2010 Adventure Travel World Summit goes to Scotland

by Kraig Becker on

The 2009 edition of the Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) has barely ended, and the industry is already looking forward to next year’s event which is scheduled to take place in Aviemore, Scotland in early October. The annual convention, which is hosted by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), brings together some of the top adventure travel representatives from around the world to discuss issues such as ecotourism, sustainable travel, and possible future destinations.

This year’s event was held in Quebec and welcomed more than 500 attendees who represented a host of travel companies spanning 56 countries from around the globe. Many of those attending used the opportunity to network with one another on potential partnerships as well as share information on best practices that can be applied to the adventure travel industry. A similar number of people are expected to attend the 2010 conference as well.

The ATWS is also used as a showcase for the host destination to demonstrate its own adventure travel potential. Next year, Scotland will be highlighting its challenging trekking courses, white water rafting destinations, and impressive sea kayaking options, all set against dramatic backdrops that are always a lure for outdoor enthusiasts.

Next year’s World Summit will take place from October 4-7 and registration is already open.

Classic Treks: The Continental Divide Trail

by Kraig Becker on

When it comes to long distance treks, the U.S. is blessed with not one great hike, but three. Most people already know about the Appalachian Trail in the eastern part of the country and the Pacific Crest Trail in the west, but the third jewel of the trekking Triple Crown is the Continental Divide Trail, which just might be the most scenic and challenging of all.

The CDT stretches for more than 3100 miles from the border of Canada at the northern end to the Mexican border in the south. In between, it runs through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, as it winds its way through some of the most rugged and remote mountain regions in the United States, including the San Juans, the Sawatch Range, and the Tetons, amongst others.

The trail derives its name because it runs directly along the Continental Divide, which marks the barrier between the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainage basins. To one side, all the rivers run west to the Pacific, while on the other, they turn east toward the Atlantic. The Rocky Mountains, running from northern Canada, down through the U.S. create this effect, and serve as a dramatic backdrop to this long distance hike.Unlike the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest, the CDT is not quite complete yet. Right now it is constructed of a number of smaller trails and roads that are interconnected, and while hiking those paths, the difficult can range from a moderate to strenuous hike, with altitude playing a role in the challenge. There are some areas however where the trails do not meet, forcing trekkers to bushwhack their way through rugged backcountry. The CDT also happens to be longer than those other two trails, stretching nearly a thousand miles further in length than the Appalachian, and more than 450 miles longer than the Pacific Crest. Add more elevation gain to the mix, and you’ll begin understand why this trail is held in such high regard.

Due to the very rugged, and remote nature of the CDT, there are fewer thru-hikers then there are on the other long distance trails in the U.S. It takes roughly six months to cover the entire distance, and various segments provide different, and very unique challenges. For example, in the south, along the leg that runs through New Mexico, there is little water to be found, forcing hikers to bring plenty of their own, although local hiking groups do supply water caches at strategic points along the way. In contrast, at the northern end, in Montana and Idaho, trekkers may find plenty to drink, but will instead be dodging grizzly bears and gray wolves.

While the Continental Divide Trail may be the forgotten leg of hiking’s Triple Crown, it is spectacular none the less. The trail is less crowded than its companions, offers more challenges, and is more rugged and remote too. For those that have already completed the AT and the PCT, the lure of the CDT is too much to pass up, and they find that it is worth the hike, and quite possibly surpasses those other two trails in nearly every way.

25 great adventures for 2010

by Kraig Becker on

The latest issue of National Geographic Adventure has just hit the newsstand with a special treat inside for adventure travelers looking for their next big trip. The magazine has listed its selection for the 25 best new trips for 2010, offering up suggestions of places to visit in nearly every corner of the globe.

The list is organized in alphabetical order by destination, starting with Bhutan and running through several U.S. locations as well. Each of the locations also has a tour operator associated with it, and clicking on the text will give you a more detailed description of what you can expect on your adventure.

No matter what draws you to adventure travel, you’re sure to find something on the list that appeals to you. For instance, if you’re up for a challenging kayaking adventure, head to Bhutan with Bio Bio Expeditions, where you get the opportunity to make the first descent on a previously unpaddled section of the Drangme Chhu River. Does an island adventure sound more enticing? Then plan a trip to Sri Lanka with Access Trips, where you can go surfing and mountain biking through that amazing setting. And for those who would prefer a little more rest and relaxation with their adventure, there is always the Muang La Resort in Laos which offers jungle escapes that includes luxury rooms and a deluxe spa. That trip is available through Asia Transpacific Journeys.

No one knows adventure like National Geographic, and you can bet that each of these trips will deliver in that category. With 2009 quickly coming to an end, it is never too early to start planning your own adventures for 2010, and this list is a great place to start.

