The Adršpach-Teplice Rocks are an unusual set of sandstone formations covering 17 km² in northeastern Bohemia, Czech Republic. The area is known for climbing, hiking and mountain biking, but more recently the 2nd Annual Highlining festival which took place in July.
TRAVEL + ADVENTURE With one leg firmly pressing down on the inch-thick webbing, I edged forward with intention. It wasn’t fear that spread over my body the further I moved out away from the rock, it was awareness, an awareness that I was about to challenge everything I believed to be possible... Before I get ahead of myself, lets take a step back a couple of weeks, previous to the point I found myself uncouthly hanging off a 60m highline in Czech Republic. The day I met Christian. I was longboarding through one of Ber- lin’s many parks and by chance I spotted one of the longest lines I had ever seen. The long way to Adršpach Highlining in the Czech Republic Words + Photos By: Tara Atkinson It was my turn next. I took a minute to make sure my harness was on properly before securing myself to the safety line. Stepping down onto the sandstone pillar which was anchor- ing the highline, I then cautiously reached for the loosely tied leash with the figure-eight knot. Once tied in, I checked and double-checked the leash, and with a few awkward shimmies I ungracefully smeared my body onto the 22m highline. Christian Krr on a 80m waterline; Havel River- Berlin It had to be more than 85m long, with a figure making their way gracefully across a thin and precisely drawn stroke hover- ing above the ground. Arms above the head, slowly swaying from side to side, still hips, legs slightly bent, the deliberate and almost dancelike motion was fascinating to watch and no doubt well rehearsed. There is a certain type of dedication to walking a line as long as Christian did that day in the park, or the days to follow on the lazy river Havel when I met him for waterlining, but when I found out about his most recent highlining trip to Kjerag in Norway (800m up and 85m long) I thought, there must be more than dedication playing a part here. I have to admit, I was not only fascinated but also curious in the whole idea of walk- ing a long line both on the ground and at height. Having spent a fair bit of time on one-inch thick 20m line, I found out very quickly that everything I had learnt before didn’t count. A couple of assisted attempts at standing up, or more so falling off the 85m park line, was enough to bruise both my ego and shoulder. Though funnily enough, my curiosity was still insatiable. After meeting Christian and some of the guys from the slackline Berlin community there was talk about the Adršpach highline meeting in Czech Republic. Easy to get to from Berlin and Prague, Christian, like most highliners would be hitchhiking to Adršpach, and as far as ‘firsts’ go I was keen to follow him not only to the land of the sandstone towers but also on a hitch- ing adventure. We started on the edge of Berlin at a petrol station just after 1:00pm. Christian had done this many times before, in fact he estimated that he had acquired just shy of 100,000 hitchhiking kilometres. I had never hitchhiked in my life, and although feeling like a bit of a loose end (with only basic Passing through the Czech border with Christian
Transcript
TRAVEL + ADVENTURE
With one leg firmly pressing down on the inch-thick webbing, I edged forward with intention. It wasn’t fear that spread over my body the further I moved out away from the rock, it was awareness, an awareness that I was about to challenge everything I believed to be possible...
Before I get ahead of myself, lets take a step back a couple of weeks, previous to the point I found myself uncouthly hanging off a 60m highline in Czech Republic. The day I met Christian.
I was longboarding through one of Ber-lin’s many parks and by chance I spotted one of the longest lines I had ever seen.
The long way to AdršpachHighlining in the Czech RepublicWords + Photos By: Tara Atkinson
It was my turn next. I took a minute to make sure my harness was on properly before securing myself to the safety line. Stepping down onto the sandstone pillar which was anchor-ing the highline, I then cautiously reached for the loosely tied leash with the figure-eight knot. Once tied in, I checked and double-checked the leash, and with a few awkward shimmies I ungracefully smeared my body onto the 22m highline.
Christian Krr on a 80m waterline; Havel River- Berlin
It had to be more than 85m long, with a figure making their way gracefully across a thin and precisely drawn stroke hover-ing above the ground. Arms above the head, slowly swaying from side to side, still hips, legs slightly bent, the deliberate and almost dancelike motion was fascinating to watch and no doubt well rehearsed. There is a certain type of dedication to walking a line as long as Christian did that day in the park, or the days to follow on the lazy river Havel when I met him for waterlining, but when I found out about his most recent highlining trip to Kjerag in Norway (800m up and 85m long) I thought, there must be more than dedication playing a part here.
I have to admit, I was not only fascinated but also curious in the whole idea of walk-ing a long line both on the ground and at height. Having spent a fair bit of time on one-inch thick 20m line, I found out very quickly that everything I had learnt before
didn’t count. A couple of assisted attempts at standing up, or more so falling off the 85m park line, was enough to bruise both my ego and shoulder. Though funnily enough, my curiosity was still insatiable.
After meeting Christian and some of the guys from the slackline Berlin community there was talk about the Adršpach highline meeting in Czech Republic. Easy to get to from Berlin and Prague, Christian, like most highliners would be hitchhiking to Adršpach, and as far as ‘firsts’ go I was keen to follow him not only to the land of the sandstone towers but also on a hitch-ing adventure.
We started on the edge of Berlin at a petrol station just after 1:00pm. Christian had done this many times before, in fact he estimated that he had acquired just shy of 100,000 hitchhiking kilometres. I had never hitchhiked in my life, and although feeling like a bit of a loose end (with only basic
Passing through the Czech border with Christian
35OUTDOORUAE
Veronika Mangold mentored me on the 22m line when I had my first try. Here she is finishing up on the 17m coming down into a sit start position.
