the first person to climb the 3,000-foot granite wall El Capitan without the use of rope or safety gear Saturday in what National Geographic is calling possibly the greatest feat in rock climbing history.
alex honnold, el capitan, free, solo, climb
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2017-38-05
Monday, 05 June 2017 01:38 PM
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