Seeing the Poconos
A Bird's Eye View
Melanie VanDerveer
Issue date: 10/1/07 Section: News
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When you first arrive, you will be asked to sign in and watch a short video that will educate you about the type of jump that you are about to embark on. A short training session will teach you the jump procedures. Then it is time to sign a bunch of waivers and gear up.
For your first jump and many subsequent jumps, you will be jumping tandem with an instructor strapped to your back. You are basically just along for the ride. The instructor does all of the work for you. Once you are geared up and ready to go, it is time to board the plane. The plane that they use can carry up to 23 people so jumping at the same time as a friend or two is almost always possible. The flight is short, only about 10-15 minutes. Once at the correct altitude, which is about 13,500 feet, it is time to experience the adrenaline rush that so many seek out. This is the point when you jump out of a perfectly good airplane.
When you first jump, you are freefalling at about 120 mph. That only lasts about 60 seconds. I am sure that it is longer than it sounds though when in the moment. Then the parachute opens and you are flying through the sky. From the time the chute opens to the time you land on the ground, is only about five minutes. The whole experience from boarding the plane to landing lasts about 20 minutes. What a view you will have of the Poconos as you soar through the air. You will be able to see all of the Poconos and all that it has to offer from new heights.
First time jumpers and friends, Andrew Del Mauro, Teri Greszczak, Liz Morano, Nick Bello and Jon Piela, all from NJ, were ready to go on their first jump on Saturday, September 22. The only thing holding them back from their first jump was the weather which was not cooperating at the time. The clouds and fog were too thick and it wasn't safe to jump until it cleared up. Del Mauro, a junior high teacher said "I promised that I would bring the video in to show my students. They don't believe that I will do it." Greszczak was celebrating her 22nd birthday with a gift to jump. "I am so excited, I can't wait" she said. Piela said "My mother did it so why can't I." Unfortunately for them, the weather wasn't cooperating and after suiting up and waiting a few hours, they had to reschedule. They all said they were definitely rescheduling though for next weekend.
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