Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell complete massive feat in Colorado mountains

In recent days, Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell teamed up to finish an amazing feat in the Colorado mountains.

Over the course of 36 hours, the duo completed what Caldwell dubbed the "Continental Divide Ultimate Linkup," summiting 17 peaks over 35 miles. The route also included climbing 65 pitches on 11 classic climbing routes ranging in difficulty from an estimated 5.6 to 5.11-minus, including "Culp-Bossier," a 5.8+ route on Hallet Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. In total, the route gained an estimated 20,000 feet over a series of ups and downs.

In the words of Alex Honnold, "the stats don't mean much because the terrain is so rugged that it's hard to characterize it as "hiking"."

According to Caldwell, the two faced a number of challenges along the route, including missing a supply drop that left them in shorts during howling nighttime winds. Caldwell has also said that he relied on stuffing his phone into his hat for light.

Caldwell shortened the "Continental Divide Ultimate Link" name to the acronym CDUL, pronounced "cuddle," as a nod to how the two stayed warm when met with colder temperatures.

Honnold is best known for his ropeless free solo climb up the 3,000 foot 5.12d "Freerider" route on Yosemite's El Capitan. Caldwell is best known for his first ascent up Dawn Wall with Kevin Jorgeson – a 5.14d climb that is often considered the most difficult big wall climb in the world.

Congrats to both climbers on this unprecedented accomplishment.