The zip line whisperer (2013)

zeigen · Post by **zeigen** » Fri Aug 15, 2014 11:59 pm

So it was Sunday, noon, somewhere around 6:45 and C maybe, and I had passed by this zip line at a zip line camp every day for the burn. And I had kept telling myself, "Oh, yeah, have to ride that zip line." But I realized on that Sunday that I'd best give it a try now or there wouldn't be another chance.

So I climbed on up the first platform.

And then I clambered up the ladder for the second platform.

Still more ladders? Okay. Up I go.

And then there's a bit of a line. A few people in front of me. Great view. 40 feet up, maybe?

And I see the last little climb up to the top of the works, a complicated bit of steps and ladders and a seated arrangement where you grab the line and slip forward and hurtle down to the mattress-padded landing area below -- and I can hear the man with the zip line camp giving the instructions. Tall guy, long beard, shades, calm, good sense of humor. I don't know his name, but let's call him Fred.

A woman goes down, not quite following instructions but flipping all over the place and yipping her excitement.

I look down. Now, I'm not afraid of heights, but it occurs to me I'm pretty high off the ground.

A guy goes down, he's Swiss I think, and he's cheering.

And then the guy in front of me, it's his turn. He's breathing pretty hard. "I'm afraid of heights," he says.

And Fred nods. "That's no problem," Fred says. "You can do this."

And the guy starts to panic. "I want to go down," he says quickly. "I can't do this."

And Fred nods. "Sure," says Fred. "You can go down. I'll help you climb back down. But are you sure that's what you want?"

And the guy swallows and says, "No, I want to ride the zip line. But I can't."

And Fred begins whispering to him. Fred has his hand on this guy's knee. And the guy is nodding. And Fred is speaking calmly, slowly, never letting go of the guy's knee. And before too long the guy takes one last nod, and one last look at Fred, and then he's off, a slide forward from the chair into thin air, only his hands on the line, and he's zipping down 40 feet to the playa below.

Then Fred winks at me. "You heard all that?"

I nod, and am ready to go.

"That guy had a hard time," I say lamely. Fred nods. And he winks at me again.

"That guy did fucking awesome," says Fred.

...

Fred is the zip line whisperer. He's fucking awesome. That zip line camp is fucking awesome. Burning Man is fucking awesome. Being afraid of heights is not so awesome. But being afraid of heights, and riding a 40 foot zip line in 100 degree heat in the desert? That's fucking awesome.

Bless · Post by **Bless** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 12:14 am

Fucking awesome.

Aurelia · Post by **Aurelia** » Sat Aug 16, 2014 10:26 am

Lovely

may we all be whisperers from now on

xoA.

nehaali · Post by **nehaali** » Wed Aug 27, 2014 10:43 pm

very nice posts

Aurelia · Post by **Aurelia** » Wed Sep 03, 2014 8:49 am

just got home last night..went early ,stayed late.
Please send me a zip-line so I can be here now when people ask me about BRC

xoA.

torrey.smith · Post by **torrey.smith** » Thu Sep 04, 2014 9:48 pm

Wow. That's my camp! I founded Sextant Camp to get your hearts pounding. In 2013 we were at 7:45 & C with a 36 ft tower. For 2014 we were at 3:15 & Esplanade with a 52 ft tower (and some Tesla Coils).

Thanks for sharing!

-Sarge

zeigen · Post by **zeigen** » Thu Sep 11, 2014 2:46 am

torrey.smith wrote:Wow. That's my camp! I founded Sextant Camp to get your hearts pounding. In 2013 we were at 7:45 & C with a 36 ft tower. For 2014 we were at 3:15 & Esplanade with a 52 ft tower (and some Tesla Coils).

Thanks for sharing!

-Sarge

Sarge, you rock. I missed you guys this year, but grats on the Esplanade placement. I'll be sure to look up Sextant camp in 2015 now that I know your camp name. How did the zip line go this year? 52 feet, crazy.

torrey.smith · Post by **torrey.smith** » Sat Sep 13, 2014 9:19 am

Thanks!!!

We ran the entire BRC scouts down the zip-line in the middle of the night.

Imagine 9-11 year old kids climbing a rope ladder all the way up, THEN we clip them in and send them off!

We did our first bar this year too, up in the tower

Bless · Post by **Bless** » Sat Sep 13, 2014 10:55 am

pretty cool

[media]

nehaali · Post by **nehaali** » Tue Sep 16, 2014 5:27 am

Sarge, you rock. I missed you guys this year, but grats on the Esplanade placement. I'll be sure to look up Sextant camp in 2015 now that I know your camp name. How did the zip line go this year? 52 feet, crazy.

torrey.smith · Post by **torrey.smith** » Wed Sep 17, 2014 7:47 pm

nehaali wrote:Sarge, you rock. I missed you guys this year, but grats on the Esplanade placement. I'll be sure to look up Sextant camp in 2015 now that I know your camp name. How did the zip line go this year? 52 feet, crazy.

Thanks!!!

This year went great. We ran the entire BRC Scouts down the line at night!

One 11 year old girl named Lucy came back with her dad and she ran the zip-line again and again until she met her goal of 10 times

The zip line whisperer (2013)

The zip line whisperer (2013)

Re: The zip line whisperer (2013)

Re: The zip line whisperer (2013)

Re: The zip line whisperer (2013)

Re: The zip line whisperer (2013)

Re: The zip line whisperer (2013)

Re: The zip line whisperer (2013)

Re: The zip line whisperer (2013)

Re: The zip line whisperer (2013)

Re: The zip line whisperer (2013)

Re: The zip line whisperer (2013)