wyoming

Try Backpacking This Summer

When your smartphone never stops lighting up with notifications, your work/life balance is anything but, and you find yourself checking your inbox every hour of the day, it’s time to get away. Really get away. Unwind, reconnect with the world outside your office, and see the best of what nature has to offer. It’s time to go backpacking.

Granted, backpacking isn’t a walk in the park. You’ll have to carry all your food and equipment on your own two shoulders. But that’s also the challenge of it. The simple act of filling your pack with supplies becomes a way of paring down, of setting aside all the things you don’t need. Backpacking is a way of discovering self-sufficiency and self-reliance.

Backpackers are able to go beyond the limits of day hikers and campers: farther into the wilderness, past the boundaries of trailhead parking lots and crowded campsites. Instead of heading out halfway and returning to your starting point, you can keep going to wherever the trail takes you, as long as there’s space to pitch your tent.

More often than not, backpackers have the path ahead all to themselves, except for wildlife. With fewer hikers making noise to scare critters off, you’re more likely to catch rare glimpses of moose, elk, or bighorn sheep in their natural habitats (just be cautious, read up on safety, and always pack bear spray and a first-aid kit). Check out our online shop on MountainResortCoupons.com and use that great deal with Sun and Ski!

Some of the best backpacking trails in the United States include the states of Colorado, Tennesee, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Alaska, and Washington. If you are a Yellowstone Lover check out the Thorofare Trailhead, in one of the most remote places of Yellowstone this trail is 68 miles long and will take you about 7-14 days to complete. The Smoky Mountains in Tennesee has the Mount Sterling Loop it is 28 miles and will take you about 4 days to complete. For a great trail in the Rocky Mountains check out The Grand Loop, cross the continental divide in 3-7 days in just 45 miles. Looking for something so remote that you’ll need an air shuttle? Alaska can provide you with just that on the Alatna River to Noatak River in the gates of the Arctic. Just go 30 miles one way and experience some truly wild lands. All you need to do is a little research on where you are and you’ll find a great trail to explore.

Hiking is simple. All you need to do is put one foot in front of the other. And again. And again. That gives you time to think and reflect, time in your own head that might be hard to find racing back and forth from work to home to errands. In backpacking, you might find rejuvenation in that distance from everyday problems and distractions– and a way to work through them when your trip is over.

3 Benefits to Horseback Riding Tours

There are so many different ways to experience the wilderness. You can ride bikes or go hiking. You can go on a driving tour and stop at scenic outlooks. But one of the best ways to experience a new landscape is by horseback. Horseback riding tours provide a unique way to immerse yourself in the outdoor world. Chances are good that you will find this type of tour near the ski resorts in the summer.

Here are three reasons you should consider a horseback riding tour on your next trip:

1. You can see more in less time

Horses are able to go where cars cannot. Like hiking, horseback riding allows you to have a more intimate experience with the wilderness, following trails that weave through the forest. Horses, however, move faster than your feet. This allows you to see more natural beauty in less time. You’re also afforded a prime viewing location, high on the horse’s saddle.

Even better, a tour will come with an experienced guide to lead the expedition. Unlike hiking, where you’re often on your own, a tour guide will help you find some of the most scenic local spots. You don’t have to worry about missing out when someone experienced is there to help show you the way.

2. You won’t wear out as fast

Horseback riding isn’t entirely passive (there’s a reason the phrase “saddle sore” exists), but it requires far less cardio than hiking. While walking up a steep mountain pass will leave you gasping for breath as your heart thuds in your ears, horseback riding will allow you to enjoy the foliage as your horse does the work. Horses are built for endurance and accustomed to walking up inclines and over different terrains, so you can rest assured that they are in their natural element. Your only job is to sit back and enjoy.

3. You’ll have a unique experience to share with your family

It’s not uncommon for families to go camping or hiking. Far fewer families take the time to go on a horseback riding excursion. This fun alternative brings with it an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. It’s the sort of tour that will be remembered for years to come and talked about frequently. It might even spark a lifelong love of horses and horseback riding.

So the next time you and your family decide to head to the mountains and enjoy the summer weather, consider a horseback riding tour. It’s a unique way to experience the wilderness, and it’s sure to be a long-remembered favorite!

3 Reasons Why Everyone Should Go Camping

The sun filters through the trees, warming nearby rocks. Animals scurry through the undergrowth. The only sound that meets your ears are the calls of birds and rustling of leaves. Nearby, the lingering smell of a campfire reminds you of the previous night, snacking on s’mores and sharing stories with those you love most.

