How brave are YOU?

[N80]

I don't like heights. Its not a phobia, heck, I used to climb power poles for a living during the summers. I just don't like it. Hate ladders too.

Thing is, if I'm clipped in, or harnessed or whatever, then the height doesn't bother me at all. I guess I just don't trust my abilities. But I've been known to trip and fall walking on flat level ground. Why expose that sort of grace and ability to a rocky ledge?

 

[Tig]

I love a good adrenaline rush to clear my head of the day to day details. I think that would fix me up for a bit.
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by every moment that takes your breath away."

 

[N80]

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by every moment that takes your breath away."

Landing on those rocks 100 feet down would definitely take your breath away!

 

[Tig]

I'll get it sewn on my underwear before I try the walk. But then again, I imagine a stain will obliterate the writing long before I reach the bottom.

 

[SLOBuds]

I'm not very brave, but am definitely pretty stupid from time to time.

Many times the stupidity shows up with fatigue. Like when I've used the chainsaw for most of the day and start to take shortcuts.

 

[CavinMan]

You haven't taken this hike to the final sign-in book have you?...

Angels Landing Hike | Utah.com

Been here done this...My summer park ranger year...

Click on the more photos...

I've started up Angels landing, but I chickened out *way* before I got anywhere the top - basically at the point where you cross over the spine and instead of having a 400 foot drop into Refrigerator Canyon to the right, you then had an 1100 foot drop directly into the Virgin River gorge to the left. A friend who did make it all the way told me in one place you had to use your hands to scramble up a spot about 3 feet wide with 1200 foot drops off both sides. No chains, no handrails, no guts, no glory. The only way I'd ever make it to the top would be with a carbide light at night on a new moon. Then the drop would only be 30'

This bit about not being able to take chances on public land in the US is only true in the East. Out West, it's a whole different mindset. They'll let you bust your butt out there. I was raised in the east, didn't start hiking and backpacking out west until I was over 40, and I can tell you it was interesting the first time I saw NPS signs that said "Safety is YOUR responsibility, rescue is NOT guaranteed" at a place where back east you'd have seen the trail chained off....... I like the freedom, but you'd best know what your doing some places out there. Which is as it should be.

 

[Cottonhawk]

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by every moment that takes your breath away."
Well, I like to measure my life by the easy breaths I take. I did have moments that takes away my breath (such as good looking dates), but none of them are life threatening.
This trail, IMHO, is way too dangerous for any hikers!

 

[pennwalk]

That looks like a very cool trail. It is a shame they don't keep it up. I'm really glad that guy made the film. I enjoyed it 100%. The heights hardly bothered me at all although I have to admit I had a good grip on my chair.

Chris

 

[RollTideRam]

That video did not scare me a bit, I could watch it a few more times. JC

 

[MossRoad]

When I was young I used to do stuff like that. High trees, high trails, a bit of rock climbing, jumping into water from heights, white water, etc... I was a lifeguard on a beach for several years and then on a man-made whitewater course for a few years after I got married. Something happened to change my mind about deliberately taking chances after pulling hundreds of stupid people out of bad situations. I put my fast crotch rocket away and pulled over in the right lane and started doing the speed limit. If I didn't have a wife and kids, I could probably do that kind of stuff again. But I cannot stomach the thought of getting killed seeking thrills and leaving them fatherless/spouseless... although my wife could probably find a better guy pretty quick.

But man, that walk along those cliffs was just beautiful, wasn't it? Anyone ever go see the cliff dwellings out in Arizona? There are some huge dwellings there that supported lots of people and you can't imagine how the people got up there. Crazy stuff!!!