Chockstone Forum

      Sponsored By
      ROCK
   HARDWARE

Chockstone Photography

Australian Landscape Prints

Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

Poll Option

Votes

Graph

I require a belay to leave flat ground

Dont solo 'routes' but do unroped access scrambles

42%

I solo established routes graded 5 or less

I solo established routes graded 10 or less

I solo to within 10 grades of my roped limit

15%

I solo to within 7 grades of my roped limit

19%

I solo to within 4 grades of my roped limit

I solo at or near my roped limit

Topic Date User

Soloing 15-Aug-2005 At 2:37:42 PM Ronny

Message

Its all just a question of risk x return. With roped climbing the risk of something going wrong (ie falling off) is probably greater (assuming you're climbing harder on roped routes) but the consequences are less (the rope should hold you and it'll all be ok - but there is still a risk).
With soloing (assuming you're soloing lower grades) the risk of faling off is substantially reduced, but the consequences are far greater.

Its just a personal choice on any route which one (roped or unroped) brings the safety level within your acceptable standards.
For me on some low grade routes on solid rock i'm confident that the risk of falling is low enough that the overall risk is low enough.

There are some routes I wouldn't lead with ropes on because of fall potential, gear issues etc.

Paulie,
If you're so concerned about hitting the ground, then you can't really justify climbing at all, because there still a chance that you'll deck no matter what you're doing.

James