Solo climbing deaths reddit It’s only selfish if you involve others imo. I'm sure this guy was incredible at what he did. Free soloing is what Alex Honnold made famous in mainstream media, climbing without any protection. If you put the two together you get "free soloing. my friend was climbing (different friend). Personally when I've been climbing in the Alps, I've logged near misses into a local database (called SERAC) because I think other people might learn from them, but I'm very much the exception. The grade isn't the reason he gets his notoriety. Soloing is when you climb without a partner, which basically means no rope or safety. The term "soloing" can refer to either free soloing, or rope soloing. " Unroped solo climbing is much less technically complicated than climbing in a group. 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). Jul 11, 2023 · On Sunday, July 9, a Boulder, Colorado, woman died after falling 500 feet while free soloing Blitzen Ridge, a classic 5. Be the first to comment Nobody's responded to this post yet. Accidents happen, the thing is with roped climbing you have safeguards to keep you alive. A 5. But alpinism is a lot riskier. 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. Climbing magazine caught up with Ourada in a phone call to find out more details about the accident and to learn how his recovery is going. 13a); an in-a-day solo ascent of the Salathé Wall (5. Halfway up that route I pretty much made up my mind that I had no more interest in ever going ice climbing again, rock climbing was just much more fun and more me and not so cold. He died on one of the easier Looking at the clothes and skin bleaching it looks like he probably passed within the last 5 years or so. He also collected books, magazines, and expedition postcards; he had every single copy of Climbing magazine, Rock and Ice, Alpinist, and The Climbing Zine. Initially, we see him at the competition. So you could make the caveat of tapping being one of the more dangerous things you can do on a rope. The rope is under tension and constantly wants to go up, so it will follow you as you climb. Going solo will have plenty on dangers. When you jump off, it will lower you back down at a safe speed. Of these 68 deaths, 43% were due to falls, 34% were due to avalanches, and 23% were due to other causes such as heart attacks or bad weather. ) Reply reply My best friend would have described himself just as you did. Take plenty of water ideally have a camel pack. One lifelong brain damage from a sport leading accident. The woman was on one of the Four Aces—steep mini-peaks along the ridge—which are considered the route’s crux. Falling on a free solo like this is basically certain death. Nov 29, 2019 · A world-renowned American free solo climber has died attempting to descend the side of a cliff face. 11 Reply reply I wouldn't condemn free soloing because at the end of the day, its your life and if you understand the risks and choose to participate that's just your choice. Wednesday when he fell about 50 feet. According to data compiled by Climbing Magazine, there have been a total of 68 free solo climbing deaths in the United States since 1950. It’s just you and the rock. If you want to be fast you use little protection. Add your thoughts and get the conversation going. Those who don't hike can have very strange notions of even the most basic hiking experience. Rock climbing deaths do happen. Nothing complicated. With soloing there is still the chance of surviving. Mountain project lists that section as a 5. Some of them were widely known for their climbing accomplishments, establishing new routes on Mt. Jan 22, 2025 · Early on, he collected stamps and coins—a seed that was planted by his grandfather, Robert Blair Sr. neither of us saw it. But behind the scenes his mental health was faltering. Free soloing getting heavy publicity makes me frustrated because it popularizes a very small portion of the climbing community. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Free soloing ice is not usually the time to try and pull off completely unnecessary and avoidable tool swaps, especially just for some GoPro footage that no one but your mom and granny will care about unless things go horribly wrong. 8 multi pitch called frogland. The 27-year-old ice and mixed expert was climbing the Spitzenstätter (VII/5. But I don't think the approach scramble comparison is a good one. Falling on an approach is not certain death. I was wondering if anybody knew of a pretty comprehensive list of free-soloists that have passed away in an accident? I've seen the free solo climbing wikipedia article that has a list of accidents. 13 pitch? In running shoes, onsight solo? I'm pretty sure no one in the world has ever attempted that, even in climbing shoes. Free climbing is using your hands and feet on the rock to climb, aid climbing uses a bunch of gear to help you ascend. 12d) and Golden Gate (5. No ropes, draws, bolts, or cams. the closest near death experience was this. Didn't change anything on my climbing, I think the best is to understand why accidents happens. This type of climbing is only practiced by a very small subset of climbers. Rocks can always break, regardless of how good you are. Alex Huber has free soloed 14a. Gonna hit on some of the free-soloing greats like Honnold and Potter. In some years you have 800 people climbing the mountain, so you should have 100 deaths. When he did untie the previous knot he felt. 