Last spring, Graham and I took advantage of
one of the perks of writing for a magazine — trying things you would normally
never do. Through AY, I've had the opportunity to swing from rides at Silver Dollar City after eating
"succotash"; shake the white-gloved hand of Al Green; fly on a
private jet to Nashville to watch a band showcase; and sip cucumber water in
the waiting room before a massage at the Alluvian Hotel Spa in Mississippi. None of those things prepared me for the challenge of flying from the trees —
50 feet (that's like a five-story building!) above the ground — at the Branson Zipline and Canopy Tours at WolfeCreek last spring.
We, of course, picked the worst day possible to
zipline. It was early March, drizzling and around 40 degrees. After debating for an hour or so that morning on whether or not to bail on the trip, we finally accepted our fate and headed out to Wolfe Creek.
The $4 million Branson Zipline facility was very impressive. This “walk along the tree line” is perfect for
those who have a lust for the illusion of danger, but relish in the assurance
of absolute safety. After getting acquainted
with our guides and our gear, including a harness and helmet, we were
transported to the top of Wolfe Mountain to begin our adventure.
We traversed our first suspension bridge, which consisted of slats of
wood with a perforated covering — so we could see the ground below us moving
further and further away. The bridge, held together by ropes, led us to the first
zipline tower.
One of our two guides went ahead of us to the next tower and signaled he was ready for the first of the group. Rather than give Graham the opportunity to watch me scream and kick as I flew to the second tower, I opted to “man up” and go first.
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| Graham on suspension bridge |
One of our two guides went ahead of us to the next tower and signaled he was ready for the first of the group. Rather than give Graham the opportunity to watch me scream and kick as I flew to the second tower, I opted to “man up” and go first.
Not only do
you have to step off of a 50-foot tower with nothing but the ground below you
and nothing holding you to the zipline but a metal clamp, you also have to walk
up three stairs located right on the very edge of the platform to take that
first step off. After ascending the tallest three-step staircase I’ve ever
climbed in my life, I hooked myself onto the zipline; gave it about 15 good
tugs to make sure it was going to hold; asked the second guide waiting to send
me off, “Are you sure this is safe?” about five times; then took a deep breath
and went against everything in my being screaming "Don't jump!" and stepped out into the air.
It would be impossible to explain the exhilaration of sailing through the treetops of the Ozarks, watching the ground speeding across well below your feet, unless you have experienced something like it. The thrill and the lingering possibility of danger, combined with the shrillness of my screams and laughter echoing through the beauty of nature was incomparable. You really must try it … I cant’ wait to get back! Here are some photos from our trip. To read my full write up in AY Magazine click here!
It would be impossible to explain the exhilaration of sailing through the treetops of the Ozarks, watching the ground speeding across well below your feet, unless you have experienced something like it. The thrill and the lingering possibility of danger, combined with the shrillness of my screams and laughter echoing through the beauty of nature was incomparable. You really must try it … I cant’ wait to get back! Here are some photos from our trip. To read my full write up in AY Magazine click here!
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| Freezing! |
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| With our awesome guides |
We visited Wolf Creek in the cold, rainy early spring. This is what the grounds look like now. Beautiful!
