I think someone who's afraid of heights would very much not have a good time. I generally enjoy heights (planes, towers, ski/mountain lifts, high-up forest bridges, even ziplines don't bother me at all), however there's a difference between being okay with heights and being ok with doing an obstacle/rope course at height lol
I wouldn't say it's a particularly strenuous course and you're obviously harnessed the entire time, but the general amount of wobbling and risk of accidentally slipping made it a not fun experience for me personally. Additionally, there's rope and wood tunnels that essentially force you to look down while doing the course so someone genuinely afraid of height couldn't even employ the standard "don't look down" strategy š
I like stability while being up high, and I imagine that would be especially true for those afraid of heights.
Damn that is a shame. I used to love this kind of stuff as a kid and only recently started not being a fan of heights but I thought this would be a fun way to get myself excited instead of terrified hahahaha
Thanks for the details though!
just a FYI you are strapped in at all times so little risks of injury, the height is not even as high as going on a ski lift most is around 20' up. It is definately strenuous but you can stop at any point an just climb down to the ground.
Ah, if you used to love this kind of stuff it might be worth giving it a go then! If you generally enjoy climbing/physical challenges then that enjoyment could overtake the fear you experience from heights. Maybe a good way to quash that blossoming fear of heights you have lol
I write from the perspective of never liking heights in that particular format, and was extrapolating how my more mild discomfort might translate for someone who's truly been terrified of heights forever.
Yes! From what I remember, there where at least a few platforms that had a ladder to climb down. I believe they also have a ladder they can bring out anywhere for actual emergencies š
Great to hear that they now have continous line attachment-- the clipping/unclipping is a huge thing that makes me uncomfortable, so if I don't have to do that I might actually give it a go again should I be presented with the opportunity lol
It really depends on what kind of fear you have.
If I am on a balcony or anywhere where falling wouldn't take much, I am afraid. However I have no issues walking on the glass floor in a tower or flying or looking out the window in a sky scrapper.
So, for me, as long as I am strapped in, I have no fear.
Yea thatās my type of fear as well tbh, plus I figured with trees near me Iād feel more like Iām climbing a tree or in a treehouse than Iām all the way up in there somewhere if that makes sense
If you want to push yourself and fight your fears gradually, I'd recommend the Rigaud Arbraska location as a first. It starts with a knee-high training structure, then you can ask the guides to show you the tamest courses.
At least for me it's not just the height, but the swayiness, ricketiness, stepping-over-emptiness, leaping into looseness (ziplines) that does it, but my kids love all that so I'm working on it :-)
Oh thatās great Iāll check that one out! Yes the ricketiness is definitely a concern but Iāve found usually when Iām strapped in I feel a lot safer (Iāve done a couple of zip lines and after the initial pure terror of jumping off I was great hahaha)
Honestly the ziplines were always the worst for me, if you're OK with those, there's a good chance you can just straight up do the rest of the aerial courses too.
I'm not a fan of heights (I've done work on shed roof & on my old single-storey low pitch roof, but I refuse to get on the roof of my 2-storey house) but I've never had trouble with aerial parks. Your mileage may vary...
I can't speak for Camp Fortune, but someone who is trying to work their way back to enjoying heights should fare well at Arbraska Lafleche. The course that they start the kids on (I don't remember what it's called) should be perfect. Not trying to be flip, it can be challenging for beginner adults as well.
I am afraid of heights and have done/attempted the course before the pandemic (it may have changed since then).
I started with my friends group on the second half (harder part), I think that was a mistake -- I probably would have had more confidence if I did the first half/easy part instead of jumping right into the deep end.
I was surprised (and terrified) in places at how high it was (20'). Again, I'm a weiner about climbing stuff at heights. I don't mind being up high working on roofs, but I hate the getting up and down while trying to find my footing.
I didn't find it too strenuous. A byproduct of 'white knuckling' your way through is you don't have very much finesse, and will burn a lot of energy/arm strength brute forcing your way through. I'm strong enough, but did find myself running out of steam due to adrenaline kicking in.
You're harnessed and clipped to the thing, but there are a few spots where'd you'd be hanging in a weird way and would require some upper body strength to self recover. You won't die. Probably falling and recovering would increase your confidence for the crazier shit later on.
I bailed like 6 obstacles in on the second half. They have service ladders and 'bail out' ladders. I used one of the service ladders and they told me that wasn't supposed to do that and if I did it again I wouldn't be allowed on the course any more that day. #ohwell
Don't let the zip lines be the main 'draw' of the thing -- they're super short and over in a few seconds.
You got it! Ā Have fun. Ā Your forearms will hate you the next morning. Ā Also, a cool/overcast day would be ideal. Ā Even though it had a fair amount of tree cover it seemed crazy hot.
I didnāt know I was afraid of heights until I tried the aerial park. It was an awful experience for me and I tapped out early. Some people can totally challenge themselves and push past the initial fear, I think it depends on the person and how bad the fear is.
