Why is the cross at the middle of the cable difficult to negotiate?
The cross at the middle presents problems because you are switching support from one cable to another. I was uncertain of where my grip should actually be as I was attempting the cross. Finally, by slowly moving my hand down one cable, I was able to reach the desired other cable, and yank it up to catch myself. Then, I had to lean forward to support my weight as I was crossing over. Once, I got my foot over a portion of the cross, and got over the initial great challenge, the remainder of the cross (and the remainder of the activity) was quite easy.
Did you enjoy the challenge or did you feel that it was too difficult or too easy?
I thought the challenge was pretty enjoyable. The first part seemed pretty easy, but it was fun to carry out, so it didn't matter. The middle did present a challenge. Luckily, it seemed natural for me to lean forward. Unfortunately, that did not make it a whole lot easier. After navigating through, the last part was pretty easy, too. On the whole, the challenge was just easy enough to make it doable, but just hard enough to make it enjoyable.
High Tension Traverse
Did you concentrate more on completing the task or NOT falling?
For the first three quarters of this one, I concentrated mostly on completing the task. I was cruising across, and had enough momentum to keep me on a straight path where I didn't have any fear of falling. However, about 3/4s of the way through, I paused a little to regain control of the rope with a better grip, and suddenly I had to spend most of my time yanking on the rope to regain my balance. I slowly completed the remaining quarter of this event concentrating mostly on keeping balance as I slowly progressed.
What seemed to be the difference in this event and the Low Tension Traverse (other than the height difference)?
Actually, this event seemed easier for me than the low tension traverse. On the low one, I was unable to get all the way across without falling. On this one, however, it was easier. Maybe that was due to the additional practice I had had in completing the other activities. Also, the addition of a belay cable, probably aided in the keeping of balance. Sometimes I would seem to lose my balance right in the direction of the cable, thus allowing it to support me and avoid a potential 'downfall'. Additionally, because of the height element, keeping balance should have been more important. However, this really didn't come into effect until the end.
Kitten Crawl
The thing that was hardest for me about this was...
The hardest thing about this event was actually getting on to it and starting out. I had to go through many false attempts to get me feet on the wires. Then, I realized that that method wouldn't work unless I had my hands on, and so on. Finally, after spending, what seemed like an eternal time getting on the wires, I was actually able to start. Once started, I had an awkward foot positioning, however, my feet are used to being in strange contortions, so I didn't worry about it. About half way through the walk, I started to feel slightly exhausted as the strains of this activity began to toll on me. I did manage to keep on going and leaped for the end, though.
My belayer encouraged me by...
Originally, they offered to sing songs for me.... The also helped out by providing some advice for getting on to the wires, and beginning the catwalk process. Finally, once I was started on the course, the encouraged me to keep on going and also acknowledged my awkward foot positioning.
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