This was one of those things on my "Bucket List" and I finally got to do it! I had planned to go with several friends to celebrate our March/April birthdays, but they weren't able to make and, after encouragement from other friends, I decided to go for it anyway!
I started the morning with plenty of time to spare, but learned my lesson in using Google Maps: Never trust it! As I neared Big Bear (or so I thought), I turned on the directed road, then another turn and suddenly I was faced with a dirt road. I knew it was possible that the zip place was slightly off the beaten path, but I decided to ask directions. I found out I was in Angelus Oaks, still a long way off from Big Bear, and the guys I asked said, "You wouldn't even want to take a JEEP on that road!" Getting there early was now out the window, and just making it in time for the tour would be a miracle. Frustration was building as I thought about how long I'd waited for this, set the date, cancellations, "do it anyway", and now may miss it because of stupid Google Maps. I went as fast as was safe & made it about 10 minutes late but they hadn't left yet! Woohoo!
I was immediately impressed by the staff! I was a bit grumpy at this point, but the tension slipped away as they welcomed me, told me "no worries" and helped me get geared up.
The 1st zip was a short one, about 40 feet so we could get a feel for it and learn how to brake and when to brake. The 2nd one was over a bigger canyon they called the Dragon's Spine because of the rock formations. Here are some pics - Part ONE:
Zip 3 - I screamed like a little girl - lots of adrenaline!
Then the 3rd was jumping right off a boulder and zipping to a platform up in a tree almost 100 feet off the ground! They wanted us to do a Tarzan yell. I tried but it was pitiful. My voice cracked, and then I started cracking up. I put my camera in one of the harnesses. It sorta worked...
Once we landed on the tree platform, they would immediately hook our harness onto the tree safety ropes, THEN unhook us from the zip cable. As each person arrived on the platform, it got a little crowded, but I felt safe. The instructor took our picture by zipping himself out a bit on the cable and dangling there while he took the pics! After that we did our last zip down to the ground. They told us to look down as we took off. I did and it was a looooooong way down!
After I left I drove around Big Bear a little. Had pizza for lunch then drove through the Village & stopped for some fudge. I also stopped to take a picture of "Dr Larry Poland - Chiropractor" since that is also the name of my boss, no relation. Drove home & saw a lot of the burned areas from the October 2007 "Old Fire". Pretty sad to see.
The weather couldn't have been more perfect, sunny and not too cold even though there was snow. A Great Day & wonderful memory! Thanks, friends, for encouraging me to go for it!
1 year ago
