Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
That pretty much sums up the sensation a person gets when experiencing zip lining. That and a really big smile.
And now, everyone in the Buffalo Trace Region has a chance to experience zip lining right here at home when the Big Zipper opens up to the public on April 13.
The Big Zipper is a series of three zip lines that take a person across 2,300 feet of treetops and rolling landscape situated on the property of Big Rock Off Road Park in eastern Mason County.
The course was designed and installed by Dagaz Acres from Rising Sun, Ind. Dagaz owner Patrick Noonan was at the course last Saturday to conduct training for zip line guides at the park. The day involved learning how to monitor the poles, wires and platforms for safety issues, and how to suit up customers in safety harness equipment before they ever get close to flying through the air.
The zip line course is designed in a triangle so customers return to essentially the same spot where they started.
Line 1 is 427 feet long, measures 40 feet above the ground and is named Pucker One. Line 2 is the longest line measuring 979 feet, is 40 feet about the ground and is named The Big Zipper. Line 3 is The Trio and is 722 feet long and 75-80 feet above ground. The Trio has become a quick favorite with the zip line guides and "guinea pig" customers that included my family members Mike, Bryant and Tara, and friends Holli, Danny, Deanna, Melissa and Ed.
According to Claire May, head zip guide, the course took two days to build; there is cable measuring six football field lengths; each line is one half inch thick; the minimum weight load of each line is 20,000 pounds; and the lines have a 5 percent grade. The utility poles are eight to 10 feet deep in the ground and the anchor cables are five to seven feet deep.
Dagaz Acres has 10 zip lines and two bridges, however, the longest line at the Rising Sun location is 100 feet shorter than Big Zipper's Pucker One line.
At The Big Zipper, zip liners climb a platform to get harnessed to the wire, and then off they go, sailing through the air to the landing spot at the end of the wire.
Sounds easy enough right?
It is, but only after first going through a safety training exercise to make sure everyone's equipment is on properly and everyone has passed "Ground School."
The rules at The Big Zipper call for groups of six to keep things moving. Two zip line guides are assigned to the group to insure that safety harnesses, safety hooks and the zip line pulley are installed properly before anyone takes off the platform.
After being suited up in a body harness, guides take you to Ground School located next to Pucker One. Once there, the guides demonstrate how the safety hook and pulley are attached to the wire, how a person should hold their body while gliding through the air, how to stop at the end of line and how to "monkey walk" your way backwards -- just in case you get stuck and need to make it back to the platform. After the guide finishes up, each customer then goes through the drill to become familiar with the sensation of being suspended from the cable.
Then it's on to the first line and a chance to fly through the air at rapid speeds, and have the thrill of a lifetime.
The Big Zipper opens Friday, April 13 at 5:30 p.m. Reservations are required in advance by going to www.bigrockoffroadpark.com/thebigzipper or Facebook.com/bigzipper or calling 606-564-8283. The cost is $20 per person.
Seasonal hours from April 13 to May 20 are Friday, 5:30-9 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; The Big Zipper will be open every day beginning May 21.
The Big Zipper has received certification from Association of Challenge Course Technology and Dagaz Acres is an ACCT certified designer.
To watch video footage of The Big Zipper, go to www.maysville-online.com and scroll down the home page to "Videos".
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16/03/2012 - 0 Comments
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