We had visited Captain Zipline last year for the ziplining fun, but this year my wife booked us for the aerial obstacle course. It consists of a collection of 15-20 telephone poles spread out across a narrow canyon floor. Between the poles, various series of 'features', such as tightropes (cables), suspended wooden planks, and other wobbling, undulating obstacles that you have to cross, one after another, until you reach the end. The obstacles are arranged in series of 'trails', akin to ski trails, each rated from green (easier) to double-black (hardest and highest). Unlike ski trails, they also have a yellow ranking, which are the easiest trails.
As you negotiate the obstacles, you are securely attached to safety cables via a fool-proof engineering marvel that ensures you are never at risk of falling, regardless of the height from the ground. This safety feature provides the added benefit of allowing you to negotiate the course more or less on your own, without the distraction of an operator to clip you in our out of the system. There are two 'guides' observing all the participants and providing advice and guidance as necessary, but other than that you are free to figure out the course on your own, secure in your safety harness.
The time limit is approximately 2.5 hours to traverse as many of obstacles and trails as you can. And because there are many different trails to choose from, there is little chance of a line of people forming and having to wait. If you do get tired, or decide that you've inadvertently entered a trail that is beyond your capabilities, there are 'escape' points at various locations along each trail, allowing you to clip in to a controlled descender that gently lowers you to the ground.
Our guides were Harmony and Derek, to young people whose energy and enthusiasm for their jobs made the entire experience a comfortable, safe, and riotously fun day for my wife and I, along with our daughter and her boyfriend.
I was a bit worried that this attraction would require a level of physical fitness that, despite our best efforts, might have been beyond the reach of those of us who remember growing up in the Carter and Reagan eras. However, we found that negotiating the green and blue trails was perfectly doable for us, and if we had had a little more time, i would have attempted one of the black trails as well. You do have to exert yourself, but don't be concerned that the attraction is only for the perfectly fit.
It is obvious everywhere you look that the company behind this attraction continues to invest in the maintenance, upkeep, and enhancement of this course. All the equipment was shiny and new, with nary a frayed line or ragged strap to be seen anywhere. With your life depending on the gear (like many adventure sports), this is a comforting thing.
Because we are lucky enough to live within a few hours drive of Captain Zipline, my wife and I will certainly return to this attraction again and again. For these future visits, we'll bring more than the recommended 1 bottle of water per person, as we found ourselves parched from the exertion and the heat. We'll also bring workout gloves (or even regular leather work gloves), as our hands were a bit tender from gripping the various cables, ladders, and poles. (Fingerless gloves will help ensure you can work the cable locks without frustration).
Four thumbs up from my wife and I for Captain Zipline, and for Harmony and Derek!