4 ms·

Almost every free soloist dies? Literally? That would make it the most dangerous hobby in the world? Are there any references or discussions on that handy?

mytddu 10y ago
Many die. Are you surprised from watching the videos that it's dangerous? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_solo_climbing#Notable_accidents https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_solo_climbing#Notable_acc... One of my favorite climbers and free soloists, Dan Osman, also died in an accident but not while free soloing. He was doing a 1000 ft rope jump (jumping from a cliff while connected to a climbing rope and catching oneself while trying not to slam back into the cliff face) when his rope snapped. Here's two videos of him doing a rope jump and of him free soloing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EilwLq7w1bs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EilwLq7w1bs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYbwZQ-QnMY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYbwZQ-QnMY (note the "dyno" at 1:09)
justinator 10y ago
Well everyone dies. If you mean, "died while freesoloing", you've got, * Derek Hersey * John Bachar off the top of my head. There are others, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_solo_climbing#Notable_accidents https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_solo_climbing#Notable_acc... Dan Osman died from a roped fall (jumped with the intent of the rope system to slow his fall), not a free solo. Dean Potter died from a wingsuit accident, which "literally" is probably the most dangerous hobby. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatalities_due_to_wingsuit_flying https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatalities_due_to_wing... "72 percent of fliers had witnessed death or serious injury, and 76 percent had experienced what they categorized as a “near miss.” http://www.newsweek.com/2014/09/12/thrilling-deadly-world-wingsuit-flying-267468.html http://www.newsweek.com/2014/09/12/thrilling-deadly-world-wi... Dean Potter on Heaven, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRUkolahw58 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRUkolahw58
- Hoasi 10y ago
  The late, great Patrick Edlinger survived a terrible fall before retiring, only to fall into depression.
steveax 10y ago
The American Alpine Club gathers reports and publishes Accidents in North American Mountaineering [1] annually. That's probably the best source. I've been climbing for thirty odd years and recall very few deaths free soloing. [1]: http://publications.americanalpineclub.org http://publications.americanalpineclub.org

mytddu 10y ago

Many die. Are you surprised from watching the videos that it's dangerous? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_solo_climbing#Notable_accidents https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_solo_climbing#Notable_acc... One of my favorite climbers and free soloists, Dan Osman, also died in an accident but not while free soloing. He was doing a 1000 ft rope jump (jumping from a cliff while connected to a climbing rope and catching oneself while trying not to slam back into the cliff face) when his rope snapped. Here's two videos of him doing a rope jump and of him free soloing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EilwLq7w1bs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EilwLq7w1bs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYbwZQ-QnMY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYbwZQ-QnMY (note the "dyno" at 1:09)

justinator 10y ago

Well everyone dies. If you mean, "died while freesoloing", you've got, * Derek Hersey * John Bachar off the top of my head. There are others, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_solo_climbing#Notable_accidents https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_solo_climbing#Notable_acc... Dan Osman died from a roped fall (jumped with the intent of the rope system to slow his fall), not a free solo. Dean Potter died from a wingsuit accident, which "literally" is probably the most dangerous hobby. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatalities_due_to_wingsuit_flying https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatalities_due_to_wing... "72 percent of fliers had witnessed death or serious injury, and 76 percent had experienced what they categorized as a “near miss.” http://www.newsweek.com/2014/09/12/thrilling-deadly-world-wingsuit-flying-267468.html http://www.newsweek.com/2014/09/12/thrilling-deadly-world-wi... Dean Potter on Heaven, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRUkolahw58 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRUkolahw58

Hoasi 10y ago
The late, great Patrick Edlinger survived a terrible fall before retiring, only to fall into depression.

steveax 10y ago

The American Alpine Club gathers reports and publishes Accidents in North American Mountaineering [1] annually. That's probably the best source. I've been climbing for thirty odd years and recall very few deaths free soloing. [1]: http://publications.americanalpineclub.org http://publications.americanalpineclub.org