Fast. If I had to keep this blog to one word, the previous sentence would be it. Luckily, I have more space to describe the unforgettable experience my fiancee and I had at Tree Frog Canopy Tours in Glenmont.
After navigating the twisty and sometimes dirt roads en route to Tree Frog (use these directions, not your GPS), we sat by the fire and met some of the group we were zipping with. Our group of eight got strapped into our gear as we met the unofficial Tree Frog mascot - a puppy, and our two course guides, Tyler and Mike. They made us feel safe and excited to get into the trees. We took a ride up the hill and headed to "flight school" - a short line where we learned how to to zip and basic line etiquitte.
After that, we were ready for the 4,000+ feet of zipping, two skybridges and two rappells. I knew the views would be great, but the clear skies and classic Ohio foliage brought unparalleled views of the Loudonville/Mohican area forest I couldn't imagine. The speeds and length of the lines continued to increase as we got more comfortable zipping from tree to tree. "Comfortable" is also what you'll get with the rest of your group because a tree stand isn't the size of a warehouse. Our group varied in age from 12 to 50-something. They were engaging and fun and made the time fly as fast as the ziplines.
The thrill of pushing off a treestand, yelling out "wooooohooooo," and tucking your legs into a cannonball, then zooming past hundred-foot tall trees is easily one of the best experiences of my life. Halfway through the final, 1,000+ foot line, as you're surrounded by blue sky and tall trees, I'm not sure there's a more pure feeling of freedom in the world.
The first day of the 2014 season is April 5 and they're open weekends through April, five days a week in most of May and daily through August. The September and October schedule returns to five days a week. While zipping in the fall can be chilly, if you visit this summer, the breeze you'll get while hitting speeds of up to 51 MPH will be a nice respite from the heat.
Recent Comments