NPR

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 11:46 am**

Don't think we have had a thread about it yet so has anyone else seen this. Genuinely the scariest and most awe inspiring 2 hours of TV that you will ever watch.

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 12:14 pm**

Blackmac wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 11:46 am Don't think we have had a thread about it yet so has anyone else seen this. Genuinely the scariest and most awe inspiring 2 hours of TV that you will ever watch.

Not seen this one yet, but expect (like Free Solo) it will genuinely give me the willies. These people are just incredible. How they can manage the adrenaline & fear is totally beyond me.

Must also be terrifying for the partners & families, knowing that one tiny mistake likely means the end and they won't come home.

There's a photo in one of Joe Simpson's books showing a big group of young climbers, taken in the Alps I think, a few years before Simpson's fall on Siula Grande. At the time of writing the book, about half of them were dead. I was struck with the attrition rate, and how many promising, bright young people are killed. And that's with traditional climbing, never mind soloing.

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 12:33 pm**

I was friends with a group of climbers who worked as guides in the Alps and elsewhere, as well as on the British Antarctic Survey, this guy is a whole different ball game.

I haven't seen the film yet, but the trailer has me thinking "fuck this for a game of soldiers'.

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 12:34 pm**

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 12:14 pm
Blackmac wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 11:46 am Don't think we have had a thread about it yet so has anyone else seen this. Genuinely the scariest and most awe inspiring 2 hours of TV that you will ever watch.
Not seen this one yet, but expect (like Free Solo) it will genuinely give me the willies. These people are just incredible. How they can manage the adrenaline & fear is totally beyond me.

Must also be terrifying for the partners & families, knowing that one tiny mistake likely means the end and they won't come home.

There's a photo in one of Joe Simpson's books showing a big group of young climbers, taken in the Alps I think, a few years before Simpson's fall on Siula Grande. At the time of writing the book, about half of them were dead. I was struck with the attrition rate, and how many promising, bright young people are killed. And that's with traditional climbing, never mind soloing.

Honnold really has a screw loose: the fear part of his brain is damaged and does not work. When Tommy Caldwell says he's concerned for your life, you pay attention!

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 12:35 pm**

Blackmac wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 11:46 am Don't think we have had a thread about it yet so has anyone else seen this. Genuinely the scariest and most awe inspiring 2 hours of TV that you will ever watch.

Haven't seen it yet but will check it out. I'm scared of heights and climbing movies give me the absolute heebie-jeebies, but I still enjoy watching them.

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 12:38 pm**

Blackmac wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 11:46 am Don't think we have had a thread about it yet so has anyone else seen this. Genuinely the scariest and most awe inspiring 2 hours of TV that you will ever watch.

I watched it a few days ago. Even Alex Honnold (the free solo guy) sees Leclerc as a bit of a maverick. Hard to comment too much as will give away a lot of spoilers. But well worth watching...

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 12:49 pm**

Grandpa wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 12:38 pm
Blackmac wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 11:46 am Don't think we have had a thread about it yet so has anyone else seen this. Genuinely the scariest and most awe inspiring 2 hours of TV that you will ever watch.
I watched it a few days ago. Even Alex Honnold (the free solo guy) sees Leclerc as a bit of a maverick. Hard to comment too much as will give away a lot of spoilers. But well worth watching...

I think I read in one of the climbing rags that Honnold had switched from free to sport. Probably down to pressure from the missus after he got hitched and dropped a sprog. So now he's no longer the nutjob!

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 12:49 pm**

Grandpa wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 12:38 pm
Blackmac wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 11:46 am Don't think we have had a thread about it yet so has anyone else seen this. Genuinely the scariest and most awe inspiring 2 hours of TV that you will ever watch.
I watched it a few days ago. Even Alex Honnold (the free solo guy) sees Leclerc as a bit of a maverick. Hard to comment too much as will give away a lot of spoilers. But well worth watching...

Yeah, Honnold was clearly in awe of the lad.

