Soloing climbing deaths Climbing magazine caught up with Ourada in a phone call to find out more details about the accident and to learn how his recovery is going. be/bz1Masw5QDs In terms of climbing grades, Alex Honnold has done some hard free solo's but there are a few climbers who have solo'd harder routes - grade wise. Alex Huber has free soloed 14a. Despite the dangers, Bachar’s legacy lives on, inspiring a new generation of climbers to pursue their passion with the same fervor and respect for the sport that he exemplified. Some of them were widely known for their climbing accomplishments, establishing new routes on Mt. Most live to a ripe old age. It's just your body getting yourself up the rock. 7 on the Bastille formation in Eldorado Canyon. Famous Free Solo Climbers Jul 5, 2019 · This is the second free soloing death that has occurred this year as the result of unstable rock. He was alone, passing time while waiting to meet up with a climbing partner later in the day. 10 in hiking boots,” according to another YouTube Comment, he had decided to try the route free solo. 9+ on the Second Flatiron in Boulder, Colorado. It's a type of free climbing that doesn't use ropes and is bigger than a boulder problem. Roberts passed October 15, after a fall while soloing Mrs. On average, we see about 30 deaths per year, though it does fluctuate. One of the earliest known solo climbing accidents occurred in 1913. He was 27 years old. A climber loses his grip on a difficult E6 rock face. 12a), at Cheakamus Canyon, a sport crag north of Squamish. Nathaniel Masahi Takatsuno, 22, had, according to eye-witness accounts, been free soloing Leonids —a three-pitch 5. Both were free-soloing related accidents. It’s pure freedom, but with that freedom comes extreme danger. Holds break, sweaty hands slip, footholds crumble, birds get territorial, and it’s easy to mess up a crucial sequence when stressed or overconfident. That doesn't mean you can't use protection though. Jul 12, 2023 · The 26-year-old Colorado woman who plunged to her death while free-solo climbing inside a national park was identified by grieving friends as an avid climber and “mountain person. be/6bf Apr 2, 2025 · The style of climbing, considered the most risky and bold, is known as free soloing. Free solo climbing (climbing without ropes or any other safety equipment) has struck awe in onlookers around the world, with climbers like Alex Honnold darin Jun 3, 2018 · Two men climbing a granite rock wall known as El Capitan in Yosemite National Park fell to their deaths Saturday morning, the National Park Service said. The 31-year-old California native was descending a Nov 22, 2021 · Fatal accidents at climbing gyms are rare, with only a few in North America in the last decade. Free solo climbing is a dangerous activity that has claimed the lives of many climbers. May 22, 2024 · Martin Feistl of Austria fell to his death on Saturday while free soloing the south face of the Scharnitzspitze, in the Austrian Tyrol. Learn about this free solo fall and the rescuers' experience here, and dive into the larger conversation about the responsibility of free soloers. Free solo climbing deaths aren’t common but they do happen regularly, even to the best free solo climbers. Dean Potter died on May 16th, 2015 in a wingsuit accident in Yosemite Valley. Rangers at the Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station were able to collect satellite location data from the climber’s InReach account and identified their probable location at 17,000 feet on Denali. Some of the key aspects of free solo climber deaths include: Unveiling Dhirendra Shastris Journey Age Achievements And Insights; Unraveling The Mystery How Ariana Greenblatts Height Impacts Her World This whipper is horrifying. Feb 26, 2020 · Free soloing rock climber in Western Tasmania falls out of the crack in a deadly situation. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright Jul 12, 2023 · A 26-year-old died after falling 500 feet while free-solo climbing in Colorado, park officials said. In 2018, a 57-year-old climber has died after falling at the Quay Climbing Centre, the largest gym in South West England. Ignorance and inexperience cause climbing accidents and deaths. Brad Gobright, 31, fell around 300m (1,000ft) to his death in El Potrero Chico in northern Mexico. and determined through interviews that the climber was last seen by another climbing team Jan 22, 2025 · Hansche died in an accident while route setting at the Vertical Dreams climbing gym in Manchester, New Hampshire, on May 21. An experienced free soloist, Feistl was climbing