The name Alex Honnold is well-known in the rock climbing community. He gained notoriety for his free solo ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, and his achievements on other illustrious cliffs throughout the globe have further strengthened his position in the pantheon of legendary climbers. But is Honnold really the world’s finest climber? Are there any climbers that can match or outperform his amazing achievements?
The number of times a climber has reached the summit of Mount Everest, the highest peak on Earth, is one way to assess a climber’s brilliance. Even though Everest ascents are different from the technically difficult free solo climbs for which Honnold is renowned, they nonetheless need for a combination of physical stamina, technical expertise, and mental fortitude. So, how many times has Everest been scaled?
Kami Rita Sherpa now holds the record for the most Everest summits by a male climber, having scaled the mountain 25 times. Sherpa, a climber from Nepal who has been ascending Everest since 1994, has said he intends to keep going till he reaches 50 summits. He is currently active in his ascent. Lhakpa Sherpa, who is not related to Kami Rita and has reached the top of Everest nine times, holds the record for most summits by a female climber.
While Sherpa’s record is unquestionably amazing, it’s important to remember that free solo climbs like Honnold’s are different from numerous ascents of Everest. In contrast to Honnold’s free solo climbs, climbing Everest needs a team, specialized equipment, and a large financial commitment. So, in the field of free solo climbing, is there anyone who can match or top Honnold’s accomplishments?
Swiss climber Ueli Steck is one person who has been mentioned as a potential rival for Honnold’s title. Before his tragic passing in 2017, Steck was renowned for his extraordinary speed and effectiveness on some of the world’s most difficult peaks. He also set multiple speed records during this time. Steck’s achievements in the field of alpine climbing were truly remarkable, despite the fact that he did not climb free solo like Honnold.
Czech mountaineer Adam Ondra is another climber who has been likened to Honnold. Ondra is renowned for his extraordinary strength and technical skill, and he has successfully completed some of the world’s most difficult sport climbs. While Ondra hasn’t attempted any free solo climbs like Honnold has, he has said he’d be open to doing so in the future.
In the area of free solo climbing, it’s impossible to determine whether anyone is actually superior to Alex Honnold. Honnold has pushed the limits of what is possible in the sport with his incredible performances. It will be intriguing to watch what new achievements climbers achieve in the upcoming years as there are undoubtedly other climbers out there who are pushing the limits in their own ways.