Climb the iron road

A North Lake Tahoe area-based guide service, will soon begin construction of two Via Ferrata climbing routes up Tram Face at Squaw Valley Resort. The routes will allow even those with no climbing experience the opportunity to safely scale the iconic rock face, exploring high alpine terrain while taking in the beautiful vistas.

Via Ferrata, an Italian term meaning Iron Road, is a protected climbing route with permanent steel anchors and cables that allow participants to be safely connected to the rock 100% of the time. All climbs will be led by Alpenglow Expeditions' experienced team of AMGA (American Mountain Guide Association) trained guides who will teach participants how to navigate the rock face while introducing basic climbing techniques.

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Ecuador adventure

ADVENTURE tour operator Galakiwi recently unveiled a new 7-day tour itinerary focused on mainland #Ecuador; in particular the Andes and Amazon regions.

Complementing their expansive range of Galapagos land tours, the new itinerary has already been put through the test in early 2018, receiving positive feedback from early travelers.

Working with a number of fellow Adventure Travel Trade Association members for lodging and activity services, Galakiwi has curated some special experiences throughout the country. #Riding horses “chagra” style near Cotopaxi National Park and “climbing” up waterfalls on the edge of the Amazon are two experiences that have already garnered high praise from the first travelers on the new 2018 Ecuador adventure.

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Picture credit: pintrest

Ready to Climb?

SCHEDULED to open on March 25, 2017, the Muscle Monster giant-sized climbing gym in Kanagawa an hour from Tokyo will be the first attraction of its kind in both Japan and Asia.

The giant jungle gym will be located inside Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forest in Kanagawa prefecture, just one hour from Tokyo by car. You’ll need a head for heights to brave the new attraction, which will be located on the highest ground inside the resort and over 16m tall at its highest point.

It will offer three floors of athletic areas crowned by the “colosseum”, a hexagonal rooftop viewing platform. With over 90 hair-raising climbing activities spread across 1000 m sq and beautiful 360 degree panoramic views from the top, the new attraction is sure to make your hair stand on end with both fear and delight!

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360 degrees in Scotland

A new interactive online experience of some of Scotland’s most spectacular viewpoints is set to put adventurous visitors in a spin during the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016.

The videos allow viewers to spin the screen 360 degrees to give a complete panorama. The national tourism organisation hopes the interactive films will inspire visitors to pull on their hiking boots, get on their bike or grab their climbing gear and sample the beautiful Scottish landscape for real.

The great outdoors is one of Scotland’s most attractive assets, with 49% of visitors inspired to come here due to the scenery and landscape. One in 10 respondents to the #Scotland Visitor Survey 2015 visited Cairngorms National Park while one in five took in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

Last year 9 million day visits in Scotland by domestic visitors included outdoor activities as part of their trip, which amounted to £186 million in expenditure.

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Picture Credit: due_mele flickr.com/photos/52181296@N06/10568302225 Trail from Loch Lomond up Atop Ben Lomond, Scotland  via photopin

World's tallest indoor climbing wall to open in Abu Dhabi

THE world’s tallest indoor climbing wall and its widest skydiving chamber will be housed in a giant futuristic multi-sided diagonal cube on Yas Island. The skydiving chamber will be 9.75 meters wide, and the climbing venue’s highest wall will have a height of 43 meters.

Developer Miral said the US$100 million "Clymb" is scheduled to open next to Yas Mall in 2018. Work is already under way, and the project is 35 percent complete as of the beginning of this month. Zublin Construction has been appointed as the main contractor, Miral said.

Clymb will join existing attractions Ferrari World and Yas Waterworld and will follow future attractions such as the Warner Bros theme park, which are all part of the vision to turn Yas Island into a top global destination attracting 48 million visits a year by 2022.

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Picture Credit: Steven Vacher flickr.com/photos/22953669@N00/25018395661 Toe Hang via photopin.com

Curbs needed on Everest climbs

FOR many adventure travellers, the lure of climbing Mt. #Everest is irresistible. Each year, thousands of people pay serious money to take part in climbing expeditions to scale the summit of the world’s highest peak. 

For #Nepal, the lure of Everest has been a core attraction to tourists visiting the country. Although Everest climbers make up a very small proportion of tourists to Nepal, they are by far the most lucrative element of the country’s tourist industry. But climbing Everest ranks as one of the most extreme risks in global tourism. No mountain climbing (outside the Himalayas) can fully prepare people for the dangers they face when they exceed 26,000ft. Altitude sickness, exposure, the risk of ice falls and avalanches, and unexpected crevasses are just some of the risks climbers and their Sherpa guides and porters need to overcome. The slopes of Everest are littered with the frozen bodies of those who perished while ascending or descending.

