Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Auspicious start to Antarctic tourist season]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/19/auspicous-start-to-antarctic-tourist-season/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/19/auspicous-start-to-antarctic-tourist-season/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/19/auspicous-start-to-antarctic-tourist-season/#commentsFiled under: ,

November marks the beginning of the tourist season in the icy waters off the coast of Antarctica. It is mid-spring down south, and travelers with a sense of adventure, and plenty of cash, are heading to the frozen continent to get the opportunity to visit one of the last true frontiers on the planet, and possibly get a glimpse of Emperor Penguins while they're in the neighborhood too.

The past few years have been challenging ones for Antarctic cruise ships. In 2007, the MS Explorer sunk after hitting an iceberg, and last year two more ships ran aground while maneuvering through the treacherous waters. Fortunately no one was hurt in those incidences, although the sinking of the Explorer did create an ecological disaster when tens of thousands of gallons of fuel were released into the water.

With the 2009 tourist season barely underway, there has already been in incident in the Weddell Sea, off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, where a Russian icebreaker called the Captain Khlebnikov became trapped by ice for the better part of two days. The ship, which carries roughly 100 passengers, found itself stuck behind large icebergs when winds shifted, causing the ice to close all access to open waters. While the boat was never in any real danger, it was unable to continue along its intended route, preventing those aboard from following their intended itinerary.

Continue reading Auspicious start to Antarctic tourist season

Auspicious start to Antarctic tourist season originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Polar explorer Eric Larsen has just begun an epic adventure that will literally take him to the ends of the Earth over the course of the next year. Eric has set out on his Save The Poles Expedition, in which he plans to travel to the "three poles" within one calendar year. Those poles include the North and South of course, but also the summit of Everest, which is often referred to as the third pole in adventure circles.

The purpose behind Eric's Save The Poles campaign is to promote the use of alternative, clean energy sources as a method to reduce our carbon emissions. The environments in which he'll be traveling are fragile ones, and they are all being dramatically effected by global climate change in some profound ways. Larsen hopes that during his year-long journey he'll be able to collect data that helps demonstrate just how these places are changing.

The expedition officially got underway this week, when Eric, and two companions, set out from Patriot Hills in Antarctica for the South Pole. This will be the first leg of his journey, which is expected to take roughly 40 days, covering approximately 500 miles on skis. In the spring, he'll turn his sights north, and go after his second goal, the North Pole, which is another major arctic undertaking, but one that will be quite different from his Antarctic travels in some significant ways. Finally, next fall, he'll make his bid for the summit of Everest, during the post-monsoon climbing season, hoping to reach the summit of the highest mountain on Earth.

You can join Eric on his expedition by following along on his blog, where he has already made several audio dispatches from Antarctica, and he'll be keeping us abreast of his progress at every stage of the adventure.

Explorer hopes to visit "three poles" in one year originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ever wanted to try a 100 year old Scotch chilled to perfection? Than listen up, this story is for you!

According to this article from the BBC, the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust has announced plans to retrieve a pair of crates buried in the Antarctic ice following a failed attempted to reach the South Pole more than a century ago. The crates contain bottles of McKinlay and Co whiskey, and were first discovered back in 2006 beneath the remains of a hut built to shelter explorers from the harsh polar climate. That expedition, led by Ernest Shackleton, came within 97 miles of reaching the Pole before turning back, leaving equipment and supplies, including the whiskey, behind to lighten their load and speed their progress.

The Trust hopes to recover the whiskey, and restore the bottles, before placing them in another one of Shackleton's huts located on Cape Royd. The organization is slowly rebuilding that hut so that it exactly resembles the condition it was in when the famed explorer and his team set off on their epic journey.

Of course, the Trust isn't the only one interested in recovering the crates from the ice. Whyte and Mackay, the distiller that now owns the McKinlay whiskey brand, hopes to get their hands on a bottle as well. This particular blend has been out of circulation for decades, and they would like the opportunity to recreate it and beginning selling it again too.

