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October 2, 2011 6:45 PM

Dude: The quirky world of Alex Honnold

By
Overtime Staff
Topics
60 Minutes Overtime

It is both a pun as well as the truth to call Alex Honnold a rock star. Alex climbs rock walls thousands of feet high with no ropes and no margin for error. It is hard to imagine a more dangerous sport than "free-soloing," or a more accomplished and ambitious athlete than Alex.

Wearing only simple climbing shoes and carrying a bag of chalk to keep the sweat off his hands, Alex is part of a new breed of "free-solo" climbers who are pushing big wall climbing into uncharted territory. Routes that take two or three days to ascend by climbers using ropes and other safety equipment are now being completed in a few hours by free-solo climbers like Alex -- although as you'll see in Lara Logan's report, in truth there is really no one like Alex.

Watch Lara Logan's full "60 Minutes" report on Alex Honnold here

It might not be surprising that a guy who excels at climbing sheer mountain faces without ropes would prefer a life without strings. And that's how Alex lives. His van is his home - it allows him to drive around the country pursuing the next great climb. The van carries just the essentials: climbing gear, food, and an impressive library.

Alex's way of talking is as unique as his lifestyle, as Lara Logan discovered after Alex called her "dude" a few times. It turns out that Alex calls everyone "dude," but his idiosyncratic speaking style doesn't end there.

As you'll see in producer David Rubin's Overtime piece, this week we take a fun look at Alex-speak - from the "heinous" to the "mellow." And you'll learn why a guy who regularly risks his life doing the impossible is known among his climbing friends as "Alex No Big Deal."

Watch "Filming mountain climber Alex Honnold" here


Add a Comment See all 20 Comments
by KyleHagel October 7, 2011 1:57 PM EDT
Why so judgmental people? Saying he is an idiot without really understanding his abilities and what he is accomplishing is not fair. I think people who jump in a steel and aluminum can on wheels and hurl themselves to 80mph while using a phone to talk and text is idiotic. These are both illegal in some states albeit but unfortunately that behavior is common place and deemed normal thus it's not idiotic to do so. I believe people say negative things here because they cannot relate to him. You can't imagine doing something so outrageously scary and risky so you are bothered by the potential and inherent risk. Regardless of the style of climbing, it is risky just like most things in life are. Get over it, accept that what he is able to do is pretty amazing.
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by bonzothemonkey October 5, 2011 11:14 AM EDT
Oh how we need people like Alec Honold! Originals, one-of-a-kinders! Not the mass produced phony, faceless everymans being churned out by universities all over the country! Give me the man/woman whose a poet, a scientist, an inventor, an athlete, one who does what he does not because he read somewhere that it was a good, highpaying gig but because something within him drove him to do what he's doing, what he had to do! Whether it is the next Jim Thorpe or the next Albert Einstein, let him be an original and to hell with all these boring, boxed in creeps with their noses in the air!
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by Purefield October 4, 2011 8:10 PM EDT
OK JavMD, we all get it that you "don't get it". So there's no need to keep babbling ad infinitum about how unable in many ways you are to discern Alex Honnold. To find blame with his mother by citing "bad parenting", along with using words such as "stupid" and "dumb" certify that you are no MD at all.

There are other comments by people, such as yourself, that feel threatened by his very existence. This goes to expose your own personal shortcomings and feelings of inadequacy and that you would rather bring Mr. Honnold down to your own pedestrian level than accept his grand achievements.

To be the first at anything will inevitably draw criticism from the bottom of the barrel. This is what they do. But to climbers around the world who have known of Alex for a very long time, we knew he would continue to raise the level of climbing to this ultimate level. 60 Minutes is the magazine for the profanum vulgus. Alex did not climb for fame or fortune. He simply loves climbing. And ask any climber, and you'll be told that the climbing without a rope is the purest form of expression and experience. Yes, it's dangerous. That's a given. But you were never asked for your approval, so get over it.
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by Rusty_Piton October 3, 2011 3:04 PM EDT
"In a world as weird and cruel as this one we have made for ourselves, I figure anybody who can find peace and personal happiness without ripping off somebody else deserves to be left alone. They will not inherit the earth, but then neither will I... And I have learned to live, as it were, with the idea that I will never find peace and happiness, either. But as long as I know there's a pretty good chance I can get my hands on either one of them every once in a while, I do the best I can between high spots."

Hunter Thompson
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by JavMD October 3, 2011 11:23 AM EDT
Yeah.. can't understand 'people'.... Most people struggle with day to day living, from paycheck to paycheck, more people in poverty...people losing their homes..foreclosure...

Greece in debt problems..shaking the world economy...

and we have to have this as a news headline...

For a human being: STUPID... risking your LIFE to climbing... DUMB.

I know nothing more STUPID than doing a SPORT that truly is severe life threatning.. .DUMB...

He understands NOTHING about life and death and RISK... sorry... lack of COMMON SENSE...

Do we as humans... cherish life... less and less in America.. with drive by shootings... at least everyday in Cleveland and DEtriot...

Innocent people losing to life to drug addicts... killing for money to support their habit...

The world is truly a sad place... ARE WE GETTING BETTER AS HUMANS? At least it looks like Libyian people may have it better without a stupid dictator... now to pray for Syrians and straving North Koreans
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by displeased2 October 3, 2011 11:30 AM EDT
Ahh, another couch potato...
by JavMD October 3, 2011 2:18 PM EDT
oh another know it all.. his opinion or none (displeased2)...

(My hobby is local car racing... not stupid enough to go without seat belts, brakes... anology to what this idiot is doing... for attention no doubt... product of bad parenting?
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by displeased2 October 3, 2011 11:04 AM EDT
You go, Alex! Ignore the naysayers. They're jealous because they're limited to living uninteresting lives by watching tv.
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by JavMD October 3, 2011 11:29 AM EDT
I don't live 'uninteresting lives'... I am smarter than Alex because I live an interesting life... have respect for life... and my close relatives... by NOT putting my life in NEEDLESS risk situations merely to make my life 'interesting'. Whats some wrong with a hobby that gives a little 'energy' to day to day living without undue RISK? WHAT grief will his parents endure when they bring the kid home in a box? At least soldiers are dying to help others have some kind of freedom ! I am amazed at times how foolish people are and try to say it makes their life 'interesting'.

How bout hobbies? how about volunteer to help people even think of having a hobby? Food bank volunteer, Red Cross volunteer... whats more 'interesting' than ..saving a life
by displeased2 October 3, 2011 12:23 PM EDT
I think Alex is brave and talented, and I admire him for using his talents while he's able. Who's to say he doesn't help others by volunteering, or if not now, then maybe someday. If you choose to spend your life volunteering, then do it. I admire you for that, too. What I don't admire is criticizing others for pursuing their own dreams. If he dies, then so what. It's his risk and his choice.
by pipercolt October 3, 2011 9:54 AM EDT
Well let's hope his equipment doesn't let him down like the former king of rock climbing, Dan Osman, rope snapped.
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by sandalwood1191 October 3, 2011 8:18 AM EDT
I think he is an idiot.
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by displeased2 October 3, 2011 11:07 AM EDT
I think people who drive slowly in the hammer lane are idiots.
by AnnieDanny October 3, 2011 3:09 AM EDT
This is very annoying, to put it mildly. I don't think anyone can beat the odds forever. His ability is amazing, but it's very difficult to find any reason to admire him for doing it. How is this a good example to others, to climb without safety gear?
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by rico243 October 2, 2011 10:37 PM EDT
you are condoning this insane "sport"?? they will pick his body from the canyon floor some day.i cannot believe that 60minutes would say this is newsworthy...
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