Last Edited: 29/02/04 - 21:15
Bridge Climb
Let me explain this in the simplest fashion possible.
When we were just starting our ascent, a group who had finished walked through the door. None of them said a word and they all quite frankly looked quite non-plussed about the whole ordeal. I remember distinctly thinking that I would’ve expected them to be cheering and panting and high-fiving all over the place.
When I arrived at the bottom of the stares, I looked exactly the same…… but i’d had one of the most unique experiences of my life.
…
I’ve done a few extreme sports in my time, and the bridge climb for sheer ‘wow’ factor is right up there with the best of them. The realisation of the height you are at is most evident in the first ten minutes of the climb, but the leaders intelligently don’t tell you this until you’re in the middle of lanes 7 and 8, trains and cars rushing by as you climb up the thinnest ladders in history.
My expectation was for the ‘arch’ to be where the fear was, but once we were on the arch we were absolutely fine. Walking along the miniature walkways and 5 flights of stairs at an almost vertical ascent was were I was absolutely terrified. I don’t care who you are, this is an intense experience.
When we hit the arch is was just amazing. The nightscape of Sydney is unbelievable from that height, and the realisation that you’re on the widest span arch bridge in the world is all-too-evident every time you look down and realise you’re barely a pebble in the larger context of the structure.
I could write for days about the details, the atmosphere and the exhilaration, but none of my words will do the experience justice. Without doubt the best $175 I spent on my holidays was on that climb. I will be back to do it again (at least once!) in the future.
p.s - The army-style setup/training/leadership of the leaders significantly enhances the trust and respect factor when you’re doing the climb. I now realise how much more comfortable I was that our leader continued to ‘power on’ and ensure that we all made it through the course in one piece.
150% on the execution of the system. From checking to clothing to handkerchiefs, glasses and everything in between they had it covered. Awesome.
p.p.s - Lommy who was our leader has taken the bridge climb 742 times….. two climbs a day is an 8-hour stint and she earns more money from that than working as a PA in Sydney’s CBD. Bitch 
