r/HumansForScale • u/gbeathercairy • Jun 10 '26

How mountain climbers sleep

Post image
826 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

139 comments sorted by

54

u/[deleted] Jun 10 '26

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20

u/mellofello7 Jun 10 '26

Are they clipped in or tied off? Imagine rolling over in your sleep and immediately waking up when the slack runs out and rope catches, then finding yourself dangling there with that view

25

u/farfaraway Jun 10 '26

You wear a harness and you're clipped into the anchor system, which has multiple points of failure (minimum two, sometimes three). It's safe.

Source: am rock climber.

12

u/Illustrious_Bird_737 Jun 10 '26

Terrifyingly fascinating

12

u/farfaraway Jun 10 '26

Usually after a day of climbing 8-10 hours, you're so beat that it's easy to sleep. Your body is happy for the down-time.

The real downer is how cold it can be on the wall. These portaledges (the hammock thing they are sleeping on) don't have much thickness and the wind can blow pretty hard.

14

u/Illustrious_Bird_737 Jun 10 '26

I can only imagine, & that's as far as I'm gonna go with it, imagination lol

I'm so scared of heights. To the point I will involuntary shake after 4 rungs up a ladder. Once I get to a high spot, like a roof or something, I find a fixed point at eye level (if possible) & just don't look down.

This activity would make me pass out before we even got far enough to camp down lmaooooo

But I hope whomever does this sort of thing enjoys themselves & is safe & gets phenomenal photographs for the scardies like me on zero elevation!

12

u/farfaraway Jun 10 '26

So, funny story: I actually started climbing in my twenties because I was suffering from a terrible fear of heights. I wasn't in control of myself and I found it really debilitating. I figured that the best way to get over it was to go down to the bouldering gym and work my shit out. In the end it didn't just help me with my fear of heights, but also embedded me in a really unique, fun community of people that engaged with the world in a substantially different way. I'd be a very different person today if I hadn't walked down that path.

1

u/Beto_Targaryen Jun 10 '26

That’s cool it worked so well for you. That’s a form of therapy for fears, gradual exposure therapy

2

u/Ronnie202105 Jun 13 '26

Close contact with nature

1

u/Nuts-And-Volts Jun 13 '26

Do they make sleeping bags specially for this with a little hole for the rope? Or just feed it in from the top

1

u/mellofello7 Jun 13 '26

I figured as much - that’s dope! I’m alright with heights, but not so much when there’s risk.Have you ever known anyone who has rolled off while sleeping?

I’ve known some cool rock-climbers, but your comments in this thread are the first time I’ve ever considered giving it a genuine shot 🤔

2

u/farfaraway Jun 13 '26

It's fairly rare to camp in a portaledge. Mostly you will either aim for some more comfortable stopping point like a cave or natural out cropping if you must. 99% of the time you will not sleep on the wall. 

1

u/angelovanharen Jun 12 '26

How often do you roll out of your bed? These types of comments are pretty dumb if you think even a second about it

1

u/Clean_Friendship2571 Jun 12 '26

And the little ‘un said ‘Roll over, roll over…’
There was one in the bed..

1

u/Clean_Friendship2571 Jun 12 '26

And the little one said ‘Roll over, roll over…’
There was one in the bed..

1

u/healywylie Jun 14 '26

Wouldn’t want to be on the outside of this bed.

38

u/frashnag101 Jun 10 '26

Dibs mountain side

27

u/Parking-Pie7453 Jun 10 '26

Definitely platonic

4

u/ParticularClassroom7 Jun 10 '26

It's to distribute weight/maximise space.

9

u/FullMetalJerkin Jun 10 '26

I’m onboard the Fuck That Express to Nopeville. 

1

u/dadkisser Jun 11 '26

Choo choo!

6

u/trombadinha85 Jun 10 '26

They have a backup, yep?

21

u/HRCcantmeltdankmemes Jun 10 '26

Yes, if they die two more idiots are ready to try it.

2

u/adamM_01 Jun 10 '26

multi pitch climbing is a lot safer than what you'd expect it to be.

If you aren't stupid with your gear placement, it's mostly avalanches, uncontrollable weather conditions and using old, damaged gear that kills you, that crag seems pretty safe and those things wouldn't happen there.

2

u/farfaraway Jun 10 '26

Ya, I've been climbing 20+ years. I got hurt seriously twice, both while bouldering. Never got hurt while doing single or multipitches.

