The Schooler's

WOW.  I'll attempt brevity in this posting - words really do not capture what the experience was like today for Rebecca and I.  We went "soaring" near Durango, CO with Soaring Treetop Adventures.  After touring Mesa Verde National Park, where Rebecca earned her 2nd Junior Ranger badge, we arrived in Durango, CO.  We parked the RV at United Campground.  This park competes with Rancho Sedona RV for our favorite spots to spend the night.  Lots of trees, near the river, and the train passes by - a big thrill for Little Buddy!

We all road the free Trolley in and had breakfast, before Christy and Luke saw us off for our adventure.  The train ride up on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad was relaxing.  We had tickets in a very nice car as part of the package, and one of the persons going "soaring" was also a guide on the RR so she shared all the views and tons of information on the history of the RR and surrounding areas - a real treat/bonus.

After getting outfitted, and completing all of our paperwork - not to mention safety inspection and overview - safety was emphasized consistently throughout the day.  The "sky rangers" not only ensured we had a great time - but clearly were focused on safety, checking, double checking all of our gear at every point.  They covered all of the redundant safety procedures built into their systems, their patented systems, and the gear was definitely top-notch.  The operation is only accessible by the train, so the family that lives there, and the staff are secluded - I won't lie - I was envious, and asked if they needed a CPA and could accomodate a family of four for a season.

Our "sky rangers" were Simon, Noelle, Peter and I'll have to edit this when I recall I'm getting sleepy... Anyway, they were all excellent, and I spent the most time visiting with Simon - he's a character.  Traveled through 22 countries in the last 4 years and is living a life of adventure/guiding/trekking/communing with nature.

Ok, so the deal is - there are 34 platforms, and over 24 spans ranging in length from 56' to 1,400'.  At one station, you are hoisted up 100', and you are lowered down for lunch at another stop.  Again, at each stop, the safety protocols are covered - it was a great experience.  Here's some video to enjoy:

Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!