climbing without ropes in siberia
July 2008
Free soloing is at the Russian
roulette end of the climbing scale. The free
soloist chooses to shun ropes, harnesses and all
other climbing aids, save for a pair of climbing
shoes and a chalk bag (the latter helps to keep
sweaty palms dry). The individual who embraces
the mental and physical challenges of free
soloing accepts that a single mistake will
almost certainly result in injury or death.
As you would expect, the percentage of climbers who engage in this activity is tiny. So when Jonathan Thesenga, Brittany Griffith and John Burcham travelled to the World Heritage site of Stolby in Siberia, they were gobsmacked to find an entire community (consisting of people of all ages and abilities, from novice schoolchildren to expert septuagenarians) climbing sans ropes.
Their 12 minute film contains some of the most outrageous – and scary – climbing I have ever seen. Free soloing is one thing: free soloing down a route headfirst is a whole new (terrifying) sport. You might want to swap the popcorn for a chalk bag.
Thesenga has also written a short story about his experiences at Stolby.
As you would expect, the percentage of climbers who engage in this activity is tiny. So when Jonathan Thesenga, Brittany Griffith and John Burcham travelled to the World Heritage site of Stolby in Siberia, they were gobsmacked to find an entire community (consisting of people of all ages and abilities, from novice schoolchildren to expert septuagenarians) climbing sans ropes.
Their 12 minute film contains some of the most outrageous – and scary – climbing I have ever seen. Free soloing is one thing: free soloing down a route headfirst is a whole new (terrifying) sport. You might want to swap the popcorn for a chalk bag.
Thesenga has also written a short story about his experiences at Stolby.