It's not like you're taking them rock climbing, for crying out loud.

Oh, no, not a rock climbing dig!

Come on guys, after all the complaining about non-aviators being
ignorant about aviation matters (such as safety) you'd think people on
this groups would be a little more mindful of activities that they do
not know that much about.

I am an avid pilot and avid climber. In my mind they are *very* similar
activities. Both are inherently risky, but both can be very safe if you
know what you are doing. They also both offer an wide spectrum of
positions to take with respect to risk vs. action. For example, some
pilots do not fly IFR, or do not fly "hard" IFR, or fly own
twin-engine, or won't fly at night, etc.

Same is with climbers. Some will only climb at the gym, some will only
top-rope, some don't trust themselves to set anchors and will always
get a second opinion, some will climb only with partners they know very
well, some will only lead on sport routes, some will only attempt
"trad" climbing 3 levels below what they can do on top-rope, etc.

For example, if you are on a properly rigged "top-rope" climb (meaning
the rope is attached to a pully system anchored at the top of the
climb) and the anchor is triple redundant, and your belayer is
competent, there is *no way* you are going to fall more than a foot or
two. (that's not to say that can't lead to a bonked head or twisted
ankle) Oh, and the helmet protects against the bonked head.


All these adjustments weigh skill, intelligence, and knowledge against
"fun" and "adventure." You choose where you want to be.

Like flying safely, climbing safely is *all* about judgement.

-- dave j
-- PP-ASEL, Instr., working on commercial
-- climber, 5.10ish on top rope, leads 5.8 sport, 5.7 trad