Pretty much the perfect day... - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**benna2** · 03-16-2006, 03:18 PM

The accomplishments that can be made with a little help from friends, some self belief and a whole lotta balls...that is what I am writing about. The length of this post is obscene, but if you can make it through reading it, please do...I hope it can give everyone some self belief and encouragement as you may find yourself in some hard situations in travel and life in general.

This day has been possibly one of the best I have had since I came to the Dominican Republic. Myself, my little brother Zach (who is 15 and visiting for a week) and 8 friends took a journey to the waterfalls.

There are 28 waterfalls to climb before you reach the top, but most people only climb the first seven. After that it is pretty dangerous, rocky and overall just very hard to get up. But the group of adrenaline junkies I went with wanted to do the whole thing. So me, being full of self doubt and NOT the most athletically inclined girl in the world was not so sure how it was all going to turn out. Of course I had the choice of only going up as far as I wanted and meeting the group at the bottom...But if they were going to do it, I was going to try my best to do it as well.

Water currents, traveling at amazing speeds are working against you. The only way up is basically to work as a team and one person gets up, usually there is an amazing climber that can do it effortlessly! And then they stand, water going against them, as they hold the hands of the others and hoist them up. If only it is as easy as it sounds! Let me say, it was the most physically demanding thing I have ever done. There were a few times, close to the start of the climb, when I would say "I can't do it...." but somehow I would. It didn't take me long to stop saying "I can't" and to start saying "Come on Brooke, you can do it....push harder...." It really is amazing what a little bit of positive self talk can do.

There was one part where we had the option of climbing up a rope (very Tarzan!!) or rock climbing along the side of a wall. The wall looked easier and I don't have very much arm strength which is needed for the rope climb, so I decided to scale the wall. I was about twenty feet up with nothing but rocks below me and I was hanging onto a rooted tree branch with one hand, and the grooves in the wall with another. My one foot slipped and I quickly threw my other foot into a crease in the rocks and was basically hanging with only this one foot as my anchor. It happened so fast, but for a split second, I really thought I was going to fall. I didn't think about the consequences of the fall...I just didn't think I was going to make it.

I am not a religious person, I don't go to church as often as I should. But I do consider myself spiritual and the only thing I could think to do was say a little prayer. A fast one...I didn't have much time. I muttered "God, help me...I can't do this alone" My not so strong arms, suddenly gained enough strength to lift myself up and position my hanging foot back onto a secure place on the wall. A little shaky, but crazy ass proud of myself, I continued the climb to the top.

We finally made it to the top! All but one made it...One girl went back down because she was shivering pretty badly and was just too cold to continue.

The journey down was equally as challenging, but a lot more fun! Going down...you get to do some major jumping! I used to be pretty scared of heights and high jumps in particular, but a couple years ago I got over this fear and experienced how fun it can be. There were about 6 pretty big drops, clear into water and it was absolutely amazing. I did a jump, it was probably about 40 feet...I was the only girl in the group to do it and actually only four of us did it. I think I shocked everyone by doing it and surfacing with a HUGE grin on my face!

You all on Tpunk will be pleased to know that I was thinking about you as I was doing this little adventure. Thinking....I can not WAIT to post about this...They are not going to believe this little extremest is me! My body is scraped up and bruised beyong belief, but I don't even care. This has been the most character building experience.

The friends I went with were wonderful, supportive and we all worked together. When I would say that I couldn't do it, one of them would look at me and say "Brooke, you can...." Whenever anyone was having some trouble, a helping hand would appear and the trouble turned into a victory.

It was an increible day. I will be sharing pictures soon. And you guys....take it from me. Don't tell yourself "I can't" Because YOU CAN. Trust me. If I managed to pull myself up after dangling above a pile of rocks...pretty much anything can be done!!

**omisan** · 03-16-2006, 04:03 PM

Great story! can't wait to see the photographic evidence!

futboller · 03-16-2006, 04:23 PM

That's a great story! Makes me want to see these waterfalls (and maybe climb them) Can't wait for pics.

**benna2** · 03-16-2006, 05:28 PM

Here are a couple pictures of the mountain and my group of friends...the water pictures are still on the disposable water proof camera.

Our group

My "little brother" Zach and I...sporting our sexy helmets

Erik and Nils...tuckered out from the big adventure

Your very own Benna...After the waterfalls!

**LostFarmboy** · 03-16-2006, 06:04 PM

Sounds like fun!! Good on ya Brooke.

Nice photos. There's 4 blokes to 5 girls....not bad odds

**blinkchick2134** · 03-16-2006, 06:30 PM

I'm jealous!

**space virgin** · 03-16-2006, 06:37 PM

Awesome!!!

Sooo, when I come to visit can we go do this?

**bluepea** · 03-16-2006, 08:53 PM

Sounds amazing! I could probably never do it. I'm so terrified of heights. I've tried to overcome it a few times and nothing seems to work. It was pretty exciting though about two years ago - it was a baby story to yours though.

We went hiking in Texas. I wore flip flops not fully realizing we were going hiking. Well, after a few hours, we got to a point where there was a waterfall up a cliff and we could go that way and have an easy walk down the side of the hill or hike all the way back we'd come. I was up for the easy route, except the waterfall. Took one look at the mofo and panicked. We took our time getting there and I prepped myself as much as I could. I smoked a cigarette

and with my hubby and his brother's help, managed to make it to the top. I was absolutely ecstatic!! There was no better feeling. I don't think I could have done it 28 times though!!!

**tumblezweedz** · 03-17-2006, 12:46 AM

Guess we know who's gonna win "most extreme" next year...

Awesome Brooke!

**benna2** · 03-17-2006, 10:55 AM

Oh Nick, look at you, always figuring out the girl to guy ratio!! Actually though, there was five girls and FIVE guys...but one of the guys was already trekking across the river to get to the waterfalls. So no picture for him!

And Tamara, I think this is about as extreme as I am going to go...so Extreme Backpacker of 2006 will be going to someone else, more deserving! I could barely get out of bed this morning. Muscles I didn't even know I had were sore!

Jamie, hiking in flip flops is a major feat!! And anything that you do, whether it is climbing one waterfall or 28...if you are scared of it but you DO it...thats the important thing!

**tumblezweedz** · 03-17-2006, 01:16 PM

You say that now...but you when you started, you didn't think you'd get all the way to the top, now, did you?

I'm still betting there's some extreme in your future.

**TERI** · 03-17-2006, 09:58 PM

Thats awesome Brooke. You're doing some of the most extreme things that I want to do! and you're doing them all pretty close together. The DR is being really good to you. Keep having fun, and hey maybe next week you'll try parasailing or something.

**TheJake** · 03-18-2006, 10:51 AM

way to go brooke! Nicely done!

**kingcrazylegs** · 03-22-2006, 05:47 PM

Sounds like a lot of fun! Way to go Brooke

**ScarlotteDorian** · 03-22-2006, 07:39 PM

nice. can i be your sidekick?

**benna2** · 03-22-2006, 07:40 PM

Hon, you ARE my sidekick!!

**expatben** · 03-23-2006, 12:59 AM

waydago! Yoi've got guts.

nemesis331 · 03-28-2006, 06:59 PM

CONGRATS!!! amazing story and sounds like something i'd die to do.

were all proud of you, it sounds like you really pushed yourself and i'm glad you learned how far the body will go if you positively reinforce to yourself that you CAN do it.

can't wait 2 see the other pics from the waterproof