I've always wanted to go zip lining, but I never thought it was something I would actually do. When my sister asked me if I wanted to go, I got so excited, but I never dreamed it would be as awesome as it was.
After all the shenanigans of Friday night (hello going to bed after 2 am) we got up early for breakfast and to drive over an hour to make it in time for our tour. Thankfully, I wasn't too worse for the wear. I didn't actually feel bad.
Anyway, when we got to Hocking Hills Canopy Tours they had us sign our life away and then got us all suited up. No one ever said zip lining was an attractive sport. Abbey and Michelle make it look pretty good though.
After we were all suited up, they had us practice on a teeny tiny little line so we knew how to brake. I felt so intimidated and I didn't want to do it, but we HAD to in order to move on to the regular course.
The course is a series of suspension bridges and zip lines. Each bridge/line takes you to your next tree stand sometimes 200 feet in the air.
We got to the first zip line and the instructor told us that it was the bunny hill. He informed us that there would be two bunny hills (for the first two zips) and then we'd move on to the black diamond. First, I can't say enough about how safe I felt the whole time. You are either on the zip line or clipped onto the line connected to the tree. There are two clips. They will take one and move it to the zip line and clip it there before they move the second one from the tree and vice versa. So you're always either doubly clipped or have a single clip AT ALL TIMES. There was no way anyone was falling. Kuddos to Hocking Hills Canopy Tours for showing us a good time AND making sure we were safe.
Even knowing this Abbey and I were a wreck. Neither one of us felt safe standing hundreds of feet in the air on a deck made up in a tree. We quickly became the "tree huggers" of the group. I never thought I was scared of heights, but being that high up and looking over the edge definitely made me feel uneasy.
I'm not gonna lie, the first zip line was scary, yet exhilarating. Our guide told us that the first zip line went 7 mph. It makes me laugh because by the end some of the lines had us zipping through the trees at 35 mph. I have to tell you 7 mph felt FAST at first. It just doesn't seem natural to be hanging from a line over 100 feet in the air.
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| me |
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| Amy |
There were 9 people on our tour (and two guides) so if you weren't zipping you were standing in the trees waiting for your turn or for the others to finish up. While that might seem boring, we were never short on laughs or conversation. Our guides, Nick and Pumpkin (ASK FOR THEM IF YOU GO) had great personalities and made our tour that much better. Someone in our group may have had a crush. MAYBE! I'll let you guess which blonde hair, blue eyed girl who rhymes with Babbey that was.
Honestly though, it was the time I was spending with my sister, my niece and her friend that made it so special. We were all having SO MUCH FUN and laughing all the way. It was definitely a bonding experience. At least it was for me.
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| Abbey |
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| Michelle |
After 2.5 hours and 7 zip lines our basic tour came to an end. I swear I felt like I was on some kind of high. I just really can not remember the last time I had a day that felt so awesome. I think it was the combination of the fun and the company, but it was truly one of the better days of my life. I know it sounds silly, but it's true.
We left our guides and headed on to the BIGGEST adventure of the day-- the SUPER zip. Named not only because of its quarter mile length, but also because you "fly" in the super man position on your belly.
We had to climb up a massive suspension bridge to the top of that tower (the bottom half is hidden under the bridge) just to reach the top of the line.
I can't even tell you how scary it was to be lying on your belly waiting for the "go" signal. I screamed like a little girl, but after "take off" it was amazing. It was exciting and terrifying all at once. It's definitely in the top 5 of the coolest things I've ever done!
I'm so thankful to have spent these good times with my sister and my niece (and Michelle too). I know there will be stories for many years to come that start with... Remember the time at mom's weekend at OU!
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