There are few activities more exhilarating than climbing, especially if you are the adventurous type who dares to scale the roughest and most difficult terrain in the world. If you are looking for the next big challenge – and breathtaking natural beauty along the way – check out these world-renowned climbs.
Mount Everest, Nepal
Considered the holy grail of climbing, Everest needs little introduction: at 29,035 feet (8,856 meters) above sea level, it is the highest mountain on Earth. Historically, reaching its top has been considered one of the most perilous and near-impossible acts imaginable. It was only in 1953 that the first known successful ascent was accomplished, when Sir Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay approached the peak via the South Col route. More than 2,000 others have since followed this path to successfully reach the top, making it the most popular – but still challenging – route.
Mount Khuiten, Mongolia
This mountain straddles the corners of Russia, China, and Mongolia, offering an incredible view of Mongolia's seemingly endless plains. Trekking Mount Khuiten is as enjoyable for its picturesque beauty as the climb itself. Even getting to it can be a delightful experience: mountaineers must travel through one of the remotest regions on Earth, enjoying a fantastically pristine environment and famous hospitable nomads.
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Located on Tanzania’s northern border with Kenya, this flat-top mountain is the highest in Africa, with the highest peak, Uhuru, reach 19,340 feet (5,899 meters) It is actually made up of three extinct volcanoes – Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. Ascending Kilimanjaro is considered one of the most thrilling accomplishments, especially via the Machame Route, from where you can experience abundant wildlife. You can travel to the Shira Plateau through the Grand Barranco Canyon, after which you will reach Stella Point and be able to continue around Kibo’s rim to Uhuru.
The Andes, Peru
The famous Andes mountain range is known for its abundance of nature and culture, especially via Peru’s Inca Trail. Through this ancient and majestic path, you can enjoy an unforgettable journey through a variety of ecosystems, including rolling plains, arid deserts, and pristine tropical cloud forests. Enjoy views of mountains, rivers, and valleys before reaching Machu Picchu, the famed lost city of the Inca that was rediscovered only in early 20th century. From there, you can then reach Cusco, the former spiritual and cultural center of the ancient Inca Empire.
The Matterhorn, Switzerland
Europe's most famous mountain is considered the birthplace of mountain climbing, thanks to its unusual pyramidal shape, which makes it very challenging. Matterhorn’s four steep faces, which rise above gleaming glaciers, face the four compass points. The mountain overlooks the picturesque towns of Zermatt to its northeast and Breuil-Cervinia in the Aosta Valley to its south. The Theodul Pass, located at the eastern base of the peak, is the lowest passage between its north and south side, and thus a popular route among climbers.
These amazing climbs are just some of the many adventures that await you all around the world. From Rugged Phone Cases, to Portable Chargers, Snow Lizard Products is with you at every step of your rigorous lifestyle. To learn more, contact us at 786-401-7204 or [email protected].
View pastimes are more quintessentially American than camping. With its sheer geographic diversity and vast wilderness, it is no surprise that the U.S. has one of the longest and proudest outdoor traditions in the world.
Depending on how you look at it, camping has been around almost as long as the human beings: we began as hunter-gatherers who lived on the land and relied on nature for everything from food and shelter, to recreation and stories. Humans utilized camping staples – such as sticks and tinder for fire, sharpened stones for cutting and sculpting, and broad leaves for shelter – in order to survive.
Even when humans began to live in permanent communities that were more distant from nature, the ties with wilderness remained. Native Americans and Australian Aborigines, among other cultures, continued to turn to nature for resources, rituals, and spiritual escape. The more urbanized Ancient Greeks and Romans recognized the relaxation and mental health benefits of an occasional foray into nature, even for just a day.
However, it was not until the 18th and 19th centuries that camping as a recreational activity first emerged. It is fitting that the countries that lead the way in this trend were the United Kingdom and United States, both of which had rapidly urbanized and industrialized, putting people even more further away from nature.
