Rappelling is for sissies.
[If you’re viewing this in your Tumblr dashboard, click on the gif for the larger version]
Climbing Isn’t Crazy. Now Base Jumping, On the Other Hand…
One of my climbing buddies got married last year, and his wife doesn’t quite understand climbing. She thinks it’s something of a reckless, dangerous sport on par with, say, base jumping.
I definitely don’t think this is true, though I can see how someone unfamiliar with climbing would think that. To those unfamiliar with climbing, it’s crazy because you’re just barely hanging onto the side of a mountain and “you die if you fall.”
In my opinion, the difference is in the gear systems. In base jumping, your gear is what you rely on. Your gear (namely your parachute) is your first and really only line of defense. In climbing, YOU and your abilities are what you rely on. Your gear is the backup.
Incidentally, that’s why there are so many rappelling accidents and deaths. When rappelling, you’re relying 100% on your gear—the anchors, your rappel device, your harness, etc.
