I visited Las Vegas (home) a couple of weeks ago with my friend Andria, and though we hadn’t planned on it, we ended up going bungy jumping! It was wild!

We went to A.J. Hackett Bungy, which is next to Circus Circus (and often thought to belong to them.) It cost $59 to bungy jump the first time, but they gave us what I’ll call a frequent faller card so your 2nd and 3rd jumps are $25 each and the 4th jump is free. There were 4 or 5 workers there, and though we were the only ones there, they were definitely equipped to handle large groups. Everyone at A.J. Hackett was extremely professional — even calm — so I didn’t have any (additional) concerns about my safety on their part.

First we had to initial and sign two pages of waivers and disclaimers, including that we wouldn’t be upset if we were to accidentally dip into the pool below and get wet. Then, after weighing in and getting the appropriate bungy cord and harness, we took the elevator up to the jump platform. As the elevator rose, we could see the swimming pool above which we would jump shrink below us and disappear. I sat down on a padded platform where they tied my feet together and tugged and tugged at it. They asked me to give a tug too. They then hooked my waist harness (for backup) and my feet to the bungy cord. Then I bunny hopped to the edge, stretched out my arms at their request, and jumped.

What a crazy feeling to be free falling for a long time (1 second?) before the cord catches you. It’s a wild, wild feeling.

The jump was 171 feet, the highest permanent bungy jump in the U.S. After falling the first time, the elasticity of the bungy cord pulls you back up 80% of the distance. Then you of course bounce up and down a few more times, blood rushing to your head, and then they pull you in to the side and release you from the cord.

As you leave the “landing” area, you have to walk under a low hanging bar which has a “watch your head” sign. I remember thinking to myself, “why don’t they get rid of this bar so they don’t get sued?” And I immediately knew the answer, “Oh yeah, I already signed away all my expectations for safety while I’m here.”

OK, enough talk — if a picture is worth a thousand words, then this video clip will be worth more than a million. (12 frames per second x 87 seconds x 1000 words/picture — you do the math.)

P.S. If the Red-Bull-influenced narration on this video bothers you, turn down your speakers.

You can watch Andria jump here.

richard miller