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. He couldn’t hold on, leaving deep gouges in the snow as he slid off the edge and plummeted about 1,200 feet, landing in an avalanche triggered by the piece of the cornice that had fallen from under him at the top of Mount St Stopped in Red rocks outside Vegas and climbed a brilliant 5. Plus 3 abseiling deaths, all trad multi-pitch rather than alpinism. He and I are big scramblers of the Flatirons as well, so this was pretty sobering. about 12 ft away. Nov 28, 2019 · Acclaimed American free solo climber Brad Gobright died Wednesday attempting to descend down the side of a cliff face in El Potrero Chico, Mexico, a popular rock climbing destination in northern At a climbing gym like this, you would be clipped into an auto belay. It looks like he is still attached to a belay device and not a jumar, so probably got tired on a decent. Only sport climbing, he messed up at the anchor attaching his carabiner with the figure of 8 knot to the previous knot. And it isn't brave to be in the constant presence of death. He was the fittest person I knew and was a experienced and strong climber (Solo winter ascent of the Matterhorn for example). Apr 22, 2025 · On March 17, 68-year-old Earl Prunty, fell to his death while free soloing beside Washington’s Nooksack Falls, an 88-foot waterfall that plunges over a volcanic cliffside in two segments. Of course the difference is that drugs will eventually mess your life up, guaranteed. So while I don’t want to to downplay the risks of climbing, this is not a list of people who died while climbing per se, but a list of climbers who died. Dec 4, 2024 · In a little more than a decade, he graduated from a 40-foot climbing wall at a health club in rural Utah to a stunning range of accomplishments: multiple free ascents of El Cap, including Freerider (5. 9 C2); first ascents of big walls in Zion National Park and the Any solo I’ve done (extremely limited) has been top secret- just tell you’re loved ones you’re out climbing at a particular location and when to expect you back. In both cases, it means climbing alone. The woman’s climbing partner, who was uninjured and called for help on his cellphone, was hoisted off the ridge by a Colorado Air National Guard helicopter Sunday night. I'm basically doing my report on free-soloing. Dave mccleod soloed some 8c+/14c Darwin Dixit in Margalef, 8c/14b For example, a free solo death could close a crag if it brought too much negative press attention, and it could certainly traumatize anybody who was unlucky enough to see it happen. If you want to be extra fast you use zero protection. In terms of climbing grades, Alex Honnold has done some hard free solo's but there are a few climbers who have solo'd harder routes - grade wise. In more dangerous types of climbing, there are more factors to consider such as rockfall, poorly protected pitches/poor anchors, free soloing, avalanches/icefall, storms, simul-climbing, etc. 53 votes, 32 comments. , who was also a climber and first ascensionist. I can think of a few solo hikers/climbers who took a big fall and probably would have died had they not had a sliver of cell reception. Apr 29, 2021 · On April 11, 2021, 31-year-old climber Josh Ourada fell approximately 150 to 200 feet while free soloing Nutcracker, on the Manure Pile Buttress, Yosemite. There’s a purity and a flow to free soloing that’s l lost in trad or sport climbing. Both searches have been called out. For lead rope solo check out the FB pages, listen to Colin Haley podcasts (Pakistani death loop, etc. You could almost perfectly swap out soloing with doing drugs and it would be the same movie. Shortly after this, the man who owns the climbing shop tells Mori that solo climbing only leads to death. Summary: Male and female out climbing, female fell and died. Yeah, Leclerc was amazing don't get me wrong. it was like a full sized tree's stump that must have came I do know free soloing is stupid and we should try to minimise the idolation of people doing it. While there are no established climbing routes at Nooksack Falls, Prunty frequently climbed and downclimbed the wet rock surrounding the falls unroped. It can also be somewhat practical: you want to climb but don’t want to worry about finding a partner or just want to be alone and chill, it’s faster, don’t have to worry about gear and logistics, etc. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. suddenly, with no warning a tree stump smashed in the the ground beside me. . The most likely scenario is that both solo hikers became injured, stranded and then died in an out-of-the way location. I have a family member who is terrified of me hiking even close by trails alone. Free climbing on the other hand is what you think of as typical rock climbing. Go home from that trip and put all my ice climbing gear on eBay Free climbing is using your hands and legs directly on the rock -- originally climbers would pull on a lot of gear like pitons, which is called aid climbing. 10+) up the center of the face. And yes we are scared of falling. I climbed mount Snowden the other week and was surprised how dangerous it was on certain points and would not have been comfortable doing it solo. 4. On Saturday, May 18, 48-year-old Bob Dergay of Boulder, Colorado, fell an estimated 100 feet while free-soloing the popular Bastille Crack, a five-pitch 5. He looks just like Mizuki, Mori's old friend who jumped off the building. Jul 14, 2023 · A 26-year-old woman who was killed Sunday while free-solo climbing a ridge on Ypsilon Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park has been identified by the Larimer County coroner as Bailee Mulholland. I'm guessing the couple treated it like an exposed hike, rather than what immediately springs to mind when I hear "Free solo" climbing. He was obsessive about getting the Certainly what you are claiming occurs within the non-climbing community, but any climber knows that roped climbing and free soloing are far from the same thing. This said, solo leading requires experience and perfect knowledge of what you are doing, and since you are "super new to climbing" it isn't an option. m. 4 ridge on Ypsilon Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. This has nothing to do with the protection used, but the way in which you climb. Overall, as a new climber you should be aware that when done properly the sport is fairly safe, but you need to be 100% on your game at certain moments Jan 9, 2023 · Others died free soloing or in rappelling accidents; they died of rockfall, exposure, avalanches, altitude sickness, or while participating in other mountain sports. Essentially there is free climbing and aid climbing. You can see the rope leading up to it right at hip level. 