By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Hanging around: Three tents are suspended off a 4,000ft vertical cliff in the Arctic as climbers get some much needed sleep
For many people, a camping trip is enough to get them sweating before they've even put up a tent pole.
But for these daredevil explorers, scaling cliffs and pitching tents at the height of more than 300 double decker buses is just a normal day at the office.
Hanging precariously in tents off a 4,000ft shear cliff face, these climbers are chasing the most dangerous big wall climbs ever attempted.
Don't look down: A climber peaks out of his tent high up on Great Sail Peak, on Canada's Baffin Island
As these stunning images show, the climbs can last for weeks and the explorers must set up tents on the edge of monstrous cliff faces to grab some much needed rest.
They were taken by adventure photographer Gordon Wiltsie, 57, who risks his own life to capture thrill-seeking moments.
He said: 'During this climb it was the Arctic spring so melting snow on both the summit and a ledge midway up the cliff constantly sent rocks and chunks of ice flying down.
'One the size of a car even came crashing down around us. Several times I came within inches of being hit which almost certainly would have been fatal.
'Falling objects are constantly on your mind and if you look carefully at the picture of the hanging tents, or Portaledges, you can see the camp was below an overhang for shelter.
Home comforts: Jon Catto, Greg Child and Mark Synnott set up their Portaledge camp site, complete with baggage, at 4,000ft
'Camping in the Portaledges is a lot less scary and dangerous than it is climbing outside of them. They're pretty comfortable and you don't actually see the drop below.
'I find it similar to sleeping into a regular tent. You're always harnessed into a separate anchor from the tent so I felt quite safe - unless I had to lean out to get food or supplies from our haul bags hanging outside.'
The amazing collection is part of a brand new summer-long exhibit of work by Mr Wiltsie at the famous Mountain Light Gallery in California, U.S.
The exhibition features an array of stunning images from climbs over the past decade including the first ascent of Great Sail Peak - an overhanging granite wall on Canada's Baffin Island.
Looking for the perfect spot: The climbers have to pitch their tents to get much-needed rest during big ascents
source: dailymail
Blog Archive
-
▼
2011
(3770)
-
▼
May
(745)
- Britain's richest street: The place by the palace,...
- Britain's richest street: The place by the palace,...
- A rare and beautiful sight: A spectacular end to a...
- A rare and beautiful sight: A spectacular end to a...
- Pussycat Nicole Scherzinger shows a softer side as...
- Pussycat Nicole Scherzinger shows a softer side as...
- Don't you know who I am? Corrie's Helen Flanagan r...
- Don't you know who I am? Corrie's Helen Flanagan r...
- How not to look classy! TOWIE's Lydia Bright wears...
- How not to look classy! TOWIE's Lydia Bright wears...
- Who was Pippa Middleton's charming companion? Afte...
- Who was Pippa Middleton's charming companion? Afte...
- Pippa's Paris freebie: VIP treatment at the tennis...
- Pippa's Paris freebie: VIP treatment at the tennis...
- Blink if you've had more Botox, Simon: Millions of...
- Blink if you've had more Botox, Simon: Millions of...
- Oops, she did it again! Saucy Britney Spears imper...
- Oops, she did it again! Saucy Britney Spears imper...
- 'Next JLS' boyband New Bounce win through to final...
- 'Next JLS' boyband New Bounce win through to final...
- TOWIE's Sam and Joey kiss and make up after lovers...
- TOWIE's Sam and Joey kiss and make up after lovers...
- Michael Jackson's daughter Paris finally has some ...
- Michael Jackson's daughter Paris finally has some ...
- As Cheryl and Simon go to war, his people claim sh...
- As Cheryl and Simon go to war, his people claim sh...
- Becky unveils PV for “Kaze no Shirabe”!
- J.Y. Park reveals short teaser of 2PM’s new song
- SNSD unleashes their first Japanese studio album!
- America's Idol Scotty McCreery is mobbed by fans a...
- America's Idol Scotty McCreery is mobbed by fans a...
- Tall order! Lady Gaga totters on killer heels and ...
- Tall order! Lady Gaga totters on killer heels and ...
- So that's where she gets it from! Suri Cruise and ...
- So that's where she gets it from! Suri Cruise and ...
