June/July 2015 63 Zip It FLYING ACROSS A chasm 300 feet in the air evokes a sense of freedom and elation that surely every bird must experience. The same feeling comes courtesy of Sonoma Canopy Tours, which takes you on a flight deep inside a redwood forest—without the wings. Seven—count ’em, seven—ziplines give you and your fellow adventurers an opportunity to grab on and go the distance. Billed as eco-experiences by the Sonoma County tour outfit, the zip trips are designed for adults and kids ages 10 and up. During the two-and-a-half hour thrill ride, guides serve up cool facts about the ancient forest while ensuring everyone is harnessed and buckled. Canopy tours take place within the Alliance Redwoods Christian Conference Grounds, which puts a premium on safety and hospitality. The cost encompasses all the gear needed to rocket from tree to tree, including helmets, gloves and harnesses. Riders glide straight across a steel cable and land on a tree platform. Each zip is different and becomes more challenging as travelers migrate deeper into the forest. As you take in views of trees, ferns and ravines, you fly as fast as 25 mph with the wind whipping through your hair. To begin, the first line runs short to get guest “zippers” warmed up. The cables then become longer, faster and higher—up to 300 feet above ground, stretching as long as 800 feet. At one sky-high platform, zipliners ascend another 30 feet up a spiral staircase, giving them a nice workout in addition to a spectacular view of the majestic redwood forest below. Guests are also treated to two sky bridges. One is a 175-foot suspension bridge where folks will see Walter, the property’s oldest tree. At the last platform, zippers simply rappel to the forest floor. No experience is required.
South Bay Accent - Jun/Jul 2015
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