Adventure Tech: GoPro Delays Release of Karma Drone

It hasn't been a good year or so for GoPro. The action cam maker has seen a drop in sales, which is now hitting its bottomline in significant ways. Worse yet, one of the company's most anticipated new products – the Karma drone – has now been delayed.

Yesterday, GoPro announced its quarterly results, and to say that they were dire would be an understatement. The tech company saw its revenue drop by nearly 50%, and earnings plummeted from a $22 million profit for this quarter last year, to a $121 million loss this year. A major part of that swing was the company writing off older camera models that it discontinued.

But the news that is most disappointing fans of GoPro is the announcement that the release of the Karma has now been pushed back until the coming winter. It was originally expected to become available to consumers in the first half of 2016, but we'll now have to wait just a bit longer. And since winter doesn't technically start until December 21, it seems likely that the drone won't see the light of day until 2017.

In an effort to diversity its business, GoPro has been looking for other sources of revenue. The Karma is seen as one part of that plan, while investing heavily in virtual reality films is another. The camera maker has also revealed a special system designed to shoot 360º video in stunning 4k resolutions. But the current generation of VR is still in its infancy, and far from a sure bet, so it could be some time before these ventures start to turn around GoPro's fortunes.

Meanwhile, other companies continue to crank out new drones that are only becoming better and better. You have to wonder if the Karma will arrive a bit too late.

Video: It's Time to Play Outside (In the Italian Dolomites)

When we get caught up in the mundane grind of our daily lives we sometimes need a reminder how important it is to get outside and play, something that is good for our bodies, spirits, and minds. This video not only points out just how important it is to go outdoors, but it uses the Italian Dolomites as an example of the playgrounds that are waiting for us. There aren't many places on Earth that can compete with that. Watch the clip, then go outside to play.

Dolomiti Paganella, Time to Play Outside from StoryTravelers on Vimeo.

Video: What Does Frostbite Do To Your Body?

Frostbite has long been the bane of mountaineers and explorers. But what exactly is frostbite, and how does it effect your body? This video from Discovery News helps to explain it, helping us to understand exactly what extreme cold can do to you.

Nat Geo Offers the Best Trips for Summer 2016

Are you looking for some suggestions for where you should go on vacation this summer? Are you stumped on which destinations should be on your short list? Than you're in luck, because National Geographic Travel has released their picks for the best trips for summer of 2016.

Amongst the destinations that earn a spot on Nat Geo's list are Banff National Park in Canada, Acadia National Park in the U.S., and wine country in the Pacific Northwest. Each of those places have a lot to offer the outdoor enthusiast looking to put a bit of adventure into their summer season, but if the beach is more your speed than consider Moorea in French Polynesia instead. Want a long-distance adventure? Than why not hop aboard the Trans-Siberian Railway?

These are just a few of the options that earn a spot on the list, with some other great choices that I'll leave for you to discover yourself. The important thing to take away from this article however is that it is not too late to start planning a summer getaway. In fact, some of the best adventures come together over after a brief period of planning, with anticipation for hitting the road driving the idea.

Check out National Geographic's full list by clicking here.

Video: Ripcord Travel Protection for Adventurers

A few days back I posted a story on 5 reasons why you need to use adventure travel insurance, and keeping that idea in mind, I have a video that comes our way via Ripcord Travel Protection, a company I've worked with in the past.  This clip actually gives us a rundown of Ripcord's coverage, which includes emergency evacuations from remote corners of the globe. I witnessed just such an evacuation on Kilimanjaro last year, and Ripcord not only retrieved trekkers from Nepal following the earthquake last year, but has rescued several who were suffering from altitude sickness this year too. If you're someone who finds themselves often visiting wild places, you need to have Ripcord on your radar.

Video: 5 Things to Know Before You Go on an Adventure

Before you set out on your next adventure, you'll want to watch this video. It comes our way from National Geographic, and it shares advice that a team of climbers learned while traveling to Myanmar to climb the highest peak in Southeast Asia. That expedition wasn't an easy one, with lots of challenges to overcome before they ever reached the mountain. But what they learned along the way was invaluable.

5 Reasons Why You Should Be Using Adventure Travel Insurance

I'm fortunate that my job takes me to some of the most amazing places on the planet to do some fantastic things. From climbing Kilimanjaro, to camping in the Sahara, to hiking in the Himalaya, I've had the opportunity to see places that most people only dream about. But the destinations I visit are often very remote and some of the activities come with a certain measure of risk as well. Because of this, I always purchase travel insurance before setting out, and you should too. With that in mind, here are five reasons why you should invest in travel insurance coverage before setting out on your next adventure as well.

Emergency Evacuation
One of the biggest worries for adventure travelers is taking ill or getting injured while visiting a destination that is miles away from a hospital or other kinds of medical care. But if you have a travel insurance plan, you'll not only be covered for emergency evacuations, you'll also receive help in determining the best course of action for treating the illness or injury too. Some plans will even cover the costs of family members traveling to meet you should an extended stay in a hospital be required. As if that wasn't enough, you'll also be covered for the appropriate care when you get home too.