Shackleton was one of the foremost polar explores of his day, and at the time of the expedition, he was locked in a desperate race to become the first man to reach the South Pole. He would eventually lose that race to Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, but his exploits in the Antarctic would continue for years to come. In 1914 his ship, the Endurance, became trapped in the pack ice, and Shackleton and his crew spent 10 months at the mercy of the shifting ice. Eventually, the ship was crushed, and all hands were forced to abandon ship. It would be another five months before they were rescued, but not a single life was lost on the expedition, making it one of the greatest survival stories of all times, and cementing Shackleton's place in exploration history.

Whiskey buried beneath the Antarctic ice for 100 year to be recovered originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Way out west, in the Black Range Mountains of New Mexico, there is a quiet little ranch tucked away in the thick pine trees, where cowboys still ride the trails and rustic bunkhouses give guests a place to lay their head at the end of a busy day. That place is the Geronimo Trails Guest Ranch, an adventure resort that lets us live out our wild west dreams on horseback in a pristine setting.

Located four hours from both El Paso and Albuquerque, Geronimo Trails falls well off the grid. The ranch is 85 miles form the nearest stop light, with all power generated through the use of solar panels and water supplied from nearby streams. The area is so remote, that visitors may as well turn off their cell phones when they arrive, as coverage ends 70 miles back down the road.

This eco-conscious approach helps to give the ranch a quiet, serene setting, allowing guests to rest and soak in the rustic atmosphere. And when they're done relaxing, there are plenty of things to do as well. Situated on one of New Mexico's designated scenic byways, Geronimo Trail gives access to plenty of outdoor adventure. Whether you're on horseback or hiking on foot, you'll be able to follow in the footsteps of Billy the Kid, Butch and Sundance, and even Geronimo himself, while exploring mountain meadows and beautiful, wide open vistas. There are even Native American ruins to discover, with ancient cliff dwellings and caves with wall paintings to give travelers a glimpse into what this part of America was once like, before the settlers came west.

Continue reading Adventures on the Geronimo Trail

Adventures on the Geronimo Trail originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The World Heritage Sites are some of the most amazing places on the planet. The list, maintained by UNESCO, spotlights places from around the globe that hold particular cultural or natural significance. Many of the places on the list are amongst the top tourist attractions in the world, so what better way to do them honor, then to replicate them with Legos?

Eco-friendly website Environmental Graffiti has an amazing gallery of some of the most famous sites in the world remade through the use of the popular interlocking bricks. Some of the places that get the Lego treatment include the Acropolis, found in Athens, Greece and the Great Pyramid of Giza, complete with Sphinx, from Cairo, Egypt. Red Square in Moscow, the Statue of Liberty, and even the Taj Mahal, amongst others, are impressively recreated using the iconic toy.

The amount of work that must have gone into these recreations is quite impressive, as the smallest details have been painstakingly added to the models. Personally, I think I'm most impressed by the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but each of them is a work of art in its own right. Perhaps Lego should make a new "World Heritage Series" so that we can all recreate our favorite places when we get home from our travels.

World Heritage Sites done in Legos originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The only privately owned Antarctic base opened for the 2009 season a few days ago, allowing explorers, scientists, mountaineers, and adventure travelers, access to the frozen continent for the first time since January. Commonly known as Patriot Hills, the base is operated by Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions (ALE), a company that supports the adventurous men and women who are traveling to the South Pole or other locations on the Antarctic continent.

Traditionally, the base opens in November and remains open for approximately three months, allowing expeditions to come and go from Punta Arenas, Chile, a city found at the far tip of South America that is often used as the staging ground for adventurers heading to Antarctica. Patriot Hills sits at the edge of a rare, naturally occurring blue ice patch that serves as a runway for ALE's Twin Otter and Illushyn aircraft, which makes it the perfect place to shuttle visitors to and from the ice.

The travelers making the journey to Antarctica come for a number of reasons. Some will make the long, 500 mile journey to the South Pole on skis, while others will trek to nearby Vinson Massif to climb one of the seldom visited mountains there. Adventure travelers with enough money will also make a "last degree" journey to the Pole, beginning their journey at 89ºS and ending when the reach the bottom of the world.

