Soloing

What are some of your opinions on soloing? Any answer is welcome :). Just wondering what people think of it.

It's fuckin stupid

Broken Record

you're not a climber if you don't solo.

Yer gunna die

And I think that sums it up. New topic.

I believe Warren Harding said something to the effect of... Not much of a gain, and a whole lot to lose.

It is easy to say soloing is stupid, but the question comes in the grey area where the terrain just starts to get techincal.

Nobody would rope up to walk down the sidewalk, but all of us would rope up for a 5.15. I'll solo some 5.8 terrain if it is secure and inconvenient to rope up, but I am very comfortable on the terrain that I solo. There are also 5.3s that I would rope up for.

The ability to climb without falling is an important part of the total safety system, particularly in the alpine.

It is a bad idea to push or approach your grade while soloing though...

I see a critical question of definition:

Suppose I'm climbing a route exposed to death-fall with no rope, and the difficulty is so far below my following/Top-Rope capability that there is essentially zero probability of me blowing a move. And the rock is sound and recently tested, so there is essentially zero probability of hold breaking.

Am I then Not really soloing at all?

Or is that the smartest kind of Soloing?

I love to solo climb. Everybody assumes the OP is referring to free soloing, but rope soloing can be a fun and safe thing to do.

I gave my partner a belay on class 2 terrain today. (Yes that's a real grade: look it up). You can never be too safe.

John Bacher quote on soloing in an old video I have. "The dumb one's die".

Be smart out there!

I once went solo to a restaurant for dinner and was actually seated at a table for one.

Most embarrassing moment of my life.

I love going ropeless on easy ice, especially in the evening with a headlamp.

The potential for a fatal fall does not always necessitate a rope. I know plenty of hiking or scrambling routes that you would not want to fall off of, but that doesn't mean I'm busting out the rope. As long as you know where to draw the line for YOURSELF that's all you need to know about (free) soloing.

One man's 5.5 is another man's 3rd class... etc.

Chris Rice wrote:John Bacher quote on soloing in an old video I have. "The dumb one's die". Be smart out there!

I don't solo.

Except for Flatirons.

And I have a few sketchy thoughts every time up the First.

kenr wrote:I see a critical question of definition: is essentially zero probability of me blowing a move. And the rock is sound and recently tested, so there is essentially zero probability of hold breaking. Am I then Not really soloing at all? Or is that the smartest kind of Soloing?

Chris Rice wrote:John Bacher quote on soloing in an old video I have. "The dumb one's die". Be smart out there!

I always thought it was such unfortunate irony Bachar said that , he died soloing on the Dike Wall , he was far from dumb , and an legendary soloist .

If anything it just shows that all bets are off when soloing , loose rock , bad weather , muscle spasm in your arm ... dumb or not , we all will obey gravity if things go wrong .

or rock fall from above.... which is more likely the case with bachar. Ive had microwave size boulders come down from above the dike wall at light speed. and on the topic of soloing....john also said "soloing is the best f&$king sport on earth". amen to that. and if your concerned about the opinions of others on soloing. thats kind of a red flag already. put your head phones on, tie your shoes tight, chalk up and rock on.

Work it all out on the ground, get your technique down before you go up.

I solo (TR and trad) because very few people around here are available to climb and most just want to rappel.

Learn self rescue... YOU WILL HAVE TO USE IT.

Ditto on the first 6 replies.

Thank you Ben, that made my day!