The comments on here are interesting. After 6 years this video is trending all of a sudden. I guess with Climbing season on us, people are interested in what it’s like up there. As many of you noticed, we weren’t prepared for this route, and if you think we shouldn’t have published something we sucked at, that’s fine for you to think. But 5.11 on El Cap is no walk in the park. If you haven’t done it, I’d rather fail trying than troll TH-cam. If you have done it, congrats, you’re a harder climber than us, but you know you’ve gone out and sucked sometimes, so you’re probably not the ones trashing us. That was a great learning experience for us. I was the one rolling, and yes, I fell on the 10c pitch and then got nervous and jugged the 5.8 pitch. I had a pack on and 10c was at my limit without one. The Grigri comment is funny, that was literally my first time using one and I kept shortroping my partner when he went to clip. You know you’ve done it too. Regarding the anchor being safe, it’s not pretty or organized, but it most definitely is safe. If you’re not comfortable hanging off two half inch stainless bolts, you can stay home. The section my partner fell on above me was 11b or something. Basically we thought we could hybrid climb the route in and out of aiding through the hard parts, but it didn’t work so well. I’m happy we did it, and I’m glad we shared it so ya’ll could throw popcorn at us from your couches.
Hey man, dont ever edit your videos, no matter what these people in the comments say. For all these people, they're looking for a 2-3 minute rush of excitement or horror in a video only to move on and forget about it within the next few days. The rest of us come here because we're aspiring to one day climb those same walls. Believe me, I can't appreciate the longer videos enough. Lots to observe and learn from (mistakes or not). It's a study session! :D Thanks for the video !
hi All, i searched out this video because of the accident that happened this past week end with Tim Klein and his friend. Just wanted to get a perspective. I worked at Palmdale HS and and just about every morning Tim and I would greet each other; I talked with him here and there; very nice guy and what a shame this happened. - I do have a question because I heard a backpack or something came down on them from another climber above. Is it normal for others to be climbing above you? You would then have to trust your life to the others above you.
Hi, I’m sorry about the terrible tragedy with your friend. I have read lots of conflicting stories about what happened, some including a bag falling and potentially hitting them. It is very common to climb below others on popular routes, and Freeblast is very popular. On any given day there may be 4-5 parties of two on the route. There is also a ledge above, where people on other routes would even spend the night, increasing the chance of something g falling. As climbers we’re often at least as concerned about rockfall from above as we are about falling.
I'm glad you posted this. It's honest and unpretentious. I wish there was less editing. So what if you got in over your heads? I'm sure you learned a ton on this climb and I hope you became a better and stronger climber. You had an amazing experience, one few of us will ever have. I would love the opportunity to try the lower pitches on Freeblast before my climbing days are done. Maybe I'd falter, but maybe not. I saw some of the other comments and I think there is room for criticism on the anchor building at the top of pitch two. The angle is pretty wide and the third bolt is meant to be the first protection on the next pitch. Did you die? No. Did you ruin the anchor? No. Should beginner climbers learn that a using a double length sling or cordelette to equalize two bolts would be a better anchor? Yes. Hold your head high. We live and learn.
I feel bad for the party below you.....Seriously no offense intended, as I don’t think I have met a climber who did not get in over their head at some point, but why leave this video up?
I just read somewhere that this "Freeblast" climb has a 5.0 rating. Just one notch above walking on level ground. If you were skiing, this would be the "bunny slope". If you were skydiving, this is like jumping off a stepladder. If you were scuba diving, this is like snorkeling in the shallow end of the pool. If this was F1 racing, this is like buzzing down the sidewalk in your pedal car. At least that's what they told those two Darwin finalists yesterday who took a swan dive off the thing.
@Adam Isaacs Sorry, it's not directed toward you. It's directed toward Leon. People who shit on others' hobbies from the comfort of their homes just annoys me. I get it from teenagers who don't know any better. But old man Leon apparently can't imagine a legitimate hobby beyond... Korean current affairs?
The comments on here are interesting. After 6 years this video is trending all of a sudden. I guess with Climbing season on us, people are interested in what it’s like up there. As many of you noticed, we weren’t prepared for this route, and if you think we shouldn’t have published something we sucked at, that’s fine for you to think. But 5.11 on El Cap is no walk in the park. If you haven’t done it, I’d rather fail trying than troll TH-cam. If you have done it, congrats, you’re a harder climber than us, but you know you’ve gone out and sucked sometimes, so you’re probably not the ones trashing us.
That was a great learning experience for us. I was the one rolling, and yes, I fell on the 10c pitch and then got nervous and jugged the 5.8 pitch. I had a pack on and 10c was at my limit without one.
The Grigri comment is funny, that was literally my first time using one and I kept shortroping my partner when he went to clip. You know you’ve done it too.
