Adventuring Blog

Flipped Car: First Responder.

2011-03-03T12:04:00.001-08:00

What is an Adventure?

I think that everyone has an idea in their head of what an adventure is for them. Whether it is rock climbing, skiing the Matterhorn, or skinny dipping in the pool at the Holiday Inn. There could be millions of factors or requisites for Adventure identification, but to me there are only two necessary identification questions.

1. Does it get your Adrenaline flowing/blood pumping?

2. Does it create a cool/kick-ass story.

Based on those two key yeses, being the first responder on scene of a flipped vehicle is in fact an Adventure. Story below.

Flipped Jeep

After a weekend exploring the wilds of Southwest Michigan, my Brother-in-law and I set sights for home amid tempestuous winter conditions. Freezing rain pellets froze to the road, and created extremely dangerous driving conditions. We continued on undeterred, as Jason was drawn home by his pregnant wife. As we snaked through the rural backcountry, we passed a

Jeep Liberty that was on its side. In passing we noticed no other vehicles on the scene, and quickly pulled a U-turn. We were the first responders.

I thought to myself. "This is what you have trained for!" "This is what all of those years in Boy Scouts was all about!" I told Jason to call 9-1-1 as I exited our car. As I approached the overturned vehicle, I noticed a creepy little girl standing up in the front window of the Jeep. I thought that if this girl ended up in the front window, then her parents could be extremely beat up.

At this point I look over my shoulder and see that a pickup truck has also stopped, and is talking on the phone to 9-1-1 about what street we are on.

Back at the Jeep,I tried to lift up the handle of the front door, but it was locked. At that point, I was sure that I was going to get to smash at least one window, which I have always wanted to do. Unfortunately for my window smashing dream, but fortunately for the people inside, I heard a tapping from within on the glass of the back seat window. I was able to open the door and out pops the head of a man, and below him, within the wrecked fuselage, I can see his wife.

They said in broken English that they are only bruised and shaken up but not hurt, and that they will wait for help from within their still wobbling compact SUV. With a little nudging, I was able to convey the message that their current camping site within their recently rolled over car, was not a safe one, and they then agreed. Although I would have liked to smash a window, I am just glad that no one was dead, and the family was safe.

We were able to help them down from the side of the car, while bracing it from falling completely onto its roof. The local hillbilly type guy with the truck put the small family in his back seat, and waited for the police to respond.

With the family safe, we flipped a bitch, set our sights toward home and talked and joked excitedly in an attempt to diffuse some of the adrenaline that had built up within us.

Sometimes an adventure is being in the right place at the right time, and being prepared to do the right thing.

Chicago Travel and Adventure Show Review

2011-01-31T10:50:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I got an email from the people putting on the Travel and Adventure Show inviting me to attend this year's show for free. Because the price was right, I decided to attend, figuring that information gathered could prove useful for planning future ADVENTURING opportunities, also figuring that this would be a great opportunity to gaze into the future of the Travel and Adventure marriage.

I send my condolences to all of those poor saps that spent the $15 on the ticket and the $13 to park, because that show was a dud. There was no excitement in any of the booths. It might as well have been an insurance and actuarial convention. It was as if the entire show was sponsored by Nyquil or Ambien. I would have thought that the guy handing out 'Visit South Africa' sales literature would have been more amped than the lady from the 'Southeastern Wisconsin Board of Tourism', but that was not the case.

I was hoping to get information to help plan future trips to Europe and China, but anything good was few and far between. I should have expected it because the purpose of a show like this is to make money and generate sales, and not to present honest and or useful information. The only information I found relating to China was trips arranged by Trafalgar, with costs that accosted the soul.

Through this misinformation gathering, I learned what I always had known.

1. Plan your own trip

2. Beware of phonies

No one that is under 65 should ever leave the planning of their trips or adventures to 'experts'.

1. Planning a trip is half of the fun

2. When you get there you will know what to expect

3. When you get home, you will be able to tell someone where you have been and what you experienced.

4. It will save you a shitload of cash(Euros, Lbs, rupees, yen, dollas, shillings, dabloons, skrilla)

Now a word about shyster travel companies. As far as I know, I have never been taken advantage of by a travel company. Women, yes. Travel shysters, no.

1. Travel shysters are a bunch of phonies that only want your money. You will float down the Yangtze river in a semi-water tight tour bus, and probably won't see anything remotely cool. And they will rape you(r wallet) Plan your own trip.

Chicago Travel and Adventure Show

Highlights:

1.There was a camel there. I took a picture of his toe, and put it on my Facebook page. Don't you hate it when a Camel tracks dirt onto your carpet?

2. If anyone knows famed travel writer and personality, Rick Steves, they know that he may or may not be gay. He is ambiguous. Not that there is anything wrong with that, he just has some unique mannerisms. Anyway, his brochure that he was handing out promoting h

is tour company had the title 'Rick Steves: Europe through the back door'. That is some seriously funny stuff that made me cry with delight. You would think that someone would have caught that before he had one million copies made.

Lowlights

1. Being there.

Feast your eyes below with Rick Steves' back door review, and the camel-toe.

REI Oakbrook Terrace Garage Sale Tomorrow 12-30

2010-12-29T10:27:00.000-08:00

Just a quick FYI. The REI Oakbrook Terrace store in Illinois is having their Garage Sale tomorrow(December 30th, 2010) at 9 Am. Because it is kind of a strange day and time, I am not able to make it to the sale, although some compatriots of mine will be there looking after my gear collecting interests. I anticipate that this sale will have the usual returned and semi-damaged items, but the pot may also be sweetened with some Christmas returns. Get there early and get add to your camping gear stockpile. Good luck!

Adventuring Blog Resurrection

2010-12-23T08:35:00.000-08:00

A little over a year ago, I got really lazy with the Adventuring Blog, and I for lack of a better term, let it go to shit. It has been stagnant for over a year, and has cob webs on it. Since, it has gone dormant, I have gone on some great adventures, and the stories have gone unreported, the memories locked away. I have climbed the cables to the top of half dome in Yosemite, have seen the Florida Gators play football in the Swamp, I planned an adventure in Ireland for my parents, went climbing at Devil's Lake in Baraboo, Wisconsin and have explored the life giving microbrew beers of Boulder Colorado. From now on, I am going to do better. I am going to share my adventures, and will do my best to impart any wisdom that I can conjure up about the exciting world of travel and adventure. This is the Adventuring Blog Resurrection!

Euro Trip Day six: Florence/Firenze

2009-12-08T14:08:00.000-08:00

A view of Florence from Piazza Michaelangelo

9-17-09 Florence

The following is an excerpt from my travel journal which I kept on my trip through Europe.

"Woke up at 10 to 10, checkout is at 10. I had to hustle to pack up my things. Got out in time, and walked to Termini to catch a train. I also tried to get my train arrangements for Venice to Munich, but the ticket guy said it was sold out, even sleeper cars. Shit! I am in trouble. So I just get on my train, and brainstorm on the way. I discover that I can get a night train from Venice, Florence or Bologna, and worst case, I could go on an earlier train and either attempt to find a hostel, or sleep in a park. That is all for now...

At the Florence train station I talked to the ticket lady, and she initially said that it was full, then said I could go, I would just have to pay an additional 45 Euro to upgrade to a sleeper car. I had no other options, so I went with that. At least now I know I will get there, and will be able to rest, relax and sleep. As I write this now, I am in hostel, b. It is a very nice and scenic viewing spot for the city of Florence. The views from here are absolutely spectacular. I love the vibe of Florence, it is very similar to Naples in that respect. The people here are very friendly, and were helpful when I got lost. Also, the women here are super hot.

Although there are tourists here, it seems a lot less touristy than Rome. When I got here, my hostel I guess was full, so I was handed off to another one. No problem. The accomodations look good enough.

I struck off through the city through a slight rain. I saw the museum with 'David' in it, but the line was way long. No time for lines with only one day here. Then went to see the copy/fake 'David'. What's the big deal, I look better than him. Just kidding, it was really cool. The piazza where the fake Davis is located has some really awesome statues in it. I sat down near them, and examined them from every angle. Some of my favorites so far.

Saw a few nice churches, the Duomo, and a few piazzas. Then got really F---ing lost, I mean, I was off the map that I had of Florence... but I saw some nice scenery--a winding road with massive and beautiful villas. The people helped me get back to where I wanted to be. Apparently my accent is alright, because when I ask for directions, they answer me in Italian even if they know English, as they don't know that I am American. Now I will strike off back toward the hostel.

later that night, I walked through the streets of Florence to the 'David' copy. I stopped at a produce market for an apple to eat in the Piazza. I felt really safe except when I walked down a really dark, dirty, and littered street that was loaded with maybe 50 gypsies. At that moment, I knew that all eyes were on me and if shit went down, my only defense would be flighty feet, and a single flying apple. Luckily nothing happened, and I hada great night time stroll. When I walked back to the hostel, I avoided Gypsy Lane. Florence is nice, I would like to go back there at some point."

On top: Man fighting a Centaur

Bottom: Fake David

Euro Trip Day 5: Rome

2009-11-25T13:49:00.000-08:00

Above: In front of the Basilica in the Vatican

Below: Drinking from the Fountain in front of the Spanish Steps

The following is an excerpt from The my travel journal chronicling my adventures in Europe.

