The Cougar Creek Highline in Canmore

Cougar Creek is a popular climbing area in Canmore between Mount Lady MacDonald and Grotto Mountain. There are hundreds of sport routes on its many crags. In some places, the canyon makes for good highline-rigging territory. Over the past few days, a few climbers rigged a line at the first available spot to do so. It was only about 15 minutes from the car.

It seems that plans are constantly changing, but I'm so glad I made it out yesterday to shoot some new material and spend some time on the line. It's such an amazing feeling to be so scared; highlining forces you to defy every part of your self preservation instinct. It sounds strange but this is when things are clearest for me. Thanks to @dylanmoenh for the photo and to @explore_learn_slack for rigging this monster of a line. #highlining #MountainCultureElevated #oneinchfromflying #slacklife #slackandstory #balancecommunity @slack.line @balancecommunity @slackliningcanada @slackline_pro @slack_tech

A post shared by Matt Ford (@mattfordphoto) on Feb 19, 2017 at 9:56am PST

Here are some images of other highlines from around the Bow Valley and the Rockies. Click on the clips to play.

#shoulderstand a work in progress for the new year. #slacklife, #nylonlove #allseasons

A post shared by Benham Harper (@explore_learn_slack) on Jan 15, 2017 at 7:28pm PST

This is easily my favourite image from the weekend, for many reasons. Benham is getting so comfortable with turning into exposure that he's started doing a little dance, while doing the splits. It's quite the show. #highlining #oneinchfromflying #slacklife #MountainCultureElevated #balancecommunity #grippedmagazine #shotoncanon @canoncanada @balancecommunity @slack.line @slackland_story

A post shared by Matt Ford (@mattfordphoto) on Sep 26, 2016 at 7:29pm PDT

What a legend. Photo by: @mattfordphoto Athlete: @explore_learn_slack

A post shared by Slackline (@slack.line) on Aug 3, 2016 at 7:51am PDT

As the temperatures drop I'm stuck thinking about August long weekend, everything lined up for a jam packed three days of highlining and waterlining. Here's an image of Ryan about to stand on the 100+ metre waterline over Johnson Lake. #slackline #slacklife #waterlining #MountainCultureElevated #balancecommunity #grippedmagazine #shotoncanon @canoncanada @balancecommunity @slack.line @slackland_story

A post shared by Matt Ford (@mattfordphoto) on Sep 6, 2016 at 8:24am PDT