Source
r/climbing•
CallMeBryce

That is it Climbit, I'm calling it quits.

I love climbing and climbit but I can't go on with this sport.

I've just had friend killed in an accident. I never want to get back onto rock or snow again. I don't know what to do or how to express this fear / loathing of a sport I once loved.

I've had mates have accidents - bad breaks, blood, broken skulls but never a death before.

Goodbye climbing and please stay safe folks.

Edit Thanks to everyone with their messages. I should clarify that it looks like a bad protection at the belay that caused the fall. I've still not found out the details and I don't think I want to.

Posted Jun 18, 2011, 10:55 PM UTC · edited

2953
[deleted]•

Firstly, allow me to express my sincerest condolences on the loss of a friend.

Secondly (downvotes be damned, someone needs to say it), and this is assuming all the mentioned accidents were as a result of someone being at fault, why do you climb with friends that have a history of accidents? I took a 25 ft whipper due to a shit belay on lead once at the crag and ended up about a foot shy of the ground; that person has not climbed with us in over seven months now.

Lastly, my condolences yet again, alongside an apology for posting a few critical remarks. I hope that you are able to overcome the grief associated with losing a friend and find a new hobby that is as socially, mentally and physically rewarding as climbing, to replace it and keep your mind off of things.

If all else fails, take up bouldering.

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CallMeBryceOP•

I didn't climb with guys with a history of accidents. They were mates within the climbing community.

5
TundraWolf_•

I took a 25 ft whipper due to a shit belay on lead once at the crag and ended up about a foot shy of the ground; that person has not climbed with us in over seven months now.

Tell more about this. It's easy to be clipping the 3rd bolt, with a bunch of slack out, and end up damn near decking depending on the bolts, etc.

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[deleted]•

First time leading, second time outdoors, belayer was lead belaying for the first time. First time outdoors. Foot above the third bolt; pushed off without saying anything (stupid) to see if belayer was paying attention, without looking first (also stupid if you have any control over the situation). Belayer was watching the ass of the girl top roping next to me; enough slack ripped through his hands before he even tried to arrest the fall that I came within a foot or so of decking. Banged up my knees and elbows, bad rope burn (burnt off calluses) on right palm (grabbed the belay side of the rope, HARD), fucked me up mentally for a long time.

It was a combination of many stupid, stupid things and I count myself lucky it wasn't worse. Later found out the belayer had ADD..always knew something was off about him. This incident also instilled within me a very strong desire to learn how to be the best belayer possible, with better climbing secondary, as well as a desire to teach as many people as possible how to belay well. On top of that, I have become EXTREMELY picky with my belayers.

Lesson to learn from this: Take it slow, learn things the right way. If it feels like you're moving too fast, you're about two seconds away from killing yourself or someone else.

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TundraWolf_•

wow, first time lead belaying and the dude still wasn't paying attention?! I was sweating bullets (and still do) the first time I belayed outdoors on lead.

i'm picky as well. I've flat out told several people "you're not belaying me" after watching them. i may come off like a dickhead, but i like climbing and would continue to do so.

you'd think a few years experience would weed out the bad belayers but I find a lot of really lax "it's cool man, you're just lead climbing" attitudes out there. "i'll sit on this rock over here while you're climbing" eh, no you wont.

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[deleted]•

[deleted]

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slyk•

You're a fucking idiot. He is somewhat at fault, but you're fucking dumb for even letting that situation arise by having a newbie belay you and then "testing" him.

I wouldn't climb with your stupid ass. Ever.

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[deleted]•

Wow, that's a little rough in response to something that happened in the first month of my climbing career; I already said what I did was stupid, no need to be a complete dick about it. I had no idea he was a shitty belayer, and your belayer is supposed to pay attention (catch you regardless of whether they're "surprised/tested" or not), right?

But forgive me, I'm sure you've never made a mistake. Ever. Thanks for putting me in my place, and completely missing the point.

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eyal0•

Your belayer has probably been in a gym a few times, too, but only ever used a GriGri. If more gyms allowed ATCs, more people would have better instincts. :-(

2
lodemann•

there are gyms that don't allow ATCs? what kind of madness is that?

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Enginerdiest•

Wow, my gym ONLY supplies ATCs. I'm sure you could use a GriGri if you brought it in. The only device they don't allow is a Fig8.

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GreyMachine•

cool story bro

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PersonalPronoun•

Depending on what someone's doing, sometimes shit happens though right? Even with some sport climbs where I am there are spots where the leader had better not fall, and if people choose to do the riskier climbs then injuries aren't necessarily because someone (belayer, whatever) was at fault.

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[deleted]•

[deleted]

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[deleted]•

With a good spot and some common sense, the worst that can happen is comparatively minor.

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oodledoodley•

Same with a good belay. Always gonna be risk involved.

2
omnithrope•

Bouldering is risky, but the chances of death are much smaller compared to vert climbing.

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[deleted]•

I'm sorry for your loss man.

If you don't mind me asking – what were the circumstances?

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CallMeBryceOP•

Not sure of the complete circumstances yet. It looks like a crap belay - leading to fall with head injury and exposure.

Fuck. I didn't feel this upset when my Grampa died.

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xb4r7x•

:( Hang in there bro...

My condolences...

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sevets•

It's much more touching when death comes prematurely.

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[deleted]•

Ay mate, sorry about your loss. It's always hardest when friends go. :(

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[deleted]•

[deleted]

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[deleted]•

Sorry. It happens. It's just climbing on rock. There are more important things in the world.

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oodledoodley•

Wow you're getting downvotes. He has a point!

