How interested in rock/mountain climbing are you?

[Fireplug]

I'm not built for it. Even at my leanest I've got tree trunk legs and no reach. I tried, it just wasn't for me. I'm not keen on heights either although I can overcome my fear. I don't think I've had a bigger adrenaline drop than the first time I abseiled -- I was cacking myself -- but then I just wanted to do it again. I completely get the appeal of that. I've scrambled quite a bit as I like hiking but the roped-up vertical business? No.



This doesn't look all that impressive but it's at about 8000ft and the drop goes on a LONG way. The bit before the bit I'm on was hairy enough for me, even just traversing. I'm far too much of a wimp to contemplate the hardcore stuff.

[hookfinger]

I'm interested in it -without wanting to do it myself!

I always watch any documentaries on it. BBC4 had a really good one on the Eiger which has claimed so many lives. It's fascinating to see what propels people to do it.

This is it for me as well. No way would I do it but I am addicted to watching documentaries and I have scores of books about climbing in the Himalaya/Karakorum ranges. I've literally read every book about Everest that I could lay my hands on.

[trans-chigley express]

(The nearby K2 has an even higher death rate).

It's not exactly nearby.

I have an interest in it and like others I love to watch documentaries and read books on climbing, especially mountaineering. I'm terrified of heights though and my few attempts at rock climbing have left me convinced that it isn't for me. I sometimes have to do scary stuff at height for work when I'm involved with high rises, high roofs, theme parks rides etc. and I don't like it one little bit but at least I'm paid for it!

[Muskrat]

[youtube]CIjGaDUp6FY&feature=related[/youtube]

And after you've seen THAT, watch THIS:

[pcqgod]

Sounds like an interesting thing that I'd never want to do in real life.

[Charlie O.]

I had a feeling the footage was real, but wondered if the voice had been dubbed in by someone else. Now I know.

[The Modernist]

I had a feeling the footage was real, but wondered if the voice had been dubbed in by someone else. Now I know.

On a totally unrelated point I find listening to US news anchors or presenters totally impossible. There's something about the way they slow down their voices and imbue every word with surprise that makes them incredibly irritating. The news report above is the perfect example.
I don't if this annoys US posters as much, perhaps you just get used to it.

[Your Friendly Neighbourhood Postman]

I had a feeling the footage was real, but wondered if the voice had been dubbed in by someone else. Now I know.

On a totally unrelated point I find listening to US news anchors or presenters totally impossible. There's something about the way they slow down their voices and imbue every word with surprise that makes them incredibly irritating. The news report above is the perfect example.
I don't if this annoys US posters as much, perhaps you just get used to it.

Agree. And I can't listen to Richard Quest. That man is so LOUD... I wasn't surprised to learn that he had/has a coke habit. I can't stand the artificiality of all those videotrained-to-the-max presenters and those women with unnaturally low voices.

[Corporate whore]

Much like Mick, I did some when I was younger - enjoyed it but fell off once too often ( good job I was roped in). You need a lot of upper body strength which I didn't have. An ex colleague of me was a keen climber and he could lift his own body weight with one hand by gripping the underside of the door frame.

[copehead]

On a scale of 1-10

0

Adrenalin doesn't interest me in the slightest, I got that out of my system playing rugby for 20 years

[wilson]

Not at all. Besides having claustrophobia, it reminds me of climbing back into my mother's womb a la Oscar in Grass' The Tin Drum.

Bang bang.

[copehead]

(The nearby K2 has an even higher death rate).

It's not exactly nearby.

I have an interest in it and like others I love to watch documentaries and read books on climbing, especially mountaineering. I'm terrified of heights though and my few attempts at rock climbing have left me convinced that it isn't for me. I sometimes have to do scary stuff at height for work when I'm involved with high rises, high roofs, theme parks rides etc. and I don't like it one little bit but at least I'm paid for it!

Same here, I hate clambering on and off boats in rickety dry docks, or getting out of helicopters high up on oil platforms, but at least I am getting paid for it.

They had a documentary about that Summer's Everest season on Discovery Channel a couple of years ago and there were some terrifying bits on that, there is on bit near the top which is literally a sloping ledge a foot or two wide above a 2000m drop, and on the last push up there are a few little coloured lumps which are dead bodies.

Why anyone would wish to do that is beyond me.

[sloopjohnc]

When I was a kid, I used to love climbing big trees and rocks but get a little scared of heights now for some reason.

The thing I really like to do, and I'm beginning to plan this year's trip, is white water rafting. I've dumped the kayak in Class 3 and 4 rapids before, and the rushing water doesn't scare me as much as retrieving my kayak and stuff so I'm not stuck out in the wilderness.

There are some easy rules for getting tossed. Wear a helmet, for one, and go down the river feet first in case of boulders.

But then I always go with buddies, which I think anyone should do if there doing this kind of endeavor.

Don't go out on these kinda things alone even if it's someone telling your family you died so they know what happened.

[Pigpen]

Love climbing mountains. Great fun. Steeper the better.

[Minnie the Minx]

I read a really disturbing account of someone's death while doing this recently which confirmed my absolute resolve never to do it while simultaneously cementing my admiration for people who do.

[Flower]

I have no interest in mountain climbing. I'd more than likely not have much of a problem getting up a mountain but I would be too scared to climb down.

Strange timing ... I'm in the middle of reading "The Girl Who Lived Twice" and there is quite a bit about climbing Mt. Everest and Sherpa people.