The thrill of soaring through the air in a canopy of trees draws visitors young and old alike to Common Ground Canopy Tours in Lorain County. We enjoyed several other adventures in the area including cycling on the nearby North Coast Inland Trail before ending our weekend with the perfect thrill-seeking adventure.
The bike trail is part of the Back Roads & Beaches tour, which passes right by Common Ground where we also got a view of another patch from the Patchwork Trail. The forest setting for this zipping adventure contrasts with the open farm land bordering it; the clump of trees hides streams below, full of life and linear pathways above where screeching is often heard as participants express their exhilaration.
As we approached the registration office, we were greeted by an overhead, approaching whirr; we looked up and watched as a person squealing in delight whizzed by.
After meeting our guides, we took a short walk to the ground school and our zip-lining adventure began. Our gear was neatly lined up for us which exhibited the care that our guides took and also impressed upon us the reality of the situation. After being double checked that we were properly outfitted, we headed to a short and low zip-line where we got a feel for what was to come.
After a demonstration, we tested our braking skills, done by pressing the zip cable with a gloved hand; we now felt confident in our ability to stop ourselves once up in the higher and faster lines in the canopy of trees.
Our climb up the first tower took us to our aerial perch on the first zipping platform. After this point, there was no turning back as we would stay high in the trees. The first zip is a shorter one that helps zippers acclimate to the heights and gain confidence with the braking.
Easing any nervousness that we felt, our competent guides also described the flora and fauna around us as well as the history of the area. Their obvious concern for our safety and the professional way in which they guided us reassured us. Their comfortable manner with guests made us forget the initial nervousness that we had felt. The zip-lines got longer and steeper and our speeds increased. Relaxation became easier as we progressed through the course.
Gliding through the air, we took in the gorgeous scenery below us as the adrenaline flowed. In addition to zip-lining we climbed the world's only suspended staircase and ended our longest flight to the finish with a rappel back to the ground.
Common Ground Canopy Tours is open year-round. For the convenience of guests, some of their helmets are equipped with GoPro mounts and GoPro cameras are available for rent to make your canopy tour unforgettable.
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