Sat, Sep 15 2007 - Treetop Trekking (View Original Event Details)
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It was a cool, crisp and sunny late summer day when fourteen daredevil TOCers arrived at Horseshoe Resort to take on the challenge of Treetop Trekking. And what a challenge it was!
For those unfamiliar with the concept, treetop trekking involves navigating your way through aerial obstacle courses, moving from tree to tree by means of “games” that include zip lines, Tarzan ropes, highwires, rope bridges, ladders, climbing nets, and others. After each of us was safely buckled into our respective climbing harnesses and kitted out with helmets, carabineers, cords, and pulleys, we had an extensive information initiation to outline safety rules and get us used to the idea of leaving the safe, solid ground to play high among the trees. Then we were let loose among the climbing courses.
We crept like spiders among the treetops. Moving from tree to tree, we tested our strength and courage with every obstacle we met. I was blown away by the bravery shown by Rebecca, Ben and Diane, each of whom confessed to a fear of heights. And here they were, 45 feet above the forest floor, hopping from swinging log to swinging log as a cold north wind shook the very trees that supported them! It was incredible.
For me, by far the scariest part involved swinging from one tree to another by means of a Tarzan rope. For all the other “games,” no matter how high up we were, we could support our feet and our body weight on something: a rope bridge, swinging planks, a wobbly highwire, anything. For the Tarzan rope, there was nothing. You just faced a wide, empty expanse between your tree and the next one, with nothing but a stupid rope hanging in between. As I stood facing the rope, my stomach lurched unpleasantly; my palms were sweating; my mouth was dry. I remember actually thinking, “I can’t do this.” Twice I had to step away from the edge just to breathe. But there was no other way down. So I hooked my carabineer to the safety wire, reached wa-a-a-ay out to grab the rope, took a deep breath, and … YESSSSSS! I DID IT!
After that everything was a piece of cake. And the final 940-foot BIG ZIP zipline? Why, it was the icing, of course!
Here is what some other members thought of their Treetop Adventure …
Kate: That was so much fun! (Although I thought more and longer-distance Tarzan ropes would have been good.) It was all great fun, climbing and swinging around like a kid again, but the funniest part was when a certain individual was on the split log (OUCH) challenge, and holding on for dear life, wailed (jokingly?): “I’mmmm ... gonnnnna ... DIIIIIE!” and then moments later was stuck in that last big net, immobilized like a bug on flypaper. Again, I really didn’t know human legs could bend that way...
Diane: To me it was a challenge just to complete the first course. I didn’t even want to attempt the Tarzan rope! Sorry I don’t have a photo of me drinking wine in the bar while the rest of you completed the courses! For the average TOC member, who would have a lot more muscles than I do, I highly recommend it. I took a bunch of brochures and handed them out at work.
Ben: I have a fear of heights myself and did not even think about how far up we were. I found it funny, not scary, when the trees started moving as I was waiting on some of the platforms.
Howie: Need to work on my upper body strength before I go for my next round. The zip lining part is the best! And be prepared to shout “Holy Cow!” when you attempt some of the little challenges high up on the trees.
Many thanks to Perkin for organizing the event with me and taking care of the nitty-gritty details. Stay tuned for another Treetop Trekking Adventure, and this time, we're going AT NIGHT!!!
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.