Showing posts with label Travel Guide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel Guide. Show all posts

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Is this the most dangerous campsite in the world? Pitching a tent on the side of a 4,000ft cliff face

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Hanging around: Three tents are suspended off a 4,000ft vertical cliff in the Arctic as climbers get some much needed sleep


For many people, a camping trip is enough to get them sweating before they've even put up a tent pole.

But for these daredevil explorers, scaling cliffs and pitching tents at the height of more than 300 double decker buses is just a normal day at the office.

Hanging precariously in tents off a 4,000ft shear cliff face, these climbers are chasing the most dangerous big wall climbs ever attempted.


Don't look down: A climber peaks out of his tent high up on Great Sail Peak, on Canada's Baffin Island


As these stunning images show, the climbs can last for weeks and the explorers must set up tents on the edge of monstrous cliff faces to grab some much needed rest.

They were taken by adventure photographer Gordon Wiltsie, 57, who risks his own life to capture thrill-seeking moments.

He said: 'During this climb it was the Arctic spring so melting snow on both the summit and a ledge midway up the cliff constantly sent rocks and chunks of ice flying down.

'One the size of a car even came crashing down around us. Several times I came within inches of being hit which almost certainly would have been fatal.

'Falling objects are constantly on your mind and if you look carefully at the picture of the hanging tents, or Portaledges, you can see the camp was below an overhang for shelter.


Home comforts: Jon Catto, Greg Child and Mark Synnott set up their Portaledge camp site, complete with baggage, at 4,000ft


'Camping in the Portaledges is a lot less scary and dangerous than it is climbing outside of them. They're pretty comfortable and you don't actually see the drop below.

'I find it similar to sleeping into a regular tent. You're always harnessed into a separate anchor from the tent so I felt quite safe - unless I had to lean out to get food or supplies from our haul bags hanging outside.'

The amazing collection is part of a brand new summer-long exhibit of work by Mr Wiltsie at the famous Mountain Light Gallery in California, U.S.

The exhibition features an array of stunning images from climbs over the past decade including the first ascent of Great Sail Peak - an overhanging granite wall on Canada's Baffin Island.



Looking for the perfect spot: The climbers have to pitch their tents to get much-needed rest during big ascents

source: dailymail

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Look...no hands! New 'ride' gives adrenaline junkies chance to walk around the outside of CN Tower

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

High life: Visitors to the new EdgeWalk experience will have unparalleled views of Toronto


Toronto's CN Tower is a test for even the most extreme adrenaline junkies.

But budding dare devils now face a new challenge, as the tower's operators plan to let people walk hands-free around the outside of the 116 story structure - held in place by only a cable.

For just $175, thrill-seekers can stroll around the top of Toronto’s famous CN Tower with no guard-rail and just a 5ft (1.5m) wide see-through ledge underneath.


Exciting: The entire experience will last about 90 minutes, with the walk itself running 20 to 30 minutes


At 1,167ft (356m) above the ground, the EdgeWalk will reward the brave with some breathtaking open-air views of Canada’s largest city, Lake Ontario and Buffalo, NY.

The first attraction of its kind in North America, EdgeWalk claims to be the world’s highest full circle hands-free walk at 116 stories above the ground.

‘We're extremely proud of the records the CN Tower has held throughout the years, including our strong safety record,’ said Jack Robinson, CN Tower's chief operating officer.

‘Our facilities and engineering team supervised the EdgeWalk project design and build to ensure that it is both exciting and safe.’

The attraction surpasses the Sky Tower walk in Auckland, New Zealand, at 629ft (192m) high and the Macau Tower Skywalk at 764ft (233m) above the ground.

EdgeWalk is set to open August 1 and advance ticket sales begin in June.


CN Tower Toronto


source: dailymail

Look...no hands! New 'ride' gives adrenaline junkies chance to walk around the outside of CN Tower

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

High life: Visitors to the new EdgeWalk experience will have unparalleled views of Toronto


Toronto's CN Tower is a test for even the most extreme adrenaline junkies.

But budding dare devils now face a new challenge, as the tower's operators plan to let people walk hands-free around the outside of the 116 story structure - held in place by only a cable.

For just $175, thrill-seekers can stroll around the top of Toronto’s famous CN Tower with no guard-rail and just a 5ft (1.5m) wide see-through ledge underneath.


Exciting: The entire experience will last about 90 minutes, with the walk itself running 20 to 30 minutes


At 1,167ft (356m) above the ground, the EdgeWalk will reward the brave with some breathtaking open-air views of Canada’s largest city, Lake Ontario and Buffalo, NY.

The first attraction of its kind in North America, EdgeWalk claims to be the world’s highest full circle hands-free walk at 116 stories above the ground.

‘We're extremely proud of the records the CN Tower has held throughout the years, including our strong safety record,’ said Jack Robinson, CN Tower's chief operating officer.

‘Our facilities and engineering team supervised the EdgeWalk project design and build to ensure that it is both exciting and safe.’

The attraction surpasses the Sky Tower walk in Auckland, New Zealand, at 629ft (192m) high and the Macau Tower Skywalk at 764ft (233m) above the ground.

EdgeWalk is set to open August 1 and advance ticket sales begin in June.


CN Tower Toronto


source: dailymail