TANNERSVILLE, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — How does flying over the treetops down a 4,000-foot zipline sound?
Or riding down the state’s only mountain coaster? These are the questions adrenaline-seekers ask themselves while at one resort in the Poconos.
28/22 News' “Daredevil” Sydney Kostus visited that very resort to help reopen a sky-high attraction.
Zipping down from a platform 40 feet up in the air isn’t normally on the morning to-do list, but it’s necessary to help warm up Camelback’s Mountain Adventures tight rope course ahead of its official reopening Friday.
“It’s the same course that our guests know and love from three years ago, it’s just been revamped. We’ve taken a look at trees, and you know, cut back trees and had an arborist come in and look at just different things in that field,” explained the director of public relations at Camelback Resort, Grace Griffaton.
First things first, safety means putting on a harness and helmet.
Then make your way over to the course. PR Director Grace Griffaton and 28/22 News' Sydney Kostus were reminded of how terrified we are of heights.
But that’s something Mountain Adventures director Brian Marcote says many people run into. Both mental and physical challenges.
Residents sent home following chlorine leak“We have all people come and do it, no matter what physical ability you have, but obviously some people struggle a little bit more than others, but there’s easy ways to do the course and we have a lot of tips and tricks and guides on the ground to help you navigate it,” said Marcote.
The rope's safety ‘click it system’ makes it impossible to be unclipped at any time.
Aside from Marcote’s 13 years of experience, he says a ton of training goes into the guide job.
“Two-week training. The guides around here are with me for me with about a week and a half doing several different rescue techniques, and then after that they’ll do a physical practicum which involves some type of emergency case scenario where we rescue a victim,” explained Marcote.
You can also find a thrill at the resort's 4,000-foot zipline, or if you enjoy the ground, coast on PA's only mountain coaster, downhill tubing, or mini golf.
However, you can’t do that on an empty stomach, so its new "Ulta Vida" restaurant is serving up the goods at an affordable cost.
“Ulta Vida is much more family friendly in that the price point is where our guests want it, it’s where the people of the Poconos want it,” said Griffaton.
"Conquering fears and the course, I had to ask Marcote how Grace and I did," said 28/22 News Reporter Sydney Kostus.
“I’d give you guys 10/10!” said Marcote.
Camelback’s Mountain Adventures is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and runs through October.