A thrill of a lifetime at the age of 6

HIGH ADVENTURE: Rylee Noel, 6, of Alton steps off a wooden platform onto an Aerial Treetop challenge at Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford (Rochester Voice photos)

GILFORD - Looking to build some rugged confidence in you child or grandchild ... or yourself?
You might want to consider Gunstock's Aerial Treetop Adventures, a challenging treetop obstacle course in the woods a short walk from Gunstock Mountain Resort's base headquarters.
The adult course, for ages 12 and up, takes about two hours, while the Explorer Course for kids ages 6-11 takes about an hour.

An Aerial Treetop Adventurer guide watches as Rylee Noel, 6, practices switching the safety equipment from one challenge to another at Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford.

Both courses have much of the same challenges, including log ladders, swings and foot bridges, but while the youngsters are no more than 15 feet off the ground, those 12 and up could be as much as 100 feet up.
No matter which course you're on, all participants are tethered to safety cables that prevent a fall.
The first thing one of your "guides" will teach you is how to work the safety mechanisms.
The adult course begins with an easier challenge in which you're just about 10 feet off the ground. Each challenge increases in difficulty ending with a 165-foot long foot bridge with irregularly spaced planks rising 100 feet off the ground.
The two-hour adult course is $70, the Explorers is $30.
For more information click here.