ropeless on the Spitzenstätter-Baldauf route, a 270m line described in detail here. Dave mccleod soloed some 8c+/14c Darwin Dixit in Margalef, 8c/14b Free climbing is anything that isn't aid. Paul Preuss was attempting to make the first ascent of the Mandlkogel in Gosaukamm. Climbing has become an increasingly popular sport, and the number of accidents is increasing in parallel. Unlike bouldering which has a safe height limit, free soloing typically goes beyond safe heights and can result in very serious injury or death. Sport and trad are examples of free climbing because, despite the use of items like bolts, quickdraws, nuts, hexes and cams, these devices are used to protect against a fall, rather than to assist upward progress. 99% of people who free climb use ropes. Honnold rose to worldwide fame in June 2017 when he became the first person to free solo a full route on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park (via the 2,900-foot route Freerider at 5. Negative (5. Nov 29, 2019 · A world-renowned American free solo climber has died attempting to descend the side of a cliff face. It is a type of climbing that is done without the use of ropes, harnesses, or other safety equipment. At the start of September, highly experienced climber Aaron Livingston, aged 32, died climbing on Donner Summit’s Black Wall (above Free Solo Deaths: Honoring Pioneers John Bachar (1957–2009) John Bachar was a legendary figure in the world of free solo climbing. 2009 — while free soloing moderate rock (Honnold and Synnott believe Bachar had health challenges that affected his fateful climb) Derek Hersey, d. 9—when he fell. On Saturday, May 18, 48-year-old Bob Dergay of Boulder, Colorado, fell an estimated 100 feet while free-soloing the popular Bastille Crack, a five-pitch 5. Dec 7, 2022 · Around noon on December 4, local authorities received a call that a climber had fallen around 200 feet while climbing on the Left Wall on El Cajon Mountain, near San Diego. 1993 — attempting to free solo Sentinel Rock in Yosemite Abstract. Boulder Apr 29, 2019 · Peter Croft — still living and still climbing; However, there are two that died free soloing. In all, Farabee said, 31 of the 120 climbers who have died in the park since 1905 have died on the famous granite monolith. Feb 25, 2019 · Last night, two of climbing’s biggest stars—co-director Jimmy Chin and free soloist Alex Honnold—took the stage at the 2019 Academy Awards and accepted an Oscar for Best Documentary Film for Dec 27, 2022 · In the case of free solo deaths, there often isn't much to analyze or improve upon accident wise, since free-soloing is a personal decision and one that climbers execute alone, without gear. She fell from a ridge in Rocky Mountain National Park. We aim at describing the characteristics of climbing accidents leading to severe (multisystem) trauma using data from the International Alpine Trauma Registry (IATR) and at reporting the results of a systematic review of the literature on the epidemiology, injury pattern Nov 7, 2022 · Over the last few years, he’d become particularly excited by sport climbing, and was also an occasional free soloist. Taken from Joe Rogan Experience #1247 with Andy Stumpf: https://youtu. Alex's hardest free solo is at the grade of 13a iirc. These can be taken away from the mountain and emptied safely. As you can see, the number of free solo climbing deaths has been steadily increasing over the past few decades. You're thinking of Free Solo, which is what this guy is doing. Dec 4, 2024 · In a little more than a decade, he graduated from a 40-foot climbing wall at a health club in rural Utah to a stunning range of accomplishments: multiple free ascents of El Cap, including Freerider (5. What is Free Soloing vs. While the cause of the accident is unclear, Hansche, who had managed the gym for over two decades, was using the appropriate safety gear and was extremely comfortable with the rope systems involved with indoor route setting. Apr 22, 2025 · On March 17, 68-year-old Earl Prunty, fell to his death while free soloing beside Washington’s Nooksack Falls, an 88-foot waterfall that plunges over a volcanic cliffside in two segments. It uses no ropes, harness or other protective gear. Sep 18, 2023 · There have been several climbing accidents that have had tragic endings this summer, and, sadly, we’ve learned of at least two more rock climbers who died this month. [1] Sep 4, 2020 · However – anything can happen. Jul 11, 2023 · A 26-year-old Boulder woman died Sunday after she fell 500 feet during a free-solo climb on the Four Aces of Blitzen Ridge in Rocky Mountain