Bungee Swing Video in Rasnoave Gorge

The first time I visited the site - Rasnoave Gorge, Rasnov, Romania - I was both amazed and challenged by the 150 m high limestone cliffs. I knew it was supposed to be scary to either climb or simply be at such heights but I also new I wanted to taste that fear. It was at the beginning of my boy scouting era, back then, and I was learning about climbing and the related outdoor activities which involved ropes, carabiners, harnesses and testosterone (I lacked testosterone in many cases).

When I first got the idea of a bungee swing, I decided to check out the cables by sliding on them and see how the void looks like. Needles to say I was pretty scared and wasn't so sure if I wanted the swing anymore...

This year (2009) we gathered for the "abuse of the bungee jumping cables" - the cables were fixed above the gorge by some extreme sports club which charges tourists who want to experiment fear and courage through bungee jumping. We were basically doing something forbidden - that's why we choose to be there in the middle of the week, in the afternoon when there were no tourists and, of course, no one from the administration of the bungee rigging.

I know that some of you watching may say we should have used pulleys instead of carabiners for sliding on the cables and maybe we should have used another type of rope system - and you may be right. The thing is we used what we had and the rope system was thought to be simple and secure (two ropes for the swing).

Because we we didn't have pulleys, it took us on average an hour per person to:

• leave the edge of the cliffs
• slide along the cables
• pass the carabiners over the connecting rods between the two cables - these rods keep the cables parallel
• get to the point of the swing ropes - I was the first so it took me a little more time as I had to do the rigging
• tie in the swing ropes
• slide more onto the cables till the swing ropes become horizontal and stretched
• disconnect the carabiners from the cables
• hang on the cables...
• drop for the swing - yooohooooo!
• try not to vomit because of the dangling
• climb back on the rope using a rope clamp, a four step foot loop and a Grigri
• get to the cables
• slide back onto the cables till I reach the edge of the cliff and inherently the ground, which I want to kiss and caress :-)

I can't say this is the most extreme experience I've had but it's worth giving it a go if you have the chance. You can try to do this on bridges and cranes as well.

We took it as a mental training for big wall or alpine climbing where you have to be relaxed and confident even when you can't find the next hold, being at hundred of meters above the ground. There was lots of fear but I believe that's normal... And, as you might guess, it was fun!

Video made in HD by Razvan Precup - professional photographer and cameraman. Looking forward for the rest - Pti's and Georgel's jumps and some pictures.

Go for the crazy outdoorsy stuff and be safe!

Outdoor Adventure for Non Climbers - Team Building in Bucegi Mountains

Tourist client being lowered by his colleagues - a simple technique

in building trust among workers within the same organization

One doesn't have to be a climber in order to experiment the thrilling sensation of rappelling or flying through the air on a flying fox line (Tyrolean traverse). Most of the times you can find someone who's willing to show how to do this climbing related stuff without much effort on your side.

What is fun in the extreme sports business is that many activities don't require much strength or endurance but they do require sheer courage. I've seen men trembling and quitting just before they were supposed to rappel off cliffs using a static rope but I've also seen ladies jumping into the void with no fear whatsoever.

I believe outdoor adventure is all about attitude. That's why boldness and experience earned while engaged in action sports is not only valuable in the sport itself but also in one's life. The main reason most people vacillate before going for the adrenaline rush is because they get out of their comfort zone which is not a very cozy feeling... However, great things have been accomplished by those who stepped further and challenged the odds, be it in sport, science or business.

Conclusions like the one above were self evident in my last trip to Bucegi Mountains where I helped Dan Borcea (Castoru') with his team building business - providing thrilling moments for tourist clients.

Take care and go for the challenge!

Preparing the Tyrolean traverse - the static ropes were still loose

View from the top of the cliffs

Two static ropes, two pulleys and a third rope
for assisted breaking and stopping

Rigging for the flying fox line