Finding Quality Heath Care No Matter Where You Are
It isn't always easy to know which doctors to see or hospitals to go to when visiting a foreign country. But a good travel insurance plan will also offer advice and information on where to go to receive the proper care. You'll have an emergency response team at your disposal 24/7, which can help answer questions and direct you to the best place to receive the care you need. That kind of information can be invaluable while traveling.

Keep Medical Costs Down
Most of our health insurance plans don't cover us while we traveling in foreign countries, and especially if you're undertaking adventurous activities like climbing a mountain or rafting a Class V river. But travel insurance from a company such as MedEx of United Healthcare Global is designed to help keep costs down and prevent you from having to pay an arm and leg to receive care. Some plans do have a deductible, but even that will be far less than what you might pay if you were to become ill or injured while on the road.


Non-Medical Assistance
Travel insurance isn't just useful for overcoming medical emergencies. It can prove highly useful in other ways too. For instance, insurance representatives can help you to get a new passport should yours get lost or stolen. Depending on your plan, you might also be able to receive emergency funds if your cash is taken as well. Most travel insurance companies can offer advice on a wide variety of topics, including where to seek legal advice, how to recover lost travel documents, and who to talk to for arranging assistance in non-medical emergencies too. It's a bit like having a very knowledgable travel resource at your service 24 hours a day.

Unexpected Interruptions
Lets face it, travel isn't cheap and it can be very disappointing when it doesn't go as planned. If your luggage is lost or a trip gets unexpectedly cancelled, there might not be much you can do. But if you have the proper travel insurance, you'll be compensated for these issues, often receiving cash to help purchase new gear to see you through your journey, or covering the costs of the trip if it does get delayed or cancelled. Depending on where you are going, you might not have much legal recourse to recover the funds you've spent otherwise.

As mentioned MedEx of United Healthcare Global can offer travel insurance plans that can provide these levels of protection and more. The company offers plans that can cover travelers for a minimum of 7-days overseas up to a full year abroad. Customers have access to a 24/7 emergency response team that can help answer questions and lend assistance as needed, offering advice on a wide variety of topics.

MedEx has three plan levels that offer a variety of coverages ranging from $50k to $500k in medical insurance, the handling of records and other information, medical and dental referrals, transferal of medication prescriptions and more all for just a few dollars per day. Their coverage also includes emergency travel options, replacement of lost travel documents, legal referrals, transportation to medical facilities, and lots of other things you don't tend to consider until you run into a problem while traveling.  (Note: MedEx of United Healthcare Global is not available for purchase by residents of Washington State or New York)

I've been fortunate that I haven't had to use my travel insurance while on a trip, but I have been with others who have. For instance, while visiting Everest Base Camp a few years back, one of the members of my group became incredibly sick due to the altitude. She needed to be taken to the nearest hospital as quickly as possible, and received emergency treatment for high altitude pulmonary edema. Similarly, last year when I was climbing Kilimanjaro two members of the team had to be taken off the mountain via helicopter when one had a severe allergic reaction to something she came in contact with, while the other was once again suffering from altitude sickness. In both cases, travel insurance covered the costs of the evacuations and the medical treatment that followed.

And if you need yet another reason why you should carry travel insurance while traveling abroad, consider this. Many adventure travel companies now make it mandatory that you have coverage before you depart on the trip. Some will offer their own plans of course, while others will allow you to choose the company that you want to work with. If that is the case, you should definitely look for a quote from MedEx. Not only are their insurance plans very reasonably priced, they give you the coverage that you need for the destinations you are visiting. Keep in mind, depending on the activities that you plan on doing, you may need to add a sports rider as well to ensure that your coverage handles whatever things you choose to do while on the road.

Find out more by visiting the MedEx website and pricing out the plans that best fit your needs.

Video: The Art of Recovery in Nepal

As we near the one year anniversary of the earthquake in Nepal we'll likely see more insightful stories, beautiful videos, and touching reflections on the tragedy that has shaped the country over the past 12 months, and will continue to do so for years to come. In this video, we travel to the Himalaya with climber/artist Jeremy Collins, who is using his art to help with the healing and rebuilding process. The clip is filled with fantastic images of the iconic landscapes of Nepal, reminding us all why it is such a great destination for adventure.

The 151 Best Backpacking and Hiking Websites

The Internet is full of great outdoor related websites, but it isn't always easy to find them. That's why a site called Happy to Survive has compiled a list of their selections for the 151 best backpacking and hiking websites of all time with some familiar and not so well known pages – including this one –making the list.

