Our canopy access rope instructors Ian, Paul, Alex, James and Aidan are all back from Honduras and Sulawesi. They spent 7 weeks out there teaching members of the OpWall summer expeditions how to climb up into the forest canopy. School groups, university researchers, and even OpWall staff all had a go. The photo above shows a group from Exmouth College hanging out at the top of a giant strangler Fig in Indonesia.
Students climbing into the canopy in Sulawesi
Having fun on the ropes
The turn out was fantastic and we’ve had some wonderful feedback from people who enjoyed their time with the lads in the canopy:
“My group had a great time in Indonesia, many listed canopy access as their highpoint. The 3 of you did a brilliant job with my students. Everyone should get up a tree like that at some point in their life!” Michael Basset – Bishop of Llandaff School, Cardiff.
Running these climbing experiences with OpWall have been a highlight of the CAL year for the past decade. The first ones ran in 2006, which seems like only yesterday. Field locations have changed over that time, but everyone’s enthusiasm to have us on board with the summer expeditions hasn’t diminished at all over the years and the OpWall staff are always hugely supportive in helping us get around the field sites with all our bags of rope and climbing kit. A logistical challenge to say the least – but they are on it and they always make our instructors feel extremely welcome.
Instructor James Hindle with a student in Sulawesi
Almost there…
Many people get a lot of positive things out of their time on OpWall expeditions and we’ve met some amazing people on the way. 7 weeks is a long time to spend in the field and the people you share your time with quickly become close friends and companions. In 2007 a school group from Dorset joined us in Honduras – 8 years on and one of these students called Waldo is now our chief climbing instructor. So here’s to the future! 
Instructor Alex Turner on the ropes in Sulawesi
The view over the canopy from the top of a giant fig tree in Sulawesi