Gaia.... terrifying.

Post by **512OW** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:32 am

This video shows just how badass Alex Honnold is for flashing Gaia. This is a WAY scarier perspective...

Its not Alex, but George Ullrich, who recently made an attempt to be the second flash of the route...

http://vimeo.com/2553719

Post by **toad857** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:56 am

what's with that rope off to his right?

Post by **pkananen** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:12 am

toad857 wrote:what's with that rope off to his right?

watch a few other videos of gaia and you'll understand why.

Post by **Danny** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:15 am

I assume it helps keep you off the ground and from smashing the wall if it gets pulled tight when you fall. Imaging hangin on a piece above you and you are almost touching the ground. If some one pulleld on you laterally with another rope you would move laterally and up. Seems like cheating to me

Post by **toad857** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:51 am

that extra rope didn't seem to do too much by way of preventing a bad fall...

seems like adding a bolt would be easier! guess that would be cheating, too, though...

Post by **512OW** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 7:16 am

Yeah, his theory with the other rope was to check the swing into the arete. All it ended up doing was destroying his focus... not a good thing on a route like that, I imagine.

Post by **p0bray01** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:17 pm

Gaia slays another suitor.....ouchhhhh dammnnn.

Post by **Xtant** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 2:14 pm

Saw a vid of a guy falling who didn't have that second rope. He smacked the arete and broke his leg. I think I'd deal with the distraction. Then again, I climb 5.8s so my shoes still distract me :p

Post by **Crankmas** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 2:52 pm

Jonny Dawes was ahead of his time and truly badass.

Post by **schwagpad** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:54 pm

Think hard grit climbers will go extinct from natural selection?