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 12:52 pm**

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 12:14 pm
Blackmac wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 11:46 am Don't think we have had a thread about it yet so has anyone else seen this. Genuinely the scariest and most awe inspiring 2 hours of TV that you will ever watch.
Not seen this one yet, but expect (like Free Solo) it will genuinely give me the willies. These people are just incredible. How they can manage the adrenaline & fear is totally beyond me.

Must also be terrifying for the partners & families, knowing that one tiny mistake likely means the end and they won't come home.

There's a photo in one of Joe Simpson's books showing a big group of young climbers, taken in the Alps I think, a few years before Simpson's fall on Siula Grande. At the time of writing the book, about half of them were dead. I was struck with the attrition rate, and how many promising, bright young people are killed. And that's with traditional climbing, never mind soloing.

I think Messner states on the program the over 50% of all the great free climbing Alpinists have been killed.

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:06 pm**

Blackmac wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 12:52 pm I think Messner states on the program the over 50% of all the great free climbing Alpinists have been killed.

It's a tricky thing to quantify but it's a large number whatever. The frequency of coffee break discussions that began with "Did you hear that X died?" would reinforce that.

It's simple numbers in the end. EVERYONE makes a mistake but when you are on a line, there's a high chance it won't be fatal. The longer you go solo at that level, the nearer certainty you are going to be killed in an accident.

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:12 pm**

I thought the most ridiculous part was where you saw him free climbing up the ice wall and as the camera panned sideways you realised the ice wasn't attached to the rock and he was essentially climbing up a two foot thick icicle hundreds of feet off the ground. Pretty close to jumping behind the couch at that point.

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:16 pm**

Alex Huber used to do free solos and he kept the training secret. Once he did the climb, it was all over the media and his mum got wind of it.
He then got a phone call lasting about an hour where he said nothing other than "ja" and at the end of that call, his free climbing career was over.

I understand the appeal of testing yourself against nature but it is a fundamentally selfish pursuit.

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:30 pm**

Blackmac wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:12 pm I thought the most ridiculous part was where you saw him free climbing up the ice wall and as the camera panned sideways you realised the ice wasn't attached to the rock and he was essentially climbing up a two foot thick icicle hundreds of feet off the ground. Pretty close to jumping behind the couch at that point.

Yeah.. crazy. I got vertigo every five minutes watching.. it's bad enough being on the roof of my house when it's windy...

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:34 pm**

Blackmac wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:12 pm I thought the most ridiculous part was where you saw him free climbing up the ice wall and as the camera panned sideways you realised the ice wasn't attached to the rock and he was essentially climbing up a two foot thick icicle hundreds of feet off the ground. Pretty close to jumping behind the couch at that point.

And that's the killer (literally) point with solo-ing. You can NEVER be certain of the safety of what you are hanging off. A few million years old bit of rock might just break away.

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:37 pm**

Grandpa wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:30 pm
Blackmac wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:12 pm I thought the most ridiculous part was where you saw him free climbing up the ice wall and as the camera panned sideways you realised the ice wasn't attached to the rock and he was essentially climbing up a two foot thick icicle hundreds of feet off the ground. Pretty close to jumping behind the couch at that point.
Yeah.. crazy. I got vertigo every five minutes watching.. it's bad enough being on the roof of my house when it's windy...

Why would you climb on the roof of your house when it's windy? That seems madder than free climbing.

I used to ice climb a bit back in the day. Looking back on it that was crazy (not free climbing either)

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 2:00 pm**

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:06 pm
Blackmac wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 12:52 pm I think Messner states on the program the over 50% of all the great free climbing Alpinists have been killed.
It's a tricky thing to quantify but it's a large number whatever. The frequency of coffee break discussions that began with "Did you hear that X died?" would reinforce that.

It's simple numbers in the end. EVERYONE makes a mistake but when you are on a line, there's a high chance it won't be fatal. The longer you go solo at that level, the nearer certainty you are going to be killed in an accident.

