Slacklining in Yosemite

Slacklining is an extreme sport that’s gained some traction over the last few years, no doubt bolstered by the growing climbing community and the ubiquitous Patagonia ads. Similar to tightrope walking, the activity involves balancing on a slightly-slack piece of webbing and crossing between two fixed objects. It requires an impressive amount of both balance and strength, and is something that’s great for both active athletes and those looking to build strength.

Nursing a patella ligament injury late this summer, my physical therapist recommended something similar to the exercise found in slacklining and I briefly gave it a try. Just last month, in fact, I discovered my first slackline positioned inside of the climbing gym in Brooklyn.

But there’s no way that I’m climbing onto a slackline any higher than three feet off the ground. The gentleman in this particular video has set up a line over 3200 feet high in Yosemite, and is willing to cross it without a shred of safety equipment. It’s an impressive feat, but one that I wonder might be a bit risky.