Why do we solo?

And don't even get me started on my free climbing rant! Of course I'm free climbing, the part you are worried about is the soloing.

Why do we solo?

Many far more talented climbers and authors have written on this topic, (Matt Cousins - Why Soloing, Alex Honnold several times) often coming to the same conclusions. And yet we can't seem to describe it in a way that makes sense to the people that ask the question.

Are we so far apart, those that do and do not solo, or do they just not want to accept the answer?


From Honnold:
"I like the simplicity of soloing," he says. 
"You've got no gear, no partner. You never climb better than when you free-solo." 
He also finds that the sport fits his psychological makeup. 
"If I have any gift, it's a mental one," he says. "Keeping it together."



I love to solo climbs, the freedom of movement, the speed with which you can climb, the state of mind throughout, and the feeling on the top are all incredible.
The freedom of movement and speed are both pretty self explanatory and while they are factors, it's not what gets you back time and time again.

The driving factor is all in your mind: the clarity of focus. There is no room to think about the consequence of failure, no room to complain, to give in to the fear or pain. The only thing that you can do is focus on the move ahead of you. Occasionally you do run into the fear, and you have to make a decision; climb up, or climb down, there are no other options, and both require you to put away the fear.

Whether it's on a long, easy multipitch, or a highball boulder, the clarity that the 'no-fall zone' brings to your movement is remarkable, you slow down, hit every hold just the way you want to, and make the most of every smear.

The emotions at the top are also a mixed bag, there's some elation, some relief, but really, all of the reactions are muted, the calm concentration of the solo subduing that crowning moment, it's an interesting feeling, and one that I continue to chase.


I have heard others describe the feeling of soloing, along with many other adventure sports as 'Flow', and while I wouldn't have coined that term, I certainly agree with the sentiment.






Comments

  1. Wanderer on the face of this earth20 May 2017 at 14:10

    Focus. Oneness. Mindfulness. High consequences + relatively low risk + total responsibility for self = mental satisfaction

    ReplyDelete

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