Running With The Dog Sledding Pack

Enjoy Dog Sledding in Whistler

Sometimes a great adventure can be the result of a totally spontaneous decision. Like when my brother Gabe decided to skip his second day of snowboarding in Whistler, British Columbia and instead try a day of dog sledding. He had tired himself out the previous day and decided to head to the village for some much needed relaxation. Although there are over 200 shops in the Whistler Village, Gabe has never been much of a shopper. He wandered around until he came across a kiosk in the village that had brochures advertising dog sledding tours. Willing to give it a try, he signed up and wound up experiencing an incredible and truly Canadian adventure.

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What To Do If You See A Bear While Hiking

Bear encounter

Let’s face it. The more you hike in the great outdoors, the more likely you are to have an encounter with a bear. Knowing what to do is a crucially important survival skill. Most of the time an encounter with a bear will be brief and harmless if you know what to do, but too often I’ve heard people made bad decisions that have resulted in tragedy. I’ll share with you some of my own experiences and a few unfortunate stories so we can learn together how to handle these situations safely.

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Up, Up, And Away In A Hot Air Balloon

Hot Air Balloon

Okay, I’ve got something to admit. I have a small fear of heights. The fact that I’m on my way to be propelled up several thousands of feet into the sky is making my stomach churn. However, I’ve been told that a ride in a hot air balloon is nothing to be frightened of and is actually quite an enjoyable experience. So I’m headed out to Perris, CA to meet the balloon crew that will help me overcome my fear by participating in my very first hot air balloon ride.

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Learning How To Snowshoe With REI

Snowshoeing with REI

So you’re an expert snowboarder, you’ve tried skiing, and you don’t have access to a snowmobile. What else could you possibly do to enjoy the snow? What about learning how to snowshoe? I know, when I first thought about trying it, I was like, “Is that even fun? Seems like a lot of work”. But let me tell you, snowshoeing can be an incredible amount of fun and a totally new way to enjoy the beauty of the winter season.

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You Belong Among The Wildflowers

Wildflowers in Gormon, CA

Sometimes nature can put on such and immense display of beauty, you are shaken to the core of your being and awakened to the magnificence that is in our world. Pretty deep thoughts, I know. But this is exactly what I felt as I drove past the hills in Gorman, California one April morning. In fact I was so overcome by the beauty I saw, I had to pull off the freeway and get a closer look at the fields of brilliantly colored spring wildflowers on display.

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Surviving The Half Dome Challenge

Half Dome in Yosemite, CA

Hiking to the top of Half Dome is definitely a bucket list adventure that can be accomplished by the average hiker. All it takes is planning, maybe some endurance training, and a whole lot of mental motivation. Caution! This is an extremely difficult hike that will challenge your physical abilities. That being said, it is still extremely doable and an incredible experience to accomplish. In this story I’ll guide you through some first hand knowledge to help you make it to the top successfully!

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Discovering The Zion Narrows Along The Virgin River

Sometimes adventures can occur that are totally unplanned and of a complete surprise to us. These are usually spur-of-the-moment events that you can neither plan for nor predict when they will occur. An experience like this will usually catch us off guard, but if executed safely can fill our wonderful thirst for adventure, spark our imaginations and ignite our desires to continue exploring. This happened when two friends of mine and I were on the last day of a 3-day visit to Zion National Park in Utah.

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Hiking In Valley Of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire State Park

Sure, everyone loves Las Vegas. But sometimes the noisy slot machines, stuff your face buffets, and dizzying nightclubs can wear you down. You might go for a jog or a quick dip in the pool to help break up the monotony of gambling, but what if you’re looking for something a little more outdoorsy? I found a place where you can get all the nature time you want and it’s less than an hours drive from the Vegas Strip. I’m talking about a place called the Valley of Fire, Nevada’s oldest and largest state park.

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