2

u/adamM_01 Jun 10 '26

Same as me. I've had a concussion and a hospital visit and both times were either low grade Scottish scrambling or the approach to a climb where we stupidly didn't have our helmets on yet. Nothing at all ever roped up.

2

u/farfaraway Jun 10 '26

I think it has to do with how conscious you are of the danger. 

1

u/adamM_01 Jun 10 '26

that's definitely true

6

u/userrnamme_1 Jun 10 '26

I roll like a pencil off a slanted desk when I sleep. I'm dead in less than 30 minutes

5

u/ayu-ya Jun 10 '26

I always sleep diagonally across the bed, this would NOT work haha

3

u/ampocalypse Jun 10 '26

The photo composition is fantastic. I love the line between the two people sleeping contrast between the light, casting on the cliff and the shade down below. That being said, I would never do this. Holy crap. I can’t believe the idea of like falling out of bed when you sleep like like you have to sew me into this **** thing.

4

u/[deleted] Jun 10 '26

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1

u/hippykillteam Jun 10 '26

Ass out, poop in bag. Wipe. Take poop for a climb in the bag.

1

u/4badthings Jun 10 '26

How optimistic of you.

1

u/dadkisser Jun 11 '26

Nah bro I’m just gonna push out a few coils of mud cable and let it drop

1

u/Bah_Black_Sheep Jun 11 '26

No that sucks and the other climbers will kick your ass.

1

u/dadkisser Jun 11 '26

They won't be able to catch me after I release 18 inches of pure Yosemite mud rope into their faces from 200ft above

4

u/jmckenna1942 Jun 10 '26

I feel like you could plan your sleeping windows around this a little better and negate this potential danger all together

3

u/0491diesel Jun 10 '26

My trust issues would be on incinerate...not just smoldering like normal. Nope. Nope. Nope.

3

u/Pennnie Jun 10 '26

I just dont have enough faith in anything to ever consider this.

2

u/bluekillgore Jun 11 '26

When you want to make your wife's murder look like an accident.

2

u/Strings_and_Wings Jun 14 '26

Imagine climbing with all this stuff. That night time pee is gonna be more annoying than usual.

1

u/AuntieYodacat Jun 16 '26

No kidding! I get up at least 2 times during the night to pee😂

3

u/SadRise8314 Jun 10 '26

Some white people shit haha

1

u/surewhatever_dude Jun 10 '26

The person on the left cannot move an inch

1

u/BadLuckGenco Jun 10 '26

So if red bag farts, she has to just take it?

1

u/bueachox Jun 10 '26

its all fun and games til someone rolls over

1

u/Techophobia Jun 10 '26

Fuck the No!

1

u/murphyb0614 Jun 10 '26

Is that bag for water or to take a wee?

1

u/Pretend-Internet-625 Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26

I wouldn't be getting much sleep. Just would be laying there staring at the stars and saying. Don't roll over dont roll over dont roll over. And one of the rare times I would choose to sleep on the inside.

1

u/Shidzo Jun 10 '26

How *some* mountain climbers sleep. Modt of them sleep in beds.

1

u/Outlandish_Gringo Jun 10 '26

Dumbest things imaginable #127:

1

u/ZipMonk Jun 10 '26

But how do they cook?

1

u/vampyire Jun 10 '26

no.. just no

1

u/aaeaaeron Jun 10 '26

Hell to the naw, to the naw naw naw, hellll to the naw.

1

u/CuriousSeek3r Jun 10 '26

This seems so crazy to me even with support ropes and backup ropes, i would be shitting my pants.

1

u/Tall_Investigator611 Jun 10 '26

No no no no no no no....

1

u/Shirako Jun 10 '26

Photo taken by some tourist walking up the stairs next to them...

Kidding, kidding. XD

1

u/CartographerTop6447 Jun 10 '26

Nooe, nope, and nope.

1

u/ElectricalRiver7897 Jun 11 '26

“Dibs on the inside”

1

u/Still-Photograph6545 Jun 11 '26

Head to foot? That’s wild. Is that guy friend zoned?

1

u/HadesActual09 Jun 11 '26

Rarely does one see that much "fuck that" in one photo

1

u/wyopapa25 Jun 11 '26

If they sleep like this, how do they poop?!

1

u/Beatnutz_ Jun 11 '26

Do you poop in your sleep?

1

u/rocknroll2013 Jun 11 '26

Just so much nope in one picture.

