John Bachar, R.I.P.

Just heard the news that John Bachar, age 52, one of the world's great rock climbers, died last week. He fell from the rock near Mammoth Hills, California.

JOHN BACHAR, FREE-SOLOIST, DIES ON THE ROCK

This guy had been free-soloing for years. I read that he climbed way over a million feet of rock during his climbing career. Climbed some of the world's harshest, steepest rock with no rope or harness. Only his fingertips, working their way into the tiny crevices, stood between him and death. And last week, he must have missed a crevice, and lost his balance and his life.

I'm not a rock climber, but I think free-soloing is one of the most mind-blowing physical and mental feats people do in this world.

But I still wonder: is free-solo rock climbing purity - or recklessness?