The Impossible Climb: Alex Honnold, El Capitan, and the Climbing Life

(Paperback)

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One slip, one false move, one missed toehold, and you're dead.

On 3 June 2017, veteran adventure journalist and professional climber Mark Synnott was in Yosemite to witness something that only a handful of people knew was about to occur: the most famous climber in the world, Alex Honnold, was going to attempt to summit one of the world's most challenging ascents: a route called Freerider on the notorious rock formation, El Capitan. It is an extraordinarily dangerous and difficult climb, and yet Honnold was going to do it 'free-solo'. Meaning no help. No climbing partner. No equipment. No rope. Where a single small mistake would mean certain death. To most, it would be an insane proposition. But most are not Alex Honnold, and few know this better than Mark Synnott, which is why National Geographic sent him there to cover the story.

In The Impossible Climb, Mark Synnott uses his own career as a professional climber, its intersection with that of Alex Honnold and the lead-up to Honnold's historic ascent to paint a insider portrait of the elite climbing community, exploring what motivates them, the paradoxical drive to keep the sport pure and at the same time to fund climbs, and the role that awareness of mortality plays in the endeavour. We watch through Mark's eyes as Alex plots, trains and attempts his heart-stopping free solo ascent. Ultimately this is a story not only about climbing but about what makes us human, how we respond to fear and our drive to transcend the inevitability of death.

'Mark Synnott's The Impossible Climb is to climbing what William Finnegan's Barbarian Days is to surfing.' John Long, pioneer of 'free solo' rock climbing

'Immensely enjoyable . . . What motivated Honnold to free climb El Capitan without a rope "Because it's there" doesn't come close to explaining it. Synnott's The Impossible Climb does.' Andy Hall, author of Denali's Howl

Author Bio

Mark Synnott is widely regarded as one of the most prolific adventurers of his generation. His quest for unclimbed terrain has taken him on 30 expeditions around the globe - from Guyana to Pakistan to Uzbekistan to Cameroon and Oman, among others. As a 20-year member of The North Face "Dream Team," Mark has led expeditions with some of the greatest adventure athletes in the world, such as Jimmy Chin, Alex Honnold, and Conrad Anker. He has climbed El Capitan 22 times (with a rope!). Mark is also regarded as one of the best storytellers in the business and is called on often as a motivational speaker. He is also one of the most sought after adventure writers in the business and has written hundreds of magazine articles for dozens of publications in the US and abroad, including Outside, Men's Journal, New York Magazine, Skiing, Climbing Magazine, Rock and Ice, Ascent, among others. Today he works almost exclusively for National Geographic Magazine. Mark has also worked extensively in the film and television industry, both in front of and behind the camera, with credits including work for National Geographic Television and NBC Sports.