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Stress free travel
Looking into the canopy of trees at the Pi’iholo Ranch, I had my answer. It wasn’t the rush or speed. It was the chance to swoop between branches like a bird. Even with my moderate fear of heights, I knew I had to do it.
After a quiet night in Maui’s beach town of Kihei we ventured upcountry, navigating part of the road that winds up slope to the crater of Haleakala. We followed our GPS instructions and still had time for lunch in the cowboy town of Makawao. A hitching post from ranch days still stands in front of the town store and our waitress at the Casanova restaurant and deli said that ‘Paniolos,’ the Hawaiian-ized word for cowboy, occasionally ride through town.
Fortified we drove to the Ranch and met the crew that would help us ascend and zip. Jeff Baldwin, who manages the 800 acre property with his wife, Janet, once worked as a safety instructor with NHRA drag racers and loves a good challenge. It was his inspiration to develop the only zipline on Maui that’s strung across a private ranch. He’s worked hard with PVM, Professional Vendor Members of the Association for Challenge Course Technology, to install and maintain safety standards. As he spoke my altitude-challenged nerves started to relax.
Trainer David, Jeff Baldwin, and Pomai Weigert
Next we joined a family, two kids under 10 and their parents, visiting from Iowa. It wasn’t long before we were in harnesses and one of our trainers, Whitney, had us reviewing a litany of regulations. Trainer Dave went over technique and we stepped up a set of stairs to a treetop platform.
Trainer Dave guides us on technique.
For the next hour and a half Dave and Whitney escorted us, shared stories and myths, pointed out rainbows and checked, rechecked, fastened, hooked, cajoled and applauded our progress.
Our small group makes its way up to the starting platform.
I learned immediately that the best technique was to not look down but across to the landing platform. After checking harnesses, setting the gear, guide lines and hand bar, each stretch of our 6 lines, began by slinking into a chair position. Next we had to step off platforms 60 feet and more above the forest floor. What a forest it was! Wide-girthed Eucalyptus trees held our lines securely. Their smell and adrenalin cleared our heads.
Sturdy Eucalyptus trees hold ziplines securely.
At one point a light rain fell and as I waited for the last of our group to swing onto the platform, I spied a double rainbow through branches above a trio of horses. Dave told us that rodeo-bred steer and horses still graze on the ranch’s lower sloping fields.
Suspended bridges helped us cross between 6 ziplines.
We crossed bouncing, suspended bridges and zipped across ever widening gaps until we came to the ‘drop.’ This was the most frightening part of the adventure for me.
Basically a state-of-the-art pulley contraption lowered us, one by one, to a cushion below where we were treated to snacks before completing our final zips. It’s one thing to be tethered to a line that arcs horizontally. To step off a tall platform from a single vertical line is another challenge.
Fearless, eight year old Morgan.
The kids did it without a hitch. I paused, seriously frightened, and then just stepped into the air. In mere seconds my feet gently caught the ground and all was good in the world once again. Soon we climbed another stair and traversed a broad canyon before stepping back onto the final landing platform. The nearly three hour tour ended as a van carried us past a pair of Nene birds (Hawaii’s State Bird) and back to our original rendezvous point.
Know what? I’d do it all again. If I ever get to Costa Rica it’s one of the first things I’ll try. I hear the trees are even taller and tropical parrots keep you company!
Thank you, Piiholo Ranch managers and all your kind, patient and very well trained staff for hosting us.
When you choose Zipline adventures at Pi’iholo Ranch:
- Book online to get a 10% discount.
- Kids go free but there are weight restrictions.
- Choose from a team-building, side by side series of ziplines, the canopy tour we took or reserve a combo tour with Maui Hike to visit waterfalls along with your zip.
- Transportation: It’s probably best to get there by renting a car but Maui Bus will get you to Makawao town. You’ll need to walk about a mile to the zipline check in. You can also check the website for car services that will bring you privately.
- More information:Â http://www.piiholozipline.com/
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Awesome…sometimes the stress of worrying about things is worse than actually doing it.
You’ve got that right about the stress. I had a blast once I just surrendered and flew!
