Cliff Jumping in Virginia

Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

While it doesn’t always seem the case, I’m typically a risk-adverse person. However, I push myself out of my comfort zone when I see others do a thing and survive. One of the events that falls in this bucket for me is cliff jumping. Standing at the edge of the rocks, looking down towards the water, knowing that you will be in free fall for at least one whole second, is very nerve-wracking. BUT watching others jump off or flip off in some cases gave me the courage to give it a try!

I started off on the shorter jumps and worked my way up to one of the higher cliffs. While I still stopped and had to convince myself before each leap, the whole experience was fun and exhilarating! Up until the final fall… where I did not enter the water at the correct angle and ended up slamming my tailbone into the surface of the lake, which isn’t exactly a smooth, soft, pillowy feeling when you’ve left from a high cliff. Even now, I recall how uncomfortable the boat ride back to shore was, so take it from me, legs straight, arms crossed, as you plunge into the deep, but definitely try something new!

Bar Stool Talk: Have you ever tried an extreme activity that pushed you out of your comfort zone? Share your story, including any challenges you faced and what you learned from the experience. Would you recommend it to others?