Traveling in a group is a fantastic way to travel. There is great conversation, laughter, support for when you are tired/cold/wet/etc, and extra added security of "safety in numbers". There are people to take photos of you (and you of them), to share scenic vistas, great meals and create wonderful memories. Traveling in a group, however, also can diminish what we can get out of the natural world we are visiting. Given that it can be soemtimes difficult to find a quiet spot away from the group, I recommend a group silent moment(s).
I was reminded of this on a recent kayaking trip to the Apostle Islands. We had a terrificly fun, funny, and chatty group. On our last morning, though, we had a moment of silence on the water and then a silent paddle back to the shore (about 10 minutes). We had seen and heard so much during our 4 days together, but in those few minutes of silence - it was incredible how much more there was to hear. The sounds intensified as we ceased our outter (and hopefully inner) chatter. It was truly memorable as well.
So, next time you are on a group trip, take some time out to observe nature in silence, and see what you can hear, see, feel, and smell. Silence really is golden. --Deb
Friday, June 29, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
A new web site of interest
I was recently alerted to a web site that might solve two of the vexing problems of booking airline tickets: 1) trying to make sure you don't miss the sales (especially the ones that last 24 hours; and 2) forgetting to check to see if the price has gone down since you bought the ticket (in which case you should get a voucher or a refund. The web site is www.yapta.com. Unfortunately they don't yet have the ability to work with a macintosh computer so I have no first hand experience. But if the web site lives up to its own publiciti, it should be extremely useful.--Marian
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Beautiful Florida
I have always loved Florida despite the stereotyped image of over-crowded, developed beaches. If you look hard enough you can still enjoy the native beauty of the place. I just ran into a friend who had recently returned from a vacation on Captiva Island on the southwestern coast of Florida. She had nothing but great things to report, so I thought I would pass it on. The island has no big hotels or developments. Rather it offers old-fashioned cottages on the beach. There is great shelling, kayaking, canoeing, biking, dolphin watching, and dining. Google it up and see what you think. I am going to keep it in mind for next time I feel like heading south. Tamar
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Preparing for losing your wallet
So you're on a trip and you lose your wallet or, even worse, it gets stolen. You know you need to call your credit card companies, especially if you use debit cards, to report the theft. But you're not home! So you don't have the number. So now you have to bug a partner, friend, relative to find a statement with the number on it and then you call it, but by then someone has charged a million dollars to your account and you're broke and homeless.
OK, I may be exaggerating because you are only liable for $50 on stolen credit cards. But it is a pain. So here's the solution- on a piece of paper, write down all your credit card numbers and the toll free number to call for each one. Then make two copies of it, leave one at home and put one in your suitcase or any item you always take on a trip. If it is an international trip, put one copy in your passport holder.-- Marian
OK, I may be exaggerating because you are only liable for $50 on stolen credit cards. But it is a pain. So here's the solution- on a piece of paper, write down all your credit card numbers and the toll free number to call for each one. Then make two copies of it, leave one at home and put one in your suitcase or any item you always take on a trip. If it is an international trip, put one copy in your passport holder.-- Marian
Friday, June 15, 2007
Origami dishes - art for food
Orikaso: Solo Camping Dish Set - Based on origami, these dishes (usually a set of one bowl, mug, and plate) quickly fold together to become sturdy dinnerware. When you are finished you simply unfold them back to their flat position. They do not rely on snaps or buttons to hold them together as these eventually wear out. The Orikaso dishes are made polypropylene material designed to withstand extreme temperatures, including repeated folding in extreme cold and adding boiling water for a mug of hot chocolate or a bowl of oatmeal. The Orikaso Solo Set is perfect for the outdoor enthusiast who is looking to reduce weight and gain space efficiency. They also make a plate that has a checker/chess board printed on it for some after dinner games!
They are a really neat little set, though there has been some feedback about their sturdiness. If you have a heavy plateful of food, then the plate might flop a bit. That just means you can go back for seconds! I also still hold fast to my insulated mug, and encourage others to rbing one as well. While it is a bit bigger and bulkier, it keeps your hot drink hot for quite a long time - something I appreciate expeically on cold mornings. Plus, there is always room to fit the mug in your gear - even if it is clipping it to the outside of your backpack or dry bag/Duluth pack. Give these dishes a try. Bon Appetit!--Deb
They are a really neat little set, though there has been some feedback about their sturdiness. If you have a heavy plateful of food, then the plate might flop a bit. That just means you can go back for seconds! I also still hold fast to my insulated mug, and encourage others to rbing one as well. While it is a bit bigger and bulkier, it keeps your hot drink hot for quite a long time - something I appreciate expeically on cold mornings. Plus, there is always room to fit the mug in your gear - even if it is clipping it to the outside of your backpack or dry bag/Duluth pack. Give these dishes a try. Bon Appetit!--Deb
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Helpful tips for the adventure traveler:
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 van, or even canoe or kayak 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 but still expect excellent food.
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, 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 Schwartzenegger'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.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 demand 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 of ropes, ice axes, and high altitudes, call for the highest fitness level of all.
TIP 5: Decide how much variety you want.
Some people prefer to stay in one area so they can get to know it intimately, while others like to sample a wide variety of places and activities.
TIP 6: Talk to people who've already taken the trip.