Everything is peaceful, serene, and calm.

As the weather begins to warm up, the ski season begins to wind down. But that doesn’t mean the end of enjoying the mountains. Camping in the mountains provides an entirely different experience, and one just as magical.

If you haven’t taken a trip to the mountains during the summer months, you may want to add it to your itinerary.

Camping is an immersive experience, allowing you to see the mountains in a new way. It’s an opportunity to slow down and truly appreciate the outdoors. We spend all of our time rushing from meeting to appointment to family events. Even vacations are often filled with lists of things to see and places to go. These expectations can quickly become overwhelming and drain the fun out of the experience.

But camping forces you to slow down. It pulls you away from your screens and devices, instead given the natural entertainment of the world around you. If you want to venture further into the mountains, you can only go as fast as your feet are able to carry you, forcing you to truly take in your surroundings.

Camping is designed to help you remove the barriers between yourself and nature. We spend so much of our time shutting nature out, and this is your chance to change that and experience the mountains in a new way. Once you’re out in the mountains, you can go swimming, hiking, or backpacking.

Camping has the potential to be just as fun, and just as breathtaking, as skiing. If you’re used to enjoying the mountains from a pair of skis or a snowboard, camping will allow you to immerse yourself in a completely different world. The mountains transform in the summertime, and camping gives you the opportunity to view the mountains when they’re most alive. Waterfalls will be flowing, animals will be alert, and the trails will be covered in a wide array of plant life. It’s a beautiful world to witness and will leave you falling even more deeply in love with the mountains.

So as the weather begins to change, don’t feel too disappointed. The mountains still have plenty to offer in the way of camping during the summertime.

Experience Adventure with Whitewater Rafting

If you’re looking for an exciting activity to try this summer, whitewater rafting is a perfect opportunity to try. No matter your level of experience, there are whitewater rafting activities that will fulfill your spirit of adventure! Read on to learn more about what you need to know before going on your first whitewater rafting experience.

Whitewater Rafting for Beginners

If you’re ready to get wet, but want a little more excitement than the community pool, hop on an inflatable raft and paddle through the rapids. While you may have seen whitewater rafting portrayed in the media, it isn’t always about flying through rushing water and narrowly missing boulders. There are different classes of rapids, with the lowest class bring slower and easy to navigate. If you’re just starting out, this is a perfect place to begin. As you build strength, endurance, and skill, you can move onto higher classes for a more thrilling experience.

And don’t worry about having to go out there alone! Whitewater rafting is a team activity, with everybody paddling the best they can. An experienced guide may lead the activity, taking on much of the more difficult navigating, but for easy rapids, no guide or experience is necessary to have fun!

The Benefits of Whitewater Rafting

No doubt, whitewater rafting is great exercise. Paddling through rapids can burn hundreds of calories an hour, and can help you build strength and endurance. In addition, regularly rafting can tone your back, arm and shoulder muscles. Being outdoors and in nature can help relieve stress and relax your body, especially on an easy course, so it’s great for your mental health. And if you head out with friends or family, the bonding experience will last a lifetime. Even if you decide raft with a group of strangers, you’ll develop team-building skills and self confidence. As you get better, your confidence will grow and you’ll develop a great and healthy skill.

Get Out There!

If you’re hungry for a new challenge, and want something that’s good for your health too, whitewater rafting should be in your plans this summer! When you stick to easy rapids, the risk of injury is minimal, and the rewards to your body and mind are beneficial. Before you dive in, a few words of advice:

Wear protective gear – don’t ditch the helmet or life jacket, no matter how confident you are! And lather on the sunscreen too – look for the kind that’s waterproof
Dress right – you’re going to get wet, so pack your bathing suit! And pack a few towels and some dry clothes for when you’re finished
Avoid accessories – jewelry, hats, and sunglasses are likely to get lost during your adventure, so keep them in your bag.

5 Ways You Can Enjoy Fall in the Mountains

Most people love a trip to the mountains, but some people only think to do it in the winter for winter sports or the summer for summer activities. But the fall is the perfect time to go to the mountains too! There’s so much to do in the mountains in the fall and lodging and activities are often priced more affordably since it is the off-season. Here are 5 ways to enjoy fall in the mountains.

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3 Quick and Easy Mountain Getaways Near Denver

Feel like getting away from it all, but don’t want to have to travel too far? One of the great things about Colorado is that there are so many amazing mountain destinations within a short drive of popular transportation hubs. Here are three easy mountain getaways near Denver that you can reach in under two hours.

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