Posts Tagged ‘adventure’

Memories of the Rockies are still in my head like a little secret treasure in one’s pockets. Certainly, I know I’ve woken up many of my girfriend’s adventurous spirits from this trip. Choosing to do something like this was easy for me. And it surprises me how almost ‘in awe’ most of my girlfriends are at such a thing…traveling alone without knowing anyone?…I guess there is a certain vulnerability involved, that one has to put one’s self out there and not be hesitant of the adventure, the experience, good or bad, or other women, for that sake. So, I’ve already got two who would travel in a heartbeat with me. Although, for myself, part of the fun was/is being on my own and making this ‘MY’ experience versus ‘OUR’ experience. I think one definitely learns more about oneself as well as opening up to others without the safe hold of having a familiar friend nearby which tends to limit the experience…possibly anyway.

I’m often asked how I decide on locations for new trips. I will be writing many blogs on this topic.

Firstly, it must be a location offering multi-activity options. For example, Ireland is unlikely to be on our schedule as it’s limited to hikes and horse-rides plus the weather is notoriously unpredictable.

Then a close second is the “OH MY GOSH” (OMG) litmus test. Does the scenery knock your socks off – ie, would you hang a picture of it on your wall? Or, is the cultural experience so profound that you’ll remember the experience ten years down the track?

Here’s an OMG scenery moment from each of our trips:

• Iceland: Watching hundreds of puffins up close on the edge of a cliff – they look like clowns with feathers!
• Costa Rica: Seeing smoke from indigenous people’s fires coming up through the jungle as we raft the Pacure River.
• Peru: The first site of Machu Pichu as we hike through the Sun Gate.
• Swiss Alps: Hiking beneath the Matterhorn on a clear sunny day.
• New Zealand: Southern Alps perfect reflection in Lake Matheson at 6am.
• Australia: Holding a koala – no feeling quite like it in the world!
• Alaska Summer: Canoeing past icebergs at Spencer Glacier.
• Desert Mountain: Soaking under the stars in the hot pools just outside Santa Fe.
• Sedona Sojourn: Sitting in the saddle of Cathedral Rock.
• Hawaii: Sea kayaking and having dolphins pop up next to you.
• Morocco: My first site of the Sahara – I would never have imagined a big pile of orange sand could be so beautiful.
• Best of the West: Hiking and horse riding in Bryce Canyon – drop dead fabulous!
• Utah Canyonlands: Sitting under Delicate Arch at sunrise.
• Arizona Spectacular: Swimming in the turquoise water at Havasu Falls in the midst of the desert.
• Tetons-Yellowstone: A mama grizzly and cubs roadside in Jellystone.
• Canadian Rockies: Lake O’Hara – enuf said!

What was your OMG moment on a trip?  Let me know if you’d like to add a piece to our blog and I’ll insert it with a photo.

In my next blogs, I’ll discuss OMG cultural moments, and the interaction between the women on the trip. After all, it’s not all about the scenery!

Until our next adventure!

Cheryl Fleet

Welcome to the Canyon Calling blog! I look forward to sharing new developments on our trips, in the travel industry – specifically the women and adventure travel industry segments, and general travel and life experiences.

Dee Beckmann, a Canyon Calling guide, and Mary Schnack, a tour client, will also be blogging and we welcome any of you to participate as well. Share your diaries from a Canyon Calling trip, any travel-related information you want to pass on and whatever else might be relevant to women interested in unique travel experiences. If you want to be a regular contributing author for the site, just let us know (name, email and a password) and we can set that up as well.

I also hope you are following us, linking with us, friending us—on Twitter, Linked In and Facebook. Of course, you can always find us under Canyon Calling.

Looking forward to our next adventure!

Cheryl Fleet