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I and another guy did a climb down tonight from a 246' A. The winds at the top were 20ish gusting over 30. Our main concern was that the wind would put us landing in a pond filled with human excrement. As soon as we made the decision to climb down the winds at the top began to die, and at opening altitude they were only about 5mph. I was tempted to climb back up, but I decided that once I've made the call to back down I should stick with that call.

I don't regret climbing down, and I don't think backing out is ever a bad call. However, It made me wonder, has anyone ever started a climb down and went back to the exit point to make the jump?

If it don't feel right it isn't.......call me a coward or the only survivor.....some one has to live to tell the story

Now, it is rare, and many would be surprised to hear it… but I have actually climbed down because of shitty conditions before.

Well, you’ve got two different circumstances here. Conditions and feelings. Treerat is talking about those times where you are climbing up or getting ready to exit and you get a really shitty feeling. Could be with perfect conditions… but something just isn’t right. That’s only happened to me a few times, and I climbed down without any regret… the object WILL be there tomorrow night. Maybe even a repack is order… “shrug”, to each their own.

But it sounds like your circumstance is purely wind condition based. If the winds die down, climb back up! I’ve climbed up to 900ft waited 2 hours, climb back down to 150ft found great conditions, and then climbed back up to find the winds at the top were perfect as well, it was a nice jump! Just took a little patience. And with a 246fter, it’s definitely worth heading back up. Take ya what, 10 minutes at the most?

Coco

We were at funky front in moab last week. (shitty shitty downclimb) 15ish head/cross wind... we decided to wait for a lull. 30 minutes later. I took off my gear. A recent spell of bad luck and conditions weren't feeling right. The first jumper continued to wait.

the size of the lulls started to increase... and the hike down was still shitty. The first jumper got off. Talked for a moment with the third jumper, and geared back up. we both stood ready to bolt at any second... and when I got my chance I took it. Jumper three was in air before I landed...

Terminal Wall and solo, like really solo...already made four jumps off it in two days. Geared up again feeling comfortable, walked to the exit point, stood there and then some voice just told me no. Winds were fine, gear had been checked more than several times. Something just said turn around. When I unpacked to take my slider off I noticed I didnt do a very thorough four line check...

Best decision I ever made

I climbed down after about 150' on a planned 400' jump from a tall guy'd A because I had to shit so bad, a hard opening would have filled my socks. by the time i got down, the feeling had passed, and the guys i was climbing with were jumping. this was definitely "feeling" related, but no regrets. could have been a shitty walk back to the car, pun intended.

 

I will generally jump, thirty knots down the wire, what eve....I am more scared to climb down than jump. Swear, shit you not. now, if there is an elevator...I will come down if conditions aren't right....

I have been there a few times. at the top it is too windy.... halfway down things seem great......climb back up and the wind is still pretty bad. I concluded that exit winds mean jack shit. Where you open means everything. When I doubt I can make the lz for fear the wind will push me too far I smoke it down a little bit to the better wind. Also I hope for a 180 in these circumstances. A 180 can only happen once in every so many jumps right? I hope I get them when they may actually help me.


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