Ziplining.

Kasa

Has anyone here done ziplining?  How terrifying would it be for someone who has a bit of an issue with heights?

B really wants to do it when we go to Hawaii.  And in theory, I want to do it too.  It sounds fun.

In reality though, I'm afraid I wouldn't enjoy it so it would be a total waste of money (and I hate wasting money!). 

I've gone parasailing a couple of times.  The first time was in Traverse City when I was 16.  I loved it.  Then we went about five years later in Mackinac City and I spent the entire time in full-blown panic mode and thinking I was going to die.  I didn't enjoy it at all.  I can attribute the difference partially to the fact that the Straits of Mackinac are hella windy which made it scarier than Grand Traverse Bay.  Also, I just think I was older and wiser and more aware of my own mortality.

So... ziplining.  What do you think? 

TheWop

I've never done it, but you can always try it at John Ball and see how you like it before you do it in Hawaii. 

Hoektastic

TheWop:

I've never done it, but you can always try it at John Ball and see how you like it before you do it in Hawaii. 

Very good idea!

I would think that you might regret not giving it a try when you are in Hawaii.  Isn't it said that you regret the things you don't do more than the things you do?

Kasa

I didn't know they had ziplining at the zoo!  Interesting.

Chymes

TheWop:

I've never done it, but you can always try it at John Ball and see how you like it before you do it in Hawaii. 

Ooh, this is a great idea.

We've done it twice, in St. Lucia and Mexico. Most places will do a test run on a little line so you can practice and make sure you know what you're doing before you actually hike up into the real course. St. Lucia was my first time and I liked their course because it started at a moderate height and then each line after got a little bit higher...so it was not immediately a drastic drop-off. We also had a great guide who was hilarious, so I was having too much fun to think about being nervous. By the time I stopped to think about it...I wasn't nervous anymore. 

I think it's something you could do, but perhaps it would be a good idea to find a place that uses more moderate heights. Or read reviews from other people who have gone to the places you're thinking about and see what they have to say about the course and the guides. I can tell you that any place that is reputable will use nothing but the safest equipment. 

And oh my goodness, I just realized I still owe you a Hawaii email. So sorry. You WILL get it, I assure you. 

Diana Prince

We did it up at Boyne.  It was amazing.  I think it would be much less scary than parasailing, but I've never done that.

I didn't think ziplining was any kind of adrenaline rush--it was actually more relaxing than adventurous.  You also don't get a real sense of "height."  I didn't get the same sensation ziplining as something like looking out the window of a tall building. 

I can email you some of the videos I took if you think that might help (they are really short). 

Diana Prince

Oh yeah, the scariest part for me (and the only part that was even a little scary) was the first line.  When you step off the platform, the line gives a bit and you drop.  I didn't know what that drop was going to feel like, so I was nervous at that time.  It wasn't bad though and the lines we were on weren't super crazy fast.  It was much less of a rush than roller coastering. 

Chymes

Diana Prince:

It was much less of a rush than roller coastering. 

I would agree with this. And if the height thing is really a huge issue, just don't look down off of the platform.

Kasa

Thanks for the feedback, guys!  I appreciate it.  I told my husband about the zipline at the zoo.  He asked if it goes over the lion habitat. 

GRsweetpea

Nope.  But it does go over the porcupine. 

The zoo is a great idea.  They often have buy one get one (maybe 50% off) coupons on their FB page.  They also have a ropes course there now.  If you're looking to work on your height fear, that might be a good combo.

Diana Prince

Here are some other thoughts:  At Boyne the lines only lasted 30ish seconds, almost always less than a minute.  Because each ride was over pretty quickly, I didn't find that there was time to even get nervous while on the line.  When doing something like parasailing or hot air ballooning, even, you're more "stuck" in the air.  I think that stuck feeling can lend itself more easily to panic.

The harnesses we wore on the lines were like sitting in a chair.  I didn't feel like I was hanging or uncomfortable at all. 

One thing that surpised me was how you turn on the line.  It's actually somewhat of a challenge to stay facing straight ahead.

 

LBethG

I've gone twice, once in Costa Rica and once in Mexico. My DH who's  scared of everything went with me and Mexico and didn't think it was terrible, but he was a little freaked out. When I went in Costa Rica you had to do a "tarzan swing" at one point, which involved jumping off a very high platform and swinging by a rope and this was actually the scariest part for me. When we went in Mexico you had to rappel down from a high platform and this also scared both DH and I. So maybe try to avoid places that do those extras. In general, I don't think the ziplining itself is very scary once you get over the initial fear.