Steph Davis
Last year we came down to Patagonia with 60 feet of 11/16"
webbing for rap anchors.
Since we weren't using the webbing for any climbing, we set up a slackline
to while away the stormy days at Base Camp. Like hacky-sack, proficiency on
the slackline is a sure sign of having a lot of spare time on your hands.
What we didn't expect was the reaction from everyone else in the camp.
Unlike Rio Blanco Base Camp here on the east side, Camp Bridwell (on the
west side) is a camp for everyone — climbers, trekkers, horseback riders. We
woke one morning to find three tents pitched just below the line with damp
clothing draped over them. However, once people saw us walking on the line,
it became all the rage. No one can resist trying it, especially when a
group of people is gathered.
Soon we had a huge group of people from all
different countries, laughing and encouraging each other and "sproinging" off
the stretchy slackline in random directions, bouncing off trees and what
have you. Tents still appeared below it and beside it from time to time,
but word traveled fast around the region, and people began showing up on
visits from other Base Camps just to try walking on the line. It was a lot
of fun, and a great way to make friends, just like a good bouldering
session.
Amazingly, when the weather turned good and Dean and I stormed up
the glacier to climb and then blazed back to Bridwell to move camp to the
east side, the line snapped on his final walk.
We passed it on to some Argentines to set up again, and resolved to bring
lots of lines on our return this year.
