Alone on the Wall by Alex Honnold

Author:Alex Honnold
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

THE CAMP 4 COLLECTIVE FILM that Renan Ozturk crafted to feature Alex’s solo of El Sendero Luminoso, a mere six minutes and twelve seconds long, is a minor masterpiece. If it lacks the gonzo zaniness of the Sender Films celebrations of Alex’s deeds, as well as the humorous riffs in van or campground, it captures the grace of Alex’s movement on rock better than any previous footage has. The camera work, zooming fluidly in and out, or floating gently through space (thanks to the SkySight drones), paints a lyricism that mirrors Alex’s state of mind and body when he’s doing what he does best.

There are moments in the film that bring home the seriousness of free soloing in novel ways, such as a bit when Cedar Wright, in the days of cleaning the route before the climb, says, “It’s kind of weird, helping your friend do something that you know could potentially lead to his death”—this, as the camera pans over the graveyard in the nearby town of Hidalgo. But the closing footage captures Alex standing on what look like “nothing” holds, his hands dangling free at his sides, as a slow grin takes over his face.

Shortly after the climb, Mary Anne Potts of National Geographic Adventure Online interviewed Alex. She asked, “Why did you smile at that moment on the wall?”

Alex’s characteristic answer: “I have no idea since I haven’t seen the film, but I’d assume because I was happy.” To underline the point, he appended a happy face.

Indeed, in the makeshift register on the summit of El Toro, with a pencil stub Alex scribbled a note that a later visitor photographed. It read:

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.