Sports | Expect Experience

Sea Kayaking – An Alternative

For those who have become bored with kayaking on rivers and small lakes, take heart, there is another way to enjoy kayaking – sea kayaking. Sea (or touring) kayaks are an entirely different breed paddled in a much different environment. Sea kayaks are built for sailing on open waters – large lakes, bays and oceans.

By design, sea kayaks are seaworthy. They are longer and have a covered deck. Because they are essentially kayaks and meant for straight line travel without sacrificing maneuverability. These kayaks can be anywhere from 10 to 18 feet long for one person and up to 26 feet long for two or three paddlers and their supplies. These craft are built for trips of a few hours or several weeks.

Sea kayaks originated in Alaska, Canada and southern Greenland around 4,000 years ago. They were used primarily for hunting and fishing by the native populations.

Today, sea kayaks are also used for recreation in a variety of different locations and environments. In many cases, very little kayaking experience is needed. Glacier Bay, Alaska is a great example. These waters are home to whales, orcas and other wildlife

Another totally different environment for sea kayakers is North Carolina’s Outer Banks. These barrier islands along the state’s coast are home to Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, ape Hatteras National Forest and the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. There are also many small coastal towns and historic sites along the Outer Banks that are worth seeing.

Down Easter Island, Maine boasts of some of the most rugged coastline on the east coast. The coastline is full of small coves and inlets that beg to be explored.

Another Alaskan sea kayaking paradise is Prince William Sound. The sound is protected from the ocean by mountains and glaciers and abounds in wildlife, including the bald eagle.

Cumberland Island, Georgia is considered to be the premier sea kayaking area on the east coast. The island is located in tidal marsh and is home to many wildlife species.

Atchafalaya Basin in Louisiana is a varied sea kayak trip that moves through bald cypress swamps, bayous and brackish water to end up coming out in the Gulf of Mexico.

Sea kayaking is definitely different and offers an interesting alternative for kayakers.

Filed Under: Adventures, Sports Tagged With: Gulf of Mexico, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, Sea kayak

What about the Kayak?

The kayak is similar to its relative the canoe in many respects. Both are used for water transportation and have a long history dating back thousands of years, The kayak differs from the canoe in that it have more top over and typically seats only one person. The kayak’s origins are also different and can be traced back primarily to Canada and Alaska.

First and foremost, anyone who is drawn to kayaking needs to be able to swim and be comfortable in and on the water. Beginners are strongly advised to learn how to navigate and paddle a kayak on calm water first. Pros suggest renting several kayaks to find out what works best before buying a kayak – it is an investment. It is worth noting that there are schools that teach novices all they need to know about safe and proper kayaking techniques. Another point worth making is that kayaking build upper body strength. As more paddling is done, upper body strength is increased and paddling becomes more effortless.

The new kayaker’s first few trips should be on still water such as a lake or calm river. It is always best to kayak with at least one other kayaker and to always wear a safety helmet and a personal floatation device (PFD). Once the kayaker becomes proficient on calm water, it is time to advance to new and more challenging kayaking environments like whitewater kayaking.

Where to kayak? Almost any facility or body of water that accommodates a canoe works for a kayak. There are recommended waters to paddle on in every state. There are also organizations that conduct guided group kayaking trips. These are great venues for learning to navigate whitewater.

One of the most recognized kayaking facilities in the United States is the U.S. National Whitewater Center near Charlotte, North Carolina. The facility was opened in 2006 and is home to the U.S. National Kayaking Team. It is considered to be one of the premier outdoor recreation centers. The center is particularly noteworthy because the whitewater is manmade from the nearby Catawba River.

Filed Under: Adventures, Sports Tagged With: Kayak, U.S. National Whitewater Center, United States

Mountain Biking – Riding the Trail

As the weather starts to get warmer, mountain bikers begin to turn their attention to getting ready for a spring and summer of biking enjoyment. For others who have never tried the sport, it is a good time to start learning what mountain biking is all about.

Most mountain bike riders will say that they ride to stay fit because it is a great form of aerobic exercise. In the next breath they will say that it’s also about the challenge of completing a rugged trail. They enjoy the variety of trails – long and short, easy and challenging.

Like any other sport there are rules. This is especially true for the beginner. Experts advise novices that the first step is to take time to select the right bike. While many bikes are lightweight and allow more speed, most bike riders recommend a full suspension mountain bike because it is more comfortable and has better control in rugged terrain.