There was also a great acroyoga workshop run by Jakub and Janka.
German) it was clear to see that people are always willing to help. Even if they had a truck packed with removal debris, a car full of people, bags or shopping, (being small and able to lie across people also helps) no matter who we hitched with, they all made a conscious effort to fit us and also made sure we were heading in the right direc-tion. Hitchhiking is not only an amazing way to travel but also a great way to meet some incredible people. I have now be-come more open to picking up hitchhikers and less scared of sticking out my thumb.
It took us around nine hours to get to the campsite in Adršpach, and when we arrived the atmosphere was lively; full of slackliners, climbers, goulash and cheap Czech beer, the perfect preamble to an epic weekend.
Have you ever had the feeling of wak-ing up in a new place not knowing what it looks like? Adršpach didn’t disappoint. Everywhere we gazed there was rich green pine forest, interwoven; a plethora of pep-
pery rock soaring up through the treetops. Looking to the sky, you could spot the oc-casional silhouette floating on one of many rigged lines, some of which were over 80m long and hundreds of metres above the ground.
Throughout the weekend at Adršpach I have to admit I hid behind my camera; following the acroyoga crowd around and keeping my feet firmly on the lowest line I could find. I was pretty sure no one would notice a newbie liner, but then I kept getting asked “did you walk on a highline yet?” As it happens the slackline commu-nity is one of the most open and forthcom-ing groups of people I have ever met, and despite my inexperience everyone encour-aged me to try. I didn’t have any goals in mind when I arrived at Adršpach, just a curiosity. However, as a photographer, taking pictures of raw talent it’s very easy to get inspired.
And so, I found myself with one leg over the line, trying to find my centre,
connecting with my temporary horizon flickering in the wind, checking the figure-eight knot, the leash and my harness several times. I had to make a conscious decision to follow my fears rather than fight them; I stopped worrying and started to focus. The first sit on the line was the hardest; wobbly and uncontrolled, and as I edged away from the rock I slowly lifted my right leg behind me to find the line. With my left hand firmly gripping in front and keeping my right arm out for balance, I then focused on the heel of my right foot as it fused with the line behind me. I was now ready to bring my left foot up and stand, but something felt like it was
Making our way up through the steep and beau-tiful pine forests of Adršpach to reach the lines.
FACTS:• Adršpach is a village in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic close to the border of Poland.• Look up the Nature Park called Tep-lice nad Metuji - Skály stunning lakes and beautiful scenery. • Endless amounts of hiking, walking, climbing and mountain biking. • Local campsites/train station very close.• It’s a protected area so there are some rules for climbing and highlining: www.adrspach.com
Good to know:The lines are only up for the week when the highline meeting is on. If you find yourself in Adršpach outside of the highlining meeting make sure toget in touch with the local slacklining group.
Basic information and gear for newbies at any highline meeting:• A good climbing harness• Ascender (ie. Jumar)• Descender (ie. Grigri)• Locking carabiners and sling.• High slide/ locking carabiner-handy if you get tired. • Always get someone to check your gear.• Learn how to get up and also spend time moving on a line just on one leg • The most common name for the sit start is “Chongo.” • There’s one rule: don’t fall. If you fall, try to catch the line under your arm and wrap your leg around it.• There are lots of highlining events happening in Europe during the year. Google slackline festivals/events 2014 and you will find several resources online. • For beginners, one-inch thick, 17-20m line is good place to start. (Also is going to the Adršpach highlining meeting).
holding me back and almost pulling me to the ground.
At that moment the highline represented a wall I had built up beneath me. The left side: rational, and risk averse; the right: brave and fearless. Each side was scream-ing to be heard, pulling me with equal and opposing force. On this very thin path, so high up I was trapped, unable to commit or give up.
I then took a deep breath.Suddenly everything stood still, and I
started to feel an awareness of the line moving beneath my body. The wind, the sun, the movement and the present all came into focus. The experience became less about my thoughts as I started to ‘feel’ instead of fight. Without realising it I had shifted the weight onto my right heel. From here balance and rehearsal is key, and with that thought I pushed up and hoped for the best.
The first step is getting out there, which I managed, the second step is ‘taking the first step.’ Leash falls and bruises are part of the game, and each time you get back up on the line, confidence builds, and soon enough walking happens. It’s just a matter of time.
Highlining for the first time has definitely had a profound effect on me. It put things in perspective, helped me understand the connection between my body and my mind, and challenged the reality in which my fears exist. There is not only a freedom of the ‘moment’ but also a freedom of ‘movement’, expression and flow, where
Niklas Winter free soloing on the 33m line. What a great moment to watch. He then did it four more times.
Luke McKenna taking a leash fall
Alexander Schultz walking the 100m waterline during the high-line meeting. The crowd went wild when he completed it.
the mind has no choice but to calm and focus. And when you really do start to feel you are at one with the line, moving with the wind, it’s just incredible. For Christian, like many others who make this apart of their lives, I can begin to understand why they walk.
It’s funny how a one-inch wide piece of webbing can teach you so much about life, and I’m sure that if you ask any highliner about their first try it’s something that they will never forget. For me the highlining journey has just started, and with my insa-tiable curiosity reaching new heights, I am now on my next unforgettable adventure in the Canadian Rockies.
Note: Highlining is a dangerous and risky sport, which your mother would not approve of. If you do decide to do it, I cannot be responsible for the bruises, sore muscles or its addictive nature.
Until next time.
Tara A photographer who suffers form a serious case of wanderlust. You can follow her globetrotting adventures on www.tara-photography.com/blog