9-16-09 Roma

"Went to the Vatican with Nick, a guy I met from New Zealand, and a tour group. We were

hoping to catch a glimpse of the Pope, but it was too crowded by the time we got there, so we only saw and heard him on the big screen TVs . The tour was very informative, and the ceiling and front wall of the Sistine Chapel are awesome! After we finished with the Vatican, Nick and myself walked to a few places including the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps. I was at the Spanish Steps the day before, but at the time did not realize that was where I was. We people watched on the steps, and drank a Heineken. Then we took the metro back to the hostel. I showered, and went to the Yellow Bar for some wine. After some wine, the Kiwis and myself went on a mission to get some food, and got lost. We ended up getting Donner Kabobs by the Termini. Donner Kabobs are delicious. After that, we retired to our room(which smells like an old shoe) for some sleep. Tomorrow is a big day, traveling to Florence."

Belvedere Statue in the Vatican. Known as the best ever statue of a human torso.

This guy really looks like he enjoys it.

Free National Parks Day 2009!

2009-11-06T14:27:00.000-08:00

November 11th 2009

In honor of America's veterans, The Department of the Interior is suspending entrance fees to National Parks this Veterans Day. In addition to this, the U.S. Forrest Service is also waiving any entrance fees that they have on that day.

Celebrate Veterans Day, Go for a hike.

Euro Trip Day 4: Rome Italy

2009-11-04T13:45:00.000-08:00

The following is an excerpt from my travel journal of a day spent solo traveling in Rome.

9-15-09 ROME UBER-Tourist Day

"The New Zealand guys planned to rent scooters today, and I would prefer to see Rome from foot, so I am striking off on my own. I walked everywhere today. I pretty much saw all of the major sights, and did it all by foot. I must have walked 20 miles or more. "

"I walked by the Santa Maria Maggiore, for anothe rextenal visit with the Coliseum, and again checked out the Arco di Constantino, Arco Tito, and the Domus Aurea. From there, I went to the Monumento a Vittorino Emanuele II, which was absolutely spectacular. Such a sight. Near here, I also saw Colonna Traina and Mercati Traina; one is a statue on a tall post-like tower, and the other is semi-building, semi-ruin."

I walked through a small park, where it looked like a flock of gypsies were protesting something. I guess the gypsies are in a union. While walking in this park, and small boy probably 3 or 4 years old started running toward me from behind, and tried reaching into my pocket. Luckily I had my head on a swivel, and I picked him up and punted him into heavy traffic, but actually, I ran from him like a frightened girl while holding my pocket closed. I am sure the adult gypsies were delighted by the free entertainment.

At one point I got lost, which is pretty much what I do, and kept wandering and discovering new sights around every corner, it was great. I recommend that everyone should get lost alone in a foreign country it is quite a pleasant adventure.

"I found the Arc Pacis, the Mosoleo Augusto and the Piazza Espana(Spanish Steps) this way. I went to the Piazza de Popolo up north which was really nice. At this Piazza, I went into some

Augustine(?) church which had a great domed roof, and paintings on the ceiling. Next, I went south, and finally found the Trevi Fountain, which I had been looking for for a while. The fountain is awesome, (although this may be racist,) but it was a little too crowded with Americans. Other sights are less crowded and the tourists are a mixed bag. It seems as if the Trevi is the only place American tourists go. "

"After that, I visited the Pantheon, which was really cool. I went in although I was not supposed to wear shorts within the sacred building. The dome there is a work of architectural genius, and the religious paintings and sculptures are nice too. "

Shortly after leaving the Pantheon, I was walking to Piazza Navona, and was heading down a narrow alleyway in between buildings. I was hugging the wall to the right of me the best I could in order to give the cars ample berth, and they passed with ease. I continued on, immersed in my own thoughts, and contemplating the beauty of the day, when suddenly I was thumped on the left shoulder with incredible force. I nearly tumbled to the ground, as I unleashed a string of expletives and vulgarities. I looked up, from a half slouched over position with my hands on my knees, to see a large truck speeding away. I had been hit by a truck's mirror, and as he sped away, his mirror was touching his window. He had hit me hard, at probably 33 or 35 miles per hour, and who knows how many Kilometers per hour. I was pissed, so I looked around for a rock to throw at him. The thought struck me 'is this worth a trip to a Roman jail?' I quickly determined that in fact it would be worth it, but I could not find a rock. Maybe this was some kind of Karma for pretending to be dead under a truck the day before, or for wearing shorts into the sacred Pantheon. I was bruised, but decided to not let it ruin my day. I continued walking.

"I walked to Piazza Navona, and Campo de Fiora. At all of these places I went, I took pictures, but I tried to be more than the typical tourist. I took a little while to have a seat, and truly drink in the entire atmosphere of the sights. On my walk home, I revisited my two favorite sights of the day, Vittorino Emanuel II and the Collosseo, and had a nice sit at both places. "

"When I got back, the Kiwi guys invited me out to dinner with them. We went to a place down the street that looked good, and the menu sounded good, but the portions were minuscule, the food took forever, and the waiter forgot to bring my Chicken until we were already ready to pay. After leaving, we were all still starving, so we went to get pizza. I got a few slices of caprice salad pizza that was great. "

"What a great day!, full of excercise, and seeing almost all of the sights of Rome. Now it is a little after ten, and I am taking it easy, as myself and one Kiwi are waking up early to go to the Vatican Tomorrow. Tomorrow is Wednesday, and the Pope gives a speech every wednesday, so we might get a look at the old guy. Today I had a very introspective day, It was very peaceful, and I enjoyed the solitude, even when I was within crowds. One of the many perks of traveling alone. "

The Pantheon, Rome

Trevi Fountai, Rome

EuroTrip Day 3: Roma

2009-11-02T09:37:00.000-08:00

The following is an excerpt from my travel journal:

9-14-09 ROME

"Woke up a little late with a slight hangover. Said bye to my friends that I had met in Naples and walked to the metro. Walked from Dante Metro stop to Napoli Central Station which is in Piazza Garribaldi. At the station, I met a couple from Palo Altothat was having difficulties, and seemed frustrated, and I helped them find our train." They were nice, but looked like idiots with backpacks completely engulfed in duct taped hefty bags. "Train ride was uneventful besides gaining some much needed shuteye. I already miss Naples and hope that I meet some cool people in Roma.

When I arrived in the Rome Termini Station, it was raining. I luckily had my jacket handy, and the walk to the 'Yellow Hostel' was only a few blocks. I was checked into the hostel around 3:00 PM. The rooms are not quite as nice as 'La Controra', but are adequate.

When I was checking out the room, I met a couple guys from New Zealand, and three girls also from there. Apparently, they put me in the Kiwi room of the hostel. The kiwimen want me to go with them on a pub crawl, but with my headache, I don't know if I can commit to that. I decided to think about it while doing a mini walk of the city to help me get a lay of the land.

I walked about 30 minutes to the coliseum, and sat and took in my surroundings. I am so glad that I decided to add this Italy excursion to my agenda. I walked around the coliseum and checked out a few of the ruins and archeological sights nearby. One cool thing about Rome is that there are running fountains of water on the sidewalks around the city, and the water is delicious. After my walk back, I decided to get a panini from a nearby restaurant. When I got back, the Kiwi guys were about to leave for the pub crawl, and I vetoed that idea for myself. The kiwi girls and I decided to go to the 'Yellow' bar downstairs. After an expensive pint of Newcastle, we went to the restaurant next door so they could eat. I was not hungry, so I just had an Italian beer, and another Kiwi girl Molly gave us some wine.

After the restaurant, we went back to the bar, and eventually played beer-pong and foosball in the basement. My Florida Gator beerpong skills whipped every European and Eurasian in the place. After a while, I went off with a group of Americans and Australians to get some more pizza. On the way back, we got a few more beers, Piralta's I think, and drank them on the street. We found a huge truck which was jacked up, and we staged death photos.

When I got back to the hostel, there was a passed out drunk Canadian guy in my bed. I yelled at him the get the hell out of my bed, but he was not coherent enough to give a logical response to my threats. After a little time at the front desk, it was sorted out, and my bed was moved into the adjoining room with the Kiwi guys. I took the time to send a few emails to friends and family, and went to bed, in my new room, which smells like a shoe. The end of another great day in Europe. Tomorrow should be quite busy, tomorrow is my Uber-Tourist day.

Ted Kennedy Statue in Rome?

Staged Death Photo in Rome.

Eurotrip Day 2: Naples Italy

2009-10-27T14:07:00.000-07:00

The following is an excerpt from my travel journal for the second day of my European trip in Naples Italy.

Napoli 9-13-09

"Woke up early, and had breakfast at the hostel. Set off to visit Pompeii with 2 British girls, German guy, and a Dutch girl. Took two trains to get there and 45 mins. First was a metro to the Napoli Central, then the circumvesuviana to the Pompeii Scavi station. Pompeii is amazing! The sheer magnitude of the amount of history and ruins there is hard to comprehend. The city is very big and takes a long time to navigate through. The dead bodies were harder to locate then we had expected. Eventually we did manage to find some rather charming specimen. Also, there are stray dogs and puppies all over Pompeii that sleep so still on the marble floors that they too look dead. After we finished with Pompeii, we trained to Sorrento to take a dip in the Mediterranean Sea(my first ever dip in the med). Sorrento is beautiful, quiet and clean. The water of the sea is crystal clear. We had quite a swim out to a rock breakwater where we dried in the sun and dove back in. We could see spear fisherman in the depths as we swam over them. We had a nice spot on a small beach, where we listened to music and played frisbee for about 2 hours.

