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flatiron25
Apr 25, 2013, 6:41 AM
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Registered: Apr 25, 2013
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Hey All,
I'll start with a little background information- I'm a first year college student in Boulder Colorado and spend a fair amount of my time in the Boulder flatirons running, hiking, and climbing. I climb roped occasionally and at a 5-10 level sport climbing. I consider myself more of a mountaineer than a rock climber.
Heres a typical weekend workout for me in Boulder.I will run to the trailhead(1-2 miles), run/hike on the trails, and then climb up easy east facing slab rocks for what would be multiple pitches. Sometimes I will then continue off trail to a local summit or otherwise i run back down. All of the climbing I have done is below the 5.4 level and the east face climbing in the flatirons is all less than 90 degrees. Sometimes this involves easy downclimbing from the summits of different rocks.
I guess what I'm asking is if what I'm doing is stupid or dangerous or a reasonable amount of risk for my skill level. I have a few friends who tell me I'm gonna die doing this, but while climbing I have never felt out of my element or in any particular danger while doing this.A few more reasons that i do this is that it is much quicker, I don't have the money for expensive trad gear, and finding a partner is a hassle. I honestly don't even feel like what I'm doing is rock climbing, to me it feels more like a third or fourth class route up to the summit of a peak. Also can one even call what I'm doing free-soloing or is it really just scrambling up easy rocks?
Any Thoughts?
Thanks
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Guran
Apr 25, 2013, 10:01 AM
Post #2 of 14
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Registered: Sep 18, 2008
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Assuming you're not trolling:
What you're doing sounds like great fun. Risky? Hell yeah, even if you are sure on your feet the consequences of an unfortunate slip when you leave terrra firma are... considerable.
90 degrees or not has little to do with it. Is it so steep that you can't regain control once you start slipping? Then you're soloing.
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olderic
Apr 25, 2013, 1:29 PM
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Registered: Oct 17, 2003
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The knee jerk response to questions of this type (they do come up all the time) is:
"If you have to ask..."
Sort of seems appropriate.
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lena_chita
Moderator
Apr 25, 2013, 2:07 PM
Post #4 of 14
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Registered: Jun 27, 2006
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Only you can define what is a "reasonable amount of risk" for you.
People who solo do not go around asking others for validation of whether it is really O.K. for them to solo. They believe that it is O.K., and they are usually right. Until that potential one time, when they are wrong.
Sure, 5.4 doesn't sound like much for someone who can climb 5.10, we are not talking about soloing at your limit, like truly great free-soloists do. I know many people who would solo 5.4. I probably would, too, if there was a reason for me to climb it.
But people fall and die while scrambling on 4th class terrain, too. Your life, your risk, your choice.
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freezorburn
Apr 25, 2013, 3:41 PM
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Registered: Oct 19, 2005
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Yes
You should be roped in. If you slip you die then your free soloing. Can't you just wear a harness and repel down? In any case if you must scramble down steep faces DO it SLOW and do not kill yourself because it makes it worse for every climber when someone dies.
If you have "friends who tell me I'm gonna die doing this” Then you need to re-evaluate what you’re doing.
I think climbing is a fun SAFE sport but free soloing is a dumb risk and the deaths that occur from it are a blemish to the sport of rock climbing.
Forget Free solo just do really tall boulders, Fall from a high ball and your getting messed up but won't die, most likely.
(This post was edited by freezorburn on Apr 25, 2013, 3:44 PM)
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skelldify
Apr 25, 2013, 4:17 PM
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Registered: Jan 20, 2013
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I'm surprised at the first few responses.
From your post, it sounds like you have a pretty level head, and a good awareness of what you're getting into. It sounds like you're asking because your friends/family were concerned. Not because you're looking for validation. It's admirable that you're asking if you're missing something on your family's behalf.
If you feel comfortable and aren't pushing yourself, then you're fine. Whenever you participate in a non-mainstream sport, people who don't understand it are going to tell you it's dangerous. You just need to take ego out of the equation, and evaluate it for yourself. It sounds like you've done this.
