Eric | Ecotourism And Adventure Travel

Although there are many different types of adventure travel, typically an adventure travel experience will:

Be of a heightened nature – a stimulating context will induce a range of emotions (of which excitement will be key), and separate it from everyday life.

Entail intellectual, physical or emotional risks and challenges – these will be absorbing

Be intrinsically rewarding, providing opportunities for enjoyment, learning and self-development. (Swarbrooke 16)

Another way to define adventure travel is,”a leisure activity that takes place in an unusual, exotic, remote or wilderness destination. It tends to be associated with high levels of activity by the participant in an outdoor setting. Adventure travelers expect to experience various levels of risk, excitement and tranquility, and be personal tested. In particular they are explorers of unspoiled, exotic parts of the planet and also seek personal challenges”(Millington et al., 2001: 67).

The two main types of adventure travel are soft adventure travel and hard adventure travel.

Soft adventure travel, “refers to activities with a perceived risk but low levels of real risk, requiring minimal commitment and beginning skills; most of these activities are led by experienced guides.”

Hard adventure travel, “refers to activities with high levels of risk, requiring intense commitment and advanced skills.” (source: Hill, 1995).

A post about student Eric Swenson and his adventures traditional rock climbing in Eldorado Canyon near Boulder, CO.

Traditional rock climbing (or more simply trad climbing) is a style of climbing in which a climber or group of climbers places all gear required to protect against falls, and removes it when the pitch (segment of a climb, usually the full length of the rope) is complete. The lead climber is the one who climbs the route first and places all of the protective gear. The follow climber is belayed (tied into and protected with the rope) from above by the lead climber. The follow climber removes all of the pieces of protection, leaving the rock clean and unmarred. Important features of trad climbing are a strong focus on exploration, and a strict dedication to leaving nature unblemished by avoiding use of older means of protection such as pitons, which damage the rock. A multi-pitch climb is a climb that is taller than 2 or more pitches. Every climb in this post is a traditional, multi-pitch climb. I am both following and leading climbs on these trips.