Alex Honnold is known in the rock climbing community for his fearless ascents of some of the most spectacular cliff faces in the world minus what is generally considered a rock climbing essential, a rope.
But the 28-year-old’s latest feat of courage and madness, an ascent of a route called The Shining Path (El Sendero Luminoso) in Mexico, is the kind of adventure to make even the most hardened climber gasp.
His climb up the 2500-foot near sheer cliff face is now regarded as the hardest “free solo” ever done.
Days of practice using ropes culminated in a nerves-of-steel performance that would have ended in certain death at any slip or misjudgment, or any breaking of a hand or foot hold.
Honnold is known for conquering high peaks without the use of safety equipment but his latest climb could be his greatest yet.
YouTube viewers were split in their assessment of Honnold’s achievement, with some branding him a legend and others calling him an idiot for taking such extreme risks.
Gabriel Patois posted: “Amazing climb! This guy is crazy, awesome footage that given me chicken skin !!!!”
Kaimano62 posted: “Wonderful!! When I watch Alex I feel something spiritual…”
But Jennifer Zwierstra wasn’t as convinced.
“I don’t understand why ‘The North Face’ supports irresponsible sporting activities like this,” she posted.
“I’m not talking about climbing itself, but about soloing. Of course the footage is beautiful, of course the climb itself is fantastic. But you also might call it a suicide mission. I guess the North Face wouldn’t show footage of a climb gone horribly wrong.”
Watch it for yourself. But remember to keep breathing while you do.
This article originally appeared on News.com.au.