Skytrek Adventure Park — Attraction in Area E (Eagle River Valley)

We have been visiting sky trek since it opened in 2008 so obviously we have loved it. But June 9th was our last visit, we’ll never go back, safety just isn’t close to what it used to be.

We did the ropes course (green, blue, black and double black) and these are the safety issues we encountered.

Nobody checked our harnesses. We were shown how to put them on but nobody checked to see if we tightened them correctly.

Instead of two carabiners to keep you attached to the course it’s now a c-hook and you have a ‘back-up’ carabiner (not sure what it’s used for as we were instructed to hook it to our harness and never told to use it).

The c-hook has a very small opening so it slides over the metal plates at each new obstacle but “can’t” come off the cable if you were to slip. Which happened to another person while we were there, which I’ve seen happen every time as you’re 10-40 feet in the air using mostly upper body to complete the obstacles then they come out and rescue you.

Now the problem with the c-hook. At the start they tighten the bolt at the opening of the hook. This is never checked again so you assume you’re safe (and I did feel safe at the time). Well, I noticed at the start of the black course mine looked off so I compared it to my son’s, it had come loose and the opening had turned sideways which meant it could come right off the cable (I could actually lift it right off the cable, an employee climbed up, re-aligned it and tightened it, I’m glad I seen this) and if I fell I had nothing to catch me and I’d fall all the way to the ground.

Nobody told us to check these. Nobody rechecked these. They came up and fixed mine and told me thank-you for telling them.

If this had been my children or the person who fell this could have been a different story.

They allowed two very drunk people on after us. When they caught up to us I could smell the booze on them. They were acting wildly and when coming down a Zipline across from my obstacle were swinging like crazy hitting the obstacle I was on.

It took me awhile to write this because I really hate giving poor reviews but the safety needs to be re-checked here before someone is seriously injured.

If I were to go again (which I never will) I’d learn how to put a harness on at a climbing centre (which my children and I actually know how to do), I’d check my c-hook every obstacle and I’d use the back-up carabiner even though we weren’t instructed to.

If you don’t know what any of that means I’d think twice...

We were not going to stop because we were traveling home and would arrive at 11:00 PM as it was. I pulled up the web page and it said last group 4:30 PM. So I stopped know we would now arrive home at 1ish in the morning.

However we do stupid things for our children and went. Paid the full amount which is extremely expensive. Went through the training course with a very nice and friendly gent. Then were off...my daughter and I were the first on our group to start. Things were going well until you decide to go double black diamond and she slows to a halt.

Fast forward...they allow everyone to try the harder course, which is cool...but the groups are not spread out enough for this. The hardest two obsticals a are at the end of the course and you start waiting many before that. We had the last four to go and it took 45 min to compete two of them because two full groups were pile up in front.

After waiting another another 15 minutes on a stand the lady on the ground directed out entire group to take an easier root and leave cause the park was closing. So we did not get to take the big jump at the end (the main reason to take the harder side)

Some rules were only three at a time on a platform, at the end they were filling them with 5 and 6 just to keep a few people moving. Why have safety rules and not follow?

So we paid full amount, stood around for ever and didn't not get to finish. Made it home at 1:30 in the morning and they did not even offer a discount after I complained.

The lady at the desk said, ohhh well you didn't miss that many at the end anyway. Nope! Only the hardest two...the reason we took the hard side and the big 6 foot jump at the end that's all.

She did say then you can climb back up and take the jump. I said no, we climbed down, had our gear off and must travel home and arrive very late.

Great concept but young people are in charge who have limited experience in time management.

Pretty good gig for them. Charge 40 on average X 10 in our group and it's a great gig for them to just say times up! Funny as I looked for the price we payed it says on the hours page no new guest after 3PM we arrives and paid at 3:50 PM

FOLLOW...

What a great experience!! Swinging, climbing and zipping through the tress is a feeling everyone needs to enjoy at LEAST once in their lives!!

A few things I wish I knew before heading in though... first, Jean shorts... not good. They can bunch up and create pressure points. Second, don’t be cheap... buy the gloves! Especially if you want to do the entire course (double black diamonds and beyond!). Finally, you do need to have some decent upper body strength. I’m not talking Olympic levels but enough that you can haul yourself up onto wooden platforms or pull yourself around on a rope/ladder/net to change your bodies direction. I’d suggest being able to do at least three chin ups and seven pushups in a row (which you should be able to get yourself into that fitness level over a week or two of practice at home).

DISCLAIMER: there is no medical or scientific evidence to back up my suggested health levels, fully random numbers pulled out of the air for questionable static use. BUT you can do it!!! #worthIt! 100%

Getting to the site/parking was no problem at all, they had clear highway signage and some awesome coloured lines on the road to follow from off the highway through to the parking lot (for the record, it’s the same pull off as the The Enchanted Forest).

Upon arrival, the forest is cool and greeting (the mosquitos, not so much, bug spray might be nice) but what a beautiful setting! They do a fantastic job of educating/training you on how the equipment works and what to expect when going through the course(s). The equipment is amazingly clever and amazingly safe. At no point did any of us feel safety was an issue or fearful of heights/falling.

Although we didn’t do the kiddy course, there is a fantastic looking children’s version that doesn’t appear to require close adult supervision. Think of a McDonald’s play place but a bajillion times better and larger!

If your not sure you should go... you totally should, but don’t take my word for it! Look at these pictures... LOOK AT THEM!!! You don’t want to miss out on this! Fresh air and fun... a...