The First Footage of Alex Honnold’s Rope-Free Climb up El Capitan is Making Us Feel Faint Climbing up a 3,000 foot cliff with ropes isn't the safest thing in the world. Doing it without ropes is sheer madness.June 17, 2017 by The Editors Leave a Comment __ Do you want to be part of creating a kinder, more inclusive society? Join like-minded individuals in The Good Men Project Community.