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ski_n_scale
Mar 21, 2006, 10:49 PM
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Climbing unhindered by the weight of a rope, gear, and the constant search for the next weakness to slam some gear into makes climbing feel more real and natural. The only thing occupying your mind is the movement of the climb, the texture of the holds pulling your body upwards, the environment surrounding you, the birds and insects watching as you crawl around on their stomping grounds, and the omnipresent force we call gravity trying to hurl your helpless body back towards the ground. You are climbing, and only climbing, moving upwards as naturally as possible.
Although there are many critics out there who say soloing is reckless, stupid, or even selfish, for me, it's the most controlled and positive form of climbing possible. When a I pick a route, know the limits of my body, I know the route's within my abilities, and, most importantly, I know that it'll go (because falling isn't an option). I know that 95% of the time I won't fall on a 5.10 (ropped up) and that 100% of the time I am not falling off a 5.6 (roped or unroped) unless Mother Nature decides to break a hold off on me.
I love free soloing. For me, it's not about walking the line between life and death but about the purity and rewards of climbing a big ass rock. After all, isn't that what we're all out there to do?
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cloudbreak
Mar 21, 2006, 11:01 PM
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Registered: Jul 15, 2002
Posts: 917
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Is that a passage from your diary?
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jsoper
Mar 21, 2006, 11:03 PM
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too long,
my post adolescent brain cant handle that.
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islandclimber
Mar 21, 2006, 11:19 PM
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Registered: May 2, 2004
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my opinion: Free soloing is the stupidest form of climbing. A bird shits in your eye, down you go and splat. Dead on some 5.8. Wow glorious
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petsfed
Mar 21, 2006, 11:22 PM
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In reply to: I know that 95% of the time I won't fall on a 5.10 (ropped up) and that 100% of the time I am not falling off a 5.6 (roped or unroped) unless Mother Nature decides to break a hold off on me.
If you think that, you haven't done half as many 5.6s or 5.10s necessary to say that with confidence. However, I do think that on climbing you're 100% solid on for the grade, even a broken hold won't spell disaster for you, if you're climbing in control.
What's really key is that if you feel obligated to justify your soloing to anyone (even yourself) you shouldn't be soloing. Its about control, refinement of the craft, and showing off. The good ones focus on the second, the dead ones on the third, and all the soloists on the first.
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grk10vq
Mar 21, 2006, 11:22 PM
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Registered: Nov 7, 2004
Posts: 527
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was open mic cancelled?
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kydd76
Mar 21, 2006, 11:31 PM
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Registered: Jun 16, 2005
Posts: 228
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In reply to: was open mic cancelled? |
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ski_n_scale
Mar 21, 2006, 11:52 PM
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In reply to: What's really key is that if you feel obligated to justify your soloing to anyone (even yourself) you shouldn't be soloing. Its about control, refinement of the craft, and showing off. The good ones focus on the second, the dead ones on the third, and all the soloists on the first.
I agree with this completely.
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curtis_g
Mar 21, 2006, 11:52 PM
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Registered: Nov 21, 2005
Posts: 594
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why is everyone else here a bunch of winers?
probably grew up in a gym. probably checking
the site and responding in a gym. probably
never heard of adrenaline. are you going to
criticize John Muir for climbing at Yosemite and
playing on avalanches without a rope, cell phone,
GPS, and helmet?
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curtis_g
Mar 21, 2006, 11:56 PM
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p.s. it is not breaking news that falling is a possibility.
are you retarded? like you need to remind someone
soloing that "boy it sure would suck to fall, huh?"
no, really? are you mentally challenged?
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rocketsocks
Mar 22, 2006, 12:10 AM
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Do you also walk from home to the climb? Cars are unnatural, after all, and spoil the experience. Do you climb (and walk, of course) naked? Do you shun tools and live a primitive life eating fruits and nuts and sleeping under natural shelter like trees and caves?
I won't even mention the computer thing, since it's already obvious you've strayed from "the way".
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ski_n_scale
Mar 22, 2006, 12:22 AM
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I just wanted to let people know how i feel about soloing and I get some poser climber who reads about amazing soloing feats (ie Muir, Bachar, Reardon, Croft, and everyone else who soloes) but has never tried anything like it before and doesn't understand the mental challenge.
I dunno, it's kinda lame that you have to put people down to keep yourselves up.
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moose_droppings
Mar 22, 2006, 12:23 AM
Post #14 of 80
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Registered: Jun 7, 2005
Posts: 3371
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Must this be dragged up again.
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yokese
Mar 22, 2006, 12:29 AM
Post #15 of 80
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Registered: Jan 18, 2006
Posts: 672
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... and are we really supposed to say something??
Well, in that case: whatever.... :boring:
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kricir
Mar 22, 2006, 12:30 AM
Post #16 of 80
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Registered: Oct 15, 2005
Posts: 434
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If you don’t solo on some level you have never really climbed. You don’t have to be a John Bachar or Derek Hersey, but I see no reason not to solo a few routes here and there. I really enjoy solo ice climbing, the best thing ever is to go to new funtier or south park in Ouray with a friend and just run laps all day.
