Abseil - Part Deux

[Mission]

Some of you may remember from manxonline that back in March, I was set to do an abseil to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Relief. I posted a thread on it and was due to put some pictures up after I had done it but alas, as I waited in line, the event was postponed just before I was due to do my abseil. I was assured at the time that I would get the chance to do it at a later date but nothing came of it until last week. I got a call asking if I was free on Sunday morning (which I was) and was due to abseil at 9:30 a.m. Once again though, the weather was against me and it was rescheduled for 5:30 p.m. today.

 

No problems with the weather today, so I headed off to the Venture Centre to meet up with the instructors. Once there, we headed straight to Maughold and to the cliff. We got our safety gear on and after a quick refresher (and posing for a picture) I started to walk backwards down the small gully and the top of the cliff. At this point, I kinda messed up as my legs weren't moving! I ended up flat on my back at a 90 degree angle with my head hanging over the cliff (not pleasant). I was told to swing my legs to the side and get them onto the cliff face and once I had done this, they pulled the safety rope back to get me in the correct position. I took it slow and steady, pausing every so ofter to check where I wanted to put my feet next. There are two overhangs and these presented a bit of a problem for me too (the second one saw me spin round and end up facing out to the bay with my back to the cliff) I simply couldn't spin myself round at this point so I just lowered myslef down until I came to a ledge about 30ft off the beach, where I had a sit down and pondered my situation! My hands were aching by this point and I was told to slide myself off the ledge and get my footing and then spin myself around (which I did). The last third was easy as the rocks were in steps and it was dead simple to walk down that bit.

 

Despite being very nervous, I did thoroughly enjoy it and I am glad I did it. They are planning another one next year to raise more money for MacMillan and if any of you are interested, I'll keep you posted.

 

For the record, I raised a total of £327.50. I believe the total raised by everyone was in the region of £22,500 but there is still some money outstanding.

 

Click here for the pictures.

[Observer]

Well done you - and I've had a good old nosey around your website too ;-)

 

Coincidentally, I was at the Venture Centre this morning :-) now if I'd known you were shortly going to be risking life and limb dangling (& swinging wildly!) from the cliff face with reckless abandon I might've hung around!

 

Fair play Mission.

[Mission]

Cheers Obs

 

I tell you what, my legs are aching now after climbing up the other side.

[WilDDog]

Nice one dude.

[ans]

Jesus Christ man, reduce that image on your website. It's over 2mb and about 5 screens wide.

[Mission]

Heh, I take it you are referring to the 'About Me' page?

 

I do need to address that picture, will do it tomorrow as I'm off to bed now.

 

EDIT: Changed the picture.

[Stavros]

Good on you Mission!

 

It's about time you got your leg over something.

 

Don't you look all sexy in that hard hat

 

You wouldn't get me hanging from a cliff. I don't think that they make equipment for abseiling apes with the coordination of a drunk hamster!

 

Well done, I'll sponsor you next year.

 

Stav.

[StuartT]

Congratulations on completing a personal challenge. you don't need to worry about abseiling at an organised event, as safety is absolutely paramount, you're abbing off several anchors plus have two ropes, with someone belaying you incase you have any problems. It's a good way to overcome any fears of height. If anyones got any doubts about doing an abseil, you just need to get out there and do it, don't worry about it, and you never know where it might end.

[Mission]

Thanks for all the replies. Stav, I'll let you know if I do it again next year.

 

Thanks also Stuart. You're so right about it helping with a fear of heights. I'm not too good with heights and this sort of thing scares me no end but after doing it, I feel a whole lot better. There were a lot of people there on the original event that were afraid of heights and they all said that they felt so much better for doing it.

 

The hardest part by far is the beginning. Once you have to get off the step at the top, you really focus on your situation and all your fears come flooding over you. Once you've got past that bit though and the rope has taken up its slack and you've got something to hold on to (and a solid base for your feet) it's so much easier. You've still got the height thing to deal with but providing you take it easy (and keep your feet wide apart for balance - something I kept forgetting!) you really do feel a whole lot better. I'd like to do it again, maybe off a different cliff next time though.

[P.K.]

What you tend to see on the box are the "experts" making it look so simple.

 

It is not. When I was working for The Queen we had to do this stuff. I was told by the instructor "When you have to brake just stick your "rope hand" up your arse. Not only will it stop you but if your bottle is going then it will hold it in!". So true.

 

The beginning being the hardest is all about confidence. Once you are on your way down there is no going back so you just have to deal with it. However it still takes someone to get off their arse and do it when they don't have to. Well done.

[StuartT]

True, it's a heck of a lot harder when you're the only person who can stop you from falling. I find abbing with one rope to get to the start of routes is a heck of a lot more intimidating than just doing it for fun, but never the less, it is still hard the first time you abb, even if someone is belaying you.