Have you felt the call of the wild but are not quite sure how to go about answering it? Have you ever stared longingly at a canoe or a kayak and wondered about how to go about using one? Have you everseen a path winding off into a forest and wondered just where it went? Getting started in adventure travel can sometimes seem like a daunting task especially with the proliferation of equipment thatıs out there right now. It can be even harder to find people who share your interests. This page endeavours to talk about what exactly is adventure travel, ideas on getting started, tips for women in particular and at the end will provide some links to general adventure travel information pages and companies that offer womenıs only and co-ed trips.

What is Adventure Travel and why do it?

Adventure travel is not for the faint of heart. It does not haveto be incredibly hard but it does require some degree of independence. For instance, spending a night in a tent in a raging thunderstorm or hearing animals outside can make even the most experienced traveler nervous. Adventure travel is here defined as a trip, usually outdoors, which can include (but is not limited to) backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, snow shoeing, dog sledding or trekking across Europe, and which usually involves carrying most, if not all, the equipment needed for survival with you. It can be done solo or with a group. People do these kinds of activities for a number of reasons. First, and most basically, because it is fun! Speak to most people involved in this kind of travel, and theywill tell you there is nothing quite like escaping into the quiet of the wilderness and away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a few days. Second, a lot of people do it for the fitness aspect. Carrying forty pounds on your back up a hill will do a lot for your figure. Third,for many there is a breaking of mental barriers involved in this kind of travel. Realising that you can paddle for four days straight, that you can climb that mountain or that you can travel on your own gives one the sense that anything can be accomplished if it is just attempted. Liz Guccione in her article ³Going Solo² in Chatelaine speaks of the ³Šreal sense of accomplishment² she felt after traveling solo. In the book I Was Amelia Earhart Jane Mendelsohn gives us a peek into the need for escape that tempts so many adventure travelers. Examples of women adventurers abound, from Amelia Earhart to Martha Black, one of the firstwhite women to cross into the gold fields of the Yukon during the Klondike gold rush, to the two women who will attempt to circumnavigate the Antarctic later this year, and they provide the inspiration so many women need.

Getting Started

The easiest way to get started in outdoor travel is to join a group or take a class. Many community colleges offer programs that will teach you about equipment and techniques. The other way to start learning about backpacking or other pursuits is to join a club or a groupdedicated to that activity. In most major cities there are groups dedicated to almost every sort of outdoor pursuit, like canoeing and cycling clubs. If thereıs a trail in your area try looking up the trail association that is connected to it. Most of these kinds of groups will offer several outings each week that are geared to different skill and exertionlevels.

Tips for Women

Women in particular tend to find traveling in the outdoors a scary proposition. Perhaps it is because traditionally women have been told that they are not meant to be in the wilderness, or perhaps it is because of physiological concerns. Whatever the reasons, women have been reluctant to take those first steps. This section will outline some basic ideas for women and will hopefully help them to feel more comfortable in the outdoors.

The first major question most women ask is what happens when I get my period? This time of the month can be an uncomfortable one at the best of times, but when cycling, kayaking or doing some other strenuous activity it can seem like a downright miserable prospect. The firstpiece of advice is do not let your period stop you from going out on a trip! Many women have been told to beware of animals when menstruating. While animals are a concern due to the odor associated with menstruation,there are ways of dealing with it. In the excellent book The Backpackerıs Field Manual, Rick Curtis outlines precautions and steps women adventure travelers (not just backpackers) should take during this time of the month.

Nowadays, women often buy menıs clothing, but in outdoor equipment this is not a good idea. Women are built differently and have different needs than men do. Equipment companies have begun to realise this and are starting to design gear specifically for women. For example, sleeping bags are beginning to be made that have more insulation in the foot and hip area, places where women lose more heat than men do. Packs are being designed with womenıs shorter torso length in mind and with hip belts that are designed differently to account for the differentshape of women. It is very important to find equipment that fits you and your needs. Equipment that is more efficient will make yourtrips much more enjoyable.

Conclusion

Hopefully, by now you are feeling a little bit more prepared to face the wild outdoors. Doing an adventure trip will give you a sense of freedom that is not found in many other activities. To help you move further along in your outdoor activities, here are some links to good web sites that will give you good advice, and other which will hook you up with some adventure travel companies, some of which offer women only trips. Good luck and have fun!

www.gorp.com - this site has gear and destination reviews, links to equipment companies and tips on how to pack for every kind of trip imaginable.
www.backpackeurope.com ­ this site is a great introduction for anyone interested in doing the typical ³student-backpacking-across-Europe² trip.

Companies offering womenıs only trips:
www.wildwomenexp.com
www.arcticladies.com
www.vancouver-bc.com/Gaia
www.outwardbound.ca

Finally, a company offering trips for lesbians:
Lesbian Outdoor Club
Drawer LOC Wayves, Box 34090
Scotia Square Station
Halifax, NS
B3J 1S1
902-466-7644



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