I haven’t posted very often here about Switzerland. Sure, it’s small…a wee country, as a Mike Meyer’s character
might put it…but for outdoor and adventure buffs, it’s a bit of a Valhalla. Skiers love Switzerland, parapenters dig
it’s jagged peaks which they soar over, and even bunjee jumpers find gravitational satisfaction from it’s bridges.
That’s a couple suggestions for things to do there, and now
here is a list of lots more…20 to be precise. Twenty Swiss-based adventures from ballooning in
Chateau d’Oex, to hiking the Bernese Oberland, and strolling the Glaciers at Jungfraujoch. The list goes on,
check it out.
Baja on Bike
When I think of Baja, I think of driving into dusty beach towns with my buddies, buying cases of Corona for $5 and
eating fish tacos on the beach as the tide comes up. Mark my words, watching the tide come up while eating fish tacos
and drinking Coronas in Mexico is a fine way to pass an afternoon. But I will admit it’s not the most active way
to spend a day. For that, you might consider riding
mountain bikes in Baja. These guys do it and have a kick ass time cruising old mule trails and chomping tortillas
in the shade. Key word there: shade. I warn you, it’s hot as hell down there, so fill up your water bottles. And after
a good day of riding, THEN pick yourself up a case of Corona.
What to do in Moab
Everyone knows that Moab is a mecca for mountain bikers. The slick rock rides there are
epic and unforgettable. Here’s a piece that
fleshes out a bit some of the rides and other things to do when in Moab, from Climbing Castleton Tower to Rafting
Cataract Canyon. Also there’s a brief write up on some of the better outfitters and stores in the area.
I have to say this is a big time summer goal of mine, to get there and ride, but also to do some shooting in
Southern Utah. I’ve always wanted to add photos of
Monument Valley to my
panoramic collection.
Teva Mountain Games
Cool event alert. The Teva
Mountain Games is happening June 1 to 5th in Vail, Colorado. This is a seriously fun event for outdoor fanatics, as
numerous sports are represented ,and there is also music and food…all within the blissful surroundings of Vail.
Professional and amateur athletes compete in six sports and ten disciplines including: freestyle and extreme
kayaking, kayak and raft paddlecross, bouldering, speed and dyno climbing, mountain bike trials,cross country racing
and the Vail Hill Climb, trail running championships, and the GNC adventure sprint race. One helluva a great way to
usher in summer.
Here’s the schedule.
Mt. Biking Whistler
Whistler Mountain Bike Park is one of the most advanced (and grueling) riding parks in the
world. I rode there several years ago before a couple of major improvements in the park, and had a few of the
best riding days ever. We had sunshine, the sweet perfume of pine trees and endless miles of single track joy. I
did take a nasty spill and almost lost my two front teeth (again…lost them playing basketball many years
ago), but when we hit the apres biking bars and kicked back with a few rum and cokes, we agreed this is a fine place to
ride.
Anyway, all that is a long single track ride down nostalgia lane. But what I really wanted to point out here was
this series of Web-based videos of biking Whistler. Good stuff. Well
cut and uplifting music. Even a few scenes of apres ride life.