Alex Honnold Shares How He Handles Nature's Call During Climbs

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Alex Honnold, the renowned free solo climber, has opened up about how he manages to go to the bathroom during his daring outdoor expeditions. In a recent podcast interview, Honnold revealed that he has had to resort to 'one-handed, hanging out the side of a cliff, taking a dump' on multiple occasions when 'things go sideways.' The athlete, who has scaled the world's tallest buildings and conquered El Capitan without any safety gear, said he has never actually 'sh*t his pants' but has had 'a lot of serious emergencies' while rock climbing.

Why it matters

Honnold's candid discussion about his bathroom habits during climbs sheds light on the extreme physical and mental challenges faced by elite climbers. It also highlights the importance of proper preparation and risk management in such dangerous sports, where even basic bodily functions can become a logistical challenge.

The details

In the interview, Honnold told podcast host Hasan Minhaj that he simply 'just pees and poops' when nature calls during his climbs. He clarified that he has never defecated on himself, but has had numerous 'drastic' situations where he's had to relieve himself while hanging from the side of a cliff. Honnold even revealed that he once had Giardia, a parasitic infection, during one of these bathroom emergencies. The climber emphasized that it's better to deal with the situation than to 'poop your pants.'

• Honnold scaled Taiwan's Taipei 101 skyscraper, standing at 1,667 feet, in January 2026.

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