A highline walk over Australia
On March 6th-8th the highlining community from around the world ascended on Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains two hours west of Sydney for a weekend of challenging lines and routes established between various cliffs in the mountains.
- Joseph Huard of Canada falls as he walks along a highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 7, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Travis Foster of the United States walks on a 60m highline (top) and Joseph Huard of Canada walks on a 90m highline (bottom) rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 8, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Travis Foster of the United States walks on a 60m highline (top) and Joseph Huard of Canada walks on a 90m highline (bottom) rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 8, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Tim Desmond of Australia walks a highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 7, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Quirin Herterich of Germany walks on a highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 6, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Quirin Herterich of Germany walks on a highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 6, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Shawn Mclaren of Australia inspects the rigging and safety devices installed on a highline at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 7, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- A point of view as seen by Joseph Huard of Canada as he walks on a highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 8, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- A sign displaying different rigged highline routes and safe walking trails around the cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 6, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Quirin Herterich of Germany walks on a highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 6, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia.(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Quirin Herterich of Germany walks on a highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 6, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Gabriela Ivanac of Chile shows her exhaustion after walking on a highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 7, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Detail of the rigging of a highline and saftey ropes rigged on a cliff at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 7, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Matt Macelli of Australia walks on a highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 7, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia.(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Matt Macelli of Australia walks on a highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 7, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Ben Davis of Australia rides a unicycle at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 7, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Ben Davis of Australia rides a unicycle at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 7, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Luke Sarantos of Australia balances on a highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 7, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Luke Sarantos of Australia balances on a highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 7, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Guilherme Lopes of Brazil relaxes after successfully walking a 60m highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 8, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Guilherme Lopes of Brazil walks on a 60m highline (L) and Joseph Huard of Canada (R) walks on a 90m highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 8, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Guilherme Lopes of Brazil rests after a fall on a 60m highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 8, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Guilherme Lopes of Brazil walks on a 60m highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 8, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Joseph Huard of Canada relaxes on a 90m highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 8, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Joseph Huard of Canada balances on a 90m highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 8, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Kyle Beall of the United States focuses on a highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 7, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Matt Macelli of Australia walks on a highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 7, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Matt Macelli of Australia balances on a highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 8, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- The shadow of a person walking a highline is seen at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 8, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Tim Desmond of Australia walks a highline rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 8, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- A highline is rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 8, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) A highline is rigged between cliffs at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 8, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Tim Desmond of Australia hangs from a highline after falling at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 8, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Tim Desmond of Australia walks a highline at Corroboree Walls in Mount Victoria on March 8, 2015 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Seven highlines of different spans and tension were rigged and participants of various skill levels and experience challenged themselves. The crowd that gathered shared a similar passion for adventure, the outdoors and relaxing together sharing stories and encouraging each other as they push their limits in the stunning Blue Mountains National Park. Growing in popularity the relatively new sport seems dangerous and extreme, however safety is paramount with numerous safety harnesses and procedures are implemented to maintain a well measured and safe environment.
Slacklining is a balance sport in which participants walk on a flat nylon webbing anchored between two points with the tension adjusted to allow for slack, providing an experience similar to that of walking on a trampoline. Highlining is a style of slacklining where the two anchor points are set up with significant elevation from the ground or water below known as exposure. Unlike extreme sports such as skydiving or bungee jumping, the participant has to make constant decisions and mentally overcome their fear and harness their adrenalin compared to making that one initial choice to jump in the case of the other sports.
Numerous highliners are confident walking a slackline of the same distance in a park low to the ground, however the mental challenge at heights with the view below and environmental elements to contend with proves a much tougher challenge.– Getty Images