Want some action this fall? Nothing quickens the pulse quite like speeding through fabulous foliage at 30 miles per hour. This is not your grandmother’s fall foliage tour. It’s zip-lining.
Zip-lining is a relatively new addition on the eco-adventure circuit. While its origins are hard to trace, it most likely originated from rock climbing techniques developed on remote mountain tops.
The zip-line canopy tour as we know it today was created by Darren Hreniuk and Rick Graham in Costa Rica. The idea was to develop a way to educate people on de-forestation while providing them with an exhilarating eco-friendly adventure.
But you don’t have to go to Costa Rica to find a zip-line. We are fortunate to have several zip-line opportunities within a few hours drive of Pittsburgh.
The closest zip-line is located at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Nemacolin’s Adventure Center features a 250 foot zip-line that speeds the rider back toward the ground. The Adventure Center also offers plenty of post zip-line activities to satisfy your cravings for more outdoor adventure. Visit www.nemacolin.com to learn more.
Next is a thrilling three hour tree-top adventure provided by Hocking Hills Canopy Tours in Hocking Hills, Ohio. It’s located three-and-a-half hours from downtown Pittsburgh but is well worth the drive. For $85 per person you experience 10 zip-lines, 5 adventure skybridges and a quick repel to ground level at the conclusion.
Even the normally mundane task of waiting is turned into an exciting experience on the tour. Each zip leads to a tree-top observation platform where participants enjoy a bird’s eye view of the colorful canopy and forest floor below.
For more information or to make reservations, visit http://www.hockinghillscanopytours.com/tour_overview.html.
West Virginia also offers an exciting zip-lining opportunity. Ace Adventure Resort Canopy Tour is a seven zip tour boasting fantastic views of the New River Canyon. This tour costs $65 or $75 per person depending on the time and duration of trip.
For more information, or to learn more about the other outdoor activities in the area, please visit http://www.aceraft.com/canopy-tours-west-virginia.html.
While all zip-lining experiences differ, certain elements are omnipresentstandard. Zippers are always required to wear safety gear like helmets, gloves, harnesses and safety lines. If safety is not the primary concern on a tour you’re taking, please do not go. However, all of the zip-lines mentioned above follow strict safety protocols.
Another common element is the desire to do no harm. Most zip-lines are built with the health of the environment in mind, making it a guilt-free way to enjoy nature at its finest hour. So get out and zip! |
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