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Showing posts with label That's interesting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label That's interesting. Show all posts

Fun To Be Frugal : Snowboarding On The Cheap

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Snowboarding is not cheap. It's an expensive sport. Between lift tickets, travel, clothing and rental equipment / buying gear, the sport is never going to be cheap or accessible to the general public.

Snowboarding seems to be all about looking great, going to fantastic resorts and spending a lot of money.

But it doesn't have to be that way...

Next time you hit the ski slopes, ease your wallet and your nerves with these simple and creative tip :


Cut down Monsters Inc skateboard with adapted roller blade bindings bolted on...

Sometimes you gotta improvise!


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Heli-airboarding

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... since I'm gonna spend this winter in Florida, chances are, it will be another year I won't get to try air-boarding... well, may be next time, I'll go straight for heli-airboarding !



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Hurricane Sandy: One Man's Misery Is Another Man's Opportunity

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Don't get me wrong, what's going on on the East Coast, and especially in New York right now, is horrible...

But when Mother Nature sends her wrath our way, we're at her mercy, and so all we can do is stay prayerful and do the best that we can to stay safe.

But while for most people Hurricane Sandy has become an emergency situation, for others it presented a different opportunity...


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Rappelling Into The Krubera Cave

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The Krubera Cave (or the Voronya Cave sometimes spelled Voronja Cave) is the deepest known cave on Earth. It is located in the Arabika Massif of the Gagrinsky Range of the Western Caucasus, in the Gagra district of Abkhazia. Bookmark and Share

Tips On Visiting The South Rim Of The Grand Canyon

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Visiting the Grand Canyon has been on my Bucket List for the past 5 years...

The Grand Canyon is one of the 7 "Natural Wonders Of The World" ( don't forget, there are many different types of "Wonders Of The World" ), and though it happens to be in this very country, I still can't believe it took me so much time to finally see it with my own eyes.

....unfortunately, it was absolutely opposite to how I dreamed/planned to visit this world famous Natural Wonder....

 NOTE: There is a big different between "visiting" and "exploring"  the Canyon.

"Visiting" mostly implies "stop by/drive by, take a bunch of pictures, and ,may be, do some light "exploring" ( short hiking, biking around the park, camping...)

 "Exploring" ( for a small number of people ) means hiking rim-to-rim or multi-day backpacking or rafting.

Hiking rim-to-rim and getting "close and personal" was my original plan/dream. But as I happened to visit the park during one of its hottest months ( middle of June with day temperatures in high 80's ), I had absolutely no desire even to try to reach the bottom of the Canyon.

So I lowered my expectations, and settled with the idea to see the Grand Canyon like a tourist ( yeah, I still hate myself  for that :) )

So, here are a few tips:

Driving Through Monument Valley, Utah/Arizona

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Monument Valley provides perhaps the most enduring and definitive images of the American West. The isolated red mesas and buttes surrounded by empty, sandy desert have been filmed and photographed countless times over the years for movies, adverts and holiday brochures. Because of this, the area may seem quite familiar, even on a first visit, but it is soon evident that the natural colors really are as bright and deep as those in all the pictures. The valley is not a valley in the conventional sense, but rather a wide flat, sometimes desolate landscape, interrupted by the crumbling formations rising hundreds of feet into the air, the last remnants of the sandstone layers that once covered the entire region.

There is only one main road through Monument Valley, US 163, which links Kayenta, AZ with US 191 in Utah. The stretch approaching the AZ/UT border from the north gives the most famous image of the valley, and possibly of the whole Southwest - a long straight empty road leads across flat desert towards the 1,000 foot high stark red cliffs on the horizon, curving away just in front.


The Valley Drive passes 11 numbered stops at the most scenic places, and a typical journey around the loop takes at least 2 hours. Tourists are not allowed to hike away from the road closer towards any of the formations, but even so the trip is very enjoyable.






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Surfing, Alaskan Style

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I wrote before about incredible surfing and stand up paddleboarding opportunities in Alaska. Recently, I came across a great photo site by Scott Dickerson.


Scott, raised in Alaska, has been pioneering the waterman lifestyle in the last frontier for 15 years. As a photographer, sup distributor/dealer and surf charter boat captain, he enjoys sharing the breathtaking scenery of Alaska with the world, especially from a standup perspective.

Please, check out his site, even if you're not a surfer, you'll find his pictures amazing and breathtaking !





Visiting Alaska is already on my Bucket List, and along with things like sea kayaking among icebergs, climbing Denali, heli-skiing, I'm going to add "Surfing/SUPing".

You might also like :

Surfing and SUPing In Alaska

Extreme Glacier Surfing In Alaska Video

Wingsuit Flight Above The Space Needle!

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The Seattle Space Needle is our pride and beauty, historic landmark and a major tourist attraction. While many locals and visitors visit the Space Needle by taking an elevator to the observation deck, a few chosen ones had the privilege to fly over it...


Every summer, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels take over the sky for their performance during the Seafair hydro-race weekend...

But one summer day in 2010, the iconic Seattle space needle took a back seat to an insane wingsuit flight above the city. Locals all across the city were looking to the skies in wonder as the Red Bull Air Force performed never-before-seen wingsuit jumps for a project dubbed Red Bull Seattle Swoopers.




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Seligman - The Beginning Of Historic Route 66 In Arizona

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U.S. Route 66 (US 66 or Route 66), also known as the Will Rogers Highway and colloquially known as the Main Street of America or the Mother Road...

Route 66 embodies a complex, rich history that goes well beyond any chronicle of the road itself. Today, more than 85% of the original alignments of Route 66 are drivable, and many special places along the way are included in the National Register.

