Speed climbing is stupid and dangerous.

Rob T wrote:

“Once Croft and Schultz got the idea to simul-climb various portions of the route—sometimes with only a single piece of gear between them…”

Dunno, that sounds pretty dangerous, perhaps even stupid?

If you read the whole article it's obvious that Croft evolved while Hans et al didn't.

cyclestupor wrote:

Surely there has got to be things that could be done to make speed climbing the nose safer without resorting to fixed lines.  Even if it's just adopting a set of rules for "recognized" nose speed records.  E.g. When simul-climbing there must be a minimum of 3 pieces protecting the party (even on 5.7 terrain). 

Admittedly, I'm not knowledgeable enough about speed climbing tactics on the nose to really know what could be done.  But I know there are certain sections on the nose where more dangerous tactics are used to cut time.  What could be done to make those sections more safe without resorting to TRing?

If you reject the TR idea you are admitting that the possibility of carnage is the actual exciting part. I think that's pretty messed up.

Tradiban wrote:

If you reject the TR idea you are admitting that the possibility of carnage is the actual exciting part. I think that's pretty messed up.

Folks, this is trolling in its most pure form. Well done sir...

tradiban is a worthless troll. end of story...… I try to ignore as much as possible. 

Plus Tradigoof has never even climbed EL CAP!! lol

Jeffrey Constine wrote: Plus Tradigoof has never even climbed EL CAP!! lol

As much time as he spends  here I’m pretty sure he is a nightime security guard. 

Tradiban wrote:

If you reject the TR idea you are admitting that the possibility of carnage is the actual exciting part. I think that's pretty messed up.

Well i guess there could be a clause allowing TRing, but only on hemp ropes purchased off of e-bay.  It would give it more of a Russian Roulette dynamic though.  Maybe it could be a separate category of speed climbing.

cyclestupor wrote:

Well i guess there could be a clause allowing TRing, but only on hemp ropes purchased off of e-bay.  It would give it more of a Russian Roulette dynamic though.  Maybe it could be a separate category of speed climbing.

Now you're just being ridiculous.

Nick Goldsmith wrote: tradiban is a worthless troll. end of story...… I try to ignore as much as possible. 

Nick, tradiban  thanks you for not ignoring him and bumping his thread.

Tradiban wrote:

There, I said it. I think speed climbing is stupid and dangerous. Stupid because it reduces climbing to a dick measuring contest and dangerous because extreme risks are taken to measure the dick. I can't say I haven't climbed for time but I can say I was being stupid and dangerous when I was "speed" climbing.

This is the beginning of the "Climb slow, Climb safe" campaign to save dirt the bags. Are you with me?

So is driving fast, and I imagine you stay within the legal limits, right?

Posting spiteful things doesn't seem a lot smarter or any more considerate, IMO.  But yeah, you probably won't die doing it.
It's all fun and games when within your limits, either way.

Tony B wrote:

So is driving fast, and I imagine you stay within the legal limits, right?

Posting spiteful things doesn't seem a lot smarter or any more considerate, IMO.  But yeah, you probably won't die doing it.
It's all fun and games when within your limits, either way.

Funny, I'm actually a very slow right hand lane driver.

And driving a car to go places is something we need to do as opposed to climbing which is a completely voluntary pursuit. Also, if we are talking about race car driving, speed is the point of a race car, speed is not the point of climbing.

And...T Roper beat me to it! Thanks Nick!

Tradiban wrote:

Funny, I'm actually a very slow right hand lane driver.

And driving a car to go places is something we need to do as opposed to climbing which is a completely voluntary pursuit. Also, if we are talking about race car driving, speed is the point of a race car, speed is not the point of climbing.

And...T Roper beat me to it! Thanks Nick!

Driving is also a choice.  There’s a reason a license is a privilege not a right.  

The point of climbing is what you choose to make it. That’s the beauty of it it allows everyone to chase their own pursuits.  Pebble wrestling, clipping bolts, plugging gear, turning screws, pounding iron, and even racing up El Cap.  You’re opinion is it’s stupid and that’s yours to make.  Don’t diminish another’s pursuits because it doesn’t fit within your desires. 
FWIW

Gives me the chills just thinking about it...,
I’m also a slow right hand lane driver.  

Well I know where they used the cam hook.
First move after the bolt ladder coming from texas flake to boot flake. Sick cam hook to aid on and get you established into the boot flake layback.
Bet they used that as a running belay

Tradiban wrote:  speed is the point of a race car, speed is not the point of climbing.

Uhhh... speed *IS* the point of speed climbing.  It's just a different venue for the race.  
But whatever.

Tradiban wrote:

Funny, I'm actually a very slow right hand lane driver.

I would be too if I was trolling on Mountain Project on my phone at the time...

I'm considering never leaving the house after 17 pages of this thread. Maybe those folks on "worlds most obese shut-ins" have something going? Staying in bed all day and eating fried chicken and ice cream sounds pretty good sometimes.

 I petition that Tradiban changes his username to EITR or Elephant In the Room. 

BrokenChairs BrettC wrote:

Driving is also a choice.  There’s a reason a license is a privilege not a right.  

The point of climbing is what you choose to make it. That’s the beauty of it it allows everyone to chase their own pursuits.  Pebble wrestling, clipping bolts, plugging gear, turning screws, pounding iron, and even racing up El Cap.  You’re opinion is it’s stupid and that’s yours to make.  Don’t diminish another’s pursuits because it doesn’t fit within your desires. 
FWIW

Gives me the chills just thinking about it...,
I’m also a slow right hand lane driver.  

I'm not diminishing their pursuit at all. I certainly don't have a gun to anyone's head and if someone wants to speed climb that's their choice. I would have the utmost respect for the person who breaks the record and says nothing but I do think it's stupid if you are yanking on gear while doing it, that's not really climbing.

However, it's frustrating when people die so needlessly and the climbing community just says "whatever, at least they died doing what they love".

Speed climbing deliberately makes climbing more dangerous simply to go fast, that's stupid and reckless.

So aid climbing isn’t climbing?  Or aid climbing is only acceptable if you stay in the slow lane??!?

Hamish Malin wrote: So aid climbing isn’t climbing?  Or aid climbing is only acceptable if you stay in the slow lane??!?

Aid climbing is always lame but sometimes necessary. However if a route has been freed it is no longer cool to aid it at all.

Tradiban wrote:

Aid climbing is always lame but sometimes necessary. However if a route has been freed it is no longer cool to aid it at all.

Are you actually saying that no one should aid on the Nose or the regular route on Half Dome?? The Salathe?

If you're serious, you truly are insane.