What is Adventure Travel?

February 13 2009 by Neal Mueller

WhatisAdventureTravel.jpgAdventure travel is a broad term. There are a few things that I personally keep to when describing my own definition of the term. For me, an adventure has these components:


  • Engagement with nature and cultures.
  • Tangible end goal. A tangible end goal that pushes me to expand my known set of abilities.
  • Physical and mental test. An adventure will test my physically endurance and my mental fortitude. Pushing my mental endurance is even more rewarding than my physical endurance. My body should reach its limits before my mind quits. If this happens, I look back on the trip with pride and see it as a stepping stone to the next adventure.

  • Stepping stone. Short term objectives that serve as stepping stones to long-term goals. The 7 Summits is a perfect example for this. My long term goal was to reach the summit of the tallest peak on each of the seven continents; these are called the 7 summits. Each summit, however was a short term objective that in itself was a major accomplishment. Bringing each of these major accomplishments together culminated in achieving a life-altering long term goal.

The adventure activity should fit your preferences. There are lots of inspiring options out there; my previous blogposts mention some.

Here is just one example of an adventure... Colorado 14ers. A fourteener is a mountain that exceeds 14,000 feet. There are 53 such peaks in the state. These peaks are tough, but they are achievable. If you plan well and are weather aware, you can summit most in a single day. They vary in difficulty, which is a perfect recipe for a long term adventure goal. Each is unique in accomplishment and beauty. Colorado is one of the greatest summer travel destinations in the world, and I welcome any excuse to visit Denver, Colorado Springs, Telluride, or Durango.

Frontier and United Airlines call Denver home and offer direct flights from all over the world. 14ers are an inexpensive endeavor that can provide a lifetime of challenge and joy. For more information, there are several outstanding websites devoted people who have made it their mission to climb all 53 of these mountains. I personally love climbing in Colorado; most recently (November 2008) I hiked up Mount Elbert, the tallest of the fourteeners, with my good friend Adam. These mountains are just one example of an adventure trip.

Whatever adventure you pick I'd enjoy hearing about it.

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