Adventure Sports Online
Quarterly Newsletter, March
2004
|
Dear
Subscribers,
Happy Spring from Adventure Sports Online!
It's
been a while since you've heard from us. We are pleased to announce the first
edition of our new quarterly newsletter. In it you will find extensive tips and
"how-to" info, as well as destination ideas, featured products and upcoming
events from our sponsors. If you haven't visited our site in a while, we've
made some nice updates that we think you'll find useful in the search for your
next adventure. Feel free to pass us around to your fellow outdoor enthusiasts,
and if you wish to stop receiving our newsletters the unsubscribe information
is at the bottom of this e-mail. We look forward to seeing you on the trails,
in the water, or anywhere in the Great Outdoors! |
|
 |
Choosing the Adventure Travel That's Right for
You (Part One) |
|
The following tips are useful in planning
your next (or first!) adventure travel vacation.
TIP 1: Understand
what adventure travel really is.
Adventure travel is an active,
unique exploration of an exotic or remote destination with a small group of
like-minded people, guided by full-time professional leaders. The typical
object of your exploration is a beautiful landscape, unusual wildlife, or an
intriguing foreign culture - often all three. You'll probably travel by foot,
safari jeep, or dugout canoe and over rough roads or trails in all kinds of
weather. Exceptional physical fitness usually isn't necessary; you can enjoy
some adventure trips at a fitness level only a notch or two above that of a
couch potato. But you'll almost certainly get sweaty, dusty, and tired at
times, and you won't be eating much beef bourguignon.
TIP 2: Don't panic
at the idea of camping.
Accommodations on adventure trips range
from two-person tents to small rustic inns to luxurious lodges. If you've never
slept outdoors before, or if your previous camping experience wasn't much fun,
remember that adventure travel camping is ordinarily much easier than the usual
do-it-yourself, backpack-style camping. Tented safaris in Africa can be
downright luxurious, with huge stand-up tents, real beds, and hot showers. Even
on more rugged camping-style trips, porters or pack animals usually carry the
camp gear, your tent is often set up for you, and the camp staff does all the
cooking and cleaning up. But if camping just isn't your cup of tea, there are
plenty of trips that offer lodges, rustic inns, houseboats, or local
homesteads.
TIP 3: First pick
a destination.
The vast number of adventure trips to choose from
can be a bit bewildering. To narrow down the choices to a manageable number,
decide early what part of the world you want to visit. If you're new at
adventure travel and not quite sure where you want to go, pick a trip that has
a track record of broad appeal over the years. Instead of, say, hang gliding
with cannibals in Irian Jaya, stick to the classics: a safari in East Africa, a
trek in the Himalayas, or a visit to the Amazonian rain forest.
TIP 4: Decide how
much physical challenge you want.
There's an adventure trip for
virtually every level of physical fitness, from Woody Allen's to Arnold
Schwarzenegger's. Companies usually rate their trips as easy, moderate, or
demanding. Study the trip ratings carefully; different companies use different
rating criteria, based on physical activity, altitude, and terrain.
"Easy" trips include African safaris and cultural/nature-oriented
trips, where hikes are optional and the camping, if any, is in a luxurious
style. Rougher overland trips with long driving days and more optional hiking
might be rated "easy/moderate." A full-fledged "moderate" trip often entails at
least four or five days of camping and four to six hours of hiking per day over
not-too-difficult terrain at altitudes below 15,000 feet. A "demanding" trek
typically involves longer days, steeper terrain, and altitudes up to 19,000
feet. To enjoy a demanding trip, you should have made exercise a regular part
of your life. Even on a demanding trek, however, you usually won't be carrying
anything more than a light daypack.
Certain activities may be rated
differently. For example, river rafting trips are rated not by their physical
demands (you just hang on) but by the difficulty of the most severe rapid.
Class II and III rapids shouldn't scare anybody, but Class IV demands great
confidence in your guides. Class V commercial trips are rare and require
extensive rafting experience.
