Majestic Switzerland, with its crisp snow-capped peaks and luscious greens, is a real breath of fresh air. My favorite adrenaline-filled adventure, without a doubt, was my paragliding experience in the Swiss Alps. I am forever grateful for trusting myself and making that spontaneous jump out of my comfort zone. I looked around at the mountains, took a gulp of air, and took flight.
The only time I had been in the sky was in the confines of an airplane, so I wasn’t all that thrilled about this take off, but since I had paid a hefty fee of about 300 CAD, I was pot committed. I was so committed, that I was hoping the cute cow licking my parachute would just gobble it up and I could throw in the towel.
It’s hard to commit to things that frighten you, but by facing it you have won half the battle. Spiders also frighten me, but that’s a story for another day.
If you think about it…really think about it – tomorrow is never promised. Never. If what you’re afraid of is your safety, guess what? You fly with a certified glide operator, who has taken flight plenty of times before you showed up.
Your task is simple, just sit pretty, smile for the pictures and look around you, while the operator maneuvers the paraglider. They do the work, and you take in the sights. Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy?
The Process
Once I had taken the gondola up to an elevation point determined by the paragliding team, I was thrown a jacket, helmet, and pants. Everyone else was up in the air, and then there was me, slowly putting my gear on, wondering if the cows would chase me if I made a run for it. My paraglider operator hooked himself on and then proceeded to strap me in a thick mesh seat, and before I knew it, we were in the clouds.
It was glorious. Every moment was more breathtaking than the next. I was gawking at the magnificent mountains, the evergreen trees, and the water streams glistening in the morning sun.
At the height of over 2100m above ground level, soaring slowly through the world, it felt as if time had stopped. I was well out of my comfort zone, yet it brought me so much joy and appreciation for life. When it was time to land, my instructor yelled, “run,” and we came to a running halt on the ground. My 15 minutes of peace were up, and I didn’t want to shake the feeling.
Should you do it?
OF COURSE! If my post hasn’t inspired you to make the jump, then I have let you down, and for that, I apologize. Trust yourself. Take that leap of faith. Conquer what frightens you.
Whether you have been paragliding before or want to try it, let us know in the comments below.
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If travel is at a standstill for you right now and you need things to keep you busy, then read our list of 40 fun things to do at home.
