Online - January 14, 2006

The Thrill Ain’t Gone

Crazy Adventure Travel

New year, new things to live for. There’s no better way to celebrate than by risking your life across the globe.

Ice, Ice Baby
Greenland has lots of ice, but Iceland is really nice — and has lots of ice. Seven glaciers’ worth. And what good is a glacier if you can’t snowmobile on it? Mountaineers of Iceland covers everything from hotel pickup to the fastest snowmobiles this side of Langjökull. Just beware the glacial elves.

Going Ballistic
The best way to de-aggro? Take it out on a helpless inanimate object in the lush Scottish Highlands at House of Mulben. Tweedy owner Innes Macpherson (and his black lab, Finn) teaches the fine arts of shooting clay pigeons, fly-fishing, off-roading, and falconry. Makes you wonder why anyone would ever shoot anything with a pulse.

Schizos ’R’ Us
Ever get in one of those gotta-pan-for-gold-while-playing-paintball-on-snowshoes-in-the-back-of-a-hayride moods? Elk Mountain Resort, where rustic meets refined in Montrose, Colorado, is your next stop. After a long day of ice climbing, paintballing, and zip-wiring, grab a fancy dinner at the excellent Tarragon restaurant.

Ride with the Wind
When Alex Palmaz isn’t running Aspen Paragliding, he’s flying folks over the Argentine mountains, French Alps, and Valle de Bravo in Mexico. You’ll stay in style and eat well — exactly what you’d expect from a trained chef-turned-paraglider. No soaring experience necessary. (For info, e-mail fly@aspenparagliding.com or call 970-925-7625.)

As Seen on TV
Not thrilling enough? Be one of the first to compete in The Real Race in Australia this May. Seventeen days, 24 people, zero eliminations, and countless adventures. You won’t know where you’re going or what you’ll have to do. Of course, there’ll be no camera crews.

But your memories should prove vivid enough.

  Adventure Travel, Break a Sweat, Quarter-Life Crisis