Evel Knievel, Chuck Yeager and the daredevil that ...
Key takeaways
- I look down and trace the river's treelined shore to the horizon.
- It's Day 3 of my road trip across the American West.
- I'm on an 11-day journey to answer that question and the many others it raises.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Illustration by ESPNAlyssa Roenigk Multiple Authors Jun 29, 2026, 07:00 AM ETEmail Print Open Extended Reactions There's no way around it. I have to be the first of us to step off this platform suspended high above the Snake River. I've practiced the step -- right foot first, not too big -- but this is different. This time there's 486 feet between me and solid ground.
I look down and trace the river's treelined shore to the horizon. I see the spot at the far end of the canyon where Evel Knievel once attempted a historic stunt. Wind whips my hair and puffy jacket. I'm told these are ideal conditions for BASE jumping, but I wouldn't know. I've never done this before.
It's Day 3 of my road trip across the American West. For generations, these roads have carried pioneers, inventors, adventurers and daredevils who looked to the horizon and asked, "What lies beyond?"