At a Glance
- Alex Honnold, famed for free-soloing El Capitan, is now a father of two.
- Daughters June (born Feb. 17 2022) and Alice (born Feb. 6 2024) were born via emergency C-section and a routine delivery.
- The climber says fatherhood has shifted his training priorities and personal goals.
Why it matters: It shows how a high-risk athlete adapts his life when new responsibilities arrive.
Alex Honnold’s name is synonymous with fearless climbing, but in recent years he’s taken on a new kind of challenge: fatherhood. His wife, Sanni McCandless Honnold, and he welcomed two daughters-June and Alice-while he continues to scale cliffs and skyscrapers. The couple’s journey from a traumatic birth to a relaxed delivery, and the ways the experience has reshaped Alex’s approach to climbing, offer a fresh look at what it means to balance adventure with family.
Family Milestones
Sanni and Alex married in 2020 and decided early on that they wanted their children close in age. The plan worked out when Sanni discovered she was pregnant again while attending a friend’s wedding. They celebrated the news and, after a short wait, welcomed Alice on Feb. 6 2024-just two days before June’s second birthday.
| Child | Birth Date | Birth Method |
|---|---|---|
| June | Feb. 17 2022 | Emergency C-section |
| Alice | Feb. 6 2024 | Routine delivery |
Birth Stories
June’s arrival was a “fairly traumatic” event. Sanni told a reporter that she had to rush to the hospital after complications and that the doctor recommended a C-section. The delivery went smoothly, but the newborn wasn’t breathing and required NICU care for a week. Sanni said, “When I got to the hospital, there were some complications, and my doctor recommended a C-section. We headed straight there, and everything went well after that!”
Alex added, “I was definitely surprised by how intense it all was. To think that every one of us was born. That everyone has gone through this.”
Alice’s birth was described by Sanni as a “huge relief.” She noted that the family was home two days later and that the experience was much easier than June’s. “We were very happy when we got the good news!” she said.
Naming Alice
The name Alice was chosen to honor Alex’s grandmother. Sanni initially hesitated because she thought the name sounded too similar to Alex’s. She later admitted, “I finally gave in-I love the name Alice.” However, within a month, the name was confusing, so she switched to calling the daughter by her middle name, Summer. In a February 2025 Instagram caption, she joked that she looks forward to the day her daughter chooses a new nickname.
Parenthood Impact on Climbing
Alex remains an active climber, evidenced by his January 2026 Netflix special, Skyscraper Live, where he scaled Taipei 101. Yet he has spoken openly about how fatherhood has altered his mindset. In a May 2022 interview with Fatherly, he said, “I don’t even know if the full weight of responsibilities has sunk in yet. I feel like it’s just slowly adding. Being a father is becoming more and more real as our daughter grows up.”
When asked on The Rich Roll Podcast in October 2024, Alex reflected that parenthood has changed how he spends his time. He explained, “The trite answer is just that I didn’t want to die before, and I still want to die. So it hasn’t really changed that much. You still try to make good decisions and just make sure you don’t have an accident.” He added, “The longer answer is that it’s definitely changed the way that I spend my time because now I just spend so much more time at home. I spend so much more time parenting, and so as a result, I choose different goals for myself, I set different athletic goals.”
Outdoor Adventures with the Kids
Sanni and Alex love the outdoors, and they’ve begun to bring their daughters along on family trips. In June 2025, they took June and Alice on their first backpacking excursion together. Sanni posted a carousel of images on Instagram, noting, “We made the bold choice to only have one kid carrier but it worked out and both kids walked quite a bit!! June did have to ride on Alex’s shoulders for a portion, and sugar was heavily used as encouragement.”
Since that trip, the family has gone camping in Yosemite National Park and taken other expeditions. Sanni’s posts highlight the joy of sharing the trails with her children, and Alex has said that these outings help him stay grounded and connected to the world beyond the rock face.
Key Takeaways
- Alex Honnold balances high-risk climbing with the responsibilities of raising two daughters.
- The births of June and Alice were marked by a traumatic emergency C-section and a routine delivery, respectively.
- Fatherhood has shifted Alex’s priorities, making him spend more time at home and adjust his climbing goals.
- The family now enjoys outdoor adventures together, bringing a new dimension to Alex’s passion for the wilderness.
Alex’s story reminds us that even the most daring athletes must adapt when life presents new challenges-and that adventure can take many forms, from scaling a cliff to watching a child’s first steps.
