Suspended between two trees, two canyon walls, or two spires, the challenge remains the same – stay calm. Silence the chaotic thoughts bouncing around your brain and reach a state of tranquility. Simply place one foot in front of the other, knowing you’ll eventually reach the other side. Along the way, be sure to enjoy the passing of time, the moment, and the courage you bring as you walk.
Slacklining is a sport of balance, walking along a 1-inch line, usually 2-5 feet off the ground. Highlining takes this sediment and expands it to significantly greater heights, with additional gear and lines for safety.
Sean Englund first discovered slacklining as a teenager but truly found his rhythm after moving to Durango and attending Fort Lewis College, where he studied Geology and Cartography. “I fell in love with slacklining and highlining because it was my quiet space away from school, my outlet to step away,” said Englund. He calls this moment forced meditation, the ability to focus and shut off the brain, not thinking about work, worries, or stress, and instead becoming wholly present in the moment.
His favorite pastime, once a hobby, quickly morphed into a lifestyle and, eventually, a career. Englund’s traveled across the globe, earning certifications and mentorship while tackling world-record-length lines and competing in international highlining competitions.
After a life-threatening speed-flying accident, Englund found himself in a period of rest, forced to slow down. He used the time to consider the next steps in his slackline and highline journey. During his recovery, he began to shape his lifelong dream of creating a highline-focused company. He sought to share the sport through a lens centered on wellness and mindfulness, and thus Uncharted Lines (UL) was born.
The company’s name is a play on words. “It’s like when people talk about an area of a mountain that hasn’t been discovered or named, it is an uncharted area… no one’s been there. No one’s mapped it. No one knows what’s there,” said Englund. Uncharted Lines haven’t been rigged or walked, awaiting explorers to reach new heights. The name also alludes to the future, instilling the idea that “your imagination is your only limitation,” said Englund.
UL is founded on three essential elements: community, safety, and dreaming big. Englund has taken these pillars and asked, “What about the people that [we] could make an impact for right here in [our] community?” In August 2025, UL hosted “Art In Motion,” a multidisciplinary public arts and movement event at Buckley Park. UL partnered with more than 15 local nonprofits and businesses to highlight body movement, mindfulness, preventive care, rehabilitation, and breathwork. Englund and his team wrote 8 grant proposals to bring this vision to life, securing Visit Durango’s Marketing Grant and Creative District’s Lodgers Art and Culture Grant.
Last summer, UL worked with The HIVE to host 4 slacklining clinics for local youth. A great introduction to the sport, the clinics helped kids explore beginner-friendly skills and learn essential safety practices. The clinics began with a small yoga class, where instructors taught kids the importance of mobility work and stretching. Switching gears, they then focused on balancing using slack boards – small, portable balance trainers that simulate slacklining without anchoring between trees. Gradually, kids worked up to walking slacklines between two trees with the assistance and guidance of UL instructors.
To learn more, please visit UL’s website at unchartedlines.com and Instagram at @unchartedlines.