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07-08-2009, 02:42 PM
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#1
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TPunk Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: From Aussie, but living in Canada for now
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John Bachar died in free solo accident
For the climbers out there, John Bachar died on Sunday (July 5) in a free solo climbing accident.
John Bachar Dead At Age 51*|*Climbing Narcissist
John Bachar was an absolute legend of the rock climbing world. For the last 35 years he pushed free solo (un-roped) climbing to levels beyond what anyone thought possible. He was a true pioneer and inspiration.
RIP
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07-09-2009, 11:01 AM
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#2
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Rabidly Xenophilic
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Austin Texas, but originally from Ann Arbor!
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Crazy that he was able to free climb for decades without a mistake...I always admired free climbers because they must have unbelievable focus...
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07-09-2009, 02:06 PM
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#3
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Backcountry Betty
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Coeur D'Alene, ID
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whoa! so how did he die? was it a fall?
I never got free climbers. Seems like the only benefit is being able to get out without having to track down a climbing partner everytime you want to hit the mountains. the little bit of rock climbing i've down out here in the PNW mountains in last few months taught me that I never want to be off of a rope. there is just too much that could happen that is out of your control.
sorry to hear about this. 
__________________
people travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long course of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering. -St. Augustine
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07-10-2009, 01:03 PM
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#4
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TPunk Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: From Aussie, but living in Canada for now
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Yeah, he fell while free soloing.
I've dabbled a little in free soloing myself. While I've never free soloed anywhere near the level of John Bachar, I can completely understand the attraction to it. You can climb completely uninhibited. All you need is a chalk bag and a pair of climbing shoes. You don't need a partner, a harness, a rope, or any form of protection. You are light and fast. As a result, you can get 3 or 4 times the amount of climbing done compared to roped climbing.
But, the main attraction to free soloing is the mental state that it puts you in. When free soloing you are so in tune with, well, everything. The rock, your body, every movement, every touch, every breath. When free soloing, absolutely nothing else exists but you and the rock. For a moment, you are truly free from the rest of the world. It's sort of like a physically active form of meditation.
Free soloing is not the domain of fame hungry egotists, as many think. It is the realm of those with a deep respect, understanding, and appreciation of climbing. That's why people like John Bachar can live at the cutting edge for so long.
</End Ramble>
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