Spring 2017 LOCALadk Magazine 27
LOCALadk
Fun Adventures
the features, you are "clipped in" (which means connected to
a suspended safety cable by a carabineer that is attached to
your harness). This system is completely safe and you can try
to relax at 45 feet above the ground, knowing you have back
up. However, as you change from feature to feature, it is solely
your responsibility to transfer the gear safely and precisely,
as instructed. This independence made the adventure more
intimidating, but also more rewarding. There is a ground patrol
for extra support that might be needed and as you complete
any of the six sequential courses you need staff approval to
continue onward to the next and increased challenge.
We spent literally hours in the air – suspended far above the
streams and forest floor on moving and swaying obstacles.
We were challenged physically, mentally, and emotionally –
sometimes throwing down additional challenges to each other
to go without hands, or to race across parallel features. In four
hours, we covered five of the six courses, saving the Black/
Most Advanced Course for another visit. Also warranting a
return trip, just as much as the promise of the Black Course,
was the hand-cut french fry food truck, which had shut down
by our departure time.
Peter Evans