In a similar vein, I remember talking to a caver many years ago, who stated that there are no old cave divers. They either die, or realise fairly early on that they're likely to die, so stop and take up another hobby.

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 2:02 pm**

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 2:00 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:06 pm
Blackmac wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 12:52 pm I think Messner states on the program the over 50% of all the great free climbing Alpinists have been killed.
It's a tricky thing to quantify but it's a large number whatever. The frequency of coffee break discussions that began with "Did you hear that X died?" would reinforce that.

It's simple numbers in the end. EVERYONE makes a mistake but when you are on a line, there's a high chance it won't be fatal. The longer you go solo at that level, the nearer certainty you are going to be killed in an accident.
In a similar vein, I remember talking to a caver many years ago, who stated that there are no old cave divers. They either die, or realise fairly early on that they're likely to die, so stop and take up another hobby.

I tried that once at uni as the climbing/caving clubs had a few crossovers.

Fuck. That. Shit

Absolutely mental

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 2:12 pm**

Happyhooker wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 2:02 pm
S/Lt_Phillips wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 2:00 pm
Torquemada 1420 wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:06 pm
It's a tricky thing to quantify but it's a large number whatever. The frequency of coffee break discussions that began with "Did you hear that X died?" would reinforce that.

It's simple numbers in the end. EVERYONE makes a mistake but when you are on a line, there's a high chance it won't be fatal. The longer you go solo at that level, the nearer certainty you are going to be killed in an accident.
In a similar vein, I remember talking to a caver many years ago, who stated that there are no old cave divers. They either die, or realise fairly early on that they're likely to die, so stop and take up another hobby.
I tried that once at uni as the climbing/caving clubs had a few crossovers.

Fuck. That. Shit

Absolutely mental

I assume your physique was different back then?!

Never got cave diving. Why the f**k would you want to be in cold, dark, wet, hard and uncomfortable confined spaces underground where if it all goes horribly wrong, you are screwed? At least we have a chance of a helicopter and the views to enjoy.

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 3:24 pm**

Happyhooker wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:37 pm
Grandpa wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:30 pm
Blackmac wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:12 pm I thought the most ridiculous part was where you saw him free climbing up the ice wall and as the camera panned sideways you realised the ice wasn't attached to the rock and he was essentially climbing up a two foot thick icicle hundreds of feet off the ground. Pretty close to jumping behind the couch at that point.
Yeah.. crazy. I got vertigo every five minutes watching.. it's bad enough being on the roof of my house when it's windy...
Why would you climb on the roof of your house when it's windy? That seems madder than free climbing.

I used to ice climb a bit back in the day. Looking back on it that was crazy (not free climbing either)

To check if the wind was dislodging anything during a period when I was worried as parts of my roof disappeared...

I used to go camping high up in the mountains when I was younger... some dangerous bits... but laughably safe compared to these guys...

Posted: **Thu Jan 27, 2022 10:55 pm**

Being on top of a roof always seems more terrifying to me - very few fully vertical drops on rockfaces

Its unsettling

Posted: **Fri Jan 28, 2022 12:31 am**

mat the expat wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 10:55 pm Being on top of a roof always seems more terrifying to me - very few fully vertical drops on rockfaces

Its unsettling

Roof Solo is my name...

Posted: **Fri Jan 28, 2022 12:44 am**

Grandpa wrote: Fri Jan 28, 2022 12:31 am
mat the expat wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 10:55 pm Being on top of a roof always seems more terrifying to me - very few fully vertical drops on rockfaces

Its unsettling
Roof Solo is my name...

Houses surrounded by concrete

Posted: **Fri Jan 28, 2022 1:10 pm**

mat the expat wrote: Fri Jan 28, 2022 12:44 am
Grandpa wrote: Fri Jan 28, 2022 12:31 am
mat the expat wrote: Thu Jan 27, 2022 10:55 pm Being on top of a roof always seems more terrifying to me - very few fully vertical drops on rockfaces

Its unsettling
Roof Solo is my name...
Houses surrounded by concrete

Maybe he lives in the Maldives?

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