an Osman, the SPEED FREE CLIMBING SAMURAI, died on November 23, 1998 (at the age of 35) while executing a "controlled" rope jump at night from the 1,200-foot Leaning Tower in Yosemite National Parks when the line snapped 200 feet above his harness. A descendant of the samurai families of the Takeuchi clan, Dan became a pioneer of the art of speed climbing and free falling. Soon he became infatuated with taking longer and longer falls on climbing rope and developed a variety of gear and methods to make it "safer". Take a peek at Dan at his best. This is the most amazing sports video I have ever seen. Click <HERE>.
The second video is of some mad, MAD CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS. Click <HERE>.
How about a $300,000 LAPTOP for Christmas? Click <HERE>.
Most of the free climbers end up dead eventually. Not surprising, though a few have managed to stick around against the odds. I remember seeing a video of Derek Hersey freeing a pillar in Yosemite. A bird flew out of a crack, and hit him in the face. He managed to hang on, but some time later was found dead at the base of Sentinel, I think. No matter how good you are, there are variables that you can't control. I'll stay on belay.
Posted by: Matthew | December 09, 2005 at 07:52 PM
Most of the free climbers end up dead eventually. Not surprising, though a few have managed to stick around against the odds. I remember seeing a video of Derek Hersey freeing a pillar in Yosemite. A bird flew out of a crack, and hit him in the face. He managed to hang on, but some time later was found dead at the base of Sentinel, I think. No matter how good you are, there are variables that you can't control. I'll stay on belay.
Posted by: Matthew | December 09, 2005 at 07:53 PM