Alaska Canopy Adventures and Zip Lines

Dan and I decided to go do a zip line tour on our day off. So we went to Alaska Canopy Adventures. It was a little bit of a rainy day, but that wasn't going to stop us from having fun zipping through the trees, hanging from a cable 150 feet in the air.

We took a vehicle, called a Mog, a little way up the mountain where we were given the gear we would need. We stepped into a harness that reminded me of what a parachute looks like. They also gave us heavy duty gloves and helmets. I didn't start worrying until they gave us waivers to sign releasing them from all responsibility of injury. Injury? Actually, this is one of the safest zip lines in the country. They have two cables and we are hooked onto a safety cable at all times. The guides are very knowledgeable and professional. And they love what they are doing and see to it that we are all having fun as well as being safe.

The road up to the starting off point

Harnessing up and safety brief

Then the first lesson begins. This is Beth, one of our guides. She has us stand on this little platform while she hooks our trolly up to the cables. Then she shows us how to hold on and, most importantly, how to stop when we reach the next platform. She also teaches us the proper form for when we jump off and zip.

And then we're off! The first zip is only about 100 feet long. It really gives you a quick idea of what you got yourself into. The next zips are longer. There is even one that is the longest at 350 feet. You really get zipping along on that one.

This is Dan zipping along on the practice run. Oh, by the way, I had my camera attached to my harness, but Dan had a video camera that he put on his helmet. The only problem was that when he started the camera, it took rapid pictures instead of video. But they turned out cool anyway.

This is Jonathan, our second guide and Beth's husband. He was hilarious!

Here I come.......Look out Jonathan.

This is what we see as we are zipping along, coming to the next platform. Doesn't look very big from here, does it! In fact, it really isn't all that big. They can only fit on nine people in each tour. And let me tell you, it starts to feel very very small when we are all on there and Jonathan tells us to scooch around the tree. Luckily we are all hooked on to the cables for safety.

Here's Dan with his helmet cam.

There are also three suspension bridges as well. Again, we are all hooked up the the overhead cable. But even with that, I wasn't fond of the suspension bridge. I actually preferred zipping. However, it was beautiful up there in the rain forest. I looked down to see if I could find any bears, but they must have been hiding.

We saw a bald eagle in the tree in front of us. Zoom in on this picture. See his white head a little right of and below center? Oh, and that isn't fog, it started to rain that misty rain it does here in the rain forest. That made it really interesting when we were zipping and coming up to the platform. My glasses got all wet and I could hardly see Jonathan giving me the "stop" signal. (Woops)

Here are some pictures that Dan took from his helmet cam.

Beth

The first practice zip. This platform was really big, comparatively

Here's a good picture of the safety cables on the tree

Dan wanted me to check his helmet cam. I had no idea what I was looking for. (nice face, Nancy)

Look at that view!

Look at that form!

When we were finished and back at the main building, we all got medals for surviving the zip line. 

I like their T-shirts too. On the back it says:

       "Eat, Sleep & Zip"

(nuf said)

Jonathan and Beth (right). I told you they were a fun, kooky couple.

We had so much fun, I know that we will go do this again. Maybe on a warmer, sunnier day..............