My Sunday mornings are usually reserved for sleeping in, lazing about, brunch (my favorite part of Sundays!), and anything but being active after a week full of work and stress. So you can imagine that the last thing on my mind is flying about, hanging from a “string” and sweating to death on a hot summer afternoon. However, after spending an adventurous late morning/early afternoon at Heise Ziplining, you may now consider me a changed woman in this aspect.
About Heise Ziplining
Located near Heise Hot Springs, Heise Ziplining is a fairly new adventure added to the plethora of things to do in the area. Consisting of 10 different lines, the course covers about 1.5 miles of terrain. One of the ziplines even features two side-by-side ziplines so that zipliners can race their opponent along a 1550 ft. long “race-way." Unless you’re Superman, the Green Goblin, or a Power Puff Girl, how many times does one get to race someone while flying through the air?
With their office housed in a newly-built facility, experienced guides offer a brief orientation of the zipline tour while outfitting visitors in their special ‘flying gear.’ (I always joke about how I should carry a helmet around because I tend to be accident-prone, and for once, I didn’t have to bring my own helmet!) Depending on the size of the group, and the number of ziplines one signs up for, Heise Ziplining recommends visitors plan for about three hours. With a minimum weight limit of 30 pounds and a maximum weight limit of 260 pounds, there are no age limitations for any hopeful adventurers.
Once geared up, zipliners are then taken on a short ride in a razor/utility vehicle up to the first platform. The best part of working with the guides? They do all the work so all you have to do is enjoy your rising adrenaline rush while standing above a beautiful terrain.
Heise Ziplining guides eased the fears of the weary adventurers in my group (while also energizing adrenaline junkies like me).
“It’s fun meeting people from all around the world…we have groups come from Germany and Japan,: says ziplining guide Caleb Sikinger, who has been working for Heise Ziplining for two seasons now. "It’s cool seeing people overcome their fears on the lines as well.”
Looking Back
Although the adrenaline and laughter were great parts of my ziplining adventure, the best part was being able to watch and encourage my dear friends overcome their deathly-fear of heights. (Unbeknownst to the photographer who took shots for this article, she was put on the spot and was required to ride the ziplines in order to get the photos, for which I am overly proud of her! She now hopes to bring back her two young children.)
I had another friend (whose name I shall not disclose), who also overcame her fear of ziplining even after she had backed out of a ziplining trip in Alaska. At one point in time our scared photographer shouted to my other terrified friend (who was standing on the platform trying to gather the courage to jump): “If [you] go, then I have to go!” and with that, my friend leapt off the platform only to encourage our photographer. (Trust me, I was not intentionally being malicious by inviting “scaredy pants” people to be a part of this adventure!)
Author Jack London once wrote, “The proper function of a man is to live, not to exist,” and it was with this fun-filled Sunday afternoon, spent with friends sharing in adventure, that reminded me how to live. There’s something powerful behind overcoming your fears, and I still cherish the “proud momma bear” feeling I have for my friends who joined me in this Sunday adventure.
For more information about Heise Ziplining, contact them via:
Website: www.heisehotsprings.net/zip-line.html
Email at heisezip@heisehotsprings.net
Phone: 208-5538-6048