I wondered if having paraglided once would make me less nervous this time around. Good news! Even though I had a few jitters in the air, it was a pure high (no pun intended). I even let the pilot do a few acrobatics which pushed me way out of my comfort zone. So glad I did. The adrenaline rush was out of this world!
*Note on Risk: With a qualified and experienced pilot, paragliding is very safe, but there is always the chance of equipment malfunction or a bad landing.
Paragliding in North Vancouver, BC
WHERE: Grouse Mountain British Columbia
COST: $250 includes gondola tickets
FEAR FACTOR: High (if you're afraid of heights)
RISK: Medium/Low*
WOW FACTOR: Off the charts
DO IT AGAIN? Absolutely, positively, YES!
Was it true? Could you really capture the sensation of a "bird's eye view" by paragliding? I wanted to find out. My discomfort with heights and fear of the edge were tested not just once but several times during the sardine can gondola ride and two separate chair lifts all before the main event. All the anxiety was worth it, though. You can see in the video how I went from nauseous to knocked out with joy. This was/is one of the most exhilarating adventures I've ever taken even though I was consumed by worry right up to the moment I ran off the side of the mountain with my pilot and a sliver of pink parachute.
*Note on Risk: With a qualified and experienced pilot, paragliding is very safe, but there is always the chance of equipment malfunction or a bad landing.