CLIMB Works Canopy Blog

BEAR SHAVE1
March 18, 2013

Spring Forward

    When spring comes, change follows right behind it. The weather gets warmer, the scenery transforms and new life begins again. Spring has also brought change to CLIMB Works. We have many new changes and improvements that are transforming our company.

     Starting with our staff. CLIMB Works prides itself on top notch employees, who love what they do. This spring we have lots of new faces to enhance your zipping experience. New employees help us stay young and fresh, their new energy helps our welcoming atmosphere.

Old Lines

    As we get ready for our summer visitors, we have been doing some spring cleaning. The cleaning includes, shaving Bear so he doesn’t get too hot, and putting up shiny new lines. The beards are here to stay though.

Last but not least we are looking forward to debuting our mountain bike trail…. We don’t want to spoil it though, so check back next week for more information. We will introduce you to the one and only Bennett Rossell, the mastermind behind what we call the “Curly-Q”. Intrigued yet? 

Always CLIMB

Mike and Stephanie the night of their engagement
February 14, 2013

Valentine’s Day

CLIMB Work’s Summer Lovin’

Let us tell you a story about a boy and a girl. Her name is Steph and his name is Mike. They have a love story that will make your heart swoon. Of course some of you may be curious to how love and zip lining coincide. Keep reading and you will find out.

If these names sound familiar, you may have been fortunate enough to experience their love story first hand. These two are members of our CLIMB Works family. We’d like to think that CLIMB Works can be instrumental in bringing people to love. Evidence has shown that the state of euphoria felt while zipping through the trees can bring about vulnerable feelings such as love in many people. In this case, our zip lines merely accentuated the love between Mike and Steph.

stepgThis story has 8 distinct main phases:

  1. Boy and girl meet at a wedding.
  2. Boy likes girl, girl doesn’t know.
  3. Girl thinks boy is cute, boy doesn’t know.
  4. Time passes, then boy asks girl to lunch.
  5. Lunch is a success, so girl asks boy to a dance.
  6. Boy and girl are brought together by mutual love of running and the outdoors.
  7. Their relationship blossoms.
  8. The boy and girl spend a summer in the Smoky Mountains.

They found themselves intoxicated with all the excitement and adventure that zipping had to offer. The boy and girl were caught up in it all, but once they returned home they found that the timing just wasn’t right.

mike

(Since this is a “Love Story” we’ll fast forward through the rocky parts)

The boy and girl were tested over the year, weaning in and out of the treacherous “friend zone”.  But the year eventually passed and the time to return to their little paradise at CLIMB Works had returned. As the summer continued their connection grew even stronger, but once again the timing still wasn’t right. As she continued to search her soul, he waited patiently. She planned to serve for a time in a far off land, but he wanted her to stay. Selflessly, she embraced the love they had shared in Gatlinburg Tennessee and decided to call off her plans for him. He was elated. They talked of marriage but decided to wait. Unable to stand the wait any longer, the boy decided to surprise the girl in Seattle, and lead her to a place that reminded her of what brought them together. He asked her to spend the rest of her life with him.

She said YES!

Can you feel it? Do you want to feel it? This kind of euphoria and love is what makes CLIMB Works so special. Come find out for yourselves.

Until next time!

Challenge. Learn. Inspire. Master. Believe.

…Always C.L.I.M.B.

P.S. Happy Valentines day!

 

Raz Preparation
January 19, 2013

The CLIMB Works Employee Spotlight

Paul A. Rasnick “Raz”

Brief Biography:
Growing up in Morristown, Tennessee Paul Rasnick (AKA Raz) faced many challenges. One of those was the task of learning multiple languages. In East Tennessee his culture called for him to know both “English” and “Hill Billy.” Being from the South, Raz also found that he had a natural talent in playing musical instruments such as the banjo, guitar, and of course the fiddle. It has been said that the sounds of Raz’s banjo can make deaf men dance and lull bears to sleep.

It is common for some people to go through their entire life searching endlessly for that special something they can be passionately dedicated to. “Raz” found his passion at age 6. During his first backpacking trip to Mt. Camerer, Raz found that he had a special connection with Mother Nature (especially within the Smoky Mountains). When he is not zip lining in the Smoky Mountains, you can find him guiding a white water rafting tour down the Pigeon and Gauley Rivers.

