Slackline
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 6:56 am
Talus hopping has always been one of my dreads in the high country. Friends with better balance than me seem to glide from rock to to rock top while I slowly work my way over and around looking like I'm playing Twister. I stumbled upon some help though. At a recent family camp out, my brother-in-law brought along a "Slackline". It is nothing more than a heavy ratcheting truckers strap with loops on both ends to stretch between two trees about a foot off the ground. Wala, instant tight rope. With no other aspirations than fun, I spent 10 or 15 minutes each day of camp trying to master this 25 foot long tight rope walk. Some improvement ensued but I never masterd it. Forward two weeks, I am navigating a field of Volkswagen sized talus on Darwin Bench and Holy Cow, what a difference in balance and confidence the Slackline made. They are made by Gibbon and rather pricey ($75 starting) but sure provide good talus conditioning and core strength to boot.