You don't have to journey to Central America to experience a treetop canopy tour on a zip line.

Go no farther away than northern Lancaster County, to be exact.

That's where you'll find Refreshing Mountain Camp's Zip Line Canopy Tour, now in its second year.

On the retreat's 60 wooded acres just south of Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area you get strapped in and step off a platform, 65 feet above terra firma.

Landing and taking off five treetop platforms, you'll sail above the trees and a pond for more than a quarter-mile.

Listen to the crickets — if you're not screaming in giddiness — feel the wind in your face. See the treetops rise up to meet you. In early spring or late fall, when there are no leaves, you can view a valley, the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Middle Creek, maybe even a deer.

If you're really feeling it, go backwards or dangle upside down.

Lancaster Mennonite High School's senior class were doing those things last week.

When they weren't on the zip lines, they were navigating nine obstacle courses 30 to 50 feet above the ground as part of the High Adventure Challenge, also included in the Canopy Tour.

The stations involve moving among platforms via a series of aerial ropes, nets, swings, steps and logs.

Here are some of the dispatches that wafted down from the highwire hijinks:

"I'm going to die!"

"Shelby, you can do it. I have a height problem too, but it's so much fun."

"You know, I'm conquering my biggest fear right now. Yes!"

"I am so scared, right now."

"I believe in you."

"Mom!"

There were 157 students in attendance and most of them ventured upward. Some of them twice.

"I have a fear of heights but there were some things I wanted to do before I graduate and conquering my fear of heights was one of them," said a sky-high Janey Rohrer, as she finished the last, 400-foot-long zip line.

"It was a rush once you got up there. I'm doing it again."

Refreshing Mountain Camp, built by the Harnish family from a deteriorating horse farm in West Cocalico Township in 1983, is known mainly as a quiet retreat for groups.

And it might have stayed that way had not the family, a few years ago, sought a safer, continuous strap-in system for its elevated Ropes Course.

The high Ropes Course was built in 1998 and served double duty as a facility to train employees of a cable company how to climb.

But Ropes Courses, personal development and team-building challenges, were popping up throughout the region.

A representative of a company called in to install a constant-belay strap-in system to replace the hook-in, hook-out one between Ropes Course stations, ventured that zip lines were the hottest thing in the outdoors adventure industry.

The company wanted to build a showcase zip line course they could cite for customers. Refreshing Mountain Camp was game.

When it opened last year with little advertising, the camp's owners were surprised — and unprepared — by the demand.

"We were surprised by the popularity. We had a learning curve last year," says Justin Harnish, the 31-year-old son of founders Marlin and Sharon Harnish who serves as office manager. Four members of the Harnish family work at the camp.

Additional staff members had to be added to handle the demand from guests, local residents and, increasingly, tourists from places like Philadelphia and New Jersey. Online booking was added.

Things are going so well that nighttime canopy tours were added this year. Participants wear headlamps on their helmets, staffers carry lanterns on the platforms and Tiki lights glow on the ground. Sometimes, moonshine is enough to light the course.

"Some say it's less intimidating than daytime because you can't see the ground," observes Harnish.

Some get cold feet when they get off the ground. But most follow through.

Justin Harnish's grandfather, on the occasion of his 80th birthday last fall, did the zip lines, but with trepidation. He plans to do it again, and this time enjoy it.

Unlike early zip lines, riders don't brake themselves by applying gloved hands. At Refreshing Mountain, it's a gravity braking system. The height between the launch platform and landing platform is only a difference of 6-8 feet.

The sag in the loop slows riders down naturally as they approach the landing ramp.

Things are going so well that an expansion on the canopy tour is already in the works. Expect more and longer zip lines in 2012.

There may not be a waterfall or lagoon to zip over, as in Belize, but, as Harnish likes to point out, "You don't have to fly to get here, either."
acrable@lnpnews.com

IF YOU GO
The Zip Line Canopy Tour at Refreshing Mountain Camp in West Cocalico Township is open year-round, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., though the zip lines can't be run when the temperature falls below 40 degrees.
 The new night tours are available Thursday through Saturday, 7-11 p.m.
The minimum weight for the zip line is 80 pounds, though arrangements can be made for lighter kids to ride in tandem with an adult if they are not afraid of heights. The maximum weight allowed is 280 pounds.
There are a large variety of pricing options, depending on group size and specific activities. For 1-3 people, there is a flat rate of $175 for day tours and $195 for night tours. For groups of more than three, rates are per person and vary according to group size.
For prices, booking online, directions and more detailed information, go to www.refreshingmountain.com. The phone number is 738-1490.