Ask the 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: Check out the trip leader.The most important single factor on adventure journeys is the trip leader, who simultaneously fills the role of guide, interpreter, teacher, mother hen, drill sergeant, and group psychologist. A great leader can be an American expatriate or a well-qualified local citizen, but he or she should be a year-round resident of the country or region and speak both English and the local language well.
PRE-TRIP PAPERWORK
TIP 8: Check your passport.International convention says that passports must be valid for at least six months after the date of entry into a country and should contain a full blank page for the visa of each country to be visited. Don't put your passport in your check-in baggage for flights.
TIP 9: Check visas requirements.Unlike many European nations, countries visited by adventure travelers often require visitors to obtain a visa before arrival. Your travel company often will provide you with visa application forms, which you then send to the appropriate embassy or consulate.
TIP 10: Make photocopies of important documents.
Passport, visa's, tickets, credit cards, traveler's checks, drug prescriptions, and other critical documents should be photocopied, and the copies carried separately.
TIP 11: Read your pre-departure information carefully.
Adventure travel usually requires more advance preparation than you may be accustomed to. Your trip organizer should send you a detailed pre-departure info pack with advice on on visas, inoculations, special clothing, medical tips, local customs, and the like. It's not just fluff. Let it be your bible and study it carefully.
TIP 12: Check to see if your regular health insurance policy covers illness or injury overseas.If not, a short-term policy for the duration of the trip will provide peace of mind
TIP 13: Consider medical evacuation insurance.An illness or accident in a remote area may require a very expensive helicopter evacuation. (An emergency airlift out of the Everest area in Nepal, for example, costs about $8000).
TIP 14: Learn the World Wildlife Fund's guidelines on importing wild-animal products.In keeping with the spirit of ethical, responsible travel, you should not plan to bring back ivory, marine-mammal products, furs, coral, tortoise shells, reptile skins, feathers, and certain other wildlife products, For specifics, call the public information office of the World Wildlife Fund at 202-293-4800 and ask for the "Buyer Beware" booklet. And bear in mind that the U.S. and most foreign countries have laws banning the import or export of most of these items.
FIT FOR THE ROAD: FITNESS AND HEALTH CONCERNS
TIP 15: Get in shape.Physical requirements vary greatly according to the trip, and you should follow the guidelines in the pre-trip information that your travel company supplies. But at a minimum, you should exercise at least 20 minutes, three times a week, for two months before departure. Walking or jogging is ideal, but an exercise bicycle or treadmill is a reasonable alternative. For hiking or trekking trips, stretch your walks to a couple of hours and spend extra time walking up hills, or join a health club and use the stairs machine. Wear your daypack, and fill it with 10-15 pounds to simulate a typical load on the trail.
Another good exercise idea is the roll-up, or crunch, which strengthens the stomach muscles and thereby reduces the risk of back problems. Lie on your back, with feet flat on the floor and knees angled at 90 degrees. Then, with hands behind the head, raise your torso as far as you can. Repeat until you feel a good "burn" in your stomach muscles (it won't take long).
TIP 16: If you haven't had a dental checkup recently, get one before you leave.A toothache caused by a cavity or a lost filling can turn into a painful ordeal when you're a five-day walk from the nearest town.
TIP 17: Thoroughly break in your hiking or walking shoes.
Many first-time adventure travelers buy new hiking boots for the trip. You must walk a minimum of 20 miles in them, up and down hills, before departure. This should be enough to get over the initial break-in blisters and to ensure that they fit properly. Wear your new boots or shoes during your get-in-shape hikes.
TIP 18: If you wear contact lenses, consider disposables.Removing and replacing contact lenses every day on a camping trip can be a very annoying chore. Extended-wear lenses can be worn overnight, which cuts back on the hassle factor. Disposables are even better for adventure travelers because you need not carry along cleaning or storage paraphernalia. Disposables have the additional advantage of being very cheap; it's no big deal if you lose one. All contact lens wearers, however, should be careful at high altitudes. The lower oxygen level can affect the cornea as well as the lungs. If you see hazy rings or halos around bright lights, take out the lenses for a while so that the corneas can reoxygenate themselves.
TIP 19: For advice on inoculations, consider visiting a travel clinic or a physician specializing in travel.Your family doctor probably isn't up to date on the various strains of malaria or on whether you really need a yellow-fever shot for Tanzania. Travel specialists should have the latest scoop from the Centers for Disease Control. You may also call the CDC International Travelers Hotline (404-332-4559) for computerized briefing. You may also have information faxed to you.
TIP 20: If you're traveling to a malaria-prone area, make sure to take the proper malaria medication.The classic malaria preventive is the cheap, well-proven drug chloroquine, a derivative of quinine. Unfortunately, the most dangerous strain of malaria parasite has become chloroquine-resistant. The CDC currently recommends mefloquin (trade name Lariam) for this strain. Both pills are taken weekly (veteran travelers traditionally pick Sunday as malaria-pill day) and should be started one or two weeks before departure.
Which drug you should take depends on where you're going; most malarious parts of Asia, Africa, and South America have the chloroquine-resistant strain. And in a few parts of Thailand, mefloquine resistance has developed, necessitating use of the antibiotic doxycycline. Check with your physician, travel company, or the CDC for current recommendations and possible side effects and contradications.
