How to overcome your fears of rappelling

Rappelling down a rocky cliff or raging waterfall can be exciting and terrifying at the same time. Standing on the edge and taking the first step can be the hardest.

All the rational and natural human instinct to prevent a possible fall materializes. Almost too instantly you feel the need to turn back and retrace your steps. It gets worse once you’re hanging from a rope held by metal clips, 100 feet above the ground. All unimaginable fatal disasters come to mind when you depend on a harness as a life preserver.

This is a dimension of the extreme sports experience, a premise that any fan would immediately seek. But for someone trying to rappel for the first time, all of these unsettling possibilities can be almost too difficult to handle.

Rappelling is a great and fun sport in which participants from the age of 6 can participate. Preventable human errors contribute primarily to rappelling mishaps. If you’re up for the challenge of rappelling, here are some tips and tricks to overcome the great fear welling up inside of you.

• A self-evaluation if you are really prepared for the activity. Avoid being coerced or pressured to do so. You would have to WANT to do it.
• Get more information about the sport you want to practice. The internet is a very powerful tool and will give you the facts you need to know about abseiling. Familiarize yourself with the process, the equipment, and the people involved. This way, you will have a better understanding of how things work and you will be as safe as possible.
• Meet people who have been in the sport. Information and first hand experience will prove beneficial in the search for rappelling.
• Go with a group of friends or family. It is where courage in numbers is applied.
• To make your qualifications easier, find a certified rappelling instructor. Summer camps are popular places to find these professionals.
• Trust the guide and his team. From your previous investigation, you surely came across equipment safety checks and precautions. Be sure to listen to your guide’s instructions. Don’t be afraid to ask or question things and procedures that you have doubts about. The fear of asking questions is a phobia that rappelling does not help to overcome.
• Take small steps. As a beginner, you’ll probably start on a fairly small rock face ranging from 60-75 feet tall. Despite any qualms you had before your first rappel, rappelling is sure to keep you coming back for more great heights.

Once mentally prepared for this exciting activity, the next thing will be the physical preparation. Nothing fancy and intense, just remember when signing up for the rappelling adventure to disclose any past and current medical conditions so you can be thoroughly evaluated to determine your eligibility to participate in the sport. If possible, clear your bladder before rappelling, as there are no pit stops on the way down.

All set now? Take a deep breath and enjoy the experience of your life.

By the way, keep your eyes open, the view is absolutely stunning!