free-soloing
Climbing without ropes
Free-soloing is rock climbing without ropes, harnesses, or protective equipment—just the climber and the wall.
A fall typically means death.
The term distinguishes this practice from other solo climbing where the climber self-belays.
He free-soloed El Capitan in under four hours.
The activity represents climbing's most extreme and controversial form.
Climbing without belay
- ascentUpward movement
- handholdSomething to grasp
- footholdStable position for advancement
- crimpPinch into folds
smear · mantle · dyno · crux · grip · friction · route · send
Vertical rock wall
- faceHead's anterior surface
- wallVertical enclosing structure
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- peakUtmost height attained
altitude · elevation · precipice · vertical · abyss · void · ledge · arete
Sustained effort capacity
- staminaCapacity for sustained effort
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
core · forearm · recovery · training · hangboard · breathing · fatigue · pump
Causing death or ruin
- deathCessation of life
- mortalityState of eventual death
- perilSerious threat of harm
- dangerExposure to harm
hazard · precarious · consequence · fall · exposure · commitment · irreversible · runout
Emotional response to threat
- focusConcentrated attention point
- calmFree from agitation
- presenceState of being somewhere
- clarityState of being understandable
composure · commitment · confidence · visualization · breathwork · meditation · concentration · awareness
Scottish tenant farm
- PotterFictional wizard's surname
- OsmanOttoman Empire's first ruler
- documentaryFactual film about reality
- puristOne demanding strict adherence
style · ethics · boldness · adventure · wilderness · self-reliance · solitude · communion
unroped
Climbing without belay
crimp · smear · mantle · dyno · crux · grip · friction · route · send · slab
cliff
Vertical rock wall
peak · altitude · elevation · precipice · vertical · abyss · void · ledge · arete · dihedral
endurance
Sustained effort capacity
- staminaCapacity for sustained effort
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
balance · core · forearm · recovery · training · hangboard · breathing · fatigue · pump
fatal
Causing death or ruin
danger · hazard · precarious · consequence · fall · exposure · commitment · irreversible · runout · focus
fear
Emotional response to threat
clarity · composure · commitment · confidence · visualization · breathwork · meditation · concentration · awareness · acceptance
Croft
Scottish tenant farm
- PotterFictional wizard's surname
- OsmanOttoman Empire's first ruler
- documentaryFactual film about reality
purist · style · ethics · boldness · adventure · wilderness · self-reliance · solitude · communion · nature
free-soloingtop-roping
Climbing with anchor above
lead climbing · sport climbing · gym climbing · indoor climbing · bouldering
free, solo, freely, freedom, freer, freest, freeing, freed, solos