TIP 21: Take along medications for travelers' diarrhea.With the right precautions, many travelers can avoid diarrhea entirely. If these don't work 100 percent, Pepto Bismol tablets are usually very effective. But if symptoms, persist, switch to the prescription antibiotic Cipro. In some situations, you can seek temporary relief with Immodium. (Don't continue use for more than two days if blood is present, and avoid taking Lomotil.) Always check with your doctor for side effects and contraindications.
TIP 22: If you'll be traveling at high elevations, learn about altitude sickness and take along the prescription drug Diamox.Altitude sickness often strikes travelers who venture above 8,000 feet, and it affects almost everyone who goes higher than 14,000 feet. Symptoms include headache, nausea, and a general feeling of malaise; some people compare altitude sickness to a bad hangover. More severe but rare altitude problems include pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) and cerebral edema (a swelling of the brain that can lead to confusion, hallucinations, and coma).
The key to avoiding altitude sickness is gradual, well-planned ascent, which allows the body time to acclimatize. Diamox may be taken prophylactically or for the relief of symptoms that appear in spite of a gradual ascent, but it must not be used to push beyond safe limits.
THE RIGHT STUFF: HOW AND WHAT TO PACK
TIP 23: Instead of a suitcase, carry a big, soft, rugged duffel bag.There aren't many bellhops on an adventure trip. Your bag will be in for some rough treatment strapped to a yak, tossed onto the roof of a jeep, squashed by tie-down ropes, or pelted by spray in the bottom of a canoe.
Make sure that it's pliable enough to easily be handled by porters, who may lash two or three duffels into their own large packs. Pack duffels within duffels.
Four smaller zipper duffels can be neatly nested within the giant main bag. Sort the smaller bags roughly according to function: one for everyday stuff, one for cold-weather gear, etc. Cotton "city" clothes can be wrapped in plastic shopping bags within their duffel. Books, maps, notebooks, etc., can be stored in Ziploc bags, inside their own smaller nylon duffel.
TIP 24: Pack Light.
On safari or on the trail, you want life to be as simple as possible, and you'll best accomplish this by packing less stuff. If the clothing list your travel company provides seems impossibly skimpy, don't worry. Almost all first-time adventure travelers quickly realize they've brought too much. Fashion doesn't count much out on the trail, and modern outdoor clothing is so versatile that one garment can perform a variety of functions. So don't take more than the packing list advises; if you do, you and the porters will have to lug that much more around.
TIP 25: Keep take-along trash to a minimum.This not only lightens and simplifies your pack; it is environmentally responsible, too. Throw out film boxes and take new clothing out of its package. Pack a couple of bandannas instead of a dozen packs of Kleenex.
TIP 26: Bring along a medium-size day pack.The right size is about 1,500 to 2,000 cubic inches, and it should have hip straps and several compartments. Use it on the airplane, as a carry-on bag for all your indispensable items (documents, toiletries, valuables, clothes to wear in case your checked luggage is lost or delayed, etc). It has the decided advantage of being easy to carry on long walks down airport corridors. Once you arrive and the trip begins, use it to carry all the things you'll need during the day-water bottle, snacks, camera, extra clothing. Your main duffel bag depends will most likely be inaccessible.
As you select clothing for a cool or cold-weather destination, your mantra should be: "Layers are good, cotton is bad."
Your choice of travel clothes obviously depends on your destination, but the general strategy is to dress in layers that can be quickly removed or replaced as the temperature and your activity level vary. The best basic combination: is an inner layer of polyester long underwear, such as Polartec, or Capilene, that will wick away perspiration; one or two middle layers of fleece, Polartec, or other quick-drying, warm-when-wet synthetic fabric (wool is okay, too); and an outer shell that is windproof and waterproof, preferable a breathable fabric such as Gore-Tex. Cotton (including jeans) should be avoided; it becomes instantly soggy from sweat or rain, loses virtually all of its insulating abilities, and takes forever to dry out.
TIP 27: Slip in some snapshots of your family, house, and hometown.
These are great icebreakers. Take along a Polaroid camera this allows you to present locals with instant pictures of themselves. If you have an artistic bent, take along a small sketch pad or water-color set.
TIP 28: If you'll be camping, take along a Therm-a-Rest inflatable air mattress.
These wonderful devices have in the past few years revolutionized sleeping on the ground, and are now virtually standard equipment among veteran campers. The reason is simple: they are much more comfortable than the old-style foam pads. Therm-a-Rests are self-inflating, come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are durable. They're available at most outdoor stores and mail-order companies.
TIP 29: Take along a generous supply of Ziploc plastic bags.
They are invaluable for storing items that must stay dry, for isolating wet and/or dirty clothes, and for organizing luggage. For the compulsive organizer, the sorting possibilities are endless: emergency pills-Immodium, Diamox, etc.-in one bag, daily vitamin pills in another. Or socks in one bag, underwear in another. A bag just for spare batteries. These see-through bags make it easy to locate items.
TIP 30: Take along a batch of trail mix.
Here's a recipe for an extraordinary tasty high-carbo concoction that provides instant energy and staying power along the trail. Simply mix dry-roasted peanuts and chocolate-covered raisins.
