So, you’re thinking about an adventure vacation...

Huge thanks to Marco Adelfio for being so willing to share such a great shot!

My trip to Ecuador and adventures into the Andes were incredible – but came with lots and lots of planning, so I thought I’d share a few things to consider when planning your next big adventure.  Adventure vacations, while incredible (and with opportunities for amazing photos), are also filled with moments that are far from glamorous, the details that aren't often talked about - if you're looking for honest insight, you'll find it below.  All I can offer here are my own personal experiences, and hope that some bit of knowledge might be garnered by someone in the audience...

1. Make friends with someone at REI.  Find an employee that has experience in whatever type of adventure you’re about to take and ask a lot of questions. REI employees are a wealth of knowledge.  If you’re in the DC area and looking for insight from someone at REI in Bailey’s Crossroads, I’ve got the man for you!

2. Go basic on equipment – here, not everyone will agree.  And admittedly, the more fancy features you find on your jacket/pack/etc., the happier you’ll be, but here’s the catch...it’s hard to know which fancy features you’ll want and which you’ll find a waste of time and money.  Save your dollars until you know which features are important to you – in the meantime, go basic and borrow from friends when possible.  You can upgrade later!

3. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.  If you’re out of the country, it’s worth considering the risk of food poisoning when dining out on trips of this nature as well – when in doubt, stick to bottled water (and make sure the cap is sealed when it arrives).  Aside from helping to combat several downfalls of travel and physical exertion in a new environment, a little H20 goes a long way in helping to make your skin glow…and with all the pictures you’ll be taking, you’ll be happy to keep your skin looking healthy!

4. Speaking of skin…whether your find yourself on the top of a glacier or sunbathing near the sea, a sunburn never feels good and can put a serious damper on the remainder of your trip.  Buy UV protective clothing and load up on sunscreen so you can enjoy your fun, without peeling later!

5. You’re going to lose a toenail, puncture your hand/foot/leg with your crampon, hit yourself in the head with your ice axe, or suffer some other less-than-glamorous bodily injury.  Pack a first aid kit, hope you never need it, and know that you probably will.

6. Kiss your modesty goodbye, at least in the short term.  I’ll admit, I fell on a rather steep portion of the mountain while using the little-girls room on Chimborazo – hope you’re close with your team and that they’re as kind as mine!  Hopefully you’ll escape such an ordeal, but realistically speaking, at some point, you’re still going to have to use Mother Nature’s little-girls (or little-boys) room with significantly less privacy than you’d prefer (five feet of personal space became a luxury on my trip at some points).  I can’t personally speak to the power of a “Go Girl”, but I know it was a big hit with some ladies this trip.

7. For the female readers – let it suffice it to say that if you’re of childbearing age, there are certain hormonal and cyclical occurrences of the monthly variety to consider.  In this day and age, these issues can be medically managed and rescheduled for a more convenient time in your life.  I know, I know…you don’t like the idea of messing with your hormones, I get it, but it’s worth at least considering this one time.  Enough said.

8. Pack and plan for your own toiletries and meds.  Don’t assume you’ll be able to purchase necessary medications once you arrive.  I exhausted my family-sized bottle of Advil within one week in Ecuador and was unable to find a pharmacy that carried more.  If you’ll be outside the country, carry your own toilet paper and remember, there’s not enough hand-sanitizer in the world when you’re traveling. Make sure to purchase your own personal antibacterial hand-goop with a hook or clip for external-attaching to your backpack or bag.  It keeps it handy and avoids the dreaded “dig” through your entire pack when in a hurry!  Earplugs are invaluable if you’ll be sleeping in close-quarters with other adventurers.

9. Anticipate your expenses and start saving early – I’m a big fan of mint.com, but really any budgeting system will work.  My general recommendation?  Save more than you think you need.  A lot more than you think you need.  Trips and vacations of this nature get spendy and in a hurry.

10. Insurance – hopefully you’ll enjoy every vacation illness-free, but when you’re about to embark on an adventure, it’s best to be prepared!  Consider the location and associated risks with your impending trip – natural disasters, political stability, access to healthcare?  Don’t assume that your current health insurance will be sufficient – call to make sure!  In anticipation of my recent trip, I purchased a plan through Global Rescue for emergency evacuation and transportation and as supplemental coverage to my current health insurance.  For additional information related to insurance and healthcare coverage, I found "Ten Health Care Tips for Travel" from “inside workplace wellness” by Janet McNichol, Director of HR at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, to be particularly insightful.  Do your homework in advance - there are tons of options out there, find the one best suited to meet your needs.

By no means is this list all-encompassing, rather just a few of the take-away points from my recent adventure.  For additional reading regarding the fun we had, see jetsetination, written by Cynthia Lin, another climber and good friend from the expedition to Ecuador.