Climbing Safety Quotes

I tend to pick objectives that I feel are safe because I know that, in the moment, I always go for it. I have some rules for myself, though: Look for the rock faces without a lot of loose rock. Always rope up on glaciers where there is even a slight chance of falling into a crevasse. No pure free soloing. Never climb below hanging glaciers.

I've always hated the danger part of climbing, and it's great to come down again because it's safe.

I'm practical, very data-driven and process-oriented. I'm very objective and analytical about everything. Ninety-five percent of situations on the wall are not that dangerous. Most people look at the climb and think, 'that's crazy.' But when you know the intricacies of your gear, the belay situation and the forces involved, it's pretty safe.

My first climb was on lead; there were pitons, no bolts.

It lasted but a year of two, till all the routes were done. The pace so fast that most forgot that climbing could be fun.

I generally don't climb something if it makes me feel fear. The beauty of soloing is that there's no pressure - no one's telling me to do it. So if something seems scary, I don't have any obligation to do it. I can prepare further or just walk away entirely.

I've done routes where I've climbed 200 feet off the ground and just been, like, 'What am I doing?' I then just climbed back down and went home. Discretion is the better part of valor. Some days are just not your day. That's the big thing with free soloing: when to call it.

so, when I spotted a cougar stretched out on a thick pine tree branch near the park gates, I wasn't surprised. I can't say the same for the women clinging to the branch above the cat. she was the one screaming. The cougar-a ragged-ear old top I clled Marv-just stared at her, like he couldn't believe anyone would be dumb to climb a tree to escape a cat.

In climbing, having confidence in your partners is no small concern. One climber's actions can affect the welfare of the entire team.

On climbs, there is a general way we manage fear. We look at things objectively, separating out perceived risk from real risk. You can really bring down the level of fear by knowing the real risks and setting aside the others. You also know that panicking just makes things worse.

Around half of the top alpinists have died climbing. Of course if I'm careful and turn back more often than the others, I can increase my chances of survival. But if I hadn't been lucky a few times, I wouldn't be here.

During the climb, I never get afraid. But you can't lose your fear - it is really important. If you lose it, you are going to die.

I think that a good mountaineer is usually a sensible mountaineer.

I said to Scott that the ascent seemed to be going slowly and that I was concerned descending climbers could possibly run out of oxygen before their return to camp IV.

People say, 'Are you insane?' But the most successful climbers are the most calculating, with the most refined sense of risk. They're hyper-conscious of safety. They're the least insane people I know.

To be clear, I normally climb with a rope and partner. Free-soloing makes up only a small percentage of my total climbing. But when I do solo, I manage the risk through careful preparation. I don't solo anything unless I'm sure I can do it.

Many people have been getting too casual about climbing Everest. I forecast a disaster many times.

I think the whole attitude towards climbing Mount Everest has become rather horrifying. The people just want to get to the top. They don't give a damn for anybody else who may be in distress and it doesn't impress me at all that they leave someone lying under a rock to die.

I think in general the American scene is much more focused on bouldering, where in Europe they're more focused on sport climbing.