TIP 31: Remember the heavy-duty anti-sunburn gear for high-altitude trips.Severe sunburn is possible at high elevations, because the thin air lets through more ultraviolet radiation. At only 7,000 feet, UV radiation is about 35 percent more intense than at sea level. At 15,000 feet, it is nearly twice as intense. And many adventure-travel destinations are in tropical latitudes, where the sun is higher in the sky than Americans are accustomed to. This intensifies UV radiation even more. Large areas of snow or water, which reflect UV rays, increase exposure still more. Be sure to take along a wide-brimmed hat, UV-blocking sunglasses with side panels ("glacier glasses"), and lots of sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher).
TIP32: Take along skin moisturizer, even if you don't normally use it.
High altitudes, dry air, and hot sun can combine to really dry out skin.
TIP 33: Bring a pair of compact lightweight binoculars.Even if you're not a bird-watcher, you'll get a whole new perspective on your trip. In addition to the obvious benefits for a safari or animal-oriented trip, it's fun to watch the snow blow off the summit of a 25,999-foot Himalayan peak, check out the porters' progress behind you, or just people-watch from afar. A 9x25 model is a good compromise among magnification, lightgathering power, weight, and size.
TIP 34: If photography is a major goal of your trip, bring along a spare camera.You simply can't count on being able to repair or replace a malfunctioning camera on an adventure trip. A good combination would be a high-quality single-lens reflex (SLR) camera as your primary equipment and a small, lightweight automatic point-and-shoot camera as a backup. But don't bring a huge assortment of camera bodies, lenses and tripods; you'll find all that equipment a burden to carry and disruptive to operate. In fact, you may find, to your surprise, that you end up preferring the small, unobtrusive point-and-shoot to the fancy SLR.
TIP 35: For wildlife photography, use a 70-210 mm zoom lens.Your best shots usually develop very suddenly and you won't want to be changing lenses constantly. Lenses longer than 210 mm are rarely necessary and difficult to hold still without a tripod, which you'll rarely have time to set up.
TIP 36: Take extra batteries for your cameraCold weather takes a heavy toll on camera batteries, and you may be a week's walk from the nearest replacement.
TIP 37: Put a haze or sky filter on your camera lens.In addition to improving the picture quality slightly, the filter will protect the lens from dirt, moisture, and dings. This is particularly important in Africa, where conditions are sometimes very dusty and where often you'll be scrambling madly for your camera after sighting animals.
TIP 38: Buy a lead-lined storage bag for your film.
Despite those reassuring signs, airport X-ray machines can damage film, particularly machines at small remote airports that may have old equipment. Even security people in "advanced" nations, like England, have been known to refuse to hand-check films and cameras, putting them through the X-ray machines despite pleas to the contrary.
JUST BEFORE YOU GO
TIP 39: Arrange your flight schedule to minimize jet lag.If your traveling eastbound, schedule your arrival for morning, destination time. Westbound, shoot for a late afternoon arrival. This will help your body's internal clock get "in sync" more quickly.
TIP 40: Budget for tips to your trip leader, guides, and porters.
Like waiters and ski instructors, adventure travel company field staff traditionally rely on tips for a portion of their income. The amount is strictly up to you, but if you feel the staff did a good job, 5 percent of your land cost is a good ballpark figure. Keep in mind that what appears to be a trivial amount of money to you can be a big help to a local staff member. On treks, local guides and porters also appreciate surplus items of clothing, like T-shirts, fleece jackets, boots, and baseball caps.
TIP 41: Get used to the idea that you will be out of touch with the rest of the world.Where you're going, there probably won't be telephones. If there are phones, they probably won't work. If they do, it will be 3 a.m. at home when you want to call.
TIP 42: HAVE FUN!! THAT’S WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT!
---Dale Bowers
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 van, or even canoe or kayak 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 but still expect excellent food.
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, 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 Schwartzenegger'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.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 demand 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 of ropes, ice axes, and high altitudes, call for the highest fitness level of all.
TIP 5: Decide how much variety you want.
Some people prefer to stay in one area so they can get to know it intimately, while others like to sample a wide variety of places and activities.
TIP 6: Talk to people who've already taken the trip.
Ask the 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: Check out the trip leader.The most important single factor on adventure journeys is the trip leader, who simultaneously fills the role of guide, interpreter, teacher, mother hen, drill sergeant, and group psychologist. A great leader can be an American expatriate or a well-qualified local citizen, but he or she should be a year-round resident of the country or region and speak both English and the local language well.
PRE-TRIP PAPERWORK
TIP 8: Check your passport.International convention says that passports must be valid for at least six months after the date of entry into a country and should contain a full blank page for the visa of each country to be visited. Don't put your passport in your check-in baggage for flights.
TIP 9: Check visas requirements.Unlike many European nations, countries visited by adventure travelers often require visitors to obtain a visa before arrival. Your travel company often will provide you with visa application forms, which you then send to the appropriate embassy or consulate.
TIP 10: Make photocopies of important documents.
Passport, visa's, tickets, credit cards, traveler's checks, drug prescriptions, and other critical documents should be photocopied, and the copies carried separately.
TIP 11: Read your pre-departure information carefully.
Adventure travel usually requires more advance preparation than you may be accustomed to. Your trip organizer should send you a detailed pre-departure info pack with advice on on visas, inoculations, special clothing, medical tips, local customs, and the like. It's not just fluff. Let it be your bible and study it carefully.
TIP 12: Check to see if your regular health insurance policy covers illness or injury overseas.If not, a short-term policy for the duration of the trip will provide peace of mind
TIP 13: Consider medical evacuation insurance.An illness or accident in a remote area may require a very expensive helicopter evacuation. (An emergency airlift out of the Everest area in Nepal, for example, costs about $8000).
