# Mark Hudon on Free As Can Be on the Salathé Wall, Skinner and Piana's Ascent, and Experience Vs. Trophies

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/written-in-stone-climbing-history-6643506/mark-hudon-on-free-as-can-be-on-the-salath-wall-skinner-and-piana-s-ascent-and-experience-vs-trophies
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/written-in-stone-climbing-history-6643506/mark-hudon-on-free-as-can-be-on-the-salath-wall-skinner-and-piana-s-ascent-and-experience-vs-trophies.md
Podcast: [Written in Stone: Climbing History](https://stenobird.com/podcast/written-in-stone-climbing-history-6643506)
Published: 2025-08-13T09:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://written-in-stone.podbean.com/e/mark-hudon-on-free-as-can-be-on-the-salathe-wall-skinner-and-pianas-ascent-and-experience-vs-trophies/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/w4y67gabaufkr7yg/Mark-Hudon-Convo.mp3
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Duration seconds: 3745

## Resource

Check out our new book, Written In Stone: The 1990s! Mark Hudon is a bonafide climbing legend. One of the best free climbers of the 70s and early 80s, he and partner Max Jones looked past convention and moved hard free climbing to the big walls of Yosemite. His article Long, Hard and Free inspired a whole generation of climbers, including Todd Skinner and Paul Piana, and laid the groundwork for the game that is Yosemite big wall free climbing. In this episode we discuss the idea that eventually led to the Free Salathe, how Mark felt about it finally getting done, and how his philosophy about climbing has changed over time. Find Mark online Read Long, Hard and Free Watch Free As Can Be PREORDER THE BOOK AND GET BONUS EPISODES! BIG WALLS, SIGNED BY PAUL PIANA: https://www.powercompanyclimbing.com/store/p/big-walls Check out our website for related episodes, resources and more! ---------------------------------- Season Two is generously supported by Rab. This episode is supported by Tension Climbing and The Tension Board 2. Written in Stone is co-created with Power Company Climbing.

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