Target 160907

TARGET 160907

A PLACE TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL

Almost everyone has heard of "tightrope walkers", but not everyone knows about "slackline walkers". They call themselves "slackers" because the ropes (actually cables) on which they walk are not stretched tight and stable, but are loose. When walked across, they sag, sway, and if two people are on the line, each step that one takes raises and drops the level of the line for the other. So, the line not only sways sideways, but moves up and down, as well.

They love to walk the slacklines at very high places.

And they laugh derisively at the idea of having a net below to catch them (hence, the tether lines you see in the photo above - are they crazy? Yes. But stupid? No.).

At the end of September, 2014, the International Highline Association held a festival at (over) the canyon of Monte Piana in Italy (see feedback map, below).

Monte Piana is one of the most beautiful sites to visit in the Dolomites, with its special shape and position that offers a spectacular 360 degrees view towards the most famous mountains around Auronzo di Cadore, Cortina d'Ampezzo and "Sextner Dolomiten" - Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Paterno, Cadini di Misurina, Sorapiss, Cristallo, Croda Rossa ecc. - and over the Lake of Misurina at its feet.
^{Easy, relaxing time}

The attendees call themselves "slackers" because of the slacklines they balance themselves on. This extreme sport differs from tightrope walking in that the rope has a slightly flattened shaped and has slack, meaning that it can move side-to-side or bounce.

Besides the fact that the slackers spend a good part of their days (and nights) on slacklines suspended hundreds of feet above the Italian dolomite Alps, the meeting has all the trappings of a normal festival: a kitchen, a bar, and awesome musical jam sessions. Attendees can also attend a Yoga workshop or take tandem paraglider flights.

^{There are meeting places - you might say, "on-line"...}

^{...where you can catch up with old friends...}

^{...just go for a walk with your buddies...}

^{...lie back and enjoy the sunshine...}

^{...spend your time blowing bubbles or serenading the world...}

^{...or just take an afternoon snooze.}

But there is one main rule about this weird, high-living society:

^{If you need to go to the bathroom, you must be considerate
of the people living in the valley below. There are porta-potties
back on the land.}

Monte Piana is one of the most beautiful sites to visit in the Dolomites, with its special shape and position that offers a spectacular 360 degrees view towards the most famous mountains around Auronzo di Cadore, Cortina d'Ampezzo and "Sextner Dolomiten" - Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Paterno, Cadini di Misurina, Sorapiss, Cristallo, Croda Rossa ecc. - and over the Lake of Misurina at its feet. Monte Piana is also a special site of memory and history of the tragic events of last century: the World War fought on the Dolomites.

During the first World War the "Monte Piana" was right on the main front of many battles. The International Highline Association discovered this mountain as a perfect place for highlining and wanted the Meeting Festival to give newer, more peaceful memories to this historic place in a different and newer way. The attendees re-introduced happiness, teamwork and a big passion for the mountains. This meeting brings highliners and mountain passionate people from all over the world together.

FOR THE ADVANCED VIEWERS

The program during the meeting on monte piana was quite simple; --highlining every day with 18 sponsored highlines (as well as other, privately strung ones), which were from 6 to 100+ meter in length
---a highline competition "SLACK TRAIL" fun team contest,
---slackline movies and presentations,
---special guests from both old and new generations of slackers,
---yoga and acroYoga workshops
---free "on-line" time
---food and other services
---tandem paraglider flights

The Monte Piana peak is the highest in that immediate area, with the average altitude of the mountaintop being 7,625 feet (2,324.1 meters).

The valley floor below is at an altitude of 5,755 feet (1,754 meters)

Therefore, the slack lines were 1870 feet (570 meters) above the ground of the valley and lake below them.

FEEDBACK MAP

If you got impressions for which this feedback is insufficient, more information,
pictures and videos can be found at the following web sites:

Bored Panda
Lost at E Minor web site
YouTube video of attendee walking the line
Facebook page
Excellent YouTube video of 2015 meet
Vimeo trailer for movie
Planet Mountain web site (more details & statistical information)

Photo credits:
Giordano Garosio, Sebastian Wahlhuetter, Balaz Mohai,
Flo Taibon, Anti Gravity Photography