After climbing the classic Don Whillans 
and Joe Brown route Cematory Gates, I stood on top of the route and looked down. The rock was sheer and the landing lay down near the road. The cliff was relatively low for a BASE jump but the extended hill would give us plenty of flight time. This jump had never been done before, so there was doubt in my mind.
Two weeks later Maria and I found ourselves navigating through bands of cliffs at the foothills of the Eiger. We were armed with a single photo taken from the other side of the valley where we had pin pointed a ski BASE exit. Maria abseiled down, the rope was 2m too short to clearly see over the edge but after a few rock drops and careful consideration we where confident we had found it- I still let Maria go first, after all it was her turn.
In any scenario where we are the first to take the leap, uncertainty creeps in. In an effort to deal with all the questionable variables that could cause an unfortunate outcome I break down all the aspects of the jump. One by one I clarify them and once satisfied I move it from my scrutiny and start to process the next aspect. As each one is clarified I don’t have to dwell on it any more, I focus on the next until all is complete and I’m left confident and focused on the task in hand. Being nervous with a wandering mind on the exit means you can’t concentrate on what really matters at that moment, the exit, the body position, the deployment.
We gear up under a roof of limestone. A bank of snow separates us from the 50 degree run-in to the 80m+ drop into the valley floor below. I go over my check list to satisfy my nerves.
Height- A rock drop at the edge of the cliff gave 4 seconds, though not the most accurate of methods, I was confident on the height. It also told us there where no ledges to clear. I needn’t worry about the height any more, I’m confident.
My kit – Packed and prepared like any other jump. Maria has adapted her skis to make them more suitable for a Ski BASE, taken the snag hazards off. I needn’t worry about my kit, I’m confident it will do it’s job.
My ability – Is this jump above my skill level? Previous training and my skills and experience meant that I knew this was in my ability. I needn’t worry about my abilities, I’m confident I can pull this jump off.
Landing- A snow covered field, no brainer. Getting back up to the lift would take some effort, but the jump would be over by then. We planned to fly as close to the other side of the valley as possibly to minimize walking time. I needn’t worry about the landing, it’s to hard to miss!
I watch Maria commit to the jump, she disappears over the edge, a clean exit, the canopy cracks open. Now it’s my turn. But after all the checks and even confirmation that the jump is achievable, I stand for a few minutes, ready to go, controlling my breathing before I take the turn into the jump, and then I drop in. It’s all good trying to minimize risk but at the end of the day we are skiing off a 80m cliff. I just try to weigh up the odds and decide whether it’s going to be a successful one!