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mtnjohn
Dec 19, 2002, 9:30 PM
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As I scroll the post on this site there's alot of people who worry about death as result of climbing.
ie; don't do this or you could die, use this technique or you could die.
There are situations where death is obviously an option if you're not aware but do you really think about while climbing?
I don't.
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climbhigh23
Dec 19, 2002, 9:40 PM
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i only think about the next move, or sequence of moves while i am climbing. that is one of the reasons i love climbing so much, everything else leaves my brain.
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mhr2000
Dec 19, 2002, 9:43 PM
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I think most of the references are simply to exagerate the importance of doing certain tasks. These are mostly targeted toward beginners to make them pay attention.
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jiadar
Dec 19, 2002, 9:52 PM
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Multipitch trad is much easier if you simply accept the fact that you will die.
In any event, when I am climbing, especially trad, before making each move I ask myself - What will likley happen if I fall? What is the worst thing that can happen if I fall? Am I willing to take that risk?
Sometimes, a fall could result in serious injury or death. If you want to do that climb, or that move, you have to accept that risk.
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lazide
Dec 19, 2002, 9:53 PM
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Don't tie your tie in knot properly == death
Don't build a proper belay anchor on
multi-pitch == death
Don't use the belay device properly == death
People have managed to screw those up and still not died, but changes are, if you screw them up, you probably will.
There are a lot more situations were a screw-up can be fatal in climbing. (like say backclipping the first draw, then blowing the second clip and decking onto talus or something), but as always it is amazing what people have survived.
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tim
Dec 19, 2002, 9:54 PM
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I sometimes think about how far I'll go if I pop off, if I start to get too run out. But then I repress it, unless there's an opportunity to protect, in which case I throw something in. Otherwise I just get tunnel vision and go for the next solid anchor placement.
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curt
Dec 19, 2002, 10:06 PM
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I think it would inhibit your ability to climb if you became constantly obsessed about dying. It is always a good idea, however, to remember that climbing can be extremely unforgiving of careless mistakes.
Curt
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the_elk
Dec 19, 2002, 10:14 PM
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If we climbed with death on our mind all the time there is no way we would take some of the risks we do.
I think that death, or injury sits somewhere in the back of our minds when we climb, to keep our focus, reminding us of the seriousness of what we are doing. But if we were listening to it all the time, we wouldn't even get out of bed in the morning.
I climb because it heightens my senses and it makes me feel alive, REALLY alive. Death is just a by product of life, eventually one day, it's gonna get me. But I'm not letting it stop me from living!
Elk
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cracklover
Dec 19, 2002, 10:23 PM
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mhr2000: Exagerate the importance for beginners? You're kidding right? If you're not please re-read lazide's post, or pick up a copy of ANAM. Every year between 20 and 50 climbers in the US alone die while climbing because of _real_ risks, not exagerated ones. If you don't realize this - you're in denial about the real risks involved in climbing - which can only lead to carelessness.
I focus on the things I can control. For example, if I'm looking at decking if I fall, I try to make a realistic choice about the difficulty of the moves ahead, and whether to back down or continue. Sometimes just stopping to think is all that's required to help you see that hidden protection placement you would have missed if you had your blinders on.
Not to be morbid or anything, but when you are involved in serious accidents or you know people who have died, it kind of puts things in a different perspective.
GO
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jonzoclimber
Dec 19, 2002, 10:40 PM
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Ironicly when i free climb i think less about dying.... heh, but i do when i'm standing on the ground in a gym fully belayed... and by fully belayed i mean being belayed by one of my idiot friends. Hey i think i just had an apifany.....Belayers=death
YOU WILL DIE IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE BELAYING YOU :-p
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drector
Dec 19, 2002, 11:05 PM
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I never think about it during a climb.
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graniterat
Dec 19, 2002, 11:15 PM
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Death is ok.... it happens, but to be crippled for the rest of one's life.....now, that is fear..... climb safe.
Schnee
[ This Message was edited by: graniterat on 2002-12-19 15:16 ]
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mreardon
Dec 19, 2002, 11:17 PM
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I'm with Mtngeo and worry more about going to the bathroom while climbing, I mean, pissing while dying, I mean pooing while trying.... oh forget it. I just climb.
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krakhedd
Dec 19, 2002, 11:25 PM
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you are more likely to die on your way to the crag than while climbing. the thought of death should motivate you to develope better techniques, methods, and habits while climbing. then you can stop worrying about death and really start climbing.
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oldandintheway
Dec 19, 2002, 11:31 PM
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No. And I won't worry about climbing when I'm dying either.
This is a risk inherent activity kids...get that now so you, or your heirs, don't litigate and screw things up for the rest of us. At best all one can do is mitigate the risk exposure, period.
If you can't deal with that then take up golf or knitting.
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rockjok
Dec 19, 2002, 11:37 PM
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The first time I succesfully completed a challenging climb I was seriously excited. In my mind I had cheated death and it felt gooood! On my way up a couple of times I was thinking what the hell have I got myself into now. Funny thing was, on my way home I was already thinking about the next time I would get to push the limits again. I try not to take dumb chances, but I also push myself to and am determined to succeed.
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micronut
Dec 19, 2002, 11:42 PM
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when I'm way runout in the alpine, damn right I think about death. But, clipping bolts and such, I only think about a twisted ankle.
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oldandintheway
Dec 20, 2002, 12:11 AM
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As an addendum let me add a lyric that best sums up my personal philosophy:
"Death is there to keep us honest,
And constantly remind us we are free"
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totigers
Dec 20, 2002, 12:29 AM
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I'm scared of heights so I am always thinking about the hurts of climbing despite how much I love it.
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coldclimb
Dec 20, 2002, 12:30 AM
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Well it is kinda nice not to die very often. Death would be a great thing, considering where I'll go afterwards, but I'm not gonna try to rush it on purpose.
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t-dog
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Dec 20, 2002, 12:38 AM
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The only time I really think about death is when leading trad, and then again, it only helps me climb harder and not let go.
So it's there but is never a problem.
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jgill
Dec 20, 2002, 1:08 AM
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[body style="color:green"]NO[/body]
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enigma
Dec 20, 2002, 1:13 AM
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not before a friend of mine told me how the guy died at red rocks in november. Either forgot to lock his carabiner at the anchor. Or his belayer thought he said "off belay" when he really hadn't. Only 23 too . Name Chris,but at least he didn't suffer. Very quick.
Be extra careful at the anchor,and when rappeling,heard that's the most likely time,most mistakes, likelhood of termination
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kcrag
Dec 20, 2002, 1:21 AM
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The only time I've thought about dying was when I saw this picture of Capitol Peak's knife edge that I knew I'd have to traverse after climbing up the NW buttress. Granted, the wide angle lens makes it look ultra scary. That doesn't matter. It IS scary, and I thought that I was gonna die. I still get shivers just thinking about it.
(Photo by Dan Bayer, Aspen Times)
It especially didn't help when mtngeo told me about his previous Capitol Peak experience where a hiker went cartwheeling off the 2000' face of the K2 peak, and he and others had to pull the body out of Capitol Lake.
Ouch. Other than crossing the knife edge, I don't think much about dying. As long as I'm not looking down (except for footholds), I think I'm okay.
cheers,
-kelly.
[ This Message was edited by: kcrag on 2002-12-20 09:15 ]
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climbracer
Dec 20, 2002, 1:40 AM
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No way....Just think about getting up to the top!!
Kathy
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