Stoke adventure: Challenge your fears at SkyTrek Adventure Park

A picture says a thousand words and this one says it all. Thrilling jolts of fear coursed through my body as myself and my friend Avery were pulled back into the air, strapped into an airborne contraption at SkyTrek Adventure Park.

Fear is evident on the faces of journalist Emily Kemp (left) and Avery Francis (right) on the Sky Swing and the SkyTrek Adventure Park. Photo: SkyTrek.

Like a caring parent who pulls back the swing for their child, the Sky Swing acts in a similar way, just on a much larger scale. We hung there, suspended high in the air and completely at the mercy of the controller — a staff member who, with about 200 of these to supervise each day, has to find some pleasure from the torment of guests.

Guests take on the Sky Swing at SkyTrek Adventure Park. Photo: SkyTrek publicity shot

The moment we started to get comfortable we suddenly plummeted towards the ground. The urge to scream caught in my throat and I felt paralysed, the ground rushing towards me at speed and air whooshing past my face. My heart raced as we swung high to the other end and this time, as we dropped backwards, a shriek escaped from my lips followed with relieved laughter.

This was to be just one of many encounters during my visit to SkyTrek that I felt the thrill of fear.

Revelstoke resident Avery Francis got a kick out of SkyTrek Adventure Park’s Aerial Trekking Course. Photo: Emily Kemp/Revelstoke Mountaineer

I had never anticipated going to SkyTrek or its sibling The Enchanted Forest. It always appeared busy, the car park active and many small children beyond the fence line and I took pleasure in driving past, on the way to somewhere more tranquil and quiet.

Now if that sounds like a negative thing to say, here’s the balancing reality. Once you park and enter, tranquil and quiet isn’t such a stretch.

Inside the forest the climate drops to a cool, fresh temperature. Climbing towers and a multitude of cables and ropes are scattered throughout the tall trees and the shrieks of happy kids are absorbed into the forest canopy.

I’ll admit I sought out SkyTrek after seeing a recent video on Katy Perry’s Instagram. In her video, Katy was suspended in the air on a zipline high above the treeline on an unbelievably long cable that descended into the forest. I discovered that SkyTrek has multiple ziplines of varying length in their Aerial Trekking Course, an obstacle sequence which challenges your comfort zone and fear of heights.

A SkyTrek staff member Heather hooks Avery Francis up in a harness for the Sky Tower attraction. Photo: Emily Kemp/Revelstoke Mountaineer

I recommend arriving early in the day for this attraction as it is popular, and if you think you’ll breeze through it get to the front of the line in your group. As it’s single file, it does tend to get backed up on the course and you can spend some time waiting.

The harnesses, cable system and all-round safety focus on the course is impressive. You can imagine the time and money that goes into maintaining the course considering the amount of use it gets and the number of young children on it.

You attend a short training session before you get to the real course and at first the number of times you need hook the multiple carabiners to yourself seems excessive, but you do get used to it and it becomes part of the fun.

I caught up with Irene and Claude Houle who had just completed the course, their visit to SkyTrek part of a holiday and 34th wedding anniversary celebrations.

Irene and Claude Houle conquered their fear of heights at SkyTrek Adventure Park. Photo: Emily Kemp/Revelstoke Mountaineer

“We loved it,” Claude said enthusiastically. “And I’m scared of heights. The harnesses the, safety course, it is awesome.”

Ziplining was a bucket list item for this pair, who now feel encouraged to seek it out again.

“I feel ready to go to another place that zips longer,” Irene said.

The Aerial Trekking Course can take anywhere from one hour to three while the Sky Tower can occupy you for a good hour or so. It’s next door to the Sky Swing and if you pay for the combo option you’ll get the Sky Tower activities which include the swing, Sky Drop, climbing walls and log climb.

The Sky Tower is a climbing wall with a mechanical belaying system and has a variety of courses to try. My shoulders ached by the end after a substantial amount of rock climbing.

Do you dare to take the plunge? Jacob’s Ladder is a scary 12m high drop. Photo: Emily Kemp/Revelstoke Mountaineer

The Sky Drop is worth a mention. As you climb the vertical ladder to the four storey (12m) platform above, it’s like walking to the plank, hoping against hope that you can build your courage enough to step off the platform. But just like skydiving and bungee jumping, it’s easier said than done.

Once you’re on that platform, the ground looms up from beneath you and fear cripples you as you react against the unnatural demand to step off into thin air. You’re locked in a mental battle and trying to tell yourself that the abseil equipment will save you only slightly deters the growing onslaught of anxiety.

Once you lift off you either love it or hate it. It’s definitely fun to try, but once was enough for me.

If you decide to visit SkyTrek Adventure Park, you can make it a full day event with all the activities. Pack a lunch and enjoy it in the forest setting or they do sell snacks such as chips, cookies and water, pop, Gatorade, and coffee.

And this attraction is not just for families. It’s the perfect idea to take your significant other or a new date along and see how the other person reacts outside of their comfort zone.

Emily Kemp was a guest at SkyTrek Adventure Park.