I look down and my toes are hanging over the edge of the platform. The yellow sign next to me indicates this is the beginners course, yet I can’t stop my knees from trembling. I’ve been zip-lining in Chiang Mai, but this is completely different. This time, I am in control.
I’m clipped in and secured by two cables so I have no chance of falling, but even if I did, I’m not high enough above the ground that it would do much damage. So why am I freaking out? I take one more deep breath and decide it’s now or never. If 8 year old kids can conquer this course, then I can do it too. It’s time to face my fear of heights…
Captain Ziplines Adventure Aerial Park
Captain Ziplines Aerial Park is like nothing I’ve ever experienced! Its a jungle gym on steroids in the midst of the massive Lost Canyon in the Colorado desert. Designed and built by a team of Swiss Alpine engineers, Captain Ziplines is now the largest aerial park in Colorado. It is truly a fascinating, albeit intimidating, structure with magnificent 360 views of mountains and cliffs. With 9 courses ranging from beginners to expert levels at varying heights of 15 to over 40 ft above the ground, there is something for everyone (everyone over the age of 8 and in good health that is). Its a test of physical and mental strength but primarily balance and agility. There are times when you reach a point in the course that makes you want to call it quits, but you have to push yourself to keep moving forward and cross that hypothetical finish line. However, when you do finally reach the end of a course, it is a feeling of complete gratification. And then its time to start your next challenge…
I don’t want to give you the wrong idea. It’s not all work! Actually, it was a fantastic experience and Charlie and I had a blast. Although I was trembling with anxiety, completing each course was so exhilarating. Charlie, with his adventurous nature and competitive personality, was much more confident than me and loved the challenge of trying to conquer the park. He was determined to work his way up to the most difficult “double black diamond” course but, being the gentleman that he is, took his time coaching me through some tough spots and ran out of time. With everything from swinging bridges and logs to walking tight ropes, it’s sure to challenge even the most skilled and adventurous adrenaline junkies. Very few people have actually made it to the double black diamond course, and even fewer have conquered it.
For those that are afraid of heights, like myself, it may sound a little bit terrifying, but you can be confident in knowing you are secured from falling to the ground due to their clip in smart key system. You are never not clipped onto the cable throughout the duration of the course so that even if you do take a spill, you aren’t going very far. The smart key system might seem a bit confusing at first but even the kids catch on pretty quickly and, after your first few platforms, it comes with ease. The nice thing about the way the aerial park is set up is that you can go at your own pace. There are guides that are always supervising and there to coach you through the courses if you need it (shout out to our awesome guide, Chad, for helping me through the standing trapeze!!). But I never had pressure from someone waiting for me to move on and I had plenty of time to take a deep breath and talk myself through it. In between courses you can grab some water (which you will definitely need) and take a breather before you start your next course. The only requirements were that you complete each level before moving up to the next (no skipping to the advanced!).
We are so glad we had the opportunity to test our skills and face our fears at Captain Ziplines Aerial Park. This was by far one of the coolest things we’ve ever done! Next time we will have to check out the ziplines! A huge thanks to NowThisIsColorado and Captain Ziplines for hosting us! If you are ever in Chaffee County, make sure to give it a go!
Tips for visiting the aerial park:
- Call ahead to book your appointment as it tends to fill up quickly.
- Be sure to bring plenty of water – it’s easy to get dehydrated with the sun beating down in the midst of the canyon! The guides will bring along a cooler to store it.
- Wear comfortable, flexible clothing that will allow you to crawl through tunnels, up and down ladders, etc. You might want to consider layers – it gets hot pretty quickly even on a chilly day.
- Most importantly, just have a good time! Don’t feel like you have to keep up with anyone else. Go at your own pace and stick to what you feel comfortable with. After all, it is all about having fun!
Check out our aerial park skills in the video below:
If you are visiting Chaffee County, don’t miss our travel guide and recommended things to do in Salida, a place we absolutely fell in love with during our time there!
