With the good ole summertime upon us, we thought we’d re visit this hair raising way to cool off.
WATCH: I scream my way across the canyon!
Who thinks up things like zip lining?
What kind of sick mind muses – “hey, let’s launch folks across a gaping canyon on a wire – that’ll be awesome!”
Well, whoever that was, I’d like to personally thank them. As crazy as it sounds, I’ve become a fan.
When I first found out that we’d be zip lining during our Newfoundland adventure, I had a major panic moment.
Zip lining, in my mind, fell into the bungee-jumping, rodeo-clowning, leaping-off-buildings-in-suits-with-wings category of antics.
Better off left to the fearless young whippersnapper types.
Not something I’d ever volunteer to do at my age (or at any age, for that matter).
But there it was, staring out from a sheet of paper, just daring me, taunting me. Intriguing me.
So I popped over to the Marble Zip Tours website – not a good move. The site features out-of-control photos and videos along with slogans like “Canada’s Highest Zip Line” and “It’s a cross between parachuting and flying.” Yikes.
Having never parachuted nor flown, this “cross” sounded like one I wasn’t willing to bear.
BUT, I had specifically told our sponsors at Go Western Newfoundland that I wanted to conquer some fears during our visit, and I was game for anything (when will I learn to keep my yap shut?), so I pulled up my big-girl panties and headed to the beautiful Humber Valley.
After getting harnessed in and going through the surprisingly hilarious safety talk, I was actually getting excited. The true panic didn’t hit until I was actually hooked on and on my way…
The Marble Zip Tour is made up of a total of nine zips, and after my first terrifying run I settled down and really started to enjoy myself. Our guides were funny and engaging, pointing out points of interest along the way that, by my third or fourth zip, I was actually able to focus on.
The valley magically morphed from a place of terror to one of the most spectacularly beautiful places on Earth.
There truly is a difference between standing on the edge of something wonderful and actually being in amongst it all. Suddenly I became more than a bystander; I realized it was the first time I felt a part of something so vast and natural – as a bird might feel.
I will be zip lining again.
Veronica, GypsyNester.com
Visit Marble Zip Tours website
See all of our Newfoundland adventures!
We are so grateful to Go Western Newfoundland and Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism for making this adventure possible. As always, all opinions are our own.
YOUR TURN: Would you, could you zip line? Have you zip lined? Tell us of your adventure!
Awesome! Huge fan of ziplining, and good to know you conquered your fear of it 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the ziplining! After the first few lines, you lose a bit of the fear and can enjoy the surrounding scenery, right? The scariest ziplining we’ve done was in northern Thailand.
Very true, by the third one I was able to look around and take it all in… above the underlying panic anyway. 😉
While I have ridden in a hot air balloon, airplane, helicopter and even a zepplin, I am afraid of heights and don’t have the courage to zip-line. It doesn’t “sound” or “look fun” to me. How is ziplining with your eyes closed? Pointless?
No doubt it is not for everyone, but believe me, my eyes were open… so was my mouth! 😉
I have – twice this summer – and would definitely do it again!! I’m afraid of heights terribly, but the thrill of zip lining quickly won me over!
It goes by too fast to really notice the height. 😉
I have always wanted to go zip lining. With that setting, Newfoundland certainly seems like the place to do it!
Hard to imagine a more beautiful place to do it.
I’m a zip line addict – so glad you discovered it, and met that fear face-to-face!
Glad I did too, thanks.
GET IT GIRL!!! BOOM!!! I haven’t zip-lined yet, but have been thinking about it and after watching this….I’m gonna try it! How exciting!!!!!
Exciting is a good word for it!
If I were ever going to try zip lining (and there is no guarantee that I will), I would want to try it in Canada. Canadians are so — well — civilized. They wouldn’t do anything wildly irresponsible — would they?
They wouldn’t. There are multiple safety measures built in, including two cables, so it was safe… but still scary.
Amazing. I did my first (and only) zipline a year ago. It was funny,scary, amazing but wow that Marble Mountain drop, what a drop! Brave lady!
Veronica
You are the best Veronica! Laughing till I realized I would probably be screaming too!
Thanks! I don’t think that there is really any choice in the matter.
Good for you!!! I’ve been toying with the idea of ziplining… after watching your video, I think I’ll pick something with no so much ‘it’s SO far down’! I’ve heard there is a nice zip line at the San Diego Wild Animal Park… how high can that be? (gulp)
Doesn’t really matter how high it is if it goes over tigers! 😉
Ah, Veronica – you are such an inspiration! Way to go – you give me courage to try….
Thanks Jane… I survived!
Tried to watch the video but it came up as This Video is Private – wanting to conquer my fears also – hope you can fix it!
Hmmm, shouldn’t. Hope you can try again.