Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

Mountains always offer epic and awe-inspiring adventure playgrounds packed with the beauty of nature. From hiking to high-altitude mountaineering, there are plenty of great mountain activities that you can enjoy. However, some mountain adventures may be too challenging and require expert training and skill. You can enjoy these activities while exploring some of the world’s highest yet most beautiful mountains. These mountains are full of fantastic scenery and thrilling adventure spots that can leave you shell-shocked.

5 Best Mountain Adventures

With plenty of exhilarating mountain activities climbers love, we’ve selected the top mountain adventures you surely need to add to your bucket list. Let’s have a look at them:

1. Hiking

Hiking is probably the most popular mountain adventure around. Hiking requires no prior experience, which means you can attempt even if you’re a beginner. However, for the best hiking experience, it’s better to have a local guide with you who helps you on the trail. They will also share their knowledge of a particular area’s cultural diversity and scenery.

Hiking is also great as it helps you stay fit and it’s convenient, economical, and doesn’t require any special equipment. Since hikers can walk as far as they want, they don’t feel any physical strain unless they walk among mountains or hills.

Hiking involves an extensive part of mountain climbing, making experienced climbers realize they need to prepare themselves for arduous hiking trails across glaciers and snowfields. Hiking is essential in outdoor activities, such as skiing, camping, snowshoeing, hunting, etc.

2. Caving

Mountains don’t just consist of peaks but also caves that help you reach the depths of the Earth. You can explore these caves, where primitive people lived, or you can discover animals that live in the dark. Overall, it’s an exciting mountain adventure and definitely worth a try.

The best time for caving is from spring to fall since the ice cave is only possible during summer. However, you must have some caving experience and be familiar with crampons for ice caving.

Overall, it’s an exciting adventure as the underground universe is impressive, and there’s something for everyone. From beginners to experienced ones, everybody can enjoy it!

3. Trekking

Trekking is another form of hiking. However, it’s comparatively more challenging and prolonged. Being a trekker, you will need to prepare for the journey and make sure you have all the essential gear required.

Trekking refers to walking for several days while being partially or entirely self-sufficient. Initially, people mainly trekked in the mountains or to inaccessible locations. However, it’s more common in other types of terrains of all levels.

Trekking is all about discovering new landscapes and cultures every day. Being a trekker, you can choose a trail of your own, including the desert, mountains, countryside, or town.

4. High-Altitude Mountaineering

High-altitude mountaineering is one of the most challenging mountain adventures in which you climb on top of alpine on different types of terrain, whether it’s rock, glacier, or snow. You will need a skilled guide for this activity. You will also need proper equipment like an ice ax, helmet, rope, harness, ice picks, etc.

Some people also call it mountain climbing since it’s an activity of attaining high altitudes in mountainous regions for the pleasure of the climb. Though the term mountaineering often refers to walking on low mountains that are relatively easy, high-altitude mountaineering is restricted to climbing in localities with challenging terrains and hazardous weather conditions. That’s why mountaineering is dangerous for inexperienced climbers.

Mountaineering is also different from other outdoor sports since it’s all about challenges for the participants. Climbing mountains tests one’s strength, stamina, ability, courage, and resourcefulness in the situation of risk. Mountaineering is also a group sport in which each member supports their group’s achievement at every stage.

Mountaineering is about conquering the peak of a mountain and the spiritual and physical satisfactions the mountain climbers get.

5. Via-Ferrata

Via-Ferrata is a well-known rope activity where enthusiasts climb to experience mesmerizing views and challenging peaks. You need to have basic knowledge about climbing and scrambling techniques for Via-Ferrata. You also need special equipment for it. And if possible, have a local guide with you.

The term has Italian origins and means the Iron Path. This refers to mountain routes where steel cable rails are used to traverse mountain surfaces.

The rails can be attached to different surfaces and other climbing support equipment, such as rocks, zip wires, ladders, suspension bridges, etc.

Via-Ferrata refers to both the outdoor activity and the route, where participants hook their harness to the wire to climb. In the middle of the path, Via-Ferratas allow non-experienced climbers to summit the high altitudes safely, using limited equipment.

Via-Ferrata first became popular during World War I in order to help troops travel through mountains. They built several protected routes in the mountainous region of northeastern Italy, Dolomites. Later, The Italian Alpine Club restored those routes and made them accessible to climbers, giving fame to Via-Ferrata.

