I have a fear of heights. Why then would I accompany a school group of 11 - 13 year olds to do a tree top obstacle course in the great outdoors? A VERY high obstacle course!
Monkido is a serious of wires, ladders, rope swings & ziplines all suspended in a beautiful forest setting, high within the tree canopy. Did I say high?? You are securely fastened by a harness/carabiner system so that no tragedy can befall you (one does forget that when you reach great heights) . The adventure starts with a "training" session on a course (ridiculously low I might add, giving no hint of what is to come) to make sure that you can follow the basic safety instructions set out by the staff. No problem here.
It has four levels, each increasing in both height and difficulty. The more difficult it became, the more I struggled with a past shoulder injury. Now, the fact that at many times, I was utterly terrified and hanging on for dear life 100 plus feet high, certainly didn't help those muscles!
The whole time I was thinking, why......why? This is entertainment? This is FUN!!?? This is terrifying!!! (Well, the ziplines were a blast......the rest....negotiable!)
But.......I was the last in line........11 year olds were flying through it like it was nothing. I wasn't going the be the one who quit half way through or be the one who would have to be rescued, clinging from a rope swing by the ruggedly handsome young guy who had been monitoring us on the path below. (Writing this now I realized I may have missed an opportunity there.)
In the end, I was proud of my accomplishment. I conquered a fear and emerged at the end of the course, weaker in upper body strength, but infinitely stronger in spirit!
Perhaps this was the purpose in the first place.
GermanG
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