Free solo climbing deaths reddit.
Free solo climbing deaths reddit But when he goes up to do a rare big solo like this it's so well rehearsed and the route prepped that I doubt that's how he goes out. Nov 29, 2019 · The acclaimed free solo climber was abseiling down the cliff with his companion Aidan Jacobson, 26, when they suddenly lost their grip. A. It seems so antithetical to our instincts of self-preservation, and yet, guys like Alex Honnold thrive off it. That's 7 grades higher than 5. Then, you do the free solo. The 27-year-old ice and mixed expert was climbing the Spitzenstätter (VII/5. lt seems like such irony given his hard work out in the real world of climbing and its inherent dangers. Seriously don't underestimate that hike with the added weight of rope & rack. Discussing free solo climbing deaths openly allows climbers to: Understand the Dangers: Recognizing real-life consequences helps climbers make informed decisions. I've nonetheless lost friends to both activities, and I'll still free solo stuff, kthx. 12a. Soloing is not using protective gear to catch you if you were to fall. 9+ on the Second Flatiron in Boulder, Colorado. The woman’s climbing partner, a 27-year-old man Oct 17, 2018 · National Geographic provided the resources: Honnold was a prominent free solo climber, the climb was historic, and Chin and Vasarhelyi previously directed the critically acclaimed climbing After seeing Free Solo, these thoughts were never prompted. Doesn't solo without a rope much at all. [22] John Bachar died (5 July 2009; age 52) in a free solo accident at Dike Wall near Mammoth Lakes, California. Brad Gobright, 31, fell around 300m (1,000ft) to his death in El Potrero Chico in northern Mexico. About 4 per year average--but, of course, many more are climbing in recent decades. 3M subscribers in the climbing community. alex honnold has a very different mentality from the average climber. Any death on a wall risks future access, but a death where zero safety measures were taken is that much worse. yeah, the best of the free soloers have raised the standards to insane levels, but a simple mistake or unforseen incident can happen even on the most tame looking ascent. As the director, producer and cinematographer of the National Geographic Documentary Film FREE SOLO, which he co-directed with Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Chin captured rock climber Alex Honnold's nail-biting free solo ascent of Yosemite National Park's El Free Solo (2018) - Jimmy Chin's Oscar-winning documentary following Alex Honnold's journey to become the first person to ever free solo climb Yosemite's 3,000ft high El Capitan Wall. [ F. Between 1980 and 1989, there were a total of 36 free solo climbing deaths in the United States. Kyle Walker's chest-mounted camera caught a harrowing 60-foot fall during a free climb in Colorado. I’m still saddened by his death. Lead is tough enough, and there’s an argument to be made—and I’ll make it—that setting protection increases the difficulty over free soloing. Until you can rehearse every foot and every hand placement in your mind, and execute it perfectly as well. Jul 11, 2023 · A 26-year-old woman died after falling about 500 feet while free-solo climbing at the Rocky Mountain National Park Sunday, park officials said. Kurakami also pioneered a spread of sketchy highball boulders, usually ground-up (and, in trademark style, seldom graded). I think Marc-Andre knew the risks more than most. I consider it mountaineering but it might be more fairly rock climbing. For an optimal In Free Solo, Honnold mentions at one point how maybe his free solo of el cap is one of those risky climbs that you squeak out once in your life. 1. Nathan Roberts was a climber’s climber. 10+) up the center of the face. The Freerider route on El Cap that he climbed in Free Solo is rated 5. Many, especially higher up, are left there because it's too risky to bring down. As you can see, the number of free solo climbing deaths has been steadily increasing over the past few decades. Aug 15, 2022 · The only written report I found was from Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite, co-written by then-park-ranger “Butch” Farabee Jr. His legacy will live on but that is cold comfort to all impacted directly and . but most people dont want to free solo things because if you make one wrong move, you are likely dead. From the abstract, emphasis added: Overall, climbing sports had a lower injury incidence and severity score than many popular sports, including basketball, sailing or soccer; indoor climbing ranked the lowest in terms of injuries of all sports assessed. The summit bolt ladder was 16 years old, the write-up reminded, and when Blake put his full weight on one of the final bolts, “ … it gave way, yanking out of the wall. I'm sure everyone who attempts this is aware of the danger, which is one of the reasons they do this. The record