Neither of the two climbs in the last two days were free solos. They were fully protected climbs. Free climbing simply means not using equipment–not “pulling on gear”–to aid the climb. IT’s perfectly acceptable and highly preferred to protect the climb with equipment when free climbing. The Nose is aid climbed hundreds of times a year using pendulums, pitons, aid hooks, etc. It has only ever been free climbed (now) by 6 people (8 total times.) None of them were Alex Honnold.