Since the first recorded summiting in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, more than 280 climbers have perished on Everest. In May this year, six climbers, including Australian academic Dr Maria Strydom, died during a climb.

A number of Nepalese based adventure tour operators have expressed serious concern about the sheer number of people who are permitted to climb Everest. In September last year, Nepal’s Ministry of Tourism announced proposals to regulate climbing of Mt. Everest. The rules proposed were: 

• Climbers must be aged between 18-75 
• Permits would be given only to those who can prove that they have already scaled mountains higher than 21, 300ft 
• Disabled and visually-impaired applicants could undertake the climb only if they were able to do so on their own

 
To date, none of these proposals have been implemented. As things stand, the lure of the tourist dollar seems to dominate the need to enhance the safety of climbing Everest both for climbers and their Sherpa guides and porters. As part of Nepal’s post-earthquake tourism recovery, improving Nepal’s reputation for responsible and sustainable tourism by establishing a set of meaningful and enforced regulations for Everest ascents should be introduced as a matter of urgency.  

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Picture Credit: Me on the summit of Everest (8848m), the highest point on Earth, with Makalu behind</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com

Climb the mine in Cumbria

VISITORS to #HonisterSlateMine near #Keswick on April 12 will be among the first to try out the subterranean Climb the Mine adventure inside the 2,126 feet high Fleetwith Pike. 

Following the route of the original mine workings, the two-hour guided adventure will see groups of up to 12 people led deep underground to explore passages and caverns before emerging to a spectacular view of one of England’s highest mountain passes.

Along the way, they will cross an underground lake, scale rock-face rungs, traverse Burma bridges, and climb up into the roof of the mine itself.

Honister Slate Mine co-owner Jan Wilkinson said: ‘Not only does the subterranean Climb the Mine experience offer an exciting challenge for all ages, but it gives a glimpse into an underground world most people will have never seen before.’

Head of operations at Cumbria Tourism, Richard Greenwood, says: ‘Cumbria is widely regarded as the adventure capital of the UK and this underground experience at Honister Slate Mine fits the bill perfectly. It’s great to welcome another exciting all-weather attraction to the county, providing a fresh perspective on the iconic surroundings of the Lake District.’

#ClimbtheMine will run seven days a week and is suitable for anyone aged 10 years and over, taller than 4ft 2” and with good levels of fitness and a healthy sense of adventure. Participants are provided with helmets and safety harnesses, given full safety instructions and are monitored by experienced climbers at all times.

Prices start from £19.95 for adults and £14.95 for children (aged 10–17).

For the extra intrepid, participants can also do a Big Burma upgrade and brave the 525ft ‘infinity bridge’ suspended at more than 2,000ft above the valley floor – one of the longest Burma bridges in Britain.

www.honister.com

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Picture Credit:By michael ely, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org

Climbers tackle the chalkface

THE world’s best ice climbers will take on the challenge of ascending sheer cliffs of chalk – one of the most difficult surfaces to climb – when the second #RedBullWhiteCliffs competition returns to The Needles, #Isle of Wight (October 2-4).

Overlooking the iconic Needles, the 377ft overhanging cliff at Scratchell’s Bay will push the climbers to their limits, testing their skills ahead of the winter climbing season.

The UK is the only country where chalk cliffs can be climbed, and the unique competition format and environment will challenge the climbers’ stamina, endurance, and skill.

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Picture Credit: Isleofwight

Why Wales for a holiday?

National Parks – Wales has three National Parks: 

• The Snowdonia National Park: discover the highest mountain in England and Wales and the largest natural lake in Wales, plus beaches and wetlands in the Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. 

• The Pembrokeshire National Park is Britain’s only coastal national park. It has spectacular beaches, and Britain’s smallest city, St David’s. 

• Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales offers natural beauty, industrial heritage, caves, and a Dark Sky Reserve for stargazing. 

www.visitwales.com/explore/national-parks

Castles – Wales has 641 castles! In north Wales, you’ll find many medieval castles – England’s Edward I built a number of them, often described as his ‘ring of iron’ – which becomes explanatory when you see them. 

