Highlining is rewarding and, yes, a little intimidating. Good preparation reduces risk and helps everyone enjoy the session. Below you will find a concise, practical checklist designed to be used in the field before and during a highline session. Think of this as the essentials; adapt items to your local conditions, gear, and team experience.
Right after the intro, take a breath and scan the site. Look for hazards around the anchors, below the line, and for potential changes in wind or weather. A calm, clear assessment before any rigging starts is worth the time it costs.
1. Team briefing and roles
Start by making sure everyone knows their role. Assign an experienced rigger, a backup rigger, an anchored safety lead, and a person responsible for communications and emergency contact. Confirm that all participants understand basic hand signals if the group will be spread out.
- Review the plan: main line type, backup loop, anchor points, and rescue strategy.
- Confirm experience levels and who will ride the line first.
- Agree on a stop signal and a “safe” word for immediate shutdown of activity.
Having unambiguous roles reduces confusion when things change, which they often do outdoors.
2. Site evaluation
Evaluate both anchors independently. Walk around each anchor, not just the top or ledge. Check rock quality, root systems, trees, and any loose material that could fail under load.
- Are the anchors on solid rock or healthy, mature trees? Avoid dead wood or fractured rock.
- Is there an obvious potential for rockfall or ice/snow from above?
- Consider the landing zone: what happens if someone falls? Are there ledges or obstacles?
If anything looks questionable, move the setup or call the session off. You can rarely make a bad anchor safe by clever rigging; pick better anchors instead.
3. Anchor hardware and equalization
Inspect webbing slings, cordelette, carabiners, and bolts. Replace any gear with deep cuts, excessive UV degradation, or significant wear. Metal hardware should be inspected for cracks, bends, corrosion, and proper gate function.
- Use redundant anchors: at least two independent anchor points per side wherever possible.
- Equalize anchors but avoid loading a single point excessively; consider self-equalizing vs fixed arrangements depending on the anchor geometry.
- Make sure all carabiners are oriented correctly and locked. Screw-gates must be fully tightened and taped if needed to prevent accidental opening.
Documenting anchor choices and hardware can be helpful for later review or if conditions change during the session.
4. Main line, backup, and materials
Choose a main line appropriate for the span and expected load. Inspect for frays, core shots, and excessive UV damage. The backup line should be independent of the main line, ideally separate webbing or rope that does not share the same anchor hardware that could fail simultaneously.
- Check webbing width, type, and rated strength. Know the manufacturer specs and safety margins.
- Backup should be rigged in such a way that it prevents a catastrophic drop if the main line fails.
- Avoid complex knots in webbing that can slip; use approved webbing connectors and backup systems.
Rig the main line and backup with planned loading to simulate expected forces before anyone walks out. Slight tension is fine for testing; do not over-tension until you have confirmed all components and backups.
5. Knots, connections, and hardware checks
Double-check every knot and connection, and have another experienced person verify them as well. Redundancy in human checks is as important as redundancy in gear.
Knots to confirm
- Properly dressed and set figure-eight or other chosen end knots.
- Backup tails secured and tucked where they cannot be abraded or worked loose.
- Knots used to attach hardware or webbing are suitable for the materials, avoid mixing incompatible knot choices.
Hardware orientation matters. A locked carabiner across a high-load point and a quick link tightened fully are not interchangeable decisions. Check them both.
6. Personal protective equipment
Each participant should wear a harness rated for highline use and a leash system that is solidly connected to the harness. Helmets are recommended, especially in cliff-top or slab environments where a swing could hit rock.
- Harness fit and condition: no frayed stitching, proper leg loop adjustment, and comfortable fit for suspension.
- Leash attachment: use redundant connections where practical and inspect for wear.
- Carry gloves, eye protection, and appropriate footwear for edge work.
Personal gear is often the last line of defense; treat it with the same attention as anchors and lines.
7. Communication and signaling
Establish clear signals and protocols. Voice works when people are close, but whistles, radios, or simple hand signals are essential for longer spans or windy conditions.
- Agree on “go”, “stop”, “tension” signals and an emergency abort phrase.
- Confirm that radios or phones are charged and have reception if you plan to use them for evacuation calls.
- Keep the comms person out of the way of rigging, but with a clear view of both anchors and the line.
Miscommunication can turn a minor problem into a major one. Practice your signals briefly before the first person steps out.
8. Rescue plan and emergency readiness
Before anyone walks the line, agree on a simple rescue plan. This does not have to be elaborate, but it should cover the likely scenarios: self-rescue, lowering if possible, and how to contact mountain rescue.
- Carry a basic rescue kit: prusiks, extra slings, a pulley and a figure for hauling if needed.
- Identify the fastest route to the nearest road and the local emergency number.
- Know who can perform a technical rescue; do not attempt unfamiliar complex rescues without proper training.
Reviewing a clear rescue procedure will calm people and reduce wasted time if something goes wrong.
9. On the line: behavior and pacing
When someone is on the line keep distractions to a minimum. Encourage steady, deliberate moves and avoid sudden shifts in weight from multiple people on the same section unless that was part of the plan.
- Limit the number of people on the main line; consider one person on the main line at a time unless your rig is designed otherwise.
- Keep photographers and bystanders off the anchors and out of fall paths.
- Monitor fatigue levels. A tired walker is more likely to fall in a way that complicates rescue.
Good discipline in session flow keeps everyone safer and helps the rig remain predictable.
10. After the session: teardown and inspection
Don’t rush teardown. Inspect all components again before packing. Note any abrasion points, heat damage, or unexpected deformation that might have occurred under load.
- Log any gear that requires replacement or retirement.
- Clean and dry wet webbing before storage to prevent mildew and degradation.
- Debrief briefly: what went well, what to change next time.
Thinking about teardown as part of the session reduces the chance of leaving damaged equipment in circulation and improves future safety.
Final thoughts and a short reminder
Highlining is inherently risky, but the right preparation makes it manageable. A quick checklist like this helps ensure nothing obvious is missed. Be conservative in your choices and respectful of the environment and anchors you use. If anything feels unsafe, stop and reassess. Your session will be better for it.