Adventure travel medical kits

by Brenda Yun on

I can think of three times I’ve wished I’d packed more immodium, hydration salts, or an emergency blanket with me but I didn’t. The first was when I ate a bad mango in India and spent two days either on the toilet or in bed. The second was when my friend came down with a stomach bug in rural Thailand and spent the night in the village doctor’s guest room after a shot in the butt and hooked up to an IV (see photo). The third was on my U.S. road trip, where I bundled my pug up in two sweaters under my thin blanket and slept through a cold night in Flagstaff, Arizona; we woke up to find the water frozen in our bottles.
There’s a reason travel kits and accessories exist: for our comfort and survival. That’s why I felt honored to receive a care package from Simon Ashdown at Adventure Medical Kits (a subsidy of Tender Corporation). Inside the package was an assortment of great travel and medical kits. For a travel savvy wanderer like myself, these kits satisfy my travel needs perfectly. The new adventure travel kit series satisfy four different kinds of travel needs:

  • World Travel ($75), for the serious trekker and adventurer (suitable for 1-4 people on a multi-day trip)
  • Smart Travel ($40), for 1-2 adventurers on a week-long exploration abroad
  • Suture Syringe Medic ($22), for real emergencies in places where medical care may be spotty or nonexistent
  • Travel Medic ($10), for everyday travel to places where it’s easy to access more serious medical care; contains materials for stomach, pain, cuts, and hygiene issues

Both the World and Smart Travel kits include a ‘Point and See’ communication card, which can be an important tool to break the language barrier. The Suture Syringe and Travel Medic kits are certified 100% carbon neutral and are made of recycled craft paper laminated onto woven polypropylene. Since I’m a light packer, I think the Travel Medic will suit my needs just fine, but if ever I travel with family, I would opt for the Smart Travel kit.

In addition to these great kits, there are some neat accessories available that are great for travelers too, such as the cool “Heatsheets” sleeping bag, which comes with a cool orange stuff sack. The “no deet” insect repellent wipes and baking soda itch relief would come in handy as well.

Those interested in taking advantage of these cool products should visit the Adventure Medical Kits website. Or feel free to contact Simon directly at sashdown [at] tendercorp [dot] com.

Winter Climbing on Mt. Washington

by Kraig Becker on

Mt. Washington in New Hampshire is a popular destination in the summer months when thousands of hikers take to its slopes and climb to the summit. During the winter it’s not nearly as crowded, as the mountain’s infamous weather makes for a much more daunting challenge for the hardy, adventurous climbers who seek to reach the top.

The travel section of the New York Times has an excellent article today on climbing Mt Washington during the winter months, when the temperature plummets to well below zero and the winds buffet its slopes. But the allure of facing those conditions is drawing more and more winter hikers to the mountain each year, where they square off with the elements with the hope of being rewarded with an amazing view from the summit.

The official Mt. Washington website boasts that the mountain has the “world’s worst weather” and it’s hard to argue with that when you read the statistics. The weather station that sits atop the mountain records an average snowfall of more than 200 inches a year, and the wind speed tops 100 mph on a weekly basis. Back in 1934, the wind was clocked at 231 mph on the summit, making it the fastest ever record on Earth.

Beginning hikers are strongly encouraged to take a guided climb to the top, such as the ones offered by Eastern Mountain Sports Climbing School. They charge $140 per person, which includes gear such as mountaineering boots, ice axes, crampons, and so on. They’ll also train you in how to use the equipment before setting out and make sure you get up and down the mountain in one piece.

Create your own Hollywood tour of the movies – in Wales

by Scott Carmichael on

Wales has long been an overlooked part of the UK, and not many foreign tourists take the time to explore what it has to offer. I’ve spent a summer touring around the area, and found it to be quite stunning.

Of course, if friendly people and an impressive environment are not enough to draw you to Wales, then check out their movie location map.

The map brings you to the exact filming locations of flicks shot in Wales, as well as other movie landmarks.

Head into Snowdonia national park, and witness where James Bond saved the world’s oil supply in “The world is not enough” or the forest where Robin Hood and his merry Men lived in their 1991 movie.

Spend a night in Seiont Manor, and you might end up in the same bed where Angelina Jolie slept when she was filming the second Tomb Raider movie. Slightly older readers may remember Ingrid Bergman in “Inn of the sixth happiness” where the area around the village of Beddgelert was transformed into a mock Chinese town.

Sean Connery (and Richard Gere) fans can head into the town of Trawsfynydd with its spectacular lake to see the filming location of “First Knight“. Many of the locals were actually cast for this movie as extras, so be sure to ask around for local stars.

Each location description describes several other things you can do in the area, as well as where you can find a film plaque commemorating the movie.

Fit For Trips Gets You Ready For Adventure

by Kraig Becker on

Some people like to go on vacation to relax, sit on a beach and enjoy fine foods and sip fruity drinks. Others take a break from their regular life to go on an adventure. They climb mountains, they trek through the Himalaya, and they cycle through the south of France. Adventure travelers need to be in great shape before they leave on their vacations, and that’s where Fit For Trips comes in.

Fit For Trips offers 4, 8, and 12 week programs designed to get you ready for your adventure vacation. Each of them is easily adaptable to the activities that you will be participating in while traveling, and can be custom made to match your itinerary, and best of all, they can help someone who is just starting to get in shape or is already working out regularly.
There are programs designed for biking, both on and off road, trekking, paddling, walking, and multisports. Rates vary depending on the length of the program and the levels of customization. Typically a four week program starts at $169 while a twelve week program tops out around $339. For your money, you get video clips of exercise routines specific to your activities, reference charts and photos demonstrating your exercises, unlimited access to the Fit For Trips forums, and unlimited e-mail consultation from the FFT trainers. You’ll also have online tracking of your progress and the whole thing comes with a money back guarantee.

The idea is that you’ll enjoy your adventure travel more if you are in better condition and won’t suffer physically while taking part in all those activities. As a happy traveler your get more from your vacation and have more of an opportunity to soak up the culture and the adventure. To check out sample work out routines, click here, and to take a tour of what Fit For Trips has to offer, click here. Then start preparing for your next trip with the right routine as soon as possible.

The Ouray Ice Festival Kicks Off This Weekend!

by Kraig Becker on

The 2009 Ouray Ice Festival officially gets underway tomorrow, January 9th and runs through the weekend. Held annually in the Ice Park located in Ouray, Colorado the Ice Festival has become an international event attracting the best ice climbers from around the world, as well as top gear manufacturers, and crowds of onlookers soaking in the unique experience.

The weekend is jam packed with events including climbing clinics, gear demonstrations, games, auctions and more. There are even activities just for kids encouraging them to learn to climb in a safe, supervised environment. And when the cold weather gets to be too much for the little ones, they can warm up in specially designated tents with a hot cup of cocoa.

The centerpiece of the festival is usuall the climbing competition however, and this year will be no exception. The best climbers in the world will take turns racing up a manmade frozen wall of ice that runs through the mile-long Uncompagre Gorge. Using ice axes, crampons, and a set of incredible skills, the quickest climber to the top is crowned the Ouray champion.

If you’re looking for some outdoor adventure this weekend, and happen to be in or around Ouray, Colorado, drop on by to take in all the festivities. You’ll have the opportunity to see some amazing athletes in a beautiful setting.