Across the Sky
November 19, 2015 12:19 PM Subscribe
Theo Sanson has completed a nearly-500-meter slackline walk between the Rectory and Castleton Tower in Utah. The film is short, but breathtaking as the line disappears into the sky.
The fact that one of the riggers goes by "Crack Mouse" merely enhances the insanity of this walk.
via Jason Kottke
The fact that one of the riggers goes by "Crack Mouse" merely enhances the insanity of this walk.
via Jason Kottke
I'd like to know more about how they rigged it. I assume they pulled some monofilament across first, and then pulled the webbing across with that? And how much force does it take to stretch a 500m slackline tight enough for the walk?
posted by Dip Flash at 12:41 PM on November 19, 2015
posted by Dip Flash at 12:41 PM on November 19, 2015
How long do you figure that took to walk across? He sure didn't look like he was moving fast. It seems like endurance would be a very important part of this.
posted by OmieWise at 12:51 PM on November 19, 2015
posted by OmieWise at 12:51 PM on November 19, 2015
Amazing.
I was relieved to see the walker had a safety line.
posted by Mental Wimp at 12:57 PM on November 19, 2015 [6 favorites]
I was relieved to see the walker had a safety line.
posted by Mental Wimp at 12:57 PM on November 19, 2015 [6 favorites]
Amazing. For once, the music actually enhances a video!
posted by Atom Eyes at 1:05 PM on November 19, 2015
posted by Atom Eyes at 1:05 PM on November 19, 2015
The uphill half of the walk must have been something else.
posted by rhizome at 1:18 PM on November 19, 2015
posted by rhizome at 1:18 PM on November 19, 2015
saw the "acrophobia" tag and wondered about the etymology of acrobat. turns out it's all about tippy-toes and so, while it shares the same akron (peak/tip) root as acrophobia, is not directly referring to high-wire or similar.
posted by andrewcooke at 1:26 PM on November 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by andrewcooke at 1:26 PM on November 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
I was both relieved and slightly disappointed by the safety line.
At first I'm like oh shit oh shit oh shit this is fucking crazy why would anybody do this while also marveling at the extreme skill and confidence it takes to do that without protection.
And then I saw the protection.
Whew!
But also slightly disappointing.
Not like a reaction that I'm proud of or would stand by - but the impulse is there...
posted by entropone at 1:33 PM on November 19, 2015
At first I'm like oh shit oh shit oh shit this is fucking crazy why would anybody do this while also marveling at the extreme skill and confidence it takes to do that without protection.
And then I saw the protection.
Whew!
But also slightly disappointing.
Not like a reaction that I'm proud of or would stand by - but the impulse is there...
posted by entropone at 1:33 PM on November 19, 2015
I can provide some details here, as my friend makes slacklines and regularly rigs highlines.
Usually yes, you would have a thin lightweight string or cord that would be pulled across the gap first using clever method, from simply throwing it over, to dragging it around the cliff edge between the end points if possible, I've even heard of people using drones . For this I think they would have laid it out along the valley floor, and each climbing team would take one end and drag it up. Then you'd use the thin line to progressively pull thicker lines across until you have your main line and backup line in place.
And these highlines are actually quite safe and expertly rigged - besides the main line made of very strong custom webbing, there's a low-tension backup line of dynamic (force-absorbing) climbing rope that is attached to a completely independent set of backup anchors, and loosely taped under the mainline. The lines are threaded through smooth welded rings to attach to a safety tether, as a carabiner has edges and sharp bits around the clip gate that might damage the line. No-one's ever died on a highline and the slackline community is quite proud of this.
To give and idea of the force, I think it often goes over 20kN easy. Off the top of my head I could imaging this line having up to 50 or 60kN tension. To get it here you need lots of high-mechanical advantage pulley blocks, and specialist hardware rated much higher that off-the-shelf climbing or rope access stuff.
posted by other barry at 1:36 PM on November 19, 2015 [10 favorites]
Usually yes, you would have a thin lightweight string or cord that would be pulled across the gap first using clever method, from simply throwing it over, to dragging it around the cliff edge between the end points if possible, I've even heard of people using drones . For this I think they would have laid it out along the valley floor, and each climbing team would take one end and drag it up. Then you'd use the thin line to progressively pull thicker lines across until you have your main line and backup line in place.
And these highlines are actually quite safe and expertly rigged - besides the main line made of very strong custom webbing, there's a low-tension backup line of dynamic (force-absorbing) climbing rope that is attached to a completely independent set of backup anchors, and loosely taped under the mainline. The lines are threaded through smooth welded rings to attach to a safety tether, as a carabiner has edges and sharp bits around the clip gate that might damage the line. No-one's ever died on a highline and the slackline community is quite proud of this.
