One thing I will fight tooth and nail on is that a fear of heights isn't really a phobia, at least in that it's not an irrational fear. It's 100% rational.
One thing I will fight tooth and nail on is that a fear of heights isn't really a phobia, at least in that it's not an irrational fear. It's 100% rational.
Nuts to that.
Also, you'd have to be nuts to try a stunt like this, in my books.
While many of us spend our time outdoors doing rational, sane things like walking in a park or maybe riding a bike, he's climbing mountains and walking along slacklines strung between them.
Too soon?
Sorry. But I regret nothing.
How does one end up setting a world record like this? By doing something ridiculously dangerous, of course.
Skateboarding, snowboarding, paintball, and even bridge jumping, Spencer was into it.
Eventually, he moved to Vancouver, BC, where he discovered a love of rock climbing.
It was there that he first saw the documentary Sketchy Andy, which followed Andy Lewis as he broke the current free solo world record.
It inspired Spencer to do the same.
For his world record, Spencer headed to Squamish, BC and ran a line more than 200 feet long between two points almost 1,000 feet above the valley floor below. No safety gear, no harness, no net below, nothing like that — just Spencer's sense of balance and a line.
And as he gained balance, skill, and confidence, he slowly raised the height of the line. Eventually, he was ready to try for a record.
And Spencer had a friend there with a drone, providing a fascinating yet terrifying view of the whole ordeal. And it was a good thing, because there were definitely some absolutely petrifying moments.
He's hardly even away from the start before he has some trouble with his balance. If that doesn't make your palms sweat, I don't know what will.
Even after that near-miss, Spencer managed to regain his focus, stand up again and carry on with his attempt.
Whatever internal discussion Spencer must have had after that first wobble and trip around the rope must have worked, because he makes it look pretty easy after that first hiccup.
And before you know it, he's all the way across and he's set the world record. Wow. All the credit to Spencer for his literally towering achievement.
Watch the whole, insane trip below!