Adventure | Elk River Idaho

Hiking

Not everybody wants to go to the gym and lift weights or go for a run in their neighbourhood. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t exercise, though. No matter what your fitness level is, regular exercise is important — it will keep your heart healthy and your body slim, in addition to giving you a “high” from regularly releasing endorphins. If the activities above don’t appeal to you, don’t give up! There are a number of fun activities that don’t seem like exercise at the time, but still give you all the positive effects.

One example is hiking. Hiking is a good way to burn a lot of calories, build muscles and spend time in the outdoors. It is also a fun activity to do with a loved one — pack a picnic and some water, and head out down a trail.

Hiking lets you see the outdoors in a more personal setting. Rather than the forest being something that you simply drive by when you’re on your way somewhere else, hiking lets you experience the forest in person. This gives you the increasingly-rare opportunity to get away from concrete jungles and suburban streets in order to see something different.

Like all exercises, though, you need to follow a few safety standards. For one, you should hike with the correct shoes — street shoes are not acceptable for any hike of more than an hour or so, as they do not shield you from the sticks, rocks and other things you’ll step on while you hike. They also do not provide the ankle support you need to walk for long periods over varying terrain. If you don’t wear the correct shoes, you open yourself up to both injury and long-term stress-related problems from repetitive, incorrect motion.

You should also dress for the terrain. Raincoats are key, no matter what, as is dressing in layers. If you wear a sweatshirt, t-shirt and thermal undershirt you can strip down if the weather heats up. This is a far better option than having the weather cool off but not having any clothing to put on to protect yourself.

So pack a lunch and hit the outdoors. You’ll get some exercise, pack on some muscle and feel great.

Filed Under: Adventure, Hiking Tagged With: Hiking, Outdoors, Recreation

Preparing for Adventure: Indoor Exercise

Snow and hail, sleet and cold rain. Winter has come and it seems destined to stay. You are, of course, furious. The days are dull and the adventures are lost. It’s too cold to get out and seek them.

You find yourself inside Chicago apartments, condos in Boston, or homes in Charlotte. You can’t get outside.

Don’t waste all that time you’re spending inside. Don’t sulk, waiting for the hours to be bright again. Instead, go ahead and move your body–take advantage of your forced imprisonment and gain strength! Here’s how:

Scissor Kicks. The need for speed requires more than determination. It demands endurance. Your legs must be conditioned properly to maintain the intended levels of activity. Scissor kicks help to achieve the necessary toning. Lie flat on the floor, with your hands tucked behind your head. Lift one leg as high as you can and then bring it down in a controlled way, repeating the gesture with the other leg. Increase the pace, creating a scissoring motion. This will help condition your lower body.

Squats. A quest for extreme adventures can’t be accomplished without strength. Squats allow you to work several muscle groups at once. Stand erect with a weighted bar placed against your shoulders (be certain you can handle the extra pounds). Carefully bend to a squat–your knees bent and your back straight. Return slowly to an upright position and repeat. Your arms, hamstrings and glutes will be tightened.

Balance Boards. Having good balance is important. Without it you’ll suffer from injuries. Balance boards allow you to master your sense of balance, learning composure and patience. The exercise (despite being minimal) will also burn calories, as you’ll be constantly trying to correct your posture and stance.

Use these tricks to develop stamina, strength and improved coordination. You won’t feel so bored when you’re stuck inside during the coldest months of the year.

