Status Update on Guyana Forests

In November 2007, Guyana's President, Bharrat Jagdeo, offered to place most of Guyana's standing tropical rainforest under the control of a British-led international body in exchange for development and technical assistance towards becoming a green economy. This is no meager offer: Guyana retains nearly 80 percent of its original forest cover, roughly 16 million hectares. Details of the President's initiative have been developing since he initially announced it, but the core of his offer still stands. Compared to the alternative of offering the forests up to extractive industries for quick monetary gains, the impact for the world could be huge. According ...

Try This : Driving the Tajik/Afghan Border

This wild ride comes from Sam Moon, who is working in Dushanbe.  He recently drove along the Tajik/Afghan border from Khorog to Murghab. "It's a fascinating 300km drive from Khorog, the regional capital of GBAO, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province, to Murghab, the highest town in Tajikistan, at 3,650m above sea level.  The drive spans most of GBAO, a mostly remote and desolate landscape, where a population of 27,000 inhabits a country the size of Switzerland.  Rugged  mountains covered in crisp snow stretch into the horizon.   For two-thirds of the trip, the road weaves along the Afghan border.  The ...

iMedjet – indispensable iPhone App for Travelers

Check out iMedjet, a new iPhone app for travelers.  iMedjet has content from A Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness and Travel Medicine and draws on ten years of research, experience and teaching to assist the traveler in an emergency.   It's free and you can get it from the iTunes App store.

Tania Interviews David from Farther Foundation

It's a safe bet that most people reading this can't imagine their lives without travel - it is an experience that changes us in ways we never knew possible-- and now would never give up. As David Weindling of Farther Foundation says, "Travel is singular in its ability to inspire students to learn, serve, grow, seek opportunities and never settle for anything less than what they deserve." Farther Foundation, inspired by the Oakpark-River Forest Community Foundation, awards merit-based scholarships to inner city, low-income high school students.  The scholarships allow students to travel abroad or domestically with a program of ...

Lake Mancos Ranch

Watch, from the soft worn leather of the saddle, as the electric green aspens of summer fade into the rusted red of fall around Lake Mancos Ranch.  As the gateway to Mesa Verde and surrounded by two million acres of National Forest, a week at Lake Mancos is truly an escape.  Since 1956, the ranch has been delighting families with their hospitality, Old West activities and bottomless cookie jar. Guests arrive Sunday night and leave the following Saturday - the in between week is filled with a myriad of activities: family-style meals, stargazing, ...

Mountain Biking Northern Montenegro’s ‘Wild Beauty’

Mountain biking through Northern Montenegro was only part of the agenda when a small group of riders from Austria, England, Holland, France, Germany, and the U.S. gathered June 9 in Podgorica, Montenegro. The team's multinational group included mountain biking tour operators and was not only looking to experience first-hand the rugged terrain and meet local people in this southern European and Mediterranean country, but also analyze how adventure tourism might be advanced to support the development of this economy. The trip was organized by the Montenegro's Ministry ...

Make Your Own Adventure Short Film!

October 11th to 17th, join the Outside Serac Adventure Film School, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. During the course of the week you'll explore the process of making an adventure short and have the opportunity to head into the field for a hiking and camping adventure. Michael Brown, winner of 50 film festival awards and 3 Emmys, who has also reached the Summit of Everest four times with a 25 pount Hi-def camera, is your mentor.  Ryan Ross and David D'Angelo, two accomplished adventure videographers, are your other instructors.  Check out ...

Top 10 Things You Really DON’T Need to Pack When Traveling to Another Country

Off the Radar thinks there are some things that should absolutely be left at home! Here is our Top Ten list of things NOT to pack when traveling to another country. 1. White clothes 2. 4 pairs of shoes (maybe just two we say sport sandals and sneakers) 3. Hairdryer 4. An attitude 5. More than one book (a tip, if you aren't going to read it at home, you aren't going to read it on vacation - don't bring Shakespeare unless you know you're going to enjoy it!) 6. ...

Girl On the Rocks

Girl on the Rocks: A Woman's Guide to Climbing with Strength, Grace, and Courage By Katie Brown Our friend and international rock climbing superstar Katie Brown has published a book designed to teach and inspire women and girls who are new to the sport of rock climbing, want to delve more deeply into it, or are just curious about climbing but may be intimidated. It covers topics from the very specific physical side of the sport, to the more mental and psychological challenges that climbing presents.  Katie's humor ...

