Unique Muskoka August
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Above: Guide Evan Payne and a climber take a break on a platform at the aerial park in<br />
Huntsville. A series of zip lines and challenges make up the course that runs through the<br />
treetops. Left: All safety equiptment, like these carabiners, are checked daily for wear.<br />
“The most popular is the zip line<br />
canopy tour,” says Santa’s Village general<br />
manager Jamie Hopkins of the zip line<br />
attraction, now in its second year at the<br />
park.<br />
“It’s an aerial adventure. The thrill of<br />
zipping.” The seven zip lines cover<br />
almost 1,000 feet and start 45 feet up in<br />
the air.<br />
The aerial adventure course was<br />
completely redesigned and rebuilt last<br />
season.<br />
“Nothing is the same as it was in<br />
2014,” says Hopkins. “It is more<br />
challenging but easier as you start. As<br />
you progress, it is more difficult.”<br />
The aerial park and adventure course<br />
at Santa’s Village was designed by<br />
Challenges Unlimited, a Bracebridge<br />
company that builds and supplies adventure<br />
courses all over North America.<br />
“It has great flow, excellent variety and it<br />
is unbelievably safe,” says Hopkins.<br />
“There is a lot more variety in the actual<br />
course as you progress through it,” he adds.<br />
“The challenges grow more difficult and you are<br />
very high. There is the thrill of accomplishing<br />
something out of your comfort zone.”<br />
At Santa’s Village, the Quick Jump offers<br />
a thrill to those courageous enough to take<br />
the leap off a few planks of wood that are 42<br />
feet from the ground. The device lets you<br />
drop 15 feet before slowly lowering you to<br />
the ground. There is also the option with a<br />
shorter drop, but from the same height.<br />
The Quick Jump is a tough step to take<br />
Photographs: Sandy Lockhart<br />
46 UNIQUE MUSKOKA <strong>August</strong> 2016