Well, a rambling post about climbing within...
I've detailed my close call with the long arm, now it's the proximity of the Reaper I shall regale you with.
{Wavy line things}
There will no doubt be other climbers who have had close shaves, I've had my share and some, but this was the pinnacle (heh) of my climbing accidents.
In France, there is a huge gorge called the Gorge du Verdon. It's about a kilometre deep in places and as such, a mecca for climbing.
After a day of driving, we set up camp and because we had plenty of time, got straight to the crags. Rather than starting out on one of the long climbs, we decided to warm up on one of the smaller ones. Now, Verdon is an awesome place from a scenic point of view, atop the sheer vertical face is a tier which is accessable with relative ease from the road. This was our destination and we set straight to getting up the lovely sun kissed rock.
I was eager to get one under the belt, so chose one of the longest of these shorter climbs as my warm up. It was beautiful. Fluid moves led me comfortably to the top where I had a view of the world any climber will tell you is part of the beauty of the sport. I looked back down at my pal belaying me (controlling the slack in the rope, and essential for lowering) and expressed my concern at the height of the climb and the length of the rope.
Rather than the 'second' (belayer) following up, I was to be lowered so he could have a go without having to worry about gear placements.
Easy. Being lowered after a nice climb can be almost as enjoyable as the climb itself as you have the time to enjoy the view.
Still some way up, my next recollection is of free fall. Vague thoughts form when the brain is stressed, mine was simple. "I'm about to die. Well, that was fun" was the basic tenet. No stress anymore, it seemed so simple now. I'd had a great time on this earth, and no concern now for proof either way of deities or faith.
Here's the escape bit...
You could say I was lucky. The clout who was belaying me (and had conveniently forgotten about the end of the rope as it had slid through his fingers) was the first thing I encountered on my descent. This was just enough contact to send me cartwheeling down the jagged (still steep) upper part of the gorge rather than just going splat. Again, the brain can deal with things in it's own way. Perhaps the only way I can put it into words is to say I had a 'Castanedan' moment. Brain took over, and released me from pain as well as any worries. Not one part of me was under my conscious control, but my hand brushed a bush and whatever part of me still in control decided to take charge. The next brush was gripped and slowed me enough to hold the final bush and stop. The view was truly magnificent. Just in front of my feet was the vertical kilometer drop.
I'd been opened up like a baked bean tin going through a lawnmower in various places and have some awesome scars as a result. But I evaded the bony grip of the hooded one and within a couple of weeks was forcing myself back up. The funniest thing was my friends. A week long holiday spoilt for some because after seeing my escape, they couldn't bring themselves to climb!

I don't know about the rest of you who've posted near misses/close calls, but my life perspective changed from that point on. I really can live for the moment now, and see the beauty in everything around me. I'm not afraid of the Reaper, and although I'll take all steps to avoid him, I'm going to poke him in the bony eye socket when he comes a' looking for me next time.

Length gag? Well, if only the rope were as long as this post...
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Fri 20 Aug 2010, 13:40, 5 replies)

Next time it flashes before your eyes you've REALLY got something to look at.
Nice to hear another tale of a near miss. I've been to Pointe Sublime at Verdon; gorgeous view, slightly spoiled because I was on crutches having got to see my tibia at the foot of Three Pebble at Froggatt.

BTW, the pedalos down at Lac St. Croix are fun. Hire one for a day and do DWS above the river. Some of the guys were jumping off 10 metres up.

*click*
(all my scars face forward possesses 2.5% of a hyperalloy combat chassis, Fri 20 Aug 2010, 14:01, closed)

Mmmm...
Three pebble. Lovely atmosphere there too. Fond memories now, kids and life seem to have taken me far away from climbing. Can't wait till they're old enough to get them up to the Peaks.
I'm guessing the tibia is now the hyperalloy chassis?
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Fri 20 Aug 2010, 14:16, closed)

It is indeed
and if you want to see something horrible, poke about in my links. It's a picture taken while the skin graft over the plastic surgery was healing.
(all my scars face forward possesses 2.5% of a hyperalloy combat chassis, Fri 20 Aug 2010, 19:08, closed)

nice read
*Click*
(Monkey the Chicken Twitter: death_stairs, Fri 20 Aug 2010, 14:54, closed)

Click
I thought that kind of saving yourself was for the movies, but I am now convinced. Well done!
(boozehound is drinking your bar dry, Sat 21 Aug 2010, 9:36, closed)

It was a real movie moment!
It was coming round to the fact I'd stopped, looking down at my feet and having to adjust focus to take into account the ground an awful long way away! Cheers!
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Sat 21 Aug 2010, 14:01, closed)