RRC Archives

Wes you have my permission to climb in your chosen style.

I can relate to both sides of the argument. I don't want other people to solo because I don't want them to get hurt but I still do myself. I don't mind if people tell me not to because I understand where they are coming from. If you must do it Id suggest doing really easy stuff that you've done a million times and are super comfy on. The biggest danger is fear (not chossy holds or bird shit) which can make you climb like shit and die. Don't solo something that scares you.

Whether you solo or not is completely up to you. Soloing is something you should only do for yourself. However, while I think this, I am not comfortable being around someone soloing because it really makes me nervous and I don't want to be there if they fall. Then again this can easily happen when someone is cleaning anchors or rapping, and sometimes that makes me nervous too when the climber doesn't act like they know what they're doing.

But if you have the urge to solo and you are a good climber and are not being pushed to solo by someone else, then go ahead and do it. Just make sure you are only doing it for yourself.

This is such an old debate. It's like reviving the ol' Dan Osmond crap. In life there is action & reaction, cause & effect. I had a really good friend at the age of 19, in Spain, walked off a curb and was splattered by a bus, you never know. You can live life with the nasty "what if's" or you waive a certain amount of caution to see your next thrill. I have watched friends solo and I have been comfortable with that. Only person in my life grounded from soloing is BBerlier, he has to hold my hand!

Don't solo at the Red the rock is way too friable! Enough said.

I can think of plenty of climbs I would be comfortable climbing w/out a rope ability wise but, snap, splat, boom...and it only takes once!

Go somewhere where the odds of the rock breaking off in your hand or under your foot is way less probable. I have a collection of holds from all over the country that have come off in my hand and the numebr that I have from the Red far out number the ones I have from other areas.

Ain't gravity a bitch!!!

I quit soloing. I get the same thrill on routes that are really hard for me.Like Lust At First Site. Just cant help obsessing about that route even tho its 3 notches harder than I can redpoint.

i knew this dude who liked soloing. he was saying how it's so cool to be way up with only clothes and a chalkbag and climbing shoes. how you feel everything around you and everything you're touching like you're completely aware. how it was cool just climbing move by move, and how every move was as solid as could be and how he never even had the thought of falling or being scared come to mind. sounds pretty cool to me.

DUde, we are all for you soloing! I'll bring the video camera just in case!

Caver's Route (5.3) has seen a solo death! It only takes one slip. Just know that you may die if you solo or climb, roped, for that matter. A simple leader fall can also result in death. Climbing, in general, is dangerous. That being said, I am more afraid watching a beginning climber on a sport route than a competent soloist. Competent soloist is OK, incompetent soloist is stupid (death wish). In Yosemite, no true free-soloer has been killed yet, although one, critically hurt, survived only by the speed of his rescue. On the other hand, many roped climbers have perished in Yosemite. I am not condoning soloing and I personally only solo with a soloist. If you feel the need to solo, try solo leading with a soloist. It may give you the fix you feel you need but a lot safer. I enjoy it! But if you still feel the need to solo, I don't mind. Just be smart about it!