--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Seven years ago, when I started free…" description: "\"Seven years ago, when I started free soloing long, hard routes in Yosemite - climbing without a rope, gear or a partner - I did it because it seemed li..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/alex-honnold-10787_adventure_seven-years-ago-when-i-started-free-solo_1877965.jpg" --- # Seven years ago, when I started free soloing long, hard… ![“Seven years ago, when I started free soloing long, hard routes in Yosemite - climbing without a rope, gear or a partner - I did it because it seemed like the purest, most elegant way to scale big walls. Climbing, especially soloing, felt like a grand adventure, but I never dreamed it could be a…” quote by Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/alex-honnold-10787_adventure_seven-years-ago-when-i-started-free-solo_1877965.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/alex-honnold-10787_adventure_seven-years-ago-when-i-started-free-solo_1877965.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/alex-honnold-10787_adventure_seven-years-ago-when-i-started-free-solo_1877965.jpg) > “Seven years ago, when I started free soloing long, hard routes in Yosemite - climbing without a rope, gear or a partner - I did it because it seemed like the purest, most elegant way to scale big walls. Climbing, especially soloing, felt like a grand adventure, but I never dreamed it could be a profession.” [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pursuing pure, minimalist challenges can become a vocation, turning passion into profession. **In simple terms:** Simple, pure pursuits can become work. Key Takeaway Embrace passion, let it guide career. Themes adventure passion career mountaineering Mood adventurous reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - sports - personal branding - risk management - inspiration Key Concepts risk minimalism skill mastery identity Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to simplify? - How do you balance risk and livelihood? A Different Perspective Risk can lead to loss of safety and stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Climbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbing/) [Especially Soloing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/especially-soloing-2634003/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Free Soloing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-soloing-513373/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Mountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountain/) [Soloing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soloing-513375/) [Soloing Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soloing-long-2634002/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [To be clear, I normally climb with a rope and partner. Free-soloing makes up only a small percentage of my total climbing. But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/to-be-clear-i-normally-climb-with-a-rope-and-partner-free-soloing/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [The terrible thing about free soloing difficult routes that are within one's capacity, is the chance that faced with ultimate danger and need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royal-robbins/the-terrible-thing-about-free-soloing-difficult-routes-that-are/) [Royal Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/royal-robbins/) > [Anything called the Teflon Corner is not sweet for free-soloing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/anything-called-the-teflon-corner-is-not-sweet-for-free-soloing/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [Free soloing is almost as old as climbing itself, with roots in the 19th century. Climbers are continuing to push the boundaries. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/free-soloing-is-almost-as-old-as-climbing-itself-with-roots-in-the/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I've done routes where I've climbed 200 feet off the ground and just been, like, 'What am I doing?' I then just climbed back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-ve-done-routes-where-i-ve-climbed-200-feet-off-the-ground-and-just/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [Free soloing is just the most natural way man can climb. It's just using your hands and feet without any use of protection or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-potter/free-soloing-is-just-the-most-natural-way-man-can-climb-it-s-just/) [Dean Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-potter/) > [The most beautiful experiences I've had climbing are when everything is simplified. Free soloing is the simplest thing, until you learn to fly or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-potter/the-most-beautiful-experiences-i-ve-had-climbing-are-when-everything/) [Dean Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-potter/) > [Everybody free-solos. When you walk to the store, you're free-soloing. It's just a matter of the difficulty of the route.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bachar/everybody-free-solos-when-you-walk-to-the-store-you-re-free-soloing/) [John Bachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bachar/) > [I like the simplicity of soloing. You've got no gear, no partner. You never climb better than when you free-solo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-like-the-simplicity-of-soloing-you-ve-got-no-gear-no-partner-you/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I generally don't climb something if it makes me feel fear. The beauty of soloing is that there's no pressure - no one's telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-generally-don-t-climb-something-if-it-makes-me-feel-fear-the-beauty/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I think it's great that so many people are enjoying climbing. I've always loved climbing; I don't see why other people wouldn't enjoy it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-think-it-s-great-that-so-many-people-are-enjoying-climbing-i-ve/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I love my climbing shoes. Virtually all of my big solos have been in the TC Pros. They are the most important thing when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-love-my-climbing-shoes-virtually-all-of-my-big-solos-have-been-in/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I know I'm not a cutting-edge free climber. Free soloing, I'm comfortable to 5.10-plus or 5.11a. But if I was a grade higher I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-potter/i-know-i-m-not-a-cutting-edge-free-climber-free-soloing-i-m/) [Dean Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-potter/) > [To me, drum soloing is like doing a marathon and solving equations