In a full-page ad in The New York Times, The North Face honored Alex Honnold for becoming the first person to climb – without ropes or other safety gear – the nearly 3,000-foot granite face known as El Capitan in California’s Yosemite National Park.
The journey was filmed and photographed by National Geographic photographer and The North Face athlete Jimmy Chin and will be profiled in an upcoming documentary.
The North Face wrote in its ad, “Last week Alex Honnold became the first person to free solo Yosemite El Capitan. No ropes, no harness. Just unmatched physical and mental strength and an unwavering commitment to the impossible. Alex, we love you and wish you a lifetime of exploration. But next time, please use a rope!”
After nearly four hours on the wall on Saturday, the 31-year-old native reached its peak at 9:28 a.m.
Photo courtesy The North Face, Jimmy Chin and National Geographic
