Page 149 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

Snowdon

and the Zip Wire Challenge

By Corporal Chris Johnson

all-time favourite activity of tea and cake was pointed out to us; it was marked with
in the local café. a fluorescent ball which we could barely
see in the distance. Myself and Corporal
The Little One Leila Smith were third in the queue
waiting with anticipation and nerves to

Arriving at Zip World, we were all given hurtle down a mile of single wire, and
red boiler suits, helmets and goggles to when our eyes were open, we were able
wear. Our hearts were pounding when we to take in the sights of the quarry and the
saw the zip wire and the height you had vast lake which we flew over at 100 mph.
to travel from, but luckily or unluckily
depending which way you looked at it, the Reflection
first zip wire we went on was a little taster
to build your confidence before the main Although two days was not long enough, a
event. We were all sorted and checked sense of achievement was felt by all. Some
prior to being escorted to the baby zip for having reached the peak of Snowdon
wire where we were shown how to slow and some for having overcome their fear
down, if needed to. Captain Karen Baker of heights and completing the UK’s longest
and Sergeant Sam Price were the first and fastest zip wire challenge.
showing true leadership and ensuring the
equipment was fit for purpose prior to the
rest of us following suit.

The Big One
Top of Snowdon. Left to right: Max McGoon, Chris
Johnson, Cary Grant, Deia Cooman, Leila Smith,
Following the ride to the top of Penrhyn Anthea Browne, Sam Price, Karen Baker
Quarry, the finish point of the big zip wire

become quite misty, but we still managed
to get our picture at the peak of Snowdon.
The coffee shop at the top was too hard
to resist, and once we had rested and
refuelled with pasties, tea and chocolate
we began our long descent back to Pen y
Pass.

Zip World Velocity

Our planned activity for the second day
was the zip wire at Penrhyn Quarry near
Bethesda. The zip wire is over a mile long
and riders can exceed 100 mph whilst
flying at 500 feet above the quarry. With
these facts in mind, there was much
excitement and slight intrepidation from
the whole group about the activity that
lay ahead, as no one quite knew what to
expect. We arrived far too early, so had to
retrace our steps back to the local village
where we indulged Captain Karen Baker’s

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*2016 J Layout.indd 149 10/01/2017 15:44