The other week, I headed over to Buxton for a treetop adventure at Go Ape. If you haven’t been before, then you really should and here’s how to make the most of Go Ape!
I know so many people that have just headed out in whatever they are wearing that day only to find that their jeans were too tight. Or that the rain soaked through their wooly jumper or they were just freezing up there! We are hikers and walkers who brave every weather. So when we were planning our trip we opted for our hiking gear because it is comfortable. There’s nothing worse than trying to enjoy an experience when you’re shivering, uncomfortable or dripping wet.
So my tips on how to make the most of Go Ape are:
Wear layers
It might sound obvious, but it is much cooler once you get into the canopy of the trees. We had layers on and still got chilly fingers when we started out. In hindsight I would take my hand-warmers with me next time.
Choose something you don’t mind getting grubby
It doesn’t matter how good you think you’ll be on the zip slide landing, the chances are that you will spend some of your time sliding on your bum through the wood chippings. Having clothes that you really don’t mind getting dirty will let you get on without worrying about your outfi.
Waterproof
If it is likely to rain, make sure you wear something waterproof. We tried wearing our hoods, but it makes visibility a bit limited so we opted for the wet hair look. However, having waterproof jackets on saved us from cold wet shoulders and also gave us a nice easy clean surface for when we were sliding around on our backs.
Wear good shoes
Having something sturdy on your feet will help make you feel that bit more secure on the lines and platforms, especially if you’re there on a wet day. We just wore our hiking/trail shoes which have good grips and stability on your feet. But whatever you feel comfortable in is good – not heels or silly shoes!
And enough of kit, what about the other stuff?
Don’t talk yourself out of it!
You know what I mean, telling yourself that you “can’t do it” or that “you don’t like heights”, this is how you make yourself scared! Just go with the flow and know that you can do it! If it wasn’t possible, then how would other people be able to do it.
Wee before you go up
It might sound like another obvious one, but you will be up in the trees for a fair amount of time. Holding onto a full bladder is no fun at the best of times, let alone when you’re wearing a harness and swinging through trees.
Have a soft drink
Although it sound a bit counter intuitive, especially after the last point, but you will want to stay hydrated. Go Ape is harder work than it looks!
Listen to the instructors
To make sure that you stay safe and have an enjoyable and fun experience, listen to the instructions and follow them.. They are not party poopers, they want you to have fun and not die!
And finally, just enjoy the experience!
You are totally safe on the course (so long as you listen to the instructors and follow the information they give you) so just put your fears to the side, get clipped on and have a great time! Remember that laughing at yourself and your friends is compulsory and you will enjoy every minute! Even if you think you won’t like it, give it a try and see how you feel when you finish.
If you’ve been to Go Ape, what are your tips on how to make the most of Go Ape? If you haven’t, are you tempted to get along and give it a go?
Let me know in the comments below.
