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About Bootleg Canyon Flightlines
Have you ever imagined soaring from
the top of a mountain with an eagle’s eye view? Or envisioned a new way of
exploring a mountain terrain without leaving a trace of your journey behind? If
so, let your imagination become reality and get out to experience the thrill and
the beauty of Bootleg Canyon Flightlines, Boulder City’s newest eco-adventure,
opening soon at the base of Red Mountain.
If Flightlines don’t mean anything to you, think zip-lines for simplicity’s
sake, a term most people are more familiar with, and you might get the basic
picture. However, there is nothing simple about Bootleg Canyon Flightlines.
Suspended from cables and comfortably sitting in a para-gliding harness, you
travel from point to point by flying over the desert ecosystem from the top of
Red Mountain. Instead of hiking or cycling down the trails, you are exploring
the mountain from an aerial trail. Add to that some of the safest new patented
technology, impressive distances, spectacular views, and highly qualified
guides, and you have the Bootleg Canyon Flightlines, the only Aerial Trails
system in Nevada.
The Aerial Trails or Flightlines project is owned and operated by Greenheart,
LLC (“Greenheart”), an eco-tourism company based in Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada. Greenheart has a strong history of designing, fabricating and installing
canopy walkways, Flightlines and aerial trekking adventures around the world in
countries such as Guyana, Haiti, Brazil, Panama, Ghana, Belize, the U.S. and
Canada. With each of these projects, Greenheart has been committed to promoting
and protecting nature while implementing systems that support and sustain
economies.
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Greenheart is now excited to be working in cooperation with Boulder City to
develop this new venture. Ian Green, co-founder of Greenheart, says that if you
look back at the history of the Canyon, Bootleg has gone from having ground
trails (1930s) to bike trails (1990s) to Aerial Trails/Flightlines in 2008. He
feels that Flightlines are the evolution of the current trail system from a
physical, educational, and social standpoint. “It is clear that we need more
people outdoors and active,” says Ian, “while respecting the fact that for a
great many a 13 mile hike through the canyon isn’t an attractive first step; but
soaring like an eagle across the canyon combined with stunning backdrops and
interpretive guides just might be.” He wants people to have a natural experience
that is both thrilling and educational. “The Flightlines themselves will catch
people’s attention, and the beauty of the surrounding landscape, combined with
our guide’s knowledge of the natural and cultural history of this area, will
allow people to leave with a greater appreciation and respect for this amazing
desert ecosystem.”
Bootleg Canyon Flightlines consists of a multi-run and multi-line series of
lines that range in length from 1150 to 2550 feet. After guests assemble at the
base for orientation, training will be provided on an 833-foot long practice run
that will allow them an opportunity to become familiar with the system. The
practice run will also give anyone having second thoughts a chance to back out
before being committed to the full tour experience. But for most it will only
heighten the excitement for all that lies ahead. Afterwards, groups of
approximately 12 guests are shuttled up to the top of Red Mountain where they
will begin their descent on a series of 4 lines flying across canyons at speeds
of up to 50 mph. The entire tour package will last approximately 2.5 hours and
covers a total of 1.56 miles.
The aerial trails are designed to have very little impact on the environment
when operational. The towers that you see on the mountain will soon be painted
to match the color of the surrounding landscape, and any traces of construction
will be repaired and replanted. Because you only walk on the ground at the
beginning and end of each line, there is very little impact on the desert over
the length of the trails.
In line with the eco-tourism mandate of “conserving the environment and
sustaining the well being of the local community”, Greenheart is developing
relationships with local conservation companies and Boulder City to create a
sustainable low impact recreation area that will provide for itself and bring
new money into the economy. Greenheart would like to thank Brent Thomson, former
Mayor Bob Ferraro, Mayor Roger Tobler, Roger Hall, Vicki Mayes, Brok Armantrout,
Mike Pacini, Jill Rowland-Lagan, Andrea Anderson, Harold Begley, Dave Olsen,
Patty Sullivan, Rod Woodbury, Rose Ann Rabiola Miele, Eldorado Rock, DuPont
Engineering, and the many others in Boulder City who have played a major role in
making this project a reality.
The ongoing development of the Bootleg Canyon Flightlines project includes the
building of a sustainable Interpretive Center near the desert park with plans to
break ground and begin construction later this year.
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