The Beach and Jetty in Sorrento, Italy.

On our way back to the train, we stopped for gelato, which was excellent. After a train back to Naples, myself and my new German friend, walked through the city for some traditional Napoli pizza. It was delicious. In fact, it is the only thing they eat here."

After this entry, my new group of friends and I played some American and European drinking games for a while with wine, that only cost 2.5 Euros per bottle at the hostel, which was a great deal if you ask me. Then I slept, because the next day, I had a change of scenery. This time it would be Rome.

I had a great time in Naples. Every moment I was there is a cherished memory, that I won't forget. Although before going there, many people had warned me that Naples was dangerous and scary, Never for a moment was I worried or scared, and I found the people to be extraordinarily friendly. And I never met any Italian mafia people although I hear there is a mafia controlled district. I highly recommend a trip to Naples for anyone that is traveling through Italy.

Italy: Women so hot, your face will melt off!

Italy: Also has volcanoes to melt your face off!

Eurotrip Day 1. Naples, Italy

2009-10-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

View from my room in Naples

The following entry is an excerpt written directly from my travel journal Day one in Europe:

Roma-Napoli 9-12-09

"When I landed, I already had my bag(I had not checked it, which saved my skin). I pretty easily managed to find the Leonardo Express train to Rome's Termini Station. From there, I had a little difficulty finding the booth to validate my Railpass. Once validated + ticket bought, I hopped a bullet train to Naples. When I got there, I decided to walk from the Napoli Central Station to the hostel(La Controra Flashpackers Hostel) because Google Maps said it was 3Km 30 mins. It was not 30 mins, very hilly, and got slightly lost, but all the Napoli people I met were very friendly + helpful, although a part of the city I walked through was covered in graffiti, and looked post-apocalyptic, like 'Mad Max'. The area where I stayed was much nicer. Immediately after arriving at the hostel, I met several nice people that I will tour Naples and the surrounding towns with. There are a lot of Germans here.

Observation: Naples is loud, people honk horns constantly,

As I write this, horns are honking.

-Traffic in Naples stops for NO ONE!

No such thing as crosswalks. "

Later this first night, I drank a bit of wine with the new friends that I had made, and a few of us decided to hop a few buses to get to an Italian rap concert in the city's main square. We took a jug of wine with us, and had a great time. The Italian language is a romance language. Italian rap music is not a romance language, and sounds pretty gross, but to me, life is about having new experiences, and a rap concert in Naples was a new one for me.

Below is my new North Face Terra 60 backpack on my room's balcony in Naples.

The Flight from Hell

2009-10-20T12:48:00.000-07:00

On my trip through Europe, probably the most miserable times were related to time spent at airports, and in my flight to Rome. Although I usually have a great time at airports, people watching and reading, this time was different, I felt like I was on 'The Amazing Race'.

My flight was intended to leave O'Hare Airport in Chicago at 1:50 PM. I was then supposed to have a 1 hour layover in Philadelphia before embarking to Rome. I decided that I did not want to take any risks in missing my flight, so I left my house in the city around 9:30, which was almost pathetically early. I took a bus and the El, and made it to the airport around 10:15. I checked into my Us Air flight, did not check my bag(which was super clutch thinking on my part, and crucial for my trip), and zipped through security. I was reading a book at my gate by 10:45, which was about 3 hours before the flight was supposed to board.

I waited patiently reading my extremely boring book(about an old geezer walking the Appalachian Trail), and about 30 minutes before the flight was about to board, they changed the time on the screen to say that the flight was delayed an hour and a half. Therefore, I would be unable to make my connection, and would have to spend the night in the Philly Airport, and delay my trip. I stormed the desk and sweet talked the lady into booking me onto an Al Italia, which was direct. I was pretty happy about this, as I took a tram from terminal three to terminal five.

When I got to my new terminal to check in, I was told that I would be flying standby on the Al Italia flight, and that the flight was full. The lady at this booth recommended that I go back to US Air and demand to speak to a manager. She also said that I should hurry because 2 other people from my original flight would be quickly on my tail. The race was on! Back on the tram to terminal three.

Back at US Air, I talked to a manager, and told her to get me on a flight to Rome that day. She was able to book me in a confirmed seat on an American Airlines direct flight to Rome, leaving at 6 PM. She said it was the last seat on the last plane leaving for Rome that day. I had made it, I had won my mini Amazing Race.

So I waited for a few more hours, and eventually, it was time for me to board my plane. I was completely ready to leave Chicago, I had been at O'Hare Airport for nearly seven hours, and had eaten three meals there. I walked triumphantly down the aisle with my North Face Terra 60 backpack that I had thought ahead not to check. I walked further and further through the fuselage of the plane for what felt like miles, and as I neared my seat.....Oh Shit... This can't be true....A huge fat man was sitting immediately next to me. What rotten luck.

I not-so-delicately smashed my pack into the overhead compartment, and took my assigned seat in the way back of the plane in the absolute middle seat, sandwiched between the gargantuan man, and a know it all cougar.

For the next nine hours or so, the obese man's enormous arm and elbow were touching my chest. The heat controls didn't work in the plane, and it was hot as Hades in the back of the plane---The man was sweating on me the entire flight. I almost was brave enough to take a picture to document him eating a wheel of cheese during the flight, but I chickened out. The in-flight movie was 'Mama Mia' which sucked, but was only made better by the fact that the sound system did not work in my section, so I did not have to listen to Pierce Brosnan sing. Unfortunately, my reading light didn't work either, so I had nothing to do except think about the amazing adventure that lay before me, as I try to ignore the beads of sweat(not mine) rolling down my right sleeve.

European Trip to be continued....

Next Stage...Naples, Italy.

Europe Trip

2009-10-12T11:39:00.000-07:00

About a week and a half ago, I got back to Chicago from my adventure in Europe. On my trip, I toured through Italy alone, then met with friends in Munich for Oktoberfest, we went to Austria for a brief climb of a mountain, and finished off the trip in Prague, Czech republic. Then I had a 14 hour layover in Dublin on my way back home. Getting myself out of my comfort zone while traveling alone, as well as the great party atmosphere of Oktoberfest, combined to make this the best trip of my life. I will continue to post more detailed accounts of my trip, country by country in the coming days.

J. Benjamin Eckenhoff Memorial Bike Ride

2009-09-09T09:06:00.000-07:00

This weekend, September 12th, will be the 15th Annual J. Benjamin Eckenhoff Memorial Bike Ride. Since my dad passed away in 1994 from Leukemia, we have been raising money towards research at Stanford Hospital. We have raised over $800,000 since the start of the ride, and we only hope to raise more money in search of a cure.

The reason we chose a bike ride in memory of my dad was because he was an avid road cyclist and rode through the hills of Portola Valley, near Palo Alto in Northern California during his lunch breaks at work and on the weekends. We decided to have three routes to choose from on the memorial bike ride. There is a 10, 20, and 35 mile ride. While I have completed all three of the rides, I tend to stick with the 20 or 35 mile ride for the challenge.

The point of this ride is to gather family, friends, and supporters of my dad as well as those who want to be apart of the search for a cure for leukemia. The registration fee for the bike ride is $25 (which is tax deductible) and with that includes a Ben Ride t-shirt and a lunch after the ride.

For more information please check out http://www.benride.org/

Euro Pack on the Way: North Face Terra 60

2009-09-01T11:21:00.000-07:00

Before embarking on my trip to Europe, I needed to get my backpack situation locked down. Looking at my inventory of camping gear, I realized that between my K2 external frame pack and my overly large internal frame pack, the job was not going to get done. So the past few weeks, I have been doing research on what backpack I want to buy for my trip to Europe. I have solicited advice from well traveled friends. One of the recommendations that I gained from them was that the Eagle Creek Truist 55L was a great pack for Europe. I looked into this option, because it is specifically designed for international travel. Unfortunately, the price point was higher than I wanted to spend at a firm $200 everywhere.

I did more research and found that both REI and North Face had models that would get the job done and that would be suitable for trips abroad, as w

ell as trips into the wild. I decided that I wanted the North Face Terra 60.

On a walk from Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood to the Loop two weekends ago, I stopped at 2 Uncle Dan's outdoor stores, the Lincoln Park REI store and a Sports Authority.

Uncle's Dan's Southport: $125.00

REI Lincoln Park: $149.00

Uncle Dan's Lincoln Park: Did not see an available Terra 60

Sports Authority: $149.00

I followed up with some price checking, a few days later, I ran(by foot) a few miles to my neighborhood Moosejaw store, where the Terra 60 would have to be special ordered and where the sales woman tried to up sell me into more expensive packs I didn't want. When I convinced her that the only pack I was interested in was the Terra 60, she looked it up in their computer system. When she told me the price($149), I told her that it was cheaper at Uncle Dan's. She thought I was an idiot and said well that is because Moosejaw has access to different colors than them.

I said, "What Color do you have?"

She said, "...Well....well...what color were you looking for?"

I then told her that the backpack comes in green, greenish, blue, blueish, and black, and that they are identical, and that there should not be a pricing difference. At this point she realized that I had educated myself and that her sinister tactics would prove fruitless.

Yesterday, I ran(by foot) to my local Uncle Dan's on Southport, and ordered a Large Blueish North Face Terra 60, and it should arrive at the store either today or tomorrow. Their sales associate also mentioned that their store has a price match policy that applies to other stores, but not online sales.

