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Hardest Oz Solos? 12-May-2004 At 5:51:22 PM Camos

Message

On 12/05/2004 WM wrote:
>The argument 'for' has been aired more than the argument 'against' .....
>does anyone have comments against soloing?
>
>Maybe something like:
>
>Driving without a seatbelt is stupid, crossing the road instead of using
>a footbridge is stupid, climbing without a rope/helmet is stupid. All
>going well, you'll achieve the same end result - do you want to do it in
>a safer way, or in a more dangerous way?
>

By that logic climbing up a cliff when you can walk up is "stupid", climbing on pro if you can use bolts is stupid -it's a difficult line of argument to push

>Another way to put it: is there really enough "return" in soloing to justify
>the extra risk? The suggestions have been adrenalin, "feeling more alive"
>and speed .... is that really enough to justify it?
>
Subjective. This is not economics where we could quantify outlay, risk and return

>The "return" on the risks that go with roped (& helmeted!) climbing is
>that you get to climb some awesome bits of rock. Soloing just gets you
>up the same bit of rock!
>

Subjective

>>How many soloing deaths have there been in Victoria versus leading/scrambling/abseiling
>deaths ?
>
>Dunno, but this is a misleading way to ask the question! More people
>die driving than soloing, so is soloing safer?! You need to allow for
>the quantity of each activity - leading/scrambling/abseiling gets done
>a *lot* more than soloing. That said, I'd be very interested if anyone
>could dig up some "fatalities per 1000 hours" -type stats for each activity.
> If they exist, which I doubt.

Again, subjective
>
>> you'd be naive to isolate soloing.
>
>It could very easily be said you'd be naive not to! (sorry Fatboy, not
>picking on you in particular!!)

following that line you would be naive not to isolate climbing from bushwalking
>
>Anyone willing to help me out here or am I stranded in a world of soloers??

The safest thing is to stay tucked up in bed, under the doona with soup and toast 24/7 -but in the end it's still gonna getcha

There's my 2c, not worth much