DETAILED DESCRIPTION - BAMBOO MAN CHALLENGE COURSE

Advanced Challenge Course

Mental Challenge

1, 2 & 3. TRAIL RUNNING – Advanced

Description - The trail run starts from the National Park headquarters at the Fang Hot Springs.

Participants set off along an 8 km well marked route that contours around the hills at the base of the Poo Muen range. The trail runs through dense bamboo jungle, over streams, up and down steep gullies.

You stop to undertake at a rock climbing section then continue running along the trail to an abseiling section and then on again to the top entrance of the Huay Bon cave system. Entering the caves, you make your way down to the lower entrance and emerge on a trail that leads to the forest temple of Huay Bon Caves.

Next you enter the Doi Pahom Phog hill climb phase of the run. The trail takes you along 21 kilometres of dirt road through ever changing flora, up into the cooler temperatures at the forestry station at the 1900 metre (above sea level). The climb from the forest temple at Huay Bon to the forestry station near the summit of the mountain is an ascent of some 1450 metres.

Note* Doi Pahom Phog is Thailand's 2nd highest mountain - 2250 m.a.s.l.

4. MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE – Advanced

Description – The mountain bike route takes you from the 1900 m.a.s.l. level on Doi Pahom Phog along 35 kilometres of forestry roads that contour and then drop steeply as they wind their way down to the valley floor below. The scenery changes from cool pine forest to dense bamboo jungle as you descend.

Time penalties and scoring system – The time taken for the phase is added to the individual's or the team's total challenge score.

5. SWIMMING – Advanced

Description - The swim is along two lengths of a straight 400 metre course following a 'floating line'. The route is demarkated by a 1 inch manila rope with inflated motor car tyre inner tube floats at 10 metre intervals along its length.

Note* The inner tubes act as safety stops for those who tire along the way.

6. CANOEING / RAFTING – Advanced

Description - Canadian Indian Trading canoes are used for this phase. They can seat up to 4 canoeists. Individual participants take one canoe, whilst teams must construct their own bamboo rafts before they set off along the (opposite) side of the swim line to the far end of the dam some 400m distant.

They round a marker buoy at the 400m point and then return back along the length of the swim line (on the same side) to the canoe phase starting point thus completing the canoeing/rafting phase.

They then do another two circuits of 400 metres each returning eventually to the start point having completed 2.4 kilometres of canoeing.

Note* The inner tubes act as safety stops for those who capsize along the way.

4b. MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE – Advanced 2^nd LEG

On completing the canoeing phase, participants go straight into the mountain bike ride phase.

Description - The route leaves Huay Bon dam and takes you along dirt roads to a crossing point on the Ban Thaton – Fang road.

You then follow paths through rice paddy and farmland, negotiating numerous gullies and obstacles such as single or double pole bamboo bridges that span the Fang river as it meanders through the fertile Fang valley.

Most of the 35 km ride is on relatively flat land. You cross the finish line at the Bamboo Man Adventure Club and go directly into the mountain bike trials circuit phase of the challenge.

Time penalties and scoring system – The total time taken for the phase is added to the individual's or the team's total challenge score.

7. MOUNTAIN BIKE TRIALS CIRCUIT – Advanced

There are different skills sections within the circuit for basic, intermediate and advanced category participants.

Description - The custom designed 750 metre mountain bike trials circuit runs around the perimeter of the Maekok River Village Resort Organic Farm.

The permanent obstacles consists of numerous humps, ditches and slopes. In addition, we add various 'skills sections' to test the ability of the riders to negotiate different obstacles / terrain.

Several 'skills sections' are marked as being mandatory elements for each of the basic, intermediate and advanced level category participants.

Those participating in the advanced category of the need to complete 3 full laps (2.25 kms) of the trials circuit.

Time penalties & scoring system - Penalties are accrued at 10 minutes per skill section not attempted, or not completed. All team members must complete each obstacle in order not to be penalised at 40 minutes per obstacle per team.

The total time taken for the phase is added to the individual's or the team's total challenge score.

8. OBSTACLE COURSE – Advanced

Description - The obstacle course is a 7 metre high, 21 metre long frame over a 2m deep water pit. There are a range of obstacles at the + 1m and + 6 metre levels: single rope traverses, Burma bridges, 8 inch beams, 3 inch beams, swinging log bridges, monkey ladders, and bamboo bridges. Solid ladders, knotted ropes and unknotted ropes connect the two levels at either end of the frame.

A circuit consists of once around the frame (up to the +7 metre level , across the frame, down to the bottom level, then a return across the frame at the + 1m level to the start point). The full course consists of 3 circuits, using a different method of ascent and crossing on each circuit.

Time penalties & scoring system - Are accrued at 10 minutes per obstacle not attempted, or not completed. All team members must complete each obstacle in order not to be penalised at 40 minutes per obstacle per team. The total time taken for the phase is added to the individual's or the team's total challenge score.

9. ASSAULT COURSE – Advanced

Team participants have an additional handicap, they must carry a 'wounded man' (dummy) with them over the course, and must negotiate slightly different set of obstacles.

Time penalties & scoring system - Are deducted at 10 minutes per obstacle not attempted, or not completed. All team members must complete each obstacle in order not to be penalised at 40 minutes per obstacle per team. The total time taken for the phase is added to the individual's or the team's total challenge score.

10. MENTAL CHALLENGE – Advanced

Participants are given 30 minutes to complete the tests and can score a possible total of 150 points. They may of course choose to finish this phase as quickly as possible in order to gain a time advantage.

Penalties & Scoring system - Individuals are penalised at 1 minute per point for every point they fall short of the total possible score – 150 points.

Individual team member's scores are combined to form a team total which is deducted from the possible maximum team score of 600. The team is penalised at 1 minute per point for every point each member falls short of the possible combined total of 600 points.