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Tito Traversa Killed in a Fall 21-May-2018 At 11:19:52 AM Karl Bromelow

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On 20-May-2018 Duang Daunk wrote:

>Bro Karl might have something to add given young 11 yo lad on pic of the
>moment of this site's front page?

Kai has been climbing regularly from the age of 3. His progress has been very traditional if at an earlier age than might have been common in the past. He has been introduced to increasing levels of risk very slowly and from a trad perspective rather than sport. The intention being that he learns "the ropes" in an organic way, absorbing it all as he goes along. He does climb sport routes from time to time and leads to a reasonably high standard on them (not 8b+ yet!!), but the bulk of Kai's climbing is on trad routes, both single and multi pitch. Generally speaking we climb in groups of 3 or 4 with two experienced adults usually present. Unsupervised, Kai can construct solid 3 point anchors on multi pitch routes and make himself safe. He does lead on gear he places himself at levels that he can climb easily and where placements are not awkward. More often he leads on pre placed gear at the moment. On multi pitch routes well within both of our abilities we are happy to climb as a pair, and we have alternated leads. I am very conscious that this process needs to be gradual and comprehensive because of his age, maturity, weight and perception of danger. Fortunately for me Kai is naturally cautious and not at all gung-ho. He is vaguely interested in competitive climbing (being both the current Male Youth D Victorian Boulder and Lead Champion) and climbs regularly with national coaches at Bayside Rock but his heart is really in the mountains and at the crags where he thrives on the adventure. I consider myself very fortunate that he has both the inclination and the aptitude to pursue this wonderful game with me.

Having said all of that. Accidents happen to even the most experienced climbers amongst us. I do not believe any of us are entirely immune to a lapse of judgement or critical distraction. Do I worry about him when we are climbing? To be honest, yes, he and my partner Mandy are the most precious elements of my existence. But the worry is only such that I triple check for him where for myself I might double check, and the depth of that concern is far, far, far outweighed by the countless hours of pure joy that we have experienced together in locations of extreme and rarefied grandeur over the last 8 years plus.

What happened to Tito was obviously tragic beyond most parents imaginations but the judicial conclusion to events is more a quirk of the Italian legal system than some well upheld Universal Principle.

Cheers, Karl