For the last couple of months, my family has wanted to go zip lining over Grand Falls in Grand Falls, New Brunswick. During their recent trip up to Northern Maine, we made it across the border and over to the falls for an adventure soaring high above the rushing water below. Thanks to the awesome folks over at Zip Zag, we were able to make that adventure a reality!
The course is split into two sections. In the first, you fly high above the gorge (about 125 feet in the air) on a zip that lasts about 14-20 seconds paralleling the traffic bridge. Then, after a quick trek up a forested path, you climb a two-story tower and take a slightly slower voyage right above the churning falls themselves. The views from each are stunning and well-worth the trek up to Grand Falls!
We went early in the season on April 7. The falls were tumbling at a roaring pace and the mist from the water was freezing to the rocks along the gorge. During our “flights,” there were a few snow flurries adding to the excitement. The first round of travelers included Dave, Liz, Gabby and Chloe. In round two, my mom and I took to the lines. Managing the cameras and collecting video proof was dad, who kept both feet firmly planted on solid ground (though he did say after the fact that he might consider zipping during the next visit… We won’t forget that!).
Enjoy some pictures and videos from the day below! And if you’re in the Madawaska area and you plan on going, let us know–we’d do it again in a heartbeat. I’m terrified of heights and rollercoasters and flying through the area supported by only a tiny wire, but I had a blast on the course!
“The Seise Family takes on Zip Zag in Grand Falls, NB!”
From Zip Lining on April 7, 2012, posted by Alex Seise on 4/10/2012 (71 items)
- Looking across the river at our house en-route to the zipline course
- What’s that in the distance?
- It’s a scary moose sign! (And believe it or not, we saw a moose grazing on the side …
- Grand Falls
- Another view of the falls
- The first group post-zip!
- And again!
- Mom gets suited up…
- Churning falls…
- Look at all that water!
- More water.
- Down the gorge…
- A great day to zip, snow and all!
- Mom and Alex post-zip
- Pre-ride falls
- Lots of mist!
- The girls suit up for ride 1
- Surprise, Chloe!!!
- Still smiling inside the building…
- Starting to realize that I’m about to jump!
- Let the grimacing commence!
- Walking toward platform 1
- Looking out over platform 1
- Jeesh, that’s daunting!!!
- The harness that keeps you safe from gravity
- Mom prepares to jump!
- No turning back now…
- Testing the harness
- The final seconds pre-jump…
- …and there she goes, out the gate!
- Through the trees…
- Over the gorge…
- And all the way over to the other side!
- Pure terror as I jumped.
- Scary–but fun!!!
- Okay, but still scary.
- Taking in the view.
- White knuckling it.
- The view from halfway across
- The hydro electric plant by the falls.
- And again!
- The second course soars just above the roaring waterfall.
- Looking down from the jumping platform
- Mom cheers!
- Gulp!
- Waving to the rest of the family waiting on “the other side!”
- A little scared, but mostly just goofy.
- Here we go!!!
- REALLY white knuckling it!
- Zipping along
- Relaxing a little bit!
- Okay, I’ve got to admit, that was a lot of fun!
- I almost made it to the final platform, but the Zip Zag folks had to “rescue” me (and…
- Papa-razzi, plus Liz, Gabby, Chloe and Dave
- Hamming it up a bit.
- The falls from above.
- Another shot from the top.
- Dangling…
- Seconds away from “rescue”
- Mom gets ready to jump
- Quite a rush of water!
- Watching…
- And she’s off!
- Getting closer…
- Closer still…
- High above the water!
- A little spin
- And there she is!
- Posing by the falls…
- This time with Dave…
- …and now with my fellow jumper!
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