Filed Under: Adventure

Cruising Down Through the White Water in Your Kayak

You might recall or have heard the popular song ” cruising down the river on a Sunday afternoon” – a pleasant, placid vision- totally opposite the extreme outdoor sport of staying afloat as you guide your kayak through the thundering torrent of white water. White water kayaking is an outgrowth of white water rafting that began gaining popularity in the 70′s. It is considered by some the most challenging of extreme outdoor sports.
Veteran Kayakers seek the wildest, maximum turbulence rivers – grade six on a scale of one to six- around the globe. In North America, the Colorado river in the Grand Canyon and the Jalcomulco river in Mexico are the choice for maximum adrenalin surge fans. The Colorado river has taken its toll in fatal accidents. White water sports , both kayaking and rafting require upper body strength to effectively handle the raging waters. If not naturally posessed, the upper body strength must be developed. Certainly a desirable condition contributing to good health.
Not all rivers are natural for white water sports fans. The support industry has developed man made rivers designed to cover the grade one to six range of turbulence. This concept allows developing white water skills to tackle the the more intense grades of turbulence and also allows white water adrenalin surges for the entire family.
Apprpriate Gear and Clothing a Crucial Factor
Helmets and water shedding outer clothing are mandatory items to keep dry although one must be prepared for wet faces and hands at all times. Warm weather season kayaking and rafting are easier to cope with. Believe it or not, white water fanatics ply their sport during cold seasons as well, requiring multople layers of synthetic clothing for warmth and prevention of wet clothes sticking to one’s body, an unbearable condition. The full line of appropriate gear and clothing can be found on line.

Filed Under: Adventure Tagged With: River

A Guide to Jet Skiing

If you are looking to try a new outdoor sport, why not get out and about on a jet ski? This unique and exciting form of sport can be just the thing if you are looking to spruce up your outdoor sporting activities. Here are a few things to bear in mind as you are getting started. Jet Skiing

The first step is to attach the automatic engine shut up tag to your body. Each jet ski comes with a tag that turns off the engine if it is removed from the jet ski. The idea is that if this is clipped to you and you fall into the water, the jet ski will stop and you will be able to get back on easily, without having to swim after one that is still moving!

The throttle is located on the handlebars, and to increase your speed you gently squeeze the throttle to make the engine more powerful. While you are still in the dock, be sure to keep your speed to a minimum. It may also be a good idea to go slowly in the open water as fell if you are on your first jet skiing trip. Practice making turns whilst going at a slow speed so that you can learn the basics of maneuvering the machine. Once you get the hang of the controls, you can start to open the machine up a little and go faster.

It is also important to keep an eye on the surrounding area, especially if you are jet skiing on the open ocean. It can be easy to get carried away and drift off into areas that may not be safe, such as rocky or shallow stretches of water. By being vigilant at all times, you can ensure that your jet skiing trip is an enjoyable one, without any unforeseen difficulties.

Filed Under: Adventure, Extreme Sports Tagged With: jetski, Motorboat, Winter Sports

Can My Pet Participate in My Extreme Sport?

: Image via Wikipedia

That would all depend on what the extreme sport is, the conditions under which it takes place, and exactly how your pet would participate. This entry will walk you through questions to ask in order to determine if pet involvement is a good idea.

First of all, if it was necessary to travel to an extreme sport venue, how did your pet handle the trip? You may need to wait a few days before letting your pet participate with you.

What is the extreme sport? If it’s skiing-either snow or water, then there is the possibility that your pet might be able to participate if you carried it on your body in a special sling or perhaps tucked into your jacket.

If you snow ski, this is one area where you would need to consider the weather conditions. Some pets cannot take the cold like others can, so even if they were able to share your body heat, the lower temperatures might still affect them.

The altitude is also another concern. If you are very high in the mountains, as you might be in Colorado, the high altitude may affect your pet. You would need to see how well your pet was adjusting to the altitude change before letting him participate with you.

If you water ski, you would first need to make sure your pet enjoys being in the water. Some do, but others don’t. You would also need to consider the water temperature. Very cold water coupled with a stiff breeze can make a pet go hypothermic, just like a human. This can occur even on the warmest days if the water temperature is low enough.

The last thing to make a decision on is pet insurance. If your pet does participate in your natural adventures, you might want to have a policy that covers medical bills and other expenses.

