Anniversary of climber famed for his adrenaline and glamour but whose remains were never found
Michael Reardon climbing Ailladie, County Clare, Ireland. Picture: Damon Corso.
The eternal human quest for adrenaline-fueled adventure took on a new aspect in the 1970s. This involved finding a sheer cliff, maybe 50 metres high, and climbing to the top without the aid of ropes or safety equipment. Fall early on and you had a sporting chance of spending the remainder of your life in a wheelchair; come off anywhere near the top and you were headed for 'the pearly gates'.
The reasons not to take part in such an activity seem irrefutable, yet the sport of free solo climbing was soon attracting growing numbers of participants.