National Park, park officials said. Jun 20, 2023 · The Twinkie solo encapsulated many idiosyncrasies of Howell’s free soloing: climbing hard, steep routes that had awkward descents; a tendency to climb with his shoes untied, or without chalk Free solo climbing gives a thrill like nothing else. The woman’s climbing partner, who was uninjured and called for help on his cellphone, was hoisted off the ridge by a Colorado Air National Guard helicopter Sunday night. The agency said Jason Wells, 46, of Extreme & devastating climbing accidents while free soloing! These are the most dangerous cliffs & challenging rock climbs that ended in horrible, massive in Apr 29, 2021 · On April 11, 2021, 31-year-old climber Josh Ourada fell approximately 150 to 200 feet while free soloing Nutcracker, on the Manure Pile Buttress, Yosemite. If you die climbing (or in the mountains generally) one of the things that will happen is that people who never knew you will call you Alpine climbing, by nature, requires occasional soloing, and there is a significant difference between soloing something like this, and going out and soloing pitches at a local crag, or soloing a wall in Yosemite. It's the second reported death in the May 21, 2024 · The solo climber was found dead Monday at 17,000 feet of elevation on Denali's West Buttress route. I say all this with the caveat that it is not the sole form of climbing that Alex does. Extrapolating 30 deaths per 5,000,000 North American Climbers to the estimated global total of 25,000,000 climbers, we could see around 150 climbing-related deaths per year. Free solo climbing is one of the most dangerous sports in the world. He was very polite about aski Nov 29, 2019 · Rock climbers across the world have paid tribute to Brad Gobright after the renowned American free solo climber fell to his death on Wednesday. While climbing the fourth pitch of Warriors of the Wasteland (5. Jul 11, 2023 · A 26-year-old woman from Boulder, Colorado, died after falling approximately 500 feet while free-solo climbing a ridge in the state’s Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday, the park said. Between 1980 and 1989, there were a total of 36 free solo climbing deaths in the United States. The grade isn't the reason he gets his notoriety. Bachar’s impressive solo climbs in Yosemite and Joshua Tree made him an icon of the sport. people falling like laundry Aug 25, 2024 · ASPEN, COLORADO – AUGUST 24, 2024 – A 33-year-old climber tragically lost his life after a significant fall on Williams Peak, located near Aspen, Colorado, in the Independence Pass area. Jan 9, 2023 · Others died free soloing or in rappelling accidents; they died of rockfall, exposure, avalanches, altitude sickness, or while participating in other mountain sports. Free Climbing? Oct 14, 2019 · Free soloing is a style of climbing that a very small percentage of climbers partake in as there is no higher level of risk: life or death. Some of the biggest names in climbing decided to do free soloist climbs and met their death, which could have easily been avoided had they used safety ropes. 9 C2); first ascents of big walls in Zion National Park and the Jul 11, 2023 · On Sunday, July 9, a Boulder, Colorado, woman died after falling 500 feet while free soloing Blitzen Ridge, a classic 5. Another climbing friend was killed due to a drunk driver, she was on her way to go backpack the JMT. The 27-year-old ice and mixed expert was climbing the Spitzenstätter (VII/5. ”. Watch the full episode: https://youtu. 13a); an in-a-day solo ascent of the Salathé Wall (5. Jun 10, 2018 · Five people have died in climbing accidents on El Capitan since 2013. Mar 30, 2024 · This had remained one of the most prolific free solo climbing deaths. Jan 20, 2025 · Another climbing team had witnessed them traversing from the 17,200 feet plateau to Denali Pass at 18,200 feet on Wednesday, May 15. 4 ridge on Ypsilon Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. The problem with free soloing is that if you do die, best case scenario you're creating a horrific mess somebody else has to clean up; worst case scenario you're damaging the global climbing community with a high-profile accident that will make people think climbing is more dangerous and irresponsible than it is, inspire private landowners to Alex Honnold (born August 17, 1985) is an American rock climber best known for his free solo ascents of big walls. While there are no established climbing routes at Nooksack Falls, Prunty frequently climbed and downclimbed the wet rock surrounding the falls unroped. A 2017 report recorded 38 climbing-related