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General Climbing Discussion

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Top Stupid Mistakes to Avoid 31-Oct-2003 At 9:33:26 PM kieranl

Message

Rock Weasel

Don't talk lightly of what you don't know.

I have hidden above "They Dance Alone" on the Horn at Buffalo while a sudden thunderstorm swept through (I believe I said words to Meg similar to "Get up here now and climb the rope if you have to").

I have lost friends to avalanche, rock fall and altitude sickness. I have been seriously injured by rockfall. I have as a member of the Arapiles Rescue Group been involved in recovering injured people from Arapiles.

My friend Dennis Kemp, who had been climbing for over 40 years tied himself to a block at the top of Birdman. The block promptly fell and pulled Dennis after it.

Don't tell me that you are smarter than Dennis was. You may well be a better climber (in terms of grades) but you are unlikely to have his depth of experience. If Dennis can die setting up a belay on easy ground then we are all vulnerable.

That's what I mean about hubris. You think that you are so careful that it can't happen to you. It can happen to any of us. It has happened to people better than me.

Get over this blame-game and acept that climbing is dangerous.