Age: 27Raz Axe Smash
From: Morristown, TN
Teeth: Yes
Favorite Cologne: Cedar
School Attended: University of Tennessee Knoxville
Education:
B.S. in Forestry Sciences
B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences

Other accomplishments: Co-founder of the CLIMB Works “Beard Club,” tried out and made the Mickey Mouse Club as a kid but decided not to do it because they wouldn’t allow facial hair, voted Best Lips of his high school class, and he is an avid juggler.

Until next time!

Challenge. Learn. Inspire. Master. Believe.

…Always C.L.I.M.B.

Bike Trail Construction
January 11, 2013

What’s up at CLIMB Works?

The Mountain Bike Trail

Out of the 10 million people that visit the Great Smoky Mountain National Park each year, only 2% actually leave their cars to experience the park’s beauty! After analyzing this mind-blowing information, we here at CLIMB Works challenged ourselves to find a way to bring people closer to nature. And what did we come up with? Mountain biking.

While our zip line canopy tour provides a bird’s eye view of the Smokies, our mountain biking trail gives you an up-close-and-personal experience with the forest floor – all with a fun adventure that hiking can’t provide. Think: Boy Scouts, X-Games, and Captain Planet – all into one. If you don’t know who Captain Planet is, shame on you. Immediately google his name and listen to his theme song.

Though still under construction, our first mountain bike trail will be a two-mile loop designed for beginner mountain bikers. For more intermediate and advanced riders, there will be advanced features such as berms and alternate routes that will be optional; this way there is something for the whole family to enjoy. The two-mile loop goes right underneath our zip line canopy tour, so you’ll even have an audience cheering you on from above. Sounds almost angelic, right?

We hope to have this first bike trail completed by the beginning of Spring 2013. Stay tuned to our blog and our Facebook page for updates on our mountain bike trail and our pump track.

Until next time!

Challenge. Learn. Inspire. Master. Believe.

…Always C.L.I.M.B.

 

 

Zip into the New Year!
January 3, 2013

CLIMB Works Resolutions

Despite the doomsday predictions, it seems that we have lived to zip another day. December 21st, 2012 was just a normal day after all. Now we can focus on the destruction and rebirth of just a year instead of a whole world – or as we like to call it: New Years.

New Year’s is our favorite holiday because making New Year’s resolutions is essentially the same thing as our motto: Always C.L.I.M.B.

Here are our New Year’s Resolutions. They may seem pretty similar to yours.

1. Gain weight. We gained about 15 new employees this past year and are hoping for more. That is the equivalent of going from a 32” waist to a 38”. We looked it up.

2. Ride bikes more. We are excited for the Spring when our bike trail opens up. Stay tuned to this blog for updates.

3. Work more, play more. They kind of go hand-in-hand here.

4. Grow more beards. There have been studies that suggest outdoor adventure employees who do not have beards are perceived as less “trustworthy” and “competent.” And by “studies” we mean “hunches.”

We do hope that you can make New Year’s resolutions and stick to them. If you need help overcoming a fear of heights and/or a fear of beautiful scenery, we would love to help. Take on new challenges. Learn a new skill or hobby. Seek inspiration. Become a master of something this year. Make a goal to believe in something you didn’t believe in last year. Live.

Until next time!

Challenge. Learn. Inspire. Master. Believe.

…Always C.L.I.M.B.

 

Apocalypse proof hat
December 20, 2012

December 21, 2012

A CLIMB Works Look into the Mayan Calendar

 

Like the dinosaurs before us, it seems that our time on earth is just about over. Recently, there have been many undeniable warning signs pointing to our doom. The first sign of course was the ending of the Mayan calendar which gave us the date: December 21, 2012.

In light of the inevitable destruction of all mankind, we’ve dedicated this week’s (and probably the last) blog to reflecting on the greatest events occurring during the Mayan calendar. The Mayan calendar has been coined “The Great Cycle” and equates to 5,125.36 years.