Personally, I've stopped telling most non-climbers what I do for fun. I tell them I go hiking. I'm just too sick of people telling me it's dangerous, or thinking I'm a "risk-taker."
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bearbreeder
Apr 25, 2013, 4:52 PM
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Registered: Feb 2, 2009
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dont put anyone else at risk ... dont show off or brag about it ... and use your head ...
other than that its yr choice ...
there are plenty of people on the intrawebs who will tell you that you shouldnt do this or that, etc ... if you listened to them at all youd never do anything
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ObviousTroll
Apr 25, 2013, 5:12 PM
Post #8 of 14
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Registered: May 29, 2012
Posts: 90
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flatiron25 wrote: Hey All, I'll start with a little background information- I'm a first year college student in Boulder Colorado and spend a fair amount of my time in the Boulder flatirons running, hiking, and climbing. I climb roped occasionally and at a 5-10 level sport climbing. I consider myself more of a mountaineer than a rock climber. Heres a typical weekend workout for me in Boulder.I will run to the trailhead(1-2 miles), run/hike on the trails, and then climb up easy east facing slab rocks for what would be multiple pitches. Sometimes I will then continue off trail to a local summit or otherwise i run back down. All of the climbing I have done is below the 5.4 level and the east face climbing in the flatirons is all less than 90 degrees. Sometimes this involves easy downclimbing from the summits of different rocks. I guess what I'm asking is if what I'm doing is stupid or dangerous or a reasonable amount of risk for my skill level. I have a few friends who tell me I'm gonna die doing this, but while climbing I have never felt out of my element or in any particular danger while doing this.A few more reasons that i do this is that it is much quicker, I don't have the money for expensive trad gear, and finding a partner is a hassle. I honestly don't even feel like what I'm doing is rock climbing, to me it feels more like a third or fourth class route up to the summit of a peak. Also can one even call what I'm doing free-soloing or is it really just scrambling up easy rocks? Any Thoughts? Thanks
Bring a buddy and the ten essentials. The technicality of what you feel comfortable soloing is up to you. But most (safe and knowledgeable) hikers bring a buddy and the ten essentials.
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Syd
Apr 25, 2013, 8:42 PM
Post #9 of 14
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Registered: Oct 25, 2012
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The killer is complacency.
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Mhleitch
Apr 28, 2013, 12:55 PM
Post #10 of 14
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Registered: Mar 23, 2013
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Syd wrote: The killer is complacency.
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mc
Apr 28, 2013, 3:17 PM
Post #11 of 14
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Registered: May 21, 2003
Posts: 13
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ObviousTroll wrote: Bring a buddy and the ten essentials. The technicality of what you feel comfortable soloing is up to you. But most (safe and knowledgeable) hikers bring a buddy and the ten essentials.
1. Snacks
2. Water
3. Ganja
4. Pipe
5. Lighter
6. Flask for summit toast
7. ???????????
8. ???????????
9.???????????
10 ??????????
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majid_sabet
Apr 28, 2013, 5:39 PM
Post #12 of 14
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Registered: Dec 13, 2002
Posts: 8390
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I am depressed
I don't have a good GF
I have no job nor money
My family treat me like sh*t
Don't have good friends/partners nor belong to a social groups
if the answers to any of these are yes then Soloing is proper option for you
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5.samadhi
Apr 28, 2013, 5:39 PM
Post #13 of 14
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Registered: Jul 31, 2011
Posts: 98
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mc wrote: ObviousTroll wrote: Bring a buddy and the ten essentials. The technicality of what you feel comfortable soloing is up to you. But most (safe and knowledgeable) hikers bring a buddy and the ten essentials. 1. Snacks 2. Water 3. Ganja 4. Pipe 5. Lighter 6. Flask for summit toast 7. Condom (never know?) 8. 9.??????????? 10 ??????????
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Parkerkat
Apr 29, 2013, 5:11 PM
Post #14 of 14
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Registered: Nov 6, 2008
Posts: 263
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1. Snacks
2. Water
3. Ganja
4. Pipe
5. Lighter
6. Flask for summit toast
7. Condom (never know?)
8.
9.Underpants
10 profit!
(hoping you get this joke!)
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