Adventure #3 - Mount Hermon Aerial Adventure
Updated: Jan 26, 2021
Objective Reflection:
The third adventure I decided on was a surprise Multi-Activity Adventure day trip to the Redwoods near Santa Cruz for an aerial ropes course and zipline tour with my adventure buddy. We headed out early for our 10:30am reservation and were met by excited guides and two fellow adventurers. The tour started with some safety precautions and a guide on how to use the equipment. Within 30 minutes we were prepared and hooked on to begin our first element. The first few obstacles were easy to moderately paced, mostly bridges and balance boards. But it quickly heated up to hanging ropes and moving pieces. Although I was focused on completing each activity and excited to figure out my next move, I took the time to take in the views. The ropes course sits almost 80 feet above the ravine, nestled between hundreds of redwoods, in its own little world. After the first route, we headed up to level 2 which consisted of some harder pieces, which especially tested our balance. Here we started to push ourselves, taking the more difficult routes, working up a sweat, and even challenging ourselves to some partner work. On one patterned bridge, we took turns leading the other while they closed their eyes and made their way across to the platform. That took some real trust, but was super fun. After that we had made our way to the ziplines! Since we had a small and capable group, we got to ride each twice for a total of four ziplines through the course. It was an incredible experience to be suspended like that, almost flying through the fresh air over the creek. After the fourth zip, we headed to the highest part of the course, the third level, which was also the most difficult. Here we hit some of the most challenging upper body pieces, which definitely made my arms sore the next day. After we finished out that maze we headed back to the center and gave a huge thanks to our guides and said goodbye to the redwoods. Since it was a little before 1pm at this point we decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and have our lunch at the beach. We drove some winding back roads over to the coast and set up at Shark Fin Cove for some quesadillas and sun, before wrapping up our adventure day.
Personal Reflection:
I chose this activity as one of my outdoor adventures, because I remembered doing ropes courses at summer camps as a kid and absolutely loving the feeling and the challenge, both mentally and physically. I was excited to find somewhere close and open during this time, and I am so appreciative of the support and experience of our tour guides. They made sure we enjoyed every aspect of the course and got the most out of our day. I told them I would shout them out on my class blog and they reassured me I would get an A in their books! Overall, the center and course were beautiful. I couldn't get over how huge the redwoods are and how stunning. Being so close to their heights, you feel incredibly small and powerless, while at the same time completing the obstacles makes you feel strong and powerful. One of the hardest ones for me was a type of rope swinging monkey bars on the highest level. I had to kick off the platform, extend my arms and legs to reach the next platform, while grabbing for the next loop so I wouldn't swing backwards. All while 80 feet above the ground! It took a little help from our guides and a lot of trust, so I was super stoked when I finally got it on the third try. I remember feeling grateful for challenging myself, not only in that obstacle but in this class. If it weren't for this time and support, I would not have had the confidence to challenge myself to do these kinds of things, things I love to do. It was also so relieving to take all that energy and adrenaline from the course and relax at the beach before ending the day. While on the beach, my Surfrider Foundation brain turned on and I also completed the EcoWarriors Challenge, picking up five or six cigarette butts, a candy wrapper, a sunglass case, and a plastic water bottle. From the beautiful drive, the redwoods and ropes course, to the little cove we found, I couldn't have asked for a better turn out for this day trip.
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