Exploring your physical, mental limits - Bay of Plenty Times article
Alone in the dark… Jenny Fisher’s worst nightmare.
But you soon get over that fear when you’ve been dropped off in the wilderness to fend for yourself for three nights of extreme camping, Jenny says.
Jenny undertook a Masters course with Outward Bound late last year which included much dreaded solo bush stint.
She recalls camping down with her sleeping bag knotted up over the top of her head, slightly comforted knowing at least no creepy crawlies could get to her.
“The other thing was, if a wild boar was going to come down and get me, well, there’s nothing I can do about it, so I may as well get some sleep.”
Jenny celebrated her 58th birthday that night with an apple and slept fairly well. The solo night mission was the main hurdle holding her back from doing the hard-core adventure camping experience that Outward Bound offers.
It was something she always wanted to do. They offer an eight –day course, but Jenny wanted to push herself as much as possible.
The retired nurse from Waihi Beach was also apprehensive about perhaps being the oldest on the course. As it turned out, she was.
“I was worried about being the oldest and the slowest in the group but it was no hindrance. I was among the top (fittest).” Participants must take part in a half-marathon at the courses' completion, and Jenny was the third woman in.
Jenny wanted to take the challenge herself after a friend returned “buzzed” from their adventure. It was the perfect time – Jenny was returned and her children were grown.
The course involves 11 nights of extreme camping in the Marlborough Sounds. Living quarters at the Anakiwa base sleep 14 people (in close proximity) and activities involve working as a team. The days are full – physical training doesn’t stop until 10pm every night. Each day they go out on overnight camping, kayaking, sailing, rock climbing or abseiling excursions as well as three day solo bush camp. High ropes and rock climbing challenges are among the first things participants complete, an emotionally rewarding experience, Jenny says.
“You get to the top and it’s such a wonderful feeling. You abseil down, most people cry that they have achieved it. I couldn’t stop crying as I would have wanted my kids to see me.”
Instructors suggested Jenny try the rock climb another time, blindfolded.
“The instructor’s area always pushing you that little bit more if they think you can do it. I found the whole experience physically, emotionally and mentally challenging.”
Jenny believes people need to have a fair amount of fitness. The Outward Bound criteria is having the physical ability to run 3.2kilometres in 25 minutes and being able to swim 20 meters confidently.
She’s always been fit and athletic. “It’s what you want to get out of it. I wanted to be the best that I could be. Push myself to where I could not go any further. “The only regret is I didn’t do it in winter and push myself a little more.”
Jenny can’t speak highly enough of Outward Bound, especially the instructors.
“You get given a journal to write in so you start to think about where you are in your life. You think about what rubbish you can turf out…I got rid of a lot of rubbish.”
Jenny says age should be no barrier, as long as you are prepared.
“I didn’t think it would be as hard as it was. But I don’t let age be a barrier. If you’re older, just train for it. Prepare yourself”.
By Rebecca Cawston, Bay of Plenty Times 20/05/2010
