BIG BEAR BRANCHES OUT WITH TREE CLIMBING
April 16, 2014 | by Dan McKernan
Action Tours is thrilled to announce its latest venture Action Tree Rope
Climbing Tours, an unique outdoor adventure
that gives people the opportunity to scale trees like a monkey. Action
Tree Rope Climbing Tours (ATRCT) is the only operation in Southern California
that offers authorized tree rope-climbing tours. The fun out-of-the-box tours
are designed for anyone 12 years and older who want to experience Big Bear’s
pine forest from a different perspective.
ATRCT provides
certified tour guides who lead each tour with a safety tutorial, climbing
instruction and proper climbing gear that includes tree-climbing saddles (harnesses),
slings, ropes and helmets. ATRCT instructors use a double rope-climbing
technique and they tie all of the appropriate knots so guests can scale pine
trees.
“Our instructors go
through an extensive two-week course in order to earn their tour guide
instructor certification. They must climb 75 times before getting certified,” said
Action Tours Owner Belinda Bain. “Our instructors are well-versed in proper
rope climbing techniques and apply all safety procedures that go along with tree
rope climbing. Our motto is safety first and fun second.”
Tree rope-climbing
tours are approximately three hours in length, and each guest should expect to
get at least four climbs per tour. The first one or two climbs start with a
“slow & low” approach with branches about eight feet off the ground. Once
the climber becomes more comfortable he or she can advance to branches up to 45
feet off the ground. Climbers will use repelling techniques to get back to the
ground.
“Repelling is even more
fun than the actual climb,” added Bain. “You climb and then repel, climb, repel,
climb, repel. Your adrenaline will kick in for sure!”
ATRCT contracted with International
Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist Paul Chaney of First Certified
Arbor Care. Chaney inspected a variety of trees at the tree-climbing site
before determining which trees to certify for the tours. Chaney has certified five
trees for the tour that can handle the climber’s maximum weight capacity of 250
lbs. and other determining factors. The types of trees designated for climbing are
ponderosa and Jeffery pine trees.
In
addition to a great day of climbing trees, guests will learn facts about tree
conservation. ATRCT instructors are diligent to point out what measures they
adhere to for daily inspections that safeguard and care for the trees.
All tours begin and end
at the ATRCT
headquarters located at 41647 Big Bear Blvd. Participants sign-in and then
board a tour van for a 15-minute ride to the location. At the entrance of the
site participants transport to a Pinzgauer off-road, safari-style vehicle for
an adventurous ride up to the site of the tree rope climbing trees. At the site,
instructors give a 15-minute safety orientation to explain what participants
should expect and how to get the most from the experience. The tours are
approximately three hours long.
ATRCT
offers tours Wednesday to Sunday starting May 15, 2014. Climbers must be at
least 12 years of age. The maximum weight limit is 250 lbs. Climbers must be
able to fit into a harness that is 52 inches circumference around the waist and
the upper thigh circumference is 26 inches. The amount of guests per tour is
limited to 8 people. The cost for the all-inclusive tree rope-climbing tour is
$99 per person. Tours are available all year round, seven days a week.
Reservations are recommended, but not required. To book tour reservations call
909-866-0390 or online at www.actiontreeropeclimbing.com.
For all there is to see and do in
Big Bear, make lodging reservations or request a free Visitors Guide log on to www.bigbear.com or call 800-424-4232.
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About Action Tours:
Action Tours is a multifaceted
company that offers outdoor recreation and adventure tours in Big Bear Lake
that includes Action Zipline Tours, Action Aqua Flight, Action Segway Tours and
Action Tree-Rope Climbing Tours.
April 16, 2014
News tag(s) { Tree Climbing Adventure Action Tours }