Filed Under: Adventure, Outdoor Sports Tagged With: Animal, Colorado, Extreme sport, Insurance, Pet, Pet insurance, Recreation, Water

Preparing For a Triathlon

: Image by VSELLIS via Flickr

Completing a triathlon is no easy feat, even when you take it at your own pace instead of trying to beat everyone else to the finish line. Triathlon events feature three distinct segments: swimming, bicycling and marathon running. To accomplish even one of these tasks takes training and discipline–to complete all three requires triple dedication as well.

Train for each segment of your triathlon as if training for an individual race. Ideally, training for the swimming portion can be done in a long pool with lap markers, but if that isn’t available, you can make do in a shorter one. It is advised that you practice swimming in open water at least one or two times before the actual triathlon, because even if you have access to a pool for swimming laps you will want to have the experience of what swimming in open (and potentially murky or cloudy) water is really like.

The cycling segment of the triathlon is pretty straightforward; really, the only way to train for it is to bicycle often. Pay special attention to going up and down hills, and you may want to bicycle during windy weather in preparation for the actual weather during the event; the Ironman Triathlon is known for having crosswinds during the cycling portion of the event, and it’s true of many other triathlons as well.

For the marathon run, do cardio workouts to increase your endurance and practice sprinting and timing yourself. If you have no experience with marathon running, be sure to learn the proper form to start the race in—the method of launching yourself off the starting line helps give you a little extra boost. Finally, be sure to visit a triathlon store and to purchase good athletic gear. Department store stuff won’t do–think of your comfort and don’t skimp on the budget.

Filed Under: Adventure, Awareness, Fishing Tagged With: Cycling, Ironman Triathlon, Marathon, Multi-Sports, Sport, Swimming (sport), Training, Triathlon

Hazards of Diving

: Image via Wikipedia

Diving is an excellent sport for those seeking adventure and the chance to view a world that many will never see in person. However like any other extreme sport, diving has its risks and dangers that you should be aware of should you decide to take up this type of sport.

Whether you are scuba diving or snorkeling, any type of diving can come with dangers that you should be aware of.

Oxygen loss is one of the biggest dangers associated with diving in any form. Tanks can be lost, damaged or in some cases, lose pressure. Should this happen, a diver has to make it to the surface before the potential of drowning becomes a reality. Checking the tank before diving is paramount to being as safe as possible. This can be done under the water so that it is certain that it is functioning at its full potential. Check the lines as well; they are your supply of oxygen.

Along with oxygen loss, there is a condition call the bends. This is when a diver surfaces too fast or even descends underwater too fast. What happens is that high levels of oxygen go into the bloodstream and hurts a person’s circulatory system. This can cause death if not treated immediately and even then, sometimes it is fatal. Always dive with a partner so if there is trouble there is someone that can aid or get help.

Marine life is another consideration in diving that you should be fully aware of. Not only are sharks an issue but jellyfish, eels and stingrays are all marine life animals that can cause harm or even death to a diver. Be aware of what is around you at all times and if you do see one of these creatures, stay away from them. In the case of a shark, it can sometimes be best to abandon your dive.

Filed Under: Adventure, Extreme Sports, Outdoor Sports Tagged With: Diving, Outdoors, Recreation, Scuba diving

Extreme Sports: The Next Gambler’s Dream?

: Image via Wikipedia

When the phrase extreme sports is used by a person the first instinct is to think of really “out there” sports. After all, the name of the sport says it all – - its extreme. However, extreme sports seems to be growing in popularity and the general public’s opinion of extreme sports has changed.

What used to be a name only reserved for extreme snowboarding, skiing and hiking is now also reserved for other sporting events such as mountain climbing, surfing, BMX racing and sky diving just to name a few. With such a wide range of events it can only be expected that betting sites and gamblers all across the world will take advantage of it.

Here are some of the foreseeable sports that sports betting sites could potentially start taking bets for:

- Surfing

Surfing has some major competitions all over the world as well as a huge following. Sports betting sites could easily take bets on who will get the most points, who gets the perfect 10 and other elements of surfing.

