Alex Honnold is an American rock climber famous for his several rock climbing exploits. One of the best rock climbers globally, Alex Honnold’s successful rock climbing exploits have seen him earn numerous rock climbing recognition as a fast-rising sport.
Reviewed in this article are Alex Honnold net worth, biography, career, and personal life of one of the greatest stars in rock climbing.
A versatile and experienced climber, Honnold’s rock climbing skills have seen him engage in multiple climbing disciplines but majorly participates in bouldering, free solo climbing, and big wall climbing.
In 2017, Alex Honnold stunned the rock climbing world when he ascended the El Capitan rock’s The Nose section at the Yosemite National Park. Alex Honnold, who free soloed the climb, became the first climber to achieve the feat.
The widely publicized feat hailed as one of the most outstanding achievements in athletics’ history was 3 hours, 56 minutes.
In recognition of his achievement, a documentary entitled Free Solo, which presented intricate details of the rigorous climb was released and welcomed with so much acclaim that it went on to receive an Academy Award and a BAFTA award.
Alex Honnold Biography, Career & Achievements
Early Life
On August 17, 1977, Alex Honnold was born to Charles Forrest Honnold and Dierdre Wolownick, two community college professors. His father, Charles Forrest Honnold, is of Polish descent while his mother traces her root to Germany.
As young as age 5, Alex Honnold’s interest in rock climbing began. He thus began climbing in a climbing gym, but Honnold was 10 years old, and he had begun climbing several times every week.
Honnold had revealed in the interviews that when he started climbing at a young age, he wasn’t as good as other children who climbed as though they were naturally talented.
Alex Honnold attended Mira Loma High School and went on to study civil engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. During his first year in college, Honnod’s parents divorced.
Following his parent’s divorce, his love for rock climbing came to the fore as he skipped several classes to boulder at the Indian Rock in Berkeley. His passion for rock climbing soon led him to drop out of college.
He soon moved in with his mother and began climbing in California. Honnold made use of his mother’s old minivan to transport himself to various climbing routes.
The van soon spoilt, and Honnold had to rely on his bicycle. Honnold went on to buy a 2002 Ford Econoline E150 van in 2007, which made his climbing expeditions easier.
Alex Honnold Regular Northwest Face Of Half Dome
In 2012, following his solo ascent of the Regular Northwest Face of Half Dome, the first Grade VI climbing route in America, Alex Honnold gained mainstream recognition.
His ascent of the Regular Northwest Face of Half Dome was featured in Alone’s movie on the Wall. In November, Honnold teamed up with American climber Hans Florine to set a new world record in climbing the Nose section of the El Capitan rock, an adventure that failed.
The duo returned seven months later to accomplish the feat, which they did with a new world record of 2:23:46.
Alex Honnold Free Solo Climb
Honnold’s climbing career took a big hit in November 2014, following Clif Bar & Company’s decision to end his sponsorship.
The decision was primarily based on the “element of risk” in free solo climbing, which the company no longer wished to be part of.
Undeterred by his loss of sponsorship, Honnod continued to climb, and in June 2017, he made the first-ever free solo ascent of the El Capitan in 3 hours 56 minutes.
That achievement by Honnold became one of the most remarkable feats not just in rock climbing, but in the history of Athletics.
The climb inspired the 2018 sports documentary, Free Solo. About a year after his incredible feat, Honnold teamed up with another seasoned climber, Tommy Caldwell, to set a new speed record for the Nose section of the El Capitan.
The duo completed the climb in 1:58:07, becoming the first climbers to ascend the route in less than 2 hours.
Alex Honnold Net Worth & Foundation
In 2020, Alex Honnold net worth is estimated to be $3.5 million, and it is mostly from his career as a rock climber. Alex Honnold’s began giving a part of his earnings to support solar projects that help increase energy in the world.
That soon gave birth to The Honnold Foundation, which is committed to”promoting solar energy” globally.
Alex Honnold Wife & Personal Life
For more than 10 years, Alex Honnold lived in a van that had a custom-built kitchenette and cabinets. Honnold had stated that he preferred living in a comfortable apartment, but his love for places with right weather conditions such as the Yosemite made him reside in a van in such locations.
He also stated the ease that comes with living in a van. One reference he made was peeing in a pee bottle than walking to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
After more than a decade living in a van, Honnold bought a house in Las Vegas in 2017. Honnold revealed he spent a week living in his van, parked in the driveway of his newly built house, as he didn’t have any furniture.
After he bought the house, Honnod replaced his 2002 Ford Econoline E150 with a 2016 Ram ProMaster. Alex Honnold is a vegetarian and abstains from alcohol and drug use.
Aside from climbing, Alex Honnold enjoys running and hiking mountains. He also enjoys reading books that center on economics, environmentalism, and classic literature.
Honnold met his fiancee, Sanni McCandless, at a book signing event in 2015. In December 2019, Honnold and Sanni McCandless became engaged.
Most likely influenced by her son, Honnold’s mother, Dierdre Wolownick, became the oldest woman to climb the El Capitan at the age of 66.
Alex Honnold Shoes
These Alex Honnold shoes are signature for climbers who opt for comfortability balanced with performance. It is advisable to size down when purchasing yours because the leather will stretch up to a size and maybe more.
Alex Honnold’s favorite shoes are La Sportiva. Alex is also an ambassador for La Sportiva.
La Sportiva TC Pro Vibram XS Edge climbing shoe cost $190.00. Click on this link to buy yours at a discounted rate today. This was the shoe he wore in the popular climbing documentary free solo.
Conclusion
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