Great stories, glad to hear that people have adapted or found ways over it.
@Chinchen, I did get over the fear and still climb highball problems, but thanks for sharing that vid, looks like an awesome problem, would love to try it!
I never climbed at the v9 level, high-ball, low-ball, no balls at all. Just to establish my (lack of) pedigree.
I've been hurt numerous times in bouldering falls, pre-pad mostly. I have never 'mastered' fear nor have I ever climbed 'fearlessly.' At my best I have managed to co-exist peacefully with it. Its there, its in me, and I compartmentalized it and did fine. Other times not as well.
A number of years ago I shattered my left ankle in a lead fall. It did not heal well and it was several years before I could physically risk another serious fall, as in 5 years or so. Five f*#king years. I risked it anyway but only on the easiest of leads.
But healing did come and the ankle did get stronger and I did start risking falls again, roped falls. Incurred them, survived them :-) and confidence built.
Got into better shape. Began to bear down again on routes, to pull harder, and risk longer falls. This past year I started (easy) bouldering again, and then (easy) highballs.
I think ole Clint Eastwood sums it up best for me, in The Unforgiven (perfect title, too)... when asked, 'then what?'
@dingus milktoast, great story of your falls, sorry about your ankle but glad to hear you're back at it. I've known people to get hurt sport climbing and I know it can be just as dangerous. I always have the fear of decking until the 3rd bolt, then the fear subsides. Co-existence with fear I think everyone has to have in order to climb harder more difficult routes. Thanks for sharing!
Let's see, you climbed up high, fell off, and hurt yourself. Now you are afraid that if you climb up high and fall you will hurt yourself.
What a ridiculous fear. What the hell is wrong with you?
@Chill, cant tell if you're being sarcastic but if not I think you should ask that question to yourself. Fears after accidents (not just in climbing, but in other sports, cars, walking, etc.)are very common. I am over my fear of falling again (which was stated in the blog post). My initial post was just to initiate a dialogue with other climbers about accidents and if they had fears afterward, how/if they got over it, etc.
Ron's taken a longer "highball" fall too, Cosmic. I believe he calls the climb Deadman's Rappel. I've taken a non dynamic digger myself with some back trauma like yours. How does that go? Tuffen tha fuk up? I'm soon to start my own climbing again and I'm looking forward to it. I guess I'll eat crow if I come back snivelling to y'all.
I'm not afraid, Jebus, I still climb.
But,With all the injuries I climb with, I'm not going to take the chance
of hurting myself bouldering, so I can't climb real rocks anymore.
As You can see in the video below, I don't let too much stop me from my love of climbing.
Let us know!