Introduction to Mountaineering

Taking Your First Steps Toward Stepping Up High While we all love being outdoors, some of us have a little more hunger, a little more drive to seek more of a test, a deeper sense of accomplishment, and a little more of the edge. This primal call comes from the alpine, the land of wind and rock that shuns both trees and human alike. But even for those of us with a confident mastery of backpacking skills, the jump to mountaineering can certainly be intimidating, if not outright daunting. The following suggested course of action takes you from looking up from the valley floor at distant peaks to standing atop those peaks, drinking in the view of that same valley and the horizon beyond. You will need to expand your skills, knowledge, and gear but, like most alpine climbs, it is best taken one step at a time. Step #1: Master Backpacking Almost every good mountaineer began as a backpacker, which offers a good introduction to managing your food, fuel, and water as well as packing, hauling, and... Read More →

Kenya

Volunteering during your travels can lead to some special connections with the local people that make your experience at a destination all the more memorable. Because there are so many volunteer vacations to choose from depending on your interests, skills, and desired intensity level, it is important to do your research before committing to any particular one. Here, we save you a bit of time by highlighting three volunteer vacations in Kenya that we like for the unique experience and good mix of volunteer opportunities and sight-seeing adventures that they offer. Education and Community: The International Village-Hopewell serves as both a volunteer tourism hub for travelers and a permanent education and job-training center for residents in the impoverished community of Barut. The locally managed and operated eco-lodge offers guests with cultural immersion opportunities and access to an extensive menu of volunteer projects in the area. In addition to volunteering, guests can choose from... Read More →

Yukon’s Wild

Set aside, for a moment, your thoughts of the gold rush, paddlewheel boats, and bearded trappers tromping through winter drifts, because Canada’s Yukon Territory is an emerging destination rife with new adventures. An unspoiled land roughly the size of Germany, Holland, and Belgium combined, the Yukon is home to only 33,000 people. That’s no typo, this vast and unspoiled land is home to less people than what most professional sports stadiums hold – and 75% of them all live in the territorial capital of Whitehorse. Such a small population means that there is no end of opportunity to get outside and escape into solitude, while the constant summer sunlight (‘sunset’ in June is around 12:30 AM and ‘sunrise’ is about 3:30 AM, although even when the sun does dip below the horizon, there is still ample light to see by) allows you to bike, kayak, fish, hike, or float the night away. As a jump off point, the rustically hip Whitehorse provides a variety of opportunities to recover from... Read More →

Austria

Austria is a unique and exciting country which offers an abundance of choices for every interest: Imperial cities and Alpine hamlets, history and the arts, music in all its forms, and last but not least a pristine Alpine environment with crystal clear lakes, imposing mountain ranges and soft, rolling pastures. All this is available within only short distances, which is one of the reasons why veteran travelers report about their Austria experiences in glowing terms. Shaped by a turbulent past, the fascinating and sometimes rough nature surrounding us, and the influence of many other European cultures, we Austrians have nevertheless tried to maintain our unique identity. We have succeeded by preserving our unique characteristics: We Austrians are generally a very hospitable people, proud of our beautiful country and cherishing our traditions while striving for innovation and change. At times we can be a bit stubborn or just a touch irritable, but even then, our most amiable characteristic... Read More →

Engadin St. Moritz – Nerve-tingling fun at 1,800 m.a.s.l.

A huge variety of adventure sports, unlimited fun in the snow – this is Engadin St. Moritz. Switzerland’s largest snow sports region is the heart-throb of every true winter sports adventurer. A deep blue sky, glistening powder snow and bright sunshine – all it takes for a perfect winter day. For adventure sports lovers, too – looking for something special, looking to put their nerves to the test. Looking for a wide choice of sports and reliable infrastructure, but more than anything else, looking to experience nature real close up, to feel the heartbeat of life, and live the challenge that every new day brings. Pretty big expectations, in fact. And thus winter sports adventurers are ever on the move, ever on the lookout for the next destination, the one that’s even better, that offers even more action, ever more variety than the last. And eventually they find themselves in Engadin St. Moritz, an alpine valley at 1,800 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.). that has just... Read More →