2. 2008

Reed Valley Climbing and Highlining

Fourteen routes in a day, and then an impromptu highline walk.
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Kelsey works a crazy batman move to reach the line again after a fall.
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Kelsey works a crazy batman move to reach the line again after a fall.

AlaskaHatcher PassReed ValleySlackliningKelsey GrayReed Creekhighlining2008Matanuska Susitna Valley

  • Late that night sometime we awoke to someone outside our tent calling my name. Our friends Ty and Will had heard we were out climbing and made the trip from Anchorage in hopes of rigging and walking the Reed Creek highline. I didn't have the gear for it, and neither did they, so I immediately fell back asleep.<br /> <br /> We woke the next morning to more rain, so we weren't too stoked about climbing. Having completely forgotten the events of the night, I pondered what to do for the day. That's when somebody mentioned "Did Ty and Will really come by last night, or was that just a dream?" Pulling our scattered and groggy thoughts together, we came up with the plan of improvising the highline rigging and just walking the line instead of climbing, so I took off to find Ty, Will, and their gear. Jake and Sam were also out from Anchorage, along with Ty's dog, Blanco.<br /> <br /> An hour later we had the line rigged and ready to walk.
  • Kelsey's mind balks at the idea of stepping out over the creek.
  • Ty steps up to the challenge. Walking barefoot is often the preference of highliners, to get a bit more sensitivity of the movements of the line.
  • Ty's feet shake off the chill and take to the open air over Reed Creek.
  • Will gives it a go. He didn't manage to make the walk this time, but I'm sure he'll be back.
  • Will makes his first steps onto the line with lots of support from the crowd.
  • A nicely caught fall for Ty over the raging Reed Creek.
  • Ty takes a fall, catching the line nicely, and exhibiting perfect facial form.
  • Another shaky start for Ty in the foggy mountain air.
  • Ty's bare feet poise over the edge of the void.
  • Eventually Ty made the walk, I believe his third highline ever. Then their group took off, due to obligations with something they called "work" later that evening. We stuck around with the line.
  • Kelsey gave it a few more tries, and managed to make it across in excellent form. A highlining first for him!
  • Kelsey's feet walk the open air over Reed Creek.
  • Kelsey give a happy thumbs up after his first walk of a highline ever.
  • Kelsey worked a few falls trying to walk back the other way, which was made a bit more difficult by the leash and abrupt edge on this side of the creek.
  • Kelsey works a crazy batman move to reach the line again after a fall.
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