They include the mighty Caernarfon Castle, pictured left, a World Heritage site, while the dark stoned fortress of Conwy Castle also sits majestically on north coast. www.visitwales.com/things-to-do/attractions/castles-heritage/castles

Wales Coastal Path – With 870 miles of coastline, there’s something for everyone to enjoy along the Wales Coastal Path. Discover Wales’ culture and heritage, encounter wildlife at more than 30 Wildlife Trust Reserves en route, and visit villages and harbours. There are easy walks or more challenging routes, plus stretches that have been designed especially for wheelchairs and prams.www.walescoastpath.gov.uk

Beaches and seaside resorts – There’s a reason why Wales’ beaches – such as Rhossili, Barafundle, and Tenby – are often voted some of Britain’s best. Thirty three of its beaches were awarded Blue Flags in 2014, meaning they’ve met the highest international standards for cleanliness and safety. Fringing some of these beaches are Victorian seaside resorts such as Llandudno in North Wales. www.visitwales.com/explore/coastline-beaches

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Picture Credit: From Top -  'Mount Snowdon from Llyn Llydaw' by User:Gdr via Wikimedia Commons; 'Caernarfon Castle, western view at low tide' by Herbert Ortner via Wikimedia Commons; 'Llandudno From the Great Orme' by Peter Crump via Wikimedia Commons

Climb an oak on Bank Holiday Monday

Oak Tree by Jon Sullivan

SCALE the heights of one of the magnificent oaks in Beacon Hill Country Park, Leicestershire, at the National Forest Wood Fair on Bank Holiday Monday (August 25).

Goodleaf Tree Climbing will be setting up camp at Beacon Hill to offer their award winning tree-top experience. Visitors to the Wood Fair can climb up into the canopy of one of Beacon Hill's great oak trees free of charge.

Potential climbers first learn the ropes with qualified instructors, then, using the latest gear, ascend into the branches and try out their new tree climbing skills. At the top, they will enjoy stunning views out over the growing National Forest.

Anyone aged eight and over can have a go. All climbers are equipped with full a harness, rope and helmet. There will be ticketed climbing slots to make sure visitors can enjoy the whole Wood Fair, secure that their tree climb is booked in.

This year sees the tenth anniversary of the National Forest Wood Fair. More 100 demonstrators and exhibitors will be at the event, which offers a have-a-go activities, demonstrations of woodland crafts and timber machinery, and loads of items to buy made from sustainably-sourced wood.

Early-bird discount tickets for the fair can be bought online at www.nationalforestwoodfair.co.uk, and are on sale at Ashby de la Zouch and Swadlincote tourist information centres. 

All tickets bought in advance attract a 20% discount on the gate price.

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Climb the mine!

MOUNTAINEER Sir Chris Bonington was among a select group given a sneak preview of a new underground climbing experience inside a Lake District mountain.

The subterranean Climb the Mine experience at Honister Slate Mine has vertical climbs and rope-bridge crossings deep inside the 2,126ft 'Fleetwith Pike'.

Open seven days a week, the all-weather, guided climb follows the route of the original underground mine workings. Each Climb the Mine adventure for groups of up to 12 lasts around 90 minutes.

Sir Chris said: ‘Climb the Mine is absolutely fabulous! The beauty of it is that it really doesn't matter how old you are or what previous climbing experience you have. Today, the youngest taking part was 12 years old, while I'm nearly 80. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.’

Climb the Mine is suitable for anyone aged 10 years+ with good levels of fitness and a healthy sense of adventure. Experienced climbers keep a watchful eye on participants at all times. Visitors wear helmets and safety harnesses, and are given safety instructions. 

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Take an Easter walk on the Iron Way

WITH names such as Burma Bridge, Postman's Walk and Tyrolean Traverse, a North Yorkshire visitor attraction might lure adrenaline-seekers with the opening of three new aerial walk-ways in time for Easter.

How Stean Gorge at Lofthouse in Upper Nidderdale secured permission from Natural England earlier this year for the extension to its Via Ferrata route – Italian for Iron Way – which enables visitors to explore the gorge by being clipped onto a network of iron cables, staples and bridges fixed to the walls and ledges of the rock.

Stan Beer, a partner at How Stean Gorge, says: ‘Our Via Ferrata has proved to be a draw for visitors, both young and not-so-young, as a safe way of getting an adrenaline buzz and trying something completely different. We've designed the new walk-ways to add another dimension to the experience that will offer a previously unseen view of the gorge.’

Visitors aged between seven and 77 will be able to participate in the half-day adventure which costs £45 per person (discounts for groups of more than eight people). 

Bookings can be taken online  at 

www.howstean.co.uk/activities/via-ferrata / or by calling 01423 755666.

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Calling all climbers …

FOR the third year running, Austria’s Tirol Tourist Board will be one of the main sponsors of the Keswick Mountain Festival, which runs May 15 to May 18.

The high-profile speaker programme will be an added highlight to the festival, with talks by adventurers, climbers, cyclists, and photographers. 

The Tirol Tourist Board is presenting one of Austria's most famous mountaineers, Peter Habeler, as a guest speaker. Herr Habeler and his companion Reinhold Messner are best known for achieving what was thought to be impossible: in 1978, the first ascent of Mount Everest without breathing apparatus.

www.keswickmountainfestival.co.uk

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