Overall, Via-Ferrata is a fantastic way of exploring the beauty of mountains, with virtually no experience required. However, you need to be in good physical shape with no fear of heights. Some routes are even accessible for children aged eight or above, making it an excellent option for a family picnic.

Wrapping Up

With mesmerizing views, there are also various exciting adventures that mountains offer. These activities add tremendous value to your trip to beautiful mountain ranges such as Mount Everest and K2. However, while some of these adventures require essential equipment and knowledge, others need proper tools, techniques, or even a guide to help you. If you’re a mountain enthusiast and haven’t tried some of these adventures, it’s the best time to do so!

by Bobby J Davidson

We are in business to provide great products for the outdoorsy hikers, campers and their dogs; and to help clean our parks, rivers and oceans for a better planet earth for hikers and their dogs.

Parks Clean

Parks are high-traffic areas in most cities. This means that trash is bound to show up in and around your park and playground.

When discussing ways your family can help clean your local park, don’t overlook a literal cleanup! Picking up trash will make a huge difference in the appearance and vibe of your park. A clean area will encourage others to keep the park pristine. When picking up trash and debris, make sure to wear gloves to protect yourself, and put trash in appropriate receptacles or lawn bags. You can also contact your local trash company to schedule a pickup when you are finished.

Rivers Clean

The storm drain on your street collects the water from your roof, driveway, and sidewalk and funnels it directly in your local lake or river. Nutrients from grass and leaves, pet waste, and fertilizers “enrich” our lakes and streams — feeding algae blooms and harming fish. Chemicals from washing your car in the drive and household chemical spills add up, taking a nasty toll on our favorite swimming areas and fishing spots. Soil can also be picked up by runoff, reducing the clarity of water and hurting fish.

So as you prepare your lawn and garden, here are a few helpful tips to keep our lakes and rivers beautiful and safe for all of us.

Use mulch and vegetation to keep soil from washing away.
Sweep or rake grass and leaves away from street curbs.
Mulch and compost grass clippings and leaves.
Keep paved surfaces to a minimum.
Capture water runoff with a rain garden and rain barrels.
Wash your car on the grass, where the water will get filtered.
Keep chemicals away from storm drains.
Collect your pet’s waste.
Aim your rain-gutter downspouts onto grass.

Beaches Clean (do it for the ocean)

In 2007, the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed the National Clean Beaches Week Resolution to recognize the value of beaches to the American way of life and the important contributions of beaches to the economy, recreation, and natural environment of the United States.

Clean Beaches Week, celebrated annually July 1-7, offers the perfect opportunity to encourage stewardship and volunteerism along our coastlines. But where do you even begin? Follow these tips to get started.

Identify a clean-up site. Choose a place that needs some TLC, making sure that volunteers can safely access the site. Get permission, if needed, for your clean-up event, perhaps from the local parks agency.
Choose a site coordinator. (That might be you!) A beach clean-up takes a lot of work and needs an organized person to keep everything on track before, during, and after the event.
Visit the site in advance. The coordinator will need to know where to set up a volunteer check-in station, where to leave trash and recyclables, and what area(s) volunteers will clean.
Gather supplies. Depending on your location, you’ll need supplies such as trash bags, a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, wipes, and large coolers of water. You should also provide (or ask volunteers to bring) items such as reusable work/garden gloves, reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Plan how to handle the recyclables. Reach out to recyclers in your area (and perhaps your community’s solid waste departments) to make arrangements for accepting any glass, plastic, and aluminum that you collect.
Line up event partners. Contact local businesses for donations of drinks, food, and supplies. Ask a local solid waste hauler to donate their services for trash removal.
Plan for handling hazardous waste. Determine how you’ll dispose of any medical and sewage waste you might find. One solution: A wide-mouth container with a tight-fitting lid, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Clearly label that it contains hazardous waste.
Get volunteers to help. Recruit friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Create an event on Facebook and ask volunteers to sign up online. This will give you an idea of how many people to expect and will help communicate event details.
Stay safe. Be prepared for a variety of health emergencies, from minor cuts and scrapes to heat stroke.
Take photos! Post pics online to share the success of your event and recognize volunteers for their hard work.