Regarding the anchor being safe, it’s not pretty or organized, but it most definitely is safe. If you’re not comfortable hanging off two half inch stainless bolts, you can stay home.
The section my partner fell on above me was 11b or something.
Basically we thought we could hybrid climb the route in and out of aiding through the hard parts, but it didn’t work so well. I’m happy we did it, and I’m glad we shared it so ya’ll could throw popcorn at us from your couches.
That’s because your video has been went to the national article through Yahoo. I commented not realizing it six years old.
Hey man, dont ever edit your videos, no matter what these people in the comments say. For all these people, they're looking for a 2-3 minute rush of excitement or horror in a video only to move on and forget about it within the next few days.
The rest of us come here because we're aspiring to one day climb those same walls. Believe me, I can't appreciate the longer videos enough. Lots to observe and learn from (mistakes or not). It's a study session! :D
Thanks for the video !
4:31 NOPE, NOPE, NOPE!!!
Forget that I'll have a beer and Netflix please...
hi All, i searched out this video because of the accident that happened this past week end with Tim Klein and his friend. Just wanted to get a perspective. I worked at Palmdale HS and and just about every morning Tim and I would greet each other; I talked with him here and there; very nice guy and what a shame this happened. - I do have a question because I heard a backpack or something came down on them from another climber above. Is it normal for others to be climbing above you? You would then have to trust your life to the others above you.
Hi, I’m sorry about the terrible tragedy with your friend. I have read lots of conflicting stories about what happened, some including a bag falling and potentially hitting them. It is very common to climb below others on popular routes, and Freeblast is very popular. On any given day there may be 4-5 parties of two on the route. There is also a ledge above, where people on other routes would even spend the night, increasing the chance of something g falling. As climbers we’re often at least as concerned about rockfall from above as we are about falling.
Kept Expecting to see them fall.
This was published Dec 22, 2012.
They died?
what's with all the ropes?
Clearly, you've never played golf.
You've heard of video editing, right? Make it more interesting and edit out shacking camera staring at a rock, would you?
Not video editing. It's incompetence. Climbers on a route clearly above their skill set. Obvious from when they leave the ground.
People are hammering these guys, but I found it to be pretty instructive. Thanks for posting this.
Crazy...
I'm glad you posted this. It's honest and unpretentious. I wish there was less editing. So what if you got in over your heads? I'm sure you learned a ton on this climb and I hope you became a better and stronger climber. You had an amazing experience, one few of us will ever have. I would love the opportunity to try the lower pitches on Freeblast before my climbing days are done. Maybe I'd falter, but maybe not.
I saw some of the other comments and I think there is room for criticism on the anchor building at the top of pitch two. The angle is pretty wide and the third bolt is meant to be the first protection on the next pitch. Did you die? No. Did you ruin the anchor? No. Should beginner climbers learn that a using a double length sling or cordelette to equalize two bolts would be a better anchor? Yes.
Hold your head high. We live and learn.
Thanks for your kind words. We certainly did get in over our heads and learned a lot that day.
I feel bad for the party below you.....Seriously no offense intended, as I don’t think I have met a climber who did not get in over their head at some point, but why leave this video up?
Are you placing all your own gear or using the bolts too?
These climbers should not be up there at all. Stick to easier rocks, your skill sets are not for this kind of big wall climbing.
I just read somewhere that this "Freeblast" climb has a 5.0 rating. Just one notch above walking on level ground.
If you were skiing, this would be the "bunny slope".
If you were skydiving, this is like jumping off a stepladder.
If you were scuba diving, this is like snorkeling in the shallow end of the pool.
If this was F1 racing, this is like buzzing down the sidewalk in your pedal car.
At least that's what they told those two Darwin finalists yesterday who took a swan dive off the thing.
It's a 5.11 multi-pitch route. Much more difficult than a 5.0 rating. www.mountainproject.com/route/105991737/freeblast
Leon Allan Davis lol what are talking about this is a pretty tough climb. Definitely not a 5.0
He "read somewhere." That makes him an expert, didn't you know?
A classic example of Darwin's law of natural selection.
Why?
@Adam Isaacs Sorry, it's not directed toward you. It's directed toward Leon. People who shit on others' hobbies from the comfort of their homes just annoys me. I get it from teenagers who don't know any better. But old man Leon apparently can't imagine a legitimate hobby beyond... Korean current affairs?
that anchor below the roof at 11:50 min does not look equalized at all - if fact it looks scary as shit!!!....terrible rope management
Yeah their falls will rip out those fresh 3/8" steel bolts. I mean they're only rated at some 40 kN.
Jesus, they have three bolts. Who needs to equalize that? Leave them alone, they're fine.
A bit of narcissism making a video I think.
How to video
Turned out to be how not to.
I mean it's pretty legit to replay a successful climb.
You're right. It's just me, I can't stand heights!
Agree