The terra 60 will be mine soon enough.

10 days until aira non-ferma, 11 days until Italia terra firma.

Surfboard Repair

2009-08-24T21:08:00.000-07:00

While Charlie gets to travel abroad, the most exciting thing I have on my "things-to-do" list is repair a couple of dings in my Al Merrick 6'4" and my O'Neill 7'4" surfboards. While I am not a professional ding repairman, the process is fairly simple and I take pride in doing things like this on my own.

The process begins with me collecting the necessary items I need. I use latex gloves and a protective mask to keep the repair materials off of my skin as well as outside of my respiratory system. The ding repair kit I have is made by "Ding All Surfboard Repair Products". The black bottle is the resin and it comes with a smaller clear bottle which is the hardener. Some kits come with fiberglass sheets in case a larger repair needs to be made (luckily I don't need to make those type of repairs right now).

I begin by using some fine sandpaper to remove all sharp fiberglass around the area where I will be making the repair. I then take the resin (black bottle) and pour about 2 ounces into a plastic cup. I then begin to add about 10 drops of the hardener (smaller clear bottle). I use a popsicle stick to stir the resin/hardener mix for about one minute. I then begin to slowly pour a little of the liquid mix onto the area of the ding, about the size of a quarter. As I smooth it out with the popsicle stick, I clean the drips if there are any. I also am generous with the resin to make sure I cover all necessary areas of the repair. Any excess resin can be sanded away.

The resin/hardener mix will harden over night. The following day, I'll take a piece of fine sandpaper and begin to smooth out any of the bump created by the resin. The goal is to smooth out the repair as if there was nothing there at all. This will help reduce any drag that a poor repair might create in the water. This is the process of repairing a ding in a fiberglass surfboard. I do not own an epoxy surfboard, but those repairs involve a different process.

Surfing for me is an escape. The way waves are created boggles my mind and I am so fascinated by this. The feeling of standing up on a wave and riding it is indescribable. I'll leave you with a quote from David Henry Thoreau, "Launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment."

Italian Solo Itinerary

2009-08-20T08:43:00.001-07:00

On September 11th, I will depart on a solo journey through Italy that will conclude with me meeting up with friends for Oktoberfest, a short trip to Austria, and a few days in Prague. Because I am trying to explore the world without going broke, I will be staying in hostels for this leg of the trip. I booked them online, after sifting through a multitude of reviews, and even after that, it is pretty much a crapshoot. I will be happy if I do not see any bedbugs on my trip. The itinerary for the Italian portion of the trip is as below, as for an activity itinerary, I don't like to plan that far in advance. The beauty of a solo trip is that I can do whatever I want, whenever I want to do it.

September 11th: Fly from Chicago to Rome through Philadelphia

September 12th: Arrive Rome approx 8:30 AM

: Train to Naples

September 13th: Stay in Naples

September 14th: Train back to Rome

September 15hth: Rome

September 16th: Rome

September 17th: Train to Florence

: Stay in Florence

September 18th: Train to Venice

:Explore Venice for the day

: Night Train to Munich

September 19th: Arrive in Munich 6:30 AM

Hostels: Naples: La Controra Flashpackers Hostel

Rome: The Yellow Hostel

Florence: Florence Youth Hostel

Before my departure, I have some gear that I am hoping to buy. Included in this list is a new backpack(50-60 L), sunglasses, a money pouch, maybe a new Camera, and possibly some form of ultra-lite summer sleeping bag. I will keep the Adventuring Blog a breast of these pre-planning activities.

Linda Mar Surfing

2009-08-19T08:26:00.000-07:00

Destination: Pacifica Latitude: 37.59915 Longitude: -122.50

I have become a regular at Linda Mar, a surf spot located in the City of Pacifica, in Northern California. This spot offers quite a few amenities that are not typical at most surf spots: Showers, Bathrooms, and a Taco Bell that offers walk-up service for the waterlogged surfer. This Surf spot is somewhat protected from the wind and offers a pretty consistent wave for beginners and intermediate surfers, which makes the line-ups rather crowded. The beach is a mile long with dark sand and numerous rocks scattered around. The south end of the beach is littered with rocks on the ocean floor and can present quite an obstacle if you aren’t wearing booties. I find myself here more and more because of the convenience, there is ample parking, and I know that if I wait long enough a large enough wave will come through. I learned to surf almost 10 years ago on the smaller waves of the east coast of Florida, but stopped surfing when I moved to Chicago in 2002. Seven years later I am reviving my passion for the sport of Surfing. I am working on improving my surfing skills so that I can seek adventures at more remote and wild surf spots. I intend to put together some surf camping trips near-by and eventually spread out further up and down the coast and someday travel abroad to search for surfing adventures. The next step will be a Big Sur Camping Trip, Stay tuned for updated, and progress.

Coming Soon: A New Contributor

2009-08-12T13:24:00.001-07:00

Lately I have been relatively adventureless. I have been focusing on trying to move into a new apartment in Chicago, and have been saving my resources for the Euro Adventuring I will be doing in a little under a month.

My other contributors Brian and Jeff have had no dry spell in the adventure department, but what they are lacking is the limited effort and time it takes to write a summary of their most recent activity.

In an effort to add to both the quality and quantity of posts, my friend Brandon will soon begin contributing to the Adventuring Blog.

He is currently high atop of Machu Pichu in Peru gathering up adventures that he can bestow upon the blog here.

In addition, I will begin posting as to the final preparation for my trip to Europe.

Inspirational Thoreau Quote

2009-07-28T10:55:00.000-07:00

" Men come tamely home at night only from the next field or street, where there household echoes haunt, and their life pines because it breathes its own breath over again; their shadows, morning and evening, reach farther then their daily steps. We should come home from afar, from adventures, and perils, and discoveries every day, with new experience and character. "

-Henry David Thoreau

Walden AKA Life in the Woods

page 196

REI Lincoln Park Garage Sale - Chicago

2009-07-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

REI Lincoln Park Garage Sale

When: July 26th 2009 at 9:00 AM

Where:

1466 North Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60642

More Specifically:

41° 54.476' N
87° 38.891' W
Cost: FREE but must be an REI member

Whats the deal?: It is time for the Lincoln Park REI to clean out their stockpile of returned items, imperfect gear and outdated stock. Typically available is all types of camping and hiking gear, as well as shoes and clothes and even sometimes kayaks and biking items. They advertise that prices for could be up to 60% off, although at a previous REI garage sale, I have seen items discounted more than that. Get there early, for a better chance of snagging the best items. Previously I have purchased a "REI Rentals" 3 man tent for $20 at the REI Oakbrook Terrace Garage Sale. I will be there this time, and I hope you are there too...but hopefully behind me in line.

Holy Roaming Empire

2009-07-02T12:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I made a very impulsive decision. I read an article that basically said that anyone thinking about planning a trip should buy airfare immediately to avoid paying more as gas prices rise. I had been thinking about going to Berlin for a trip, but then changed my mind. I decided that rather than spend more time in Germany, which is an absolutely amazing country, but one that I had been to before, I would go to Italy instead.

I did some research and discovered that for people under 26 years old, STA Travel had some affordable airfare to Europe. I found a deal and immediately booked a flight for myself from Chicago to Rome via Philadelphia. I fly September 11th arrive early on the 12th and will be solo in Italy until I meet up with my friends in Munich on the 18th.

This being my first solo international trip, I am a little nervous, but also I am excited. From what I have read, traveling alone is one of the best ways to see a country, and experience the culture. Being a very social person, I don't think I will have too much trouble finding fellow budget travelers to accompany me on day trips to Vesuvius, or Capri, or Pompeii.

My itinerary is still completely in the air, but I know I want to spend some time in Naples, Rome, and maybe Venice, if I have enough time, and depending how much I want to rush myself. I still need to make a tentative travel plan, find places to stay(most likely hostels), buy a eurail pass, and figure out other the more minor details. I will post more details as I discover them, and will post an itinerary if I make one.

International Travel Update

2009-06-30T12:35:00.000-07:00

I am still working out the details of my trip to Europe. This much I know: my friends and I will be in Munich(Munchen) Germany for 4 days of Oktoberfest, followed by a few days in Austria, and I think 3 or 4 days in Prague, Czech Republic. Because I wanted to experience a little more, and be less rushed, I decided that I would extend my vacation a little bit earlier, and do a weeklong solo Eurotrip before meeting up with them in Munich. I was about to pull the trigger on some airfare to Berlin before I realized that I might like to see Naples Italy or Rome instead. So, now I am on the verge of another decision, and will probably seek out some advice from fellow travelers, and then pull the trigger on that sometime this week.

If anyone has any advice on what I should be doing on my solo international expedition, send me an email with your input. Adventuringblog@gmail.com

Domestic Travel Adventures

2009-06-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

I am currently in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the rock formations and mountains are tempting me to hike them, but it is 108 degrees outside, and being well equipped for a business trip, I am ill equipped for a real adventure. Although Camelback is a quite accessible, and quite do-able, I don't know if I want to push it when it will still probably be over 100 when I get done with work. But we will see.

This coming 4th of july weekend, I am planning a slightly adventurous weekend of Walleye and Bass fishing and swimming in Winneconne, Wisconsin at a friend's lake house. This is a luxurious adventure by my standards, even though I will be but one FIB in a sea of cheeseheads.

Vermillion Rafting Update

2009-06-22T12:21:00.000-07:00

Rafting the Vermillion River--- SAT June 20th.

