By Courtney Haile ~
For the new Adventure Girl series in Tolosa Press I try new activities, push beyond my comfort zone of the gym, and explore what our little bubble of California has to offer. It seems dubious to write about Central Coast adventures without a visit to Vista Lago Adventure Park, located in the Lopez Lake recreation area in Arroyo Grande. Vista Lago is a side-by-side adventure and zip- line park with more than 50 elements to challenge your body and mind.
I woke up on a Saturday morning excited and a tad nervous, nursing a slight headache from a sangria-like concoction I’d prepared the night before (rookie move, I know). Wanting to avoid crowds and heat, I arrived right before the park opened at 10:30 a.m. and checked in with Amy at the front window. I signed a two-page waiver, relinquished my keys as collateral for safety gear, and was ready for one hour of unlimited access.
A few other rugged outdoorsmen and I started at ground school, a 15-minute orientation and lesson on locking and unlocking oneself to a cable. This comes in handy and makes more sense in the air as this is how to transition from element to element. I stepped into a harness and got shackled to safety hardware before I learned how to traverse the cable. An anxious person, I worried about absorbing every morsel of information and compared myself to everyone else.
Crap! Will I have to retain all of this information and demonstrate in front of everyone? I was indeed the first to demo and I didn’t totally have it down but there was no need to panic. Vista Lago has young friendly staff everywhere with a keen sense for newbies. Plus, I figured my co-worker Justin Stoner, Tolosa Press’ marketing guru, was listening. I didn’t have to attempt my first ropes course and zip lining adventure alone because Justin got harnessed in as well!
We climbed the short, steep hill to the upper course where degrees of difficulty progress from yellow to black, 20 to 30 feet in the air. Nervous this was no longer a drill, I promptly forgot everything I learned in ground school. To start, I slowly and deliberately crept across four-inch wide wood planks while I grabbed ropes for support. I am not especially fearful of heights so it was more wiggly than scary. I continued to an element containing two ropes.
Dependent on one’s positioning the ropes can be either friend or adversary. In other words, if you lean the wrong way you’re screwed. The sparse elements require more strategy than strength and I immediately and awkwardly swung sideways. Struggling with balance for a few long seconds was vulnerable; and fear stemmed not from actual danger but from loss of bodily control. I remembered the staffs’ tips to lean in to the supporting rope and cautiously made my way across. Relieved, I looked ahead to an intimidating spider webby wall.
I turned to the seasoned gentlemen behind us for advice and they encouraged me to use my leg strength. I am pretty darn strong, so gained confidence as I picked up speed and completed the yellow course. Justin’s time was up so I had the option of continuing through the green course alone or zip-lining for 30 more minutes. I spotted another ropey, potentially wobbly element ahead (yes, there were children attempting it with no hesitation). I opted for the zip line.
I regret not going for it because I know I could’ve done it; but I’d never zip lined and it requires far less skill. I did all three zips and was excitedly nervous before each one. The 700-footer is the fastest and most fun, and I screamed with delight each time.
My experience at Vista Lago Adventure Park was fun, thrilling, confidence building, and suitable for the mildly athletic and rarely adventurous. I will definitely visit again and give myself two hours to push myself further. Now that I understand the general movements, energy, and strategy involved, I will go in with confidence– unafraid to fail or flail. Choose your own adventure at https://vistalagoadventurepark.com/.
Courtney Haile is a fitness instructor and writer living in San Luis Obispo.
Photos by Justin Stoner