Leap of Faith

The stepping off the platform. That was the hardest part. At least once I got the first zip done. I had been anticipating this part of our trip with excitement and healthy trepidation, and we were finally there. Loaded up with gear and several hours of self-talk, I was ready. Of course, I knew there was a chance I would get up the first tower and decide not to do it. I've never been afraid of heights, but I never stepped out onto a platform several hundred feet in the air, waiting to sail by cables through the treetops of the Smoky Mountains. This was a definite first.

Our guides, both female and both young enough to be my daughters, gave a brief explanation of some do's and don'ts. We did a low-to-the-ground practice zip to ensure we understood how to brake. It's a high-tech brake system, consisting of a thick glove with a thicker leather overlay to protect your hand as you run it across the cable on your way into the receiving platform.  That's right, your hand is your brake! We climbed to the first tower, one they fittingly call the birdhouse. There were ten of us altogether, the two guides, two couples, and our family of four (Jacob's best friend came with us). I was sandwiched between my son and his friend in front of me, and my husband behind me. I watched all of them except my husband zip before me. I wondered whether I could go through with it. It wasn't the height that bothered me, and I couldn't really put my finger on the source of the fear. The guides, one on the departing platform and the other on the receiving platform, exchanged their signals for readiness on the walkie talkies.

"Zip clear."
"Zipping."
"Zip away."

Kaylin moved my carabiners from the safety line attached to the tree in the center of the tower, to the cable that shot out into the trees and across the mountain top. She reminded me to sit down in my harness and look for Jen's brake signal as I approached the next platform. Then she said it. "You're ready."

"Ha!" I laughed out loud. "No I'm not." And I pushed off and left the tower. I felt the vibration of the cable and heard the hum. I could barely take in the scenic view because I was concentrating on arriving alive to the other side. And I did! I had to work on my braking, but made it. The first of eight zips was under my belt. This one and the remaining three of the first four were all build up for the second half of the tour. Jen explained,

"Four out of eight sounds like 50%, but it's not. The first four aren't even half the distance or the speed." Oy, I thought. "Sometimes people decide the zipping isn't for them, or they don't want to do the mega zip [zip 6]. We encourage you to at least try to make it through the first five. Otherwise we have to belay you down, and that can be even more scary." Great! Okay, I can do this. I told myself I could get through the five and if I didn't want to do the big one, it would be fine.

By the second and third, I was feeling a little bit better. With each successful zip, my confidence built a little. But every time, the anticipation made me want to puke. I found myself with Kaylin clipping my gear each time and telling me I was ready. By the fourth one I said, "You keep saying that, but I never am!" We shared a laugh and she encouraged me telling me I was doing great, that I didn't even seem scared.

"Just take a leap of faith," she said. And off I went. Again. And again I made it to the other side just fine. I started to enjoy it a little more, actually feeling exhilarated and looking around while I zipped from one end to the other. We climbed down to the base again. We had done the first five zips, but Jen reminded us we had only done about a third of the total distance. We were gearing up for the mega zip, which was a climb to a whole different set of towers for the final three zips. Number six, was over 350 feet in the air and almost a half mile long. Speed on this zip would get up to somewhere between 45 and 55 miles per hour. Holy shit!

The wait in between each of the zippers on this line was longer because of the distance traveled. Kaylin took some photos and we all started talking about the experience. I came to understand it wasn't the height or the zip, or flying sensation that had me nervous. I thought about Kaylin's words. "Just take a leap of faith," and I realized for me, the fear was in stepping off the platform. Once I was in the air and zipping, I was just fine. But taking that leap of faith was easier said than done.

There I was, at the top of the tower more than 350 feet in the air, getting ready to zip half a mile across the treetops of the Smoky Mountains. It was really hard to step off, to let go. I almost asked my husband, who stood behind me before each zip, to give me a bit of a shove. I couldn't see the receiving tower, this was blind faith indeed. I took a deep breath, sat in my harness, and stepped off the platform. I'm not sure I can describe what I felt after that. Other than skydiving, it is probably the closest a human being can come to flying. Whereas the shorter zips, you take a quick glance around, and then keep an eye out for the tower, this one felt long. I had time to process the fact that I was above the trees, high in the mountains, flying like a freakin' bird! It was absolutely outrageous and the most invigorating feeling I can ever remember having. The wind blowing by me, the distance down below me (holy shit!) made the leap of faith all worthwhile.

And I got to thinking. Maybe, just maybe, this experience is a metaphor for my life. I have big dreams and big ideas. I say I want to take risks, but I'm not sure how much I really do. Sometimes, just taking the first step, that leap of faith, will bring the most glorious returns. It's okay to have fear as long as I don't let it stop me from doing big things. A healthy fear keeps things interesting. It adds adrenalin to the mix, and that's always good for a thrill. I am incredibly proud of myself for braving through this experience, for not quitting. As my son's friend said at dinner last night on the way home, "That was up there with the top experiences I've had in my life." It was for me too, and the fact we were able to make it happen for someone else too, well that's just a big fat juicy cherry on top.

Total height- 600+ feet above the ground
Total number of zips- 8
Total distance- about a mile
Top speed- 50-55 mph

*These photos are photos snapped from my computer screen. We haven't purchased them yet because we don't know which package we want.  So please excuse the not-so-great-quality. I just could not publish this post without some evidence of what I actually did! I don't think there is a photo of the highest longest zip though. But you get the idea.

Here's a link to the NOC's website if you want to see professional video of the Mountaintop Zip Line.