Probably one of the best / easiest solos iv ever done is the 3rd flatiron at night. My bud and I climbed the 600 ft route in 25 minuets by head lamp, no words exist to describe the purity of that experience, rapping down the back side was scary as shit though.
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tonloc
Mar 22, 2006, 12:38 AM
Post #17 of 80
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Registered: Aug 1, 2005
Posts: 249
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bird shit in the eye is the purest form of climbing, who wants to be shackled by the necessity to see when climbing, sight is a form of aid...
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rockguide
Mar 22, 2006, 12:49 AM
Post #18 of 80
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Registered: Nov 8, 2004
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Death threads...the purest way to troll.
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clayman
Mar 22, 2006, 2:03 AM
Post #19 of 80
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Registered: Apr 20, 2004
Posts: 296
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In reply to: Climbing unhindered by the weight of a rope, gear, and the constant search for the next weakness to slam some gear into makes climbing feel more real and natural. The only thing occupying your mind is the movement of the climb, the texture of the holds pulling your body upwards, the environment surrounding you, the birds and insects watching as you crawl around on their stomping grounds, and the omnipresent force we call gravity trying to hurl your helpless body back towards the ground. You are climbing, and only climbing, moving upwards as naturally as possible. Although there are many critics out there who say soloing is reckless, stupid, or even selfish, for me, it's the most controlled and positive form of climbing possible. When a I pick a route, know the limits of my body, I know the route's within my abilities, and, most importantly, I know that it'll go (because falling isn't an option). I know that 95% of the time I won't fall on a 5.10 (ropped up) and that 100% of the time I am not falling off a 5.6 (roped or unroped) unless Mother Nature decides to break a hold off on me. I love free soloing. For me, it's not about walking the line between life and death but about the purity and rewards of climbing a big ass rock. After all, isn't that what we're all out there to do?
If you have any respect for human life, than please print this out and give it to anyone who plans to climb with you.
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tradmanclimbs
Mar 22, 2006, 2:46 AM
Post #20 of 80
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Registered: Apr 24, 2003
Posts: 2599
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Bunch of self richous whiners :roll: the guys post wasnt perfect but who cares. Soloing is one of the purest forms of climbing. Freedom. freedom to move unencumbered by the rope, the gear and the emotions, moods and physical & mental needs and limitations of the person on the other end of the rope. On other days the brotherhood of the rope is part of the beauty of climbing. Shareing an adventure with physical and mental hardships where the team persaveres and accomplishes an acent in the great outdoors with all the rewards that nature has to offer may that be gale force winds and blinding snow or a perfect sunny day on the shores of lake george. Its all good. I need both kinds of climbing. Deep down inside I am still a loner so I do need to go off alone and have adventures by myself from time to time 8^)
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wenclg1
Mar 22, 2006, 2:47 AM
Post #21 of 80
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Registered: Aug 26, 2005
Posts: 57
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Free soloing...the purest way to climb....and die :twisted:
Death is pure, natural and inevitable. So is falling, which in climbing has a direct collation with death. Enjoy free soloing :oops: . well until your hold breaks...
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clayman
Mar 22, 2006, 2:58 AM
Post #22 of 80
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Registered: Apr 20, 2004
Posts: 296
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In reply to: Bunch of self richous whiners :roll: the guys post wasnt perfect but who cares. Soloing is one of the purest forms of climbing. Freedom. freedom to move unencumbered by the rope, the gear and the emotions, moods and physical & mental needs and limitations of the person on the other end of the rope. On other days the brotherhood of the rope is part of the beauty of climbing. Shareing an adventure with physical and mental hardships where the team persaveres and accomplishes an acent in the great outdoors with all the rewards that nature has to offer may that be gale force winds and blinding snow or a perfect sunny day on the shores of lake george. Its all good. I need both kinds of climbing. Deep down inside I am still a loner so I do need to go off alone and have adventures by myself from time to time 8^)
There's nothing self-righteous about wanting to live. If anybody is self-righteous it's homey, "...100% of the time I am not falling off a 5.6 (roped or unroped)... "
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dynosore
Mar 22, 2006, 3:16 AM
Post #23 of 80
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Registered: Jul 29, 2004
Posts: 1768
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In reply to: If you don’t solo on some level you have never really climbed.
Thanks for clearing that up. Any other definitions, oh Oracle of Climbing?
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sausalito
Mar 22, 2006, 3:25 AM
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Registered: Jul 20, 2005
Posts: 155
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Do you wear climbing shoes? I bet it would feel more real if you were barefoot.
I say that tongue in cheek but everyone has their limit. You dont have to justify it to any of us. But I would think the most pure form of climbing would be naked, which by definition would mean no climbing shoes. That way your feet could be one with the rock as well.
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yokese
Mar 22, 2006, 3:37 AM
Post #25 of 80
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Registered: Jan 18, 2006
Posts: 672
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In reply to: ... I would think the most pure form of climbing would be naked... |
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