Free Solo

Post by **caribe** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 3:53 pm

Sunshine wrote:I will (when the time is right), and it's near, solo Synchronicity! That will be the one and only solo for me. The timing and synergy are converging. Just synchro and me. I may want (and need), to have a friend to share this experience with.

This forum, the above post (in light of the recent sad occasion) and the psychology behind free soloing is very troubling to me. Nothing about the desire to live this close to the edge makes a lot of sense. There is not that much more to say. I hope and suspect that most of you are joking. It is pretty morbid stuff in any case.

Post by **Wes** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 3:55 pm

Just like climbing, people free solo for many reasons. I have done some, and will continue to do some. And it isn't really about living that close to the edge for me, more about mental limits.

Post by **moonbeam** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:18 pm

Sunshine spoke over and over again throughout the years that he wanted to solo that route. So, I don't think it was the death wish you think it might have been.

Post by **Overcammed** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:49 pm

The only thing I've ever soloed was a 40 foot 5.6 in PA. I didn't necessarily want to solo it, but I thought it was the only way to get to the top of the rock. I was scared as hell, I had only been climbing for about a year.

But - afterwards, its funny - it made me a much more confident climber. I guess it made me realize how much of this game is mental...and that's the part that I battle with more than anything else.

Post by **pigsteak** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:34 pm

did I miss something..I always thought moonbeam and sunshine were the same poster.

Post by **haas** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:36 pm

caribe wrote:
Sunshine wrote:I will (when the time is right), and it's near, solo Synchronicity! That will be the one and only solo for me. The timing and synergy are converging. Just synchro and me. I may want (and need), to have a friend to share this experience with.
This forum, the above post (in light of the recent sad occasion) and the psychology behind free soloing is very troubling to me. Nothing about the desire to live this close to the edge makes a lot of sense. There is not that much more to say. I hope and suspect that most of you are joking. It is pretty morbid stuff in any case.

I solo quite frequently, acutally did a route this morning, and for me it has nothing to do with living close to the edge or having a death wish or anything like that. I solo because it is pure and simple. It is you and the rock, just moving up, covering a ton of ground in a small amount of time, and often it is because I love climbing by myself where I can just enjoy the surroundings. I don't solo when strangers are around because I don't like having that distraction in my mind about are they judging me, or thinking I have something to prove or any other bullshit like that.

After talking to Terry after he soloed that line while we were sitting in a booth at Red River Outdoors, I feel Terry soloed that line with pure intentions and had nothing to do with having a death wish. Some may never understand why people solo and that's fine, they don't have to. My wife hated hearing about me soloing until she did it on a very easy 5.2 route that went for about 300ft. No belays, no ropes, no gear to place, just movement. She said while it is not really something she is interested in doing, she now understands why I do it. Half the time I solo, I actually solo with a friend. We usually rope up for awhile, then find a line that inspires us and solo together, talking and having fun as we go along.

RRO, always with the words of wisdom, once said "I got your cheerleader catch bro".

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:44 pm

pigsteak wrote:did I miss something..I always thought moonbeam and sunshine were the same poster.

that'd be a neat trick

Post by **Stewy911** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:49 pm

Ive soloed the practice wall........does that count! haha

Post by **moonbeam** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 7:07 pm

pigsteak wrote:did I miss something..I always thought moonbeam and sunshine were the same poster.

Don't blink, piggy. Ya might miss something.

Post by **512OW** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:54 pm

I've soloed a bunch, and its never a planned thing for me. Like Sunshine said, it has to do with Synergy. Most of my solos have been onsight, and they just have to "hit" me. It has to be about the moment (for me).

Like Wes stated though, people do it for different reasons.... and fact is, its your choice. In Terrys post, he clearly had the right intentions.... It wasn't some Dan Osman thing.