An exciting, electrifying day of fun and adventure was what I wanted. Doing something that was totally different, so out of the realms of what I normally did was my desire. Have you ever dreamed of climbing to new heights, to more than just a few feet above the ground? This had been my dream and I decided to do something about it. Deciding that climbing a high ropes course would do the job, I pursued that dream. Of course my friends wanted to know what a high ropes course was and wondered about the difference between a high ropes and low ropes course.
After doing a little inquiry, the difference is obvious. It is as the names suggest. Low course elements are closer to the ground and generally could rise up as far as four feet. Even though they are closer to the ground, they can be very physically challenging and could require the participants to use skills like team effort, communication and cooperation. The low course involves traversing on cables, ropes, balance beams and wobbly bridges between trees or poles.
High ropes courses are obstacle courses that are set high on poles, trees and platforms and can reach as high as 50 feet in height. They are designed to provide more mentally and physically challenging events for the participants. Because the high ropes courses are higher off the ground, they pose more of a risk to the participant than the low courses and therefore there is a need for more safety measures such as harnesses and helmets. High ropes courses use many of the same elements as low courses such as traverses, mazes, tires, bridges and may be combined with zip lines. The high ropes are often more individual challenges which might involve team support.
You know the saying ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’. Well when you are in an area where high ropes courses are available and it is your dream to climb one, you take advantage of a great day of fun! I took advantage of the opportunity to travel to Marble Mountain just outside of Corner Brook on the west coast of Newfoundland where a high ropes course offered all the excitement and exhilaration I wanted bubbling inside me. Looking way up into the air, my stomach churned and did a bit of a somersault. But I was determined to reach the top of the Spider Challenge that gave me an awesome view of Marble Mountain and the Humber Valley. And reach the top I did! What an exciting adventure traversing my way through a series of obstacles, jumping, climbing, stopping to admire the view and acknowledging the fact that I just realized my dream. I stepped out of my comfort zone, set aside a few fears and courageously reached the top.
For another great thrill, I chose my way to reach the bottom of the three- storey high ropes course, the Spider Challenge. I went zip lining from the top, soaring over a small pond, all the way to the ground. What an adventure!
