"Climbing is Dangerous"

purchased some new commercially sewn slings the other day and discreetly sewn into them was a small tag with the date of manufacture, the European certification number, the strength rating (22kN-good!) and the notification which is the title of this thread. Who knew?

I am passing this info along to the members of this forum so that this vital knowledge will be more widely known...something to ponder when you are 100 feet out on a lead with no pro placed.

What, no eye protection required?

Be sure to carry a condom.

Condom was the ONE thing that wasn't on my climbing rack. It sure felt like every other piece of protection was there ... bulk and all.

Yes, Hikermor, I do remember those times when I was far out beyond my last piece of pro. And if I had fallen then, I would not be here now. Likewise for you - I am sure.

But apparently now they have indeed realized that climbing is dangerous. Well, let's see. A long, long time ago - about the time that the Matterhorn was first scaled - there was a Baron in Europe. Don't ask me his name. He surmised that there were only THREE real sports ...

Car racing
Mountain climbing
and Bull Fighting

because in these sports a man (or woman) stood an appreciable chance of being killed.

of course, the extreme adventure community has added a dozen more hobbies to the list by this time.

Pete

If the tag had been written by liability averse corporate lawyers, it would require a small forklift to cart around.

Anyway, I dislike warning labels that are unclear. Climbing is not dangerous.

FALLING is dangerous. Therefore, avoid falling. (You may argue that landing, i.e., sudden deceleration, is even more dangerous, but it's a contiguous hazard.)

I won't comment particularly on condoms, but it's reasonable to assume there is a lot of pent-up nervous tension in base camp, whilst waiting for the weather to clear ...

I was kind of curious about the identity of this baron, so I tried to look up the quote. People attribute it to Hemingway, although there is considerable doubt that he actually ever said anything like it:

https://web.archive.org/web/20120203013838/http://www.timelesshemingway.com/content/quotationsfaq



Another search reveals the fictional character is Count Helmut Ovden -- so, yes, European nobility, although not a real one, but one from a writer's imagination.

That is just on the label, the booklet has a lot more warning signs!Some brands do have massive booklets that are sometimes heavier than the actual item you have bought.

"Another search reveals the fictional character is Count Helmut Ovden -- so, yes, European nobility, although not a real one, but one from a writer's imagination."

Thank you.
I had no idea that Count Helmut was fictional.

OTOH - a Hemmingway quote ... I could believe.

Too bad, it was an interesting quote :-)