Free Solo: Documentary Film by National Geographic

    It's all about heights-the fear of; and the fear of falling, and dying.   Hmmm.  Not many of us aspire to be rock climbers, and least of all: free climbers.   Free climbers are those special folks who despite the obvious "short falls",  do not use ropes to aid their efforts.   Hmmmm.  What type of people are these folks?   Different we say.  Very different.
      So, Alex Honnold, a free climber and a rope climber, too, decides that he will do what nobody else has done:  he aspired to free climb "El Cap"-that granite face that dominates Yosemite valley in California's Sierra Nevada.  The Yosemite Valley is world famous, known for its spectacular geology and visual feasts in every direction.   Carved by glacial action in a long ago era,  we Californians have been able to admire the views ever since cameras captured the views over 150 years ago.   Ansel Adams even set up a shop there to exploit the the never ending changes in light that cascades across the granite cliffs that hang thousands of feet above the valley floor.  The challenges have captivated climbers for many, many years.   Early efforts were primitive, and those early efforts took many weeks to complete a single pitch(pathway). 
         When the National Park took over, it soon found itself as the regulator of climbing efforts less there be collisions, excessive damage by bolts and screws driven into the hard faces of the cliffs.  As the sport expanded, so did the interest of those who would climb these granite walls, often for 2-3000' vertical feet.  Now what looks flat to the unaided eye from below, is actually a wall riven with cracks, fissures, clefts, shelves, and chimneys.   All of which can be used or avoided by climbers in their efforts.   And once Mr. Honnold made it known that he would attempt a free solo effort,  climbing veterans and experts were brought in for sage advice.  Also, cameramen/women.
       Mr. Honnold began his preparations a few years ago.  He even went to Morocco to work on some rock faces in that country.  The camera crew was there to record his training efforts.  He used ropes during this training cycle: he was practicing certain movements that would be helpful in Yosemite Valley, such as traversing to a different pitch while ascending an overall face, such as El Capitan-The Captain.   The camera crew consisted of experienced climbers who also knew how to shoot film/digital movies.   Essentially, the cameramen would have to be positioned along the route so as to capture the best shots from an angle above, below, and on the same level as climber Honnold.  They would use ropes for their part.
       As preparations were completed, a time was thought through: consider the sun during the climb-maybe starting before dawn was the right time, so as not to get too hot.  Maybe an afternoon slot would be Ok, despite shadows here and there.  After all his pre-climb training and practice, Honnold was now ready.  He false started a couple of times and decided it wasn't right yet.  And then, he found the right day, the right time, and signaled his commitment: he was starting, and it could take 4 -plus hours, if all went well.
     And it did: he completed the climb under 4 hours, in time for lunch.   All observers who were present stood in awe of his achievement: a world class athlete who owned a singular record: the only man to free solo El Capitan.   All on film; winning an Oscar for Best Documentary.