Guess who went on an adventure today? (If you guessed, “Wendy,” you would be CORRECT :D).
Eclipse and I took his dad ziplining in the redwoods as a belated Father’s Day gift. Except that at the last minute (after we arrived at the site), Eclipse decided he wasn’t up for it, so K and I went without him.
The verdict: it was TERRIFYING and also TOTALLY SUPER FUN and I really want to go again, because I think I’ll enjoy it even more now that I know what to expect. Because here’s the thing: I am terrified of heights. Like, vertigo and near panic attack levels of fear. But I really wanted to do this, and some friends of mine went and said it wasn’t at all scary (hah hahahah ha haaha ha ahahahahahaaahhhhh HAHAHAH), so I figured I would give it a try. I’m really glad I did it. And there were times when I was really fucking scared. 😀
Strangely enough, the ziplining itself wasn’t scary. That part was easy, and fun. Flying through the air at thirty miles an hour while suspended from a harness? No problem. The scary part was landing on the platform at the other end, and having to stand at the edge of a platform about 90 feet up in a tree. I spent a lot of time literally hugging trees today. Oh, and walking across the suspension (sky) bridges was also pretty scary. It helped to know that my harness was ALWAYS attached to a cable. You are never NOT attached to something, the entire time. But still. Ninety feet up a tree is definitely scary for me. The worst part was after doing the first two ziplines, when I realized that there really was no way to get down except to keep going. And looking back to see just how fucking high up off the ground we were (I think at one point, we were more than 200 feet in the air). If there was some way for me to have easily gotten down and quit at that point, I would have done it. In hindsight, I’m glad that wasn’t possible, because sticking with it was definitely worthwhile.
Oh, no, actually the WORST moment was at the end, when they belayed us down from the last platform – about 60 feet. There’s a part where, after we’re clipped onto the ropes, we have to step off the platform. I had to voluntarily step off of a platform 60 feet in the air, and swing myself around over the open air so my toes rested on the edge of the platform, and the rest of me was swinging in the air (60 feet above the ground! DID I MENTION THE PART ABOUT 60 FEET)? That looked really, really scary, so I volunteered to go first. I figured it wasn’t going to get any LESS scary if I watched everyone else go first. Then, funnily enough, being belayed down was actually SUPER FUN – just being held by the harness, hands-free (they make us let go of the ropes entirely) as I was lowered down. I LOVED THAT PART A LOT! It was just taking that step. Choosing to trust these ropes to support my body 60 feet up in the air. Scary as fuck, and I literally felt like I was going to cry because I was so scared. But I did it anyway, and I’m kind of proud of myself.
At any rate, like I said, it was super fun in the end. I definitely want to go again, because I think I’ll enjoy it even more next time. This time, the ziplining was fun, and once I got past that initial fear of being on the platforms, and managed to calm myself down, I enjoyed being up in the midst of the forest canopy. I was even able to stand near the edge and look down without clinging onto something with my hands and being utterly terrified. I think next time, I’ll be able to bypass most of the fear, because I know exactly what to expect all the way through, and I know I can do it, because I’ve already done it once. So, I think it will be more fun, and less scary. But even today it was fun. And E’s dad LOVED it, and E says that next time he does want to try, so I’m sure I’ll have the opportunity to go again.
Anyway ZIPLINING! Yeah. I’m really glad I decided to try it. Plus, the redwood trees are pretty. 😀 Also, for anyone who might live around here and want to try this place, I would HIGHLY recommend it. Our tour guides were WONDERFUL.
Let me know what you think!