I zip-lined the Fins Course with my 64 year old, thrill seeking mother and guides Nick and Karynn. I had never been zip-lining before. Once harnessed, we were given a quick crash course (no pun intended) on the finer points of zip-lining and then sent on our way; with the tour guides of course. The first 3 zip-lines, while still fun, were pretty basic and lack-luster. However, since I was a rookie zip-liner, the warm-ups were necessary. After the first 3 lines, we came to a set of rope bridges, spanning over some deep canyons and rock formations, leading to our next zip-line platform. At that point, it quickly became clear, whether I wanted to or not, that I had graduated out of the rookie zip-lining stage. The next two zip-lines were going to require some self reflection and inner peace that could rival that of the Dalai Lama himself; along with the mental toughness and athleticism of John McClane from the third Diehard. I was up for the challenge...at least that’s what I kept telling myself until I was mid-zip and it was too late to chicken out. If I remember correctly, the two zip-lines after the rope bridges were 1200 and 1800 feet long and over 500 feet high! By the way, these two lines by themselves were worth the price of admission alone!
Any expectations you have going in, are quickly shattered when you get your first glimpse of the platforms beyond the rope bridges. If you’re a thrill seeking adrenaline junkie who likes defying death, this course will not disappoint. If you scare easily, you should still do it, because it’s an experience that you will draw from for the rest of your life. It’s 100% safe, so your only hurdle is your own mind and the end result is so rewarding, knowing that you’ve conquered this jaw-dropping feat!
Now let me brag about our tour guides for a second. Nick and Karynn were absolutely fantastic! They both made our group feel so calm and prepared that we almost forgot how insane this activity really was. We were constantly joking and laughing as though we were standing around the office water cooler, when in actuality we were dangling over a chasm of almost certain death. The mere fact that we were able to laugh in the face of this much perceived danger, is only a testament to how amazing our guides really were. Nick would put our minds at ease by telling a horrible dad joke just before jumping off the platform with one arm close to the line and the other arm hanging as though he were a monkey propelling himself from one tree to the next. Karynn, used a much more calculated approach, reminding us of techniques we’d already learned and giving us helpful hints to take with us to the next platform. Nick and Karynn were the perfect team and about as nice as two people could possibly be. Not to mention, it was so evident that they were both so experienced and qualified, that all doubts were erased before even setting foot on a zip-line platform.
I’ll admit, I may have exaggerated a few of the finer points in this review. For instance, I may have used vernacular like “death-defying” or “chasm of death”. However, I can honestly say it was all in jest. At no point, from start to finish, did I ever not feel 100% safe. It was an experience like no other and an absolute perfect outdoor activity for friends and family. I’ll most definitely be back and I’ll be bringing more people with me. If you’re on the fence, do yourself a favor and take the plunge. You’ll be happy you did!