4M subscribers in the climbing community. 7 on the Bastille formation in Eldorado Canyon. Troopers say 46-year-old Andrew Barnes of Niskayuna was climbing in the Mohonk Preserve in the Ulster County town of Gardiner around 8:20 p. I understand the art you all are doing, and I enjoy watching urban climbing videos so much. a fall where the climber is saved from injury/death by the rope) go unreported, and this can skew statistics. It was some tourist climbing around my place, not experienced in outdoor. Most near misses (i. If it was a high-profile death (like Honnold) then it could also have implications for public perceptions of the sport of climbing overall, which could impact Sorry to be pessimistic. You found your passion, you are really happy doing it and there is always the imminent risk of dying. So, it's cool that he's free soloing, but a 5. Generally when used on its own it refers to free soloing. This is a common mix up. Rope soloing involves setting up a self belay so you still have the security of the rope. Brad Gobright, 31, fell around 300m (1,000ft) to his death in El Potrero Chico in Jul 11, 2023 · A 26-year-old Boulder woman died Sunday after she fell 500 feet during a free-solo climb on the Four Aces of Blitzen Ridge in Rocky Mountain National Park, park officials said. I also think it gives the sport somewhat of a tougher image with many people since that is what they initially associate with climbing. On average, around 5 people die each year. But I can't help but wonder: among the successful crazy and insane climbs we see on videos, how many people fail and fall? I am aware that I can get injured even in the best circumstances. 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). New Mar 30, 2024 · We have lost some climbing legends to free soloing, but if this is any consolidation, they died doing something they loved. Troopers say Barnes was free climbing and wasn’t utilizing a climbing rope when he fell. ). The home of Climbing on reddit. Lhotse has had 20 deaths since 1974, and since 2010 there have been five deaths from something other than a fall or avalanche. e. Others are related to alpine rockfall which is an objective hazard. But it doesn't matter. Jun 20, 2023 · Austin Howell soloed harder and more often than almost anyone else in the country, documenting his exploits on Instagram and a podcast. You can aid solo or I haven’t read all of the obituaries, but some of them also were death due to non-climbing related reasons (one guy passed away due to having a problems with his heart transplant p. Any others? The climbing is chill, practice some simu-climbing with your buddy so you can move faster. He thought he knew where to stop but once he started climbing solo he got carried away and watend to do harder and harder climbs. In my climbing circles (so not strangers I read about on the internet) I can think of 3 trad multi-pitch deaths. and i was on the ground belaying. Going solo can kill you. Jul 5, 2019 · This is the second free soloing death that has occurred this year as the result of unstable rock. Soloing is not using protective gear to catch you if you were to fall. Keep climbing with a partner is the best you can do at the moment, especially because you'll learn much faster than climbing solo. Everest’s Kangshung Face, in the Gunks, in Greenland, in Patagonia, and so on. My buddy Anton was the one that initially found you and sat with you until RMR came. On average, around five climbers die every year on the world's highest peak, the AFP reports. I'm confused by the description above, though. There are many climbers in the world who are better than Honnold as far as difficulty, with a rope, Adam Ondra is the dude everyone talks about, for good reason, he holds several records right now, he does free solo too but he's not like Honnold. there were more people at the wall who saw it. Read up on each route and make a decision based on the reviews and your experience. Free climbing is just the opposite of aid climbing. 1. I'll even send her pictures of me on an All Trail "easy" hike and she still can't get her head around me not being in danger of It doesn't even matter if it's "rope" solo you use a rope or not for a speed solo ascent. What matters is that you're solo and free climbing. The majority that were climbing related are soloing. She somehow conflates hiking a familiar trail with rock climbing in a remote wilderness. The amount of safety equipment you use and place on the wall is entirely up to you. But for pure fearlessness and speed, Honnold is arguably the greatest. Seriously don't underestimate that hike with the added weight of rope & rack. One of the best probably. He introduces Mori to the world of solo climbing, setting the path for a large portion of Mori's life. 8 is well within the realm of reason for a weekend climber to achieve with gear, and an easy send for anyone regularly climbing 5. Alex's hardest free solo is at the grade of 13a iirc. A massive chunk of hardened snow tumbled into the void below him as Roscoe Shorey dug his fingers into the edge of the cornice in a desperate attempt to stop his fall. zgdbcx voq ozvzfb mklf msik dqnq esqmjt bobt gvbcwm hsju