Adventure in the Alaskan Wilderness
My daughter can’t resist a zip line. No matter where we travel, she seeks out high-flying thrills. She’s the only one in our family who really enjoys zip lining. But because of her age, I typically have to join her. That’s how I ended up on the Kawanti Adventures Alpine Zip Line in Juneau, Alaska. The things you do for the people you love…
After reluctantly agreeing, I booked the experience online. We were already in Juneau, sailing on a small-ship cruise with UnCruise, and we had time to spare before we flew home. At the designated time, a driver from Kawanti Adventures picked us up in the parking lot outside of the Mt. Roberts Tramway. The alpine zip line is located in a ski resort on Douglas Island (just across from Juneau).
Once we arrived, we were weighed in and then fitted with safety harnesses. The guides gave us detailed safety instructions before we got started. Then it was time for the fun.
Zip lines
There are five exhilarating zip lines at Kawanti Adventures Alpine Zip Line. The longest one is 600 feet. You soar over the rainforest canopy from one treehouse platform to another. You also cross a long suspension bridge.
Ok, I’ll admit it, the zip lines were fun! For me the most stressful part was crowding onto the structure around the tree, waiting for our turn to zip. We were in a group of 9, that included another family and a couple.
Axe throwing
Once we’d completed the zip line course, we assumed the adventure was over. But we were wrong! That’s when the adventure got even more “Alaskan.” We had the chance to throw an axe at a target like a real lumberjack. Let me tell you, it’s not as easy as it may appear.
Souvenir photos
Two guides accompanied us throughout the course. They were enthusiastic and encouraging. They made sure that we were safe and that we had fun. They took a ton of photos of the action. We purchased a thumb drive for about $30 that included dozens of photos from our afternoon’s adventure.
Other logistics
If you take the shuttle bus from Juneau, the whole outing will last about four hours from pick-up to drop-off. If you’ve rented a car, you can drive yourself here and park in the lot.
The cost is $122 for youth and $174 for adults. The minimum age for kids is 8 years old and the minimum weight is at least 70 pounds. The maximum weight is 250-pounds. Wear layers and bring a light rain jacket since you’ll be outside.
There’s plenty more to see and do in Juneau. Here’s how we spent 48-hours in this Alaskan city.
