When I tell people I am going on a long solo trip, often eyebrows are raised followed by a barrage of questions such as: 'are you out of your mind?' - 'what are you going to do being alone in a foreign country?' - 'won’t you feel lonely?' - 'are you sure it is going to be safe for you?' and 'isn’t it weird doing things alone all the time?” The questions persist and at times I feel like in a military video game on the defensive - holding a bullet … [Read more...]
Adventure on the River: West Virginia Whitewater
It was July 4th at the New River Gorge in West Virginia. It was dark, and I was on the roof of a truck clinging to the roof rack as we wound through the twisting back roads en route to the edge of the gorge. This had not been the plan. We had ended up loading the truck down with a couple of kegs and as many raft guides as we could fit after the trailer that was supposed to deliver us to the party developed a flat tire. We had unhitched it and … [Read more...]
Iceland: Island of Fire and Ice
Raquel was a nature and outdoor adventure enthusiast, always looking for the next mountain to climb or river to raft. For her 25th birthday, a close group of friends decided to surprise her with the trip of a lifetime and buy her tickets to Iceland. The island of fire and ice had always fascinated Raquel, and it was a dream to have the chance to travel there. In addition to the travel itinerary, her friends made sure to rent a photographer … [Read more...]
MGM Springfield: The Fresh—and Fun—Face of History
Ahh, NOW I see why those Old Fashioneds were appearing on our table like multiplying rabbits. Those canny mixmasters at the MGM Springfield’s Commonwealth bar were thinking if I had a snootful, I’d likely order their $25,000 “Indian Sidecar” drink, which is made with a 1901 Croizet cognac. Oh, I guess I should mention: if you do buy the drink, it also comes with a new Indian motorcycle. Why a 1901 cognac and why an Indian bike to go along with … [Read more...]
Potomac Riverkeeper Network Announces 2018 Riverpalooza Schedule
Experience the Beauty of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers on These Fishing, Bird Watching and Camping Paddles WASHINGTON, DC – River paddle trips ranging from bird watching, fishing and snorkeling on the Shenandoah to overnight camping on the Potomac's beautiful Paw Paw Bends are just some of the events scheduled for this year's Potomac Riverkeeper RiverPalooza June 2– July 27, Potomac Riverkeeper Network (PRKN) President Jeff Kelble … [Read more...]
Going Green: Alaska Ecotourism
There is a rush to Alaska. In 1898 the stampede was for gold. Today visitors are heading to the 49th state seeking the ultimate wilderness experiences in a land filled with superlatives. Alaska is the largest and western-most state. It has the longest days, the biggest fish, the longest coastline, and the most extensive wilderness (53 percent). The challenge is how to balance over two million visitors a year with conservation ethics, … [Read more...]
The Adventure Sports Capital of Colombia
The tiny town of San Gil, Colombia, is known as the “adventure sports capital of Colombia,” and my time there definitely lived up to the name. There are activities to suit every level of adventurer, including bungee jumping, paragliding, adventure caving, white water rafting, kayaking, cycling, rappelling, and canyoning. The central plaza in this friendly little town is a great place to unwind with a beer or a frozen mojito after a long day of … [Read more...]
Here Be Dragons: The “Sacred Terror” of the Alps of Switzerland
"Placed on this planet since yesterday, and only for a day, we can only hope to glimpse the knowledge that we will probably never attain." -Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, 1796 Dateline: Mount Pilates, Switzerland I've penned a few books that have been placed in the category of "wilderness travel." But perhaps the first to stock this shelf was the eighteenth-century mountaineer Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, who wrote in his opus, Voyages … [Read more...]
Spring Welcomes Snowventures and Warm Weather Fun in Colorado
DENVER - As spring begins to blossom in Colorado, locals are gearing up for a fresh selection of springtime activities. While March is known as the snowiest and one of the best months for skiing and snowboarding in Colorado’s high country, lower elevations can be warm and sunny for those who are gearing up for rafting, mountain biking, golf and other warmer weather activities. It’s even fun to try to do both a snowy and sunny activity in the same … [Read more...]
The Dangerous First Descent of the Zambezi
It was Valentine’s Day when I first saw the river; it was love at first sight. Along with a party of tour operators, I had been shuttled between game parks and hotel lobbies for days, all leading up to this: Victoria Falls. While the other occupants of the Land Rover pressed for a glimpse of the great falls upstream, I looked the other way, out of habit. Some 350 feet below the bridge we were driving over, a mighty river coiled and cursed through … [Read more...]