In previous episodes we have discussed adventure travel and the occasional infusion of fear we all sometimes experience, whether during extreme activities or almost spilling your $12 glass of single malt Scotch.
I have often read about–and sometimes admired–those with the cojones to, with whatever motivation drives them, dive headlong into almost certain danger.
Take mountain climbing, for instance.
No, I haven’t done any fourteeners. Not that I haven’t tried.
My daughter and I had every intention of summiting Mt. Shasta a few years ago, but only made it to Helen Lake on our practice hike and–for a number of reasons–opted for a sail on Lake Siskiyou, rather than a summit attempt a few days later.
And I found it much easier to hold a beer when I wasn’t wielding an ice ax.
With my interest and respect for those who have the fortitude–and in some cases vast amounts of time and money–to tackle monumental challenges such as Mt. Everest, I watched the PBS Frontline show last night on the terrible tragedy that occurred up there twelve years ago. The show, Storm Over Everest, was produced by the person who was filming an IMAX movie on the incredible task of climbing the highest mountain in the world.
More of you are probably familiar with Jon Krakauer’s story, Into Thin Air, which chronicled the same deadly event.
Probably nothing in the world epitomizes extreme sports more than a climb up Mt. Everest.
Most of my outdoor endeavors are pretty mundane compared to such a feat.
And I read about a lot more adventure activities than I undertake.
That is why years ago I started subscribing to Outside Magazine.
But somewhere down the road to the wilderness, the magazine seemed to cover more fashion trends than outdoors travels.
So I dropped it.
For the last year, or so, I have subscribed to the twins of National Geographic outdoors reporting: N.G. Adventure & N.G. Traveler.
So imagine my dismay when I opened the April 2008 edition of N.G. Adventure to find a feature-length article on apparently what “spring apparel” the hip twenty-something’s are wearing in, of all places, Morocco.
If I am lucky enough to go hiking in Morocco I doubt it will be wearing $200 Synchro cargo pants: the only syncro I want is in the transmission of my V.W. Westfalia.
And what’s with the woman wearing the Rip Curl Tropical Ditsy bandeau (translation: bathing suit top)?
Nice way to show respect for the locals: ditsy is dead-on.
Alright, National Geographic–you’re on notice!
Keep up this Über fashion wear foolishness and you’ll lose my money, for sure.
This is what an adventure trip to Morocco should look like.
Not an article on which fedora is in fashion.
(by Dakine; $27)
Less fitting, better travels.
I totally agree with you. I stopped reading Outside many years ago due to the lack of real content. A friend gave me a subscription last Christmas and I have found that the magazine is even worse now. It is almost to the point of being unreadable. The current issue promotes such gems as a $2000 espresso machine and a $4600 chair made out of skateboard decks.
Scott,
Since I no longer read Outside, I do not know if Tim Cahill is still the fixture at the magazine he helped launch, but I wondered if the recent trend is why his name appeared under the National Geographic Adventure masthead.
Given Cahill’s incredible prose, I don’t think fashion advice would be a concern of his. But I do think the prominence of the subject does detract from what I feel should be the emphasis.
$4600 skateboard chair…really?!?…does that come with bloodstains?