That's right Al - connected I'm fine too. I used to climb the West Wall on the Three Sisters which had, at one point, a 700 foot clear drop near the top at the overhang. All your weight and that of the rope and carabiner belt hanging on to a 10mm ledge by four finger tips, or by a clenched fist jammed in a small crevice and feet dangling with no support several hundred feet off the next shelf below was no problem at all. Knowing that my brother of father were on belay, I was fine. Of course the rope lent no support - but was still comforting to know it was there just in case.
People used to free-climb past us - " 'scuse me! Coming through!" and I remember going cold at the thought of them having no safety apparatus whatsoever. I simply wouldn't entertain it.
These days... I'm not so sure I'd still be good with any of it. Self-preservation has truly taken over.