TIP 14: Learn the World Wildlife Fund's guidelines on importing wild-animal products.In keeping with the spirit of ethical, responsible travel, you should not plan to bring back ivory, marine-mammal products, furs, coral, tortoise shells, reptile skins, feathers, and certain other wildlife products, For specifics, call the public information office of the World Wildlife Fund at 202-293-4800 and ask for the "Buyer Beware" booklet. And bear in mind that the U.S. and most foreign countries have laws banning the import or export of most of these items.
FIT FOR THE ROAD: FITNESS AND HEALTH CONCERNS
TIP 15: Get in shape.Physical requirements vary greatly according to the trip, and you should follow the guidelines in the pre-trip information that your travel company supplies. But at a minimum, you should exercise at least 20 minutes, three times a week, for two months before departure. Walking or jogging is ideal, but an exercise bicycle or treadmill is a reasonable alternative. For hiking or trekking trips, stretch your walks to a couple of hours and spend extra time walking up hills, or join a health club and use the stairs machine. Wear your daypack, and fill it with 10-15 pounds to simulate a typical load on the trail.
Another good exercise idea is the roll-up, or crunch, which strengthens the stomach muscles and thereby reduces the risk of back problems. Lie on your back, with feet flat on the floor and knees angled at 90 degrees. Then, with hands behind the head, raise your torso as far as you can. Repeat until you feel a good "burn" in your stomach muscles (it won't take long).
TIP 16: If you haven't had a dental checkup recently, get one before you leave.A toothache caused by a cavity or a lost filling can turn into a painful ordeal when you're a five-day walk from the nearest town.
TIP 17: Thoroughly break in your hiking or walking shoes.
Many first-time adventure travelers buy new hiking boots for the trip. You must walk a minimum of 20 miles in them, up and down hills, before departure. This should be enough to get over the initial break-in blisters and to ensure that they fit properly. Wear your new boots or shoes during your get-in-shape hikes.
TIP 18: If you wear contact lenses, consider disposables.Removing and replacing contact lenses every day on a camping trip can be a very annoying chore. Extended-wear lenses can be worn overnight, which cuts back on the hassle factor. Disposables are even better for adventure travelers because you need not carry along cleaning or storage paraphernalia. Disposables have the additional advantage of being very cheap; it's no big deal if you lose one. All contact lens wearers, however, should be careful at high altitudes. The lower oxygen level can affect the cornea as well as the lungs. If you see hazy rings or halos around bright lights, take out the lenses for a while so that the corneas can reoxygenate themselves.
TIP 19: For advice on inoculations, consider visiting a travel clinic or a physician specializing in travel.Your family doctor probably isn't up to date on the various strains of malaria or on whether you really need a yellow-fever shot for Tanzania. Travel specialists should have the latest scoop from the Centers for Disease Control. You may also call the CDC International Travelers Hotline (404-332-4559) for computerized briefing. You may also have information faxed to you.
TIP 20: If you're traveling to a malaria-prone area, make sure to take the proper malaria medication.The classic malaria preventive is the cheap, well-proven drug chloroquine, a derivative of quinine. Unfortunately, the most dangerous strain of malaria parasite has become chloroquine-resistant. The CDC currently recommends mefloquin (trade name Lariam) for this strain. Both pills are taken weekly (veteran travelers traditionally pick Sunday as malaria-pill day) and should be started one or two weeks before departure.
Which drug you should take depends on where you're going; most malarious parts of Asia, Africa, and South America have the chloroquine-resistant strain. And in a few parts of Thailand, mefloquine resistance has developed, necessitating use of the antibiotic doxycycline. Check with your physician, travel company, or the CDC for current recommendations and possible side effects and contradications.
TIP 21: Take along medications for travelers' diarrhea.With the right precautions, many travelers can avoid diarrhea entirely. If these don't work 100 percent, Pepto Bismol tablets are usually very effective. But if symptoms, persist, switch to the prescription antibiotic Cipro. In some situations, you can seek temporary relief with Immodium. (Don't continue use for more than two days if blood is present, and avoid taking Lomotil.) Always check with your doctor for side effects and contraindications.
TIP 22: If you'll be traveling at high elevations, learn about altitude sickness and take along the prescription drug Diamox.Altitude sickness often strikes travelers who venture above 8,000 feet, and it affects almost everyone who goes higher than 14,000 feet. Symptoms include headache, nausea, and a general feeling of malaise; some people compare altitude sickness to a bad hangover. More severe but rare altitude problems include pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) and cerebral edema (a swelling of the brain that can lead to confusion, hallucinations, and coma).
The key to avoiding altitude sickness is gradual, well-planned ascent, which allows the body time to acclimatize. Diamox may be taken prophylactically or for the relief of symptoms that appear in spite of a gradual ascent, but it must not be used to push beyond safe limits.
THE RIGHT STUFF: HOW AND WHAT TO PACK
TIP 23: Instead of a suitcase, carry a big, soft, rugged duffel bag.There aren't many bellhops on an adventure trip. Your bag will be in for some rough treatment strapped to a yak, tossed onto the roof of a jeep, squashed by tie-down ropes, or pelted by spray in the bottom of a canoe.
