He traveled the world looking for the next ultimate solo climb, giving motivational speeches and presenting slideshows.

Examples include plastic tigers attached to bolts, the Ninja Turtles, blow up dolls, and oversized panties in summit registers.

Reardon's first formal climb was at Tahquitz, California on a 1,000-foot route called Whodunit (5.9), with a "crusty old climber."

As the story goes, halfway up the route, the crusty handed Michael some gear and told him, "You'll use these when you're scared."

At 5pm Irish Standard Time on July 13, 2007, Reardon was reported missing after he was hit by a rogue wave and swept out to sea, shortly after climbing down the 600-foot (180m) Fogher Cliff (51°55′25″N 10°21′20″W / 51.9236°N 10.3556°W / 51.9236; -10.3556) just west of Valentia Coast Guard Station in County Kerry, Ireland.