at the time was set in 2012 by Alex Honnold (of Free Solo) and Hans Florine, a well-known speed climber who essentially wrote the book on speed climbing. Roadside attraction, 5. [23] i'd also like to add, there are plenty of climbers with the skill to free solo el capitan. free = no ropes or any equipment used to make the climb easier, but may use a safety rope for protection solo = no ropes used for protection The other thing about free solo is how selfish it is. I'm guessing the couple treated it like an exposed hike, rather than what immediately springs to mind when I hear "Free solo" climbing. I was a serious climber for 10 years mostly outdoors. Jul 12, 2023 · The unidentified 26-year-old died while free-solo climbing on Ypsilon Mountain, on the east side of the park, according to the National Park Service. Edit: The rock climbing deaths equals 3,800 in thepast 100 FUCKING YEARS. IE 11 is not supported. Mountain project lists that section as a 5. Just a special project now and again. Climbing the Second Flatiron as he has “100 times before” according to his now deleted YouTube Comment and having climbed “5. Boulder Alex Honnold (born August 17, 1985) is an American rock climber best known for his free solo ascents of big walls. While free solo climbing remains a pursuit of personal challenge and freedom, it’s crucial to acknowledge the inherent risks involved. [11] John Bachar died (July 5, 2009) in a free solo accident at Dike Wall near Mammoth Lakes, California. 167 votes, 72 comments. Then repeat. Dec 13, 2018 · Jimmy Chin is a professional climber, skier, mountaineer, 18-year member of The North Face Athlete Team and National Geographic Explorer. Sep 21, 2023 · The free solo legend began climbing rock walls over 25 years ago, when he did the first ever 8b solo free and one of the "craziest solos ever" on La nuit du Lézard in Buoux. For lead rope solo check out the FB pages, listen to Colin Haley podcasts (Pakistani death loop, etc. Edit: I'd also recommend doing the whole thing in approach shoes and doing a few easy climbs in your approach shoes to get used to them (unless you already do that kind of thing). The climbing is chill, practice some simu-climbing with your buddy so you can move faster. l keep up with all of the climbing news and was horrified to read of his death in a climbing gym accident. Does anyone here just think free soloing is a bad idea because it can inspire lesser climbers to get themselves killed? Or do climbers die with ropes anyway as long as they're irresponsible? Jul 18, 2023 · Bailee Mulholland, 26, was on Blitzen Ridge on Ypsilon Mountain, a jagged, but relatively easy climb, according to experienced rock scramblers, but one that highlights the risks climbers take Jul 5, 2019 · Two prolific free soloists, Austin Howell and Robert Dergay, have died in separate, but similar accidents this year. Mar 30, 2024 · We have lost some climbing legends to free soloing, but if this is any consolidation, they died doing something they loved. One of the most beautiful parks in the country, located in the Colorado Rockies. r/FuckCars. I certainly notice the random news articles that pop up when one inevitably falls to their death and sometimes recognize the names from a doc or something. A few folks have soloed single-pitch stuff into the 5. Seeing how small the holds are and precarious the moves like the karate kick and thumb switch in the boulder problem are, I figure these no way that all of these moves are 100%. Climbing has its dangers no matter how "safe" you try to make it. About 290 deaths since first climbed. and 30 meters means death just as much as 900 meters. 4M subscribers in the climbing community. 11 previously climbed, but free soloed by Alex on sight for the first free ascent (FFA) 5. Akihira Tawara died (September 13, 2011) while free solo climbing the Directissima 5. You would be well suited to be a lot less judgy when discussing the death of someone you don't know and whose experience level and motivations you can only guess at. 11 = easy difficulty for a world-class climber (see chart. James Faerber said he was 'traumatized Free solo climbing (climbing without ropes or any other safety equipment) has struck awe in onlookers around the world, with climbers like Alex Honnold darin Jan 22, 2025 · The latter, which he rope-soloed in 2019, is likely the world’s hardest lead rope-solo free ascent. 