Would you rappel into one of the world's deepest slot canyons just so you could climb out?   Writer Mark Synnott talked four of his friends into doing just that - rappelling into a chasm on the Island of Borneo.  The goal was to climb 13,500 feet, Mount Kinabalu, one of the tallest in Southeast Asia, but the unique angle was to start from the bottom of Low's Gully, a deep, 10-mile-long rift that slices into Kinabalu's north face. You can read all about this harrowing journey on the  Men's Journal Web site.

If you are (or think you might want to be) a rock- or an ice-climber, you might also like Climbing in Montana's Glacier Country and Start Climbing - Enjoy Natural Highs or Mountaineering, Rock and Ice Climbing.

Would You Rappel Down the World's Deepest Slot Canyon Just to Climb Out? originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Thursday, March 18th, 2010 at 21:00:12.

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Did you know that while skiing, snowboarding or playing at any sport in elevations above 6,000 feet you exhale and perspire twice as much moisture as you do at sea level? Fatigue while enjoying high altitude sports can lead to dangerous decisions, which might get you hurt, or at least, an early end to to your active play day. Bridger Bowl, a Montana ski resort, has created a "Hydration Station" with lots of tips for anyone sporting in high country.

Do you know:

• on cold days you lose most of your fluids through respiration
• altitude is a thirst suppressant as well as an appetite suppressant
• elevations above 6,000 feet you exhale and perspire twice as much moisture as you do at sea level
• you can lose between a half to one quart of fluid per hour of skiing on lift-served terrain
• after 2 hours of not replenishing lost fluids while skiing, your energy output will begin to significantly decrease, even if you started your day adequately hydrated

You'll find many of the dehydration warning signs, and tips on how proper hydration will improve your day at the Bridger Bowl Hydration Station.

We ski and hike with Camelbaks.  This company has more than 40 different hydration systems designed for various sports from skiing to biking and trekking. The company also has a line of water bottles with leak-proof tops.

Too Pooped to Play Toward the End of an Active Sports Day? originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Sunday, March 14th, 2010 at 09:05:53.

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Looking for scuba diving operations, kayaking, snorkeling, windsurfing, paddleboarding, surfing, wakeboarding and other water-related activities near you, or where you want to go on your next vacation? You'll find them on WaterplayUSA.com, a free directory that lists water sports and water-related activities around the country.

  The Web site is easy to use. Simply click on the desired activity then zoom into a specific location on the map and a list of shops will appear. Or, put a location in a search box and click on "find water sports."  WaterplayUSA.com lists thousands of business for active water sports, plus listings for boat charters, sailing schools, and boat, kayak, and jet rentals and more.

Find Water Sports Near You In Free Web Directory originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Thursday, March 11th, 2010 at 20:50:57.

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We swam in Dos Ojos, where the fresh water was crystal clear. Using powerful spotlights, the experience was akin to a night dive through a magical garden of thousands of stalactites, stalagmites and columns. In Cancun, Mexico, or neighboring Riviera Maya, scuba diving and snorkeling in cenotes - water-filled underground caves are increasingly popular with vacationers.

Photo © R Friedland

Scuba Diving and Snorkeling in Cenotes - Caverns near Cancun, Mexico originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 07:15:16.

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Whitewater rafting on rivers in the East should be spectacular this spring, courtesy of  the recent blizzards. Info about spring trips are flowing into my email box. Family-owned  River Expeditions just announced dates for its annual whitewater season opener.  The 28th annual Ice Breaker Weekend is April 10-11, and rafters should expect thrills and chills (wear a wet suit if you own or can borrow one) on the New River in the heart of West Virginia's New River Gorge National Park.  Prices for this weekend's day trips are discounted, but the thrills are among the best of the river rafting season.   For more info about River Expeditions and other  river rafting trips this spring and summer visit Where to Find the Best Whitewater Trips.

Eastern Blizzards Bring Spectacular Spring Whitewater Rafting Trips originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 16:54:41.

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NileGuide has a wonderful collection of "50 Quotes to Inspire Adventure Travel" put together by the site's founder Josh Steinitz. The quotes range from "Whether we call it sacrifice, or poetry, or adventure, it is always the same voice that calls." -Antoine de Saint-Exupery to "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." -T. S. Eliot.

This Web site lets you customize your trip planning. Advice and info comes from a blend of recommendations from locals, plus content from a variety of destination guides, booking sites, user-submitted reviews and popular review sites.You'll find a link to the 50 quotes plus more information about planning custom adventure - and more sedate - trips on NileGuide.

Seeking Adventure Travel Customized Trip Planning? originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 14:43:37.

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National Geographic Adventure's online magazine has announced its Readers' Choice  Adventurers of the Year.  Who says your vote doesn't count?  With more than 20,000 readers voting, it turned out to be a tie between two special people.  Explorer-engineer Albert Yu-Min Lin was chosen for organizing a high-risk expedition to search for Ghenghis Khan's lost tomb in Mongolia's "Forbidden Zone."  Wounded Iraq war veteran Marc Hoffmeister led a team of soldiers, many with missing limbs, on an expedition up Denali's dangerous West Buttress route.

National Geographic Adventure Online Names "Adventurers of the Year" originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 18:12:45.

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If you want to turn your next vacation into a reality TV-style adventure, consider this amazing race for ordinary travelers. Competitours  was so successful last year that the company is running eight trips from May through August.

Contestants on the Amazing Race TV show race around the world, but on a Competitours adventure race you travel  around four European countries for nine days on a course designed to challenge you and immerse you in the culture of the countries you visit. Each trip has a secret itinerary and participants are fed the information a half-day before each stop.

On each trip, this spring and summer, 17 teams will participate in the adventures.  In a novel approach, Competitours does not ask for payment until the trip is completed. The company that puts together these complex trips believes: "We are confident that we will deliver on a thrilling, culturally immersive experience, and we want to prove that by removing any upfront risk for you."   Competitours is an intriguing and reasonably priced approach to exploring the world.  Did I mention that first place teams of two share  $5500 or 220,000 Starwood Preferred Guest ® Starpoints®?

The Amazing Race for Ordinary Travelers is a True Adventure originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 at 20:25:06.

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If you want to take your kids on an adventurous trip next summer, it's not too early to think about where you want to go and which travel companies offer the most exciting family adventure travel vacations.  You could go rafting down a river in Peru then tour Machu Picchu with Disney Vacations.  Why not take them kayaking and hiking in Alaska with Austin Lehman Adventures, explore the Galapagos Islands with Ecoventura, or take your kids for a donkey ride near the pyramids in Egypt with Gap Adventures.  Here's a list of  top companies that feature family adventure vacations

Where Will You Take the Kids Next Summer? originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Sunday, February 21st, 2010 at 16:55:19.

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Explore the newest and hottest places on our planet with top About.com travel guides during a special panel at The New York Times Travel Show, 1:30 pm, Sunday, Feb. 28. Guides from London, Hawaii, Paris, New England and New York, plus guides who specialize in honeymoons and romantic travel, and in state and national parks, will be there to give you the latest information about their special areas. Get your questions ready.

The New York Times Travel Show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center is open to trade professionals on Friday, Feb. 26 and to the public on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 27-28. Throughout the weekend there will be stage performances featuring entertainment from different countries, activities for the kids and giveaways.

If you're trying to decide where your lust for adventure travel will lead you next, visit the Best Adventure Travel Companies to see which companies offer trips compelling enough for you to say "Let's go!"

Go Around the World With About.com's Travel Guides originally appeared on About.com Adventure Travel on Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 at 08:11:17.

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