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Apr 18, 2008 4:13 pm US/Pacific
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One Tank Trips: The Zip Line
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
It's the newest rush in Northern California. If you'd like to fly, try speeding through the sky on the "zip line". There is something pretty wild going on in Calaveras County. It's the newest daredevil attraction.
The zip line is a forty mile an hour, cable ride down a mountain. Patrons say it's easy, just harness up and say goodbye to zip line mascot, Maxine.
The zip line just opened. It was the dream of Steve Fairchild who got the idea as a kid listening to the adventures of cowboy Tom Mix. Mix was trapped by some bad guys until he saw power lines.
"He took his silk handkerchief, which all cowboys had, put it over the power line, held on to it and zipped down to get away from the bad guys and I'm going that sounds like a lot of fun."
Zip line riders agree and many said they would ride again.
Natalie Johnson is a zip line guide and has lost count of how many times she has ridden.
"The first time you get little knots in your stomach as you are about to take off but after that it's great."
So far the ride only goes about fifteen hundred feet high, but there are other plans ahead. Steve Fairchild plans to build the next zip line in a nearby canyon.
"I want to go from the original tower all the way across the canyon or two or three different lines going four thousand feet across the canyon over here, and then hopefully a chairlift to lift them back out."
Until that super zip comes along, you can get your thrills zipping over the trees like.
One rider, Les Allen, says the absolute speed and you look down and see an eternity below you, and then the very last part. I don't think you are going to stop, and you do.
The "zip line" is located at Moaning Cavern on highway four just above Angel's Camp.
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