Higher than fear
Anyone who has ever held a job may have hoped at some point that their boss would fall off a cliff. But anyone who has caught their boss after they fall of a cliff may have been to the USU Ropes Course.
Nestled in a clearing near the mouth of Logan Canyon, the USU Ropes Course is a collection of physical challenges that test balance, courage and ingenuity while building trust and confidence among members of groups. Owned by USU Conference Services, the ropes course is utilized by corporations, youth groups, church groups and athletic teams for team-building activities designed to build cooperation and trust.
But many people don’t even know it’s there.
“It’s the best-kept secret in Logan,” said Chelsea Nelson, the ropes course coordinator.
To help change that, an open house was held Thursday to spread the word about the ropes course, which was built in 1999 but has only begun to see notable traffic in the past two years. The public was not allowed to test the course activities at the open house due to liability issues, but employees of Conference Services demonstrated the challenges, which include a zip line, a mini skycoaster, and a wobbly log hung high in the air that two people must work together to cross from opposite directions.
“In every organization, you need to learn to work together. Every one of these events you need to work with your team,” Nelson said.
Such course events include walking on a rope from one post to another on the “Mohawk Walk” as well as the “Nitro,” which challenges people to cross a pit from one platform to another using a rope that hangs out of reach in the center.
“People get really creative,” Nelson said.
LeeAnn Lundgreen, a junior in social work who was demonstrating elements of the course, said the physical component is not the greatest challenge of the activities.
“It’s overcoming the fear. Even though you’re fully harnessed, you feel like you’re going to fall,” Lundgreen said.
Kylie Rakes, a junior majoring in biology, said the fun part of the ropes course is the atmosphere that is created when teams do the challenges together.
“It’s so fun, the enthusiasm your team expresses. There’s rules here, there’s no negativity at all. There’s a rule, you can’t say ‘fall’ or ‘can’t’ or ‘die,'” Rakes said.
One activity where those rules are especially important is the “trust fall,” in which participants stand on a platform and fall off it backwards into the arms of teammates.
Lundgreen said it was frightening when she did the trust fall, but her teammates did not let her down.
“It was like, the most amazing thing when they catch you and you don’t hit the ground,” Lundgreen said.
Nelson said the trust fall is probably the most dangerous activity on the course, “but it is extremely safe if people are focused.” She said she has seen teenage girls catch grown men during the trust fall, and there have never been any serious injuries on any of the ropes course activities.
Groups that come to the ropes course are supervised by people trained in belaying, debriefing groups on the rules, first aid and CPR, Nelson said.
Sandie Waters, the distance learning endorsement coordinator for the department of instructional technology, said she brings two groups a year to the ropes course. Waters said she has increased the two hours spent by groups at the ropes course to half a day because she thinks it is so helpful. The groups are comprised of master’s or PhD students from all over Utah who take classes together online. Waters said including the ropes course as part of their orientation helps them to trust each other and trust her throughout their course work.
“The nature of our program is that we do a lot of group work. So this really is the beginning of the process, to be able to form (groups) and have conflicts and conflict resolution. It kind of speeds up that process,” Waters said.
Forrest Blair, the senior director of engineering at Thermo Fischer Scientific, said he came to the open house to see whether the ropes course would offer a good team-building exercise for the company.
“We know that we have a need for team building and camaraderie,” Blair said.
“I think they would like it,” Blair said of his employees. “I think it’d be good for them.”
Brittney Hunt, a senior majoring in public relations, tried the zip line for the first time yesterday. The zip line is a cable strung between a 47-foot platform and a pole, which participants are hooked to so they can slide down it across a field.
Hunt said the scariest part of the experience was not rushing down the zip line, but standing on the edge of the platform.
“It was awesome. It’s just like, a nice view up there. It’s a relaxing way to see the valley. It’s honestly the best way to get off of (the platform),” Hunt said.
Nelson said a 98-year-old woman once tried the zip line during a family reunion at the ropes course.
“She was just as happy as ever going down,” Nelson said.
The ropes course is not available for individuals but is available to groups of more than 10 people. Participants must be at least 10 years old and be able to fit in harnesses. Prices range from $16 to $30 per person, depending on a group’s size, make-up and needs.
Nelson said new elements are scheduled to be added to the course this summer so returning groups will have new activities to try. She said she would like to try to add new course elements every year to keep it growing.
“Just to see how it’s grown since I’ve been here, from before when no one was using it, has been really cool,” Nelson said.
-jenbeasley@cc.usu.edu