Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Terrifying, Thrilling, Amazing Adventure!!! March 14-16

This trip was something I never thought I would be able to do... For my Outdoor education class we had to go to a place called Meebunn-Bia. It was a lot of hiking with packs on our back as big as us, as you can see in the pictures below. The first day we got there at about 10 am and started playing some warm up games that were pretty cheesy, but fun. After a couple of games the first hike began. It took about 2 hours to get to our first campsite. Once we got there we had some lunch then had to pitch our tents... well these weren't real tents... some poles with a tarp above it. NO DOORS!! so of course I was freaking out that there would be bug and snakes and wild animals coming in throughout the night... not happy about that! Then we went to the ropes course which was awesome. 
The ropes course had 4 things you could do. An easy, medium, and difficult level. Then a zip line. I did the easy and medium level of the high ropes courses and then the zip line. Didnt make it to the difficult level... it started to rain and my hands and feet were killing me by this point. And the medium level was already really difficult! I was happy with the accomplishment :) The zip line was awesome. Had to climb up this tiny later then stand on a tiny little piece of wood until the instructor connected you to the wire. Then jumped off and zipped all the way down. It was really fun.
Then we went back to the campsite and had to make supper. It was dark out and we only had these small pans to cook in (as shown below). The first night we made alfredo with tuna in it and it actually turned out really good! Then we all sat around the campfire and played games! The games were really fun! and everyone got really into them! then it was the scary part... going to bed... During the games we saw like 10 possums come up right next to us so i thought for sure they would come into our tents (which as happened in the past!) Well the first night I slept okay.. probably got like 4 hours. They woke us up at about 7 which was fine with me because I was already up! 
The second day we had our navigation hike. We were in groups of 4 and had to find our way to 15 different spots throughout the forest, bush, and by rivers! we were given a map, a radio, and a compass. When we got to the right spots there would be cans with numbers on them so we could figure out where we were! My group did awesome until we got to can number 10... Trying to find can 11 was HE** haha we got super lost and to radio into our instructor... turns our we werent way to far off but there is no way we would have found it on our own... someone had to come get us.. haha 
All the navigation hike took 3 hours, have many scrapes and bruises on my legs. It was very difficult but saw awesome scenery! and it was cool to learn how to use a compass and a map! When we got back we got to make lunch, which was ANOTHER pb and j.. then we had to pack  up and head to the next campsite! This part was probably the hardest thing I have ever done... We had our huge packs on and had to go down the mountain we were on then back up another which was 10 times steeper than the first one! Thank god it was drizzling rain because we were all sweating like crazy!! 
Once we got to the campsite it was almost sunrise, the instructor told us to drop our packs and walk up this pretty big hill right by us... I almost died. haha once we got up the hill it was completely worth it!!!! The most amazing view I think you can get!! I know the pictures below just seem like another sunset but I swear this is 10 times better than you are thinking!! AMAZING!! 
Then we went back to the campsite.. made supper, grilled cheese and tomato soup this time. Played some camp fire games then went to bed. This night a possum was pretty much in our tent... One of the girls in my tent tried to use her bag as like a door so a possum wouldn't come in... well she awoke to it going through her bag and eating her trail mix! It of course woke us all up! soooo scary! 
The next day we got to do a partner high ropes course. You are connected to a friend by a like 5 foot rope and try to get to a bell to ring it. We made it! It was really difficult! took us 20 minutes and 38 seconds! We were proud! Had to use a lot of arm strength! (yes I know carolyn I dont have much!) haha 
Then we did a this free fall drop. Where you climb up this really skinny latter which was really hard to do! then again stood on this tiny little log waiting until the instructor had you ready to jump. Looking down was terrifying and it was really windy so it just felt like you were going to get pulled off before your instructor had you clipped on right. Then when she was ready I jumped off and free fell for about 5 seconds! it was really fun but not as thrilling as skydiving of course! haha Then we went walked back down to where we would get picked up and played more games! then finally left! No shower for three days was interesting! boy did we stink up that bus! :) 
Meebunn-Bia!
Starting our first hike of the first day!... Here we go...

Starting the high ropes courses!!
On top of a beautiful mountain at sunrise!!
Our group on the top of the mountain!!
That picture of me and the tarp is where I slept for two nights!! Had to make it ourselves... a rope tied to two trees with a tarp over it!! NO DOORS!! LOTS OF POSSUMS!! SOOO SCARY!! The picture with me and the dirty pan is how we cleaned our dishes!... with mud!! it actually works really well what is weird! 
The most beautiful thing I have ever seen! we were on summit and saw the sunset!!! AMAZING!! Mountains every where!
Above is our stoves that we had to cook with... It was very interesting. We made grilled cheese and tomato soup this night!

1 comment: