A hike without the hike: Mountain Segway tours traverse Camelback
If skiing, snowboarding or snow tubing leaves you cold, and careening down slides at a waterpark isn't necessarily your idea of a relaxing afternoon, you may still want to visit Camelback in Tannersville. The local destination for thrill-seekers and otherwise active individuals has recently added a new adventure park to its lineup of family-friendly offerings.
"This was an opportunity to bring one more really cool activity to Camelback," said owner Arthur Berry III of the new park. "It provides visitors with another way to explore the outdoors in an eco-friendly manner."
CBK Mountain Adventures, which features a variety of activities from a series of zip lines, rope bridges and tightrope crossings to rock climbing and a Eurobungy jump, also offers mountain Segway tours.
Unveiled in 2001, the superscooter's inventor predicted the human transporter would "change the world." Nearly a decade later, the Segway hasn't caused a transportation revolution but is now providing visitors to Camelback with an interesting way of checking out the landscape. Billed a "hike without the work" by Megan McHugh, Camelback's director of marketing, the guided tours last for approximately 50 minutes and provide sightseers with a unique way of journeying through Camelback and Big Pocono State Park.
"This will be my first ride, and I'm guessing it will probably be a little more fun than I expect," said Jim Bagg of Nazareth, a computer programmer who enjoys spending his free time outside doing some sort of physical activity, during a recent visit.
The Segways, five in total, have been adapted for rough terrain, which is perfect because the tour isn't a (non)walk in the park, as I recently experienced.
After watching a short video that explained how the Segway works, my fellow tour members and I were ready to practice riding the scooter. Our tour guide, Joe LaBarbera of Effort, took us one-by-one for personalized instruction on how to ride the Segway, which is controlled by leaning forward to go forward and leaning back to stop. Speed, which is limited to eight miles per hour on CBK Mountain Adventures' Segways, is controlled by how far you lean in either direction.
I was thrilled to learn an internal gyroscope eliminates the possibility of the Segway falling forward when you lean into it. The last thing I wanted was to tumble down the mountain, even if I was wearing a helmet, which is required of all participants.
According to LaBarbera, whose knowledge, enthusiasm and patience overflow, "If you can stand, you can ride."
After about 20 minutes of practice, LaBarbera was confident we had the Segway skills needed for the tour. The expression on peoples' faces were priceless as we weaved in between pedestrians at Camelbeach before heading onto the ski slopes and eventually into Big Pocono State Park. Going across the mountain was challenging, but LaBarbera, a recent East Stroudsburg University grad, continuously gave pointers and encouraging shouts that helped calm any fears — mainly my own.
I have no problem walking or skiing downhill, but riding a Segway? I admit, toward the end of the tour the downhill took me by surprise and I was ready to call it quits and walk. But LaBarbera gave me a pep talk, convincing me I could handle the descent. He also walked in front of me as I rode to help eliminate any hesitation I had about losing control, something he assured me he does for riders at least once a day.
Weaving through Camelback and Big Pocono on an off-road Segway was certainly different than a typical hike, but a unique experience that is definitely worth trying.
Bagg, who admitted that Segways have a "bad name" with people who are into adventure sports, said his experience on the transporter "was great" and something he would do again.
The Segway may not have changed the world, but it certainly is changing the way visitors can experience the natural beauty of the Poconos.
WHAT: Mountain Segway Tours HOURS: Now through July 31, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Aug. 1-22, 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Aug. 23 to Sept. 6, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tour includes about 20 minutes of practice and 40- to 50-minute tour. WHERE: CBK Mountain Adventures, Tannersville COST: $49 per person NOTE: Ages 14 and up. Reservations are recommended. INFORMATION: 570-629-1661 WEBSITE: skicamelback.com