- Getting revved up: Amanda Holden arrives on motorb...
- Getting revved up: Amanda Holden arrives on motorb...
- He's back! Simon Cowell makes return on Britain's ...
- He's back! Simon Cowell makes return on Britain's ...
- Now Paris gets a taste of Her Royal Hotness: Pippa...
- Now Paris gets a taste of Her Royal Hotness: Pippa...
- It's official: Cheryl Cole is OUT of the UK X Fact...
- It's official: Cheryl Cole is OUT of the UK X Fact...
- Looking lean! Emma Watson shows off her toned midr...
- Looking lean! Emma Watson shows off her toned midr...
- Not quite football attire! Pregnant Victoria Beckh...
- Not quite football attire! Pregnant Victoria Beckh...
- 'Lose two stone if you want to be a success', Cher...
- 'Lose two stone if you want to be a success', Cher...
- Check out the audio of SNSD’s “The Great Escape”!
- IU becomes a ping pong master for new ‘S-OIL’ CF
- Lee Sora introduces hip hop on “I Am a Singer” wit...
- Ock Ju Hyun talks about her anti-fans, places firs...
- Did Rihanna get inked AGAIN? Singer who already ha...
- Did Rihanna get inked AGAIN? Singer who already ha...
- Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban bowled over by their...
- Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban bowled over by their...
- What have you got to hide January? Ms Jones attemp...
- What have you got to hide January? Ms Jones attemp...
- 'I'm gonna kill ya': Selena Gomez receives death t...
- 'I'm gonna kill ya': Selena Gomez receives death t...
- British X Factor tells Cheryl Cole: We don’t want you
- British X Factor tells Cheryl Cole: We don’t want you
- Watch out, Pippa! Beautiful Bea is the new Royal H...
- Watch out, Pippa! Beautiful Bea is the new Royal H...
- The cat who got the Cole: A relaxed Nicole Scherzi...
- The cat who got the Cole: A relaxed Nicole Scherzi...
- 'Cheryl is wonderful and I want to stay friends,' ...
- 'Cheryl is wonderful and I want to stay friends,' ...
- Dannii Minogue 'fights to save her relationship wi...
- Dannii Minogue 'fights to save her relationship wi...
- It's over! Cheryl Cole refuses £2.5m offer to retu...
- It's over! Cheryl Cole refuses £2.5m offer to retu...
- Berryz Koubou shoots their “Ai no Dangan” on Happy...
- Seo In Young sings “Wash” on MBC FM’s “Younha’s St...
- 2NE1 wins Inkigayo Mutizen + other performances
- Jang Woo Hyuk makes his comeback on Inkigayo
- [Updated] F.T. Island returns with ‘Hello Hello’ o...
- Jay Park says goodbye with ‘Tonight’ on Inkigayo
- Boyfriend debuts on Inkigayo
- A Pink’s Eunji shows off her vocal talent on MBC’s...
- Otter-ly adorable! Boy racing sea otter at San Die...
- Not one to miss an opportunity: Paris Hilton turns...
- Not one to miss an opportunity: Paris Hilton turns...
- Coleen Rooney plays supportive wife as husband Way...
- Coleen Rooney plays supportive wife as husband Way...
- Another quiet night for Harry and Eugenie... Drink...
- Another quiet night for Harry and Eugenie... Drink...
- ITV offer £2m to woo Cheryl Cole back to the X Fac...
- ITV offer £2m to woo Cheryl Cole back to the X Fac...
- Katie Price is having the Time Of Her Life in Marb...
- Katie Price is having the Time Of Her Life in Marb...
- Christina Hendricks causes a Lake Como-tion in bla...
- Christina Hendricks causes a Lake Como-tion in bla...
- Barcelona 3 Manchester United 1: Pedro, Lionel Mes...
- Barcelona 3 Manchester United 1: Pedro, Lionel Mes...
- Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona kisses the trophy
- Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona kisses the trophy
- Barcelona 3 Manchester United 1: Pedro, Lionel Mes...
- Barcelona 3 Manchester United 1: Pedro, Lionel Mes...
-
▼
May
(745)
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Is this the most dangerous campsite in the world? Pitching a tent on the side of a 4,000ft cliff face
Labels:
News Update