Since they have a parachute, doesn't that take away some of the danger if they fall? I assume that anywhere above 400-500 feet they have a pretty good chance of being able to open it. Still pretty crazy to climb that without ropes.

Those two are married. I am impressed that they can control their fear but holds do break and fingers pop and feet slip. The climbs they are doing would be comparable to some of us climbing a 90 degree ladder a thousand feet up. It's not that difficult but the exposure adds a huge element and there is always the fear of falling. I've free soloed a few times when I couldn't find a climbing partner and did not enjoy that feeling of not being sure of the next hold with legs pistoning and arms shaking. Yuch. Like Dean did when he had to downclimb.

Either that or she is just epically stupid.

I suggest it is the latter.

The last "best speed climber in the world" is now the deadest speed climber in the world. Seems he took a tumble...

5.11 is nothing to blush at... the best climbers in the world can still occasionally get into trouble at that rating. Back when I was still guiding I used to get a book every year called "Accidents in North American Mountaineering." That book was chock full of expert, experienced climbers experiencing mishaps including death on what should have been a cake walk. Quite an eye opener, sort of like finding out that most drownings occur in less than X inches of water.

If you're thinking about climbing without a partner again, there are passive cam belay devices you can use. I've never used (or even handled) one myself and have heard they are sort of clunky and cause drag on the rope, but I still prefer that to falling to my death :D

My climbing days were pre-marriage. Right now, I would feel very comfortable free soloing 5.11 because I would never get off the ground.

Regarding deaths, climbers die in all kinds of ways. Michael Reardon, a crazy climber, was swept away by a rogue wave. Dan Osman had a rope break. Todd Skinner's old, beat up harness broke, etc., etc.

These people just seem like they have death wishes to me. And a lot of them get their request granted apparently.

Crazy.

The one that jumps out at you when you read "accidents in north american mountaineering" is taking a leak... serious, experience mountaineers get out of their bag on a mountainside, step out of the tent wearing just the liners from their boots, slip and fall to their deaths.

The other incident which seemed to show up year after year is a climber topping out and then while unroped and sorting/packing gear at the top of the climb falling over the edge. It would be funny if it weren't so sad :(

I think those people are adrenaline junkies with a death wish. I guess we all take risks, I own a bike, and I have done some light weight free climbing, but always way inside of my limits.

Bah. WTF do I know? Lots of folks get killed by falling rock. It doesn't take much to kill ya. Someone knocks loose a rock, and you can be a goner, even if your being careful.

Hell you could be driving along, doing everything right, and a coyote could just jump right out in front of you.

Oh, like THAT would ever happen! ;)