Sea kayaking trips in protected waters are
physically easy but usually include camping, and they are generally rated
moderate. Backpacking trips are more demanding than treks because you'll be
carrying a heavy pack. Mountaineering trips, involving ropes, ice axes, and
high altitudes, call for the highest fitness level of all.
TIP 5: Decide on
your price range.
At minimum, you'll probably spend about $1,500,
including airfare, for a ten-day trip. Longer trips to destinations like Asia
or Africa cost $3,000-$6,000, including airfare. Truly exotic adventures -
climbing a mountain in Antarctica, for example, or touring Africa by flying
boat can cost up to $20,000 or more.
TIP 6: Talk to
people who have already taken the trip.
Ask each company for a
list of previous customers on the trip you're looking at. The long distance
phone bills will pay for themselves many times over in unbiased word-of-mouth
information.
TIP 7: Ask about
responsible travel practices.
We're hearing more and more about
the effects of tourism on the environment and traditional culture. Many
outfitters talk about "eco-tourism." Ask what it means on the trip you're
considering. Will you get information on local customs and locally appropriate
dress? On an ocean trip, is refuse dumped overboard or carried back to port? On
a camping trip, how does the staff handle trash and garbage? On a mountain
trek, are the porters provided with warm clothing? Let companies know that
these concerns are important to you.
We will continue with Part Two of our
adventure travel tips in the next newsletter, coming July 2004!
|
|
Outfitter Spotlight: Multi-Sport Tours on the San Juan Islands |
|
 Experience the natural beauty
of the San Juan Islands with TerraTrek.
Join us as we bike across
Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Island. These majestic islands will lead you through
beautiful winding hills, rolling pastures dotted with sheep and along steep,
breathtaking cliffs. You will have the opportunity to witness amazing wildlife
such as bald eagles soaring over head or a chance to look into the eyes of a
deer that crosses your path. Because the San Juan's are abundant with wildlife
on land and at sea, we also take a day to view marine mammals on a whale watch
wildlife cruise or get close and personal with a guided sea kayak trip. The
choice is yours. Here you may encounter an orca whale, minke whale, seal or sea
lion. At the end of the day, relax at the most luxuious inns and dine at the
most exquisit restaurants available in the San Juan Islands or enjoy camping at
its finest with top of the line gear and gourmet food prepared by your guides.
Become mesmerized by some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world on your
next TerraTrek Vacation! 2-6 day tours available.
Terra Trek,
www.goterratrek.com, 888-441-2433
 Now you can see the San Juan
Islands inside and out with Crystal Seas' 2-6 day multi-sport tours in the San
Juan Islands.
Sea kayak one day among small remote islands in search of
sea birds, seals, porpoise, river otters and orcas… The next day cycle
unpopulated roads past rolling pastures dotted with sheep and along steep,
breathtaking cliffs. At the end of the day dine at the most exquisite
restaurants and retreat to the most luxurious inns or pitch a tent at the
finest camping areas and be pampered by our guides with their culinary talents
and local expertise. Wake up the next day and enjoy a wonderful gourmet
breakfast made with fruits from the island's orchards, then prepare to check
out more of these spectacular islands. Also available: 3 hour, day and
multi-day inn to inn or camping sea kayak tours and 2-6 day inn to inn or
camping bicycling tours.
Crystal Seas Kayaking,
www.crystalseas.com,
877-732-7877
|
|
Outfitter Spotlight: Rafting and Kayaking in the Western U.S. |
 O.A.R.S. Connecting people's
hearts, minds and souls with the natural world since 1969
For 35 years
O.A.R.S. has been setting the unforgettable standard in rafting, kayaking and
multi-sport vacations, with destinations & unparalleled experiences on the
most legendary rivers, coastlines & mountains in the world - from
California, Idaho, British Columbia, and Arizona's Grand Canyon to the opulent
gorges of Fiji, O.A.R.S. provides fully catered adventures throughout Western
North America, South America, Asia and the South Pacific.
