Climbing into Life

Climbing into Life is a feature-length documentary detailing the inspiring life story of Dierdre Wolownick, the mother of Free Solo’s Alex Honnold. Already an accomplished writer, artist, teacher, and musician, she was inspired by her adult children’s athletic passions, eventually leading her to become the oldest woman to ascend Yosemite’s famed El Capitan. The story of how she went from a completely consumed mother and professor—shedding a bad marriage—to ending up on the wall of El Capitan is riveting and nothing less than inspiring. From an unhappy wife and lonely mother to achieving the status of an athlete later in life, Dierdre confronts fear and ageism and gains a wonderful new community in the outdoors.