To give and idea of the force, I think it often goes over 20kN easy. Off the top of my head I could imaging this line having up to 50 or 60kN tension. To get it here you need lots of high-mechanical advantage pulley blocks, and specialist hardware rated much higher that off-the-shelf climbing or rope access stuff.
posted by other barry at 1:36 PM on November 19, 2015 [10 favorites]
I find safety lines make it watchable. Anxiety over someone dying does not enhance my enjoyment of their performance.
posted by tavella at 1:53 PM on November 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by tavella at 1:53 PM on November 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
I was both relieved and slightly disappointed by the safety line.
My reaction was purely relief. As I was watching the first part of it, my thought was: "This is amazing and I know he survived, but if there's no safety line I am closing this window."
I don't want people to forgo life-saving safeguards just to up the adrenaline factor of my entertainment.
posted by 256 at 1:55 PM on November 19, 2015 [5 favorites]
My reaction was purely relief. As I was watching the first part of it, my thought was: "This is amazing and I know he survived, but if there's no safety line I am closing this window."
I don't want people to forgo life-saving safeguards just to up the adrenaline factor of my entertainment.
posted by 256 at 1:55 PM on November 19, 2015 [5 favorites]
> No-one's ever died on a highline
Well, I mean, yeah.
posted by lucidium at 5:27 PM on November 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
Well, I mean, yeah.
posted by lucidium at 5:27 PM on November 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
I've climbed Castleton a few times. It's high on my list of favorite climbs. Stepping backward over that top edge to rappel down is one of the more ass-puckering things you'll ever do.
Of the many things that go through your head on top of that thing, "Hey, let's walk across a tightrope to that next tower!" is not prominent.
Castleton trivia: there was a car commercial filmed on top of the tower in 1964.
posted by gottabefunky at 6:16 PM on November 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Of the many things that go through your head on top of that thing, "Hey, let's walk across a tightrope to that next tower!" is not prominent.
Castleton trivia: there was a car commercial filmed on top of the tower in 1964.
posted by gottabefunky at 6:16 PM on November 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also, that video does manage to capture some of the sheer gorgeousness of Castle Valley. Amazing.
posted by gottabefunky at 6:26 PM on November 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by gottabefunky at 6:26 PM on November 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
Entropone and others:
For a look at what for my money is the most amazing human powered feat in the history of mankind view this short video of Alex Hunold climbing El Sendero Luminoso. It was filmed with a drone and is awesomely beautiful. Of course there is no safety line. And yes it is equally as dangerous as the slack line. You are warned on that.
posted by Jim_Jam at 7:03 PM on November 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
For a look at what for my money is the most amazing human powered feat in the history of mankind view this short video of Alex Hunold climbing El Sendero Luminoso. It was filmed with a drone and is awesomely beautiful. Of course there is no safety line. And yes it is equally as dangerous as the slack line. You are warned on that.
posted by Jim_Jam at 7:03 PM on November 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
Yeah, the appearance of the safety line is the difference between "oh man what am I doing with my life I should be out there doing something like this" and "wow this guy is nuts why would anybody do something that stupid"
posted by destro at 7:40 PM on November 19, 2015
posted by destro at 7:40 PM on November 19, 2015
Jim_Jam, yeah, I definitely had Honnold's feats in the back of my head.
It's not like I want people to do that - it fucking terrifies me! But it sort of raises the bar for what kind of amazing feats filmed in stunning HD really set the heart pounding.
posted by entropone at 3:29 PM on November 20, 2015
It's not like I want people to do that - it fucking terrifies me! But it sort of raises the bar for what kind of amazing feats filmed in stunning HD really set the heart pounding.
posted by entropone at 3:29 PM on November 20, 2015
this short video of Alex Hunold climbing El Sendero Luminoso.
hhhhhholy ffffffucking shshhshshhshit that is ***********INTENSE**************
posted by lalochezia at 9:14 PM on November 20, 2015
hhhhhholy ffffffucking shshhshshhshit that is ***********INTENSE**************
posted by lalochezia at 9:14 PM on November 20, 2015
I kept thinking about the hazards that this line would create for anyone flying a plane or copter in the area. Are local pilots notified of this project? How long do they leave the line up there after the event?
posted by charlesminus at 11:22 AM on November 21, 2015
posted by charlesminus at 11:22 AM on November 21, 2015
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As a sidenote, I would guess that the video was taken using a drone, which is a great use of the technology. I can only imagine what it would have been like to do this only ten years ago: The guy is trying to concentrate walking across this slackline while a giant, noisy, vibrating helicopter hovers next to him.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 12:31 PM on November 19, 2015