RRC Archives

I like smoking crack from time to time. I really like the place it puts me in. I only do it when I'm alone and my kids aren't around. I might frighten them if the see me do it They get scared when they see me climb, so I don't let them watch me do that anymore, besides, it spoils my concentration. I don't think I'm being selfish, its my body, my mind. What wrong with a little stimulation?

Selfish: Caring supremely or unduly for one's self; regarding one's own comfort, advantage, etc., in disregard, or at the expense, of those of others.

Is soloing selfish? That's a moot question. Some say it is, some say it isn't. Once again there are two opposing sides arguing a view point. Here? On redriverclimbing.com? Imagine that....

Come on guys... what's all the gripe? I had TK's spot the whole time.

People! I have worked with victims of accidental falls. (Thus far no solo climbers!) Trust me, you don't want to fall and live.

Steve Freas soloed and downclimbed Creature Feature...at least he told me he did. I believe it because I watched hom solo and downclimb Sunshine. He also talked about attmepting to solo Roadside Attraction many times but backing off.

If I want to solo (and I never do) I wouldn't ask anyone elses permission. If you don't like it then leave. I get anxious when I see someone doing something dangerous, like not paying attention to their climber while belaying or taking their hand off the brake or placing shoddy gear, but I don't get all authoritative on them and pack up and leave. I think most people who solo have their act together while most gumbies need a little more attention and support through the learning stage. Granted some soloists are just plain stupid...if that's the case, let them do their thing. Natural Selection is a wonderful tool.

i solo often (usually with a silent partner) it is something i choose to do and feel that the level of risk is more than acceptable for my skill level. if were to go trying to solo 12's then i feel that would be nuts for me. soloing is about what is comfortabel for you and only you. those of us that do it will never be able to justify it to those of you who do not.





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charlie wrote:You people need to chill. Why's everyone always pissing about the ways someone enjoy's their life? If it's not bringing a dog to the crag, it's something you heardsome 14 year old said sometime, or the way some people spend their time climbing.

Interesting...thought this particular forum was about opinion, strong or otherwise. Except for the childish name calling (maybe that's where the reference to 14 year olds comes in - do guys really call each other Pussy's past this age?), it's a pretty healthy thing to voice your view. Open your mind a little...or perhaps you think we need to rename this forum something like "GiveYourOpinionButOnlyIfYouAgreeWithMe.com"

TK,

Wes

Wes wrote:

People get killed far more by other kinds of climbing issues. .

What a bunch of P.C. pussies.

Wes

Well, let me tell you about my soloing experience. I was at the anchors on the first pitch of "bedtime for bonzo". I had just finished belaying up my party. They had all went through the gap and I was getting ready to come off of the anchors and join them. Here comes this girl free soloing up the bottom pitch. She gets to the mantle and she can't pull it. She tells me she is scared and for me to help her. I reach down and pull her dumb-ass up over the lip. I don't know if she would have died. She definately would have been fucked up. So the thing that I really resent is you dumbass spray lords getting on the board and around your friends at Miguels and talking it up about how big and badass climbers you are because you free solo'd .........
What the fuck ever dumbass.

the spirit of climbing seems to have initiated from the desire to push the human limit and go where no one has gone or said that it couldn't be done. one wonders though how far that will be taken? not to mention names, but a climber who i really respect talks freely (but it is his/her story) about soloing a route that was well below his/her limit and still falling off of it. taking it easy is no guarantee.

know the risk you take. and know that that risk extends beyond your life.

especially remember that the red is not the west. climbing access is not guaranteed and i'd really like to be able to continue climbing.