Over the next few months, Patriot Hills will be a bustling community of explorers coming and going from a variety of places in Antarctica. The tent-city will serve as a base of operations for a number of interesting and unique expeditions, all coming to visit one of the last true frontiers on Earth.

Patriot Hills Antarctic base opens for 2009 season originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelantarcticantarctic logistics expeditionsantarcticaAntarcticLogisticsExpeditionspatriot hillsPatriotHillsskiingsouth poleSouthPoleSat, 14 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Help Nat. Geo. pick the Adventurer of the Year!]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/13/help-nat-geo-pick-the-adventurer-of-the-year/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/13/help-nat-geo-pick-the-adventurer-of-the-year/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/13/help-nat-geo-pick-the-adventurer-of-the-year/#commentsNational Geographic Adventure's annual "Best of Adventure" issue has become an end of the year tradition, highlighting some of the most daring, inspiring, and down right audacious adventures from the previous 12 months. In a magazine that celebrates bold initiatives, this issue, more than any other, salutes those on the cutting edge of exploration.

This year, the magazine is taking a little different approach in their selection process, allowing all of us to have a say in who ultimately wins. The list of nominees has been narrowed down to ten very worthy candidates, each with their own personal profiles that includes photos and videos that explain why they have made the short list. We're asked to rate each of the adventurers on a scale of one to ten, using our own personal criteria as to how worthy they are of being named Adventurer of the Year.

The list of finalists is a diverse group and includes such nominees as BASE jumper Dean Potter, who leapt off the Eiger earlier this year, sailing safely to the ground in a wing suit, and adventure travelers Stephen Bouey and Steven Shoppman, who racked up 77,000 miles circling the globe, passing through 69 countries in the process. Other potential winners include scientist Katey Walter who is studying global warming in Siberia, and Marc Hoffmeister, who led a team of injured vets to the summit of Denali.

Continue reading Help Nat. Geo. pick the Adventurer of the Year!

Help Nat. Geo. pick the Adventurer of the Year! originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station has been conducting research in Antarctica for more than 50 years, and it has been the southernmost continually inhabited place on Earth over that period. For more than 30 of those years, the iconic image of the place has been that of a giant geodesic dome towering more than five stories above the ice. But now, the dome has been decommissioned, and is scheduled for demolition soon, which has spawned calls from former residents of the station to save what has been called an important piece of American history.

According to this story in the New York Times, a portion of the dome is set to be disassembled and sent back to the States as part of a museum that is currently under construction in California. But most of the structure will be cut into pieces and scrapped. But critics of the plan say that the entire dome should be brought home and rebuilt as a monument to U.S. exploration in Antarctica. To do so would require each piece to be disassembled by hand, bolt by bolt, and shipped stateside to be reassembled, at an estimated cost of more than $500,000, far beyond the budget allowed for the operation.

Continue reading Antarctic dome to be decommissioned

Antarctic dome to be decommissioned originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Taking a hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings near Luxor, Egypt has become a "must do" for travelers visiting the ancient temples and tombs of that region. The morning skies have often been filled with the colorful balloons as they drift slowly over the desert landscapes below. But that all changed back in April, when a balloon crashed, and the government was forced to put a halt to all flights.

The crash occurred when a pilot set off in less than ideal weather conditions and without permission from the control tower. High winds pushed the balloon off course, and it ended up colliding with a cell phone tower, before slamming to the ground, injuring the 16 passengers on board, and forcing the Egyptian Tourism Board to ground all flights pending an investigation.

This week, after six months on the ground, the balloons once again took to the air. The pilots have all gone through extensive safety training and each of the companies operating the balloons were required to introduce new safety measures as well. Furthermore, the world's first hot air balloon airport was created not far from town, and all flights take off from that spot now.

Egypt is notoriously protective of their tourism industry, and with good reason. Much of the country's income is based on travelers feeling safe and comfortable, and any threat to that safety can harm the industry as a whole. As a result, the government is quick to step in and enforce regulations when necessary, as was once again demonstrated here.

