Long distance hiking legend Andrew Skurka is off on another adventure, this time taking on a trek through the Alaskan wilderness that will take seven months to complete, and will cover more than 4700 miles. Dubbed the Alaska-Yukon Expedition, the journey will take Skurka through eight national parks, six in the U.S. and two in Canada, while crossing four mountain ranges, and some of the most remote wilderness found anywhere in North America.
Skurka set out from Kotzebue, Alaska a few days back, and will now travel south to the Iditarod Trail, then east to the Alaskan Range and the Lost Coast. From there, it’s on to the Inside Passage, up the Yukon River to the Ogilive and Richardson Mountains, before eventually turning west, and running the length of the Brooks Range, one of the last great wildernesses on Earth. Finally, he’ll return to Kotzebue, completing the circuit and ending the adventure back where he began.
For now, Skurka will be traveling on skis, but much of the journey will be completed on foot and with the use of a packraft, a small, inflatable boat that he can carry with him. For most people, the thought of covering more than 4700 miles through remote backcountry, under your own power, would seem like an insurmountable challenge, but for Skurka, it is just another long hike to add to his resume. In the past, he has hiked both the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails, as well as a route from the Atlantic to the Pacific that covered more than 7700 miles. His 6875 mile Great Western Trails Route a few years back also earned him the title of National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.
You’ll be able to follow Skurka’s adventures with weekly updates on the National Geographic Adventure Blog and through his Twitter feed @andrewskurka. If all goes according to plan, he should be finishing up the journey in the early part of October.
2009 was a banner year for America’s National Park System, which remained popular with travelers, both foreign and domestic, despite the sluggish economy. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar recently announced that the parks experienced 10 million more visitors last year than they did in 2008, which represented a 3.9 percent increase.
The Park Service says that more 285 million people payed a visit to one of the parks or monuments that are under their care in 2009, which made it the fifth busiest year in the history of the system. The record for most visits ever was set back in 1987 when 287.2 million people spent time in the national parks.
The news of the upswing in visitors is seen as a good thing on a number of different levels. It meant that Americans and foreign visitors were still viewing the national parks as quality destinations despite challenging economic conditions around the globe. It was also seen as a good sign for Americans becoming more active, with many travelers hiking the trails and enjoying other outdoor activities.
The list of the top ten most visited parks remains generally the same year in and year out. In 2009 that list, along with the number of visitors, was as follows:
Hopefully this is a trend that will continue. The parks have been called “America’s best idea”, and visiting any one of the top destinations will only reinforce that. So? What is your favorite national park, and which ones are you planning on visiting this year?
With the possible exception of beach-goers, very few people want to travel in order to sit. Travel is all about experiencing the best of what a destination has to offer, and in many cases, the best of what a destination can offer is adventure. From mountain climbing to snowshoeing to hill-walking — yes, “hill-walking” is an adventure sport! — here are ten of the world’s best destinations for outdoor adventure.
Now get off your duff and get out there!
Squamish, British Columbia, Canada – Snowshoeing
Discover the outbacks of Garibaldi Provincial Park in Squamish, British Columbia at Elfin Lakes, where a cluster of little lakes reside at 5,446 ft (1,660 m), about 11 kilometers from the trailhead.
We threw on skins on skis and hiked up (and skiied down later, for a great powdery ride out!). For the less initiated, snowshoeing is a fun and easy way to enjoy this slice of paradise outdoors, where the immense expanse of snowy playground past Paul Ridge (the highest point) will turn your dreary winter into a delightful wonder.
The first four kilometers are the steepest, which lead to Red Heather Meadows at (4,757 ft) 1,450 m, but the remaining seven kilometers even out on the plateau of Paul Ridge, leading to Elfin Hut, which is surrounded by mountains on all sides. It’s a glorious experience you wouldn’t want to miss.
Bonus: You can also do this, as a hike, in the summer.
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia – Mountain Climbing
Want to reach the top of the world without climbing Everest? You can, at Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Southeast Asia and the focal point of the Kinabalu National Park, Malaysia‘s first World Heritage site.
The good news is, you don’t need technical skills or gear to climb this mountain. All you need is strong legs and good cardio. We took about seven hours to reach the peak (if you’re really fit, you might get there faster), through what seemed to be an endless set of steps – but this giant jungle trek upward is worth the glorious views that await at Low’s Peak.