Wow! That’s so impressive to overcome your fears and do something like that!
Thanks, Irene, I did hesitate, more than once but so glad I took the leap of faith. So much fun!
Good for you for getting past your fear! I absolutely love zipline and the that free feeling you get as you fly through the air! Maui sounds like a magnificent place to try it as well 🙂
Thanks, Valerie. It was lovely to stretch my ‘wings.’ Hope you get to try it on Maui one day too.
This is right up my alley! I used to be a zipline/ropes course instructor, so I love this stuff. Even with your small fear, it’s awesome that you’d do it again!! I love that about challenges. You learn so much about yourself.
Very cool that you used to be a zipline/ropes instructor. Thanks for the response and it’s true, I learned a lot. First line was shaky then I leaned into it and soared (still white-knuckling a bit!)
I have always been afraid of ziplining. But we will be in Maui in September…maybe I should try it there!!! Thanks for this.
Carol, there are many zipline companies on Maui & I haven’t tried them all, but felt very safe w/the team at Piiholo. It’s also the only one on a private ranch.
That looks so fun. I cannot believe I have not zip lined yet.
So much fun & I loved the canopy tour. Hope you get the chance soon.
I’m so glad that I was able to do this zipline adventure only vicariously through your posting!
Sweet, Carole, glad it was a good glide!
That looks like something I would love to do one day!
The Piiholi Ranch team made it so much fun and easy. I hope you get the chance.
This looks awesome. I would love to try ziplining one day, although I would probably poop my pants too. 🙂
I’m no daredevil but felt very safe and heck, the 8 and ten year olds were fearless about it! With a good, safe outfit it’s a breeze. Hope you get the chance sometime.
I love ziplining and I’d absolutely love to try it here! Amazing scenery! Thanks for linking up with #WeekendWanderlust 🙂
Thanks, too for the kudos and yes, the Maui zip line course was unbelievably fun. They have several. Glad to be part of Weekend Wanderlust too.
So glad you enjoyed zip lining and what a place to try it for the first time! I’ve only been in Costa Rica and it was years ago, but I still remember the beautiful scenery from up above. Although I was nervous, it felt oddly safe while I was doing it, so I definitely wouldn’t be nervous to do it again. Bungee jumping though? No thanks 🙂
Jessica
http://www.thebellevoyage.com
Ditto to all of the above, except I haven’t been to Costa Rica yet. Would love to and take lots of pictures.
looks like you had a great adventure im scared of heights
I honor vertigo and have experienced it myself. I’m still partially challenged with altitude but more so with death-defying, adrenaline-jerking, experiences! Done my share and now I like being there to document, take pictures and write. Thanks for your comment.
Bungee jumping is a big NO GO for me (I lack the speed freak, adventure gene) and I’ve also avoided ziplines so far. However, after reading your post, I’m going to try this adventure the next opportunity I get. Your description of winging through the eucalyptus and other trees sounds awesome!
It was amazing. There’s a trick to doing it well but with a good company, well trained staff, a real joy.
Ziplining yes. Bungee jumping, oh hell no. This is a great line, and of course, what’s not to like about Maui in general?
I’m with you – Bungee jumping no, Maui – always a yes.
We have tried zip lines a few times and loved it, but are totally with you on the bungee jumping. No way is that ever going to happen.
Thanks for sharing. I’m not just a wimp, when the family went bungee jumping I just wanted to take pictures (and preserve my nervous system!) Enjoyed it all the same.
So glad you had fun on your first ziplining adventure! We’ve soared like birds ziplining in Whistler, Chiang Mai (that was awesomely scary!) and Cabo San Lucas. And you’re right, it’s not so much about the chills and thrills of whooshing down a long zipline as it is about getting a bird’s eye view of the scenery from above – at least that’s what convinces us to go :-). And if parrots are one’s companions on ziplines in Costa Rica, then we’d love to try it there too.
It was my first zipline over land. I did a short course on Isla Mujeres last year and somehow being over water made it easier to enjoy! This was a stellar experience though and I’ll keep your experiences in mind should I get to Chaing Mai, Whistler or Cabo. Thanks.