[via Daily Mail]

Hot air ballons take flight once again over Luxor, Egypt originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Congo River runs through some of the most remote and wild regions of Central Africa, stretching 2914 miles in length, and reaching as much as 750 feet in depth at certain points. It is the eighth longest river in the world and second only to the Amazon in terms of the volume of its flow. Of course, all of that is fairly meaningless out of context, which is why this video is so amazing.

The video was shot by kayaker Andrew Maser, awhile back as part of a National Geographic expedition. It does a great job of showing us just how powerful the Congo can be, as the waves look more like something that would be found on an ocean rather than a river.

Personally, I think it looks like a lot of fun, and I'm ready to book a paddling trip to the Congo. Anyone want to come along?

Kayaking the Congo River originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelcongocongo riverCongoRiverkayakkayakingpaddlingTue, 10 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wild Texas: the critters of the Lone Star State]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/09/wild-texas-the-critters-of-the-lone-star-state/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/09/wild-texas-the-critters-of-the-lone-star-state/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/09/wild-texas-the-critters-of-the-lone-star-state/#commentsFiled under: ,

When it comes to viewing wildlife in the U.S., most people naturally gravitate to the western part of the country, where you'll find a wide variety of species in abundance. Places like Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and of course Alaska, have great reputations for offering travelers an opportunity to see a large number of animals in their natural habitat. One place that doesn't garner this kind of attention however, is Texas, despite a surprising array of creatures within the state.

Most visitors to the Lone Star State, expect to see plenty of deer, squirrel, and armadillo of course, but they are often surprised to hear that they can also spot more exotic creatures. For example, if you want to see Black Bears, you can head to the western portion of the state to Big Bend National Park or the Guadalupe Mountains, where they still wander the thickly wooded or desert scrub areas. While you're in that part of the state, check out one of the five small herds of elk that still roam the region as well.

Moving to central Texas, you'll have an opportunity to spot the elusive mountain lion, whose numbers have increased substantially over the past decade. The big cats are known to wander the Texas Hill Country, just west of Austin, although you'll have to keep your eyes peeled to spot them. Mountain lions aren't the only wild cats to wander the Texas backcountry however, as ocelots are found in the southern part of the state, and in the Rio Grande valley, which also serves as home to Jaguarundis, a species that isn't much bigger than a common house cat. Bobcats are also fairly common, and found in nearly every corner of Texas.

Continue reading Wild Texas: the critters of the Lone Star State

Wild Texas: the critters of the Lone Star State originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelaustinbatsbearbearsdolphinsmountain lionMountainLiontexaswildlifeMon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploring the Mekong River]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/08/exploring-the-mekong-river/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/08/exploring-the-mekong-river/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/08/exploring-the-mekong-river/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Some of the most amazing adventure destinations center around the great rivers of the world. Whether it's rafting the Rio Grande, kayaking the Congo, or simply taking a leisurely cruise down the Nile, we seem to have a fascination with these waterways that have played an important role in human development. One of those rivers is the Mekong, which stretches for more than 2700 miles as it meanders through Laos, Thailand, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar.

In Laos, the Mekong is known as the "Mother River" and it plays an important role in that country's culture and lore. Travel writer Kate Quill discovered this for herself recently when she made her own Mekong journey, sharing the details with us in this article from the London Times. Kate spent a week on the river back in October, and describes a tropical landscape filled with dense jungles and rocky peaks.

On her journey up the Mekong, Quill stopped at a remote village that gave her a sense of what life is like for those that depend on the river for their daily needs. Villages like the one she visited remain largely untouched by the outside world, lacking nearly all modern conveniences. She also notes that the Laos' lack of public health care is also evident when interacting with the villagers.

I've been fortunate enough to visit the four longest rivers in the world, spending time on the Nile, Amazon, Yangtze, and Mississippi. Each offered their own unique experiences and glimpses into the cultures of the countries that they flow through. The Mekong seems like it continues this tradition, and offers adventure travelers another destination to add to their list of must see places.