After a two hour drive, we arrived at the Vermillion River Rafting Outfitters. From the gravel parking lot we could see that the best of the best in homegrown rafting talent had arrived to challenge the raging rapids of the Vermillion, and they came prepared--outfitted with copious amounts of Busch Light and jean shorts, as well as perfectly groomed(see ungroomed) mullets. I could see that I was over matched. My lack of jorts, and the prominence of my teeth cast me into a world of desolation, I was not invited to take part in any of their hillbilly games, which included a game called "hey, let's harass this wild snake."

The only hope for me was to prove that I was not a greenhorn on the rapids. Once on the "class II" rapids, I could tell that immediately that I had been lied to. These rapids were only slightly wavier than bathwater, it was obvious that this was going to be a long day. Throughout the anticlimactic four and a half hour journey, we came across only two or three real drops, one of which was called wildcat rapids, in which I was almost decapitated by I leaping Asian Carp.

The scenery on the river was peaceful, but the abundance of trash, rusted out cars and tires on the river bank prompted my nephew to ask if we could come back again so that next time we could pickup everyone elses trash and beer cans. Although it was sunny and very hot, we were hesitant to submerge ourselves in the filthy brown-water rapids.

Will I raft again? Yes

Will I raft here again? No. The Vermillion river is probably more suited as a booze cruise rather than a real rafting experience. Although, I can think of better Booze cruise locations as well.

Vermillion River lovers send your hate mail to Adventuringblog@gmail.com

River Rafting the Vermillion

2009-06-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, I am most likely going to go white water rafting on the Vermillion River in Illinois, with a few of my family members. I do not know many details about this trip other than its location (Ogelsby, IL, which is a few miles south of Starved Rock), that it takes 3-4 hours, and to not get my hope up about the rapids. According to what I have heard, it is suitable for beginners (class II), and they have yet to lose one cooler. Judging by this description, it may be lame, and it may actually be some sort of booze cruise.

Having previously rafted the Ocoee river in Tennessee, which features class IV rapids, this trip will probably not compare. But what can I expect, while staying within the confines of the state of Illinois. At least I have an excuse to get out in the sun for a few hours, and have a cold one with Mama Nature.

More updates to come afer the weekend.

Inspirational Quote

2009-06-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

-Mark Twain

Fee Free National Park Weekends

2009-06-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

Here is the bad news: The economy has tanked. Your 401K is worthless, and if you have a job most likely you will never be able to retire. Here is the good news: This summer, the U.S. National Park Service will be offering a few weekends where you can bask in the beauty of our country's natural sanctuaries, and spend less of the money that you don't have.

For these weekends, entrance fees, car entrance fees, and park run tour fees will be waived, although you will still have to pay for camp sites.

Fee Free Weekends:

June 20th-21st Happy Father's Day!

July 18th-19th

August 15th-16th

There are 100 national parks on the list of participating parks, including some of the greats: Yosemite, Sequoia, Saguaro, Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, Rocky Mountain, Glacier, Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton, and Zion.

Pack up the car, and get out there!

So living in Illinois, I have basically no local options for NPs to visit this summer. But recently, I have taken on a new role with the company I work for, and I am going to be traveling frequently to Scottsdale, AZ. These frequent business trips out west, will afford me more driving distance adventure and hiking options, and will put me within cheap flight range of a lot of great places.

I need to check out the Grand Canyon, and Zion National Park. I would also like to visit my cousin Andy in Salt Lake City, as well as my brother in the bay area. We will see. The adventures will be posted.

Cosley 10K Results!

2009-06-08T12:46:00.001-07:00

The Cosley Run for the Animals in Wheaton was my first ever competitive long distance run, and for me it was an awesome experience. I am now completely hooked on distance running. I started the run with my friend Gene, and my brother-in law. Due to the fact that there were about 1300 5k runners and 700 10k runners all starting on the same course it was a little crowded for the first mile or so. I took this time to have a discussion on movies with my hungover friend Jordan while jogging slowly. At the end of the 1st mile, my time was around 8:50.

After this point I increased my pace a bit and kind of got in the zone. I was on cruise control into the end of the end of the 5k. At that point a man shouted to me that my time was around 24:30. I had expected to feel like "oh crap, I have to do that again?" but I felt good, and stayed the course. At around the beginning of the fifth mile, my right knee, which had been giving me trouble in the beginning of the week, locked up, along with my right calf. FML. I pushed on, albeit at a slower pace. At the beginning of the 6th mile a girl with an enormous ass passed me up, and I decided to go Kamikazee style. For the next 1.2 miles, I sprinted. I passed tons of people in this last stretch to the finish.

Results: 49.37.2 which was 12.8 seconds better than my goal of 50 minutes

Overall pace: 8:00 minutes per mile

Overall Mens 10k: 140/348

Age bracket: 11/18

Based on my final sprint at the end, I think that I did not leave it all on the course. It may have been a crazy cocktail of raceday adrenaline, potassium, endorphines and good will, but at the end of my sprint across the finish line I was not even tired, and felt as if I could have run a few more miles. I think this could be an impetus for me to run faster next time to try to shave some time off of my 10k PR, or maybe motivate me to train for a half marathon.

Following this race, we celebrated by watching the USA play Honduras in the World Cup soccer/football qualifying match at Soldier Field in Chicago. This was the first time that I had seen a professional soccer match in person, and it was very impressive. I guess it was a Saturday of firsts for me. The USA won 2-1.

Cosley Run for the Animals

2009-06-03T13:43:00.001-07:00

For the last few month I have been training to run my first ever 10K race. This Saturday,I will be racing in the Cosley Run for the Animals in Wheaton, Illinois with some friends and family, as well as a few thousand other people. I am not trying to win the race, and I will not even be close considering that my knee has been in some pain lately, but I will finish it. I will finish it because of the free drink ticket that will be validated when I finish the race. I will keep the world posted of my results.

This 10K is not so much an adventure so much as it is a small test of my skill and an excuse to train my body for any other adventure that may arise.

Devil's Lake Trip

2009-05-26T12:05:00.000-07:00

This weekend myself and a small and select group of FIBs decided to jump the border to explore the beautifully evil landscape of Devil's Lake State Park in Baraboo, Wisconsin. For those of you that don't know, FIB stands for F---ing Illinois Bastards, and is a derogatory term Wisconsinites use to describe the Illinois residents that ignore their existence during the week only to invade their state on the weekends.

We drove up to Wisconsin Friday night after we all got out of work, and arrived at the Green Valley campground at about 9 PM. We quickly setup our tents and ignited a fire, around which we exchanged stories, memories and beers.

The next morning, after a quick breakfast we headed for the hills. We drove to the South Beach of Devil's Lake and began our ascent into the park's Eastern Bluffs. Once there, Curt expertly lead climbed a face, allowing the rest of us to safely top-rope the climb. After we broke down this line up the face, we set up another route on an adjacent face. As I was preparing to repel down the cliff, it began to rain really hard. Due to the fact that climbing is difficult, and that climbing wet granite is nearly impossible, we decided to quit climbing for the day. We hiked and bluff-cracked our way toward the lake. Once there, we followed some train tracks to a semi-secluded location which allowed us the luxury of cannon-balling into the frigid water from large boulders rather than having to slowly wade in from the beach. At this point, the rain had subsided, and the sun was blazing, and it was a great day for baptising in the cold water.

That night we grilled, had a camp fire, drank more beer, and told more stories.

On Sunday morning we awoke early, and again hiked the CCC(Civilian Conservation Corps) trail to the East Bluffs, and did more climbing. While we were finishing up climbing, an older gentleman that had been watching us climb asked if he could try out our rope. Adam belayed him while he made easy and efficient work of a climb that had really challenged us. Upon his safe return to Earth, Curt asked him how long he had been climbing, to which he replied 57 years. The man was 67 years old and was in better shape than any one of us, he was a climbing machine. He went on to tell us about the horrible gear he used when he started climbing and that he gave up mountaineering because most of his mountaineering friends were dead from mountaineering. This included his brother that had died 12 years earlier in Japan, when they were both buried in an avalanche. This man whose name was Ed said that he is currently working on a few climbing projects that include a 5.13 A climb, which is ridiculous. What an interesting old dude to talk to. You know when you see an old man with a shirt that says "Old Guys Rock!". Generally speaking they do not rock, and in fact they suck. Ed broke the stereotype, and really did rock.

When we finished talking with Ed, we hiked back to our swimming spot, and did a few dives. Afterward, we decided to do more hiking. We adventured to the Devil's door, and Balance Rock, then hiked back to our car to grill in the main park before hitting the open road back to our more civilized state.

This was a really good weekend, and was a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends, and to explore the magnificent Devil's Lake. We will definitely be back at some point this summer.

Memorial Day Weekend

2009-05-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

It is Memorial Day weekend, and it is time to get together with family and friends to honor those brave men and women that have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and the freedoms that we enjoy.

Besides attending my local Memorial Day parade on Monday, I will also be tagging along with a few friends to Devil's Lake, Wisconsin for a few days of hiking, camping, adventuring, and rock climbing. There may also be a chance for the more adventurous of the group to be dared into cannon-balling polar bear style into the frigid fiftyish degree water. It should also be a great weekend to take time to reflect upon those that we have lost in wars long ago, as well as in current wars. It will also be a good weekend to take mother nature on a date, and connect with some old friends.

