Is this thing safe?

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    Part of the ascent at Hua Shan
    Outside of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
    June 25, 2007
    on black at my site

    From left, options 1, 2, and 3. I chose option 1 and Eric chose option 3. I was too terrified to try either of the other two - it just felt unnecessarily risky to me. Plus, it almost seemed as though the top section of option 3 would actually cause you to fall off backwards. I just envisioned myself dangling there, unable to climb any further. Option 1 wrapped around the left side of the cliff, with more gradual sections of steps. There are women walking around outside the park selling gloves for the equivalent of US$.20 or so, because there are a few areas like this where you really need to hold on to the chain to be safe.

    I wish I hadn't cut off his feet, but I shot this with the point and shoot, as I had the DSLR packed and I was too exhausted to get it out. This is pretty much straight of of the camera - no Photoshop trickery involved - the path up really IS that insane.

    Rolandito., Matt Cline, Kerbbi, alvin pastrana, and 139 other people added this photo to their favorites.

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    1. Deirdre B 60 months ago | reply

      I'm scared just looking at the photo!

    2. Penelope's Loom 60 months ago | reply

      Thank you for stopping to leave a comment! I'm glad most of you would've chosen Option #1, as well. :)

      It actually doesn't really save you any time. The paths meet just a few feet higher than this photo shows, and you have to go so slowly up Option #3 that you don't get there any faster. The Option #1 detour isn't very long.

      It makes sense for it to be one of those "feats of strength" things - that or a "test your level of insanity and masochism" things...

      That makes perfect sense! Interesting to see how the other two were carved out right next to it, though. It kind of looks like the steps look newer as you move from right to left - that could help determine when each staircase was built.

    3. ..Kelly. 60 months ago | reply

      Amazing!I would have chosen Option 1 too :)

    4. flopper 60 months ago | reply

      oh wow, this is truely amazing, great you choose option1 ;-)

    5. espressoDOM 60 months ago | reply

      that looks very interesting...

      --
      Seen on your photo stream. (?)

    6. Nathiya 60 months ago | reply

      The top part seems impossible. Did he make it?

    7. Lost in Swansea 60 months ago | reply

      Hua Shan,a great mountain for taoism.there are five mountains in China called wu yue(五岳)。Hua shan is one of these,which is famous for steep.

    8. awooster 58 months ago | reply

      Hi Pei, I thought you'd want to know that this shot hit the front page of reddit.

    9. snehal shinde 54 months ago | reply

      looks quite adventurous...wont mind trying it out :)

    10. A Lavengood 49 months ago | reply

      amazing! makes me think of half dome at yosemite...

    11. gambass 44 months ago | reply

      I love this place, HUASHAN is crazy!

    12. ★кяιsтιε [deleted] 41 months ago | reply

      I went to Hua Shan on a tour of my own last Spring. I got so scared, that I wouldn't go any further after we reached that resting spot where they sold that spicy instant noodle stuff. I couldn't go any higher, because I'm so clumsy that I was very scared of falling over even while holding onto the chains! So for you to have even gone that high up, I admire you!

    13. Draganin 40 months ago | reply

      I found this shot on Tumblr, & wanted to know where it was & who took it. A firefox addon (tineye) finally found you for me, & I've added this to my list of where to visit the next time I'm in China!

      You have some stunning photographs in your gallery =)

    14. Myky D 29 months ago | reply

      Am I right in believing that it's constructed so to keep the ascendent's eyes upwards (I presume one doesn't even have room, let alone the desire to look down) - so one is constantly considering the buddha and the heavens?

      I may be wrong - I'd be interested to know.

      Great pic - with something like this that you've cut off his feet doesn't matter - I understand it's something one learns in the later stages of certain martial arts anyway.

    15. k r i s t i n a a a 26 months ago | reply

      i would love to see this in person

    16. Alain ♥ 14 months ago | reply

      Waouh ! Fantastique ! Merci !

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