Highballing vs. free solo

climbing.com/news/unbelayva…

At what point do you draw the line between highball bouldering and free soloing.
Not that it really matters what you call it but I think some inexperienced climbers who would not ever solo might climb a high "boulder problem" & think it's ok.
I'd say that if you can break your back falling, that might be more than your typical boulder problem.

Elena, is that you?

FrankPS wrote:Elena, is that you?

Really not meant to be a troll. Just saw the "Unbelayvable" article and made me curious if/when you would consider a boulder problem as "too high".

Po-tay-to, po-tah-to… As you say, it doesn’t matter what you call it—the point is, where does one draw the line? It’s all about comfort zone/risk management/testosterone poisoning—if a fall would likely result in serious injury, then you’d be well-advised to consider the potential consequences and act accordingly.

If I’m driving/hiking past a cool potential bouldering problem (preferably with appropriate shoes and maybe chalk handy), it’s hard to resist giving it a try. The fact that I may have neither pad nor spotter means I need to make sure that there’s an acceptable fall zone/manageable downclimb. If not, then I make a mental note and move on. Given the many potential (and not always anticipatable) things that can go wrong on any climb, to get higher off the deck than a “safe” level is, well, that’s why they have the Darwin Awards…

Anything above 20 feet is a high ball. Anything over 40 feet is soloing. That's the rule.

1. Unquantifiable
2. Who the hell cares?
3. Boring and tired question

Highball is you think you will live if you fall (usually w/pads beneath)
Free solo is "you Gunna DIE!"

Muscrat wrote:Highball is you think you will live if you fall (usually w/pads beneath) Free solo is "you Gunna DIE!"

+1 that's my definition.

Highball is you think you will live if you fall (usually w/pads beneath) Free solo is "you Gunna DIE!"</quote

Thats about as good as it gets but it still has shortcomings.

Muscrat wrote:Highball is you think you will live if you fall (usually w/pads beneath) Free solo is "you Gunna DIE!"

That's actually a pretty good definition.

Mike Brady wrote:1. Unquantifiable 2. Who the hell cares? 3. Boring and tired question

Rule #1?

If you"re shirtless it's a highball. Fully clothed it's a free solo.

Mike Brady wrote:1. Unquantifiable 2. Who the hell cares? 3. Boring and tired question

I just saw the "Climbing Magazine" article and it made me curious where one would make the distinction between highball or solo. Not really a big concern but I was bored so I thought I'd ask other's opinions.

Sorry if you don't care and find the question boring and tired. Not sure why you wasted your time reading this thread and responding to it....

jaypg wrote:If you"re shirtless it's a highball. Fully clothed it's a free solo.

If you're naked it's a free solo in Boulder....

Mike Brady wrote:1. Unquantifiable 2. Who the hell cares? 3. Boring and tired question

Boring and tired attitude.

Jim Fox wrote: If you're naked it's a free solo in Boulder....

+1 California too

david goldstein wrote: Boring and tired attitude.

Touche good sir. :) That setup was just to good.

climb already wrote: Not sure why you wasted your time reading this thread and responding to it....

What else would I do, work? :)

Mike Brady wrote: What else would I do, work? :)

LOL. Yeah, if I had another choice besides working or posting boring, tired questions on MP, I'd probably being doing that....

Failing on a high ball problem -- A splatting sound followed by "aaaaaaaa fuck."

Failing on a free solo climb -- "Aaaaaaaa fuck" followed by a splatting sound.

The National Geographic article about Caldwell and Jorgeson on Dawn Wall gave a definition of highballing at 60':

He garnered a reputation for being a powerful climber. He specialized in bouldering, which is climbing boulders up to about 20 feet (six meters) tall via the most difficult sequence of moves known. His expertise expanded to include the much riskier "highball bouldering," which means climbing really tall boulders up to 60 feet (18 meters).