Many
people think that safety depends on reason and technique and that
rituals, superstitions, and belief in magic belong to a bygone era.
But is it really that simple?
¡@
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"At
the bottom of the long crack that I plan to reach [...] some rock flakes
are jutting out; they look like a hand held out in offering. Perhaps
it will be possible to lasso them and pull myself up there ... I then
tie a whole set [...] of knots in the end of the rope, hoping that this
sort of rope octopus will eventually get stuck somewhere."
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How
can one not think of ancient symbolism when listening to
W. Bonatti recount his first ascent
of the famous Dru
pillar?
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