Transcript
Base Camp Goes Skydiving on Halloween! By: Sam Cook “We have a problem,” said my instructor, Peanut. We had just opened up the parachute, but there was a problem and that is all I was aware of at the time. Before I knew it, we were free falling again. I did not know what was happening, so I was screaming in excitement. Then I realized that this was not supposed to happen. The second parachute opened up, and I noticed it was orange and white, the color of the emergency parachute that he told us all originally to never touch. Peanut gave me some gadgets to hold and said, “Don’t let go.” Suddenly I was terrified and realized what just happened. I went from excited kid jumping out of a plane and screaming in joy and laughter to a deer in the headlights who knows he’s about to die. Happy Halloween, Sam! We landed safely, and the landing was a lot softer than I imagined it would be. I could not believe we actually landed where we were supposed to with everyone else, despite the chain of events that had just happened. Fortunately, I did not realize how scary and life threatening the situation was until it was all over. Since Peanut was so calm the whole time, so was I. Peanut was professional throughout the whole situation and explained how the second release button for the parachute did not release, so we had to ditch the parachute mid-‐air. Regardless of the scary Halloween surprise of a second free fall, I had an incredible experience and got two free falls for the price of one. I am hoping I get the chance to lead the next skydiving trip with Base Camp Cullowhee. Base Camp took students on a skydiving trip in Chester, South Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 27. The trip was an overall success, and the students had a blast on their first experience skydiving from 14,000 ft. “It was an absolutely fantastic experience. The instructors were true professionals and I felt strangely at ease despite the adrenaline rushed experience. I would recommend it to anybody,” said Joseph Davis, a student at Western Carolina. Zach Heese, a student at Western Carolina, witnessed Peanut and I free falling the second time. “I was so in my moment to even worry about the fact that I was watching Sam dying. I figured it would be fine, and it was. I had so much trust in everyone,” said Heese. All of the instructors are experienced and know what they are doing, which makes for a fantastic experience. Mason Janusik, a student at Western Carolina, also attended the skydiving trip. “I loved the free fall and will definitely be going skydiving again in the spring,” said Janusik. Watch the clip below to see Base Camp’s skydiving adventure! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0iYFi5bEgg The next skydiving trip with Base Camp will be in Spring 2016. Sign up for an experience you will never forget.
Here are some of Base Camp Cullowhee’s students boarding the plane.
Sam Cook, WCU student and Base Camp Cullowhee staff.
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