Amid this detachment, and the subsequent clearing of forests and other wilderness areas, there came a strong demand for escaping back into the calmness and tranquility of nature and going back to the natural way of living. Following a strong push to preserve what was left of our natural environment – culminating in the creation of America’s first national park, Yellowstone, in 1872 – camping became a popular activity among the growing ranks of the middle-class.
Hence why, to this day, most adults can recall the experience of childhood campfires and family time spent in the great outdoors. Many camping and outdoor organizations and groups – such as the Boy Scouts – had their start in this period, helping to carry the joys and lessons of camping into the present day.
Of course, camping has changed a lot since the good old days. While the invention of and mass production of the automobile helped take families to far off places to camp, the introduction of true Recreational Vehicles (RVs) in the 1950s took it to a whole new level: families could now take their modern amenities and home comforts with them!
Similarly, candles, lanterns, and rudimentary tents have given way to sophisticated LED-based lights, solar-powered cookware, and tents composed of ultra-durable materials. Thanks to smart phones and tablets, many modern-day campers can access useful guides and tools to help make their experience safer and more enjoyable.
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Snorkeling provides an excellent and accessible opportunity to explore a whole other world. From ancient shipwrecks to gleaming coral reefs, there are a wide variety of aquatic adventures just waiting to be started. Consider these one-of-a-kind destinations.
The Red Sea, EgyptWhile it may not come to mind when one thinks of aquatic activities, Egypt’s adjacent Red Sea is regularly ranked among the world’s best locations. It offers hundreds of miles of coral, abundant sea life, and warm, crystal-clear waters. While any time of the year is good to visit, winter is especially popular, since the climate is a bit more temperate. Great places to dive include The Blue Hole, El Minya, Small Giftun Island, Tiran Strait, and Ras Muhammed National Park
Great Barrier Reef, AustraliaNo list of this kind can be complete without the world’s largest coral reef. Stretching over 1,400 miles along northeaster Australia, it comprises over 4,000 distinct reefs, cays, and islands – enough room to be seen in space! Its sheer size, combined with its estimated 1,500 fish species and 1,500 shipwrecks, leaves ample opportunity for exploration. While you could no doubt spend a lifetime discovering all there is, some highlights include Osprey Reef, Blow Hole, Cathedral, and the S.S. Yongala wreck. Enjoy maximum visibility during the summer season (June through August), though this reef is great for much of the year.
Cozumel, MexicoA favored location by the great maritime explore Jacques Cousteau, Cozumel has for decades been the world’s top diving destination. Its 600-mile long Maya Reef has everything needed for an optimal diving experience, including deep caverns, wrecks, colorful reefs and marine life, and more. Because of its popularity, it has great support infrastructure, with over 100 professional operators to choose from and a variety of neat adventures, such as night dives and photography dives. Don’t miss such sights as the Felipe Xicotencatl wreck, Maracaibo Reef, Santa Rosa Wall, and Tormentos Reef.
ThailandWith its long coastline and numerous islands, Thailand as a whole offers amazing snorkeling opportunities. The top choices include Mu Koh Similan National Marine Park, identified by Fodor’s as an “underwater playground” teeming with abundant coral and rare marine life. Other great sites include the Similan Islands, Surin Islands, and Koh Phi Phi, each of which are beautiful to explore outside the water too. Another plus is the rather common appearance of whale sharks, gentle giants whose encounters are breathtaking.
HawaiiSynonymous with tropical splendor, Hawaii excels in snorkeling opportunities. This is due in large part to its relative isolation, which has lead to the existence of marine life found nowhere else in the world. Few things are more memorable than encountering one-of-a-kind wildlife. The Big Island is especially popular for its opportunity to swim at night with manta rays. Other highlights include swimming along the pristine and uninhabited island of Niihau, the luminous underwater caverns of Lanai, and the hearing of whale song from December through April.
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