Celebrating
their 35th anniversary this year, O.A.R.S. was the first oar-powered outfitter
permitted to run the Colorado through the Grand Canyon back in 1969. Over the
past 3 decades they've built their operations - based upon delivering superior
personal service, hiring only the best guides, and using the highest quality,
impeccably maintained equipment - to cover more rivers of the West than any
other company.
As the largest and most diverse river company in the
world, O.A.R.S. is uniquely positioned to build for you a spectacular vacation
or quick getaway that you'll treasure forever. O.A.R.S.,
www.oars.com, 800-346-6277
|
|
Product Spotlight: Lightweight
Camping Gear |
|
 Moosineer
Outdoor Gear is located in Utah, which has spectacular scenery; from snow
capped peaks to red sand stone cliffs, rivers and lakes, green mountains and
dry deserts. Utah also has 7 national parks and 40 state parks. The opportunity
to enjoy the outdoors is endless.
What makes the outdoor experience
most enjoyable is having the right equipment. When backpacking in the Uinta
Mountains isn't it great to have an Apache Instant tent that can easily be set
up in less than a minute, particularly when it is raining? Isn't it great to
have a Montane Superfly jacket that is waterproof yet breathable, or perhaps a
Litespeed jacket that is water repellent and wind proof? Both jackets are
lightweight and compact to the size of an apple. Or how about lightweight
stoves and cookware, and of course a comfortable sleeping bag. And don't forget
the water filter.
If weight is not an issue wouldn't it be great to
have an oversized flannel lined sleeping bag such as the Mammoth (100" x 60")
or a Canyon (96" x 72")? We also have mummy bags and youth bags.
Make
your outdoor experience more enjoyable by having the right gear. Great gear at
great prices, Moosineer Outdoor Gear, www.moosineer.com,
800-896-3060
|
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Adventure Races and
Festivals - Austin, Dallas, Los Angeles |
 |
REGISTER NOW!
The BALANCE BARR
Adventure Sprint will host nearly 1,000 adventure racers on May 8-9 at Muleshoe
Bend Recreation Area in Austin, TX located on Lake Travis. |
In the BALANCE BARR Adventure Sprints,
competitors are challenged to a true adventure racing experience. Teams of
three complete 5-8 miles of trail running, 10-15 miles of mountain biking, 1-3
miles of kayaking and 6-8 special tests. Divisions include: Coed Elite, Coed,
Female, Male, College, Corporate and a Masters division (combined ages of
120+).
Entry fee for each BALANCE BARR Adventure
Sprint is $270 per team. For online registration and further information,
please visit
www.BalanceBarAdventure.com, or call (203) 352-5216.
 Colorado
Adventure Festivals come to LA and Dallas this May!
The world of
adventure sports is coming together for one full day of interactive fun in LA
and Dallas with over-the-top activity as high as the Rocky Mountains -
delivered by the place where outdoor adventure and sport are king all year
round - the state of Colorado. Slated for dates in the month of May, the
Colorado Adventure Festivals will feature a range of multi-sport competitions
and experiences for the active and outdoor-minded, including: Sprint Adventure
Race, 5-K Boot Camp Challenge, Cross Country Trail Scramble and the Colorado
Adventure Festival Village. Go to
www.colorado.com for details.
For More Events
Check Out Our Regularly
Updated
Adventure Sports
Online Events Calendar |
|
|
We would love to hear from you! Please
give us your feedback on this
newsletter, as well as any ideas or suggestions for our upcoming
newsletters.
To subscribe to future newsletters, please click here or
paste this URL into your browser:
http://www.adventuresportsonline.com/aso-opt-news.htm.
As always, your e-mail address or personal information will not be shared with
anyone for any reason!
If you wish to no longer receive e-mail from us,
please unsubscribe
|
|
|
