When one is doing something new and outside of one’s comfort zone, one experiences a diminishing sense of courage as the moment approaches. For example, when I decided to go powered hangliding a few months ago, I had an ongoing internal conversation that went like this:
One month before powered hangliding: “That sounds awesome! I can’t wait!”
Two weeks: “This is going to be fun. I’m looking forward to it.”
One week: “Only a few more days and I’ll be on a powered hanglider. Imagine that.”
That morning: “I need to postpone this. I have too much to do.”
While strapping in: “What was I thinking?”
As the pilot started the propeller: “Oh, dear God, I have made a terrible mistake.”
Then I had a great time.
I’d made a bigger deal out of powered hangliding than was necessary. Once I was up in the air, I forgot about all the things that could go wrong and simply enjoyed the ride. While 2,000 feet above the Tennessee River, I resolved to never again allow fear to stop me from going on an adventure.
Then I realized I was reluctant to experience a Chattanooga essential: The Ruby Falls Zipstream Aerial Adventure. As with powered hangliding, ziplining had grown to larger-than-life proportions in my head: I saw a line suspended hundreds of feet above ground and stretching for a mile across a tree-covered gorge. I also saw myself strapped into well-worn gear that was primed to snap. I remembered my resolution, called my daughter and said, “We’re going ziplining.”
We had a great time.
Located on Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls consists of a cave and a massive underwater waterfall. The Zipstream Adventure is located next to the gift shop, which looks like a small castle. Once we secured a parking spot, we followed the signs to the ticket counter, where we had to pass height and weight tests before advancing. Next, someone handed us our gear and told us to wait for our guide.
Your guide will be an essential part of your zipline adventure if you’re a first-timer. The Zipstream Adventure consists of multiple courses, each with several high wire challenges and culminating in a zipline ride. You’ll need someone to demonstrate how to navigate the challenges and strap you in for the big finale.
Our guide was Alec, a young man who either lives among the high wire challenges or spends the bulk of each day crossing them, as he made them look easy. While that might be intimidating as you wobble your way across a series of planks suspended on swinging ropes, it’s also encouraging.
Before my daughter and I embarked on our adventure, Alec showed us how to slip into our gear, which included a one-size-fits-all adjustable helmet. As I was tightening my straps, one of his co-workers came over and joked about the zipline having a 60 percent success rate. My daughter laughed, but I thought, “Oh, dear God, I have made a terrible mistake.”
Actually, I’d already discarded my preconceived ideas about the Zipstream Adventure. Nestled in a wooded area and suspended about 40 feet in the air, it’s less visually intimidating than the courses you see on “The Amazing Race” and other reality shows.
The designers struck the perfect balance between high adventure and down to Earth fun, allowing for the kind of experience parents and children will both find challenging and enjoyable.
In fact, the first image that popped into my head when I saw the platforms surrounding the trees and the high wire challenges that spanned the distance between them was the Ewok village in “Return of the Jedi.”
Before we climbed the first tree, Alec showed us how to use our carabineer to stay connected to the course, whether we were attaching it to a zipline or transferring from one challenge to the next. “You want one side of the carabineer to stay locked at all times,” he said as he waved the dual-sided mechanism about a foot from my face. Click-clack-click and he was moving on as I tried to look like I understood what he’d shown us. It took my daughter and I a few tries, but before long, we were working our carabineers like a couple of pros.
As we prepared to embark on our first challenge, I decided to be a gentleman and let my daughter go first. I reasoned this would allow me to offer encouragement as she made her way to the other side. “Gee, thanks, dad,” she said.
She did well, though, and then it was my turn. While I don’t recall the design of the first challenge, I do remember feeling like a newborn colt as I tried to maintain my balance on the planks. Somehow, I got to the other without falling, and then it was on to the next challenge, which essentially is a wire with rope railings on either side. I felt a twinge of regret as I tried to keep my feet on the wire while holding onto the ropes and the entire apparatus shook from the effort. I knew I’d be safe if I dropped off, but I didn’t want to be the guy who did that, so I put everything I had into reaching the other side. After I’d stepped onto the platform at the end, I was relieved to see the next challenge was easier.
This back-and-forth continued until we reached the end of our first course and prepared to do the zipline. By that point, the idea of cruising across to the next platform seemed like a breeze, and it was. As I launched off the platform, I was pleased with how securely the equipment held me and with the ease of landing. I only wish it had lasted longer.
The second zipline was longer, but not much. Both courses took us about an hour to complete, although if you’re with a larger group or several people are ahead of you, the Zipstream Adventure can take up to 90 minutes.
As my daughter and I walked back to the staging area to return our gear, we looked at each other and said, “We have GOT to do that again.” While the Zipstream Adventure was not the high-soaring, daredevil experience I’d imagined it would be, it was invigorating.
Chattanooga is a Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. Some activities, like rock climbing, skydiving and white water rafting, might be too extreme for your tastes, but as the Ruby Falls Zipstream Aerial Adventure proves, the Scenic City has something for everyone. Just don’t let your imagination get carried away and keep you from doing something fun.
Visit www.rubyfallszip.com to learn more - including details about the specially designed kids’ course.