Make sure that it's pliable enough to easily be handled by porters, who may lash two or three duffels into their own large packs. Pack duffels within duffels.
Four smaller zipper duffels can be neatly nested within the giant main bag. Sort the smaller bags roughly according to function: one for everyday stuff, one for cold-weather gear, etc. Cotton "city" clothes can be wrapped in plastic shopping bags within their duffel. Books, maps, notebooks, etc., can be stored in Ziploc bags, inside their own smaller nylon duffel.
TIP 24: Pack Light.
On safari or on the trail, you want life to be as simple as possible, and you'll best accomplish this by packing less stuff. If the clothing list your travel company provides seems impossibly skimpy, don't worry. Almost all first-time adventure travelers quickly realize they've brought too much. Fashion doesn't count much out on the trail, and modern outdoor clothing is so versatile that one garment can perform a variety of functions. So don't take more than the packing list advises; if you do, you and the porters will have to lug that much more around.
TIP 25: Keep take-along trash to a minimum.This not only lightens and simplifies your pack; it is environmentally responsible, too. Throw out film boxes and take new clothing out of its package. Pack a couple of bandannas instead of a dozen packs of Kleenex.
TIP 26: Bring along a medium-size day pack.The right size is about 1,500 to 2,000 cubic inches, and it should have hip straps and several compartments. Use it on the airplane, as a carry-on bag for all your indispensable items (documents, toiletries, valuables, clothes to wear in case your checked luggage is lost or delayed, etc). It has the decided advantage of being easy to carry on long walks down airport corridors. Once you arrive and the trip begins, use it to carry all the things you'll need during the day-water bottle, snacks, camera, extra clothing. Your main duffel bag depends will most likely be inaccessible.
As you select clothing for a cool or cold-weather destination, your mantra should be: "Layers are good, cotton is bad."
Your choice of travel clothes obviously depends on your destination, but the general strategy is to dress in layers that can be quickly removed or replaced as the temperature and your activity level vary. The best basic combination: is an inner layer of polyester long underwear, such as Polartec, or Capilene, that will wick away perspiration; one or two middle layers of fleece, Polartec, or other quick-drying, warm-when-wet synthetic fabric (wool is okay, too); and an outer shell that is windproof and waterproof, preferable a breathable fabric such as Gore-Tex. Cotton (including jeans) should be avoided; it becomes instantly soggy from sweat or rain, loses virtually all of its insulating abilities, and takes forever to dry out.
TIP 27: Slip in some snapshots of your family, house, and hometown.
These are great icebreakers. Take along a Polaroid camera this allows you to present locals with instant pictures of themselves. If you have an artistic bent, take along a small sketch pad or water-color set.
TIP 28: If you'll be camping, take along a Therm-a-Rest inflatable air mattress.
These wonderful devices have in the past few years revolutionized sleeping on the ground, and are now virtually standard equipment among veteran campers. The reason is simple: they are much more comfortable than the old-style foam pads. Therm-a-Rests are self-inflating, come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are durable. They're available at most outdoor stores and mail-order companies.
TIP 29: Take along a generous supply of Ziploc plastic bags.
They are invaluable for storing items that must stay dry, for isolating wet and/or dirty clothes, and for organizing luggage. For the compulsive organizer, the sorting possibilities are endless: emergency pills-Immodium, Diamox, etc.-in one bag, daily vitamin pills in another. Or socks in one bag, underwear in another. A bag just for spare batteries. These see-through bags make it easy to locate items.
TIP 30: Take along a batch of trail mix.
Here's a recipe for an extraordinary tasty high-carbo concoction that provides instant energy and staying power along the trail. Simply mix dry-roasted peanuts and chocolate-covered raisins.
TIP 31: Remember the heavy-duty anti-sunburn gear for high-altitude trips.Severe sunburn is possible at high elevations, because the thin air lets through more ultraviolet radiation. At only 7,000 feet, UV radiation is about 35 percent more intense than at sea level. At 15,000 feet, it is nearly twice as intense. And many adventure-travel destinations are in tropical latitudes, where the sun is higher in the sky than Americans are accustomed to. This intensifies UV radiation even more. Large areas of snow or water, which reflect UV rays, increase exposure still more. Be sure to take along a wide-brimmed hat, UV-blocking sunglasses with side panels ("glacier glasses"), and lots of sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher).
TIP32: Take along skin moisturizer, even if you don't normally use it.
High altitudes, dry air, and hot sun can combine to really dry out skin.
TIP 33: Bring a pair of compact lightweight binoculars.Even if you're not a bird-watcher, you'll get a whole new perspective on your trip. In addition to the obvious benefits for a safari or animal-oriented trip, it's fun to watch the snow blow off the summit of a 25,999-foot Himalayan peak, check out the porters' progress behind you, or just people-watch from afar. A 9x25 model is a good compromise among magnification, lightgathering power, weight, and size.
TIP 34: If photography is a major goal of your trip, bring along a spare camera.You simply can't count on being able to repair or replace a malfunctioning camera on an adventure trip. A good combination would be a high-quality single-lens reflex (SLR) camera as your primary equipment and a small, lightweight automatic point-and-shoot camera as a backup. But don't bring a huge assortment of camera bodies, lenses and tripods; you'll find all that equipment a burden to carry and disruptive to operate. In fact, you may find, to your surprise, that you end up preferring the small, unobtrusive point-and-shoot to the fancy SLR.
