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Free Solo Climbing: Cool or Not Cool?
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{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
There are thrills and there is stupidity. When you have all the safe equipment available, use it. You can still get the thrill without solo climbing.
Dear BRO STAFF, of course this all stems from your perspective of and requirements for “cool” and the skill level of the climber. If you mean cool like “badass” then bro, obvi FS climbing is cooler than a day old penguin turd. But if you are thinking of cool from a family member’s perspective regularly wondering if they might loose part of their family, maybe not so cool. Try deep water soloing first, get the free solo thrill without all the splat.
There is nothing wrong with safety. Live to climb another day.
The people who free solo know the risks. If they find that the rewards make up for the risk of death, then who are we to argue?
Safety is cooler.
Free climbing thins the herd. Go for it!
Gravity does not discriminate. Our young friend, an experienced climber, fell to his death free climbing. I cannot imagine the thrill of any climb being worth what that 300 foot fall did to his family. The sad thing, is this same guy would have never thought of riding his bike or kayaking without his helmet. Go figure.
I think it’s cool to see but I don’t think it’s for me I like having a safety and a backup just in case theres trouble
I love life and I love challenges….but I love to wake up every morning to see my family. Safety my friends.
If it’s done for one’s self I’m cool with it. I don’t feel like I need to brand it “cool” or “not cool”. I think it’s freedom.
You cannot call them crazy until they are laying at the bottom of the cliff in a bloody heap !
We all face dangers of all kinds every day of our lives; if you can handle it, you can handle it !
Grayclimber
When parks and land managers have to worry about free soloers and then think we’re all out there risking it big, that can make problems for the safety oriented climbers and we don’t want that!!
How about this…free solo if you must but just don’t fall.
Not cool if I think about it but, when I see it I arm so drawn to it!
Sounds the need for external validation is pretty high with them.
Yikes!
Free solo climbing? hard to say… even well qualified, experienced, master climbers cannot prevent accidents. Another person can at least call for help.
On the flip side, many folks might howl at the thought of anything but a solo adventure- just the limiting factor they are trying to avoid. I’m not sure that everyone will be satisfied by one mandate/rule/limiting factor.
COOL! I live for pro entertainment and strive to become more positive and strong by watching these extreme adventerous people,with limitations on myself of course,we need there bravery!
A measure of time comes to mind. Specifically, 127 Hours. Perhaps this story deflates the adrenaline enough to somewhat (but not literally) ground the edge-dwellers ever so slightly. Or perhaps it inflates the seeker. The temptation for solothrill is always there, the bully, calling us names, picking a fight. Some will resist and live on while others will live on through irresistible stories.
It may be cool for those that are strong enough and trained to do it, but not cool for me personally.
Totally cool!
It’s only cool if you have life insurance to cover you if anything happens if it’s left up to the tax payers to clean up it’s not cool at all
To each his own.
Freedom of choice is cool. Death or severe injury is not cool. Being able to pursue whatever makes you happy — AWESOME!
While it ought to be strongly discouraged, it’s a personal choice. Only experts ought to apply. Only the climber know’s if they’re ready. If you have to ask, you aren’t.
The free climber obviously gives his own consent but he/she should also be required to get the consent of those who have to put themselves at risk to evacuate them to the hospital or recover their body.
Totally amazing strength and skill to free climb but way too crazy for me.
No reason dying just for a good view. Have some common sense. be safe, don’t free climb, and live to climb again.
Free solo climbing is related to riding a motorcycle without a helmet. It is all fun and games until someone gets hurt, or worse, killed. If it is the former, then the medical expenses are exorbitant and society pays for the individual’s stupidity. Hate to be harsh but safety comes first. At least the free, soloist won’t drag anyone else down with them. ‘Nuff said!
I think the skill level that these people have that allows them to feel confident enough to free solo is the most impressive part. Realistically, I’d much rather see them doing it more safely. We don’t want to lose our worlds best climbers, or anyone for that matter, to a tiny mistake.
I’ve done some wild things in my life. Skydiving, scuba diving, caynoning, hanggliding. Love the thrill, but no way would I free climb.
It is good to have the practice for a true (future) emergency situation; body knowledge can make a difference in a survival moment. It is no good to needlessly expose the ones who love you to the unending agony of your pointless, thrill-seeking death. Its all in the balance.
People who climb are exploring challenges both inwardly and physically. For some, safety means being able to meet those challenges with the exception of risking death by use of excellent safety gear. Solo climbing maintains a high death risk by achieving a more ‘natural’ state. It isn’t about the ‘cool’ factor (at least it shouldn’t be). It is, as always, about the individual’s definition of personal freedom. We put ourselves at risk in order to learn and grow even, and often especially, when alternate methods are available. It’s what keeps us close to our human spirit.
It’s your life! Live it as free and dangerous as you like. Just accept responsibility for your choices and don’t always expect others to be there to rescue you.
Stupid
uncool, too unsafe to go solo.
Cool: Makes you feel free of being alone on a rock face with no limits or distractions.
cool. crazy. unreal. something I don’t think I would ever do. still cool.
Why climb solo? Don’t these climbers have any friends? Here’s the harsh reality. The only reason why people do stupid and/or cool stuff is to brag about later. But when you try to weave your tale about the crazy climb you will probably just see blank looks on most people’s faces to which the reply is always “Ya should have been there”. And then your 15 minutes of fame is over.
Not cool. Unless having an obituary that informs everyone of your stupid and preventable death seems cool to you. Then maybe it’s cool.
Very cool until you take a fall!!!
To each his own. If you want to risk the dangers of free climbing as long as you don’t put others in danger. Climbers should be responsible for their own safety!
Cool maybe when you are young and invincible, but pretty silly overall. Life is too short.
Not Cool.