“The Great Cycle”

August 11th, 3114 B.C. – December 21st, 2012 A.D.

Date:

Important Event:
3114 B.C.
The Mayan Calendar begins
1492 A.D.
Christopher Columbus discovers America
1940 A.D.
Chuck Norris is born
1969 A.D.
America lands on the Moon
1992 A.D.
The 1st text message is sent
1994 A.D.
Forrest Gump is released in theatres
1995 A.D.
N’sync debuts their first album
2001 A.D.
Steve Jobs buys his first turtleneck
2002 A.D.
N’sync breaks up
2010 A.D.
CLIMB Works opens the Gatlinburg office
2012 A.D.
The End

 

Listed below are our top 5 theories as to why the Mayan calendar suddenly ended:

  1. They ran out of paper.
  2. They went into recession and jobs got outsourced to other countries, including the “calendar” guys.
  3. The last episode of the last season of Jersey Shore falls on December 20, 2012. I guess the Mayans figured without it the world could not go on.
  4. The same goes for Twinkies.
  5. The biggest prank in the history of the world.

Whether the Mayans were right or wrong in their probable prediction, we still encourage you to Always CLIMB! until the bitter end…

Until next time! (we hope…)

Challenge. Learn. Inspire. Master. Believe.

…Always C.L.I.M.B.

 

The Jer Bear striking a pose
December 6, 2012

The CLIMB Works Employee Spotlight

Jeremy B. Lay “Jer Bear”

Deep in the backwoods of Gatlinburg, TN on Branam Hollow Road resides a being locally known as “Jer Bear”. For those who have not yet come in contact with the “Jer Bear”, he can best be described as a combination of Chewbaca and Furby wrapped up in a flannel shirt.

He is a man we at CLIMB Work’s are proud to have on our staff. According to local legend, Jeremy Lay was born with the heart of a bear instead of a weaker human heart, thus giving him the name “Jer Bear.” With bear blood coursing through his veins, he has been bestowed a beard more masculine than chopping wood outside a cabin he built with his bare hands. It has been said that his beard alone has experienced more hardship than a sailor lost at sea.

When working as a zip line guide, the easiest two ways of finding him are usually through hearing him sing his favorite pirate’s plank song or by listening for his distinct chuckle. When Jeremy isn’t working as a zip line tour guide, he can be found below the canopy working on the new mountain bike trail. It has quickly become evident that Jeremy seems to be a natural when it comes to working outside, especially when wielding a chainsaw.

Name: Jeremy Lay
Age: 22
Height: 6 ft 4 in
Hair Color: Brown
Beard Length: 8 in
Beard Color: Smoky Brown
Eye Color: Unknown

 

Besides being able to start a fire with just a rock and his beard, he is also a recent graduate from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. With a degree in Recreational Administration, it would seem Jeremy has found his ideal job. Jeremy’s dream is to one day own a two-week camp dedicated to educating young men. Through this camp he plans to guide backpacking trips and teach survival techniques such as camping, hunting, and starting fires. He also intends to use the environment in teaching values and traits that “help young men become great husbands and fathers”.

Due to the abundant amount of positive reviews we’ve received about the “Jer Bear”, we’ve proudly dedicated this week’s blog to patting him on the back. The next time you come to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, or anywhere near the Smoky Mountains come check us out and ask for the “Jer Bear!”

Until next time!

Challenge. Learn. Inspire. Master. Believe.

…Always C.L.I.M.B.

Bennett Rossell riding the first phase of the pump track.
November 27, 2012

What’s Up at CLIMB Works?

The Pump Track

The popularity of “Pump Tracks” has recently swept the globe (including east Tennessee). So what is a pump track? Pump tracks are specially created mountain bike courses, typically created covering areas averaging 40 x 20 ft and comprised of dirt and clay. The dirt is then used to form various elements such as dirt rollers, berms, jumps, and turns that loop back on itself. And by systematically spacing the individual elements, the rider can either coast or zoom through the course depending on their preference – without pedaling!

