Climber Pulls Off Incredibly Creative and Cutting-Edge Free Solos in Patagonia

Move over Alex, there’s a new climber in town.

An American rock climber from California has pulled off an incredibly creative and cutting-edge free solo in Patagonia, Argentina. Jim Reynolds climbed up a technical 5,000-foot rock climb on 11,171 foot Cerror Fitz Roy without any rope or gear. But maybe even more impressive is that he also climbed down the route without any artificial assistance, writes National Geographic. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

This is the love I feel today; I am here because of it. . This place fills me with doubt. I’m not sure I belong. 4 people died in the last window. It’s terrible and ugly in these mountains of otherwise immaculate beauty. Should I be here? Days later I learned that my best friend from childhood died from a heroin overdose. Either way death is inglorious, but I firmly believe that we are pushing for something beautiful. It is beautiful moments that make life worth living. . Maybe someday I will feel a different love and it will draw me elsewhere, but life is dangerous. I won’t give up love for fear. . -Tad Mccrea showing me the way as we hustle though the danger zone on our way up and over Poincenot #patagonia #climbing #chooselove #alpine

A post shared by Jim Reynolds (@chimney_jim) on Jan 31, 2019 at 5:46am PST

The 25-year-old climber works on the Yosemite Search and Rescue (YOSAR) team in the summer, and is probably best known for briefly holding the coveted speed record on the Nose of El Capitan with Brad Gobright. He came out with a time of 2:19:44 on the 3,000-foot route in 2017. In 2018, Alex Honnold went sub two hours.

But what is most impressive about Reynolds’ free solo of Fitz Roy is the nature of the climbing. “Its length, the remoteness of its position, and this curious decision to eschew using a rope to rappel out of stylistic purity and heightened adventure,” writes Nat Geo. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

We’re a little brutalized after hauling to El Cap Spire, but we’re sending so far! Today is our first 5.12+ pitch, so we’re up before dawn to catch good temps. We’re not the only ones in the Alcove though #portaledgecity #whatsyourdawnwall #elcapitan

A post shared by Jim Reynolds (@chimney_jim) on Nov 7, 2018 at 5:37am PST

“It is mind blowing that this came to pass,” says Rolo Garibotti, a world-class Argentinian climber and Patagonia expert, to Nat Geo. “Jim is making a big statement here. We’re going to be speaking about this for a long, long time. I have a hard time imagining how somebody is going to up the ante over this.”