Sunday, January 10, 2010

Is this rope safe??!?

You will just have to take my word because that is all the proof I have. (Camera was left in the car.) 2010 is turning out to be an interesting year because I have already jumped off a cliff. Its not what you think it is - all is well! And technically I carefully, inch by inch, eased my way over the edge with my trust in a rope. That's right, I went rapelling!

Rapelling is something I have always wanted to do but never had the opportunity. Luckily the invitation was extended to me, I accepted and went! The trip was nice and I got to meet some cool people. We went out by Salt River and the cliff was about 120 feet high. I was glad that it was only that high because when I first 'accidently' looked over the edge my heart definitely skipped a heart beat and my body said, "What the heck are you doing?" Ignoring my sanity, I continued inching my way over the edge hoping that my right hand would continue being the brake hand I needed it to be. With nerves and mind going crazy and the rope being heavier that I thought, I started letting the rope go through my hand hoping I would be able to brake. My fear came true; I was not really able to get my hand back behind me to brake. It was free fall from my first 'bounce' off the wall to the ground. I was freaking out because I was just falling down the rope. "Ahh, Ahh, stop it stop!" Just before a total break down began I saw land only inches below me. Once on the ground of sanity my legs collapsed and I was laying on my back. From there I screamed, "I did it!" I experienced personal triumph.

Would I do it again? Yes! And I did. I went for a second time just to prove that I could do it again. The story was the same but I was able to bounce twice off the wall this time. My brake worked a little bit better thank goodness. :) But I still lost my footing once on the ground again so I yelled again, "I did it" from my back. I wish I could have gone more but with so many people there was not much of a chance to go more than twice.

So let it be recorded that on the ninth day in the year two thousand ten as the day that I, Stephanie S. trusted a rope and rapelled down a rock...and enjoyed it! ;)

4 comments:

Bethany Jane said...

Brave! I'm too chicken to do it. I'm afraid the rope will break and I will plunge to my death, or something.

Jonathan and Mandi Crandell said...

Good for you! I'm always surprised how much I enjoy things I never thought I would even do. So whats next? Sky diving? Miss you. We 'should' be in AZ for the 4th this year. We need to get together.

Aunt Bec said...

Kind of scary to think about a rope being the one thing that is holding you and keeping you alive. You should plan on coming up here in June, we take a trip down to black dragon every June to go. This year we are going to add white water rafting to our adventure. Hope all is good with you.

Hanie said...

Sky diving or bungee jumping is next...or at least sky diving indoors. One small step at a time right??! And Bec I'll keep the trip in mind. Sounds like it would be really fun :)