Our pump track is for both amateur and experienced mountain bikers. If you have never done it before – no problem! The amount of speed, fear, and risk are low while the levels of fun and improvement are very high! These tracks can also provide the experienced riders with an effective way to build skills and techniques such as balance, cornering, stamina, and maintaining speed.

Led by our head mountain biking enthusiast Bennett Rossell and world-renown mountain bike trail builder Tony Boone, we are on our way to a world-class bike track and the first of its kind the Great Smoky Mountain area. We had trouble believing that an area as beautiful as the Smokies was without a place to mountain bike. So we did what any sensible outdoor adventure company would do – we’re building our own! Our pump track here in the Smoky Mountains spans 100 x 75 ft wide, which is 3 times the average pump track size. We have taken advantage of every inch by adding features such as log rides across water and alternate routes our track will be one of a kind.

Participants will have the option to either bring their personal bikes or rent bikes from us. We have teamed up with the Trek Bicycle Corporation, allowing us to offer the best types of mountain bikes available for all types of riders.

We hope that our new unique outdoor activity will challenge participants visiting Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville to branch out of the crowded, traffic jammed areas!  For updates on the pump track and our zip line canopy tour and other awesome things going on at CLIMB Works, stay tuned to our Blog and Facebook page!

Until next time!

Challenge. Learn. Inspire. Master. Believe.

…Always C.L.I.M.B.

Family at CLIMB Works
November 20, 2012

What are you thankful for?

Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays here in the Smoky Mountains. Thanksgiving Day is traditionally a day for families and friends to get together for a special meal. When everyone in your family is busy, traditions like these are great for getting people to stop what they’re doing and focus on family time. And of course, it is a time that reminds people to give thanks for what they have.

The Smoky Mountain National Park is one of many great places that families from all over tend to stay during the holiday week. And we’re thankful that many of these families choose us to “hang out” with on our zip line adventure!

The awesome success we’ve had at CLIMB Works throughout the years would not have been possible without you guys! We’re so thankful for all the support our participants have shown through “liking” us on our Facebook page, giving us great ratings and comments on Tripadvisor.com, and even coming back to zip with us again and again!

We strongly believe in the importance of family and consider all of our employees and participants to be a part of our continuously growing family. Zipping with families visiting Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and other areas near by is always a great time for us!

We would love to hear from you guys about your families and Thanksgiving traditions. So we would like to ask you: What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Until next time!

Challenge. Learn. Inspire. Master. Believe.

…Always C.L.I.M.B.

The "Majestic" platform during a night tour
November 13, 2012

CLIMB WORKS OCTOBER NIGHT TOUR

As many of our veteran zip line participants already know, we at CLIMB Works always strive to Challenge ourselves to reach the next level.

In our previous years, the available times that were offered to our participants ranged from early sunrise to late in the evening for canopy tours. During the month of October we wanted to push the experience of zip lining even further.

We Learned that we could safely provide an experience to our participants that was entirely different from the tours provided during the day. By implementing our braking device, named the “Zip KEA” (Kinetic Energy Absorber), we found that night zipping could and would be a reality.

By providing headlamps to participants and lanterns to our guides, we were able to develop a successful system that provided a safe, educational, and fun experience. We found that participants, both new and old, were Inspired at the chance to experience this new journey into the night.

Unlike the tours during the day, the night tours focused more on the constellations seen in night sky and the nocturnal wild life roaming through the forest. By zipping through the forest at night you are given a first hand view of the Smoky Mountain National Park. Our location’s distance from the city provides us with low light pollution, allowing us to see thousands of stars as we zip into the darkness. For those of you that have zipped with us before, zipping during the night provides a completely different experience. We especially encourage our past participants to come Master the zip lines in the dark to discover the mysterious nocturnal side of the Smoky Mountain Forest.

We Believe that your experience with us is one that is life impacting and unforgettable. All participants are welcome to come experience this new challenge with us next Spring!

Due to winter weather, we have put a temporary hold on offering night tours. With the success we had this October, we are thrilled to announce that Night Zipping will return this upcoming Spring of 2013. So the next time you come and visit the Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge area, be sure to check us out!

 Until next time!

 Challenge. Learn. Inspire. Master. Believe.

…Always C.L.I.M.B.

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