The Hindu Business Line : For the climb of your life!

"The Climb of your Life" says the ticket for the Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb. Well, it may not quite be the climb of your life but it certainly is interesting and when you reach the "summit" of the Bridge, you get a spectacular view of the beautiful Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and the Central Business District skyline.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a giant structure rated as the widest long span bridge in the world by the Guinness Book. The bridge has eight lanes of traffic, a footpath, a cycleway and two train lines and was declared open in 1932.

BridgeClimb, a private organisation, organises climbing expeditions to the "summit" of the bridge, which, at its mid point, is 415 feet above sea level.

The brain behind BridgeClimb was Paul Cave, a businessman, and it took nine years of negotiations with several organisations, the government and community groups before the first public climbing expedition was launched in 1998.

More than two million people have climbed the bridge since and it is one of the most popular activities for tourists and Sydneysiders alike.

The climb lasts all of three-and-a-half hours, including the preparation time when you are given climbing suits to wear complete with overalls and a safety harness that will attach you to the banister of the bridge.

The preparation for the climb is an experience by itself and creates a sense of anticipation in you as you are shown safety videos and friendly BridgeClimb assistants help you gear up for the climb as if you are attempting the Everest! The experience is complete with a walk through a mock-up of the conditions as prevailing on the bridge.

Included in the climbing gear are walkie talkie sets, just in case you happen to fall and are left hanging by the harness! Of course, there are headphones to help the climb leader speak to you and thankfully, a windcheater as well for it can get cold and windy as you reach the top.

The climb itself is not difficult as you walk along inclined catwalks, duck under steel girders, climb flights of stairs and widely spaced steps on the approach to the top.

At one stage of the climb you will find yourself walking between two lanes of fast moving traffic and while descending you could see a train pass over the bridge right next to you, if lucky.

Expeditions are organised in small groups of 10-12 with a leader who also acts as a tour guide explaining the history of the bridge and pointing out Sydney's landmarks.

Ours was a motley group of ten — six Americans, two Germans, an Australian and the sole Indian — and none of us had been on the climb before. So it was fun for all of us.

At the end of the climb each of us became proud owners of a certificate certifying that we had done the "Climb of Your Life" and a picture of the group taken at the top.

By the way, the whole experience does not come cheap — it costs anywhere between A$169 and A$295 per head depending on the day, time and season, and you have to book your tickets in advance. But it certainly is worth the money and the effort for the view of Sydney harbour and the city from the top is breathtaking.

For more information log on to www.bridgeclimb.com