We were late heading to my son's birthday party in SLC, so we hurriedly stopped to buy a gift card and a very large helium-filled mylar balloon at the local market. At the top of the highest mountain pass in route, the balloon exploded, scaring the badookie out of us before we realized what had happened. Balloon purchased at 5500' and exploded at 8500' elevation. Afterwards, my wife was thinking "we've got to find another balloon". I was thinking "number one rule, don't hold your breath while scuba diving". Anyone living in the mountain states of the American west sees every day the potato chip bags on store shelves blown up like a TSA officer stuffed into a cop suit with the buttons screaming for mercy.
Unintended Lesson in Diving Physics
- Thread starter Litefoot
- Start date
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Sorry to hear of the trauma you and your family experienced. 
I was thinking damn, I could have used that helium.
I was thinking damn, I could have used that helium.
clownfishsydney
Contributor
Funny story, especially for me in Australia. 5500 feet is almost as high as the highest accommodation in our country. 8500 feet is over 1000 feet higher than our highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko.
Belzelbub
Contributor
Hold my beer.
8500 feet is over 8100 feet higher than the highest point in FL, and about 8400 feet over the average elevation.
dlofting
Contributor
So living in Utah you've got to have other outdoor interests besides diving. I'm in BC and we have a lot of great outdoor things in our backyard, but I still love to come to Utah to canoe, hike and canyoneer.
Yes, there is much to do here. I love to mountain bike, backpack and float the rivers. All my kids are accomplished in some sort of outdoor activity. My son-in-law is one the better river runners in Utah. My oldest son invites me to go canyoneering; continuing the rock climbing tradition we started when he was young. One of the most deeply satisfying experiences is to listen to your son teaching his friends a skill (like rappelling) using your exact words so many years before.
admikar
Contributor
