Free solo climbing

Free solo climbing, also known as free soloing, is a form of free climbing and solo climbing where the climber (or free soloist) performs alone and without using any ropes, harnesses or other protective equipment, relying entirely on his ability instead. Unlike in bouldering, free soloists typically climb above safe heights, where a fall would always result in serious injury or death. In ordinary free climbing, instead, safety gear is used to protect from falls, although not to assist the ascent.

Motivations

Reasons for free soloing given by high-profile climbers include the simplicity and speed with which one can climb, for example Alex Honnold's two-hour-and-fifty-minute ascent of the 2,224-foot (678 m) Regular Northwest Face route on Yosemite's Half Dome, a route normally demanding multiple days. Other reasons given are the intense concentration required and, for some, the adrenaline rush. The practice is mostly confined to routes familiar to the climber, whose difficulty lies well within the climber's abilities. However, inherent risks such as loose rocks or sudden change in weather are always present. Some high-profile climbers have died while free soloing, including John Bachar, Derek Hersey, Vik Hendrickson, Robert Steele, Dwight Bishop, Jimmy Ray Forrester, Jimmy Jewell, Tony Wilmott, and John Taylor.

Solo climbing

Solo climbing or soloing is a style of climbing in which the climber climbs alone, without somebody belaying them. There are several ways to climb solo. The first is roped solo climbing, which is climbing by yourself with a rope backup in case of fall. Roped soloing is especially useful in rescue situations. There are two ways to rope solo: lead solo and top rope solo. In lead soloing, the climber uses a self-locking device which is used to arrest a fall. One end of the rope may be anchored below the climber with the coils of rope in a bag on the climber's back, or for single-pitch climbs the device may be secured at ground level, and the climber tied into the end of the rope. In top rope soloing, the climber uses a self-locking device and climbs as if top roping. If weight is put on the rope during the climb, it is a form of aid climbing. Perhaps the best known solo technique is Free solo climbing (Known in the UK as soloing), where the climber is climbing without any rope or other forms of protection where a fall would result in serious injury or death. Finally Deep-water soloing, or psicobloc, is a subtype of free solo climbing. It is done on cliffs overhanging water so that in case of a fall, the climber lands safely in the sea.