Floor is Lava

Just walk from one end to the other without falling, except, there is a 100% chance of falling, eventually.

It is a very surreal feeling on it, out there, after you fall. I can’t quite describe that transition of emotions when I go from trying not to fall, then realizing that I was about to fall, and the acceptance that I am falling.

Highlining is slacklining but high enough that falling requires protection. The “line” is what is called webbing, basically a flat rope, and you would stand on top of it keeping your center of gravity within the width of the webbing.

Normally people would set up the slackline between two trees at a park and when they fall, they would catch themselves on the grass 3 feet below, dangerous. Falling from a Highline is much safer, as falling through fluffy air at 10 meters per second won’t cause 2nd-degree burns.

BUT WON’T I JUST FALL TO THE GROUND AND TURN INTO A PEPPERONI PIZZA?

Well, yes, that is just a part of life on earth.

Actually, it is safer to highline than to climb rocks! A highline system has more “redundancy” than a typical sports climb.

While both attach via a harness and rope, on highline the rope (leash) is only a few feet long so more difficult to break.
Usually, in climbing, only one rope is used. On a highline, two separate webbings are used, one to walk on, the other loosely wrapped around. Both webbings are independently attached to the anchors on either side, so if one breaks, the other is not effected.

The anchor on each side has 3 bolts in highline instead of 2 bolts in a sports climbing anchor. The carabiners used for highlining are also the heavier steel biners instead of the aluminum, generally, everything used for highlining can be heavier and stronger because we are not climbing with the weight.

The greatest part about falling off a highline is that it is so high up, we won’t hit anything. Of course there is a no-fall zone at the anchor where if we fall we would hit the wall…like climbing.

Basically, many many things have to break for the person to fall into the void.