This past fall in NY a early twenties man died after slipping off the top of this scramble, taking "only" a ~25' fall. Others have decked from the high double digits (maybe 100'-150' range as well, I don't remember) and made it out in varying states of "OK." 40 feet is definitely in the potential death zone, especially if the landing isn't friendly. Of course some people routinely ropelessly navigate way more exposure on a daily basis, it's all in your risk tolerance and abilities to control your fears.

Here's some helpful TIPS from a stuntman; and parachutists/sky-divers on surviving potentially fatal falls.

And if you're drunk, your chances of survival in a fall/accident will probably be somewhat better from what I've heard.

WIKIHOW-SURVIVE A LONG FALL




Edit to add:

I think the next time you solo you will analyze the risk much closer and answer your own questions.

Isn't there a specific amount of feet it takes to reach terminal velocity? I know I could probably google it, but we know how much the scientists around here like to expound on physics

Falls over ten feet can potentially be really bad news, depending on luck (as Phil mentioned) and other factors; such as the terrain below you, your age, body position, level of tense muscles when falling etc...

One way you could look at it is "If I drop, say a 35 lb rock on my head from 30 feet, is it going to hurt? ..If I drop it on my spine? ...catch it in my belly?"

Here you go: injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/6/1/62.3.full -- note the publication date; n = 7.

A bit more detailed, with, say, modern imaging, on n = 12: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196064489801076

(repeat after me: the plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data')

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196064486801342 is a review with meta-analysis of published literature and says you're at ~100% mortality at 6 stories.

Is this post real??? I thought it was a joke....

Lisa, if the "research" (mentioned above) is what you concluded/determined, I am worried for you. I watched a climber fall and break their back from half that height. I question your common sense as well as your decision to climb...

Someone ought to post a "what happens if I fall 29 feet?" forum!

If in fact this post is for real...
Please don't climb next to me.

Dexter, I'm only posting what's available by google. You, I, Lisa, everyone draws their own conclusions from the available data. Someone could indeed (somehow) decide from reading that first link, anyway, that because a few people did survive bigger falls, 30' is okay ...

It should, however, be obvious from my previous post that I do not personally agree with that conclusion. Buff has it right -- if that's what your friends are telling you, you need new friends.

I fell from about 26 feet or so........pulled out a cam that was placed behind a large block (which was loose) and grounded on a pretty flat surface. 10% compression fracture of the 4th lumbar vertebra.....which took about 6 weeks to walk around normally and about 4 months to get back to climbing. when I hit the ground the dirt blew up into the air about a foot and came back down around me in very slow motion and it felt like I had been hit by Mike Tyson. All in all the Dr's told me that I was lucky to not have been hurt worse. 2 basic mistakes.....not saving enough energy to get back to a rest...........and stupidly placing that cam behind that block thinking it was good.

WOW!!---Chill out a little people. It's annoying how much this place is beginning to stink like the crusty crotch of a wasted frat boy!
The EGO in here is taking up Waaaaaaaaay to much bandwidth.

Ya'll gotta stop sprayin' about science, and "facts", and Google, and fall factors, and "this height", and "that height", it's ALL BS!
It's all reletive...too many variables for "this way right, that way wrong", crap.

I fell from the top of a 45 foot sport route on the island of Kauai last winter, ripped ALL rusty bolts and decked.
I layed there stunned...expecting to start screaming in agony...NOTHING...not even a scratch.
Turns out someone had been doing a little crag clean up and had piled up a stack of palm fronds under my climb...THANKS mystery person!

Then, not to long ago i saw my friend fall6-8ft from a boulder, ONTO A CRASH PAD, and snap her ankle in half......a little time after that someone showed me a video of a guy who's parachute didn't open, hit the ground from a10,000+ fall, BOUNCED, and limped away with only a few minor bones broken......explain that!~!

The point is....YOU CAN"T. ANYthing that CAN happen..usually DOES eventually.

It's like heading to a Turkish bath house.

When you do, you meet Charlie Sheen. When you meet Charlie Sheen, you reenact scenes from Platoon with Charlie Sheen.

Don't reenact scenes from Platoon with Charlie Sheen.