In other news, Jeff is going to be going to Bear Valley California to honor fallen heroes by drinking mass quantities of alcohol with his friends. Although he will be staying in a top of the line Cabin, the opportunity to rope swing into an iceberged lake may also present itself if anyone in his crew has what it takes.

More updates to come.

Survival Shelter Tune-up

2009-05-12T14:06:00.000-07:00

It is getting nicer in the midwest, and my nephew and neice wanted to camp in their backyard. So, last Friday, I helped them setup their tent for the night, which is the tent Ibought used at the REI Garage sale in Chicago. I then constructed a shelter for myself using two medium sized tarps, a little bit of rope, a few stakes a ski pole, and the bottom half of a Chicago Cubs "W" flag pole.

According to the weather report that I had read several hours earlier, it was supposed to rain torrentially--this I was prepared for. I think my shelter was ideally suited for rain.

After I made cobbler in a dutch oven on the campfire, we went to our seperate shelters. After a few minutes of lightning, my sister brought in her kids for safety. But even though there was lighting cthunder crashing around the neighborhood, I felt warm, dry and safe under the protecting arms of a few old maple trees(see. Dangerous sleeping habits)

After a few drops of rain, the storm was blown away. It was blown away by a weather system with wind gusts of 40+ miles per hour, and it seemed to be coming from both the north and south of my shelter. Unfortunately, I had not had time to test my shelter in a wind tunnel. It was not meant to endure these winds. My shelter was in a state of constant flap. I was essentially sleeping in a windsock. I barely slept. At one point I had to remove some supports and create what resembled a bivvy shelter or tarp cacoon(I am currently copywriting/patenting the tarp cacoon, so do not steal my idea.)

Shortly after this, I began to hear the old maple trees above me begin to groan, creak, and crack. I began to worry a little about my safety. If a tree limb fell on me, what would they say at my funeral? "What an idiot!"

What had I accomplished with my life? ......not much.

What would the newspaper say?

"Pretend Survival Situation turns deadly"

"Local Idiot crushed while sleeping in tarp cacoon"

This was unacceptable. At 4:30 AM, I brought my mummy bag and thermarest inside and slept on the couch.

When I awoke, I went outside to take a picture of my shelter, and to gather the rest of my gear. The trees were still intact. But the tarp cocoon had been ravaged by the winds. It didn't survive the night, pictures would be too gruesome to show, just imaging what a yard sale looks like.

I learned a few things about weather reports, and shelter placement, and that wind is the main enemy of bootleg survival shelters.

REI Fresno Garage Sale

2009-05-07T11:46:00.000-07:00

we got an email from an adventurer in Fresno wondering when their local Fresno REI was having its garage sale. Although it is easily googleable, I decided to post the answer for them.

REI Fresno Garage Sale

When: 6/27/2009 9:00 AM

Where: REI Fresno

More specifically 36° 50.922' N 119° 47.406' W

The details: Members only sale. Will have great used and out of stock camping, hiking, and adventuring equipment items. Arrive early (a few hours early) for best (any) selection.

The shot at acquiring excellent gear at rock bottom prices is definitely enticing. I highly recommend checking out this sale.

Happy brawling!

REI Anniverary Sale

2009-05-06T08:32:00.000-07:00

The time is upon us to stock up on adventuring gear. REI is currently in the midst of their anniversary sale. The sale includes 15% off of bikes, 20% off of some racks and boxes, and a good amount of items up for clearance. This sale ends May 10th.

I am contemplating purchasing the GSI dualist lightweight cook system to go with my new single burner camp stove. Also, I may buy some Mountain House freeze dried food.

This is not a commercial for REI, but it happens to be my favorite store, and in a recession or not, it is always a good time to stock up on adventuring gear.

Geocaching Success!

2009-04-29T09:09:00.001-07:00

Okay, I did it, I went Geocaching to see what all the hype is about. First off I created a Geocaching alter ego---GatorCT. I then enlisted the help of my nephew and niece luring them with the prospect of pirate treasure. We biked to three separate cache locations. We had two unsuccessful attempts that may have been a result of human error, or muggles. At our third Cache location, we were able to discover the cache---a small black film canister. We signed our fake names, GatorCT and Bragonston.

After one successful geocaching adventure, we are hooked, and have a healthy and exciting activity that will offer us another outdoor activity this summer. I think our next GPS induced outing will take place tomorrow.

These caches are everywhere. Chances are there is probably one within a mile of where you are right now. Check it out at www.geocaching.com and participate in the hunt.

Watch out for muggles.

Send us your Adventures!

2009-04-27T13:31:00.001-07:00

Adventuring Blog has gone global. According to our records, Adventuring Blog has been visited by people from around the world. Included so far in the list of international visitors are Adventurers from the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Germany,Ireland, Italy, India, Chile, Mexico, Greece, Canada, Hong Kong, the Netherlands and we are especially popular in South Korea.

With visitors from around the United States and from around the world, we wanted to make it possible for other people to share their ideas and opinions with us. If you have any tips, recommendations or stories, we would love to hear them. In addition, if you have experienced an epoch Adventuring trip, write it up and email it to us, and there is a good chance that we will publish it in the blog.

The Adventuring Blog has a new email address.

AdventuringBlog@gmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you.

Geocaching

2009-04-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

Today, the University of Florida's student newspaper, the Independent Florida Alligator ran a story about a UF student that was involved in Geocaching as a hobby. Geocaching being searching for hidden objects, lists and treasures. Rather than using Pirate methods of looking for booty with crusty maps, modern Geocachers use hand help GPS systems to guide them on their journey.

Why do these people do this? Not because it is pointless. They do it as an impetus for getting outside to explore new places. To test their ability to navigate and to find hidden objects. Or as a challenge to see who can race to an object the fastest.

Before reading this, I had heard of geocaching before, but had never given it a second thought. It certainly is not a flashy hobby, and chicks certainly will not dig it. But most girls have crappy hobbies anyway... scrap booking, cooking, cleaning, giving birth to children, etc.

Anyway, I decided that Geocaching was an activity that I might want to try out. My brother-in-law owns a handheld GPS, and I am going to borrow it and explore this great earth one latitude at a time. In my research, I discovered http://www.geocaching.com/ which allows users to search for caches in their local area, or anywhere they may be going. I hope to have my inaugural attempt this weekend, and will keep everyone a-Breast of my explorations.

El viaje a México estaba loco

2009-04-18T10:24:00.000-07:00

Fireworks, tequila, surfboards, and la policia. That is how I sum up our Mexican adventure. It started off with an 8hr drive from San Francisco to Poway, CA. We arrived around 3pm and spent the rest of the day at the beach, a roof top bar, and playing in an adult league softball game. We were in no shape or form prepared for any sort of competitive activites. Sandals were not allowed in this league, so Brian borrowed some guys business dress socks and some old Goodwill looking shoes while I lucked out and got to wear my surf booties. Friday we packed up for our departure to Mexico and all met at a harbor in the San Diego Bay. With uncooperative weather, the sailing unfortunately did not take place. We did however climb aboard, daydreaming about what it would be like to be out on the open water, and then headed to Mexico in our caravan.

We crossed the border without receiving full
body searches, and made it to our condo. The
rest of our caravan wasn't supposed to arrive until late in the day, so Brian and I pulled on our wetsuits and grabbed our boards and headed out into the water. Google "K38 beach" and this is where we surfed. Friday night turned into a "pre-party" to what was supposed to be the "actual party" on Saturday night. The night ended around 2am with us throwing glow stick rings (out of Brian's survival pack) off of the 10th floor balcony and trying to make them into the pool. This game was quickly ended when security caught us. Saturday was a day full of waking up hungover, drinking lots of coffee and eating little food, surfing for 4 hrs, and then getting in the hot tub with a styrofoam cooler full of beer. The day quickly turned to night as we (we from now on consists of 4 guys, a.k.a LOTPs or Life of the Party) got dressed and headed for the "real party" celebrating Carolyn's graduation with her Masters at UCLA. Margaritas, beer, awesome mexican food, and a Mariachi guitarist. Everyone became increasingly roudy and we decided to grab our headlamps (out of our survival packs) and fireworks (not from our survival packs) and head to the local beach to light up the sky. Pictures were hard to take during this outing while we were all either trying to light fireworks or avoid losing our hearing. On our trek back to the condos, we had to trespass onto some locals land, dodge a furious canine, save Brian's pet rock that he would not leave behind, all as we were climbing a fence.

Waking up Sunday morning wasn't too hard. The past two nights I had slept out on the 10th floor balcony with my Kelty mummy bag (20 F) and my air mattress. Nothing beats the sound of the ocean and hard tile flooring after a night of drinking. Sunday we had to trek back to San Francisco. That was supposed to be about a 10 hr drive. About 1/4 of a mile from the border to the US, we were stopped by la policia (Brian was driving of course). Illegal left turn from a middle lane on a one way street, and the cop wanted us to follow him the the police station in Tijuana. ABSOLUTELY NOT. Brian talked the cop into taking $40 and letting us go! As we crossed the border, reminiscing about our weekend and about how we wanted Taco Bell, the car engine check light went on and off. We hoped this car would make it home, for we were on a tight deadline to make it home for a Easter dinner with the family by 5:30pm. Now it is about 2pm and we are broken down on the side of I-5 North. The car decided to completely shut down, which we found out later that the oil pump had failed and exhausted the entire engine (and turbo) of oil. Calling AAA got us a tow truck who towed us 3 hrs home!! We were only two hrs late for Easter dinner.

