Comment from Graeme
Time: May 2, 2008, 1:20 pm

It makes the Ruta del Cares seem like a walk in the park. I might be able to do the first 50 metres, although I’m not convinced about it, the rest I’ll leave for the King.

Comment from luke
Time: May 2, 2008, 1:28 pm

i feel ill…as a vertigo sufferer that’s my worst nightmare…

Comment from Bella
Time: May 2, 2008, 1:35 pm

Oh my god! I got scared just watching that! It looks terrifying! It’s amazing what some people get up to, just one foot wrong and you could fall to your death!

Comment from Tom P.
Time: May 2, 2008, 1:58 pm

Wow! The view is amazing, but I don’t know if I could do it. Maybe if I could strap myself onto those cords like that one guy was doing, but still. Looks like quite the exhilarating experience!!

Comment from Ben
Time: May 2, 2008, 2:05 pm

@Tom, yes, I’d strap myself in too, like the only guy with a brain was doing! Actually, I still wouldn’t do it!

Comment from Graham Tappenden
Time: May 2, 2008, 2:10 pm

I was doing OK, until it got to the point where the path was gone and there was just an iron bar.

It reminded me of crossing this bridge [http://tinyurl.com/3ucsx7] in the middle of the Bolivian rain forest having just recovered from a spell of diarrhoea and not really having a clear head for such things.

There is a similar path in Germany called the Elfenley in Oberwesel, which leads downhill from the youth hostel to the town itself [http://tinyurl.com/26vkcu] - at some points you walk along the rock path without anything to hold on to and a large drop down on one side.

What I would like to know is: how on earth did they manage to take such a steady picture? Especially when there is no path left, just an iron bar to tight-rope-walk across!

Comment from Ken
Time: May 2, 2008, 2:56 pm

Not for me I’m afraid. I get dizzy standing on the pavement looking into the gutter.

Wow! Judging by the speed of the walk and the lack of pauses the cameraman was not using the safety guide ropes.

Comment from Mark
Time: May 2, 2008, 3:44 pm

Thanks for that Ben!. I enjoyed it in a strange kind of way.

I wouldn’t do it unless I was strapped to something secure and I consider myself quite daring and with a head for heights.

I used to fly paragliders and have launched off many a precipice in my time. However, I had received training and was using flying equipment that had passed various stringent tests. For me it was always about being in a natural environment and enjoying the view. Most of that looks ready to fall to the valley floor. I value my life too much to risk such a thing!!

Comment from MrMark
Time: May 2, 2008, 3:53 pm

Wow, looks like something out of a Steven Spielberg film. I don’t know whether I’d sooner go bungee-jumping or do this. I’d certainly use the safety straps, that’s for sure!

Comment from Dohg
Time: May 2, 2008, 4:55 pm

Reminds me of a place in Utah, USA, in Zion National Park. There is a hike called “Angel’s Landing”. The understanding being that everyone who ever taken a wrong step there was immediately converted into an angel. Sadly, it happens at least once a year.

Comment from Christof
Time: May 2, 2008, 4:59 pm

It reminds me of some Tomb Raider levels.

Comment from frank
Time: May 2, 2008, 5:00 pm

Been there many times, but never felt tempted to do that walk! Now even more convinced, I made the right decision.

Comment from keith
Time: May 2, 2008, 5:24 pm

so where is health and safety when you need them? I was half expecting a giant eagle to swoop down and drag them over the edge…

Comment from Mark
Time: May 2, 2008, 5:31 pm

@ Dohg

I hiked “Angels’ Landing” back in 1999. It’s a great hike! A few difficult parts on the way up but very enjoyable. I did sadly see a few tributes to people who had fallen carved into the rock though!

Comment from Stuart
Time: May 2, 2008, 5:36 pm

Seriously cool. Taken a few similar paths myself.

