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Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

Poll Option

Votes

Graph

I require a belay to leave flat ground

Dont solo 'routes' but do unroped access scrambles

42%

I solo established routes graded 5 or less

I solo established routes graded 10 or less

I solo to within 10 grades of my roped limit

15%

I solo to within 7 grades of my roped limit

19%

I solo to within 4 grades of my roped limit

I solo at or near my roped limit

Topic Date User

Soloing 25-Aug-2005 At 11:24:01 AM Take!

Message

"come over here and have a look, someone's getting pulled off the major
crags once a week - unbelievable!"

Unfortunately, with our current government's need to catagorise everything from the point of view of how much money 'we as a country' (ahem) can make or lose from it, this type of thing could spell the end of climbing in Aust as we enjoy it. The cost to society from rescues could even be seen as a threat to our way of life by certain law making types....

Hmm, soloing as a terrorist activity - punishable by death...

Seriously though, the sensationalist commercial media (aka government propoganda machine) would have a field day with a multitude of deaths and rescues and climbers would be 'exposed' and ran out of town along with the shonky washing machine repairers.

This wouldn't really worry the soloist who falls to her death because, well, she's dead. But the cumulative effect of an increase in incidents would make life hard for the rest of us. This may add weight to the soloing as a selfish activity argument (not that i'm agreeing with it) as its not only perhaps selfish from from the perspective of loved ones, friends and those that have to witness a final plunge. It could also be seen as selfish from the negative effect it could have on the whole lifestyle of climbing. I'm all for personal expression of life choices but I still want to be able to climb with the same level of (un)regulation at the end of this 4 year term.
We seem to have barely survived the increase in climbing activity from its promotion on lifestyle programs. Otherwise known as the "Getaway" effect... The increase in climbing gyms has helped keep these masses out of the bush.
If people want to become bold and enjoy hormonal highs due to exploration of their own mortality perhaps, cool, they might like to try big wave surfing. An increase in surf deaths won't effect my access to the cliffs.
Sorry for long post, thanks for letting me drivvle out some half thought ideas (again).