Touching the void

Discuss Simon’s decision to cut the rope.

When Simon was in the position where he either could cut the rope and one of them or both live or not cut the rope and both of them die, he thought about it for a long time. He didn’t know what had happened to Joe, he thought he had just passed out, or was stuck to something, but he didn’t think further about it, and that he could have been hanging of a clip 40 meters to the ground. Therefore he took a chance by cutting the rope, but when he went further down he realized he had hung of a clip, and were now probably dead. In the climber society the choice Simon took to cut the rope has been disliked and he has been scolded on in media etc. But Joe has supported him in his decision and many other people think that he did the right thing to cut the rope.

Which do you think was greater for Joe during this time – the physical challenge, or the mental challenge? Why?

I think the mental challenge was the greatest, because the things he did, and the pain he caused himself requires a ginormous strength and willpower. And whey you are far away from civilization and you know that now one is looking for you, you have a broken leg but you keep going, you keep going for days without food or water then you have an incredible willpower. Others would in that situation thought about the chances of surviving, and the pain it would cause you and then just given up, but Joe didn’t and that’s incredible.