Free soloing article in todays Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/jan/20/with-no-partner-or-gear-free-soloing-tests-self/

....loved the photo of Steph Davis "soloing" on the salathe'....

josh

I thought the best part was when they delineated the best local places to put yourself in mortal danger.

Huh?

That could have been the most incoherant article I've ever read...

...if I'd finished it.

Yeah, they must of been short on advertising today so they had to print this stuff up.

I am going to go solo Sundance Buttress tomorrow! It has such forgiving, gentle rock, and if it is a good place for beginners, surely I can do it too! First, I need to go buy some of those funny shoes though...

I get the heebee-jeebies every time I see that Potter flick. Yikes!

I can't believe how fast Potter moves, I hadn't seen that clip before...suffering throug the article was worth it just for the link to that vid haha.

It's hard to imagine that there are so many words in this article yet so little said. 'All the news that's printed to fit' I suppose.
What's comical is the accompanying photo gallery that features Culp with a rope and gear while he's free soloing. Or was it that none of the top women can crack that 5.11 level?
When I talked to the Rocky a couple years ago, I tried to emphasize the emotional and mental commitment involved in solo, the calm it engendered rather than thrills and fear- they printed what they wanted. Too bad the truth doesn't sell in today's market.

So, you give me $5 to solo, then convince three more people to give you $5 each to solo. I get half of that, and they each convince three more people to give them $5 to solo, I get half of that...

Mic Fairchild wrote:... So, you give me $5 to solo, then convince three more people to give you $5 each to solo. I get half of that, and they each convince three more people to give them $5 to solo, I get half of that...

Mic, doesn't this pyramid scheme take the "free" out of free solo?

Dangit Lee! Fortunately I wasn't eating or drinking the moment I just read your comment... computer screen is still ok.

Did anyone mention the photos of Mic in Eldo?
Two nice shots and no photo credit?
The only thing missing was the Planetary Defense t-shirt.

Mic Fairchild wrote:When I talked to the Rocky a couple years ago, I tried to emphasize the emotional and mental commitment involved in solo, the calm it engendered rather than thrills and fear- they printed what they wanted.

I thought that article was pretty good;

I'll probably solo something today.

... and with the generous payout on this plan, you can buy your own Lumpy Ridge to solo on whenever you desire. Send your money today!

(Tom- look close and you can see my custom Defense chalkbag)

I'd like to note; I hauled 700' of static rope, rack and gear in a single push up perverticle the day before to fix it all. My partner jugged the next day snapping pics from above. She hiked in, climbed and hiked out. She looked great and I'm very glad to be a part of it all. I worked hard for good pics and in the end the picture in the paper was a bad jpg copied from the originals also they didn't pay for the rights to use.