Another tagic death

Post by **gripster** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:28 pm

For those of you who haven't heard:

http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/threa ... _id=896012

He was a bad ass, no question.

Post by **Saxman** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:44 pm

Very sad.

Post by **ahab** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:45 pm

Post by **Crankmas** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:33 pm

We stand on the shoulders of giants is an often overused phrase but in Bachar's case it is an understatement, RIP and condolences to family and his extensive list of friends and associates.

Post by **pigsteak** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:21 pm

he went out the way he lived..on the edge.

now there was a REAL rock climber, and one of the few who had the balls to back it up....

Post by **ynp1** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:50 pm

super shitty... we have lost a lot of great climbers in the last year...

Post by **michaelarmand** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:38 pm

pigsteak wrote:he went out the way he lived..on the edge.

now there was a REAL rock climber, and one of the few who had the balls to back it up....

I still don't get it - we glorify those who take needless risk? Free soloing deaths are tragic and avoidable.

So what can we all do to be REAL rock climbers? How about getting a ride from a total gumby who does not know how to belay? Lets also not double back our harness. And to top it off lets back clip all the draws - total badass dude!

Post by **ahab** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:45 pm

dude, wrong thread.
the choices bachar made were exactly that, his choice. fact is, if it weren't for people like him, you wouldn't have your little playground rides at all, or perhaps ever started climbing in the first place.
show some respect.

Post by **charlie** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:52 pm

michaelarmand wrote:.....I still don't get it

Clearly.

michaelarmand wrote:Free soloing deaths are tragic and avoidable.

As are disrespectful posts. He was a hero and influence to many of us before life was a grid bolted playground.

It shouldn't be too hard for you to hide your disrespect, even if it is too hard to show some respect for one of the legends that provided us with this hobby.

Post by **quicksilver** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:04 pm

Bachar was certainly one of a kind and while he chose to accept the calculated risk of soloing he did not encourage or infer that others should do so. Everybody takes calculated risks in everything they do, what they eat, smoking, drinking and driving, walking through the woods, trusting bolts others placed, etc. etc. All these things can result in our demise, some quickly, some extremely slow. I don't see his actions (given his ability and experience) as being any more risky than sitting in a cubicle in front of a monitor and eating ding dongs for 30 years. He soloed for 30 + years and in the end he died. The guy in the cube had a massive MI after eating ding dongs for 30 + years - same result, he dies. Trying to dictate what is or isn't safe results in a big brother mentality where others tell you what risks are o.k. for you to take. Bachar was a free spirit and maybe the best climber of our or any other generation. Nobody gets out alive - it is a shame he went while still so strong and able to pursue his passion - but it beats the hell out of wasteing away of old age in a home.
Apparently it is extremely dangerous to date 20 year old women if you are a retired NFL Quaterback - Air Mcnair should have been soloing