September 18th was Aarons 16th Birthday. To celebrate, the Powells helped arrange for us to go out to the ropes course at Camp Linden! We were able to keep it a surprise from Aaron and invited the Welch's, Pines, and Swanks (Mom's Sister's family) to go with us.
Here's a picture to try and help you picture how everything works: There are 3 levels and 2 sectons to each level.
part of the line-up!
All rigged up and ready to go
We separated into three teams and all started on different levels and sections.
Team 1 consisted of Dad, Uncle Dan, Josiah, Brett, Eric and Mr. Welch
Team 2 was the girls team of Tori, Rebekah, Mallory, Amber and I
Daniel, Jarret, Aaron, Jedi
diah, Grant and Dylan made up Team 3. Here they are starting on "the matrix" or the first section of level 2. They have to get everyone across as a team without holding onto anything (like their safety straps, etc) but just using each other to keep their balance.
believe me, it's harder then it looks! If someone starts shaking, the entire line can become unstable.
Mr. Welch and Dad from team 1 working on getting everyone across. This is from the first level. You have get your entire team to the other side by walking on a tight rope.
There are a few ropes hanging down to help you get from one side to the other, but you have to figure out how to make them work!
Almost across! Technically, if someone falls off, you have to start that section again :)
Team 3 working on section 2 of level two. Here there are two tightropes and support ropes in an X - once again, you have to get your team across and figure out how to use the ropes to balance you. Since your support ropes are also in an X once you get to the middle, you have to step over the rope twice, which is quite a balancing act!
The girls start on Level one section 2. The object is to get everyone across without letting the board touch the ground and anyone fall off - the only thing you could hold on to were the ropes holding the sections up. If this course had been higher off the ground, this would have been the most challenging section to do. But since you were close to the ground, you felt like you could risk more :)
I think each team had someone fall off at least once on this section - one team had a couple folks ;)
The boys (team 3) finishing up level 2 section 2. Here Dylan is trying to assist Grant by holding the ropes steady as he steps over the X.
The Girls making progress
Team 1 starting on the Matrix.
team work - if one falls, they all fall :)
Here's a picture put into perspective! The boys (team 3) are starting on level 3 section 2. Here there are only a few vertical poles that you can hold on to and they are space a *long* way apart!
The Girls starting on level 1 section 1
This picture was taken from the other side of the last vertical picture. You can see the boys (group 3) are still up on the vertical poles, team 1 is on level 2 finishing up the matrix and team 2 is working on level 1.
The girls are almost across!
Dad working on crossing the X on level 2
The Girls headed up to level 2!
The boys finished up with the verticle poles and started on the last course on level 3. There are 2 pully systems with ropes hanging down and you have to evenly balance your team on each side so they will pull against each other and keep their balance.
Team 1 finishing up the X
The boys are finished with both level 2 and 3 so they take the zip line to the bottom.
Jed and Aaron
Daniel and Jerrit
Dylan and Grant
Jed all geared up
The girls working their way across the Matrix
Team 1 starts on the verticle poles while the boys start on level 1
balance :)
Team 1 now working on the last secton on level 3! The pully system...
This is what happens when you get all your safety lines confused!
Team 1 now working on level one
The girls working on level 3
Bekah and Tori taking the zip line down
We had a *blast* doing this :) The main feeling what that the vertical poles (level 3) were the hardest to do though a few folks thought it was the matrix on level 2