The next step is to prepare and assemble the gear needed for a ride. The key to preparing is to think “self-sufficient.” That means to carry what is needed – plenty of water, the tools and supplies needed to maintain the bike, food and to always wear a helmet.

Where do mountain bikers ride? One of the favorite riding areas is the national parks and forests located throughout the United States. Most of the same trails that are used by hikers can be ridden on a mountain bike and there is usually a park or forest near any town or city in the states.

There are also private mountain bike riding trails in many areas of the country. Here are some of the recommended beginner to intermediate mountain bikes riding trails for new riders:

§ NuDraper Mountain Bike Park, Midwest City, Oklahoma.
§ Cheeseboro/Palo Comado Canyons, Agoura Hills, California
§ York River State Park, Williamsburg, Virginia
§ Northshore Trail, Flower Mound, Texas
§ Olmstead Loop, Auburn, California
§ Erie Canalway Trail, Medina, New York

Filed Under: Adventures, Sports Tagged With: Mountain bike, Mountain biking, United States

Cross Country Skiing – Skiing’s Other Enjoyment

When most people think of skiing, they think of downhill skiing and slalom. It may come as a surprise that downhill skiing has an equally popular cousin – cross country skiing. Cross country skiing has been a means of transportation in northern Europe and Asia for 5,000 years and has built an avid following as an exercise and sports activity.

In the United States there are several hundred cross country ski trails throughout the states, particularly in New England, the western states, and the northwestern Pacific coast. Cross country skiing venues can be divided into two camps, so to speak. Experts will be quick to note that many of the national parks and forests have systems of ski trails for experienced skiers. They point out that the trails are extensive and less expensive to use. Accommodations can usually found in nearby town at much less expensive rates, too.

For beginning cross country skiers, ski resorts are probably a safer place to start. Most downhill ski resorts also have cross country ski trails. While resorts tend to be more expensive, the trails are clearly marked and kept in good condition. There are also instructors available for the first time cross country skier. Many of the resorts have warming huts along the ski trails.

Some of the resorts are interesting and unique. Adirondacks, New York was the home to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games at Lake Placid and boasts of six million acres of ski trails and an Olympic Sports Center. Further north in Stowe, Vermont, the famous Von Trapp family established the Von Trapp Family Lodge, a cross country ski center, after fleeing Austria during World War II.

At Mount Bachelor Ski Resort in Oregon, cross country skiers can ski in June – and get a tan. The resort is also the training center for the U.S. Cross-country Ski and Biathlon Teams in the spring.

Royal Gorge in Soda Springs, California sits in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and claims to have the largest cross country ski resort. Tenth Mountain Division in Colorado is names after the first Army unit in World War II to be trained to fight on skis. The facility has an impressive 270 miles of ski trail and 29 warming huts.

Filed Under: Adventures, Sports Tagged With: Cross-country skiing, Ski, United States

A Short History Lesson on Skiing

Snow skiing is an international winter sport. It is also one of the most watched events at every winter World Olympics. Not surprisingly, skiing was a means of transportation long before it became a popular sport and competition event.

“Ski” is a derivation of the original translation and means “stick of wood.” Skis are believed to have evolved from snowshoes and were used extensively in northern Europe and Asia as long as 5,000 years ago. The first evidence of skis as bones from large animals was found in Norway and Switzerland, and the oldest recorded ski dating back to 3200 BC was discovered in Sweden in 1924. Evidence of skis being used during this period has also been found in the Sayan Mountains of Asia.

There were originally three different types of skis that were used primarily for cross-country travel. The Fennoscandian ski has a horizontal toe-piece binding that was often covered with fur. This ski was the forerunner to the Telemark ski. The second design, the eastern Siberian ski, was a thin board that had a vertical four-hole binding. There were also two different types of ski pole. The first was a walking stick that was used for balance. The second type of pole was made from a spear or a bow and had some degree of flexibility. When two of these poles were used, the skier was able to travel at higher speed.

Sondre Norheim of Telemark, Norway is regarded as the father of modern skiing – at least in Norway. He is credited with inventing the “birch” binding that allowed skiers to ski without the risk of loosing their skis. In 1870 Norheim is believed to have designed a short curved flexible ski that made it easier to turn in soft snow. However, there is little evidence to support the claims of Norheim’s inventions because most of them were already in existence.

