Zip Lining/Vaijeriliukua

This time last year, our family visited Sugarloaf Ski Area in Carrabassett Valley, Maine. We had such white-knuckled fun time, we wanted to do the same thing this year. The picture above is from last year when I managed to snap a picture on my iPhone while hanging on to the lift bar with a death grip.



This year, however, our experience was even more terrifying. Notice the sign behind Mr. D? Yup, the scenic lift ride was closed. And by the title of this post and Mr. D's picture, you have already figured out what some of us did.



Something even scarier!! Zip lining!!!!! Today we were traveling with a mini family - only three kids, so this activity was a lot more affordable, especially when we found out Little Miss didn't meet the weight requirement of sixty pounds.



Mr. D and Mr. A were our lucky riders, and only a little bit nervous to try out this new activity.



It was about a fifteen minute hike up to where the first zip line started. The Sugarloaf zip line course is a series of about seven zip lines between wooden platforms (I think they just added two zip lines this week). This is what it says on their website:

Make a short hike to the top of the Skidway lift and zip your way over Gondi Brook and across the former path of the Sugarloaf Gondola, all while strapped in securely 20-30 feet above the ground!

Each tour lasts approximately 75 minutes, and features five different lines up to 240 feet in length, with riders reaching top speeds of nearly 25 miles per hour.


Mamarazzi, paparazzi & Littlemissarazzi were able to follow along to a certain point, where the
riders landed on their second zip line, and then follow along for parts of the line. With our cameras and video recorders, of course.



And they survived their first two zip lines!! It was actually fun, they claimed! Look at those slightly relieved smiles:)



These two daredevils enjoyed scaring their momma, and even zipped along with feet up in the air and arms hanging down. Not their mother's sons, I tell you. I don't think I'd do this even if you paid me!!

But I sure am happy for these two. It was a very neat experience. And I have to say the staff was friendly, encouraging, helpful, and very safety conscious.



As you can see, the foliage was still gorgeous at Sugarloaf Mountain, so I will be working on a third foliage post. You can see Maine Foliage Part 1 and Part 2 posts here and here, if you missed them. Fall in New England has been breathtaking this year.



Here is a short 15 second video clip of Mr. D riding down one of the zip lines (not the fastest one). If you click the little arrows on the bottom right corner, you can see the video larger.


I am linking this post to Stefanie's Sunday Snapshot. Head over there for more snapshots!

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Viime vuonna kävimme Sugarloaf-laskettelukeskuksen huipulla hiihtohissillä tähän aikaan vuodesta, ja niinpä lähdimme tänään aikomuksena toistaa sama kokemus, hurjan kivaa kun se oli (ihan ensimmäinen kuva on viime vuodelta).

Valitettavasti hissit eivät kulkeneet tänään, mutta ei hätää: vaijeriliukua pääsisi kokeilemaan! Siis mitä??? Kun meillä oli mukana vain kolme lastamme, ja Pikkuneiti oli liian kevyt vaijeriliukuun, pääsivät Mr. D ja Mr. A kokeilemaan ensimmäistä kertaa. Hui, mitä huvia!!

Kyllä poikia jännitti, näen sen kuvistakin, mutta voi sitä onnistumisen iloa, kun olivat laskeneet ekat kaksi reittiä! Tämä hiihtokeskuksen vaijeriliuku oli tehty seitsemästä liukureitistä, eli pojat laskivat pisteestä toiseen. Meidän ei liukujien piti jäädä odottamaan toisen pisteen taakse, mikä oli ihan hyvä idea. Äiti ja isä eivät voineet pelastaa, jos joku olisi muuttanut mielensä ennen ekaa reittiä:)

Tosi hauskaa heillä oli, minä tosin kauhulla katselin, kun välillä laskettiin pää alaspäin, ja/tai ilman käsiä. Eivät taida olla äitinsä poikia:-D Upea reissu meillä oli, ja yritän saada aikaiseksi kolmannen ruskapostauksen, tuolla alueella ruska vielä loisti kauniina - meilläpäin jo aika ruskeaa.