Things we learned:

-Don't drive your own car across the border

-Have some cash on you at all times, but not over $60

-Try to learn some Spanish before you head out on this adventure

-Take more tequila than you really want

-Don't throw a lit M-80 at the feet of your drunk friends

-Rocks don't always make best friends

-Never make this trip with out people you trust or people who should be there...meaning Charley next adventure we have you are COMING...no excuses!

Aventura Mexicana

2009-04-15T22:05:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned for a detailed report on what went down in our trip from San Francisco to Rosarito, Baja Mexico. The picture above is just a taste.

Mexican Surf Adventure

2009-04-09T08:35:00.000-07:00

Today, Brian and Jeff will be setting off from the San Francisco area for an adventurous Easter weekend in Mexico. There is little known now of whether or not they will be looking for huevos. From what I know, they will drive to San Diego, where on Friday, they may be able to stow away on a sailboat for an early morning day trip. Following their time under sail, the group they are with will be caravanning south of the border to Baja. There they will go surfing, probably drink tequila, and most likely attain a moderate case of Montezuma's Revenge. Hopefully, after their return home from this great adventure, they will post a complete synopsis of the goings on of their trip.

Below you will find a link to a guide for survival of Montezuma's Revenge, and a picture of the man himself.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4453647_survive-montezumas-revenge.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art

Google Terrain view

2009-04-08T13:44:00.000-07:00

www.maps.google.com

Google, the most innovative company on the planet, recently came up with an additional feature for Google Maps, that will be useful to Adventurers. Now, not only can someone use Google Maps for planning driving directions, they can also look at the Google Terrain view tab, which will allow them to check out the topography of a place they may want to hike. This feature will be great to plan hiking routes, or just to get a better lay of the land before setting off on an adventure. Of course you need to know how to read a topographic map, but any Adventurer worth their gorp already knows how to do that. I reccomend for everyone to take a look at this feature before your next wilderness forray.

Below are Google Maps screenshots of Camelback Mountain in Arizona, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Above: Camelback Below: Grand Canyon

Also reccomended: look at Mount Everest

REI Garage Sale- Results

2009-04-07T10:54:00.001-07:00

On Saturday, REI had a Garage sale to get rid of items that were returned, damaged, used, or out of stock. The sale was to start at 9 AM, so I woke up around 8AM, and drove over to the store. I arrived at about 20 minutes before 9 and saw a very long line of outdoorsman and outdoorswomen lined up outside the designated garage sale parking lot. Some of the residents of this line had camp chairs, sleeping bags and one guy was wearing a Selk sleeping bag aka a mummy sleeping bag with legs check out the link to see what I’m talking about. http://www.lippiselkbag.co.uk/store/d58-Selk-Bag-Store-(US-Dollars)

So I was in line with about 200 people in front of me. Shortly before nine, and REI employee began shouting to the crowd.

“If your mom never taught you manners, Leave now. No Pushing!, No Shoving!, No grabbing from others! If I or any other employee tells you to leave, leave immediately, you are trespassing. If pushing or shoving happens, you will be banned from all REI stores for LIFE! I can make that happen.”

With the threat of a life sentence away from our favorite store, the tension in the air was tangible. Like your first day in prison, everyone was contemplating what they would have to do to survive. I wanted to push EVERYONE. I wanted to grab EVERYTHING!

When the floodgates were opened, I could see the people that had camped in line running like the wind to go grab armfuls of the best items. By the time I got in, many of the clothes racks had been pillaged, and the Vikings that had ravaged them were guarding massive piles of loot. I even saw one guy that had gotten his hands on three Mountain Hardware monkey man fleeces for $50 each.

I was able to snag a used REI Taj 3 tent for $39.99. It is a 3 person, 3 season backpacking tent that had formerly been used as an REI rental tent, and I’m sure it has been on many trips. It is in good condition, and as the weather improves, I can’t wait to pitch my tent!

As far as the sale went, I had the opportunity to buy some light North Face hiking boots for $35, and there were some decent snow shoes for $40, but I failed to pull the trigger before someone snatched them. The sale was advertized as going from 9-2, but by 9:15, the place was mainly cleaned out besides a few canoes and kayaks up for auction at the end of the day. Overall, people were well behaved and courteous. For me, this was a great start to my Saturday. Up early, interaction with gear, and likeminded people, and a chance to improve my current cache of outdoor gear. I recommend REI Garage Sales for anyone; just get there earlier than I did. I will continue to look for them in my neck of the woods.

REI Gear Garage Sale

2009-04-01T13:35:00.001-07:00

This post only really applies for Adventurers in the Chicagoland Area, but the REI in Oakbrook Terrace is having their members only gear garage sale this Saturday. If you do nto know what REI is, you should do your research, because it is one of the best outdoor activity stores around.

When: 4/4/2009 9AM- 2PM

The Details:

Up to 80% off of used gear.

Gear or clothing that was returned, damaged out, slightly flawed or is dirty. You never know what you will find: packs, tents, footwear, rain jackets, snowboards, GPS, maybe even a bike or kayak.

Only members can purchase from the garage sale. Not a member, you can join. Lifetime membership is only $20.

Garage sale items are sold as-is, and as priced.

Location: REI Oakbrook Terrace

17W160 22nd St.

Oakbrook Terrace, IL

41° 50.8' N

87° 57.783' W

Take Dad for a hike (part 2)

2009-03-31T06:59:00.000-07:00

This weekend my sister, her husband and myself took my Dad for a birthday hike. We thought it would be a good excuse to get back in touch with good old mother nature, get some exercise, and for the reasons mentioned previously. We decided to go to the Waterfall Glen Forrest Preserve which is part of the Forrest Preserve District of DuPage County.

The weather was really quite bad earlier in the day. 31 degrees, snowing, windy and slushy. This made for sloppy hiking conditions, and some of the waterfalls we encountered that usually can be crossed were impossible to ford. As we continued on the hike, the weather improved to the point that I had to remove layers. As they say, Chicago has all four seasons, sometimes all on the same day.

This mini-adventure covered approximately 5 miles, and there was a decent amount of muddy hills to be hiked. There were a few opportunities to cross creeks and small rivers, and in better or worse weather, that is where the prime adventuring is to be done. Overall, it was a great beginner hike, and an excellent example of something to do with Dad on his birthday.

Take Dad for a hike.

2009-03-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

There are several reasons why you should take your Dad for a hike for his birthday.

1. 1. All Fathers’ love the outdoors. If your Dad does not love the outdoors, there is a high chance that you have two Dads and that you are adopted. (Not that there is anything wrong with that.)

2. 2. Secondly, all Father’s have one thing in common. They are extremely cheap, and they say do not want anything for their birthday. Although it is true that most Dad’s do not actually require things, when they say that they want nothing, they really want-- GEAR. But, a hike is a great birthday activity option, it will quench your Dad’s cheapass desire to do something free for his birthday.

3. 3. A hike is a great opportunity to get out there and put some of your gear into use. Although gear is nice to have and to look at and play with, it is a lot more fun to actually use it, and scuff it up a little. On a short birthday hike, you will get to use your knife, compass, binoculars, and whatever else you want. If your Dad does not like gear, and he prefers accessories, then sorry, you are adopted. (nothing wrong with that.)

4. 4. Spend some time with family. There is no better place than in the outdoors for your Dad to hang out with the kids he may or may not have adopted.

Coming soon… I actually took my Dad for a birthday hike.

Gear

2009-03-24T09:13:00.000-07:00

What is it that every outdoor enthusiast dreams about when he closes his eyes? No, it is not a beautiful scantily clad female climbing partner, it is GEAR. Gear-hiking boots, sleeping bags, tents, carabiners, headlamps, knives, axes, and the list goes on infinitely. Whether it is window shopping at REI or gearing up for your next adventure with Campmor, outdoor adventurers may be just as obsessive about gear as their girlfriends are with coach purses and Manolo Blahnik shoes.

For any person with a passion for the outdoors, their cache of gear is never complete, and must evolve along with technological improvements, trip requirements, and selfish personal preferences.

Over the next few days, we are going to discuss Gear. The gear we have available to us, the gear we require, and will even outline the buying process for a few items we will buy.

Cheers to Gear!

Contributor Bio: Brian Tucker

2009-03-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

Name: Brian Tucker
Base Camp: Redwood City, CA
Education: University of Florida, Go Gators!
Industry: Residential Lending
Music: Alternative Rock
Adventuring Experience: Wilderness Survival, Hiking, Backpacking, Camping, Fishing, Snowboarding, Surfing, Kayaking, Snow camping.
Non-Adventure Hobbies: Classic Car Research and Restoration, Reading, Wood Working.
Countries Traveled: USA, Canada, Mexico.
Places where I'd like to pitch a tent: Yellowstone, Redwood National Forest, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park.
Where I want to travel: Everywhere
Best part about Adventuring and Travel: I try to prepare for unexpected problems when camping or hiking. I enjoy researching typical pitfalls and problems and have assembled a kit of items that would be helpful in a survival situation. I have not been in a situation that required survival skills, but feel confident that I would be prepared to handle any perilous situation that may arise.

