Suffering from Vertigo?  This is sure to help.  A great safe way to get over your fear of heights and get in touch with your adventurous spirit!!!

It is unclear where and when the

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Suffering from Vertigo?  This is sure to help.  A great safe way to get over your fear of heights and get in touch with your adventurous spirit!!!

It is unclear where and when the first ropes course was created. Obstacle courses have been used by the military to train soldiers as far back as the ancient Greeks. These courses, however, were primarily used for the training of extremely fit individuals and not necessarily aimed at the development of the whole person as is common practice on ropes courses today. The use of belay  and risk management systems on such courses was limited or often non-existent.

Many practitioners cite Georges Hebert as the originator of the "modern" ropes course. A French naval officer in the early 1900s, Hébert developed his own method of physical education, apparatus, and principles to train in what he called the “Natural Method,” which included the development of physical, moral, and “virile” qualities in an outdoor environment. Drawing from his naval background, Hébert patterned some of his obstacles on obstacles found on the decks of ships. “Hébertism” grew during and between the World Wars, becoming the standard for  physical education training for the French military. Many ropes courses and challenge course programs in French Canada and Europe are still known as Hébertism courses today.

Since the 1980s, ropes course sophistication has evolved considerably. Modern ropes courses incorporate sophisticated belay and safety systems using wire rope, friction devices, and climbing harnesses to manage what before were unmanaged risks. Recent technological advances in pole hardware and climbing  equipment along with industry-accepted installation and design practices have greatly reduced the risk to end users. Modern courses make use of a variety of materials other than trees, including utility poles and steel structures. Today's courses can be found in a variety of locations, including wooded areas, open fields, or inside heated buildings.