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Spencer Adkisson
Trad climber
Reno, NV
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Jan 19, 2008 - 10:58pm PT
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With all due respect, that's nothing.
I'm pretty sure that the world's scariest rope swing is located on the North Fork of the Feather River in California.
There is an old burned-out railroad trestle that spans the river. The distance from the top of the trestle to the surface of the water is no less that 80ft.!!!
I have jumped off the top of the trestle twice in my life. The first time was just an unbelieveable rush. We were all pretty drunk, so we had alot of "liquid courage" helping us along, but one jump in a day is plenty.
The second time I jumped off the trestle, I was with my friend Kevin. We had just finished a heavy smoke-out session, and were thinking that jumping off the trestle was a surpurbly brilliant idea, so we walked over to the middle of the bridge, and looked down. It looked alot farther this time. A slight breeze picked up, and we soon began to cool down, and reconsider our plan. If you screw up, you could easily die by smacking the water after an 80 foot plunge. Water is like concrete at that speed.
As we began to tuck-tail and run, we noticed a rope tied to the bottom of the trestle that was being pulled off to the right side. After some examination, we realized that there was some person who had climbed along the steel gurders to where the rope was tied, and was now backtracking, preparing to launch from underneath the bridge. We couldn't believe our eyes, and settled in to watch the show.
When he was ready, the guy dropped straight off of his perch on the under-side of the trestle, and was rocketing accross our field of view. When he reached the optimal combination of speed, velocity, and trajectory, just before the apex of his swing, he let go of the rope, and pulled off the cleanest 1 1/2 back-flip in the full tuck position, entering the water with the back of his head!
HOOOO-LEEEE-SHHHHIIIITTT!
Our minds were completely blown. Completely, and totally blown.
While he was hurtling through the air, Kevin and I both realized that we knew the guy! His name was Jason. It had to be him, because it looked like him, and he only had one leg. The other leg had been shot off by his uncle in a hunting accident. After healing from the loss of his leg, Jason had gone completely bats-o, jumping off cliffs into water, and hucking humongus carcass off rope swings, and generally living his life as if he were constantly auditioning for Cirque du Soleil. It was definitely him.
Given the height of the trestle, and the attachement point of the rope (a water ski rope with handle, very nice, but thin), and his altitude relative to the trajectory of his swing, I would say that he had easily pulled off a 1 1/2 back flip of more than 50ft in height. The river is super deep there, so you are never really worried about hitting bottom, just f-ing up, and belly or back flopping.
Well, after we saw that display, we at least had to jump off the top of the trestle, but there was no way in hell that I was going to do that rope swing.
So I jumped first. As I was falling toward the river, I had alot of time to think. I actually felt my body moving laterally front to back, pushed by the breeze as I plummetted. A stronger down-canyon breeze could have pushed me into the steel gurders of the trestle, ruining my day, but didn't. I hit the water with such velocity that my Tevas, which I had strapped down as tight as a rodeo bull rider straps his hand down with rope, were shovedup my feet, and came to rest very uncomfortably halfway between my ankle and calf. Kevin fared no better. That was the last time I ever jumped, or ever will jump off the Old Burned-out Trestle on the Feather River.
I wish I had pictures to do it justice.
The rope swing you did looks like alot of fun. Nice and clean. Good stout rope, deep water. A rush, no doubt. But the swing on the Feather is by far the scariest rope swing that I have ever seen, or heard of. I've got sweatty palms thinking about it even now.
You should really check it out. =)
~~~~~~~SA
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Caveman
climber
Cumberland Plateau
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Jan 20, 2008 - 01:08am PT
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Had a friend weave det cord into 1500ft or so of rope and string it across a lake as a descending tyrolean traverse. He then rode the line having it detonated as he neared the low end. He was still 60ft in the air. His entry was not great and he ended up breaking a few ribs on impact with the lake. A crazy ride indeed! caveman
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jan 20, 2008 - 01:24am PT
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It looks like you're just about ready to go cliff jumping at Lynn Canyon in North Vancouver.
The last time I did it, I broke ribs. Worse has happened there.
See you next time!
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L
climber
A High Tide on a Low Coast
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Jan 20, 2008 - 01:31am PT
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Fun post Dave. The video was great.
So was that girly scream I heard...;-)
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Michael Hjorth
Trad climber
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Jan 20, 2008 - 06:29am PT
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He-he, that's me in that picture.
While reading through Hardman K's nice thread I thought about posting this little insident from Annecy, France, Christmas 1987.
And here comes my old buddy Jan, now living in US, and does it. Good to hear from you, Jan. Hope all is fine!
Here's another taken in the same second by our friend Sřren:
I was going through the same thoughts as Knott: Everybody looking, cameras ready, no turning back (but no nicelooking girls, unfortunately). One millisecond later I completely regretted.
Michael
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Hardman Knott
Gym climber
Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, Ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 20, 2008 - 02:08pm PT
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Holy shít! That bridge swing in France looks like a dream come true...
Thanks for bumping this 28 month old thread. I still remember that swing like it was yesterday.
The swing at Brohm Lake has a platform which is at least 35 feet over the water, and you swing
out near-horizontal when you let go, so I would say you're dropping from approx. 32 feet.
A few years ago I was researching an old story where a 17 year old jumped off the Golden Gate
Bridge and swam to shore. To this day he's the only one of the 26 survivors (out of 1200+ jumps)
to do so, and suffered only bruises. Anyway, I found an article where a guy went to mid-span
and tied a climbing rope to something. He then attached himself to the rope, and walked along
until he came to the end of the rope. He jumped and took a most thrilling swing, coming within
40 of 50 feet of the water. He then rappelled or jumped into the water, and escaped in a waiting boat.
Now imagine doing that with a modern 60 meter rope. 60 meters = 196.85 feet. The bridge roadway is
an average of 220 feet; the point of attachment at least 8 to 10 feet lower. Imagine taking that jump
with the longer rope, and coming in "hot" - missing the water by only 10 feet or so (with rope stretch).
Anyone want to do this with me? I think the jail time would be minimal...
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Hardman Knott
Gym climber
Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, Ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 20, 2008 - 02:46pm PT
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Yeah the tides would be checked, but the rope would still be dropped first to verify that it
was at least 30 feet over the water. I think the best tie-in would be a figure-8 on a bight,
with 2 locking biners attached to the harness - no need to hold on. Once you stop swinging,
use a Tibloc to un-weight the rope, release the biners, and jump or rappel (by which time
the Coast Guard would probably be right below you with knott-so happy looks on their faces).
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Brutus of Wyde
climber
Old Climbers' Home, Oakland CA
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Jan 20, 2008 - 04:10pm PT
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So...
Uh...
Anybody got some good vid of the jumps at Rainbow Pool?
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Brutus of Wyde
climber
Old Climbers' Home, Oakland CA
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Jan 20, 2008 - 05:08pm PT
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Yah. Too bad everything on Youtube is blocked here at work. Pornography, you know.
Brutus
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graniteclimber
Trad climber
Nowhere
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Jan 20, 2008 - 08:43pm PT
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That bridge swing in France is wild!
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SuperTopo on the Web
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Measure the rope (just in case it is just a couple feet longer).
Let us know!