Powderhorn Ranch – More from Colorado

Powderhorn Ranch, outside of Gunnison, Colorado, extends down a valley and is surrounded by the Gunnison National Forest; elk and deer mosy carefree around the property's roads and you won't hear anything except birds. According to host, Shelley Williams, it's the tranquil experience along with their awesome staff that make most of their guests annual visitors- often at the request of the kids! At Powderhorn, Guests wake up in the morning, and create their own daily "Menu" of activities.  They pick and choose from a varied list: riding, rafting, ...

Interview with Shelley Williams of Powderhorn Ranch

Read below how Shelley and her husband Greg moved from the Detroit Police Force to quiet Colorado to run a ranch in the Rocky Mountains. 1.     How did you and Greg come to acquire the ranch? It’s been about 10 years, we were looking to retire but not really retire, we moved from Detroit where we worked within the police force. This was definitely a big lifestyle change. 2.     How has it changed your daily life? We feel as though we have a better quality of life,  we get the ...

Wild Employment

Wildland Adventures out of Seattle, Washington is looking for a South America Program Director!  Wildland was rated by National Geographic Adventure Magazine as the “#1 Best Do-It-All” adventure company in 2009. Program Directors are responsible for sales and administration of group and individual travel arrangements for specific destinations. They have a large degree of autonomy; contribute to strategic decision-making working together in a collaborative atmosphere. Some of the cooler aspects of the job: * Travel Program Development Develop new travel programs, itineraries and meaningful travel experiences collaborating with in-country suppliers and guides, including FAM trips and trade shows. * Conservation and Community Development Oversight of local ...

Banff and Yoho, $700 off

OTR favorite Boundless Journeys is offering a $700 discount on their best-loved hiking trips in the Canadian Rockies - hike lesser known paths through Banff and Yoho National Parks August 30 - September 2 at a signficant discount if you book by June 15. Learn more about the hiking tour here or call Boundless Journeys at 800-941-8010.

Fee Free Weekends in National Parks!

Check out this site to see the list of 100+ parks that are hosting fee free weekends.  Including Father's Day Weekend!  The site also has lists of National Parks that never have fees and other special offers.

June, 2009 Photo Contest

This month, be the first to name the city where you would drink this beer to editor@travelofftheradar.com to win some sweet gear from our sponsors at Eagle Creek. Last Month We managed to stump you last month with the picture of “Airport Tower” in Moab, Utah.

Wildflowers, Riding and Camping at Laramie River Ranch

Laramie River Ranch is located in the Rocky Mountains and in summertime the place is alive with wildflowers in the crisp, clean air. Twinkling, whispering aspen groves and views of the snow-capped Rockies complete the picture. Watch the early morning mist rise off of the Laramie River as you fly fish; try hiking or horseback riding in the hills in search of moose, coyote, elk, songbirds and raptors.  Any level of rider can come to the ranch to learn or refine their horsemanship skills at a walk, trot, ...

Rainbow Trout, Horseback Riding and Relaxing at Latigo Ranch

Founded as the “Snowshoe Dude Ranch” in 1923, Latigo Ranch is located in Grand County, Colorado. Owners Lisa, Randy, Jim and Kathie offer a mix of activities from fishing to archery, and of course miles of trails on horseback, 50,000 acres of which are part of the Routt-Medicine Bow National Forest. With a maximum capacity of 35 people, it’s always pretty quiet at Latigo – just relish the sounds of coyotes yipping at the stars or the rhythmic beat of horses trotting and forget you ever knew the sounds of sirens and ...

Ken Burns Film “The National Parks – America’s Best Idea”"

I spent the evening of May 22nd in a packed theater in Telluride, Colorado, at the Mountain Film Festival watching the World Premiere of Ken Burns's new film, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea." This was my first time to the Mountain Film Festival and I expected to see such films like the snow-boarding thriller "That's It, That's All" and "Solo," which documents Australian Andrew McAuley's ill-fated kayak trip across the Tasman Sea, but was happy to see the many issue-oriented documentaries such as Burns's National Parks....

$1000 Discount for Polar Bear Migration in Canada

The deals just keep coming this summer, it's incredible.  Today I saw that Natural Habitat Adventures is offering $1000 discount on select polar bear departures. NatHab is a reputable company and they're making a great point in their promotional emails: “we know from 25 years of offering nature expeditions across the globe, that it is important for local communities and conservation efforts that literally depend upon tourism to survive.” I couldn’t agree more.  Adventure trips bring investment into rural communities that often don't have many other options.  And, I admit to liking their promotion because I also have a special fondness for ...