Solo climbing
From Free net encyclopedia
Solo climbing or soloing is a style of climbing in which the climber climbs alone, without somebody belaying him. There are two ways to climb solo: it can be performed with the safety of a rope and a self-locking device, in which case it is called roped soloing, and is a form of aid climbing if the climber put his weight on the rope during the ascent. It can also be done without any rope or other form of protection in which case it is a form of free climbing called free soloing (US only).
Free soloing is arguably the purest form of climbing but obviously also carries the highest risks. It is mostly practiced on routes that are familiar to the climber and where its difficulty lies well below the climber's abilities. However, inherent risks such as loose rocks or sudden change in weather are always present and fatalities are not unknown to the practice. Free soloing belongs to the group of extreme sports. One famous practitioner of the sport was Dan Osman who was killed in an unrelated activity, a "controlled free-fall" jump in Yosemite National Park. Yosemite climbing program manager and park ranger Mark Fincher said there has been only one confirmed death from free-soloing at the park, that of Derek Hersey, a high-profile free-soloer who died on Sentinel Rock in 1993.
Solo climbing is often practiced in alpine climbing and in mountaineering.
Free soloing on seacliffs, where a climber falling into deep water may avoid injury, is known as deep water soloing.
Sources
Edge of Oblivion - Free-solo rock climbers feel spiritual lure, Sheila Mulrooney Eldred. Fresno Bee, April 8, 2004 [1]