Okay, maybe we weren’t quite tree-top height, a la Edward Cullen swooping Bella Swan to the top of the forest, but we were pretty darn high amongst the trees.
Last weekend Sean and I spent the afternoon at the UBC Botanical Gardens and their Greenheart Canopy Walkway. The canopy walkway is a 1246 feet (or 380 metre) long ariel trail system, allowing you to view the upper parts of the forest. Better looking up (or straight ahead) than looking down the whole wobbly time!
The suspended walkway is attached to trees using ‘tree hugger’ technology. So says Ian, the designer of the walkway, who we happened to befriend when we ran into him at the second platform on the walkway with his niece.
Ian Green is the owner of Greenheart Conversation Company and has built these kinds of suspension bridges in Ghana, Peru, Nigeria and Madagascar. Oh and also a zipline in old Las Vegas.
Don’t ask me how this sustainable ‘tree hugger’ technology works but the attachments to the trees itself are definitely not invasive. There’s no nails or bolts but instead is fastened by a tension system. In fact, the thought could cross one’s mind as to however could the walkway be secured so loftily?
Forest skybridge
The walkway has 8 platforms that offer a view from 50 feet off the ground, in addition to the ninth, 2 story platform. At the highest point in the whole walkway journey, Sean and I were viewing the forest (and trying not to get vertigo) at 72 feet in the air. You can bet that I made sure to hold onto the rail coming down on that platform.
72′ ft in the air and loving it.
We were marvelling at how high up we were and yet not feeling so high up. We took pictures and videos trying to capture the height and scope of the walkway, but from above looking down, is not nearly as impactful as if you’re on the ground shooting up. So much forest and vegetation around us.
Couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.
This is how it must have felt like on The Return of the Jedi set. I always wanted to live in the forest of Endor and live like Ewoks amongst the trees. Or as I joked with Sean, we were fulfilling our Tarzan and Jane fantasy. Sorta.
When we finished walking and bouncing our way the entire whole walkway, we couldn’t stop smiling. And feeling weak in the knees (the bobbing up and down stays with you for a bit!) We even pondered walking it again. We felt like little kids.
What a great way to experience nature and the forest. Who knew there was a hidden eco-attraction right in our city?
View more photos of our outing at Greenheart Canopy Walkway on my Flickr album.
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