[ Travel / Nonfiction ] Two RVs, four adults, five children (9-16), seven campsites, 20+ hours of driving, thirteen points of interest (give or take), camping/RV experience that's pretty much nil, no reliable Wi-Fi or cell service, or consistently p...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
We took our time heading west and spent the night in Glacier View. We passed two glaciers (Nelchina and Matanuska), and before we left the area, we took the big kids on a zipline tour.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The Nelchina Glacier
During the hour-and-a-half tour, each person had a chance to try two different ziplines—the Nitro (1500 feet long/30-40 miles per hour) and the G2 (2200ft/45-60 mph). They are the longest ziplines in Alaska and the G2 is the fastest. Both overlook the Matanuska River and glacier.
I have to admit, I was more nervous than I thought I'd be. The hardest part was letting gravity take over. It was a leap of faith. And then it was easy flying. Weight determined speed, but you still had some control over how fast you went, depending on how aerodynamic you made your body. I preferred to take my time and enjoy the view.
If you like moderate thrills, you'd be fine on this, even the G2. The true thrill seekers in our crowd were craving a little more.
You have to be at least eight years old and sixty pounds to ride their ziplines. My daughter can get scared on kids' rides, so I didn't think it was a good idea to bring her on this excursion. She probably would have been all right, but your average eight or nine your old would love this. I would definitely recommend this stop if you're ever in the neighborhood.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
First jumper, the Nitro.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The Nitro, part 2.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The Matanuska River.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The G2. It's a race! The Matanuska Glacier is on the horizon below the cloud cover.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
