The North Face: Alex Honnold - El Sendero Luminoso

In this short film from The North Face, Alex Honnold takes on El Sendero Luminoso (“The Shining Path”) in El Potrero Chico, Mexico—an enormous 2,500-foot sweep of limestone rising to the summit of El Toro. On January 15, 2014, he commits to the route without a rope, moving for hours with nothing but precision, calm, and total control as the wall drops away beneath him. What makes this worth watching is the rare blend of scale and intimacy: you feel the immensity of the line while the camera stays close enough to catch the small decisions that keep everything together. It’s a gripping look at free soloing’s mental edge—focus, fear management, and flow—framed by stark exposure, clean climbing, and a soundtrack that builds quiet momentum into something unforgettable.

The North Face · 6:12

On January 15, 2014, Alex Honnold free-soloed El Sendero Luminoso (The Shining Path) in El Portrero Chico, Mexico in a little over 3 hours. The climb rises 2,500 feet to the summit of El Toro. It could be the most difficult rope-less climb in history. Music: Matthew Morgan "Sun Through The Clouds" Philip Sheppard "Chronograph" PhilipSheppard.com