Nevada hopes adventurer Fossett’s wife pays for the search efforts

by Jamie Rhein on

When a person goes missing in the wilderness and people try to find them, it’s not cheap. In Steve Fossett’s case, the price tag was $687,000. In Nevada, the state where multimillionaire Fossett disappeared, people don’t have to pay the cost of the search parties who are look for them.

If you get stuck on a mountain somewhere without a dime in your bank account, you don’t have to worry that you’re too poor to find. In Fossett’s case, having oodles of money didn’t matter either. He wasn’t found. Still, since his wife has all that money, Nevada is hoping that his estate will help cover more of the costs. $200,000 was paid early on. The family isn’t obligated, it just would be nice. With state budget crunches and shortfalls, some extra cash would come in handy the governor’s thinking. [see AP article]

I’m thinking, there is a bit of a dilemma. When people take off in the wilderness,or head off in a small plane that might go down in a hard to find place, there is risk involved and bad things do happen. Being found is a costly undertaking. People who don’t take such risks are then paying for those who do. However, leaving someone out there is not an option, unless it can’t be helped because the person is just too lost. I can see how some might be miffed that a rich guy gets lost because he was a risk taker and thus, put even more of a strain on a state’s strained budget, but how do we put a dollar amount on human life? There’s something in us that wants lost people to be found. Perhaps its primal–as in, if I’m lost, please come get me mentality.

We all want someone watching our back when we set off into the wild. Metaphorically speaking, isn’t the wild a symbol for life? It’s just that the line between safety, adventure and a dollar sign is not so clear.

Disney plans an adult “Night Kingdom”

by Abha Malpani on

We all know where the mind wanders when a project that includes the words “adult” and “night” is planned. Add the word “Disney” to it and the very meaning of those two words together can go for a toss.

Yes, the beans have been spilled: Disney is planning a $520 million, adult theme park called a Night Kingdom where the only ‘hand job’ on the list entails your hand doing the job of feeding a hippopotamus.

If you fancy getting more adventurous, you will be able to go spelunking, get up close and personal with lions and hyenas, or frolic with penguins. Later you can unwind from your Indiana Jones adventures with a gourmet dinner, a musical performance and, if you’re lucky, a foot-rub from the two hosts who will be looking after you the entire time. Ok, so I added the foot-rub option, but like it or not, you will have two people at your beck and call. Only 2000 people will be able to enter at a time, there will be 4000 hospitality staff in the Kingdom, and opening hours will be from 4pm-12am.

Yes, Disney has found an adult market willing to pay $300 per afternoon for all this so full plans are underway; the theme park will open its gates in 2011 in conjunction with Walt Disney’s 40th Anniversary.

Who would have thought that adults would pay a premium to have exclusive “wild” adventures in Disneyland that don’t include strippers or S&M!? Word is that the project will be officially announced next month.

New York lecture by serial adventurer

by Jerry Guo on

There’s a reception/dinner/talk at the New York Explorer’s Club tomorrow by an adventurer who just made a “first contact” in Papua New Guinea. A “first contact,” for the uninitiated, is the first meeting between someone from modern society and an indigenous tribe. To put this feat in perspective, keep in mind there are still cannibals living in PNG. Here’s a good story in last year’s Smithsonian Magazine about that–they do a great job in telling it like it really is, without the hype or sensationalism.

Anyways, back to this guy, Frederick Selby, who I’ve been talking to in the last couple weeks. He’s done some ridiculous stuff, including trekking all over Mongolia, Nepal, Bhutan, Kilimanjaro, and the Alps. But here’s the kicker: he works as a Wall Street banker by day. He told me his next trip will likely be northern Peru to explore some Mayan ruins or the south pole.

Most of his trips are for a group of his adventure friends. He just calls them up, everyone pools together the funds, and they find a local “fixer” who can help them with the logistics. A great role model for the rest of us.

Those crazy Kiwis are at it again

by Brett Atkinson on

The rest of the world probably looks at New Zealand and thinks we spend our weekends taking part in wacky and wild adventure activities.

Truth be told I’m actually happier at the movies or my favourite microbrew emporium, but with attractions like Auckland’s newly opened Skywalk it’s easy to understand any misconceptions.

In New Zealand’s biggest city you can already climb the harbour bridge (and bungy off it if you’re so inclined) and leap in a controlled fall from the 192 metre tall Sky Tower.

Now the Sky Tower is offering the chance to walk around its summit on a 1.2 metre wide walkway. Of course it’s safe as houses with more harnesses than a bondage convention, but the idea of wandering around in the open being battered by Auckland’s maritime breezes gives me the willies.

Mind you, I also write a regular column on Auckland urban adventures for a local magazine, so I’m just waitiing on a call from my editor to make the highrise journey myself.

Thanks to Skywalk for the pic.

When in Queenstown…S..l..o..w D..o..w..n…

by Brett Atkinson on

Queenstown in New Zealand is renowned as the adventure capital of the world, but after spending a week there researching for Lonely Planet, I’ve realised some of the resort’s adrenaline fuelled activities don’t necessarily give travellers the best opportunity to experience the stupendous landscapes that surround you like out-takes from a Lord of the Rings DVD box set.

In reality some of the more popular thrill rides like the Nevis Highwire Bungy (anyone for 8.5 seconds freefall?) or the Shotover Canyon Swing are really just too damn fast to take in the incredible scenery that overwhelms every vista. But tandem hang gliding? Now that’s a different story…

I’d done skydiving before, but hang gliding is a whole new gig. Yes, it really did feel like flying as my Argentinean pilot Gerard surfed the glider on the slipping and sliding thermals rising around the ridges of Queenstown’s Coronet Peak.

Still thrilling as hell, and I’ll take fifteen minutes in the air surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the Remarkables mountain range over a sub ten-second injection of adrenaline any time.