at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/to-me-drum-soloing-is-like-doing-a-marathon-and-solving-equations-at/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [Soloing is serious business, because you can be seriously dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bachar/soloing-is-serious-business-because-you-can-be-seriously-dead/) [John Bachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bachar/) ## More by Alex Honnold > [I think it's great that so many people are enjoying climbing. I've always loved climbing; I don't see why other people wouldn't enjoy it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-think-it-s-great-that-so-many-people-are-enjoying-climbing-i-ve/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I'm sponsored by the solar company Goal Zero, and they were gracious enough to install panels on my van and a nice battery system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-m-sponsored-by-the-solar-company-goal-zero-and-they-were-gracious/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [In a general sense, I think it's bad to bring too much money into climbing, since it takes away a little from the beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/in-a-general-sense-i-think-it-s-bad-to-bring-too-much-money-into/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I love my climbing shoes. Virtually all of my big solos have been in the TC Pros. They are the most important thing when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-love-my-climbing-shoes-virtually-all-of-my-big-solos-have-been-in/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [My fantasy breakfast is just a really good egg scramble. Maybe I'll add a little feta, so, uh, obviously not totally dairy-free. Definitely some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/my-fantasy-breakfast-is-just-a-really-good-egg-scramble-maybe-i-ll/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I make a fair amount of my food choices for environmental-type reasons than nutrition or taste. I'm trying to minimize impact, which is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-make-a-fair-amount-of-my-food-choices-for-environmental-type/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [We are apes - we should be climbing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/we-are-apes-we-should-be-climbing/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I am a vegetarian, and I sort of aspire to vegan-hood. So far I've noticed no difference at all in my climbing, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-i-sort-of-aspire-to-vegan-hood-so-far-i-ve/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I took a test once; they said I was a genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-took-a-test-once-they-said-i-was-a-genius/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [At the crux of Half Dome, at the very top of the wall, imagine, like, a smooth wall of rock - a nearly vertical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/at-the-crux-of-half-dome-at-the-very-top-of-the-wall-imagine-like-a/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I generally don't climb something if it makes me feel fear. The beauty of soloing is that there's no pressure - no one's telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-generally-don-t-climb-something-if-it-makes-me-feel-fear-the-beauty/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I know that when I'm standing alone below a thousand-foot wall, looking up and considering a climb, my sponsors are the furthest thing from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-know-that-when-i-m-standing-alone-below-a-thousand-foot-wall/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [Pretty much every gym I go into, I feel very comfortable. I dump my stuff, take my shoes off, do my thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/pretty-much-every-gym-i-go-into-i-feel-very-comfortable-i-dump-my/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I often joke that I've just become a professional schmoozer. Like, nobody cares how well I can rock climb anymore. It just has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-often-joke-that-i-ve-just-become-a-professional-schmoozer-like/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I've walked away from more climbs than I can count, just because I sensed that things were not quite right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-ve-walked-away-from-more-climbs-than-i-can-count-just-because-i/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) [Explore all 63 Alex Honnold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) ## More Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) [Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) [Kevin McLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mcleod/) > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [I am not an adventurous person but I am gutsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-am-not-an-adventurous-person-but-i-am-gutsy/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) [Browse all 7,690 Adventure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Seven years ago, when I started free soloing long, hard routes in Yosemite - climbing without a rope, gear or a partner - I did it because it seemed like the purest, most elegant way to scale big walls. Climbing, especially soloing, felt like a grand adventure, but I never dreamed it could be a profession.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alex Honnold" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/seven-years-ago-when-i-started-free-soloing-long-hard-routes-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adventure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/seven-years-ago-when-i-started-free-soloing-long-hard-routes-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/alex-honnold-10787_adventure_seven-years-ago-when-i-started-free-solo_1877965.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/alex-honnold-10787_adventure_seven-years-ago-when-i-started-free-solo_1877965.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fc/alex-honnold-10787_adventure_seven-years-ago-when-i-started-free-solo_1877965.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Seven years ago, when I started free soloing long, hard routes in Yosemite - climbing without a rope, gear…” — Alex Honnold", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alex Honnold", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Seven years ago, when I started...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/seven-years-ago-when-i-started-free-soloing-long-hard-routes-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/seven-years-ago-when-i-started-free-soloing-long-hard-routes-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```