Brad Gobright: Free solo climber falls [rappelling] to his death

bbc ^ | 11/28/2019

[BenLurkin]

Gobright was best known for free soloing, or climbing without any safety gear, but at the time the two were rappelling, a technique using ropes.

Climbers descend a rock face by using a doubled rope coiled around the body but the method is described by experts as one of the most common causes of deaths in the sport.

"We started rapping," Mr Jacobson told the Outside website. "I was a bit above him. I was on the left. He was on the right. Then all of a sudden, I felt a pop, and we started dropping."

[21twelve]

That’s a great version. I heard where Nine Inch Nails said something like “It’s Johnny’s song now, he did it so much better than us.”

[wardaddy]

I see plenty YouTube vids of tower maintenance guys unhooked on the antennae cause it’s cumbersome as they maneuver around the top

Do you ever do that

I climbed in my youth

This forum is pretty old and extremely, risk averse

Extremely x2 actually

Man those tower vids much like Honolds free solos give me vertigo and sweaty palms

[VTenigma]

I beat those odds twice, I hope I don’t have to again. The last one left me in constant pain. For my job, not for fun.

[outofsalt]

Before Isaac Newton discovered gravity, people could fly.

[Manly Warrior]

While not a pro climber, I did my share of climbing and rappelling in the Army. Quickly learned as kid gravity was not your friend, with exceptions.

Double ropes, rope record, climb log fall log, all the controls to assure confidence in equipment, then safety protocols to insurance. Free climbing? Yeah, okay, kinda like “gueestimating” the amount of opioids needed post surgery...

I liked adrenaline, but only as a means to an end- getting the unit to top/bottom w/o damage to personnel or equipment, IOT accomplish the mission.

I always thought of folks who drive adrenaline as an end like dogs, immature versions of the wolf.... Lots of bark and little (real world) bite.

Be safe. check Equipment!

[freedomlover]

He died doing what he loved. Screaming.
—-
Sorry but LOL

[dfwgator]

But not before a visit from 'Captain Obvious'!

[Drew68]

Yeah, it’s really too bad that some people have to do stuff like this just to feel something.

It bothers me to read about guys who do this who leave behind wives and children but as far as I can tell, this guy was a loner. Had no family to support. All he did was sleep in his 20-year old Honda and climb rocks.

[krogers58]

No, I always am connected to the tower by a safety device. I say safety device, as there are numerous types of ways to connect, and anyone who is taking the shortcut of unclipping, to accomplish a particular task, is, IMHO, an idiot. I'd be instantly fired if anyone saw me do that. Usually, when tower accidents are investigated, you will find that the safety protocols were somehow, not followed.

You are able to work more efficiently, and faster, if you are connected by safety devices. It's a faith based thing, kind of like riding a bike, when that first time you go without training wheels, you have to have that certain faith that it's going to work, if you just let go, and ride. The same is true of working on a tower, where you can work with both of your hands, and not worry about clinging onto the tower to remain safe. So, early in a tower climbers career, he has to have that moment where he let's go, and stops shaking, and just works on the tower.

[wardaddy]

That’s fascinating..I mountain climbed some as a kid

Nothing crazy

I watch those tower vids and it’s unnerving ...amazing

They had a brief tower reality show or pod I can’t recall

The pretty girl kept freaking out...I think they were in Jersey

[wardaddy]

The Tower dogs show with the folks from Tennessee I think

It was a brief Dateline show

I dunno

It’d be hard to encapsulate it I’m sure in a reality show

Tower dogs had a girl too but I think she was ground support not a climber

They were at least polite to one another ...lol....unlike Hang Men

It’s a dangerous job I hope it pays well