Fatalities Soloing the First Flatiron

Does anyone have any statistics or information on this? I can't seem to find any on the internet and I'm trying to convey to someone that soloing, even something as "casual" as the first flatiron (casual is a relative term) can still have deadly consequences. I remember hearing about one or two over the past decade, but don't have anything concrete.

send them the rmrg report. it should be on their website. not exactly focused on the first, but it's probably the most you'll get.

Showing fatalities may not be the best way to persuade someone not to solo. A soloist understands that it's dangerous and that anyone can slip and fall. I would suggest having a discussion with them about the potential costs and benefits of soloing. If they really want to do it, you can't stop them though.

Nick Zmyewski wrote:Showing fatalities may not be the best way to persuade someone not to solo. A soloist understands that it's dangerous and that anyone can slip and fall. I would suggest having a discussion with them about the potential costs and benefits of soloing. If they really want to do it, you can't stop them though.

I have not heard of any solo fatalities on the first. But if you are able to find any keep in mind it has been soloed tens of thousands of times I would estimate. Comparing that to ropes climbing injuries and deaths would be interesting.

Actually I vaguely remember one accident on the first. It was not a "climber".

Some time in the early 1980s, I was hiking in to (maybe) solo the First. I noticed a number of people heading the opposite direction, carrying full-size backpacks - not what you expect to see in Chautauqua. Soon, there was an oddly-shaped wheelbarrow with a long, black bag balanced on it. I asked somebody what was up, and he said that there had been a death on the First. "If it makes you feel any better, he jumped."

I went for a hike instead.

But I don't know of any fatalities due to soloing falls since then.

If this person continues to pursue soloing the first flatiron and doesn't any other solo adventures under their belt get them to at least go up it on a rope first. I also recommend scouting out the down climb. I overlooked that on my first solo up the first flatiron and it got me into a chossy, overhanging down climb.
Enjoy and be safe!

Once in a while, indulging in it is rewarding ... usually not planned, usually familiar terrain as Jordan mentioned, and often without anyone around. Still, it's good to occasionally read a story like this:

'On The Ridge Between Life And Death' (an excerpt regarding First Flat Iron)
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/28/books/chapters/0828-1st-roberts.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

By DAVID ROBERTS

Jordan Moore wrote:If this person continues to pursue soloing the first flatiron and doesn't any other solo adventures under their belt get them to at least go up it on a rope first. I also recommend scouting out the down climb. I overlooked that on my first solo up the first flatiron and it got me into a chossy, overhanging down climb. Enjoy and be safe!

Just be sure he sprays about it afterwards

I've soloed the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd flat irons. sure, it's possible to get killed doing it, but it's more likely you'll get killed driving through boulder on the way to it. if a person wants to start doing some soloing, you'd be hard pressed to find a better place than the flat irons.

(notice how I bragged about soloing while making it seen pertinent to the conversation)

I've gone up mountains without getting sick, gone into avy chutes without getting blasted, and solo'd more sketchball shit than a flatiron. Obviously, there is no hazard...obviously; until there is.

Bill Lawry wrote:Once in a while, indulging in it is rewarding ... usually not planned, usually familiar terrain as Jordan mentioned, and often without anyone around. Still, it's good to occasionally read a story like this: 'On The Ridge Between Life And Death' (an excerpt regarding First Flat Iron) http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/28/books/chapters/0828-1st-roberts.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1& By DAVID ROBERTS