Jumping out of a perfectly good airplane...

[badger]

I *might* be persuaded to skydive, but then I'd have to take ativan and that would probably defeat the whole purpose! good for you for literally taking a leap of faith.

I used to be very afraid of heights, but what really helped me was to be on the chairlifts. When I started snowboarding 6 years ago after a 10 year hiatus from skiing, I nearly peed my pants when I first went up the lift. I pretty much had panic attacks whenever they stopped.

But as with anything, going on it over and over and over again almost got me immune to it, now I can look all the way down at the highest point and doesn't faze me. Though having said that, I did have a mini freak-out when the peak-2-peak gondola between Whistler and Blackcomb stopped shortly past the highest drop. I mean, how in the world do they rescue you dangling 300 feet in the air??

[shootingstar]

I don't want to go on a chairlift. I really would not be comfortable at all so high up with no glass/ walls around me.

But then I don't downhill ski nor snowboard that needs a chairlift.

[Koronin]

I could probably be alright on a chair lift. Is it that different from a roller coaster? I love roller coasters.

[colby]

I *might* be persuaded to skydive, but then I'd have to take ativan and that would probably defeat the whole purpose! good for you for literally taking a leap of faith.

I used to be very afraid of heights, but what really helped me was to be on the chairlifts. When I started snowboarding 6 years ago after a 10 year hiatus from skiing, I nearly peed my pants when I first went up the lift. I pretty much had panic attacks whenever they stopped.

But as with anything, going on it over and over and over again almost got me immune to it, now I can look all the way down at the highest point and doesn't faze me. Though having said that, I did have a mini freak-out when the peak-2-peak gondola between Whistler and Blackcomb stopped shortly past the highest drop. I mean, how in the world do they rescue you dangling 300 feet in the air??

When I saw the peak-2-peak gondola, I said NOPE!!! I rode a gondola at a resort once with a liftie that also did gondola rescues, if they can't fix it I am pretty sure they basically have to go along the gondola, pull you out of the cart, and get you to a pole where you can climb down. NOPE NOPE NOPE! It gives me vertigo just thinking about it! After riding the gondola with the gondola guy, I did have to seriously think about riding the gondola again. Sometimes knowledge is not power.

I do snowboard and ride chair lifts and have taken other gondolas/trams. There's one chair lift in a ski area that crosses a big gap and goes along steep slopes that I won't ride, though. It's only a double. Perception of safety is definitely a factor. I ride in airplanes so often that I only feel the vertigo-y feeling when we are close to the ground (which jives with the skydiving thing I read). Quad/six-pack chair lifts don't bother me as much as doubles (but they also tend to serve less steep terrain).

Desensitization by daily snowboarding? Sounds good to me! Maybe I can find a doctor to sign off on that...