What's the challenge?
To rappel down from huge rocky cliffs.
What are you afraid of?
Trusting my life to the anchor system and something going wrong.
How was the experience?
For this challenge, I contacted Discover Outdoors, a company that does adventure trips in New York and asked them to take me on their next rappelling trip. I had no idea what to expect and how scared would I be. Once there, we started to hike our way up, but as if hiking wasn't enough, they made us climb our way up which was extremely challenging and a fear by itself! I thought I was not going to make it but after a lot of effort and concentration I made it to the top. The view up there was breathtaking. Mark, Dan and Lane (our amazing instructors) taught us the basics, and then in efforts to be even more fearless I volunteered to go first. That's when anxiety started to kick in really hard! So they hooked me to the system and with no time to think it twice they asked me to start walking backwards towards the edge of the mountain! I must admit I was kinda' freaking out at that point, and looking down didn't help at all. I had no choice but to trust the system and start rappelling down holding on to that rope like if I'm holding on to my life (and I was). The first part was the hardest. standing on the edge was uncomfortable and nerve-wracking but to tell you the truth, as I descended I started to secretly enjoy it and feel very safe. Once I touched the ground I was excited to do it again and again. So we did it in 4 different spots; they all had their own challenges but doable! I enjoyed every second and I would totally do this again! Thanks to Discover Outdoors for such wonderful experience!