Stepping out: Charity stages ‘rappel a hotel’ at Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego

Talk about room at the top. The Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego will make like the Matterhorn on Saturday as participants in a charity fundraiser called Over the Edge step out onto a deck on the 33rd floor, marvel at the high-altitude view and rappel down the side of the hotel’s tower.

It’s a 357-foot rush in 10 minutes that ends at a Landing Party for fans and spectators at the hotel’s pool deck with music, food and entertainment. (OK, supposedly it’s for charity, but this sounds like a ticket to thrill-ville to us).

The rope tricks begin at 8 a.m. and continue throughout the day for people who have pledged at least $1,000 to Kids Included Together, or KIT, a San Diego nonprofit that teaches organizations how to include disabled children in recreational, social and child-care programs. All the rappelling spots have been filled, a charity spokesman says, but anyone can watch and cheer others on. (If you decide to stay Saturday night, you can snag a room for $199 plus tax.)

So what’s it really like to take that first step into thin air? Check out this video made by Ron Donoho, editor of SanDiego.com, who chronicled his step-by-step descent last year.