- BMX racing

Just like any car or horse race, BMX racing could have bets taken on the various races. Each biker in a BMX has vast experience which would make it possible to have odds on each racer.

- Snowboarding

Snowboarding could be made into a race downhill in which the betters place bets on who would finish first, who does the most extreme tricks and other elements.

At the moment, none of the sports betting sites take bets on extreme sports. With the exception of the X-Games, extreme sports are still under the radar of gambling sites. However, that won’t last long. Sports betting sites are out to make as much money as possible. As extreme sports starts to grow in popularity, so will the possibility of betting sites taking bets on the outcome of certain events.

Filed Under: Adventure, Awareness, Extreme Sports, Fishing, Games Tagged With: Bicycle motocross, BMX, Extreme sport, Gambling, Recreation and Sports, Sport, Sports betting, X Games

Whitewater Kayaking

: Image by Robbie’s Photo Art via Flickr

Whitewater kayaking is taking the sport of kayaking and making it into an extreme sport adventure. It is obviously similar to white water rafting but instead of using a raft to brave the rapids, a kayak is the form of transportation.

Whitewater kayaking is being able to face the most treacherous rivers and waterways. A person taking on this sport should be adept in using a kayak as well as having experience in very rough waters.

Kayaks that are ideal for whitewater use have to be stronger than typical kayaks. This is because the rough waters that are navigating can really put a beating onto the kayak. In that same vein, only a one person kayak is used due to safety issues; it is simply not safe to have two people in the boat during a whitewater trip. These kayaks can range from short to long; it all depends on the individual and what they want to achieve on their excursion.

There are various aspects of whitewater kayaking. Some people do it for fun and this can be what is known as river running where the kayak is taken down a whitewater river that is not as treacherous as others. These may even have spots that are flat combined with rapids in other areas. These are trips that can range in time spent. Some may want to make it a day trip and others might want to spread out their time into an entire week; it’s up to the individual.

Creeking is another form of whitewater kayaking, which is the most extreme form. This type of whitewater kayaking is where a person takes on the most treacherous waters in the world. These are typically part of a competition but can also be part of a trip for extreme whitewater enthusiasts.

Filed Under: Adventure, Extreme Sports, Outdoor Sports Tagged With: Boat, Kayak, Raft, Whitewater

A Paradise for Outdoorsmen

: Image via Wikipedia

Smell the bacon frying in a pan over a campfire as you watch the orange and red sunrise streak over the tops of the mountains. Soon, you’ll fix the pancakes and the eggs for a hearty meal to give you energy for the day.

The mountain range topped with deep green pine trees extends as far as the eye can see. Off in the distance, you hear the bugling call of an elk. Ah, this is the life for hunters, anglers, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Put on your favorite pair of True Religion jeans and enjoy the day.

Elk River is a haven for the outdoorsman because it has so much to offer. You can ride your ATV during the summer over backcountry trails and logging roads. You can feel the exhilaration and watch sprays of white snow trailing your snowmobile as you ride over those same trails in the winter. Cross-country skiing over pristine snow is also available during the wintertime.

If you enjoy water, there are deep mountain-blue lakes, rivers and streams. You can go fly-fishing, canoeing and kayaking. If you can’t bring your own canoe or kayak, you can rent them locally.

Various campgrounds are available with hookups for your RV or spots where you can pitch a tent. From the campgrounds, you can hike various trails to places such as Granddad Bridge, the overlook to Dworshak Reservoir, Elk Butte, or to the waterfalls at the Upper, Middle or Lower Falls.

You can see magnificent wildlife in the Elk River area and the nearby Clearwater National Forest. Majestic elk herds roam the mountains. Moose graze in the mountain meadows. The sky is filled with ospreys and great blue herons. Often, you can see golden eagles soaring through the deep blue sky.

Filed Under: Adventure, Awareness, Extreme Sports, Games Tagged With: Canoes and Kayaks, Clearwater National Forest, Dworshak Dam, Dworshak Reservoir, Fly fishing, Mountain, Sports, United States