TIP 35: For wildlife photography, use a 70-210 mm zoom lens.Your best shots usually develop very suddenly and you won't want to be changing lenses constantly. Lenses longer than 210 mm are rarely necessary and difficult to hold still without a tripod, which you'll rarely have time to set up.
TIP 36: Take extra batteries for your cameraCold weather takes a heavy toll on camera batteries, and you may be a week's walk from the nearest replacement.
TIP 37: Put a haze or sky filter on your camera lens.In addition to improving the picture quality slightly, the filter will protect the lens from dirt, moisture, and dings. This is particularly important in Africa, where conditions are sometimes very dusty and where often you'll be scrambling madly for your camera after sighting animals.
TIP 38: Buy a lead-lined storage bag for your film.
Despite those reassuring signs, airport X-ray machines can damage film, particularly machines at small remote airports that may have old equipment. Even security people in "advanced" nations, like England, have been known to refuse to hand-check films and cameras, putting them through the X-ray machines despite pleas to the contrary.
JUST BEFORE YOU GO
TIP 39: Arrange your flight schedule to minimize jet lag.If your traveling eastbound, schedule your arrival for morning, destination time. Westbound, shoot for a late afternoon arrival. This will help your body's internal clock get "in sync" more quickly.
TIP 40: Budget for tips to your trip leader, guides, and porters.
Like waiters and ski instructors, adventure travel company field staff traditionally rely on tips for a portion of their income. The amount is strictly up to you, but if you feel the staff did a good job, 5 percent of your land cost is a good ballpark figure. Keep in mind that what appears to be a trivial amount of money to you can be a big help to a local staff member. On treks, local guides and porters also appreciate surplus items of clothing, like T-shirts, fleece jackets, boots, and baseball caps.
TIP 41: Get used to the idea that you will be out of touch with the rest of the world.Where you're going, there probably won't be telephones. If there are phones, they probably won't work. If they do, it will be 3 a.m. at home when you want to call.
TIP 42: HAVE FUN!! THAT’S WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT!
---Dale Bowers
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Why is the world is as it is?
Anyone who travels internationally to countries where the population's standard of living is much lower than the U.S. or Western Europe has to wonder why that is true. Is it the fact that we're smarter, more motivated, more creative- somehow a cut above? No (sorry to disillusion you). In a sweeping book called Guns, Germs and Steel Jared Diamond explores that question in detail. I was initially intimidated by how thick the book is and was concerned that it would be written in a dry, academic style, but I have been pleased to find that the man is a very good and accessible writer. And his analysis is fascinating and persuasive (at least to me). If you have ever pondered the question in the title, then you would enjoy reading this book.-- Marian
Friday, June 8, 2007
put on weight
And I don't mean the kind that comes from eating a milkshake every day (tempting as that is now that it's summer)!.
If you are training for a trip, athletic event, or just want to increase your exercise output try adding weight to your session. Hike with a 20 pound pack or ride your bike while pulling a cart with 20 pounds of weight. Could be a child, or some rocks, camping gear or your dog. The extra weight will up the ante - so to speak - of the workout. Adding weight raises your heart rate faster, burns more calories, additionally strengthens the muscles you regularly use and also builds some lesser used ones. If you are pressed for time, hiking/biking with weight can allow you to work harder in less time (see Marian's previous blog on interval training).
Head for the hills: Hiking or biking up hills adds to any workout - carrying weight up those hills increases that physical challenge. If you want to increase the workout even more on a hike - use trekking poles. They will also help your knees feel better if hiking with a 20 pound pack. Biking up hill and/or into the wind is difficult, and adding 20 pounds will make it even harder. Make sure you use your gears to assist the riding. If you aren't up to carrying 20 pounds, try 10 - any increase is better than none.
This morning I rode my bike to a nearby hiking trail, pulling my 20lb. dog in a trailer. While I only rode 6, relatively flat miles, I definitely noticed the different muscles and extra stengthening of my legs and heart. Plus, it was wonderful to not have to drive. Hmmm...maybe I even burned enough calories from it to have my daily milkshake! -- Deb
If you are training for a trip, athletic event, or just want to increase your exercise output try adding weight to your session. Hike with a 20 pound pack or ride your bike while pulling a cart with 20 pounds of weight. Could be a child, or some rocks, camping gear or your dog. The extra weight will up the ante - so to speak - of the workout. Adding weight raises your heart rate faster, burns more calories, additionally strengthens the muscles you regularly use and also builds some lesser used ones. If you are pressed for time, hiking/biking with weight can allow you to work harder in less time (see Marian's previous blog on interval training).
Head for the hills: Hiking or biking up hills adds to any workout - carrying weight up those hills increases that physical challenge. If you want to increase the workout even more on a hike - use trekking poles. They will also help your knees feel better if hiking with a 20 pound pack. Biking up hill and/or into the wind is difficult, and adding 20 pounds will make it even harder. Make sure you use your gears to assist the riding. If you aren't up to carrying 20 pounds, try 10 - any increase is better than none.
