In fairness to his girlfriend, he did say early on that she was just starting climbing and that he didn’t consider her a climber. And the first route they did on their ‘first date’ was a multi-pitch. Reading between the lines I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d done a bit of climbing at a wall in Seattle then found herself seconding Honnold – something of a baptism of fire.
It’s an easy trap to fall in to with climbing – the urge to get out and climb surpasses any sense of self=preservation when conditions are good and you your normal partner isn’t about. Anyone who answers the call ends up holding your rope and before you know it you’re having a helicopter ride and a morphine drip.
I knew the outcome, but still noticed a distinct increase in my rate of breathing when he set off across the boulder problem pitch. Incredible achievement.
The whole brain scan thing was interesting. My first time up there I was bricking it the whole time. With each successive wall it just got more relaxed and fun. Looks like Honnold has reached the point where being up there is less scary than going shopping to buy a fridge.