For me, one of those paces where I could get a glimpse of this famous highway was a small but delightful town of Seligman.

Founded in 1895 after the completion of the "Peavine" Railroad the railroad camp known as Prescott Junction officially became Seligman and was an important railroad stop along the line. Seligman embraced Route 66 wholeheartedly upon its arrival in the late 1920’s. The railroad and tourist traffic from Route 66 became Seligman's main source of economic security. In the late 1970's Seligman was bypassed by the Interstate and the Santa Fe Railroad ceased its operations in the town in 1985.

Nostalgia continues to be the mood in Seligman, with the town straddling the longest remaining stretch of Historic Route 66.

There is not much to see or to do in town. It took me just half an hour to drive through, stop by a few quirky shops, and snap a few pictures...






Today, Seligman marks the beginning of Historic Route 66 in Arizona. In fact, it was in Seligman that the move to preserve Route 66 began. Eventually those actions helped to garner the designation of Route 66 as a historic highway.

So if you really want to "experience" Route 66, swing by Seligman !



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Camping Tips

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...Welcome to this illustrated collection of camping tips, tricks and ideas that have evolved from many years of tent camping experience. Whether you are a 'greenhorn' novice camper or salty old curmudgeon, there is something here that will enhance your camping skills and abilities....



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Paraglider crashes into Statue of Liberty

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A man paragliding above New York Harbour flew too close to the Statue of Liberty and found himself caught in its grasp.

The man, 41-year-old French stuntman Thierry Devaux, had been circling the 46m (151-foot) high statue in his paraglider.

But his motor-driven parachute became snagged on the torch and he was left dangling for about 45 minutes before managing to haul himself up by the parachute's ropes with the help of rescue workers.




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Canyoneering In Moab, Utah

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At first, I was a bit confused about the difference between caving ( also occasionally known as spelunking in the United States and Canada and potholing in the United Kingdom and Ireland ) and canyoneering.

In very lame terms : exploring Ape Caves or Guler Ice Caves is the most basic type of caving.

During my visit to Moab, I finally got a chance to try canyoneering and saw for myself how different it was from caving.

Again, when I say "caving" all I really mean is a" guided tour of a well explored and maintained cave". You don't really do anything strenuous, challenging, technical.

When it comes to canyoneering, even the most beginner friendly outing might not be suitable for everybody ( fear of heights anybody ? ).

Canyoneering is risky, it's physically demanding, but it's also tons of fun !

During my half day trip I had a chance to explore the beautiful Ephedra's Grotto.

It's a very popular trip, close to downtown Moab, and there are many companies that offer this great experience.

Honestly, I didn't expect much. Repelling down a 100+ feet rope wasn't anything new to me, but the place itself was absolutely amazing !

After walking through the washes and across the slickrock you come to the top of Ephedra's Grotto. You drop 60 feet down to a small ledge which you have to back yourself over and then rappel down another 30 feet. At the bottom you are surrounded by shear cliff walls on every side and so you can only hike out through a small slot opening.



The next repel is even more impressive !

Morning Glory Arch is the fifth largest natural bridge, spanning 243 feet. The first 40 feet you are along the wall but the remaining 70 feet you are suspended in air, surrounded by the beauty of the canyon walls, the arch above and the stream below.

If you have a chance, make sure this is the moment somebody is taking your pictures !


After you're done with repelling, it's 2.2 miles back to the car.

Though I visited both Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, Negro Bill Canyon was my hiking experience in Moab. This is a very popular trail in Moab. It follows a year round stream through a deep sandstone canyon among willows and cottonwoods and sandy trails for several miles ( Morning Glory Natural Bridge is its final destination ).

All in all, I'm happy that my first canyoneering experience took place in Moab !




Why Moab is # 3 On My "Ultimate Adventure Towns" List

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A few years ago National Geographic Adventure built the ultimate, state-by-state guide to top outdoor hubs across the country. These 100 adventure towns offer something for everyone, whether you love hiking, skiing, biking, kayaking, climbing, snowboarding, or a little bit of everything.

Out of 100, the two towns that I can personally vouch for are Bellingham and Leavenworth, both offer tons of outdoor opportunities any season of the year.

But during my recent road trip, with great pleasure I can add another "Ultimate Adventure Town" to my list - Moab !




Moab is music to the ears of outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy some of the best rock climbing, hiking, canyoneering, horseback riding, mountain and road biking, off-roading, camping and rafting the town has to offer.

Though I read a lot about Moab before, I couldn't imagine spending almost three days in this small town. And I didn't do/see even half of what it had to offer !

Moab is a spectacular location for outdoor sports, and the world's largest adventure playground. Yet,some of the most appealing activities in Moab can be found inside city limits.

The next few posts I'll write about some of the most popular outdoor sorts in Moab : hiking, mountain biking, canyoneering, and ... TANDEM BASE JUMPING !




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Biking The Bonneville Salt Flats

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I love reading travel blogs, and watching my fellow travelers' videos ! They give me so much inspiration, not to mention the information about new places to visit and new things to try.

I learned about the Bonneville Salt Flats from one of the travel blogs I've been following.
"Saltboarding" video looked so much fun !

So, while in Utah, I made the Bonneville Salt Flats one of "must-see places" to visit.


The famous Bonneville Speedway is located in the western portion of the flats, near Wendover. It is perfectly flat and has a thick crust of salty soil. It looks like a frozen lake bed covered with snow. No vegetation grows in that area.

There is NOTHING to see...just miles and miles of endless salt...

The Bonneville Salt Flats is one of the most unique natural features in Utah. If you travel in this state, make sure you make the Bonneville Salt Flats your travel destination.

Go for a bike ride, or take your car for a spin ! Unbelievable feeling !






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