Ziplining Away... Ziplining A-wwwaaay...

Thank you to everyone who caught my Paul Simon reference there. *cough*

It has kind of become Brandcation Tradition to have ziplining as part of our event, so imagine our excitement when Climbworks contacted us to see if any of us wanted to go ziplining during our stay in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  Now, I would say I have become quite a pro at ziplining - having been  in Kissimmee and Milton, Florida - but nothing would have prepared me for ziplining through the Smokey Mountains.

Being surrounded on three sides by the Smoky Mountain National Park, CLIMB Works Canopy gives you a bird's eye view of what makes the Smokies so unique.  We start off by taking you on a fun four-wheel adventure to the top of the mountain and once you take that first step onto our beautifully constructed tour your feet won't touch the ground for the next 2 ½ hours.

First of all - something I didnt even consider until we arrived at Climbworks - was the difference in HEIGHT that Climbworks will have compared to the other two locations.  Let's face it - Florida is pretty FLAT.  Yeah, you get a bit of a vertical incline in Florida - because of climbing those crazy scary stairs - but nothing like Climbworks, where the only "climbing" you have to do is a small bridge and the rest is zipping down...literally.

Now I have to admit something here, and tell you that the morning we were supposed to go to Climbworks, the temperatures dropped into the low 50s and there was a constant cold, drizzling rain.  NOT what I would have thought was an ideal day for zipping.  In fact, I tried to back out of it.  I imagined us all freezing and wet and miserable.  Turns out it was the absolute highlight of the entire Blog Cabin Event.

Our guides Matt and Thomas - later nicknamed Lorax and One-With-Nature, respectively - were absolutely amazing.  Never in my life have I laughed so hard, for so long, and had such a great time with people I dont even know.   All of the Ziplining Guides I have had have been cool... but these two take the cake.  I am not sure they knew what they were getting in to with a group including myself, Joy, Blondie, Mickey, Jen, Cyndy, Summer, and Lindsey - nor do I think they will ever see a group like us again - but I sure hope they had as much fun as all of us girls did.

The zips were longer on this course and absolutely beautiful with the Fall leaves beginning to change.  We were all laughing so hard and having so much fun, the cold never even bothered us, so do NOT let the weather deter you from zipping.   I loved how we did not have to stop ourselves on this course, but learned a new meaning of "Starfish"... which Joy has officially earned the nickname for.  The harnesses were also a bit different and actually more comfortable - even having little "handle bars" so you felt more secure and I seemed to relax more during the actual zip and enjoy really looking around and taking in the Smokey Mountain scenery.

If you are in or near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, you have GOT to check out Climbworks, and Get Your Zip On through the Smokey Mountains.  And request Matt and Thomas when you go - but do not call them Lorax and One-With-Nature... they may decide to call in sick that day.