This morning I rode my bike to a nearby hiking trail, pulling my 20lb. dog in a trailer. While I only rode 6, relatively flat miles, I definitely noticed the different muscles and extra stengthening of my legs and heart. Plus, it was wonderful to not have to drive. Hmmm...maybe I even burned enough calories from it to have my daily milkshake! -- Deb
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Adventure in your own backyard
There are so many wonderful places I want to explore, some for the first time, others for the nth time. Many of the places I want to experience, like Alaska, Bhutan, or New Zealand, require lots of advance planning and days away from work and home. Oh that I would have time to visit all of these distant, facinating places - darn that pesky day job! What is an adventurer to do? Seek adventure in your daily life, of course.
I am fortunate to live three blocks from the Mighty Mississippi River and go paddling on it every chance I get. Last week fellow AGCer Deb and I put in a canoe at the river flats by the University of Minnesota and paddled leisurely through the only gorge on the entire 1,000+ mile length of the river. We were assisted by a gentle tail wind. The river is low for this time of year, in fact, the river at the end of May was lower than it often is in mid August. We were able to see the remnants of the very first lock constructed on the river. Built in the early 1900's to enable boats to bypass the rapids on that part of the river and make Minneapolis more accessible by river, it was decommissioned only a few years later when another lock and dam was constructed downstream. That lock still exists and we "locked through" on our trip.
We saw Great Blue Herons that day and it is common to see Bald Eagles soaring overhead or sitting in a snag. The trees still had that fresh spring green color even though they were fully leafed out. Last fall I paddled this same stretch of river at the height of fall colors - it was stunning. Each time I am on the river I marvel at how I can literally be in the middle of a major metropolitan area (the river is the border between St. Paul and Minneapolis), yet feel like I am far beyond any city limits. And each time I paddle the river, I see something different and learn something new. I'm looking forward to my next outing.
Where do you find adventure close to home? Happy exploring. Shelley
I am fortunate to live three blocks from the Mighty Mississippi River and go paddling on it every chance I get. Last week fellow AGCer Deb and I put in a canoe at the river flats by the University of Minnesota and paddled leisurely through the only gorge on the entire 1,000+ mile length of the river. We were assisted by a gentle tail wind. The river is low for this time of year, in fact, the river at the end of May was lower than it often is in mid August. We were able to see the remnants of the very first lock constructed on the river. Built in the early 1900's to enable boats to bypass the rapids on that part of the river and make Minneapolis more accessible by river, it was decommissioned only a few years later when another lock and dam was constructed downstream. That lock still exists and we "locked through" on our trip.
We saw Great Blue Herons that day and it is common to see Bald Eagles soaring overhead or sitting in a snag. The trees still had that fresh spring green color even though they were fully leafed out. Last fall I paddled this same stretch of river at the height of fall colors - it was stunning. Each time I am on the river I marvel at how I can literally be in the middle of a major metropolitan area (the river is the border between St. Paul and Minneapolis), yet feel like I am far beyond any city limits. And each time I paddle the river, I see something different and learn something new. I'm looking forward to my next outing.
Where do you find adventure close to home? Happy exploring. Shelley
Thinking twice before buying bottled water
When you travel internationally to places where you can't drink the water, you face the decision of whether to treat your water or to buy widely available bottled water. Treating water has the obvious advantage of cost but the disadvantages of inconvenience (you have to wait for the treatment to work) and taste. Although putting lemonade powder in the treated water will not only mask but also neutralize the taste (just make sure you wait long enough for the treatment to work before adding it), on a long trip the taste can get pretty boring. Bottled water has the disadvantage of cost but it also has another hidden cost we often don't consider: the creation of additional solid waste, often in countries that have no recycling and minimal waste disposal facilities. Whether or not to drink bottled water is obviously a personal decision, but one that should consider all the costs and benefits. For myself I bring a liquid iodine solution that has lasted for several years and buy bottled water as a treat.--Marian
Friday, June 1, 2007
my favorite backpacking meal
I am about to head off on our Introduction to Backpacking weekend in Minnesota, and I am, of course thinking about food. Sometimes it can be a challenge to feel like you can eat well while backpacking and still keep the weight down. Many pre-packaged backpacking meals are expensive and often less savory than I (and many others) prefer. So, here is my favorite meal. It is filling, nutritious and pretty lightweight.
Burritos and Spanish rice. You need tortillas, dehydrated refried beans (either black or pinto), some cheese, salsa (either in a plastic bottle or transfer into a Nalgene container), and a box of spanish rice (I try to get one with the least additives). If you want to get a little fancier you could bring an avocado, a tomato and an onion. These store well in a tupperware container that you can also use as your eating dish.
The meal is simple to make - you just boil water. The rice cooks in one pot and the beans you rehydrate in five minutes in a bowl, or another small pot. If you have veggies, cut them up to add on top or make guacamole. And then you build your burrito. Mmmm, mmm good! Any extra tortillas can be carried for lunches or other dinners. --Deb
Burritos and Spanish rice. You need tortillas, dehydrated refried beans (either black or pinto), some cheese, salsa (either in a plastic bottle or transfer into a Nalgene container), and a box of spanish rice (I try to get one with the least additives). If you want to get a little fancier you could bring an avocado, a tomato and an onion. These store well in a tupperware container that you can also use as your eating dish.
The meal is simple to make - you just boil water. The rice cooks in one pot and the beans you rehydrate in five minutes in a bowl, or another small pot. If you have veggies, cut them up to add on top or make guacamole. And then you build your burrito. Mmmm, mmm good! Any extra tortillas can be carried for lunches or other dinners. --Deb
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