Exploring the Mekong River originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure cruiseadventure traveladventure-travelAdventureCruiseAdventureTravelmekongSun, 08 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[National parks free for Veterans Day!]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/07/national-parks-free-for-veterans-day/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/07/national-parks-free-for-veterans-day/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/07/national-parks-free-for-veterans-day/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Veteran's Day is next Wednesday, November 11th, and to celebrate the National Park Service has announced that they will once again waive all entry fees to every national park, forest and monument across the U.S., giving travelers the opportunity to experience hundreds of amazing places for free.

This past summer the NPS offered several fee free weekends, which were extremely popular with visitors everywhere. In fact, those weekends were so popular that they helped several parks, such as Yellowstone, to set new attendance records.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar made the official announcement on this Veteran's Day celebration, saying "The Department of the Interior is honored to offer this fee free day to thank our nation's service men and women," He went on to say, "The sacrifices and achievements of the brave men and women of our armed forces can never be understated. We invite all of our visitors to enjoy this fee free day and take time out on this national holiday to remember our service men and women who are currently serving overseas in harms way."

Join in on the celebration for yourself by finding a park near you. Then head out to enjoy the best natural resources the country has to offer on Wednesday.

National parks free for Veterans Day! originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelnational parknational park servicenational parksNationalParkNationalParksNationalParkServiceyellowstoneyellowstonenationalparkSat, 07 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Giant jellyfish cause boat to capsize]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/06/giant-jellyfish-cause-ship-boat-to-capsize/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/06/giant-jellyfish-cause-ship-boat-to-capsize/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/06/giant-jellyfish-cause-ship-boat-to-capsize/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A school of giant Nomura's jellyfish are being blamed for the sinking of a fishing boat earlier this week, sending the three man crew overboard, and the 10-ton ship to the bottom of the ocean just off the eastern coast of Japan.

According to this story from Sky News, the fishermen were attempting to pull in a net filled with the creatures, but the weight of the catch caused the boat to roll onto its side and begin taking on water. The species of jellyfish are known to weigh in excess of 450 pounds, and can be more than two meters in diameter, which gives you an indication of just how large these beasts can grow.

2009 seems to have been a banner year for the Nomura's jellyfish, as the waters between China and Japan have seen an unusual number of the creatures in recent months. Scientists believe it is due to near perfect weather and water conditions throughout the year, and the Japanese fishing industry is preparing for an onslaught of problems in the months ahead. In the past, the jellyfish have damaged fishing equipment, stung fish caught in the nets, and clogged commercial sea lanes.

I'm not sure about you, but a 6+ foot, 400 pound jellyfish sounds pretty frightening to me. The small ones are enough to keep most people out of the water, and I can't imagine what it must be like to come across one of these while scuba diving or snorkeling, let alone dozens of them in one area.

Giant jellyfish cause boat to capsize originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The mountain countries of Central Asia have been a bit of a hidden gem for adventure travel in recent years. While the vast majority of people can't find Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan on the map as of yet, the more adventurous travelers have begun to hear tales of rugged, remote mountain trails that weave their way through mostly unspoiled backcountry with some of the most stunning views on the planet.

That's exactly what London Times reporter Caroline Eden found when she traveled through the High Pamir mountains of Tajikistan recently. She wrote about her experiences trekking amongst the 7000 meter peaks of the Geisev Valley, describing crystal clear mountain lakes, wide open skies, and tiny, remote villages populated by friendly, hospitable people. Best of all, the country has few tourists, which meant she often had the trails to herself, and many of her nights were spent staying with locals, which gave her a very personal glimpse into their daily lives.

The travel experience in Tajikistan has a lot to offer on the cultural and historical level as well. The former Soviet satellite has long been a crossroads for trade between the East and West, with major routes along the Silk Road passing through the country. Islam is the predominant religion now, but there are elements of Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and even Zoroastrianism, each having an impact on the people that live there.

