Ziplines!

[CanCanCase]

Originally Posted by dhmom

a very silly question: what does zipline offer?
__________________
Debbie

Hi Debbie!
Zipline tours are becoming increasingly popular in cruise destination ports as shore excursions for cruisers. Some people make entire vacation plans around getting to zip in as many locations as possible (I've known folks to plan entire cruises around fishing in every port, whale watches, parasailing, etc.)

I may be over-simplifying the explanation, but a zipline is an overhead cable with a pulley attachment that slides/rolls down the cable. You get strapped into a harness that's attached to the pulley, take a step, and at that point you're rolling/sliding/gliding/hurtling toward whatever is at the bottom end of the cable.

To make some of the tours more interesting, the "course" you go on often features platforms with great views, suspension bridges and - up here - hiking trails through the woods.

There are several that are cropping up in SE Alaska lately. 2 different courses/companies in Juneau, 1 in Ketchikan, and a new one in Hoonah/Icy Strait Point.

-Case

[CanCanCase]

Originally Posted by Curry

Hey Guys,

I have decided to go zipping in Juneau next August I am now trying to work out which operator to go with. From what I can see there are two operators:

Alaska Zipline Adventures

Cost: $115 per adult ($95 for under 12)
Duration: 3:30 hours
Ziplines: ?
Skybridges: ?
Longest Zip: ?
Average Height: ?

Alaska Canopy Adventures

Cost: ? (want bookings through cruise ship)
Duration: 3:15 hours
Ziplines: 10
Skybridges: 2
Longest Zip: 783ft
Average Height: 50ft

I'm looking for feedback from why you reckon the operator you went with is the best one.

Cheers

Curry

They're totally different tours. AK Canopy drops you off on the beach with a jet boat (similar to Orca and Dolphin's whale-watching boats) while AK Zipline involves a bus-ride both ways.

AK Canopy's course is closer to sea-level, and focuses quite a bit on the local gold rush history as you zip over and near remains of the Treadwell mine (not that you can see much of anything left...! ;-)

AK Zipline's course is higher altitude and gets you up by our ski-resort for some near-alpine (ahem!) views close to tree-line.

Personally, for the excitement of it all, my next zipline adventure will be in Hoonah/ISP rather than in Juneau. They're all quite fun!

-Case

[CanCanCase]

Originally Posted by T.H.

Kept waiting for the folks who've actually been on the zip to answer, but I'll join CanCan in giving you a bit more info from a local.

AK Canopy's jet ride is just a quick trip across the channel; it's not as though you get a cheat of another tour. But then there's the chance to take a picture of your ship in port. (This seems to be important to cruisers. ) Then you get one this big mule/jeep thing and roar up the side of the mountain.

I would totally agree that the woods/views for AK Zipline are much better than over the mine ruins. I prefer to walk the trail to see the ruins up close.

AK Canopy is co-booking with several of the smaller whale watches and charter fishing boats now. If zipping is a "secondary" tour that you want to pair up with something else on the water, their tour is a great way to go.

-Case

[CanCanCase]

There's quite a bit of good comment on the topic here already, but I can't seem to get a handle on the pruning and archiving of the forum just yet. In the meantime, I'll repost some of the older stuff from last season.

Hope this helps!
-Case

Originally Posted by VJSinge

Just got back form Alaska and did Canopy Tours and loved it. I did not do the other one to compare, but really enjoyed the experience. It was 9 different lines including 2 suspension bridges. Highest line being 180 ft. Really in trees and several very long lines. I am even somewhat afraid of heights and really liked it. My husband thought it was awesome.

Originally Posted by Linda

AZA had 7 ziplines, and one bridge. I did it last week and it was FABULOUS. The guides are great, the amount of people zipping at one time was small, the scenery was awesome. It was raining but under the trees we didn't even notice it. I don't know how long the longest zip is, but it was long enough to sit back and really take note of the land going by under me.

I don't know what the other zip is like, but I was really happy with AZA.

Linda

Originally Posted by Curry

Thanks guys, that input is great.

I'm looking at the zipline tour to be a secondary tour to the whale watching, so I may have no choice depending on the times. I guess what I am looking for is more on the action side - I appreciate that there are probably better zips elsewhere but we have a free half day in Juneau so Juneau zipping it is.

I think you guys have talked me in AK Zipline.

[Pammy@CruisePlanners]

On my cruise to Alaska in May 2007 on Holland America's Volendam, we ported in Icy Straigt Points (Hoonah, Alaska). They had just completed what is billed as the worlds longest single line, zipline! It's over 5000 feet from the top to the bottom which you reach in under one minute at speeds of over 50 MPH....although it feels like about 100!

Here I go........I did a good job of hiding my fear!



Not so bad I guess, I took out the camera and snapped this on the way down!


Almost down.....


Somebody coming in for a landing.....

[CanCanCase]

Pammy-

Do you happen to know who the vendor is for the zipline in ISP? Hoonah is close enough to Juneau that we often stop there for lunch on full day halibut trips. I'd be interested in seeing if the zipline folks want to set up a combo excursion...

-Case

[Pammy@CruisePlanners]

Case, I think the city of Hoonah built it. I don't remember if we booked it thru the ship or with the locals. I'll check into it. They picked us up right at the old cannery on the pier and drove us to the top. It took about 30 minutes to drive all the way up.

Check this out...
http://www.icystraitpoint.com/