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Articles on Xtreme Matters:

What to bring on Your Whitewater Rafting Trip

Whitewater rafting is a hugely popular sport, and it should come as no surprise to anyone who has felt the addiction that the rapids holds that there are more people discovering the thrill of whitewater rafting every year. There are many companies that provide excursions down rivers across the world, and the United States and Canada are no exception.

The number of rafting outfitters out there means that rafters have a lot of option when it comes to what they would like to do for their trip. A casual float down Class III rapids or a wild contest with Class Vs are available in almost every state and province. Every outfitter offers at least a five hour trip, with many offering anywhere up to week-long excursions to really explore the rivers across this continent. No matter how long a trip you are planning for, there are some essential items that you need to bring along in order to have the best experience possible.

Protection from the sun
Whether you are embarking on a trip that can be measured in hours or in days, the most important equipment to bring along are items that can protect you from the sun's rays. Remember, you will be out on open water, and even though you may not feel the heat, there is little protection out there from the sun.

"Most of your efforts go into protecting yourself from the sun," states Michael, a guide with Holiday Expeditions, which runs rapids on the Colorado River, Green River, Yampa River, San Juan River, Snake River and the Salmon River in Idaho. To that extent, he always tells rafters to make sure to bring along good sunscreen, a water bottle, and sunglasses.

Virtually every company we talked to agreed that the battle with the sun was the most crucial in deciding what to bring along. Jeff Proctor, of Class VI River Runners (which runs excursions down the New River and Gauley River in West Virginia, concurs with the basic list set out by Michael, and also adds that other weather considerations are crucial.

"For the shoulder season (when the weather begins to turn), rent a wet suit or paddling jacket." Wet suits and paddling jackets are included in some trip prices, others offer them for rent, inquire when making your river rafting reservation.

Longer Trips
Many whitewater rafting outfitters provide trips that will last for longer than one day, and for these trips some additional thought is needed when preparing your gear.

Proctor points out that foot gear is important. "Folks should come dressed for the river, with a shoe or sandal that can get wet and stay on your feet. You should still feel comfortable walking around on a sandy beach."

Sandy beaches are part of what makes packing for a two-day trip down the Holiday runs a lot easier; "With warm sandy beaches to camp on, you don't need much gear. A light weight tent, a basic sleeping bag and pad is all that you need,' states Michael.

As for other equipment, well, both outfitters want to make sure that you always remember the trip, so in the words of Michael "Don't forget your camera!"

What if you forget?
When making your rafting trip reservation, ask your chosen outfitter what to bring. If you forget something on your checklist, there is no need to panic. Most river outfitters have stores at their expedition base-camps where they sell or rent out any equipment that rafters may need.

There is nothing quite like getting out and taking on nature in one of its most powerful forms, so make sure that before you hit the river you prepare for the trip. It's guaranteed that your first time will not be your last!

Marshall Krueger
19 Dec 2006

Marshall Krueger is an avid outdoorsman and up and coming writer currently contributing to CanadaWildOutfitters.com and RaftInfo.com

Mountain Climbing Isn't For Everyone, But It Is Addictive

Mountaineering (mountain climbing) is a classic sport, which has been done for countless years. Combining rock, snow, and ice climbing with hiking and sometimes camping, and it is understandable why it is such a timeless sport.

Mountaineering has one goal: to reach the next summit, or the top. There are many mountains, all with different heights and obstacles and so it is easy to accommodate anyone's level of experience, beginner to expert. Many start out learning how to mountain climb by essentially hiking up hill. It is a good place to start because it is far less intimidating to ease your way into the sport.

Mountain climbing experiences are unpredictable. Because of this, it not only physically stimulates you, but mentally as well. Environment can range from freezing to sweltering hot (even in the same day!) as altitude, weather and sub angles change. These changes challenge your mental ability to plan in advance, improve, problem solve, and navigate, while physically challenging your physical conditioning and climbing skills.

You must be well prepared in regards to the experience you have and the equipment you bring along. To start, you can get by with basic hiking equipment such as rations, tents and sleeping bags. As difficulty increases, however, so does the amount of stuff you need. This is where the ropes and other equipment and gear used for climbing and survival become necessary.

If you think mountaineering may be something that you are interested in, there are a few things to do to start pursuing the sport. First and foremost, note that mountain climbing, regardless of level, requires a certain amount of time, money, and fitness. If you can accommodate that, the next to do is figure out which type of mountain climbing is best for you.

Some things to consider, as you are trying to decide the best type of climbing for you, are if you enjoy hiking or climbing more, your preferred type of weather to be active in, and how much work you want to put into the sport. If you're unsure, try a few beginners' trails in different areas and decide what you like about each and dislike.

It may be a good idea to hire a mountain guide if you are a beginner. Mountain guides are professionals who can help you up a mountain safely, as they are generally adept climbers and/or skiers, who know the terrain. They can fill you with useful advice and help you learn skills. This goes for those wanting to take on a highly advanced mountain, or a self taught mountaineer, as mountain guides, especially certified ones have usually done numerous trainings and has seemingly countless hours of personal experience for you to learn from.

Many people have come to love mountain climbing from complete obsession to fun hobby. If you are interested in mountain climbing, it is definitely something people everywhere will tell you is worth pursuing!

Gregg Hall
22 Jan 2007

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Dog Houses at http://www.dog-houses-online.com

How Do You Decide That a Particular Sport is an Extreme Sport?

What are the determining factors in naming a sport extreme? There are many sports considered to be extreme sports today but how did they become to be known as such? Some came from seemingly benign beginnings and have evolved to more dangerous sports. The addiction to these sports it seems comes from the associated adrenaline rush that comes from the participation in them. Let's look at some examples of extreme sports.

Skateboarding is considered the best known of extreme sports and was actually started in the sixties by bored surfers looking for a way to get exercise and cross train when the surf wasn't up. The sport took on a life of its own and soon national competitions were being held bringing the cult sport into mainstream America. From its humble beginnings the sport has now garnered worldwide attention.

The cold weather sister to skateboarding is snow boarding which takes the same movements and more onto the snow. This extreme sport has really caught fire today and in the last winter Olympics the snowboarding events were among the most popular. As its popularity has grown many resorts have added specialized snowboard trails and trick spots.

The sport that takes biking to the extreme is BMX biking. There are a couple of different versions of this sport with one being like traditional racing with dirt jumps and obstacles. Freestyle BMX is more closely related to skateboarding as they use the same courses as the skateboarders use and perform tricks on their bikes.

Have you seen the skiers that do all the crazy tricks and flips coming off of ramps on the slopes? This is freestyle skiing and is one of the most popular of the winter extreme sports. Like snowboarding, this sport has its own tricks and its own language.

An extreme sport mainly for the more mature of participants has recently evolved to be called sport climbing. With sport climbing there are preset handgrips and a designated course to climb with the goal to prove one's strength and athletic ability.

Ever felt the urge to jump out of an airplane? Most people don't, but still this has become a very popular sport that gives an enormous adrenaline rush from the initial jump. Parachuting teams work together to form shapes and perform choreographed aerial maneuvers while freefalling.

There is no doubt that as our culture seeks new ways to create excitement there will be new extreme sports introduced that may prove to be just as popular as the ones we see now.

Gregg Hall
01 Feb 2007

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as RV Accessories and Camping at http://www.rvandcampingplus.com