Miramar, Costa Rica –
“Don’t step on the wood. It’s slick.”
Now you tell me.
We were about three quarters of the way through the series of zip lines. Twenty-five of them to be exact. And we had about a half-dozen still to go.
But to get to the next line, we had to hike down a series of steps carved into the mountain side.
These steps consisted of mostly dirt, with a wooden board acting as a retaining wall, at the edge of each step.
I had just put too much of my weight on the wood retainer at the edge of one of those steps.
And I had just gone flying down the mountain side, but not on any of the zip lines.
I went flying, on my butt, down several of the steps…
Ouch!
Actually, it was more of a whoops than an ouch.
It didn’t hurt.
As long as I didn’t move.
We were visiting what had to be one of the best places to go zip lining in Costa Rica, the Adventure Park, high above Miramar on the west coast.
It was actually pretty easy to find.
Turn east off the Pan-American Highway at Miramar, away from the coast.
Then drive through town and up the mountain.
No turns onto other roads until you get there.
Just a long drive, up the mountain.
And then up the mountain some more.
Quite a ways up the mountain, to be exact.
And when we got to the place, the view was spectacular.
Once the clouds cleared out.
Until then, it was mostly clouds that we could see.
We had arrived in plenty of time for our 11:00 AM reservation, despite a few traffic delays on our drive up from the San Jose area.
So, once we had paid the balance of our fees, our feet had been checked for appropriate shoes, had signed the requisite liability waivers, and our order had been taken for the lunch we would be served once we got back down the mountain, we had time to take in the view while waiting.
Ours was a small group, just Dore and I, along with another couple who had just graduated from college and had been touring around the country before settling down into their first post-graduation jobs.
Eventually we were taken out and suited up in our zip lining rigs.
Actually, our rigs had a little extra equipment than needed for just zip lining.
It seems there would be a couple of rappels mixed in.
And all of these would be over and around a stream as it descended through eleven different waterfalls.
So, between the jungle, the rainy season, and the mist from the waterfalls, we were going to get wet.
And that wasn’t even including the one pool about halfway down where we would have the option of stripping down to our swimsuits (assuming we were wearing any) and jumping in for a brief swim.
Ok, so we would be wet, with an option to get very wet.
Once we were fitted into our rigs, we climbed up into a large, off-roading bus for the ride up to the very top of the mountain.
It looked and felt like something that you’d see out of NASA for driving around on some planet far off in the solar system.
When we got to the top of the mountain, we de-boarded, did a last minute equipment check, and waited briefly while our guides put on their equipment before walking into the jungle to where the first of the lines started.
It was here that our guides introduced themselves and gave a brief demonstration on how to zip line safely.
Without losing any fingers.
See, if we put one of our hands on the zip line wire in front of our pulley, we could lose some of our fingers.
Good to know why we have to keep our breaking hand behind the pulley that is attaching us to the wire.
Demonstration over, and two of our guides already down the line to help stop us as we arrive at the next platform, we start taking turns on what will be one of the milder lines that we experience over the next few hours.
So, for the next hour or so, we got to experience the sensation of flying through the jungle. The sound of the pulley on the wire mixed with the screams of exhilaration that burst involuntarily from our mouths.
At the start of each line, as we prepare to launch off the platform, we get a quick instruction on when to start braking.
Some lines, it was halfway along, some all the way, and then on a few it was all the way using both hands.
And then as we are flying down the wire, the guide on the other end starts giving us visual signals when we need to start braking, along with how hard to brake.
At several of the lines, as we get to the landing platform, the guide there quickly detaches us from the wire, and then attaches us to another wire, and immediately sends us on our way again.
So, several double wires, and a few single wires, and we finally get to a platform that is a bit different.
And this is where J.J., one of our guides, almost fell to his death.
Almost.
This was the first of the two rappels, and there is a steeply sloping wooden ramp where we start our rappel down.
J.J. put his foot on the ramp just as he was grabbing for the wire to attach his safety harness, and his foot slipped out from under him.
Luckily, he grabbed the wire in time to keep himself from falling, and the guides all started laughing about his almost death.
I should have taken that as a clue. The wet wood here is slick.
So, we get a quick demonstration on how to work the rope, and we are off on our first rappel down over one of the longest of the waterfalls.
Once we get to the bottom of the rope, we walk around to the other side of the stream, and find ourselves at the pool where we have the option of going swimming.
The young couple with us quickly stripped down and leapt into the water.
Since neither of us had swimsuits on under our clothes, Dore and I choose not to join them.
After their brief swim in the chilly water, we continued on our way down more zip lines and another rappel.
Then, as we are going down some stairs carved into the dirt between zip lines, it happened.
I stepped on one of the wood boards that are in place as retaining walls for the dirt stair and down I went.
I sat there, as two of our guides were checking on me to make sure I was all right.
One in front, who couldn’t do much other than make sure I didn’t fall any further (and instruct me not to step on the wood boards).
And one in back, who was giving me a bit of a back massage, to make sure my back didn’t tighten up any more than it already had.
And I sat there, trying to detect any sharp pains, to see if I had broken anything.
I hadn’t, which was good.
After all, the remaining half-dozen zip lines were the only practical means of getting the rest of the way down the mountain.
So, finally they let me up, and moving stiffly, we continue down the mountain.
I focused on trying to relax my back muscles. They had seized up with the fall, so getting them to relax was the most important thing I could do at the moment.
It was difficult, but by the time we got to the bottom, my back was starting to loosen up.
At least it was, until we loaded up in the van that was waiting to take us back to the base for lunch.
All the lurching around that the van did…Ouch!
For more photos of our Zip Lining adventure, click here.
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