Ski-jumping and cross-country skiing became official events at the 1932 Olympics at Lake Placid, NY and in 1936, downhill and combined slalom skiing were add as events at the Olympics held in Germany.

Filed Under: Adventures, Sports Tagged With: Norway, Ski, Sondre Norheim

Scuba Diving – Free under the Sea

One of the world’s favorite water adventure activities is scuba diving. Divers have many different reasons for spending time underwater. Many of them are sightseers and photographers; others are searching for ship ruins and artifacts. They are all part of a pastime and profession that has been around for centuries.

Underwater diving originated in societies where fishing was a main source of food. Divers trained to hold their breath for long periods would go under the water to catch fish or harvest shellfish from the bottom. Recognizing that the longer divers could stay underwater, the more food they could catch, ingenuity took over and new ideas were born.

The reed was the first snorkel. However, while divers could stay under longer, they could only go a few feet below the surface. Diving bells made of wood were used as early as 1600. The bells allowed divers to submerge for longer periods and get air trapped at the top of the bell by going under and up into the bell.

The first diving suits made of leather were designed in the early 1800s, allowing a diver to go down to 60 feet. During the same period, diving helmets were designed that allowed air to be pumped into the helmet from the surface. A solution that would allow divers to work independent of air supplied from the surface still persisted.

In 1825 the first truly self contained diving system was invented. The compressed air supply was contained in a belt worn by the diver and allowed him to stay under water unfettered for longer periods.

The final solution for a system that would allow divers to dive using a self-contained and regulated air supply was invented in 1942 by world famous water naturalist Jacque Cousteau and Emile Gagnan. The “aqua lung” allowed divers to go deeper and stay longer. During World War II, the aqua lung acquired the military acronym SCUBA for “self contained underwater breathing apparatus.” The acronym stuck and scuba diving began growing into the popular activity it is today during the 1950s.

Filed Under: Adventures, Sports Tagged With: Jacque Cousteau, Scuba diving, World War II

Can You Talk about Canoes?

Canoes are synonymous with Indians and while North American Indian tribes living near water are credited with building the first canoes, there is more to that history of these water craft. Archeologists have found evidence of canoes being in used in North America as far back as 6000 BC. Polynesian tribes were also found to be using canoes for several thousand years.

The first canoes were dugouts – made from hollowed out and shaped tree trunks. These canoes carried as few as two people and as many as 12. Among some tribes, particularly in Polynesia and the Caribbean, war canoes with an outrigger for stability could be as long as 130 feet. These canoes were seagoing craft and could travel from island to island. There were even longer double hulled canoes equipped with sails that could carry up to 100 people.

Over time, the North American Indians developed a lighter and more maneuverable canoe. The frame was composed of wooden ribs and covered with birch tree bark. Bark was chosen because it is waterproof. The canoe’s joints were held together with pine root and coated with hot pine tree rosin to complete the waterproofing process. When the Europeans came to the New World they were fascinated by the ingenuity of the craft and began using canoes to travel by water. Canoes became so popular that the first North American canoe factory was built in Trois-Revieres, Quebec around 1750 to accommodate the growing fur trade. Some of these canoes could carry twelve people.

During the 1800s canoes also became popular as a recreational craft. John MacGregor is credited with introducing the first recreational canoe. In 1924 the canoe was first demonstrated at the 1924 Paris Olympics and became an official sport at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.

Whitewater canoeing became a popular extension of canoe sports after World War II and became an officially recognized sport at the Olympic Games in 1972.

Filed Under: General, Sports Tagged With: Canoe, John MacGregor

Why Outdoor Enthusiasts Need Insurance

Trekking the North American outdoors is a popular recreational activity. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, looking up an insurance quote may not be the first thing that occurs to you when preparing for your next outdoor excursion. However, whether you will be hunting, fishing or hiking, the wilderness does present its risks. You want to be sure that you are protected in unexpected circumstances.

The Exciting Outdoors

Hiking a beautiful mountainous trail, fishing in a pond or hunting deer are ways to enjoy outdoor environments while getting exercise, relaxing and picking up some fish or deer meat for dinner. It’s common to focus on the positive aspects of getting away from the day-to-day routine and avoid thinking about what might possibly go wrong on such an excursion.

The Challenges of the Outdoors

Outdoor activities remove you from your daily, comfortable surroundings. Unless you live in the wilderness, you don’t come into contact with bears, snakes, alligators, wolves and mountain lions on a daily basis. You can learn how to keep yourself as safe as possible, but even so, that can of mace may not be enough of a protection to keep bears and other dangers away.

