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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 2019)
18 Of a certain age Wednesday, September 18, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Finding your next adventure By Susan Waymire, CTC Correspondent How often have we heard of <Bucket List= travel or <Adventure= travel? What does this really mean and what is involved for you to personally travel in this manner? Here is a look at the different forms of adven- ture travel and how you can explore the world in an excit- ing and unique way. Exploration/Expedition Cruising: This market is hot and perhaps the fastest-grow- ing sector in the travel indus- try at the moment. Small- ship cruising to popular destinations such as Alaska, Baja, the Galapagos, and Antarctica allow just about anyone who is curious and of reasonable physical condi- tion to explore these unique places. Many of these ships sail with under 100 pas- sengers, allowing them to explore different and smaller ports of call than the much larger ships. Naturalists from the region are your guides who cover the many topics from those areas 4wildlife, geology, history, to name a few. Exploration is done via Zodiacs, scuba-diving, kay- aks, or hiking on shore allowing you to get up close to the glaciers and wildlife. As these ships do not always have elevators, you should be able to ascend/descend stairs and be able to ride in a skiff or Zodiac. There is no nightly entertainment, rather there are lectures from guest experts or perhaps a local band. Many of these suppli- ers integrate the local culture into their programs. There are numerous side activities such as piranha fishing or paddleboarding on the Amazon, cooking classes from the ship9s chef, or snor- keling with the Galapagos penguins. So as long as you9re still mentally curious, this is a great way to travel without much physical effort. Active Adventure Travel: These trips offer physical challenges to their travelers. Hiking, biking, and kayaking are the primary activities but skiing, horseback-riding and other activities are options for the fit traveler. As an avid active traveler, I suggest that my clients do the physi- cal work to prepare for their trips. Conditioning for these trips depends on the level of activity you9re looking to do. You should know your body9s limits if you9re taking an active adventure. Nothing is worse than missing out on that epic glacial heli-ski run because you had to head in early for the day due to lack of training. Many outfitters specify what kind of physical requirements will be needed. There are <multi-sport= trips that include all means of active travel and offer cul- tural experiences as well. So, if you9re a rock-climber or you love Via Ferrata, that passion can take you to new heights worldwide in dra- matic settings you never have experienced before. And, the biggest bonus is you can enjoy the whiskey-tasting and eat whatever gourmet food you want after that full day of hiking. Wildlife Adventures: Perhaps one of the biggest adventures on many travel- ers9 bucket lists is an African safari. Who doesn9t want to explore the Big Five in their natural habitat. The journey to Africa is long, but so worth the effort. Seeing the rhino prior to extinction, a cheetah Senior health fair on tap in Sisters SPRD and Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District will present the third Senior/60s+ Health Fair, slated for Thursday, October 10, at the Sisters Fire Hall from 3 to 7 p.m. <Last year we received several emails and phone calls from individuals who wanted to attend the fair but were unable because they still work, so we decided to try this new day and time,= said Shannon Rackowski, event coordinator for SPRD. Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District and SPRD have been partners in the Health Fair from the beginning. All the participants from past years will be joining the fair again this year. St. Charles Hospital, The Lodge in Sisters, Mosaic Medical, Les Schwab, Oregon Council on Aging, Central Electric Cooperative, All American Hearing, Step & Spine, Shibui Spa and more will be on hand. This fair is free to the community, with all partici- pants providing a free ser- vice: Hearing, eye testing, tire pressure checks, balance test- ing, orthotics checks, posture screening, massages, blood pressure checks, and more. in a full sprint, or a lioness with her cubs is nothing short of exhila- ration. There are different forms of safari accom- modations, from camping or glamping to beautiful lodges. In either case you9ll be riding along bumpy roads in a 4x4, so if back or joint problems are an issue, PHOTO COURTESY SUSAN WAYMIRE you may want to make sure you9re Is it time you to schedule your “Bucket List” travel? Perhaps the Galapagos are for you. physically fit for this. While in Africa, you9ll be traveling via ship, mak- is one of the more reward- experience the local culture ing it an easy trip for most ing forms of travel and one such as the Masai people of anyone. The important note that gives back to an impov- here is to read carefully the erished community. There9s Eastern Africa. Other wildlife expeditions itinerary with the activity it eco-travel as well, where now available are viewing requires and to review it with you may be helping with the the polar bears in Churchill, a knowledgeable travel advi- wildlife in the Galapagos or grizzlies in Alaska and of sor. Viewing wildlife some- cleaning the plastic from the course, the famous Gorilla times means hiking a fair dis- ocean. Whichever trip you Trek in Uganda or Rwanda. tance to get close enough for take, the reward is a life- Many of these outfitters have that perfect photo. Personally, changing experience and photography experts on staff I will be traveling to see the one you9ll remember for a to help you snap that perfect polar bears of Churchill. lifetime. picture to hang on your office With talk of extinction, I am With this said, adventure wall. With that said, you9ll excited to have this checked comes from within. We all want to factor in the cost of off my list this year. know what gets us excited T r a v e l f o r G o o d / and gets that adrenaline a solid camera with a 300mm lens to get those once-in-a- Sustainability: With this form pumping. If you9re not as lifetime photos. While the of adventure travel, you9ll active, it9s still possible to Gorilla Trek requires some give back in some way to the nurture your soul and travel fitness, the polar bear trip in good of our planet. Whether to see the diversity of our Manitoba requires little fit- it9s helping install water puri- planet and people. Adventure ness as you travel out on the fiers in the Amazon, or help- travel can take you places tundra in a giant all-terrain ing teach kids in India, or you never thought you9d get building homes in Mexico, to in your lifetime. Step out vehicle. If you travel to the you9re one-on-one with the of your comfort zone and Amazon or Antarctica, you9ll people and the culture. This explore your wild side!