The sheer effort will make the experience a breath-taking one (literally), but the exhilaration of reaching the peak at 13,435 ft (4,095 m) makes it all worthwhile.
Kingston, Ontario, Canada – Camping and Canoeing
Nature-lovers will not miss the chance to camp and canoe in the summertime. Be it swimming in lakes, enjoying a campfire at night or sleeping in a tent outdoors, you’ll get an unforgettable taste of nature at Frontenac Provincial Park, located in southern Ontario about 40 kilometers north of the historical city of Kingston.
Rent a canoe, paddle out into the interiors, portage to one of the 48 interior camp sites, jump into the lake waters, or hike any of its 160 kilometers of trails. We recommend the Little Salmon Lake Loop, which is about 15 kilometers and takes about three to five hours. Outdoor enthusiasts will have a field day in this beautiful national park.
Sydney, Australia – Mountain Hiking
Australia isn’t just home to the koalas and kangaroos – it also houses The Three Sisters, a three-mountain range in the scenic Blue Mountains, 50 km from the city of Sydney. Legend has it that three beautiful sisters were turned into stone to protect them from harm. But the witch doctor who was supposed to transform them back into human form died, leaving them in permanent structure forever.
To get the best views of The Three Sisters, take the Scenic Walkway, a two-kilometer hike on boardwalk through the rainforest. Ride down the steepest incline railway in the world – it’s almost vertical in direction! The 415 m descent takes you through a cliff-side tunnel into ancient rainforest. From there, explore the Scenic Walkway, or find your way to the 1,000 steps that will take you to Echo Point, where The Three Sisters sit.
Vermont, United States – Alpine Skiing
Why let all that snow go to waste in the winter? The heavenly mountains of New England, USA, offer multitudinous slopes that are a skier’s haven.
For the “best powder,” we love Jay Peak in Vermont, which claims to accumulate more snow than any other ski resort in the East. With 50 miles of trails on 385 acres serviced by seven lifts and the most recommended glade skiing, what more can you ask for?
Pro tip: Go off the wider trails and glide through the glades at Jay Peak, which offer great depths of snow for those who love their pow’.
Phuket, Thailand – Scuba Diving
Sun worshippers will discover a tropical paradise on the island of Phuket, Thailand, where spectacular surfing, snorkeling and diving await those who seek the secrets of the deep.
Besides a flamboyant nightlight at Phuket’s Patong Beach, Asia’s most popular beach destination offers lush white sands along palm-lined beaches as well as world-class diving in the Andaman Sea. Many travel adventure outfits in town offer scuba diving courses and PADI certification.
Book your scuba trip via speedboat to the surrounding islands (we loved the beautiful, clear waters around Phi Phi island), don your diving suit and enter the unparalleled underwater world beneath.
Canmore, Alberta, Canada – Backcountry Ski Touring
For those who can’t get enough of winter, take skiing one step further and head out into the backcountry of the Canadian Rockies, where unspoiled wilderness and untouched powder snow await – minus the cost of lift tickets.
Near the town of Canmore lies the Wapta Icefields, a magnificent stretch of nature that spans many miles north along the continental divide from the Lake Louise area. The Icefields house vast glaciers, easy peaks and warming huts along the way.
If you’re a beginner, the four-day ski traverse run by Yamnuska Mountain Adventures is the perfect outfit to offer an experience in classical ski-mountaineering.
Koh Samui, Thailand – Kite-Surfing
Instead of diving down deep into the sea, take to the skies instead with kite-surfing at Koh Samui, Thailand.
Rather like a parachute jump in reverse, get harnessed to a parachute before being gently released into the air from the back of a speedboat, and remain attached for the duration of the ride.
At Lamai beach, its kite surf center features an outer reef which creates a natural barrier against waves. This ensures that the waist-deep water remains flat and the bottom is soft sand as well.
Check out Kiteboarding Asia, whose schools are certified by the International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO), at Lamai or Chaweng beaches.
Cumbria, Lake District, England – Hill-Walking
For a postcard-perfect encounter with nature, England’s largest national park – Lake District National Park – is a walker’s paradise, flanked by gorgeous mountains and beautiful lakes.
