On the 15th, after returning from the RAC, the group returned to Diego’s hotel and restaurant for a night to captivate the beautiful mountain views and exotic rainforest creatures on our three-hour ziplining expedition, all 23 of us geared up to zip through the trees.
We received a tutorial before venturing on how to break using our hands with leather gloves. We learned how to stop on both fast and slow cables, understanding a variety of hand placements. The solution to stop was simple: lift yourself up.
With our anticipation rising, we send Avery to be our guinea pig. She steps up to the challenge bravely and soars through the sky with no fear. One after one, we set off into the Iush forest. Soon we hear of a surprise, which adds to our excitement. At each tree, we beg to know the surprise. A multitude of lies are thrown our way, keeping us in the blue.
As we near the end, our long-awaited surprise comes into view. We face a 50-foot ladder, one we would need to cross in order to reach the surprise; a 110-foot freefall. We shake as we cross the threshold onto the platform, afraid of what comes next. In order to get strapped into the cable, we had to stand on the edge of the platform, not connected to anything looking down at our fate. We hang for what seems like an eternity before shooting down as fast as a race car. Deafening screams are let out of each of us, accompanied by a sigh of relief once our feet touch the ground. We cheer everyone as long as they face their fears.
Once everyone is finished, we climb back up the mountain, sharing the most memorable parts of our experience.
Our reactions to the zipline:
Caroline: “Despite being too scared to do The freefall, the ziplining experience will forever be in my heart.”
Avery: “I loved listening to Mallory’s screams on each zipline.”
Lyla: “Ziplining was crazy.”
Abby: “I can’t wait to fly Nathan out for a Redsox game.”
Mallory: “Me gusta ziplining!
Meg: “I felt like a monkey flying through the trees.”
Katie: “It took me a while to learn how to break.”
Emilia: “I closed my eyes.”
Mary: “I died laughing watching Nikki go across.”
Angle: “5 out of 5 stars for my Uber.”
Ms. Hallowell: “I’m glad the surprise was a freefall and not a mile walk uphill.”
Annie: “The zipline instructors were friendly.”