Comment from Morao
Time: May 2, 2008, 7:16 pm

Ben tienes unas pelotas que no te entran en el pantalon, ya me gustaria ver al rey andando por su “caminito”.
Muy buen video y muy buena web.

Comment from Jon Hundt
Time: May 2, 2008, 7:32 pm

I have to ask - who built that path? And why…?

Comment from Ben
Time: May 2, 2008, 7:34 pm

Morao, no soy yo en el video!

Comment from ValenciaSon
Time: May 2, 2008, 8:16 pm

OK, it was me who shot the video. Where’s my iPod?

Comment from Petrichor
Time: May 2, 2008, 8:39 pm

The scariest parts were when he walked on the narrow iron beams: a twist of the ankle or a gust of wind and he would have been history. I am terrified of heights so I would not even dream of doing it (but maybe in a nightmare).

@ Graham: I was thinking the same thing… maybe he was wearing a helmet - mounted camera.

Comment from Maria S.
Time: May 2, 2008, 8:53 pm

I am a bit acrophobic and not a thrill-seeker. It got me anxious just to watch this clip, but still enjoyed it as it was safe right here on my chair.
It is said that 30% of the world’s population is born with this thrill-seeking gene, hence the passion for dangerous sports and activities as the one shown. This gene does not afflict physical thrill-seekers only, but also goes for mental thrills. I think I fall into this category:))

Comment from Margot
Time: May 2, 2008, 10:36 pm

whew….2 unrelated thoughts:
1) And then…… there was an earthquake
2) How many of those chaps began the trek as a couple?
Nope! Definitely not for me!

Comment from frank
Time: May 3, 2008, 1:18 am

“I have to ask - who built that path? And why…?”

Camino del Rey is named so because Alfonso XIII reputedly walked it in 1921, when he opened the dams and reservoirs above the gorge wich supply much of Málaga province’s water. The camino has been in a state of alarming disrepair for years and has been officially closed since 1992 but there’s nothing to stop adventurous folk with a head for heights from using parts of it. When you arrive by car you must pass the water by way of a dam, shortly before you reach the end of the lake. Turn left right after the dam and park you car. The rest of the way is on foot, following the right side of the lake.

Comment from Jonk
Time: May 3, 2008, 3:45 am

That looks seriously amazing. It’d be tempting to take the risk to see the awesome views but I was so scared even watching the video!

However if that rope went the whole way and it seems like it does, sure thing I would do it. But only with the rope! I’ll bookmark this for my trip.

Comment from Joe
Time: May 3, 2008, 5:38 pm

The answer to why the video is so smooth is that he was using a device called a Steadi-Cam Jr., or GlideCam, or something similar. Basically a handheld tripod that counterweights the camera and removes most of the shakiness inherent in a handheld shot.

Comment from Ben
Time: May 3, 2008, 5:44 pm

@Joe … and most of the shakiness inherent in walking along a path like that!!

Comment from Graham Tappenden
Time: May 3, 2008, 6:59 pm

@Joe: I originally thought about a Steadi-Cam, but having seen them in use locally I didn’t think you’d really want to have the extra weight on that walk.

Doesn’t the counter-weight go off to one side? You’d either have it between you and the wall, or worse, hanging over the edge!

Comment from Jonk
Time: May 3, 2008, 11:42 pm

Imagine walking that path with a cam like that

I thought it was smooth because he sped the video up, irons out the bumps

Comment from Acojonado
Time: May 5, 2008, 5:44 pm

Holy F**K!!!

Comment from Suze
Time: May 7, 2008, 1:18 am

Wow memories !!! Great filmclip. We did the walk aswell and we abseiled down from the walkway which was scary but fab!! The area is well known for rockclimbing. The only way to get to the routes is by the camino or by sneaking through the traintunnel which I thought was MUCH scarier than doing the camino del rey !!!
(some great routes by the way !!)

Comment from Geraint
Time: May 12, 2008, 12:39 pm

Bloody hell! I actually do get nightmares like that….