Rope Course
By Sarah Sexton
05.05.21
Our tree top adventure and rope course were nothing short of breathtaking. It was a golden reward after Lockdown 3.0 to be out in nature, embracing the trees. We clung to trees not just as a prize, but also as a lifeline while navigating the course over Death Valley. Delicate bridges and tightropes led us from one tree hug to the next. I came to appreciate the focus and balance required to conquer these treetop courses.
However, I overlooked the danger warning. We embarked on the Adventure Plus Course, the most challenging of all. The course team didn’t equip us with helmets, leaving our skulls exposed. The worst part wasn’t the potential for head injury, but the risk of near-fatal falls from the zipline without a helmet. The zipline was our only exit from this treetop adventure.
We noticed a lack of adults on the course. All adults landed in a similar fashion. You’re high up in the treetops, and the zipline is quite long and high. Your landing is cushioned by scraping your entire body on the bare earth covered in sharp, splintered wood chips.
I’ve experienced several ziplines in my life, all of which had a brake system to slow your speed. Here, we slowed our speed by dragging our bodies across the woodchips. In previous ziplines, there was always a staff member who would guide you to the landing platform, ensuring safety. Here, we were left to plummet to the earth’s crust layered with dagger-like woodchips. Splinters were unavoidable, and it felt like being shot by a porcupine’s quills. I ended up with five splinters embedded in my hands. Applying hand sanitizer afterwards was more painful than any citrus juice in a wound or salted wound.
My three daughters struggled with their landings. My oldest did a backflip and quickly got up to run away. I thought she was embarrassed, but she was actually proud. My middle daughter started to stick her landings towards the end. She began running in mid-air before she hit the ground, which was the approach suggested by the staff from the treetop rope course.
I tried to land gracefully but my attempts were futile. I was zipping at such high speed that fear set in as I neared the ground. I braced for impact and it hurt just as much as I anticipated! It took me a few seconds to gather myself after each landing.
On my final zip, while waiting in line with my daughters, I joked that I expected to die on this one. My girls cheekily picked out the jewelry they wanted if such fate befell me.
If you live in the UK and are an adult considering this rope course, think twice! It’s painful! I spent three days on a heating pad and stretching after this adventure.
The memories we make are often from unexpected happenings. These moments of fun and bonding will carry you far in life. My family can laugh about it now, although I am on the lookout for a new rope course for our next adventure.
As I spend my last months in England living like a tourist, everything is new and beautiful. I am seizing every opportunity…
Abbey Row 