Archive for the ‘Extreme’ Category
Where To Find The Best Destinations For White Water Kayaking
Whitewater kayaking has many excellent destinations around the world for both new and experienced kayakers. The eastern United States has some of the best whitewater conditions you can find.
If you are an experienced kayaker, you probably already know that the eastern United States is one of the best places for whitewater kayaking. The world has many places that are renowned for great kayaking, but the eastern U.S. has several awesome places for professionals and newcomers. Here is a list of excellent destinations for whitewater kayaking. You might want to write them down because they are incredible. Do not miss out!
Hudson River
Acadia National Park
Champlain
Pine Barrens, NJ
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Under Armour vs. Military Thermals: Choosing the Best Ski Gear
I moved to Colorado a little over five years ago. Although I was just a skier at the time, it was my goal to become a snowboarder. Months before the season started, I spent hundreds of dollars on all the gear I would need: Board, bindings, boots, jacket, pants, and a couple layers of fleece sweatshirts to keep me warm on those cold blizzard days. After all these expenses, I found myself short on money and decided to buy a cheap pair of thermal underwear from a local Wal-Mart.
In mid-December of that year, the mountains received quite a dumping of new snow, and my friends and I decided to make the trip to Vail to enjoy the fresh powder. While carving down one of the resort’s legendary bowls, I accidentally caught an edge and ended up sliding face first down the steep incline. By the time I managed to stop myself, a good couple feet of snow had jam-packed my jacket and pants. I was soaked to the bone, freezing cold, and standing in an almost full whiteout blizzard. When I finally reached the lodge, my Wal-Mart thermal underwear was soaked beyond repair, and I had managed to catch quite the nasty cold. Needless to say, I traded the snowboard for a warm bed and a couple gallons of Ny-Quil for the remainder of the weekend.
The following season, I decided that it was time to invest in some quality thermal underwear. Something warm. Something waterproof. At my local sporting goods store, a young salesman recommended the store’s featured product, Under Armour cold gear. I must admit I was a little skeptical at first. I was under the impression that Under Armour was created to keep you dry, not necessarily to keep you warm. However, the young man swore by the new cold gear, and claimed that it was the driest and warmest cold weather protection on the market today. Taking his advice, I purchased a crewneck, pants, socks and an outdoor hood. Although the gear came to over $200, I felt it was worth it to keep my body warm and dry during the next ski season.
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Trekking Machu Picchu: the Inca Trail and other trek routes
The Inca Trail is undoubtedly Peru’s most popular trekking route. Recommended for the physical fit only, it runs for more than 40km and reaches 4,200 m.a.s.l. at its highest point, the Warmiwañuska or Dead Woman’s Pass.
The stone-paved trail, discovered in 1960 and part of the more than 23,000 km of roads built by the Incas across South America, crosses a remarkable range of natural landscapes and eco-systems, from thick tropical jungle to the bear, unwelcoming rocks of the Andean mountains. All in all it’s probably the most beautiful walk in South America.
The Trail takes three to four days of tough hiking, and can be commenced at Chillca (Kilometre 76 of the Cusco-Machu Picchu railway) or, most frequently, at Qorihuayrachina, Kilometre 88 of the railway.
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Top 5 Skydiving Safety Myths
People are afraid of skydiving mainly because there are a lot of myths related to it in the popular culture. These several inaccuracies that have been propagated are the biggest reason for skydiving fear. Here are four of these myths along with the real explanation.
Myth 1: During free fall you can’t breathe
Fact: Breathing during free fall is possible, contrary to the way people tend to think. If breathing wouldn’t be possible the skydiver wouldn’t be able to open the parachute because they would be unconscious.
Myth 2:A conversation can be held during free fall.
Fact: This might be doable in movies but it is strictly Hollywood. The reality is that while free falling you can’t hear anything because the wind screaming through your ears is too loud. Trying to have a conversation in that conditions is impossible.
Myth 3: Holding on to someone that has a parachute is possible, if you don’t have one yourself.
Fact: This is indeed a movie miracle and is 99% likely not to happen. This kind of stunts have been pulled off but again that is almost impossible and that is because of the forces that are at work when the parachute opens.
Myth 4: You can free fall for five minutes
Fact: The cruise height of an airplane is at about 10,000 – 12,000 feet and that means about 40 seconds of free fall before opening the parachute. A five minutes fall requires a height of about 60,000 feet and you would need extra oxygen.
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