Alex Honnold of ‘ARCTIC ASCENT’ from National Geographic TV On The Message He Hopes Viewers Take From The Docuseries

I had the pleasure to interview Alex Honnold of ‘ARCTIC ASCENT WITH ALEX HONNOLD’ from National Geographic TV.

Alex Honnold (FREE SOLO) embarks on an epic quest of unclimbed walls in one of the most remote corners of Greenland, a country on the frontline of the climate crisis. Honnold has always dreamed of exploring Greenland and its unclimbed peaks. Now he and world-class climbers Hazel Findlay and Mikey Schaefer attempt to summit Ingmikortilaq, an unclimbed Arctic seacliff that rises out of the frozen wilderness and is nearly 1,000 feet higher than Free Solo’s El Capitan. For Honnold, a long-time climate activist, this expedition is about more than just climbing, it is an opportunity to witness firsthand the impact of climate change on a wilderness that is vitally important to the future of the planet. With the help of Dr. Heïdi Sevestre, a glaciologist working with the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program, Greenlandic guide Adam Kjeldsen and renowned adventurer Aldo Kane, the team use a special radar to take real-time depth and density measurements of a rarely studied section of Greenland’s ice cap. A

Could you share a bit about your backstory, Alex?

I grew up loving climbing, starting in the gym, and now I’ve been a professional rock climber for 17 years. It’s been quite a journey.

What inspired the expedition to summit Ingmikortilaq in Greenland, featured in ‘ARCTIC ASCENT WITH ALEX HONNOLD’?

It was the perfect trip — the right objective, a giant unclimbed wall, and the ideal team, including Heidi Sylvester, the glaciologist, working on climate projects. When all the pieces align, going to the right place with the right team for a meaningful and globally impactful mission, it’s a win-win-win.

How does ‘ARCTIC ASCENT’ contribute to raising awareness about climate change, and what firsthand observations did you make?

Well, hopefully, it sheds light on the fragility and beauty of Eastern Greenland. We conducted various experiments, implementing projects for universities worldwide. While our firsthand observations may not revolutionize human knowledge, the program aims to inform viewers about critical facts — such as the Arctic warming faster than the rest of the world and the potential sea level rise from the melting Greenland ice sheet. These are crucial details affecting millions living on coasts. It’s a valuable contribution amid a sea of television content that often lacks substance or positivity. Also, as a side note, considering the abundance of content on television, our show stands out as more useful, real, and honest, offering an uplifting experience in a beautiful place tackling challenges important to humanity.

Can you share insights into the technologies used to study the Arctic environment during the expedition?

In some ways, it was the opposite of cutting-edge. We used drones and even launched a NASA probe to measure temperature and salinity in the fjord. However, the reality is that these high-tech-sounding devices were often makeshift. Heidi’s tools were jerry-rigged, like ground-penetrating radar devices we used on the Runland ice cap. They may look like Home Depot scraps, but they work. My takeaway is that much of what we perceive as glamorous climate science is about people creating functional, one-off solutions. It’s not polished or consumer-facing; it’s about getting the job done, even if it looks like trash. The drilling projects were tough blue-collar work, with one drill even catching fire at the end of the trip. It’s a reminder that a lot of science is simply hard work.

How does the ‘ARCTIC ASCENT’ stand out among your experiences in some of the world’s most dangerous locations?

It stands out as one of my best expeditions. Everything about it — the right place, the right team — was incredibly satisfying. While there was some danger, it wasn’t as perilous as it may seem on television. The real dangers are often unseen. With a well-equipped team, insurance, and restrictions on taking excessive risks, it was a truly great and enjoyable expedition, despite the challenging work involved.

Given the extreme environments, how do you approach risk management, and what lessons have you learned?

Risk management is an ongoing conversation with the team throughout the entire six weeks. It encompasses everything from campsite selection — weighing the safety from a glacier perspective against the danger from rockfalls when positioned below the wall. Constant discussions revolve around questions like, should we move camp here or there? What hazards are we facing, and how can we mitigate them? Comparisons with everyone’s past experiences in similar locations globally come into play. While risk management is a team decision and not unique to Greenland, it’s an integral part of the climbing lifestyle. Conversations cover various potential issues, from bears to weather, making it seem pessimistic at times, but it’s a necessary approach to handling risk.

How do you use your success to bring goodness to the world?

That’s the essence of The Honnold Foundation. I established it because being well-known has no real value if it doesn’t serve a purpose. It doesn’t necessarily enhance the quality of your life, but it does offer a tremendous opportunity to make a positive impact. So, I started the foundation with the belief that if I’m going to be in the public eye, I might as well use it for something meaningful. Being a public figure, in itself, isn’t inherently great — it’s about leveraging that position to do something better. Thank you so much.

How can the audience stay updated on your work and watch the premiere of ‘ARCTIC ASCENT WITH ALEX HONNOLD’?

‘ARCTIC ASCENT’ premieres on February 4th 2024 on NatGeo TV, and on February 5th 2024 on Disney+.

If anyone’s curious about my work, you can follow me on social media @AlexHonnold. Alternatively, visit The Honnold Foundation website at honnoldfoundation.org. The Honnold Foundation is doing great things globally, supporting solar projects and engaging in more meaningful work.

Thank you for your time and for sharing your expertise with us, Alex.