Falling… head first, arms spread, feet trailing, heart accelerating, universes close in dangerously fast. Past-future, fear-exhilaration, up-down, life-death, love; all collide in a kinetic snap of adrenaline as I hit the apex of my plunge. I’m disoriented, dangling upside-down as my eyes search to find something recognizable to focus on. City lights, dark rock, flashlights, sky, all whirl by as I spin, stop, and slowly right myself.

Whew, I sit… b        r              e                a                  t              h    .                .                        .                and watch the light of Golden below me as my heart slows a bit. I’m dangling by my climbing harness tethered to the Golden Spire highline Scott, Josh, and Said rigged. I pull myself back up to the line and flip myself back on top of it for another standing up attempt. My feet are chilly in my toe shoes and the snow flecked wind curls up from the city below. My heartbeat picks up again as I scoot out a bit from the rock, worried by how close I came to hitting it on the previous fall. One more deep full breath and I gather my strength under me and stand up on my right leg. UP!, left foot on the line, crouching down for balance, and bam, falling again, more controlled this time, feet first at least.

My body shakes as I pull myself up the tether again and work myself towards the nearside anchors. I sit for a second on the rock with that single intense moment of adrenaline fully permeating my consciousness. I know that Scott said something to me, and I responded appropriately, but I can’t remember the words we exchanged. Pure life-death-love-energy occupies all the thoughts I have to give.

The night was one of those random adventure happenings frequently memorable and uniquely valuable. I drove down to Golden and hiked up the North Table to meet Scott and Said around 9pm this last Wednesday. Both are incredible slackliners, adrenaline junkies, life ponderers, and fascinating people.

Scott initiated the evening, and I jumped at the opportunity to try a highline. I’ve gotten pretty decent at slacklining over the last couple months, and felt ready to integrate my experience into the elevation, scenery, and adrenaline potential I love about climbing. It was mind blowingly difficult, and rocked my state of being. I’m always calm and collected in physically stressful situations, but somehow the darkness, wind, balance, adrenaline, and height put me through the door into a new level, expanding my experience range a few steps further in the peak-being direction.

Here are some photos Said took.

Scott standing powerfully in the center of the line.

The line itself with Golden city lights in the background.

Scott returning during a timed exposure.

Me sitting in the center of the line, getting ready for a stand up attempt.

Scott, Said, and myself backlit by the glow of Denver.

Check out Scott and Said’s amazing blogs.

Scott Rogers

Said Parirokh