free solo
Climb without gear
Free solo describes climbing without ropes, harnesses, or protective equipment—just the climber and the rock.
A fall typically means death.
The term distinguishes this style from other forms of solo climbing that use safety gear.
As a verb, to free solo is to climb this way: She free soloed El Capitan in under four hours.
Move upward
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- cruxMost important point
- pitchFrequency of sound
- overhangSection projecting beyond support
traverse · descent · grip · edging · smearing · dyno · jams · bouldering
Boldness before danger
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
- fearlessnessComplete lack of dread
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
- nerveSignal-carrying body fiber
guts · intrepidity · daring · valor · pluck · fortitude · mettle · chutzpah
Exposure to harm
- perilSerious threat of harm
- fatalCausing death or ruin
- fallDescend under gravity
- deathCessation of life
exposure · precarious · hazard · vulnerability · consequence · commitment · highball · runout
Concentrated attention point
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- composureEmotional self-control
- presenceState of being somewhere
- flow stateOptimal engagement condition
visualization · commitment · confidence · calm · clarity · mindfulness · breath control · mental rehearsal
Without others present
- isolationComplete separation from others
- self-relianceDepending on oneself alone
- independenceFreedom from external control
- quietudeState of calm stillness
introspection · contemplation · serenity · meditative · singular · unassisted · individual · personal
ascend
Move upward
overhang · traverse · descent · grip · edging · smearing · dyno · jams · bouldering · multipitch
bravery
Boldness before danger
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
- fearlessnessComplete lack of dread
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
nerve · guts · intrepidity · daring · valor · pluck · fortitude · mettle · chutzpah · undaunted
danger
Exposure to harm
death · exposure · precarious · hazard · vulnerability · consequence · commitment · highball · runout · irreversible
focus
Concentrated attention point
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- composureEmotional self-control
- presenceState of being somewhere
flow state · visualization · commitment · confidence · calm · clarity · mindfulness · breath control · mental rehearsal · preparation
alone
Without others present
- isolationComplete separation from others
- self-relianceDepending on oneself alone
- independenceFreedom from external control
quietude · introspection · contemplation · serenity · meditative · singular · unassisted · individual · personal
- extreme sportsbungee jumping, skydiving, wingsuit flying, cliff diving, paragliding
- featsfeat, stunt, exploit, daring feat, deed
- risksrisk, gamble, bet, wager, chance it
- Stuntsstunt, stuntman, stunt double, daredevil, stunt performer
- climbingrock climbing, belay, bouldering, carabiner, chalk
- Climbing Featsfirst ascent, speed record, send, flash, Everest summit
free sololead climbing
Ascending while placing clips
sport climbing · indoor climbing · gym climbing · bouldering
free, freedom, solo, freely, freelance, solos, soloist, freelancer, soloing