2009-03-11T22:30:00.000-07:00

Contributor Bio: Jeff Eckenhoff

Name: Jeff Eckenhoff
Home Base: San Francisco, CA
Education: Graduated from University of Colorado-Boulder
Industry: Commercial Real Estate
Music: Bob Marley, Sublime, Classic Rock
Adventuring Experience: Wilderness Survival, Hiking, Backpacking, Camping, Fishing, Skiing, Surfing, Rockclimbing, Mtn. Biking, Canoeing, Kayaking, Snow camping, Cliff Jumping, international travel, Eagle Scout
Non-Adventure Hobbies: Sand between my toes or in my hair, sports gazing, lifting
Countries Traveled: USA, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Australia, Thailand, England, Scotland, Ireland
Noteworthy Adventures: Backpacking on the Kalalau Trail twice(Kauai, HI); Snowcamping (Lake Tahoe, CA); Camp Oljato (Fresno, CA); Middle Fork River Rafting Trip-5 nights (Idaho)
Places I want to set up a tent and sleep in it: Bear Valley (CA), Pacific Coast, Mexico, Colorado Rockies, Half Dome (CA), Yosemite, Grand Tetons, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Alaska
Where I want to travel: All over the world, definitely Germany for Oktoberfest, back to Australia, South America
Best part about Adventuring and Travel: I love being prepared for what my travels could throw my way. Being prepared is all about having the right gear for the right situations. When I don't have the right gear, I enjoy the rush of adrenaline in surviving when I don't have what I need. It is all about getting out in the wilderness, away from electricity and tvs, and spending some time with the outdoors. Backpacking 11 miles on tough terrain to a white sand beach that can only be accessed by foot or helicopter is what I dream about...

Contributor Bio: Charley Tucker

2009-03-08T10:53:00.000-07:00

Name: Charley Tucker
Home Base: Chicago, IL
Education: Graduated from University of Florida
Industry: Technology
Music: All, especially Classic Rock
Adventuring Experience: Camping, Hiking, Survival, Paddling, Trekking, Trail Running, Fishing, Rafting, International Travel, limited climbing, surfing and snowboarding. Eagle Scout.
Non-Adventure Hobbies: Reading, Watching Sports(Florida Gators, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears), Running, Playing Sports,
Countries Traveled: USA, Mexico, Canada, England, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Grand Cayman
Noteworthy Adventures:

Boundary waters Canoe trip(Minnesota, Canada, 2 times)
Philmont Boy Scout Ranch(Cimarron, New Mexico)
Appalachian Trail(Hiked about 100 miles of the trail)
Europe(Backpacked when I was a Boy Scout)
Devil’s Bridge(Sedona, Arizona)

N.P.’s visited: Yellowstone, Rushmore, Redwood, Everglades, Badlands, Grand Teton, Mammoth Cave, Sequoia, Voyageurs, Wind Cave, Devil’s Tower, Glacier, and probably more.
Places I'd like to pitch a tent: Yosemite, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Zion, Joshua Tree
Where I want to Travel: Ireland, Italy, Germany for Oktoberfest, Hawaii, South America, Mexico again
Best part about Adventuring and Travel: I think the best way to learn about yourself is by getting out of your comfort zone, and getting out of your daily routine. There is no better way to do that than by taking time to cut the cord between yourself what life tells you is “important” from Monday to Friday. My favorite part about adventuring and travel is exploring new situations and experiencing the unknown. Nature is relaxing but you can never know who or what you will encounter on the trail, or while traveling. Being outdoors is refreshing and you can usually tell that by the friendly people you meet along the way.Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~Albert Einstein

Mountain Survival Exercise

2009-03-04T21:29:00.000-08:00

I spent last weekend in the Sierra Mountains in Northern California, I decided to use some of this time to build a winter survival shelter. The igloo in the picture to the right was the result of many hours cutting, shaping, and assembling blocks of snow.

Location: Alpine County, CA

Elevation: 7400 ft above sea level

Tools required: Snow Saw, shovel, Ski Poles, length of nylon cord.

I chose to build the igloo in a clearing on a south facing slope about halfway between the valley floor and the ridge, the prevailing wind was coming from the North, the entrance was built to face away from the wind to prevent excessive drafts through the structure.

In order to create a circle pattern for the igloo foundation, I used two ski poles and a 4 ft. length on nylon cord as a makeshift compass. The result was better than expected, a circle that was nearly perfect.

I then began the task of harvesting the frozen snow. The snow was acceptable, but is was not perfect. Some of the snow had been exposed to the sun and melted and was frozen again, this caused several of the blocks to break.

When the snow has been compressed and frozen, the tool of choice would be to use a snow saw, because the snow was relatively soft I was able to use a specially constructed wooden board to cut the blocks of snow. I would carry the rough blocks to the structure and shape them to fit with the edge of a snow shovel. Each time I added a block to the igloo I would place it closer to the center so that it would over hang and produce a smaller opening. Each block is cut into a partial wedge so that is fits snug to the block it is being placed beside, the prior block is helping to support the block which allows you to hang the block further out.

I cut each block to the same initial dimensions, and the result was a fairly large block of snow, this really helped the igloo take shape right away, but caused the igloo to grow rather tall, toward the end of construction I actually used the snowmobile sled as a scaffold, so that I could place the final pieces to enclose the roof. Next time I intend to use the spiral method, where you shape the first layer like a ramp so that you can construct the igloo in one continuous coil. I will also use shorter blocks to that the height doesn't present a problem. This igloo was more than 8 feet tall on the outside when I finished. I could actually stand inside of it. The inside dimensions were large enough to shelter at least three adults comfortably.

The conditions were fairly mild while I built the igloo, the temperature was in the upper 30's I decided to test the igloo and spent a couple of hours inside the igloo after dark with a tarp, and several blankets. I found that I was rather comfortable, but chose not to spend the night because the inside surface was not smoothed out and my body heat and the candles that I was burning were producing alot of drips. Overall I really enjoyed the experience, I learned alot about the construction of igloos, and I look forward to the next one. Since building this igloo the area received a massive snow storm that dropped four feet of snow. I wonder if the igloo survived.

Adventure note: We spotted two coyote around the entrance of the igloo the following morning, we watched them as they made their way to the ridge, and even saw them attack a black squirrel.

Camelback Hike

2009-03-03T18:00:00.000-08:00

Camelback Mountain

Location: Scottsdale, Arizona

Coordinates:33°30′53.0″N 111°57′41.8″W

Elevation: 2706 Ft

Vertical feet of Hike: 1334 Ft.

Length of Hike: 1.5 Miles

Packing List: 32 oz of water, 1 orange

The Camelback Mountain hike is a really great hike, that I highly

recommend for anyone visiting the Phoenix area. On Saturday

February 28th, my two buddies Kevin and Gene and I hit the

mountain starting at about 9 AM. The temperature was perfect,

in the low to mid eighties, and there was some shade to find on the

trail because it was early.

I have done this hike several times, but it is always strenuous.

Although it is aerobically challenging for a one and a half mile

hike, it pretty much can be completed by anyone, and is very

popular with residents and tourists alike.

To me, there seems to be three logical sections of the hike. The

lower third is composed of steep stairs made of wooden railroad

ties. The second section is extremely steep and semi-slippery

rock with sections of railing climbing up the path. The third

section is a steep hike up a few vertical fields of small boulders.

This stage is a great quad workout.

rail section

boulder

section

We summited Camelback mountain at around 10 AM., and

enjoyed amazing views of the entire valley, and I enjoyed my

celebratory orange. What a great way to start a morning!

view from

the top

summit

pushups

Previous Weekend's Adventures

2009-03-03T09:11:00.000-08:00

This Last weekend was an eventful one for all of us. Charley went to Arizona, and climbed Camelback Mountain. Jeff went to Seattle, and Brian constructed a professional grade igloo in Bear Valley, California. Over the next couple days we will post stories and pictures of last weekend's adventuring, as well as the promised Bios.

Upcoming Adventure

2009-02-27T09:20:00.001-08:00

My next adventure is taking place this weekend. I am flying from Chicago to Phoenix specifically to go to Chicago Cubs Spring Training, but another Adventuring opportunity has presented itself. Myself and a friend are going to climb Mount Camelback in Scottsdale. I have done it before, and it is a great experience. I will write about Camelback and have photos after the weekend. Also, I will include a personal Bio. The other contributors should also be putting up Bios soon.

Happy Adventuring,

Charley

Adventuring Blog

2009-02-26T12:19:00.000-08:00

Adventuring Blog is a blog written by outdoor adventure and travel enthusiasts specifically for likeminded people. It is an outlet designed to create an open dialogue for the exchange of useful information. This information could include any of the following:

Reviews of travel/camping/hiking destinations
Upcoming, current or past experiences
Itineraries and packing lists
Self imposed or nature imposed survival stories or tactics
Outdoor gear reviews
Photos or video of locations or experiences
Any type of outdoor or travel reccomendations
Low impact travel or camping solutions
Etc.

There are currently three contributers to this project, all of which know eachother, and have had adventuring experience with eachother. We may continue recruiting a few more contributers, but for now, we will see how this set up works too start. The following is a general list of adventuring activities that the contributors have experience with.

Camping
Hiking
skiing/snowboarding
survival
surfing
biking
international travel
trekking
canoeing/kayaking
white water rafting
fishing
snow shoeing
trail running

Soon we will have Biographies available of the current contributors.

Mission Statement

2009-02-26T08:42:00.000-08:00

The mission of the Adventuring Blog is to promote the idea of Adventuring. Traveling, Trekking, Hiking, Camping, climbing, interacting with other cultures, learning about nature and survival, and most importantly, getting outdoors and actively learning about ourselves by purposely pushing the limits and getting out of our comfort zone.