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It's 2nd behind Free Climbing on this deadly sports list [1]. [1] https://rapjumping.com/five-deadliest-extreme-sports/ https://rapjumping.com/five-deadliest-e

by tromp 6y ago

It's 2nd behind Free Climbing on this deadly sports list [1]. [1] https://rapjumping.com/five-deadliest-extreme-sports/ https://rapjumping.com/five-deadliest-extreme-sports/

yesenadam 6y ago
Hmm that website champions the apparently relatively safe Rap Jumping: "Running seven stories down the side of a building face-first combines the Adrenaline-pumping thrill of bungee with the control of abseiling."
rich_sasha 6y ago
In this context "Free Climbing" is a misnomer. "Free Climbing" is the basic garden variety of rock climbing; it means you aren't using artificial aids like ropes to make progress, but you _do_ use them for safety. It's almost always done with a partner. "Soloing" is the right name for climbing on your own, and even then, you can solo with artificial protection (although that's rare, and less safe than free climbing). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_climbing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_climbing
Fricken 6y ago
I wouldn't Free soloing ahead of base jumping. The first reason is because the vast majority of climber's just don't do it. Of the small handful who have made a discipline of it, and of the ones who died, most didn't die free soloing. Dean Potter died wingsuit flying. Michael Reardon (most likely) Drowned. Dan Osman died rope jumping. Brad Gobright rapelled off the end of his rope. Alain Robert,at 58 is still active and has free soloed 170 highrises, he's been doing about 10 a year for the last several years. Alex Honnold, Peter Croft, Catherine Destiville, Steph Davis, Hazel Findlay and Brette Harrington are all storied free soloists who are still with us. John Bachar died in a ropeless climbing fall in his 50s, but most of his notable climbs he did while in his 20s. Austin Howell, a lesser known soloist died in a climbing fall a couple years ago. Those are the only 2 I know of who died free soloing. Now, the world of extreme alpinism, that's a different story. Dying all the time. 5 of the top guys died over the span of less than 3 years, in a cluster of incidents a few years ago.
- wetmore 6y ago
  Derek Hersey died soloing, and many notable (and not so notable) soloists have stories about falling soloing and surviving in situations where they could have easily died if they landed differently. Reardon was soloing when he was hit with a rogue wave so it's a bit fuzzy. But certainly free soloing isn't anywhere as statistically dangerous as base jumping or cutting-edge alpinism. It's just sexier and easier to understand, with very obvious danger, as opposed to the more esoteric dangers in alpinism like falling seracs, avalanches, failing rappel anchors, and so on.

by tromp 6y ago

It's 2nd behind Free Climbing on this deadly sports list [1]. [1] https://rapjumping.com/five-deadliest-extreme-sports/ https://rapjumping.com/five-deadliest-extreme-sports/

yesenadam 6y ago

Hmm that website champions the apparently relatively safe Rap Jumping: "Running seven stories down the side of a building face-first combines the Adrenaline-pumping thrill of bungee with the control of abseiling."

rich_sasha 6y ago

In this context "Free Climbing" is a misnomer. "Free Climbing" is the basic garden variety of rock climbing; it means you aren't using artificial aids like ropes to make progress, but you _do_ use them for safety. It's almost always done with a partner. "Soloing" is the right name for climbing on your own, and even then, you can solo with artificial protection (although that's rare, and less safe than free climbing). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_climbing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_climbing

Fricken 6y ago

I wouldn't Free soloing ahead of base jumping. The first reason is because the vast majority of climber's just don't do it. Of the small handful who have made a discipline of it, and of the ones who died, most didn't die free soloing. Dean Potter died wingsuit flying. Michael Reardon (most likely) Drowned. Dan Osman died rope jumping. Brad Gobright rapelled off the end of his rope. Alain Robert,at 58 is still active and has free soloed 170 highrises, he's been doing about 10 a year for the last several years. Alex Honnold, Peter Croft, Catherine Destiville, Steph Davis, Hazel Findlay and Brette Harrington are all storied free soloists who are still with us. John Bachar died in a ropeless climbing fall in his 50s, but most of his notable climbs he did while in his 20s. Austin Howell, a lesser known soloist died in a climbing fall a couple years ago. Those are the only 2 I know of who died free soloing. Now, the world of extreme alpinism, that's a different story. Dying all the time. 5 of the top guys died over the span of less than 3 years, in a cluster of incidents a few years ago.

wetmore 6y ago
Derek Hersey died soloing, and many notable (and not so notable) soloists have stories about falling soloing and surviving in situations where they could have easily died if they landed differently. Reardon was soloing when he was hit with a rogue wave so it's a bit fuzzy. But certainly free soloing isn't anywhere as statistically dangerous as base jumping or cutting-edge alpinism. It's just sexier and easier to understand, with very obvious danger, as opposed to the more esoteric dangers in alpinism like falling seracs, avalanches, failing rappel anchors, and so on.