Alex Honnold Solos The Phoenix (5.13) - Behind The Scenes

Step behind the camera for an intimate look at Alex Honnold’s legendary free solo of The Phoenix in Yosemite—one of the most demanding pitches ever climbed without a rope. Told through filmmaker Peter Mortimer’s perspective, this short film captures the tension, precision, and focus surrounding Honnold’s historic 2011 ropeless ascent. What makes this worth watching isn’t just the headline achievement—it’s the rare access to the moments around it: the quiet preparation, the razor-thin margins, and the mental control required to commit on hard crack climbing with no safety net. If you’ve ever wondered what “calm” looks like at the edge of possibility, this is it.

REEL ROCK · 9:24

One of the hardest pitches ever free soloed in Yosemite. An intimate look behind the scenes during Alex Honnold's historic 2011 ropeless ascent of The Phoenix (5.13) as told by filmmaker Peter Mortimer. Stream over 150 incredible climbing and adventure films at Reel Rock Unlimited. Subscribe here: https://watch.reelrocktour.com/browse Download 3 classic Alex Honnold films here: https://reelrocktour.com/products/alex-honnold-3-classic-films