Yellowstone to limit snowmobile access

by Kraig Becker on

The use of snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park has been a point of contention for years, with local resorts and the state of Wyoming encouraging tourists to explore the natural wonderland on the motor vehicles, while environmentalists have argued that they were harmful for the environment and disturbed wildlife in the park. The National Park Service seems to have sided with the environmentalist on the subject, announcing late last week that they would limit snowmobile access to Yellowstone in 2010 and 2011.

In recent years, the Park Service has allowed 720 snowmobiles in the park each day, but under the new guidelines that number would be cut back to 318 for the next two seasons. While that seems like a drastic cut for winter visitors, the park averaged just 205 snowmobiles per day last winter. For the record, the highest number of the motorized sleds to be in the park on any single day is 557, which was set back in December of 2007.

The NPS also says they will allow 78 snowcoaches in the park each day as well. These vehicles are specially designed vans that feature tank treads that allow them to move easily over the snow. They can carry a group of passengers and are thought to be more environmentally friendly than snowmobiles.

Opponents of snowmobile use in the park were understandably happy with the news, but local tourism groups say they’ll fight the decision, possibly in court. They argue that the snowmobiles are safe and clean, at that more people should be allowed to enjoy the natural splendor of Yellowstone in the winter. They also see it as restricting economic growth in the area as well.

The Catch-22 of Adventure Travel and the Environment

by Kraig Becker on

When it comes to adventure travel, the terms “sustainability” and “eco-friendly” get tossed around a lot these days. In some cases, these are just buzz words in a travel brochure designed to help travelers feel good about themselves before they head off to exotic locations. But for the best travel companies, these are the building blocks of a philosophy that they have followed for years. In some cases, even before eco-tourism was even an accepted term.

If there is one type of travel that has a responsibility to go easy on the environment and take care of our natural resources, it is adventure travel. Many of these types of trips take place in remote locations, far from civilization, often in pristine settings that are seldom visited. But those locations also happen to be the most fragile and easily damaged by eager visitors. That is one of the contradictions of this type of journey. You get to visit some of the most amazing places on the planet, but in doing so, you may be causing more harm than good.

There are a number of high profile examples of this Catch-22 situation. One of the most famous is on Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. Environmentalists tell us that the famed Snows of Kilimanjaro are receding at a rapid rate, and that they may be gone completely by 2015. I’ve even seen articles suggesting that we should “go before they’re gone”, urging us to make the famous trek to Kili’s summit before the glaciers have completely melted away. This has led to increased traffic on the mountain, which has definitely had an impact on the environment there, with more trash and human refuse on the slopes. In our rush to see the effects of climate change on Kili, are we having an even more direct and profound impact on that environment there?
A similar story is told on Mt. Everest, where climbers have been leaving behind all manner of trash for years, including spent oxygen bottles, abandoned gear, and more. Even the bodies of mountaineers who have died while climbing are often left where they have fallen. But Nepal has recognized that Everest is an important resource that needs to be protected, and because of that, there has been a concerted effort in recent years to clean up the mountain. Teams of Sherpas have worked hard removing tons of trash from the tallest mountain on Earth, and to ensure that Everest stays clean, Nepal has instituted rules that require all climbing teams to carry their trash back off the mountain or face substantial fines and other penalties.

Across the globe countries have taken similar steps to protect their natural resources which often play a big role in their tourist trade. In Peru, the Inca Trail has become so popular that the government was forced to put a cap on the number of hiking permits that it issues each day in an effort to limit the damage to the environments there. Similarly, the Ugandan government has very strict limitations on the number of visitors to its national parks which are home to the last mountain gorillas. The permits to visit those primates are also quite expensive, with fees going directly to funding their care. This program is often cited as being one of the very best examples of sustainable tourism being used effectively and successfully. In fact, the Ugandan approach has become a model for other countries around the globe.

Of course, much of the responsibility for protecting these environments that we travel through falls on the company we elect to travel with. The good ones will have policies in place that demonstrate that their commitment to the environment is more than just lip service. For example, while traveling in the Amazon earlier this year, I went trekking with guides through the rain forest. At one point, we stopped in a small clearing, and each of the members of our group planted a tree in a ceremony that reaffirmed the importance of the Amazon’s role in our global climate. But in strange contrast, upon returning to our river boat, we were handed bottles of water, a product that is known for not being exactly good for the environment. (For the record, I brought my own aluminum bottle and refilled it from the mostly unused water dispensers positioned around the boat.) Lesson learned. Choose your travel company wisely.

Adventure travel can be very exciting and provide an experience that is unlike most any other kind of trip. But it also offers the potential to do substantial damage to fragile ecosystems. Fortunately, the travelers who gravitate to these kinds of trips are generally outdoor enthusiasts who take an active role in protecting the environment, both on a local and global level. Those kinds of travelers understand the concept of visiting remote places and leaving no trace of their passing. They also tend to reward companies that share those philosophies, and together, traveler and tour operator, can work together to ensure that these amazing locations remain accessible and viable for future generations of travelers as well.