Lake Elsinore Tutors Come To You

One of the most popular natural attractions in the mountains of Lake Elsinore is the Ortega Falls. To access the falls, which normally dry up in the summer, you need to travel by foot off a dirt path. This is after driving through the winding road aptly named the Ortega Highway.

Most visitors to the falls travel there to hike and take photographs of the breathtaking scenery. More recently however there has been an increase in visitors who have been “highlining”. “Highlining” is classed as an extreme sport, and a form of “slacklining”. Lake Elsinore tutors describe the sport as tightrope walking on a loose rope, but taken to the extreme. The sport involves tethering a 1-inch thick rope between two high points, often rocks or mountains, and walking over the gap in between. The slack line feels more like a rubber band and is springy unlike a tight rope, which as its name would suggest, is pulled taught. Instead of using long poles to balance ‘highliners’ rely on maintaining their balance with the use of their arms and breathing techniques.

Unlike tightrope walking in the circus, there is no safety net should the person “highlining” loose their footing. They have a safety harness and webbing but as inexperienced thrill seekers often set up the rope and harnesses, instead of a monitored facility where safety checks are mandatory, there are often mistakes made. Depending on the height of the rope off the ground and what lies below it, those taking part in the sport risk severe injury or certain death. Those who take part in the sport are adamant that it is extremely safe when rigged correctly. However some ‘highliners’ do like to ‘free solo’, (using no harness) which is extremely dangerous.

“Highlining” became popular in the Yosemite Valley in the 70s and 80s. Yosemite has been incredibly supportive of the sport and do not require visitors there to gain permission or to ascertain permits. The only rules are that you cannot leave the line unattended or leave them up for more than a few days. They also encourage the use of all natural rigging to minimize the use of bolts. You can still walk the same line that Scott Balcom rigged up in 1985 that was recognized as the first ever highline. It involves rappelling in order to reach the exact point. Those who take part in the sport say it’s the closest thing to flying, and describe it as pure meditation. After videos were posted on social media showing “highlining” above Ortega Falls there has been concern from Cleveland National Forest officials. Lake Elsinore tutors discourage students to take part in the sport, as “highlining” is not authorized in the forest.