While that culture and history is interesting however, the big draw for the country is what it has to offer adventure travelers. Aside from the amazing trekking, there is plenty of rock climbing, horse and camel riding, and backpacking to keep you occupied for week, and mountaineers are also discovering the challenge of the "three giants" of the Pamirs, namely Peak Somoni, Peak Lenin and Peak Korzhenevskaya, which have earned there place amongst the top alpine climbing destinations in the region.

Trekking Tajikistan originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelcampingcentral asiaCentralAsiahikingtrekkingThu, 05 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Outside Magazine lists the best ski resorts in North America]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/04/outside-magazine-lists-the-best-ski-resorts-in-north-america/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/04/outside-magazine-lists-the-best-ski-resorts-in-north-america/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/04/outside-magazine-lists-the-best-ski-resorts-in-north-america/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With snow already falling all over the U.S., it is clear that ski season is in full swing, and with winter still more than a month and a half away, ski bums and bunnies have plenty of great months on the slope ahead. To that end, Outside Magazine has published their list of the 16 best ski resorts in North America, just in time for you to start planning your first weekend in the mountains.

As you might expect, the majority of the resorts are found in the western United States, with Colorado and Utah particularly well represented. Some of the places that make the cut include the iconic Alta/Snowbird, which averages an astonishing 500 inches of snow per year and Snowmass in Aspen, which combines great skiing with luxury living. Our neighbors to the north get some love too, with Whistler-Blackcomb and Revelstoke Mountain Resort, earning nods. Both are located in British Columbia for those looking for a Canadian escape.

The rest of the list includes Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Alyeska Resort, Alaska; Silverton Mountain, Colorado; Breckenridge, Colorado; Park City, Utah; Power Mountain, Utah; Bridger Bowl, Montana; Crested Butte, Colorado; Steamboat, Colorado; Taos, New Mexico, and Mammoth Mountain, California. And just to prove that not all of the fun is out west, Jay Peak, Vermont makes the list as the lone resort in the Eastern United States, proving that you don't have to go a long way to get a superior experience on the slopes.

So, did your favorite resort make the list? Which of these have you been to? What did they leave off the list?

Outside Magazine lists the best ski resorts in North America originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adventurous travelers hoping to one day go into space received good news yesterday when the Barcelona based company behind the Galactic Suite Space Resort announced that their orbiting hotel will open for business in 2012, ushering in a new era in travel.

The world's first space hotel will begin operations with just a single pod that can hold up to four guests and two pilots. Other pods will be added over time, increasing capacity as needed. The zero-g resort will orbit the Earth at 30,000 mph, completely circling the planet once every 80 minutes, while offering visitors 15 sunrises per day. The cost of a 3-day stay starts at $4.4 million, which includes an eight week training course on a tropical island that will prepare would-be astronauts for life without gravity. Travel time to the hotel will be another day and a half aboard a shuttle craft.

The Galactic Suite project got quite a boost recently when an anonymous billionaire, who is described as a "space enthusiast", invested $3 billion to the project. With their coffers over flowing, at least for now, the company is able to move ahead with their time table, despite warnings from critics that feel the time frame is too ambitious and dangerous.

Galactic Suites claim that more than 200 people have already inquired about staying at the hotel, with 43 of them actually putting in their reservations. Someone should probably warn these future guests that there is no concierge and room service will likely be awful, but the view is going to be unmatched for sure.

First space hotel to open in 2012 originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelgalactic suiteGalacticSuitespace hotelspace stationSpaceHotelSpaceStationTue, 03 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Know the limitations of GPS when hiking]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/02/hiking-with-a-gps/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/02/hiking-with-a-gps/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/02/hiking-with-a-gps/#commentsFiled under: ,

There is no doubt that using a GPS has changed the way we travel. Adding one of the little devices to our cars allows us to navigate effortlessly to our destinations and has all but eliminated our need to carry road maps or stop off at the local gas station to ask for directions. That same technology can be of benefit when we leave the vehicle behind and hit a hiking trail as well, although hikers should be aware of the limitations of their devices, and be prepared to use their common sense and good judgment when employing such a device.

