sk
Hmmm. You know I might have had some tape on my fingers, it was very coarse grained granite and there were cracks, so finger taping would seem reasonable - does that lessen my naked climbing claim?
![wink wink](/forum/images/graemlins/default/wink.gif)
...
One of the "things" you have to learn about climbing is to stay on your fingers and toes and NEVER HUG THE ROCK.
![laugh laugh](/forum/images/graemlins/default/laugh.gif)
and no - climbers do not tend to be either conservative nor overly cautious in nature. I bet he wasn't the first...
Anway here's my philosophy. I've never taken a real fall. So all of the safety gear that I've carried has been not only a waste, but a burden.
![cool cool](/forum/images/graemlins/default/cool.gif)
As any ultra lite person will tell you, lighter is safer because you will not be physically hampered by the weight of the gear. Thus I free solo climb with no gear mostly now, with nothing but the shoes, maybe some tape and occasionally some clothing and a power bar.
![grin grin](/forum/images/graemlins/default/grin.gif)
In my avatar on the left, I have a group of slings over my shoulder with a bunch of pieces of aluminum "protection gear" hanging from it and a rope tied to me. I don't carry that stuff now.
Jim