Rappel down a four-story building? Me?

Yeah, I did it Sunday when Dynamik Adventures came to town.

And now I'd do it again in a heartbeat. It's exciting, fun and scary at first. But once you've done it a few times, it's not that big a deal. I rappelled down the building at 122 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw, about five or six times. I ascended it only one time as it is very tiring.

I participated in the full class Eric Bishop and Brant Upchurch, partners of Dynamik Adventures, Lafayette, offered, along with Jason Slone (no relation), Mike Thurston, Staci Trolin and Phillip Swarts. Dynamik Adventures came to Warsaw after former Warsaw City Planner Jeff Noffsinger took one of their classes in Attica and thought it would be great to bring them to town. The building used is co-owned by Noffsinger.

The class began with all of us learning the correct way of putting on a harness. Bishop then explained the various pieces of equipment, including the rope, descenders and carabiners. Listening is key as they reminded us it's our lives at stake.

Upchurch demonstrated how to rappel down the building. He also needed to be at the bottom of the more than 65-feet building so he could belay at the bottom. We all were taught how to belay for each other once we all were down at the bottom of the building ourselves. Belaying is basically anchoring the ropes for other rappellers.

The building has a ledge at the top, which was the first obstacle to get over when we each began our rappel. Basically, we leaned back with the rope behind our backs in our hand, until our bodies were parallel with the ground. Then we stepped down off the ledge onto the wall - right foot, then left foot - and it always threw me off a little. But once I got past that first step, the rest of the descent wasn't so hard.

If I released a lot of rope, I could descend quicker. I also liked to bounce off the walls. A few times, I ended up swinging like a monkey and had to get my footing back. You have to keep your feet in front of you, not below your body.

After the first time down, the second, third and every time after that became easier and simpler.

Then we got to ascend the building.

That was the most tiring aspect of the day. It is like trying to leap frog up the building without actually touching the wall. It takes some coordination and some muscles in the leg. It seemed like it took me an hour to get up the building. But sometimes I just sat there, looking around high in the sky.

All of us participating enjoyed the day and got along very well. It was a unique opportunity that if you get the chance to experience, you should.

Now if we could only find a bigger building for next time. Perhaps a water tower? [[In-content Ad]]