Resorts and Travel Services: Day 7

SO LEGIT. I cannot believe I actually jumped out of a plane at 12,000 feet. Ok, let's be honest, I should probably call it a fall, but at least it was a cool fall, since we exited the plane with a backwards summersault. Followed by...

45 seconds of straight free fall.

In a word...amazing!

We began our adventure on a shuttle to the hangar. We weren't sure whether or not we wanted to purchase pictures/DVD with our dive, but after hearing our options, we were SOLD on getting our own "cameraman" who would dive with us. He would film everything starting from when we first met our tandem diver in the hanger to our landing. He'd also take still photos during our dive!!! Only 3 divers could go at once, so we broke up in 2 groups; Liz and I were first!

After signing our lives away,

We practiced the important "free fall position"

with our dive group,

suited up,

harnessed up,

and were ummm...."reassured" after reading the HUGE warning label on the back of our chutes... (note the first sentence...)

We then took pictures for you to remember us by...

This is Grant, my amazing guide!

and we're off!

It was about a ten minute flight up to 12,000 feet, and Grant gave me a great scenic tour of the landscape and what we were seeing below.

My cameraman was taking pictures this whole time so I didn't have to worry about that at all!

The view was absolutely gorgeous!

Next thing I knew, the plane switched engines, and the first girl was out of the plane. Then Liz was gone. It all happened sooo fast, she was there one second...then all I see is this -

Now its my turn. Grant holds me (I'm actually attached by like 5 bajillion straps...) as I am essentially hanging outside of the plane. He tells me to smile for one last camera shot.

Then, I scream.

We flip out of the plane and FALL.

Its amazing.

Not only is the view magnificent, but I'm falling at 200 mph!

AHHHH!!! I hear Grant scream "yahhhooooo" in the background, and laugh to myself.

He told me in the plane he would let out an occasional yahoo just to let me know he was still conscious and with me :)
A couple minutes after pulling the chute and making sure my screams are of joy and not pure fright, Grant informs me that its been a couple of weeks since he's lost somebody. I feel lucky :)

We do some more flips and head on in for a landing.

We survived!!