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Clifftop encounter with some 8-legged friends
By Iruoma Ekpunobi |
October 31, 2012, Wednesday
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WHEN my group and I first started to hike up the mountain, I was petrified. I had a crippling fear of heights, and also was terrified of not being able to climb high or being composed enough up the mountain. Once we reached the top of the huge cliff face though, I was able to take in my surroundings and calm down.
After we met our rock climbing guide, Sarah, I was able to quickly strap myself into some gear and get a spot on the side of the rocks by some friends.
We talked and joked for a while, until the first four people were done with their turns.
Mrs Linh, our group leader, called out for four more people to volunteer, and so, figuring that it would be better to get it over with, I stood up.
"I'll go first, Mrs Linh," I announced.
"Great, come get into the harness!" She replied.
There was a steep hike down to the second station, the one I was planning to climb, and I hadn't broken in my hiking shoes well enough, so they had already started to rub against my heels, especially when going downhill.
After finally making it down though, my instructor helped me get strapped into the harness and encouraged me to climb a bit higher every time I stopped.
I finally reach the top and was planning to turn around and see the view, but of course, things can always take a different road to the one you expect.
Planning to use a crack in the rock above my head for a grip while I turned to look, I thrust my hand into the crevice - then shrieked in horror as a family of spiders came rushing out and rested on my arm!
I jumped back, causing my rope to twist, but eventually was able to re-gain control and finish my descent in peace.
After finishing rock climbing and having lunch, we made our way down the mountain to a meeting area, where we met up with one of the other groups.
They informed us that we would be rappelling and zip-lining for our next activity, but first we would have to trudge up a mountain far higher than the one we had just climbed.
Before we could bombard them with all our questions, it was time for us to start on our hike. We slowly made our way up the enormous slope and by the time we heard our group leader screamed "Halfway!" from the front of the line, we were all faint from the strain and the heat.
Once we managed to pull ourselves up from the last rock and plunk down on the cliff's edge, we finally had a chance to take in the wonder that was the mountain. It had a gaping hole in the middle, which provided us with an amazing view of the entire Yangshuo countryside. It was truly beautiful. Far too soon, we were pulled away from our resting places and called to get ready for the zip-lining and rappelling. Once we were strapped in, we lined up and got ready to slide across the ravine, and land on the other side. It seemed like an eternity, the wait, but finally it was my turn. I stepped up to the rock jutting out from the side of the mountain and was strapped into the harness.
"Are you ready?" The instructor asked me,
"Um... no?" I replied, but my response fell on deaf ears as I went flying across the gap.
Iruoma Ekpunobi is a Grade 8 student at Concordia International School Shanghai
After we met our rock climbing guide, Sarah, I was able to quickly strap myself into some gear and get a spot on the side of the rocks by some friends.
We talked and joked for a while, until the first four people were done with their turns.
Mrs Linh, our group leader, called out for four more people to volunteer, and so, figuring that it would be better to get it over with, I stood up.
"I'll go first, Mrs Linh," I announced.
"Great, come get into the harness!" She replied.
There was a steep hike down to the second station, the one I was planning to climb, and I hadn't broken in my hiking shoes well enough, so they had already started to rub against my heels, especially when going downhill.
After finally making it down though, my instructor helped me get strapped into the harness and encouraged me to climb a bit higher every time I stopped.
I finally reach the top and was planning to turn around and see the view, but of course, things can always take a different road to the one you expect.
Planning to use a crack in the rock above my head for a grip while I turned to look, I thrust my hand into the crevice - then shrieked in horror as a family of spiders came rushing out and rested on my arm!
I jumped back, causing my rope to twist, but eventually was able to re-gain control and finish my descent in peace.
After finishing rock climbing and having lunch, we made our way down the mountain to a meeting area, where we met up with one of the other groups.
They informed us that we would be rappelling and zip-lining for our next activity, but first we would have to trudge up a mountain far higher than the one we had just climbed.
Before we could bombard them with all our questions, it was time for us to start on our hike. We slowly made our way up the enormous slope and by the time we heard our group leader screamed "Halfway!" from the front of the line, we were all faint from the strain and the heat.
Once we managed to pull ourselves up from the last rock and plunk down on the cliff's edge, we finally had a chance to take in the wonder that was the mountain. It had a gaping hole in the middle, which provided us with an amazing view of the entire Yangshuo countryside. It was truly beautiful. Far too soon, we were pulled away from our resting places and called to get ready for the zip-lining and rappelling. Once we were strapped in, we lined up and got ready to slide across the ravine, and land on the other side. It seemed like an eternity, the wait, but finally it was my turn. I stepped up to the rock jutting out from the side of the mountain and was strapped into the harness.
"Are you ready?" The instructor asked me,
"Um... no?" I replied, but my response fell on deaf ears as I went flying across the gap.
Iruoma Ekpunobi is a Grade 8 student at Concordia International School Shanghai
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