Hand held GPS units are very common and inexpensive these days. Most are small, light weight and battery operated, allowing them to be dropped into your backpack when you head out for the day. They generally offer such features as trail maps, suggested points of interest, and topographical data, all of which can be helpful for finding your way in the backcountry.

But unlike GPS devices in our cars, our hand held units don't do "turn-by-turn" navigation while out in the wilderness, mostly because there are no clear cut roads or landmarks that can be used in the same fashion as when we are on the streets, and natural obstacles can abound. Hikers are instead provided with a general indication of where their destination is from their current position in an "as the crow flies" fashion, and they are forced to navigate to that destination themselves. When doing so, they'll generally take advantage of the GPS's built in electronic compass and topographical information to assist them, but more importantly, they'll need to constantly survey the terrain, adjusting their course as needed, in order to reach their end point successfully.

Continue reading Know the limitations of GPS when hiking

Know the limitations of GPS when hiking originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelbackpackingcompassgpsgps navigationgps trackinggps-dayGpsNavigationgpstrackinghikingmapsnavigationtrekkingMon, 02 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trans World Expedition: Driving around the globe]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/01/trans-world-expedition-driving-around-the-globe/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/01/trans-world-expedition-driving-around-the-globe/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/01/trans-world-expedition-driving-around-the-globe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

In a little over two weeks time, on November 15 to be exact, Nicolas Rapp will be setting out on an adventure of a lifetime. He'll be quitting his comfortable job as an art director for the Associated Press, and setting out on a year long road trip, driving his way around the globe.

Nick's route will begin and end in New York City. First, he'll head south into Mexico, continuing down through Central and South America. Eventually he'll ship his vehicle by boat to South Africa, where he'll turn north and drive his way to Europe, before turning east across Asia. From there, he'll once again ship his vehicle, this time across the Pacific, where he'll then complete his expedition by driving across the U.S. back to New York City. You can review his entire route on his website by clicking here.

In order to complete this type of long distance driving journey, the intrepid traveler had to select the perfect vehicle. Nick elected to go with the Toyota Land Cruiser, which seems like the most logical choice. The rugged and powerful 4x4 is used all over the planet, which means finding parts for it should be easy, and it will perform well in nearly any type of terrain. In preparation for the journey, Nick upgraded the suspension, reinforced the bumpers, added a roof rack, and installed a storage system for all of his gear. He also added a rooftop tent to the vehicle which will give him a comfortable place to sleep each night, saving him money on accommodations as he goes.

Continue reading Trans World Expedition: Driving around the globe

Trans World Expedition: Driving around the globe originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A few months back we posted a story about 13-year old Laura Dekker, who was hoping to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world. At the time, the Dutch government stepped in to prevent her from making the journey by placing her under the care of child protection authorities while they reviewed her qualifications to make such a journey. Yesterday, a judge ruled that they felt that she lacked the experience necessary for circumnavigating the globe, and that Laura should remain under the supervision of the Council of Child Protection for the foreseeable future.

The decision isn't a total loss for the now 14-year old girl. Her case will come up for review again next July, when it is quite possible they will rule in her favor and allow her to set out on the voyage. In the meantime, she'll work hard to polish her skills under the tutelage of her father, who is an expert sailor himself. The judge also said that they felt that the teen was mentally prepared for the trip, but that they still had concerns about security and safety issues.

Laura's parents are separated and seem to be split on the young girl's adventure as well. Her father feels that she is more than prepared for the months at sea alone, but her mom has her doubts, and has gone on record as saying that she is too young to set out on her own.

This is just the latest in a growing trend of teens embarking on dangerous adventures so that they can claim the right to be called the youngest to have achieved one goal or another. Personally, I applaud the Dutch Government for taking a stand on this issue. While Laura may very well have the technical abilities necessary for long distance sailing, that doesn't mean that she has the life experience necessary to deal with all the potential adversity she could face while at sea. Besides, if she just wants to make the journey, and it isn't about achieving some record, then where is the harm in waiting a few more years? Does anyone else think that it's wrong for someone this age to set out on such a dangerous voyage?

Dutch teen denied chance to solo circumnavigate the globe, for now originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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