Budget adventures near New York

by Kraig Becker on

In these difficult economic conditions we’re all looking for ways to save some money while still putting a little adventure into our lives. Now more than ever we need a distraction from the daily grind that won’t empty our pocket books. Fortunately, the New York Daily News is here to help, with some great suggestions for cheap adventures close to NYC.

The inexpensive escapse come in a variety of flavors, ranging from an epic mountain bike ride in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania to taking in the beauty of upstate New York via hot air balloon. Each of the suggestions includes a nice description of what to expect on the day long adventure, as well as some tips for stretching your dollars, such as the use of budget hotels, complimentary continental breakfasts, and unadvertised specials.

An example of one of the unexpected outdoor adventures includes a trip to New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest, which offers a tree-top canopy tour that put visitors at elevations between 1600 and 3000 feet as they fly through the scenic forest on ten zip lines and two suspension bridges. The travel package costs $115 but in addition to the canopy tour, travelers get a night’s stay at the historic Mount Washington Resort, a round of golf, and a visit to the hotel’s spa.

Each of the other budget adventures offer similar amenities on the cheap and with plenty of summer still ahead, it’s never too late to put a little adventure into your life. And at these prices, how can you resist?

Step back in time in Peru’s Ollantaytambo

by Kraig Becker on

In the heart of the Peru’s Sacred Valley, 60 miles to the northwest of Cusco, sits a city whose history dates back to before the 15th century. Ollantaytambo was built by the Emperor Pachacuti after he conquered the area, and the ruins of his ancient palace still dominate the landscape.

Today, Ollantaytambo is a destination that continues to be a draw to adventure travelers who come to Peru to trek the Inca Trail or visit Machu Picchu. The city offers access to some great trails of its own, and mountain biking, white water rafting, and rock climbing are just a few of the other activities that visitors can enjoy.

But the real draw to the city are the ancient ruins which often serve as a warm up for Machu Picchu. Many travelers make day trips to Ollantaytambo to acclimatize to the altitude, (the city sits at just over 9000 feet) and wander the cobblestone streets past the Fotress on Temple Hill and up the terraced mountainside. They take in the Temple of the Sun, which is impressive despite the fact that it was never completed, and they explore the nearby quarries where the Incans mined the stone that would be used in the construction process of the royal estate.

To find out more about Ollantaytambo, check out this article from CNN.com. The story has more details on the the items I wrote about above, as well as thoughts on where to eat while in town, where to catch the train to Machu Picchu, and more. If you’re heading to Peru, don’t miss out on this gem in the Sacred Valley.

Is Australia’s Ayers Rock closing to climbers?

by Kraig Becker on

One of Australia’s most famous landmarks, Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, may soon be closed to climbers if a proposed plan by the country’s national parks service is adopted. The plan points to a variety of reasons as to why climbing should be banned on the sandstone monolith, including cultural issues, safety, and environmental concerns.

Uluru, which stands 1,135 feet in height and more than six miles in circumference, is considered sacred ground by the aboriginal tribes that inhabit the area, and they have long opposed climbing its walls. The park system says that 30 people have died while climbing the Rock over the years and that the climbing routes cause increased erosion which has a direct impact on the plant and animal life in the region, which happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If adopted, the plan would be phased in over a ten year period to give the tourism industry a chance to develop alternative activities for visitors. The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which surrounds Ayers Rock, draws roughly 350,000 visitors each year, and according to the park system, about 38% of which come to climb. A group that represents a considerable amount of revenue for the park and surrounding communities.

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The plan is now open for public comment over the next two months before it is passed on to the Parliament for consideration. Not everyone is in favor of the proposed changes however, as the Ministry for Tourism in the Northern Territory, the state in which the park falls, has gone on record as saying that they would like to see climbing continue to be allowed in some form.

While it looks like climbing will be allowed to continue for the foreseeable future, if “Climbing Ayers Rock” is on your life list, you may want to plan a trip to Australia soon.

Blind Climbers Summit Kilimanjaro

by Kraig Becker on

A team of visually impaired climbers representing the See Kili Our Way organization reached the summit of Africa’s highest mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro, last week, claiming two records in the process. The group consisted of eight blind mountaineers and 17 sighted guides, and their successful summit was remarkable for putting the most blind climbers on top of Kilimanjaro ever. 13-year old Max Ashton claimed the record for youngest visually impaired climber to achieve the summit as well.

Standing 19,340 feet in height, Kilimanjaro is the tallest free standing mountain in the world and has become a major destination for adventure travelers. A typical climb takes roughly seven days to complete and there are a variety of routes to the summit, and while the mountain doesn’t require any technical skills to climb, its altitude often poses problems for those trekking its approach trails.

That didn’t seem to be the case for these 25 climbers, who kept an interesting blog of their adventures, and managed to summit as a single unit. The group was climbing to raise awareness and funds for the Foundation for Blind Children, an Arizona organization dedicated to helping the blind live full and enriched lives, often by beginning to assist them at a very young age.

Congratulations to the entire team. They are an inspiration to all of us.

[via Backpacker]

Mark your calendars for the 2010 Death Race

by Grant Martin on


If this year’s Death Race is any indication, I’m totally onboard for 2010’s race. The annual competition that takes place every year in Vermont just finished, and our old friend and contributor Erik Olsen put together a video for the New York Times detailing the trials of competition. Dubbed “survivor meets jackass,” competitors are pitched against each other in a 24 hour race carrying rocks up hills, chopping out stumps, crawling under barbed wire and even assembling legos. It sounds, well, miserable, but like an enlightening experience. Take a look.