Some of the more well known websites the earn a spot on the list include our friends over at the Adventure Journal (#2), adventurer Alastair Humphreys (#4), and Section Hiker (#11). Others that are favorites of mine include The Gear Caster (#22), Explorer Eric Larsen's site (#25), and The Dirtbag Diaries (#28) and Best Hike (#44).

With 151 entires on the list, this is just scratching the surface however, and no matter where you live or how you hike, it is almost certain that you'll find a site or three that will draw your interest. In terms of lists of top outdoor websites, I'm not sure if I've seen one quite this comprehensive. Not only are there a lot of good sites, but they range widely in topics too.

I'd be remiss if I didn't send a thank you out to the Happy to Survive team for including The Adventure blog on the list. My humble little site manages to earn the 24th spot overall, which is pretty good considering this isn't strictly a hiking and backpacking site. I'm honored to be included amongst so many other great bloggers, adventurers, and explorers. It was also a lot of fun to discover some new sites that I hadn't seen before.

If you'd like to check out the entire list, click here.

California Dreamin' - Headed to Santa Rosa for the Week

Just a quick note to regular readers to let them know that I'm off to Santa Rosa, California for the week. Over the next few days, I'm going to get an introduction to everything that this enticing city – located north of San Francisco – has to offer outdoor adventurers and active travelers. 

My schedule will include such fun activities as kayaking, mountain biking, and zip lining, so of course I'm looking forward to my little escape. It should be fun, and I'm looking forward to learning about this part of California that I haven't been too before. I also hope to share daily updates of my experiences as well, provided I have the time and Internet access to do so. Otherwise, expect some good reports on my time out there starting next week. 

While I'm off having some fun adventures, I hope you'll be doing the same. Spring is definitely in the air here in North America, and it is time to start taking advantage of the shift in seasons. I'll be back before you know it, with lots of exciting stuff on the horizon to talk about. 

10,000th Post!

The Adventure Blog has reached a major milestone today. This is the 10,000th post I've made on this blog, which I started more than 10 years ago now. When I launched this site all those years back, I had no idea how far it would come, and how it would impact my life. It has allowed me to meet some fantastic people, visit some amazing places, and witness some dramatic things. It has been a real honor and a pleasure to share all of these stories with my regular readers, who I want to thank for showing me so much support and loyalty. The Adventure Blog wouldn't exist without you, and I appreciate you dropping by from time to time. Here's to another 10 years and 10,000 posts! Thank you all.

Rhino Thought to be Extinct in the Wild Found After 40 Years

There was good news from the World Wildlife Fund this week when it was announced that a very rare Sumatran rhino was found in Kalimantan, the Indonesia part of Borneo. It is the first time that such a creature has been spotted in the wild in more than 40 years, and bringing hope to conservationists that the species can be brought back from the edge of extinction.

The female rhino is said to be about four or five years old, and she was reportedly safely captured in a pit trap on March 12. She is now being held in a safe enclosure until she can be transported to a safe sanctuary in Indonesia.

It is believed that fewer than 100 Sumatran rhinos still exist in the wild, all of them on the island of Sumatra. The rhinos that existed in Kalimantan were declared extinct last year, although now there is hope that a few may yet wander the jungles there.

As with rhinos in Africa, the Sumatran rhino has faced serious threats from poaching, but also encroachments on their territory from miners, loggers, and farmers as well. These challenges have made the species one of the rarest on Earth.

In the same press release, the WWF also announced that three new calves have joined the breeding herd of Javan rhinos in Ujung Kulon National Park. That rhino population was down to just 60 animals worldwide as of September, 2015. But now, another three rhinos have been born as the slow process of reviving that species continues as well.

Hopefully these positive gains to these rhino species will continue.

Men's Journal Has 196 Adventures for Us - One For Each Country on Earth

Consider yourself a globe-trotting adventurer? If so, you'll definitely want to check out the latest list from Men's Journal, which offers 196 unique adventures - one for each country on the planet.

The list is presented in alphabetical order of the countries, starting with Afghanistan and ending with Zimbabwe, with every other destination on Earth in-between. Each entry includes a brief paragraph describing an adventure that is available at the particular place, with some good information to help you get started with your planning.

The options for activities in these places are as varied and widespread ad the locations themselves. You'll find everything from hiking and camping, to mountain biking and road cycling, to scuba diving and snorkeling, and so much more. It maybe cliché to say there is something for everyone on this list, but with a round-up this extensive, that statement has never been truer.

What I like about this list is that it not only suggests classic adventure ideas (visit Patagonia in Chile, gorilla trekking in the DNC) but also some lesser known options such as sailing along the coast of Croatia and surfing in Ghana. It also makes it easy for you to find an adventure, even when you're going to a place where you don't think there is necessarily one to be had. Just scrolling through the gallery will get the wheels spinning with the possibilities.

While this is a fantastic article to read, you do have to set aside some time to go through it all. 196 adventures is a lot, and you'll want to savor every suggestion. I know I've already added a couple of ideas to my always-expanding bucket list.