Comments on: Is free soloing ever worth the risk? http://matadornetwork.com/sports/is-free-soloing-ever-worth-the-risk/ travel culture worldwide Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Wade http://matadornetwork.com/sports/is-free-soloing-ever-worth-the-risk/#comment-102199 Wade Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:39:00 +0000 http://matadorsports.com/?p=2325#comment-102199 Free soloing is both dumb and selfish.  There are people who depend upon you, or at least love you.  By free soloing, you are essentially saying those things aren't important - only your needs are important.   While people can die traditional rock climbing or even crossing the street, the chance that you'll die free soloing if you don't free solo climb are zero.  You may still die a mundane death in a car wreck, but you are increasing the odds of an early death astronomically if you add the risk of free soloing on top of it. Free soloing is both dumb and selfish.  There are people who depend upon you, or at least love you.  By free soloing, you are essentially saying those things aren’t important – only your needs are important.  

While people can die traditional rock climbing or even crossing the street, the chance that you’ll die free soloing if you don’t free solo climb are zero.  You may still die a mundane death in a car wreck, but you are increasing the odds of an early death astronomically if you add the risk of free soloing on top of it.

]]> By: Dp11west http://matadornetwork.com/sports/is-free-soloing-ever-worth-the-risk/#comment-99940 Dp11west Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:06:00 +0000 http://matadorsports.com/?p=2325#comment-99940 Mind numbingly stupid is right!  Lost a friend in Boulder Canyon doing the same thing!  Fell 150 ft to his death.  He was invulnerable until the end. Mind numbingly stupid is right!  Lost a friend in Boulder Canyon doing the same thing!  Fell 150 ft to his death.  He was invulnerable until the end.

]]> By: Anonymous http://matadornetwork.com/sports/is-free-soloing-ever-worth-the-risk/#comment-91871 Anonymous Sun, 02 Oct 2011 23:57:00 +0000 http://matadorsports.com/?p=2325#comment-91871 I do believe it's irresponsible and stupid... and the more accidents the more locations get closed to climbers. I do believe it’s irresponsible and stupid… and the more accidents the more locations get closed to climbers.

]]> By: Anonymous http://matadornetwork.com/sports/is-free-soloing-ever-worth-the-risk/#comment-91872 Anonymous Sun, 02 Oct 2011 23:57:00 +0000 http://matadorsports.com/?p=2325#comment-91872 I do believe it's irresponsible and stupid... and the more accidents the more locations get closed to climbers. I do believe it’s irresponsible and stupid… and the more accidents the more locations get closed to climbers.

]]> By: Anonymous http://matadornetwork.com/sports/is-free-soloing-ever-worth-the-risk/#comment-91873 Anonymous Sun, 02 Oct 2011 23:57:00 +0000 http://matadorsports.com/?p=2325#comment-91873 I do believe it's irresponsible and stupid... and the more accidents the more locations get closed to climbers. I do believe it’s irresponsible and stupid… and the more accidents the more locations get closed to climbers.

]]> By: Waggle_rock http://matadornetwork.com/sports/is-free-soloing-ever-worth-the-risk/#comment-91736 Waggle_rock Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:10:00 +0000 http://matadorsports.com/?p=2325#comment-91736 We already face waning access to climbing areas. Free soloing inevitably leads to accidents which lead to area closures. We already face waning access to climbing areas. Free soloing inevitably leads to accidents which lead to area closures.

]]> By: Waggle_rock http://matadornetwork.com/sports/is-free-soloing-ever-worth-the-risk/#comment-91737 Waggle_rock Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:10:00 +0000 http://matadorsports.com/?p=2325#comment-91737 We already face waning access to climbing areas. Free soloing inevitably leads to accidents which lead to area closures. We already face waning access to climbing areas. Free soloing inevitably leads to accidents which lead to area closures.

]]> By: Extreme adventure – how far is too far? | NewsWeasel.com http://matadornetwork.com/sports/is-free-soloing-ever-worth-the-risk/#comment-44577 Extreme adventure – how far is too far? | NewsWeasel.com Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:49:56 +0000 http://matadorsports.com/?p=2325#comment-44577 [...] Free soloing is rock climbing without safety gear or ropes. A post by ‘Emma’ on rockclimbing.com says she is Osman’s daughter and although she’s alone and struggling financially, she’s happy to know when she needs to see her Dad she can Google him. [...] [...] Free soloing is rock climbing without safety gear or ropes. A post by ‘Emma’ on rockclimbing.com says she is Osman’s daughter and although she’s alone and struggling financially, she’s happy to know when she needs to see her Dad she can Google him. [...]

]]> By: Monica Prelle http://matadornetwork.com/sports/is-free-soloing-ever-worth-the-risk/#comment-44368 Monica Prelle Fri, 10 Sep 2010 04:09:09 +0000 http://matadorsports.com/?p=2325#comment-44368 Free soloing is neither worth the risk or irresponsible - it's a personal decision. Free soloing is neither worth the risk or irresponsible – it’s a personal decision.

]]> By: Adam Roy http://matadornetwork.com/sports/is-free-soloing-ever-worth-the-risk/#comment-44279 Adam Roy Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:16:51 +0000 http://matadorsports.com/?p=2325#comment-44279 Spelling aside, you do say it pretty well. I think that what people often miss is that there's no clear line between safety and failure. There are scenarios in roped climbing (like runouts or sketchy placements in trad) where a fall could severely injure or kill you. On the other hand, guys like Alex Honnold and John Bachar aside, most people who solo stick to stuff that's well below their physical limit, and most of them are still alive. That said, I don't know if I agree with the idea that free-soloists are in total control of their destiny. Everyone makes mistakes, and holds break more often than you might think. It's up to everyone to decide for themselves whether they're willing to take the risk. Spelling aside, you do say it pretty well. I think that what people often miss is that there’s no clear line between safety and failure. There are scenarios in roped climbing (like runouts or sketchy placements in trad) where a fall could severely injure or kill you. On the other hand, guys like Alex Honnold and John Bachar aside, most people who solo stick to stuff that’s well below their physical limit, and most of them are still alive.

That said, I don’t know if I agree with the idea that free-soloists are in total control of their destiny. Everyone makes mistakes, and holds break more often than you might think. It’s up to everyone to decide for themselves whether they’re willing to take the risk.

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