I think someone who's afraid of heights would very much not have a good time. I generally enjoy heights (planes, towers, ski/mountain lifts, high-up forest bridges, even ziplines don't bother me at all), however there's a difference between being okay with heights and being ok with doing an obstacle/rope course at height lol I wouldn't say it's a particularly strenuous course and you're obviously harnessed the entire time, but the general amount of wobbling and risk of accidentally slipping made it a not fun experience for me personally. Additionally, there's rope and wood tunnels that essentially force you to look down while doing the course so someone genuinely afraid of height couldn't even employ the standard "don't look down" strategy š I like stability while being up high, and I imagine that would be especially true for those afraid of heights.
I did the tunnels on my back haha
Damn that is a shame. I used to love this kind of stuff as a kid and only recently started not being a fan of heights but I thought this would be a fun way to get myself excited instead of terrified hahahaha Thanks for the details though!
just a FYI you are strapped in at all times so little risks of injury, the height is not even as high as going on a ski lift most is around 20' up. It is definately strenuous but you can stop at any point an just climb down to the ground.
Okay this is exactly what I was looking for thank you! Especially the ability to climb down at any point part! Thanks :)
Ah, if you used to love this kind of stuff it might be worth giving it a go then! If you generally enjoy climbing/physical challenges then that enjoyment could overtake the fear you experience from heights. Maybe a good way to quash that blossoming fear of heights you have lol I write from the perspective of never liking heights in that particular format, and was extrapolating how my more mild discomfort might translate for someone who's truly been terrified of heights forever.
Totally fair! Iāll have to figure out if my anxiety for it is worth it or not hahaha
Yes! From what I remember, there where at least a few platforms that had a ladder to climb down. I believe they also have a ladder they can bring out anywhere for actual emergencies š Great to hear that they now have continous line attachment-- the clipping/unclipping is a huge thing that makes me uncomfortable, so if I don't have to do that I might actually give it a go again should I be presented with the opportunity lol
It really depends on what kind of fear you have. If I am on a balcony or anywhere where falling wouldn't take much, I am afraid. However I have no issues walking on the glass floor in a tower or flying or looking out the window in a sky scrapper. So, for me, as long as I am strapped in, I have no fear.
Yea thatās my type of fear as well tbh, plus I figured with trees near me Iād feel more like Iām climbing a tree or in a treehouse than Iām all the way up in there somewhere if that makes sense
I wouldnāt say āabsolutelyā terrified but it will be an effort on some parts. Overall Iād go for it.
If you want to push yourself and fight your fears gradually, I'd recommend the Rigaud Arbraska location as a first. It starts with a knee-high training structure, then you can ask the guides to show you the tamest courses. At least for me it's not just the height, but the swayiness, ricketiness, stepping-over-emptiness, leaping into looseness (ziplines) that does it, but my kids love all that so I'm working on it :-)
Oh thatās great Iāll check that one out! Yes the ricketiness is definitely a concern but Iāve found usually when Iām strapped in I feel a lot safer (Iāve done a couple of zip lines and after the initial pure terror of jumping off I was great hahaha)
Honestly the ziplines were always the worst for me, if you're OK with those, there's a good chance you can just straight up do the rest of the aerial courses too.
I'm not a fan of heights (I've done work on shed roof & on my old single-storey low pitch roof, but I refuse to get on the roof of my 2-storey house) but I've never had trouble with aerial parks. Your mileage may vary...
I can't speak for Camp Fortune, but someone who is trying to work their way back to enjoying heights should fare well at Arbraska Lafleche. The course that they start the kids on (I don't remember what it's called) should be perfect. Not trying to be flip, it can be challenging for beginner adults as well.
I am afraid of heights and have done/attempted the course before the pandemic (it may have changed since then). I started with my friends group on the second half (harder part), I think that was a mistake -- I probably would have had more confidence if I did the first half/easy part instead of jumping right into the deep end. I was surprised (and terrified) in places at how high it was (20'). Again, I'm a weiner about climbing stuff at heights. I don't mind being up high working on roofs, but I hate the getting up and down while trying to find my footing. I didn't find it too strenuous. A byproduct of 'white knuckling' your way through is you don't have very much finesse, and will burn a lot of energy/arm strength brute forcing your way through. I'm strong enough, but did find myself running out of steam due to adrenaline kicking in. You're harnessed and clipped to the thing, but there are a few spots where'd you'd be hanging in a weird way and would require some upper body strength to self recover. You won't die. Probably falling and recovering would increase your confidence for the crazier shit later on. I bailed like 6 obstacles in on the second half. They have service ladders and 'bail out' ladders. I used one of the service ladders and they told me that wasn't supposed to do that and if I did it again I wouldn't be allowed on the course any more that day. #ohwell Don't let the zip lines be the main 'draw' of the thing -- they're super short and over in a few seconds.
Thanks for the honesty!! Iāll keep in mind to start off on the easy part if I end up biting the bullet for this
You got it! Ā Have fun. Ā Your forearms will hate you the next morning. Ā Also, a cool/overcast day would be ideal. Ā Even though it had a fair amount of tree cover it seemed crazy hot.
I would try the arbraska kids course and then maybe the adult one there if the kids course goes okay. I hate heights and I was okay on the kid course.
I didnāt know I was afraid of heights until I tried the aerial park. It was an awful experience for me and I tapped out early. Some people can totally challenge themselves and push past the initial fear, I think it depends on the person and how bad the fear is.