When spending time outdoors, you also deal with environmental and weather hazards. You might experience frozen ground leading to slipping and falling. Muddy terrain and unstable patches of ground can also cause accidents.

How Getting an Insurance Quote Can Help

Given all of the things that can potentially go awry in an outdoor trip, getting an insurance quote prior to your trip can give you assurance. There’s no telling what can happen when you’re out hunting deer. You have no control over a nearby novice gunman. Whether you’re dealing with unstable terrain, wild animals or rookie hunters, purchasing insurance prior to your trip can ultimately result in greater medical care and a savings to your wallet. With such precautions in place, you can relax and enjoy your outing.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: Hiking, Hunting, Outdoor recreation

Learn about Mountain Climbing

Image via Wikipedia

Mountain climbing is a sport that goes by several other names – alpinism, mountaineering and rock climbing. All these names are synonymous with a popular sports activity that requires fitness, agility, stamina, endurance and the right mental attitude. Mountaineering requires fitness and is ultimately about the challenge of climbing to the top.
Mental attitude is a key factor because mountain climbing can be dangerous. First and foremost, experienced climbers should always climb with another person. They must be constantly aware of their environment and alert to potential dangers like rock slides and poor footing.
Climbing mountains is, like many other sports, a learning process. Seasoned climbers recommend that people who are interested in the sport “aim low” and start with short climbs or at a climbing gym. A gym gives the potential beginner a sense of what mountain climbing is like. Another suggestion is to take a short course at a mountain climbing school. There are good schools around the country. Mountain climbing clubs are also a good place to learn about and try the sport out.
For those who discover that they like mountaineering, the next level is to try “walk-up” mountains. These are non-technical climbs that require no special equipment and will test climbers’ endurance and confidence start with low elevation climbs and working up to higher climbs. In the United States, two of the better known high walk-ups are California’s Mount Whitney (14,490 feet) and Colorado’s Mount Elbert (14,433 feet).
The next step climbs are moderately steep snow capped mountains like Washington’s Mount Rainer (14,411 feet) and Mount Baker (10,770 feet), and California’s Mount McKinley (20,320 feet). The height of these mountains is deceptive in comparison to the walk-up mountains because these climbs require more skill, experience and the use of specialized equipment to reach the peak.
Mountain climbing is great exercise and an opportunity to go enjoy the outdoors in an entirely different way. With time, determination and experience a beginning climber can become an experienced mountaineer

Filed Under: Adventures, Sports Tagged With: Climb, Mountaineering

Unexpected Adventure: San Diego Property Management

: Image via Wikipedia

It’s an assumption of concrete, the endless towers of glass and steel. A city is believed to be without intrigue — its attractions all soaked to strangers and their demands. There can be no adventures within the stone borders. There can be no thrills. It’s just another dull collection of buildings and sterile beauty. You can’t find the excitement you need there. You can’t even find the joy.

All San Diego property management is thought to be an exercise in profits. Each mile must be devoted to nothing beyond high-rises and higher budgets. This holds no fascination for you, though — not when you’re seeking to explore the true meanings of a vacation.

But there is more to this city than its easy efficiency and you will discover instead a wealth of natural wonders: each certain to impress.

Consider touring the Torrey Pines State Reserve, with its cliff-side paths and ocean views (sure to inspire). Search for gray whales and their migrations among the Point Loma coast. Explore the Cleveland National Forest and its 460,000 acres — a staggering network of trails, trees and wildlife. Hike along the miles of Razor Point to indulge in vistas and Pacific scenery. And even scale craggy walls within the Rose Canyon Hiking Park. The possibilities are endless.

The notion that San Diego is a standard city is too often believed (and too often accepted). It is instead a diverse tangle of the typical amusements and the unexpected treats. Its outdoor excursions rival any throughout the world — and you will experience nature as you never thought possible.

It’s the trip of a lifetime. It’s the chance that must be taken.

You’re craving more than stone and sleek architecture. You want days instead that are laced with good intentions. Now you can have them.

San Diego is a delight that shouldn’t be denied. Prepare for the uncommon and the unforgettable.

Filed Under: Adventures, Sports Tagged With: California, Cleveland National Forest, Counties, Point Loma San Diego California, Property management, San Diego, Torrey Pines State Reserve, United States