3 ms·

Alex didn't use any rope going up El Cap so...

• zopa 7y ago
  He did though, just not on his final ascent.
• tomxor 7y ago
  I don't think you read all of my post... i'm not talking about the direct affect of technology use on any single assent. Only if Alex has never used a modern climbing rope in his life is my point invalid (I know he has). It's also important to understand that many of other pieces of climbing technology help in learning and developing the skill for everyone, not a single one, ropes are just an example.
• takk309 7y ago
  True, but he did use a rope to rehearse the route a large number of times. He knew he was physically capable of free soloing the route because of the confidence he was able to gain as a direct result of using the technology available to him.
• X6S1x6Okd1st 7y ago
  That's like saying maps don't matter in warfare because they aren't useful in hand to hand combat
• starpilot 7y ago
  The vast majority of Alex's climbing is trad. So he benefited from thousands of pitches with modern safety equipment: harnesses, lightweight cams, ropes, crash pads (when he was training in Bishop) and so on. Free Solo was his magnum opus, the result of all that training.