This was an amazing experience. We lived with the villagers for several days leading up to & following the Jumps, & as you might expect their was plenty of bravado & apprehension. We talked with men & boys as they each took great care in preparing the strands of stringy bark at the end of the vine they would use the following morning. We ate with them & swam & played with their children in the river.

Even the youngest children would tie thin vines around their legs before diving into the water, emulating their brothers, fathers & ancestors.