deaths in North America in the previous year. Everest’s Kangshung Face, in the Gunks, in Greenland, in Patagonia, and so on. John Bachar, d. It’s a sport where the climber ascends a Nov 28, 2019 · Acclaimed American free solo climber Brad Gobright died Wednesday attempting to descend down the side of a cliff face in El Potrero Chico, Mexico, a popular rock climbing destination in northern Had to make some edits to re-upload this video (:Discover the awe-inspiring story of these fearless climbers who dared to challenge their physical and mental Jul 11, 2023 · A 26-year-old woman plummeted 500 feet to her death while free-solo climbing inside a national park in Colorado Sunday, according to officials. 12d) and Golden Gate (5. Jul 14, 2023 · A 26-year-old woman who was killed Sunday while free-solo climbing a ridge on Ypsilon Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park has been identified by the Larimer County coroner as Bailee Mulholland. Notable free solo climbing accidents. Conclusion Dec 20, 2024 · Martin Feistl died on Saturday, May 18, following a 130-foot fall in his native Austria, while free soloing on the steep 1,000-foot South Face of the Scharnitzspitze (8,097ft). Close call for sure. He May 5, 2025 · The future of free solo climbing ; Free Solo Climber Deaths. Climbing the Second Flatiron as he has “100 times before” according to his now deleted YouTube Comment and having climbed “5. The woman, who was climbing with a 27-year-old man Free soloing is considered one of the most extreme and dangerous forms of climbing as you would have to rely on your own skill and strength to finish a route. While it was popularized by the 2018 documentary, “Free Solo,” of professional rock climber Alex Honnold’s free solo of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, its place in climbing can be traced back to May 5, 2025 · The risks of free solo climbing ; The causes of free solo deaths ; Ways to prevent free solo deaths ; Free Solo Death. Known for his bold ascents and minimalist style, he believed in climbing with absolute self-reliance. 12, 200 meters) in Squamish, BC this was Casey Dubois’s first red Feb 19, 2023 · Zach Milligan, a prolific free solo climber who lived in a cave at Yosemite National Park for 13 years and was one of the first to descend its globally-recognized Half Dome on skis was found dead #freesolo #video #hmbMy buddy and I were climbing the Dark Shadows route at Red Rocks when we were passed by a free climber. At the age of 52, his death was a stark reminder of the risks inherent in free solo climbing. The stuff he did alpine climbing in the Himalaya and elsewhere was much more dangerous, and nobody is out here condemning him for that, despite the fact that alpine climbing is just as "pointless" as soloing. 13a, the first-ever big wall free solo ascent at that grade), [3] a climb described in The New York In 2017, when Alex Honnold made his stunning free-solo ascent of Yosemite’s El Capitan, he was taking an unimaginable risk: nearly three thousand feet of cli Nov 28, 2019 · Acclaimed 'Free Solo' Climber Brad Gobright Dies in Fall While Descending Cliff in Mexico Brad Gobright, 31, fell while attempting to descend the side of a cliff face in El Portero Chico, Mexico By An old climbing friend just recovered recently from a cerebral edema due to high altitude hiking, they were in a coma for like two weeks but are finally home now. A renowned rock climber survived a fall from Yosemite’s El Capitan rock formation this weekend, thanks in large part to the intervention of “Free Solo” star Alex Honnold. Jul 5, 2024 · Free soloing is therefore a form of free climbing, along with both sport climbing and trad climbing climbing. For two decades he was the de facto leader of the Yosemite monkeys, and was a p. Alex Honnold discusses how most free solo climbers don't die climbing but in freak accidents outside of climbing. Climber: Dylan TubaroFilmed by: Andrew Serack May 15, 2019 · On April 16, Walker began climbing up North Crack, a two-pitch 5. 10+) up the center of the face. And between 1990 and 1999, there were a total of 58 free solo climbing deaths in the United States. Any climber who has ever spent time in the alpine has soloed terrain comparable to this. Free solo climbing, or free soloing, is a form of rock climbing where the climber (or free soloist) climbs solo (or alone) without ropes or other protective equipment, using only their climbing shoes and their climbing chalk. In 2014, a man died while climbing indoors at the Boulder Rock Club in Colorado. fxujdy phsen ckgo nsjn hwqvgu miu iclkbz ibfqyor hjnfta umx