High challenge course activities are typically individual or for partners in orientation and designed to build confidence, positive self-esteem, communication and problem solving skills within an individual. All high challenge course activities are attached to trees or poles at heights ranging from 12-40 feet above the ground. Safety on these activities is maintained via an overhead safety cable called a "belay" cable to which the participant is connected via ropes and a harness. Although the perception of risk is high, the actual risk is quite low due to proper construction, program equipment and appropriate operational procedures.

Every High Adventure Challenge Course can be unique and consist of a different combination of components, more than one level of activity, and with either team (Dynamic) or self-belay (static).

Below are some of the elements we build with brief descriptions:

Bucket Bridge: This rope bridge is made of long loops of rope suspended from two parallel lines. The participant travels across the bridge by stepping from loop to loop.

Burma Bridge: A bridge made of three ropes, one foot line and two hand lines. Occasionally the hand lines are connected to the foot via smaller ropes to provide stability to the bridge. This is a great component to help acclimate the participant to being up in the air.


Cargo Net: This is a climbing net that will be suspended vertically from one overhead cable. Participants climb horizontally on this net to traverse from one end to the other.

Catwalk: This component is a balance beam suspended between two trees upon which the participant tries to walk without holding on to anything with their hands.



















Centipede: This is a vertical climbing component that is typically used as an entry point onto other high ropes components. It is made of several 4x4 beams chained together end to end. Each beam will have numerous steps for the participant to employ as they climb the free swinging beams.

Dangle Duo: The Dangle Duo is a giant ladder constructed of landscape timbers or 4x4 beams. The ladder rungs get successively further apart. Two participants climb this ladder together using only the rungs and the assistance of each other. This component is a great team builder on the high ropes course.

Earthquake Bridge: The Earthquake is a series of wooden steps or swings that are suspended from two parallel hand lines. The participant steps from swing to swing while holding onto the hand lines.


















Flying Squirrel: This component is a wonderful introductory activity for the high ropes course that involves participation of an entire group. One person is attached to the end of a rope via a harness and is hoisted aloft by the efforts of the rest of the group pulling on the other end of the rope. The speed of accent can be modified based upon the preference of each participant.

Giant Swing/Swing By Choice: The Giant Swing can be set up as an exit component from a high ropes course or as the stand-alone component called the Swing By Choice. When used as an exit, the participant will sit on the launch platform 20-30 feet in the air and have the swing cables attached to their harness. When ready they slide off of the platform and drop into a thrilling pendulum swing. The Swing By Choice combines the high thrill factor of the Giant Swing with the element of team support. Each participant is attached to the swing cables from a platform or ladder. A haul line is attached to their harness and after the rope passes through several pulleys, the rest of their group pulls them up to their desired height. At any point along the way the participant can pull the “rip cord” to be released from the haul line. Once released, they will experience the thrill of the Giant Swing as they sail peacefully back and forth.


High V: Like its low counterpart, the Wild Woosey, this component is accomplished with the aid of a partner. Pairs of participants move along this set of diverging cables to see how far they can make it without falling.


















Hourglass: This is another three-rope bridge variation. However, this one uses three ropes that begin either at head or foot level and then cross to the other side switching levels as they go. As a participant moves across this element, their foot ropes become their hand ropes and vice versa.


Islands in the Sky: This component is made up of a series of varying sized platforms suspended from above, each swinging from a central pivot point. This activity can be done both individually or with a partner.


























Leap of Faith: Also known as the Pamper Pole, Pamper Plank or the Quantum Leap, this is a wonderful trust and confidence building component in which the participant climbs up a utility pole, stands up on top of it and then jumps for a trapeze (or other object such as a bell) suspended 6-7 feet away.

Pipe Dream: This is a paired high event that is accomplished by two people supporting and helping each other. It consists of two sections of PVC pipe being suspended vertically approximately 9-10 feet apart and from the trees at either end. Each section of pipe is fixed so that it does not move. The participants move from one end to the other aided by their partner.

Pirate’s Crossing: This is a variation of the Tension Traverse. The participant walks on a foot cable and uses one of two ropes for support. The ropes are attached to the trees/poles at each end of the component at about head level. They cross each other slightly above the middle of the cable and are attached to the foot cable on either side of the cable's midpoint.
















Raider Bridge: This is a balance activity that consists of boards that are attached to two parallel, horizontal cables. The boards are placed with variable spacing and the entire bridge wobbles while being traversed to challenge the balance skills of the participant.

















Rope Ladder: The rope ladder is made of wooden ladder rungs suspended from rope. It is used to ascend from one element to another or as an entrance component.



Swinging Planks: This component is made of long boards that are suspended at each end from ropes. Each board or plank swings independent of the others. The participant will walk on the swinging boards from one end to the other of the activity.

















Tarzan Slide: This is a rope swing that is attached to a Zipline pulley. The participant holds the rope and swings/rides from one platform to the next.


Terminator: This is a wooden foot bridge with no hand lines. The foot boards run perpendicular to the foot cables to which they are attached. They get progressively shorter until they reach the middle section which is only 6 inches wide and approximately 4-6 feet long. The bridge then becomes wider again as it progresses away from the middle to the other side.















Tired Two Line: Also known as the Chaplin Walk or Slow Dancing, this activity is made of two parallel foot cables. It is designed to be used by either one or two participants who walk from one end of the activity to the other with one foot on each cable. As a two person activity, the two people support each other as they move across the activity.

Tube Net: This is a cylindrical rope net that can be hung vertically as an entrance component to the high ropes course. It can be hung horizontally as a traversing component or diagonally to ascend/descend from one level to another on the course.

























Two Line Bridge: The participant walks across this component on a foot cable and holds onto a slack hand rope that is attached at both ends at chest level.


Vertical Playpen: As the name suggests, this is a vertical component that is made up of a variety of different challenges/obstacles that need to be climbed to reach the top. It could be designed with any combination of climbing ropes and/or nets, ladders, tires, wooden planks, etc.


Vine Walk: The participant walks on a foot cable and holds on to rope "vines" suspended from above the belay cable. The vines typically vary in length and spacing.

Zipline: The Zipline is an exciting component on which the participant rides down a long slack cable on a pulley. It is a component that can be used in a variety of ways. It is typically used as an exit component from a high course or as a single “stand alone” component. It can also be used as a ride from one tree or pole to the next in the middle of a challenge course.