Tree Frog Canopy Tour

There are so many great experiences to have in the Mohican area, and one of the newest and most fun attractions is the Tree Frog Canopy Tour offered just South of Loudonville on Wally Road. Last summer I visited this new and adventurous business and LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT (well, except for when I cried but we'll get to that later).

The first thing I'd like to pass on to my friends about the tour is how amazing and wonderful the staff was! They were friendly, knowledgeable, encouraging, had your safety as their #1 goal and your enjoyment as a close second. They explained each line thoroughly and always left you feeling comfortable and excited. When I went I had Rob and Missy as my guides - they were both wonderful.

I'll bypass all the details on getting you safely harnessed in and through the practice zip. I will say that watching Zoe, the dog, escort you up to the top of the hill was a treat! Over the course you go through several (I think 7) zip lines, a couple sky bridges, and do 2 free rappels. The zip lining was great fun. They start you off with a smaller zip so that you get the feel of things. The harness was comfortable and I felt fully supported. Here's a picture of Nicole on a zip line. Depending on the elevation drop, your weight, and how you position your body your speed can vary on the lines. We were trained on how to properly slow down and stop, but they also had safety measures in place if you were entering the stopping pad a little too fast. The lines had you mainly going through the trees. It was a lot of fun to zip by trees and have your feet dangling. I'd compare the feeling you get to going down a slide. You go down the lines quickly but definitely had time to look around and enjoy the view. We had a group of 8 in my group, plus 2 guides. I was never bored waiting on my turn to go because there was so many great things to look at in the beautiful setting. It was also a great way to relax and a unique perspective of the forest from high up in the trees instead of on the ground.

My favorite zip line is the one that takes you above the trees where you're overlooking the tree canopy. I will post a video I took during this zip at the end of this blog. I believe that this was the longest line, and it was amazing to fly over the trees and have that view. I remember thinking at that moment that I am very blessed to grow up in such a beautiful area. Everyone should take the opportunity to view nature this way. Here's a picture of one of our employees in the middle of that zip. Behind her you can see the open valley. You zip across that valley above the trees. Make sure to check out the video at the end of the blog, and then make sure to come visit the area and see for yourself!

Okay... so now to the part where I cried. I am a big wimp and afraid of heights. Despite my heightened fears, I felt very safe on each zip line... then we got to the free rappels. Let me make it clear that you are VERY SAFE on these rappels. You are strapped in, the friction on the rope does not allow for you to fall quickly, and if you would ever start going too quickly both guides are in control of your line, making it impossible for you to fall and go splat on the ground. Despite all of these safety precautions, I could not get my mind to believe that my body wasn't going to hit the ground... hard. Maybe it's because I kept looking over the platform at this view. The advice "DON'T LOOK DOWN" comes in handy at this point. When it's your turn to go, you have to kind of swing your body out and off the platform. It's a mind game that's played to convince your body to step itself off of the nice, sturdy platform. On the first rappel I did this step - twice. I'm not exactly sure what happened (my mind blocked the experience from my memory) but I had swung myself off the platform, and the next thing I knew I was on my hands and knees back on the platform, crying. Again, I have to reiterate here that I am a wimp and that in no way was I ever in any danger. Do not be afraid to take your child or yourself on this tour. I have a history of crying 10 feet off the ground so this part of my experience is definitely on me and not the Tree Frog Canopy Tour. Missy, one of our guides, was absolutely amazing at this point. She reassured me, offered to have me take a step back and watch a few others go, etc. A minute later I was off that platform and having the time of my life. Here I am going down the first rappel.
The second rappel I did without hesitation and I'd like to credit the Canopy Tour for helping me get over my fear of heights. In fact, a week later I jumped out of an airplane on my first skydiving adventure!

The tour also has a couple of sky bridges. The brides are fun to walk across. They kind of bump and sway with you and the only thing I can compare it to is walking on clouds, if I had any experience with walking on clouds.

I highly recommend the Tree Frog Canopy Tour as something to plan when visiting the Loudonville-Mohican area. We did the tour during the summer, but I can only imagine the beauty you'd get to see during the peak leaf-changing weeks in the fall. The tour possesses excitement, nature's beauty, fun, and self-challenge - everything that a Mohican adventure should have.

Here is the video I took during the zip line that takes you above the canopy. Enjoy!