With 2,292 square kilometers of vast beauty to explore and admire, the hiking options are endless. We suggest a hike to Scafell Peak. At 3,210 ft, it is the highest mountain in England and a popular spot for hill-walking, as the British call it.
For the more adventurous, take the more challenging route at Helvellyn. The narrow ridge of Striding Edge will raise your heartbeat in more ways than one.
Queenstown, New Zealand – Bungee Jumping
Who would have thought that jumping off a bridge with a long elastic cord tied to your ankles can be considered fun? In Queenstown, New Zealand, somebody evidently thought so – and promptly catapulted this city to fame with this thrill-seeking activity. This person was AJ Hackett, who opened the first commercial bungee jumping operation from the Kawarau Bridge (43 m high) over the Kawarau River in 1888.
For your personalized experience, you can choose from a number of options: topple over backwards; forwards, with another person, spin, or somersault. You can even choose to bob above the water, touch it, or even be fully immersed! Not for the faint-of-heart.
Do you have a destination that you’ve always wanted to visit, but just couldn’t quite find the right way to get there? if so, you’re in luck, as Gap Adventures, one of the top adventure travel companies in the world, is inviting you to Create Your Own Adventure as part of a new contest that could send you, and two of your friends, off on your dream trip.
Designing your own adventure couldn’t be easier. Simply go to the website and begin the process by selecting your destinations from a world map, adding countries to your planned itinerary. From there, decide the length of your trip and select possible places to visit from within your selected countries. Next, you’ll decide how you want to travel, with everything from trains, boats, buses, and even your own two feet as options. You’ll also get to choose your level of accommodations, ranging from overnight buses and home stays, up to boutique hotels and private lodges as options. Finally, you’ll name your tour, and write a summary about what makes it so exceptional. After entering your personal contact info, you’ll then submit your dream tour for consideration.
The travel company has put together an interesting group of judges who will turn their critical eye on your travel masterpiece, deciding if it is worthy of being called a Gap adventure. The panelists include the likes of Tony Wheeler, the co-founder of Lonely Planet, John Rasmus, the editor of National Geographic Adventure Magazine, and adventurer Alastair Humphreys, who has circled the globe by bike and paddled the Yukon River. These judges, amongst others, will help to whittle down all of the entries to the top 20 finalists, which will then be voted on by the public, to determine which tour is the best of the best.
You can enter the contest anytime between now and the end of March. The judges will then select the finalist in early April, with voting scheduled to run from April 8-25. The final prize winners will be announced on May 25, with the designer of the winning tour being sent on the trip with two of their closest friends. The tour will also be included in the 2011 Gap catalog as well.
Not feeling all that creative when it comes to designing your own adventure? Never fear, as Gap has you covered too. Five people will be randomly selected to join the trip as well, despite the fact that they have no idea at this point where they could be headed. Click here to enter to win one of these random slots.
So, if you’ve ever wanted to kayak down the Nile or cross the Gobi Desert on foot, this might be your chance. Perhaps a mountain biking tour of Ethiopia would be more your style, or camping in the Amazon Rainforest. Let Gap bring whatever trip you’ve been dreaming of to life and then send you on that adventure of a lifetime.
A new ad campaign is causing quite a stir down under. Billboards have recently begun appearing along roadsides in Queensland, Australia inviting travelers to “Get High”, Get Wet”, and “Get Laid” in Mission Beach, a town that appeals to adventurous travelers looking to go kayaking or scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef.
Traditionally, Mission Beach isn’t seen as a destination where backpackers make extended stays. But the three sponsors for the billboards, Scotty’s Beach House, Skydive Mission Beach, and RnR White Water Rafting, hope to change that. The suggestive text found on the signs are accompanied by simple graphics depicting a skydiver, two people in a canoe, and a person sleeping in a bed.
Despite the fact that it has been off the radar for many travelers, Mission Beach does have a lot to offer those visiting Queensland. For instance, it is one of the few places in all of Australia where the rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef come together. It has 8.5 miles of spectacular beach and the Dunk and Bedarra Islands are just minutes off shore. You’ll also find an array of accommodations, ranging from upscale beach houses to hostels, with everything inbetween. Within a short distance you’ll find canopy tours, crocodile parks, snorkeling and plenty of other adventure activities.
Whether or not you get high, get wet, or get laid while in Mission Beach is totally up to you.
