SCENE AROUND: Skis-to-Trees: Catamount Adventure Park

Stretching through the tall canopy of trees alongside Catamount’s now grassy ski slopes on the border of South Egremont, Mass., and Hillsdale, N.Y., the Catamount Adventure Park, now in its second summer, is abuzz with activity. As “kids” of all ages fly overhead on the nearly thirty zip lines and maneuver their way across the park’s highlight—130 bridges—the partially cleared area in the woods is reminiscent of the Lost Boys’ lair in Peter Pan’s Neverland.

Each of the eight elevated courses—ranging from green (easy) to yellow to blue to black to double-black diamond (most-difficult), mimicking ski-trail ratings—features a series of wood-and-rope bridges with built-in obstacles, connected to platforms that hug the park’s towering trees. Adventurers receive an initial tutorial by Catamount staff, but are otherwise free to attempt the courses unguided, at their own pace after completing a required run on the easy and moderate courses. Participants thus choose their own three-hour adventure—whether mastering the lower-level courses or straining every muscle to complete the more challenging, less-stabilized routes.

“People have done things they never thought they’d do,” says marketing director Rich Edwards, who sees guests leave the park exhausted from a day’s activities. Groups ranging from scout camps to steelworkers and firemen attempt the courses as a teambuilding aid, while individuals of all fitness levels and ages can try their hands (and feet and limbs) at them, too—as each individual is strapped securely into harness systems monitored by grounded staff members.

It seems the trend is catching on: northbound Berkshirites can experience a similar course at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort that opened this past June. Jiminy’s Aerial Adventure Park features five courses complete with bridges, zip lines, and obstacles—all of it self-guided. For zip-line purists, check out Zoar Outdoor [“Swinging from the Treetops,” p. 18, August 2009], in Charlemont, Mass., where visitors are led on a three-hour group flight through the trees on a series of eleven zip lines. The only obstacle to overcome is hesitation. [AUGUST 2010]

THE GOODS

Catamount Adventure Park
Open daily through Sept 6; weekends through Oct 31
Route 23
South Egremont, Mass./ Hillsdale, N.Y.
413.528.1262
518.325.3200

Jiminy Peak Aerial Adventure Park
Open daily through Sept 6;
weekends and holidays through mid-Oct
37 Corey Rd.
Hancock, Mass.
413.738.5500

Deerfield Valley Canopy Tours Zoar Outdoor
7 Main St./Route 2
Charlemont, Mass.
800.532.7483