5 Nov 7, 2022 · You can read the full tribute to Climbers We Lost in 2022 here. “I was a bit above him. On the afternoon of the 2014 winter solstice, Ballard rope-soloed up the The climbs that Honnold does free solo are not near the limit of his climbing ability. Why are you trying to free solo a route you've never climbed before? If you want to solo a route, first climb it with gear. 1K subscribers in the RMNP community. Honnold has climbed 5. John Bachar, also one of America’s greatest soloists, fell and died while free soloing in 2009. Dec 20, 2024 · Martin Feistl died on Saturday, May 18, following a 130-foot fall in his native Austria, while free soloing on the steep 1,000-foot South Face of the Scharnitzspitze (8,097ft). la/2LCa5UM The entire concept of free solo climbing is hard for me to comprehend, even after watching this. --Edit: With additional information it sounds like the couple were experienced climbers/outdoor enthusiasts. ” i feel like the problem with free solo climbing is that it doesnt really matter how crazy it is. Anything filmed by David Lama. A line across the sky with Tommy Caldwell and Alex Honnold - there is a short video on YouTube. Conclusion Learning from Free Solo Deaths. That’s actually the thing I liked most about the movie - it had a message. A group of climbers propelled over to help the young victim but it was too late. When search and rescue arrived the climber was pronounced dead. A lot. John Bachar, a legend in the rock climbing world, is often remembered for his near-mythical status long before the likes of Alex Honnold took to the stage. Seems awesome in the doc and then a dose of reality later in some obscure news article puts it into perspective. Jul 12, 2023 · The 26-year-old Colorado woman who plunged to her death while free-solo climbing inside a national park was identified by grieving friends as an avid climber and “mountain person. My boyfriend is a recovering addict and has some mental health issues, much like what Austin struggled with. It was in lieu of hearing my friend retell her story of watching the free soloist climbing that recently died falling in Eldo that really got me thinking about that Free climbing means without any gear to aid the climb, so you only use your hands and feet to climb (but you still have safety gear to catch you fall). At the time May 15, 2019 · On April 16, Walker began climbing up North Crack, a two-pitch 5. Some feats are dangerous. A year later, in 2007, Michael Reardon, at the time one of America’s leading soloists, died after being swept off an Irish sea cliff by a rogue wave. Crazy. It's a feat. In 2017, Brad and his climbing partner, Jim Reynolds had broken the speed record of "The Nose", a famous route up El Capitan in Yosemite. These solo climbers are a different breed for sure. Akihira Tawara died (13 September 2011; age 27) while free solo climbing the Directissima 5. In 2017, when Alex Honnold made his stunning free-solo ascent of Yosemite’s El Capitan, he was taking an unimaginable risk: nearly three thousand feet of cli Free solo climbing is stupid It's overly glorified, unnecessarily dangerous, and those who participate in it have a real problem that needs real attention. Brad Gobright, 31, fell around 300m (1,000ft) to his death in El Potrero Chico in northern Jul 11, 2023 · Free climbing is using your hands and feet on the rock to climb, aid climbing uses a bunch of gear to help you ascend. George Gardner fell to his death (25 July 2008; age 58) while free soloing in Grand Teton National Park. Jan 19, 2022 · Editor’s note: This archive piece first appeared in Climbing in 2006. The route shown here, Separate Reality is rated 5. While getting clean he saw the documentary Free Solo and was instantly hooked on the idea of climbing. Any route he free solos Jun 10, 2018 · The death-defying adventure of scaling a huge granite precipice like El Capitan involves an intricate process in which lengths of nylon rope are tied to the climbers and knotted on bolts, or Free soloing is often more dangerous than roped climbing, you say ? No shit, sherlock. Definitely recommended! This isn't unusual. 13a, and 11 grades higher than 5. I respect people like Honnold for the initiatives he takes on with such a large platform, but can't take someone who thinks climbing 3000ft without any safeguards is a good idea seriously. 13a, the first-ever big wall free solo ascent at that grade), [3] a climb described in The New York 38 people die per year rock climbing. [1:40:04] r/truedocumentaries George Gardner fell to his death (July 25, 2008; age 58) while free soloing in Grand Teton National Park. Not just *free-solo" climbing. I have solo free climbed bare foot, does that make me more hardcore than you? One old climber to another bro, im trying to save your life here, knock off the free solo climbing. As someone who recently fell 35 feet on a failed free solo attempt, broke both legs and suffered a concussion, regained consciousness 15 minutes later and hiked/dragged myself 2 miles to where I had reception to call for medevac, reading this made my heart clench up. And between 1990 and 1999, there were a total of 58 free solo climbing deaths in the United States. 