Peak to Peak Zipline Tour at Camp Fortune

I have always enjoyed all sorts of thrill seeking activities. Bungee jumping, ziplining and roller coasters are all appealing to me. I also love the outdoors and being in nature. Combine the two, and I have the perfect weekend activity. Camp Fortune’s new peak to peak ziplines and mountain coaster fit the bill.

For this excursion, I brought a friend with me. My parents opted to only ride the mountain coaster. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by our guide who took us to the chairlift. There, we went on a five minute scenic ascent to the peak, getting an incredible view of Gatineau park along the way. 

Once we reached the summit of the mountain, our guides took us up the stairs of a short tower. There, we attached ourselves to the ziplines and were ready to go. Because there were two zip lines next to each other, my friend and I were able to go at the same time. 

As soon as the guides let us go, we glided 150 feet above the forest at high speed. My friend had been somewhat nervous at first, but once we got going, he was ecstatic. From the zipline, I was able to see stunning sights all around me while flying through the air. When we arrived at the second tower, we were excited to do it again.

We waited for a few minutes for our guides to return and do the safety checks, and we were once again ready to go. Before going on the second zipline, our guides had told us that it would be a good idea to spin on this one. They were right. I let go of my harness and spun around, learning what it's like to zipline backwards. I made sure to get into my brace position in time.

After the second, we went on the third and final zipline. This one was a bit smaller, but it was still fun. At the end, there was an optional 50 foot free fall. I stood at the edge of the platform, staring straight down before going against my natural instincts and walking off of it. I plummeted for two meters before the cord slowly lowered me to the ground for a not-so-graceful landing. In total, I ziplined the distance of 4,478 feet in about an hour. 

Following lunch, we went back up the relaxing chairlift for one last activity- the mountain coaster. The mountain coaster consisted of one seat that rolled down a winding metal track through the trees. I used the lever to go at the maximum speed of 40 km/h, holding on tight as it made sharp drops and turns. It was a great adrenaline rush.

If you are interested in either of these activities, arrive 30 min ahead of schedule and check in at new customer service, lower level of the main lodge. Remember to dress for the weather, active clothing and running shoes. The ziplines have a minimum weight of 100 lbs and a max weight of 240 lbs. Pricing is $55 for youth 14 and under and $65 for those 15 and older. The coaster is $20 per ride and you have to be 8 years old or older to ride alone.  Safety equipment and instructional sessions are provided. For more information please visit https://campfortune.com. 

David is a fifteen-year-old aspiring adventure and travel writer living in Ottawa.  Skydiving is on his bucket list.