A Don’t Miss Adventure … Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

By Jessica

Machu Picchu, nestled in the Andes in Peru, was built by the Incans in the 15th century as either a holy place or a royal retreat. It was rediscovered by American explorer HIram Bingham on July 24, 1911.

A mere 97 years later, I reached the gates of Machu Picchu.

It is much different today than the day Hiram discovered it. Nowadays, buses tote tourists from Aquas Calientes down the mountain from Machu Picchu. Walking it would take an hour.

The trek I took, by foot from KM 82 on the Inca Trail, was a four-day journey. While you can take a train from Cusco to Aquas Calientes and then a bus to Machu Picchu, I recommend booking in advance and taking the four-day trek.

Reaching Machu Picchu by foot after four days of hiking, including conquering Dead Woman’s Pass, creates a rich and fulfilling, even spiritual, experience. You will walk past and through many small villages and other Incan ruins along the way.

You bond with your hiking group and the porters that carry your heavy packs, make your meals, and so much more.

And maybe most of all, you will spend four days in the Andes, witnessing spectacular views first hand.

Be sure to book early. Tickets for the Inca Trail are limited and sell out quickly! Check out a panoramic view of Machu Picchu!

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Geocaching: A Real Life Treasure Hunt

By admin

This is a guest post by Bob Garbett.

Sometimes when I tell folks my wife and I are going “geocaching,” I get a blank stare in return or they say, “geo-huh?”

My wife has a t-shirt which describes it best – “I use multi-billion dollar military technology to look for tupperware hidden in the woods.” Essentially that’s it. A “cacher” will hide a container (hopefully watertight) and then post the GPS coordinates on the geocaching web site. Usually a theme or a story goes along with the cache and many are placed in beautiful or interesting places you may not otherwise visit. Once published, other cachers proceed to look for it, posting their “finds” online.

The only tools you need are a handheld GPS device, which can locate caches based on latitude and longitude, maybe some hiking boots and bug spray depending on when and where you “hunt.”

Caches are rated on difficulty and terrain using a scale of 1 to 5. Generally, 1 ratings are handicap accessible and 5 ratings require some extraordinary means or effort to reach. We have had to canoe after some, solve puzzles to get coordinates, etc.

If you want to rack up numbers, there are “park and grabs” in just about every town, from 35 mm film canisters in the base of lamp posts to small metal tubes hanging in trees in city parks. If you are more adventuresome, you can hike over a mile to get to one ammo can or lock-n-lock box (these are our favorites). We have cached from the coast to the mountains and many places along the way.

The containers range in size from a micro, which is just a little larger than the eraser on the end of a pencil to an ammo can the size of a suitcase. (There may even be larger ones, but that’s the biggest we’ve found.)

Our favorite so far was one called “Bradley’s Rock Collection.” It was placed by a stream in the Bent Creek Recreational Area of the Pisgah National Forest in the mountains of North Carolina where we camped, hiked and hunted for caches last summer. The container was full of various rocks, minerals and fossils – each with a description.

Kids love the hobby because it is a real life treasure hunt. You want to keep the locations “secret” so they remain hidden and the kids get to be “sneaky” along the way. Geocaching is a great way to have fun, get out there and enjoy the adventure along the way.

Bob is a bi-vocational pastor serving New Hope Baptist Church, Beulaville, NC. He also is the coordinator for the NC Justice Academy’s Management Development Program. Among the topics he teaches are leadership, critical incident management and communication.  He and his wife, Eileen, have been married for over 27 years. They enjoy camping, hiking, canoeing, geocaching, running and other outdoor activities where they are able to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. They have one son, Jared, who is a rising senior at Campbell University. Check out his blog. 

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Springtime Hiking

By Jessica

Here’s a short clip from last weekend’s hike along Panther Creek Trail. Springtime can be one of the best times of years to hike. A coolness still lingers in the breeze, the flowers are in full bloom, and the smell of their blossoms fill the air.

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Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

By Jessica

Looking for a gift for your outdoorsy or adventurous mom? Here are a few deals and options to consider.

1. Order from Moosejaw and get two day shipping free. Or buy a gift card with a little extra boost.

Free 2-day Shipping on orders over $99 with code 823
Free $21 promotion e-Gift card with the purchase of the $100 e-gift card through Mother’s Day with code 314.


2. Shop REI now. REI is celebrating its anniversary, touting its biggest sale of the year. Check out the deals online or visit a store. But hurry! Their sale ends May 10. REI Online
3. Rock Climbing Gym Membership. Is your mom an avid climber? Is she looking to try a new sport? Many rock climbing gyms offer deals on summer memberships. Check out your local rock climbing gym. Live in Atlanta-metro area? Ask Escalade about their summer membership.
4. Weekend getaway. Plan your mom’s favorite getaway this Mother’s Day weekend. Surprise her by taking care of all the planning and packing, so all mom has to do is relax and enjoy.
5. Plan a big adventure. Each year my dad and I have a father-daughter big adventure. We’ve been hang gliding and skydiving. Start a tradition with you mom for a annual Mom’s Day adventure.

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National Geographic’s Top 10 American Adventures

By Jessica

What better source to find adventures than National Geographic. I recently posted my Top 1o Georgia Adventures but here’s something for everyone. National Geographic lists the following Top 10 Best American Adventures:

1. Biking the Continental Divide Trail: Multistate
2. Kayaking Lake Yellowstone: Wyoming
3. Rowing Down the Grand Canyon: Arizona
4. Climbing Mount Rainier: Washington
5. Canoeing the Adirondacks: New York
6. Exploring ANWR: Alaska
7. Biking RAGBRAI: Iowa
8. Surfing the Lost Coast: California
9. Hiking the Sierra High Route: California 10. Wreck Diving Lake Superior: Minnesota
For more info on each adventure, read the entire article on the Top 50 Best American Adventures.

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Tribute to First American Everest Climb

By Jessica

May 1, May Day, is an historical day in the climbing world. On May 1, 1963, Jim Whittaker and a team of American climbers became the first Americans to summit Mount Everest. As a tribute to his climb, Jim’s nephew with another team of Americans shot this video 46 years later on May 1, 2009. Check out more about Jim Whittaker and his Everest climb.

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