Ziplines

Upon arrival at net, confirm that nets are fully extended to their ground position.  Confirm that black/red lanyards are properly connected to net belay cables (the Triple Auto-lock carabiners on bottom and Double Auto-lock on Top cable).

• Participants should group in pairs for Double Zip and trios for Triple Zip.

• After doing the 4-H check, ensure that each participant has the required zip trolley (“monkey tail”) attached to the back loop of their harness.

• Give the participants instructions for zipping:

  • Where to hold (yellow lanyard only).

  • Don’t go upside down.

  • When I count down, step off the edge.

  • At end of zip, a staff member will be throwing you a rope. Catch and hold onto it.

• Attach participants with lanyard to the FRONT LOOP on their harness.

• Send participants up alternating belay cables, leaving about a 10 foot gap between participants.    

• There should never be more than 2 participants on each belay cable (total of 4 max on the net).

• The goal is to have 1 set of zippers on the top platforms ready to zip, a second set of zippers on the net ready to be invited onto the platform, and a 3rd set harnesses up ready to begin climbing. As soon as the zippers on top depart the platform, you can begin sending your group on the ground.

• As participants return from the exit ladder, sort their gear and get it re-set in the appropriate places. 

Once participants reach the platform with you, greet them warmly (remember they may be nervous).

• Transfer them from the net to the white lanyards on the top of the tower, then unhook the red/black back-up lanyard they used to access the platform.

• Have the participant move to the launch platform underneath their respective zip.  Attach their zip trolley and back-up lanyard to the zip cable and to the participant.

• Re-check their harness, helmet, and hardware.

• Repeat this process for additional participants on adjacent zip lines.

• Look down the zip corridor to ensure that the area is clear  (VISUAL Confirmation OF the ground) **

• Call down to the bottom “Zip Line Clear?”  (VERBAL Confirmation FROM the ground) **

• When you hear the response “Zip Clear”, Double Check their harness, zip trolley, and all carabiners again, then detach the white lanyard securing the participant to the top of the tower. At this point they are now attached to the zip cable only.  NOTE: You NEVER un-clip the participant from the tower lanyard until you have both verbal and visual confirmation that the bottom is clear.

• Give the participants instructions for zipping:

  • Where to hold (yellow lanyard only).

  • Don’t go upside down.

  • When I count down, step off the edge.

• Call out “Zipping 3” or “Zipping 2” (total # of people zipping down). (Note: It’s not uncommon that we will send 2 people off the trip zip, so you need to communicate the total number of zippers to the team at the ladder.)

• Once you receive the response “Zip #_ On” from the ground, count down and send the participant(s) off. 

**  You ALWAYS get both visual and verbal confirmation before sending anyone off of a zip line.

See “ZipLine Top” section above for commands and communication with the person working the top.

• It is imperative that you always keep the zip corridor clear of all participants and maintain responsibility for the rolling staircase.

• Each time a person Zips down, your responsibility is to get the participant off the zip line. The safety of the participant is always your priority.

• After the participants have zipped by, retrieve them using the haul ropes. Simply toss them up to each participant and gently pull them back to where each is hanging over the concrete.

  • DO NOT pull them back too fast.  If they have momentum and let go of your rope, they can travel too far out over the ravine and need a rescue or more complicated exit procedure.

• It’s imperative that you leave the rolling staircase behind the caution line until you get participants back to the concrete, but once they are hanging over the concrete, pull the rolling staircase over to access them.

• One facilitator will climb the rolling staircase to help the participant off the line.

  • Pull the cable down with 1 hand while removing the gear with your second hand.

  • Pro-Tip! - Ask the participant to “put both hands on the railing and stand up straight and tall”. This will ensure they are holding on, and ensure that they don’t pull on their lanyard eliminating the slack that you are creating.

  • Once they are detached, attach their trolley/lanyard to the back loop on their harness and, if possible, drape it over their shoulder so it’s not entangling their feet as they go down the stairs.

  • Instruct them to walk down carefully, using railing on their left-hand side.

• The second facilitator will remain on the ground to move the rolling staircase AND spot the person coming down the stairs.

  • It is critical that each person coming down the stairs is spotted to ensure we are present to assist them if they stumble down the stairs.

  • Note: The painted lines on the concrete denote where the ladder should be pulled to for each zipline.

• After all 3 participants are safely off the lines, move the rolling staircase back behind the safety line.

• Have the participant carry the pulley back to the tower.

See “Zipline Top” Section for commands and communication with the person working the top.

• It is imperative that you always keep the zip corridor clear of all participants and maintain responsibility for the ladder.

• Each time a person Zips down, your responsibility is to get the participant off the zip line. The safety of the participant is always your priority.

• Walk out to the edge of the tree near the termination poles after giving the “Zipline clear” commands to the person at the top. You should stand around the area where participants will naturally stop and begin sliding backwards on the cables. As they reach this point where they momentarily stop, warn the participant that you’ll be tossing up a rope, and gently toss it up for them to grab. Instruct the participant to hold on once they’ve grabbed it.

• The staff person will GENTLY slow down the participant at a rate that is comfortable to both the participant and the staff person. - BE CAREFUL NOT TO STOP THEM TOO QUICKLY AND CAUSE ROPE BURN.

• After they have been gently stopped, attach the haul ropes to the wooden beam at the take down area.

• Bring the ladder over to the first line and instruct each participant to hold on to the A-Frame ladder.

• Facilitator will climb the opposite side of the ladder and release the tension on the cable using one hand while removing the zip trolley with the other. Lay the trolley/lanyard over the participants shoulder and instruct them to slowly climb down using both hands on the ladder.

• Repeat the process for the second line.

• Have the participant carry the equipment back to the tower, staying clear of the lines for the next set of zippers.

• After both participants are down, move the ladder back to the wooden T-frame on the ground and lay the ladder down out of the way.