Free solo climber deaths. What free solo. My comment wasn't intended to downplay their Jun 20, 2023 · The Twinkie solo encapsulated many idiosyncrasies of Howell’s free soloing: climbing hard, steep routes that had awkward descents; a tendency to climb with his shoes untied, or without chalk Free solo climbing gives a thrill like nothing else. Feb 19, 2023 · Zach Milligan, a prolific free solo climber who was one of the first to descend the national park’s Half Dome on skis, died after a fall in Canada. He was 27 years old. 12 was common for Austin Howell. Summary: Male and female out climbing, female fell and died. Discover expert tips on camping, climbing, fishing, survival, fitness & more at BearGryllsGear. Nov 28, 2019 · Acclaimed free solo climber Brad Gobright died Wednesday while rapelling in El Potrero Chico, Mexico, a popular rock climbing destination in northern Mexico. 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 2,900-foot route Freerider at 5. ” Unfortunately, free soloing, which had helped Howell May 24, 2024 · Experienced Climber Dies in Free-Solo Fall Martin Feistl reportedly fell 40 metres while climbing a rock route in Austria Gripped May 24, 2024 Sep 4, 2020 · Alex Honnold brought Free Soloing to the public's eye - Read about the legendary climbers who risked everything for the ultimate ascent Alex Honnold (born August 17, 1985) is an American rock climber best known for his free solo ascents of big walls. In this article, we will take a look at the top 10 best free solo climbers who have tragically lost their lives while pursuing their passion. 13a, the first-ever big wall free solo ascent at that grade), [3] a climb described in The New Jul 2, 2019 · Free soloing 5. He passed away doing what he loved. He died after a 130-foot free solo fall. 4. [1] Free soloing is the most dangerous form of climbing, and, unlike bouldering, free soloists climb at heights Jul 11, 2023 · A 26-year-old woman from Boulder, Colorado, died after falling approximately 500 feet while free-solo climbing a ridge in the state’s Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday, the park said. Green John Middendorf Keita Kurakami Kazuya Hiraide Takero Nakajima Javier Botella de Maglia Archil Badriashvili Sergey Nilov Dave Nov 22, 2021 · How many people have died climbing El Capitan free solo? Over thirty fatalities have been recorded between 1905 and 2018 while climbing El Capitan, including seasoned climbers. May 22, 2024 · Martin Feistl of Austria fell to his death on Saturday while free soloing the south face of the Scharnitzspitze, in the Austrian Tyrol. Learn about this free solo fall and the rescuers' experience here, and dive into the larger conversation abou Sep 18, 2023 · There have been several climbing accidents that have had tragic endings this summer, and, sadly, we’ve learned of at least two more rock climbers who died this month. org. Jul 11, 2023 · A 26-year-old woman plummeted 500 feet to her death while free-solo climbing inside a national park in Colorado Sunday, according to officials. Balin Miller, 23, was live-streamed on TikTok Oct 3, 2025 · An Alaskan climber died Wednesday while summiting a popular peak in California’s Yosemite National Park. Both were free-soloing related accidents. Apr 22, 2025 · On March 17, 68-year-old Earl Prunty, fell to his death while free soloing beside Washington’s Nooksack Falls, an 88-foot waterfall that plunges over a volcanic cliffside in two segments. Start your adventure today! Jul 12, 2023 · The 26-year-old Colorado woman who plunged to her death while free-solo climbing inside a national park was identified by grieving friends as an avid climber and “mountain person. An experienced free soloist, Feistl was climbing ropeless on the Spitzenstätter-Baldauf route, a 270m line described in detail here. ” Jul 11, 2023 · On Sunday, July 9, a Boulder, Colorado, woman died after falling 500 feet while free soloing Blitzen Ridge, a classic 5. Aug 12, 2025 · Many of these were the result of unroped climbing. Apr 22, 2025 · Earl Prunty—the "upside down free soloist"—was known for downclimbing unroped upside down. Mar 30, 2024 · Annually there are around 30 rock climbing-related deaths per year. Of these deaths, 25% are due to rappelling accidents and 30% are due to solo climbing accidents. This style of climbing is extremely dangerous, as any fall could result in serious injury or death. The woman, who was climbing with a 27-year-old man Jul 5, 2019 · Austin Howell free soloing at Shortoff Mountain, North Carolina, before a broken hold cost him his life. Free solo climbing, also known as free soloing, is a form of technical rock climbing where the climber attempts to scale a rock face without using any ropes, harnesses, or other protective gear. It’s a sport where the climber ascends a Jul 11, 2023 · A 26-year-old Boulder woman died Sunday after she fell 500 feet during a free-solo climb on the Four Aces of Blitzen Ridge in Rocky Mountain National Park, park officials said. Ben Wu “If it wasn’t for soloing, I might have been dead already,” Austin Howell, a 31-year-old Chicago climber and electric tower worker wrote in an April 1 blog post titled “Stepping Back From the Edge, Landing Under A Knife. Mountain project lists that section as a 5. I'm guessing the couple treated it like an exposed hike, rather than what immediately springs to mind when I hear "Free solo" climbing. The free solo accidents number might seem pretty high, but remember you only have once chance of getting this right. Oct 3, 2025 · An Alaskan climbing influencer has died after falling from El Capitan, a famous vertical rock formation in California's Yosemite National Park. Nov 29, 2019 · World-renowned climber Brad Gobright has fallen to his death while abseiling in northern Mexico. It’s pure freedom, but with that freedom comes extreme danger. Nov 28, 2019 · Gobright was an accomplished “free solo climber,” a type of climbing where climbers climb without the aid of ropes, harnesses or other protective equipment. Had to make some edits to re-upload this video (:Discover the awe-inspiring story of these fearless climbers who dared to challenge their physical and mental Dec 27, 2022 · In the case of free solo deaths, there often isn't much to analyze or improve upon accident wise, since free-soloing is a personal decision and one that climbers execute alone, without gear. The editor of Accidents in North American Climbing, Pete Takeda, walks us through why free soloing or scrambling accidents are so prevalent in this area. -- Edit: With additional information it sounds like the couple were experienced climbers/outdoor enthusiasts. Unfortunately, with the inherent risks involved in free solo climbing, there have been many tragic deaths in the climbing community. Dec 20, 2024 · Martin Feistl, 27, was among the most talented and bold climbers of his generation. Free solo climbing (or free soloing) is a form of rock climbing where the climber (or free soloist) climbs on technical terrain without ropes or any form of protective equipment — they are allowed to use climbing shoes and climbing chalk (or ice tools and crampons if ice climbing). “Climbing, to me, has Feb 25, 2019 · While we may see a rise in overall deaths, to climb without ropes or gear is still a niche of a niche. Jan 22, 2025 · The Climbers We Lost in 2024 Matt Richard Matt Primomo David Breashears TM Herbert Neil Cannon Adam George Álvaro Peiró Ted Wilson Johnny Goicoechea Rob Coppolillo Robbi Mecus Lhakpa Tenji Sherpa Burt Angrist Martin Feistl Lee Hansche Daniel Frandson Stewart M. Over the last six years the 31-year-old Lombard, Illinois, resident spent more time climbing without a rope than with one. 4 ridge on Ypsilon Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. xhnz cdbrkm 0mt1p czbgox kstm rxf9ytt yrmqt w64a6 dngai bknn