04/16/24
July 09, 2009
Legendary Rock Climber John Bachar Dies in Fall: Rock climber John Bachar, 51, fell to his death Sunday from a rock formation near his home in California, the New York Times reports. Bachar climbed for years without protection, sustaining his only serious injuries in a car wreck. "To critics, Bachar cut a stubborn, self-righteous figure, uncompromising on matters of daring style and minimal gear," writes Michael Brick. "To admirers, he represented the vanishing purity of a simpler age, a time when rocks and mountains were to be ascended only from the ground up, without advance rigging." Here's an interview with Bachar and a photo of him ascending Crack-a-go-go.
"To admirers, he represented the vanishing purity of a simpler age, a time when rocks and mountains were to be ascended only from the ground up, without advance rigging."
To the uninitiated, he represents a self-centered douchebag who didn't care enough about his kid to take safety precautions.
posted by wfrazerjr at 07:30 PM on July 09, 2009
We're not big on dead extreme sportsmen with young children here at SportsFilter. It does suck the charm right out of his unbelievable risk-taking.
posted by rcade at 08:03 PM on July 09, 2009
Not for me it doesn't.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:41 PM on July 09, 2009
Bachar left his mark across the Yosemite ValleyWow, nott really the best choice of words there, NYT....
My (fitness freak) boss was a huge fan of this guy; I'll have to forward this, I don't know if he's heard it. We've respectfully disagreed in the past as to whether he's awesome or "batshit insane" to have climbed as he did. I guess I can kind of understand the point that when you're so good at climbing, the only "thrill" comes when you do it 'without a net', but still- it's thrill seeking of the worst kind, where a mistake is basically a guarantee of death.
I think those people in an HD documentary I saw that hopped out of the cage to swim with Great White Sharks were also "batshit insane", but there's relatively decent chance that even if attacked, they will survive- not so much with a fall from a sheer rock face. :) And if I recall correctly, the husband documentarian steadfastly refused to let his wife in the water, because they had a kid at home.
posted by hincandenza at 11:54 PM on July 09, 2009
Not for me it doesn't.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:41 PM on July 09
Me neither
posted by bobfoot at 12:41 AM on July 10, 2009
We're not big on dead extreme sportsmen with young children here at SportsFilter.
You're referring to this.
I just don't get it. Maybe I never will. Probably, actually.
Are the extreme sports thrilling? Yes. Are they also extremely high risk? Yes. Does it make me any less of a father considering I "let go" of all my "risky business" after the birth of my daughter while having full intention of spending every possible waking minute with her? To be there for her? To watch her grow up?
Nope.
But as we've seen, athletes from other sports are also taking risks and winding up dead outside of the sport itself. My contention is that the unnecessary risks are selfish. If you are single and child-less - fine, jump off a bridge, do what you need to do. But when you decide to have kids, you owe it to them to be there when they need you. I know many of you may feel differently than I, and that's cool, because that's on you. But I know that I will be doing everything I can to see my daughter grow up, get married, have kids and hopefully, love that her dad was there.
posted by BoKnows at 03:07 AM on July 10, 2009
Not for me it doesn't.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:41 PM on July 09
Me neither
posted by bobfoot
I don't see any problems with it either...except the part where he died while doing what he loved. That part sucks.
.
/by the way, the photo of Bachar climbing Crack-a-go-go is simply breathtaking...it'll be my new wallpaper on my iPhone.
posted by BornIcon at 07:34 AM on July 10, 2009
Does it make me any less of a father considering I "let go" of all my "risky business" after the birth of my daughter while having full intention of spending every possible waking minute with her?
Not at all. Just call what you're doing extreme parenting.
I think people who take risks like this with children to raise are being selfish. It's still breathtaking to see someone scaling mountains with nothing but a good grip and the power of will. The guy was an awesome climber.
posted by rcade at 07:57 AM on July 10, 2009
You're referring to this.
Wow, I missed most of that.
I've seen lots of wild people turn very boring after having kids (Facebook = baby pictures!), but where is the middle ground? If you accept responsibility for a child's well being, doesn't that make you have to look out for your own first?
posted by dusted at 11:54 AM on July 10, 2009
I would normally say "live and let die" but this guy left behind a young son. How much would it have ruined his Zen to harness in until his kid was grown?