Adventure People

Michael Leuthe completes a 57 day canoe trip.

Don Shannon tackles Mt. Kinnabalu, the highest mountain in SE Asia.

Don Shannon does some hardcore caving in Gunung Mulu National Park

Stefee Knudsen goes trekking in Torres del Paine in Chile and El Chalten, Argentina.

Ken Siliver goes trekking in the clouds of India.

DJ shoots his independent film in the rapids and canyons of Northern Idaho.

Paul Keen spends one half year riding his bicycle through Australia.

Marilyn Grashow rides a horse through Mongolia.

Kelly Langford spends three months volunteering in Ecuador.

After four visits to Tanzania, Harold Hedin still find his heart in East Africa.

Augustine Wu goes canyoning in Interlaken, Switzerland – one week before a tragic event.

Sinead Murtagh underestimated Tanzania. She learned to let go and have some fun.

BootsnAll Daniel Demole tackels the mythical snows of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Pia Nielsen heads into the jungles of Peru and experiences friendly people open to strangers.

While working in Iraq, Gary Pierce takes a break from the war and visits Tanzania with his young son.

Manfred Philp thinks Laos has the best jungle, rivers, mountains and villages. It beats Thailand for sure!

BootsnAll member Joseph Tafuro climbs Erg Chebbi, Morocco’s largest sand dunes.

Completely exhausted almost falling asleep, Dan Lowery managed to summit one of the highest peaks in the Andes.

Karlien Van Houtte finds free camping, and warm people, through her journey in Mongolia.

Kate Fuller tells you EVERYTHING you need to know about NOLS – National Outdoor Leadership School

Joanna Whyte reflects on her trekking experiences in Borneo.

Anna Oliver spends over one month trekking, and backpacking, through South Africa.

Zopa Krellisma

Adventure Traveller

1. Age: 30
2. Nationality: USA
3. Where was your adventure?: United States
4. How many days was it?: 7
5. What type of adventure?: Extreme Sports
6. Give us a general overview of your adventure:
   I drove myself in a rented car out to North Carolina’s Outer Banks in Kitty Hawk, home of the Wright brother’s first successful flight. In June of 2004, I tried out hanggliding as a way to celebrate my 30th birthday.

   I spent about 5 hours doing “dune lessons” first. I was getting used to the apparataus and launching myself from the top of large sand dunes (and at times, into the sand dunes.) Two days later, I was towed up by an Ultralight plane and released from 2000 feet while in tandem with the guide. We spiraled downward from that height. It was absoulutely exhilirating, with such a rush-lasted it last for about a half hour afterwards.

7. Was it difficult?: no
   Why or why not?
   The experienced guides make sure you are safe and know the basics before taking off.
8. Would you recommend this adventure trip to someone else? Why or Why Not?
   Yes. The instructors are patient, experienced, laid back and very safety-minded.
9. What do you wish you would have done differently?
   I wish I would have gone up even higher than the 2000 feet. They have a mile-high option.
10. What kind of advice can you give to other travellers going on this adventure?
    Make sure to dress warmly. You are very high up, bring a camera (that you would not mind losing)
11. What type of gear did you bring?
    They provided me with sunglasses. I just wore pants and a long sleeved shirt.
12. Where is your next big adventure? Why?
    I hope to go out hangglide again this summer for another 2000 ft. flight.
13. Did you travel before or after your adventure? If so, where?
    Yes, I stayed in the hostel in the Outer Banks and spent a lot of time at the National Seashore. I was the only one on the beach many times – and this was in June. I saw Pea Island Nationtal’l Wildlife Refuge and Aligator River State Park. The parks offers kayak and canoe trips cheaper than local outfitters do.
14. On your adventure, what person did you most identify with?
    Indiana Jones

In BootsnAll’s adventure travel section, we are highlighting different people’s adventures around the world. We need your help! Have you ever done a great rafting trip? Climbed a huge (or small) peak? Or done an amazing adventure that you wouldn’t mind sharing with others? It could even be something random like finding a cool remote village, snow shoeing, riding a motorcycle through a country – anything that has a little taste of adventure.

Aya Kitahama hikes through valleys and forests outside Luang Prabang.

Start climbing early and attempt the climb in the summer – Charlotte Champigny gives her advice for climbing Mt Antero.

Want to cycle in Vietnam? Emily Westheimer hastips to get you started.

Willy Volk gives tips for rafting the Zambezi River!

Donovan Pacholl gives you the basics for preparing for an african safari.

Elizabeth Smith gives some tips for long multi-day rafting trips.

Marisa Umsawasdi deals with Mother Nature’s elements to hike Machu Picchu.