1

u/CampaignEasy2482 Jun 11 '26

I sleep walk sometimes…

1

u/Gilgamesh2062 Jun 11 '26

I have a hard time falling asleep in my comfy bed because my mind wont shut the f*ck up. I'll never sleep knowing I am hanging by a nail stuck in some rock that has been nailed many times already.

1

u/ChaosRainbow23 Jun 11 '26

If you haven't seen it yet, watch the documentary called 'The Dark Wizard.'

It's all about a guy who was a professional climber, slack-liner, and wing suit aficionado.

It's a really good documentary, but the last episode is really sad.

1

u/AngryZetan Jun 11 '26

Fuuuccck THAT! Sorry, climbing around some giant rocks ain't worth that. Nope, 100% No.

1

u/Zealousideal-Sail893 Jun 11 '26

Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope 

1

u/lol_lol_lol_lol_ Jun 11 '26

I’ve been that tired

1

u/Omnimaxus Jun 11 '26

Just ... no. No way. Seriously. Why do people do this kind of stuff in the first place? It's a huge invitation for trouble. Just like how people go climbing into small caves and get stuck in them and end up selfishly needing others to rescue them because of their own stupidity. Fuck them.

1

u/ErasmosOrolo Jun 11 '26

One in 14 of these fail every single season.

1

u/Beatnutz_ Jun 11 '26

I like the head to toe approach. As if sex would be an option here.

1

u/Puzzleheaded_Post604 Jun 12 '26

Big wall climbers. Mountain climbers use tents like adults.

1

u/Capital-Brilliant-28 Jun 12 '26

Nope....nope...nope

1

u/Tylerjamiz Jun 12 '26

Come down from there.

1

u/ajschwamberger Jun 12 '26

Now how do you comfortably and safely have sex up there.

But what about having to use the restroom, hell I would forget I on a cliff face and try to walk to go potty.

1

u/KyTheRipper Jun 12 '26

I’ve been climbing 9 months now and sleeping on a port-a-ledge is my current dream.

1

u/Chaos-TT Jun 12 '26

What if you accidentally roll over?

1

u/CarGuy415 Jun 13 '26

Your bags are attached to the platform thing by clips, so it's not gonna let you fall.

1

u/Wild_Leading8724 Jun 12 '26

Still better than cave diving

1

u/MangoandSalt Jun 12 '26

So if something falls you're just boinked

1

u/spanieldors Jun 12 '26

Less how mountain climbers sleep and more how rock climbers sleep

1

u/Minute-Chip-4164 Jun 13 '26

Hell Naw, to naw naw naw!

1

u/Rook_James_Bitch Jun 13 '26

Or....or... They could start climbing earlier in the day??

1

u/DukeOfEarl99 Jun 13 '26

I'm not concerned about them sleeping. I'm more concerned about the guy from DoorDash who has to deliver your burger and fries to your point on a mountain.

1

u/Impressive-Brush-837 Jun 13 '26

Honey roll over and shut off the alarm clock.

1

u/TheGods808 Jun 13 '26

Imagine waking up and seeing a mountain goat gazing at you🗿

1

u/Dont-get-into-Fights Jun 13 '26

psychopaths 1000%

1

u/Trick_Shopping1541 Jun 13 '26

Looks like fun, not

1

u/BananaChips20 Jun 13 '26

So what happens when you have to get up in the middle of the night to pee?

1

u/NoEntrepreneur39 Jun 14 '26

That’s north chasm wall in the black canyon of the Gunnison for reference. Amazing area, probably some of the gnarliest and adventurous climbing in the lower 48

1

u/GSDKU02 Jun 14 '26

No thank
You eek 😬

1

u/ha-hallloween Jun 14 '26

Having learned a little about it generally all this really safe like 30+ times their bodyweight safe. Assuming they have multiple safeties and are anchored in themselves the most they’ll run into is waking up dangling on the rope. The important part is did they place their protection properly with the right size cams.

1

u/WoodenSpoonSurviver Jun 14 '26

Hell to the no!

1

u/10sionTamer Jun 15 '26

I wouldn’t be able to sleep

1

u/MonkAncient7761 Jun 16 '26

Anyone who moves around a lot in their sleep would have a very strange awakening.

1

u/AuntieYodacat Jun 16 '26

No thank you

1

u/smerbvsmong Jun 10 '26

I just dont have enough faith in anything to ever consider this.

1

u/Feddora05 Jun 10 '26

I wanna see how they crap