When you step onto the Cape May Tree to Tree course, nature immediately asserts itself—branches stretch overhead like silent sentinels, and the breeze nudges you forward from one challenge to the next. This aerial obstacle course plays a dynamic game of balance and precision, threading your path across rope bridges, zip lines, and swinging logs high above forest floors that watch patiently below.

Before you launch into this vertical playground, securing the right safety gear is not optional—it’s your lifeline. A harness, designed to embrace you snugly, connects you firmly to the steel cables that run the length of the course. Without it, the course’s unpredictable swings and jolts become dangerous. Alongside the harness, locking carabiners act as your moving lifelines, clip-in points that allow you to progress without ever breaking contact with the safety cables.

A helmet is your head’s shield. Cape May’s trees are distinctly bold, with limbs that occasionally reach out less politely than you'd like. Impact protection keeps you confident.

Gloves deserve special attention here. The ropes are coarse and require a firm grip, which the gloves assist with. Without them, your hands quickly tire and blister, turning what should be thrilling into painful.

Dress cautiously. Footwear with closed toes and solid traction is non-negotiable; the course’s wooden planks and natural surfaces can be slippery, especially in damp weather. Layer your clothing for flexibility because the forest canopy can both shelter and chill, shifting temperatures as the sun moves. Tips on hydration are practical too—carry water in an accessible way, as the course demands steady energy.

Cape May’s Tree to Tree courses vary but commonly extend between 300 to 900 feet of aerial trail, with elevation changes that put your core strength to the test. The terrain underfoot might not demand a hike beforehand, but reaching the course and transitioning between elements commands agility and vigor.

Safety gear is your anchor amid the forest’s rhythm. Trees don’t negotiate, the wind doesn’t pause, and the course holds no leniency for unpreparedness. Embrace the equipment as your co-adventure partner. Strap in tightly, check your knots twice, and prepare to navigate the canopy offering views framed by twisting branches and whispering leaves.

Pragmatism fused with exhilaration: that’s the promise of Cape May’s Tree to Tree, and that promise wears a harness and helmet. Step securely and let the forest dare you forward.