Due to the pandemic, travelling has been out of the question for most in America since March. However, as the year progressed, some restrictions have been lifted or relaxed, allowing people to venture into public areas if they maintain social distance, wear a mask, and practice proper sanitation. In August, my parents took me to Camelback Mountain Resort, home of Pennsylvania’s longest zipline, for a day trip. The resort contained many indoor and outdoor activities: they had a ski slope, ziplines, a Segway trail, as well as an indoor and outdoor waterpark!
I was a bit surprised at how many people were there when we arrived, but I suppose I shouldn’t have been- we were urged to make reservations online ahead of time because their zipline was so popular. Proper COVID procedures were in place: everyone wore face coverings and sanitizer dispensers were available. Otherwise, it was almost like entering any busy vacation spot before the pandemic. Families of chattering people milled around or waited for their scheduled activities to begin. It was a beautiful sunny day; the sky was a vivid blue and fluffy clouds drifted lazily over the zipline towering in the distance.
After receiving our tickets, we were led with our group to a cluster of color-coded harnesses. The staff directed us each onto a scale, where our weight determined the color harness we wore. We were then each given a heavy bag to carry, which contained a series of crisscrossing straps and carabiners, as well as a helmet.
After riding a van to the entrance of the resort’s outdoor water park, we walked past the massive structures of colorful slides and tubes swarming with people to a ski lift. This was one of my favorite parts of the trip- I loved being able to look down and see the crisscrossing waterslides and the water of the pool sparkling in the sun.
We then walked a short distance to the zipline’s send-off point. It was a beautiful view; from our vantage point we could see down to the resort’s buildings and structures among the lush greenery of the mountain. There were two cables running parallel to each other, so each party departed in pairs. The straps in our bags were hooked up to our harnesses and then to the cables running down the side of the mountain. I was excited; the cable looked steep and I could imagine the stomach-dropping speeds that I was about to experience.
However, I was extremely underwhelmed after we were released- while the wind was strong and it was still pleasant to watch the buildings below sliding behind us as we zipped by, it was quite slow. The ride was much shorter than I had expected, too: it was about three minutes before our feet touched the ground again. As we handed in our equipment and returned to our car, I couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed. I had been anticipating a thrill-ride of a trip, but it was very leisurely. Nice and relaxing, but not what I had been looking forward to.
Our next and final stop at the resort was a Segway trip up the mountain. I had never heard of this activity before, so I was very curious to see how it worked. The rest of our group never showed up, so our guide called in a golf cart to drive us to the shed where the Segways were stored. After unplugging three, she gave us a quick tutorial on how to ride one. Having never ridden a Segway before, I was slightly nervous; the hill we were practicing on looked fairly steep, and I could only picture all-too-clearly myself tumbling backward off it down the trail. I had thought that the Segway would be controlled by handlebars (like a motorcycle), but they were operated in a way that was completely unexpected to me. In order to move backwards and forwards, you leaned your weight in the direction you wished to go. It was quite easy, and the Segway’s tires were much larger than I had anticipated; their ridges gripped the trail quite well.
Our guide then led us on a hiking trail up the mountain. The trail was surrounded by towering trees standing amongst rocks and dappled in sunlight, and we rolled along through the shade and hearing nothing but the chirping of birds and the quiet whirring of the motors. Although some rough patches in the trail were littered with rocks and required a firm grip on the handlebars, overall the journey was very relaxing and enjoyable. I loved how easily I was able to maneuver the Segway, and by the time we reached the end of the 1-mile trail, I was seriously considering buying one for myself in the future. I would highly recommend the trail for people who enjoy hiking in nature among forests and natural scenery, but perhaps want an activity that requires very little exertion.
I enjoyed the Segway trail much more than the anticlimactic zipline; it was a fun and relaxing activity to end our trip with! Although the zipline was a bit of a letdown, I enjoyed the Segway hike immensely and I was interested in what I could see of the other options the resort offered. I would definitely want to return to Camelback Mountain Resort and try some of the other activities they offer, and I would say it’s worth a visit to any family looking for a nice place to spend a vacation outdoors! Of course, if quarantine measures are still in place when that happens, please be sure to wear a mask and practice proper sanitation procedures! Stay safe!
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