ROCK CLIMBING NEWS ITEM

Free Soloists Go Hundreds of Feet above the Ground

MONDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2006

A thirty-three years old who is a leader of a group of free soloists in Southern California go hundreds of feet above the ground during climbs without a rope and is connected only to an iPod. He ascends difficult routes which gave his spectators a weak stomach.

Michael Reardon married to Marci Reardon and who has a twelve year old daughter climbs without rope. He said he was rarely aware of what was beyond his zone of concentration as he looks for handholds and footholds.

Although some people do not believe that Reardon has free soloed some of the difficult routes he claims, Bob Gaines, a climbing guide and author, said he have seen Reardon climbed and he is one of his believer.

Reardon understands the consequences of a mistake in free soloing but he does it with much thought, he said. A Yosemite spokesperson added that contrary to public perception, climbers are very responsible for themselves.

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