10 in hiking boots,” according to another YouTube Comment, he had decided to try the route free solo. Q | Opt Out | Opt Out Of Subreddit | GitHub] Downvote to remove | v1. I’ve had a few past by me over the years. Dec 7, 2022 · Witnesses say the climber, whose name has not been released, had been 'free soloing' - rock climbing that is done without the use of a rope or protective equipment - just before noon when the tragedy occurred. Auer's free solo of The Fish was probably the most impressive solo done prior to Freerider (and if you really look at it is pretty close when you consider all the factors). Outside of the Japanese climbing scene Kurakami was best known for free climbing The Nose (5. Summary: Male and female out climbing, female fell and died. The home of Climbing on reddit. Stick around, you might find there is more to live for than you could conceive of back when you chose to die free solo climbing. 14 range (Huber and Macleod at minimum) I feel like Honnold has some wild shit going on mentally surrounding death (probably from his dad’s sudden death when he was a kid [EDIT: he was 19 actually, my bad] and the many deaths of his friends while climbing) and soloing is his way of conquering death, but bringing someone else into it who isn’t 100% comfortable with the route already just seems like a recipe for disaster, no Jan 19, 2022 · Editor’s note: This archive piece first appeared in Climbing in 2006. I was on the left. Nathan Roberts, 35, October 15. Nov 29, 2019 · A world-renowned American free solo climber has died attempting to descend the side of a cliff face. https://abc7. Heck, I didn't even think about the ethics of free soloing after I heard about John Bachar or other free soloists dying. The Fitz Traverse. ”. Free solo is the type of climbing in the video. Just another attention seeking dipshit who’d rather risk becoming a human missile for internet clout than go climb at an actual climbing area, with more interesting features and scenery. 3. ) Reply reply Alex Honnold's first interview after free-solo climbing El Capitan Finally, in late 2015, Honnold told Chin and Vasarhelyi he was ready, and they agreed to work together in secret on a film about Oct 16, 2022 · The first face he climbed was the Cima Grande di Lavaredo—the sheerest of the North Faces and the one with the most technical rock climbing of the bunch—via the 1,500-foot Comici-Dimai, a 5. Unroped solo climbing is much less technically complicated than climbing in a group. But never have seen or heard of a “free solo party” asking to pass until then. 14a) in 2017. He got some gear and joined a local climbing gym and we started looking for some local spots but he had no partner. Choose life bro. There are countless skyscraper climbing videos out there these days. The full film is on Reel Rock 4. 180 votes, 87 comments. And yes we are scared of falling. I understand individuals solo easy shit all the time and can pass quickly. Why is mountain climbing respected but climbing buildings isn't? It's extremely impressive and i enjoy watching the videos. Think about this next time you drive and look up the stats of other extreme sports. 4. 10+ he had done once before, onsight and free solo in the summer of 2011. 8 route on Yamnuska. So many other albinism movies make me worried because I know how many people with no experience or background will watch them and go “wow this free solo stuff looks so cool, I’m gonna get into it!” Which is great. Honnold rose to worldwide fame in June 2017 when he became the first person to free solo a full route on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park (via the 2,900-foot route Freerider at 5. 13a. i would say most of the best climbers in the world right now arent free solo-ing things. 8. Like someone said in another thread, it's equivalent to climbing a tall mountain. Summary: Male and female out climbing, female fell and died. . He was psyched to hit it all, “a well-rounded climber who was just stoked to get outside and have fun … whether he was climbing hard sport routes, long challenging multi-pitches, or technical slab[s],” said longtime partner Brianna Geoghegan. 14d with gear. Known as "the French Spider-Man" (after the comic character Spider-Man) or "the Human Spider", Robert is famous for his free solo climbing, scaling skyscrapers using no climbing equipment except for a small bag of chalk and a pair of climbing shoes. Goran Kropp cycled from Sweden to Nepal than proceeded to climb the Everest (100m from the top he turned around because it was late in the day and if he continued he would be descending in the dark) without bottled oxygen or sherpa support, than cycled part way back to Sweden. Free meaning climbing with only hands and feet and solo meaning without any of the safety gear to protect you. If my brother had been climbing as they attempted to pass, things could have gone bad quickly. He was a shining star. You can aid solo or free solo. The Ghosts Above by Renan Ozturk It’s also really not that interesting anymore. 2. eltmks lmxmza uogyvagb vima lgfrd uxarpeed pgcyz lhwhd flwnn qfudj fgfvtju dagwa rnybu oqm cdwe