Go Ape - Have I badly misjudged this?

[edwinbear]

I have a week off work next week and was idly looking for something to do with DC (10 & 12). Managed to book a fabulous looking (and discounted) glamping tent at Leeds Castle - marvellous. Had a look at what else is available to do there and stumbled across Go Ape. I've never been, DC are fit and active, so in a moment of sheer madness, I checked DC's ages and heights are allowed, showed them the pictures of the massive looking, hardest, most terrifying 'Treetop Challenge' course and booked us all on.

And then I looked at the detail and read the Tripadvisor reviews. On the 'Challenge' course, you're not permanently clipped onto the safety wires, we're all responsible for unclipping and clipping ourselves between obstacles, before hurling ourselves off platforms 13m off the ground and praying we've done it correctly. This seems like a recipe for disaster to me. I'm sure DC will have a grand old time, but surely all I have to look forward to is 3hrs of gut wrenching panic, being responsible for constantly trusting they've clipped themselves on correctly and double checking it - I mean there is zero margin for error on this.

Has anyone done this? How difficult would it actually be for me, or more importantly DC, to mess up the clips and die?

@Lagattolove

Two clips. One safety that’s permanently attached the other is to get you to the next obstacles. Really safe.

I think that's the kids course, on the adults one is definitely possible to remove both clips and be unattached (if you're an idiot)

Iirc if you're not happy after the safety briefing they'll give you a full refund. Don't forget gloves for everyone.
You'll be fine, though it; as others have explained it's a double clip system

It's pretty simple so I don't think you will mess it up. If you are worried you could swap to the easier ones (adventure plus, I think). Those courses use trolleys which are attached throughout the course. My eldest did do a clip on course when he was 7yrs old (abroad where h&s is not as stringent) and he was very careful to make sure he was clipped on unlike his dad

They train you on what to do before you go up onto the equipment. They'll likely put you in between your dc and can usually let 3 people stand on a platform so you will see your dc clip on and off. It's a very simple process.

Two clips - when using the actual item, both are clipped on. When moving off the item and onto the platform (and vice versa), you unclip one of them to clip onto the next wire. Once that's on, only then do you unclipped the second one.

You'll be fine, the safety talk is excellent and you can supervise the kids to make sure they're doing it right.

I'm wondering if I can bribe pay an instructor to come round with us. Or if we get there and do the training course and really don't feel happy/competent with the big course, if they'd let us swap to the Adventure + course, where you are permanently clipped on until the end.

But I do really fancy the big zip line at the end of the last stage of the big course and DC would love that.

My DS has done the big course twice, once when 10 and once when 11. He loves it.

It goes up in stages, 10 feet above ground level, 20 feet, 30 feet, 40 feet. So you build up experience of clips as you go.

The zip line at the end is epic. His sense of achievement was enormous.

Risks are part of life. This is a measured risk as you clip on to the next section, but it's also great for showing you have confidence in your kids.

Enjoy!

I did Go Ape at a hen do. It was raining, so very slippery and we spent three hours panicked, every single one of us (bar the brave MIL to be) shouting at other "check again check again am I clipped on?" at every stage

I've not been on any that keep you permanently clipped on. You just reach a platform undo the clip, relatch and off you go.

Honestly I think you are over thinking it. Unless they have additional needs, they should be perfectly capable of clipping on and off the way they will be taught. An instructor will not be able to come around with you.

I've done go ape a couple of times as well as some via ferratas in the alps. It's fine. The clipping thing is easy to learn.

Lol. I went when I was 12 (I'm 30 now). I was on the chubby side and couldn't get up this rope ladder thing, my weight made it go 'inside out' and I didn't have the body strength to get up or down, I had to be rescued by a man on a ladder

No additional needs, DD (the 10yr old) is a gymnast so used to heights and I think will be strong enough to climb up the nets etc. DS has done similar courses on school residentials, they are both confident and competent on clip' n' climb.

Thank you all so much, I think we'll do the instruction course and see how we feel after that, if we want to switch to the Adventure +, hopefully that will be OK. Then if we do the lower stages of the big one first and really don't fancy the last couple of high ones, I guess we can stop. I do feel reassured though, so very grateful to you all

My DC did it at ages 10 and 12. One fearless, one terrified, they both followed all the instructions fine. Its really well organised and difficult to get wrong!

Agree with many pp who say that you are always clipped on with at least one clip.

No-one dies on Go Ape!

[even though it's terrifying and feels like a near death experience]

Your DC will love it, they are the perfect ages :)

I’ve done it, send your kid in front of you. They wait and then You then triple check the clips before they jump to the next obstacle. It will be absolutely fine! I hope you have a lovely time.

I had the worst day of my entire life at a Go Ape but that was more about hauling my immense bulk (or failing at hauling it) around the course. And crying. But my 2 kids aged 10 & 12 were golden and constantly reminded my H and me (by shouting back the three miles I trailed behind) to clip on properly. I think they'll be fine.

You’re definitely overthinking it.
The instructors explain everything and you make sure kids remember to clip on one clip at a time. I’ve done it many times and taken kids on birthday parties there etc and they’ve always been fine. Someone often gets nervous but that seems to happen regardless of the clipping in, more just the height. It’s def better for safety than ones I’ve don’t in France

Go Ape is brilliant for kids. Both mone went regularly. I have a fear if heights and watched from the ground. They were very safe...no problems....no accidents. Let them do it.

Somebody died last year. An adult.

But go ape is good, do look at dropping the booking down a level though.

Good luck! I hate things like that, my inner lizard brain is always saying things like “ But you know stepping off a platform thirty feet above the ground is a stupid thing to do, so why are you doing it”

OP, go in between them. You can check the first DC has both clips on before they go and then check 2nd DC is attached before you go and catch up with DC1.

You never take both clips off at the same time when changing from wire to wire, so you are always attached by 1 clip even when changing over. It is fine, scary, but fine..

You really don't need to worry. It's a hook on hook off system so one is always attached. We did Leeds last year Dts were 9. It didn't occur to me to be worried.

It'll be bloody cold glamming though!

@Rollercoaster1920

Somebody died last year. An adult. But go ape is good, do look at dropping the booking down a level though.

I must correct myself. Not a death in the UK, but someone fell last year at Bracknell. We had a booking the following day and it was cancelled.

Such a timely post for.me.
I'm.going this weekend.
And I share the same fears. Ds has said and I'm terrified that he will lose focus and forget to clip on.

Do you go round all together? Will I be able to clip him on at each obstacle?

And do you stay up in the trees for the whole 2 hours, or is it up and down? So if he decides he doesn't like it, or I think he isn't focused enough, can we stop part way round? And can you miss out sections that look too scary and then carry on at the next obstacle?

Sorry to jump on your thread OP, but hopefully my question are ones you have too.