Stumbled across this guy on 60 minutes last week. He's considered the most prolific climber ever.
Considered by who? One guy on 60 minutes is hardly a consensus. You will never reach a consensus on "best" or most "prolific" climber because there are so many different styles and disciplines of climbing, are we talking about alpine, sport, big wall, mixed, aid, bouldering etc.. Certainly I guess he could be considered the greatest free-climber.
Personally I think you have the wrong Alex, around here many people who are in the know (like Conrad Anker) when it comes to climbing will tell you Alex Lowe, AKA The Mutant, was the best ever. He's a local legend and I've seen some of the mixed routes he pioneered back in the 70's and 80's in Montana and they are mind boggling.
Worldwide I bet if you took a poll of climbers most would say that Reinhold Messner is the greatest climber ever. I most admire the ground breaking alpine guys like Messner, JC Lafaille, Goran Kropp, Maurice Herzog and of course George Mallory. Today guys like Steve House and Mark Twight are at the top of the alpine world. Of course if you're talking another style like sportclimbing, you'd get a totally different list.
Free climbing in my opinion brings nothing new to the sport, it takes no more talent or skill then climbing with gear. It's not the free-climbers who are pioneering new routes or first ascents. They're usually doing routes done hundreds or thousands of times before, they'll just be the first to do it with no gear after others have proven it's possible. The only envelope they are pushing is the envelope of stupidity.
IMO if you want to climb without gear stick to bouldering. The most amazing moves and grabs I've ever seen have been in bouldering competitions.