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Branch_McDaniel•

It's an obvious point that doesn't add much to the conversation.

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Irrationalmachine•

Sorry for you loss and good luck. But you'll be back, give it some time and you'll start to look up idly again, eyes following lines up buildings, palm sweating. Rock whipping by the car window you will day dream of it.

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eigervector•

My biggest fear is that I will lose a friend in an accident in the mountains, but I wouldn't trade my passions for anything else. I may take a hiatus, but don't see ever giving it up since every time I look at a cliff face my palms sweat - the smell of chalk and sweat - draws clinking in to each other in the morning... It would be hard to leave it.

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rottle•

Might not sound like much, but I'm very sorry for your loss.

If possible, can you post more about the accident once more about the circumstances is made clear so the community can benefit? Tragedies are extremely unfortunate, but these reports are crucial. Where did this happen?

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linkn11•

My condolences man. At the very least your buddy left doing something they loved. RIP.

3
tradotto•

I am sorry for your loss. I can tell you all about the inherent risk in climbing but that's not going to bring your friend back. My only reminder is that most climbers know the risk and do it because it's a sport of passion. When I die, I hope that my friends and family can stand around and say "He died doing something he loved"

3
rockwarzz•

As a climber of 13 years, i recognize that climbing is a dangerous sport, a sport of inherent risk. Even so, it remains the climber's duty to everything in their power to make sure that they keep them-self and their partner as safe as possible. Knowing your limits is a good way to stay safe; the number one cause of accidents and bad falls that I have seen/ heard of was the overzealousness of under-experienced climbers. Going after something too hard or too technical or requires more hardware knowledge than one actually has can put a person in quite dangerous positions.

Also, a perfect climbing partner is necessity. Poor belaying has become FAR too rampant as the sport becomes more popular. I still do not understand why a person would tie into a rope with a mediocre belayer without a backup/ instructor helping them get better.

Now, I am not saying that your friend or friends were stupid or didn't know what they were doing. I have also had friends die climbing. But it was a result of a mistake made, something they should have known not to do.

My point is that if we make good decisions, be overcareful (which includes checking yourself and your belayer before leaving the ground), and choose partners who carry at least as much seriousness for both climbers' safety as you would, and don't do something out of your ability range. This is not a sport you can afford to learn from your own mistakes in.

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bkraj•

Not much to say here other than that I'm sorry.

2
roboticc•

condolences for your loss. safety is critical and I hope we never forget that belaying is a sacred trust... someone's life is literally in our hands.

2
SnipedYou•

If I can offer you any solace, at least he was doing something that he loved. I really hope you get back to the sport later, with the proper safety measures and precautions it can be a safe sport. My condolences and climb on.

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paranoidbot•

A friend of mine died in 1997 climbing and I too stopped. I just removed my mental block and started again in 2011.

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[deleted]•

[deleted]

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devananne•

I lost one of my friends recently, real big climber. Because of his passion and joy he brought to everyone around him, more people are climbing for him now. Even made some great stickers in his memory. People who do this sport know it's dangerous, but it doesn't mean you should stop doing it. I at least know if my friend were still here, he wouldn't want anyone to stop climbing. He was all about sharing the joy of everything with everyone. I hope you'll be alright. I also hope you'll continue climbing in his memory.

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pozorvlak•

Very sorry to hear that, mate.

1
traemccombs•

This is why we need people to be checked out on basic techniques if you are going to buy gear.

I know I'm going to be downvoted to hell, but...

I've been climbing for over 20 years and I still can't believe this industry hasn't tried to setup some sort of self-governing body whereby you HAVE to show you know at least the very basics in order to purchase gear.

Climbing, if you are doing things correctly and safely, can be damned well safe. It's only when you start doing stupid stuff is where injuries can occur.

I am sadden for your loss. If anything happened to my friends, I don't know what I'd do either. This is why I always, at the risk of sounding anal and overly safe, stress redundancy and full focus at all times on the task at hand.

The time for playing grab-ass or screwing off is when you are on flat ground. (even then it's still not safe)

I don't know how we could institute a certification like the Dive Industry, but we should try and work towards one.

Have EVERYONE have to get a basic certification through [AMGA - American Mountain Guide Association] or some other body we can all agree on. Something non-profit perhaps.

By basic certification, I mean belay techniques (toprope / lead), anchor creation, how to properly sport/trad lead, setting protection etc...

If you want to buy cams, you would have to be trad certified.

If you wanted to buy a harness or belay device, you had to be belay certified etc... I don't know how you'd work out the details, but.

Anyway... Sorry for the rant, it's just something that has always bugged me about our sport.

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[deleted]•

[deleted]

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oodledoodley•

People need to take personal responsibility. Putting responsibility on the retailer is a totally lame idea and something I would be totally against both as a climber and someone working in outdoor retail. The whole idea stinks of nanny state nonsense.

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omnithrope•

I don't think we need to save people from themselves; let them make their own mistakes. There's no reason to solve this through laws and restrictions.

Let any noob purchase gear, just don't climb with people you don't trust or know personally.

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JohnWesely•

I don't want to have anything to do with the AMGA or any "governing" body. You are foolish if you think climbing can ever be "damn well safe". Serious injuries often happen to experienced climbers in completely mundane situations.

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[deleted]•

Bit of a rant, yes, full of holes and questions but the underlying message gets through. Maybe we'll see something like this before we die of old age =)

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traemccombs•

Some of us are already old. LOL

But yeah, I think the problem may be is that it's too political. Everyone will want to be "THE" people that is the "certification" group.

Would be nice if there was some way the industry could all agree on something.

But then how do you deal with Cavers, Rappellers etc...

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