I added a new Blog site at WordPress to allow me to submit entries from the field via my iPhone:

http://bucketlistadventure.wordpress.com/

And I moved our BLAC club on Facebook from our Group to a Fan Page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jasper-GA/Bucket-List-Adventure-Coaching/75654246888

We're also on the following Social Media sites:

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/

Linked-In:  http://www.linkedin.com/myprofile?trk=hb_tab_pro

48Days.Net:  http://www.48days.net/profile/KevinCrowe

Follow our updates as we "Live It Before We Kick It!"

Kevin Crowe

BLAC Prez

I've been out of touch for a couple of months while working on a new business service but has been worth the time.  As a way to develop more Group Adventure Travel packages for my clients & outdoor clubs based in Atlanta/SouthEast as well as build my resume so to speak, I'm now doing Trip Evaluations for tour operations.

What's involved in a Trip Evaluation you may ask?  Well, as kind of a part Mystery Shopper and part Business Consultant I scout a destination's lodging, dining, transportation, activities, outfitters, and other logistics to prepare the way for future group trips to that area.  I usually partner with an outfitter, tour operator, resort, or tourism board, and act as a regular client to give non-biased/industry feedback on their staff, gear, offerings, marketing, facilities, and so on to help them improve.  At the end of the trip, I prepare a Trip Report with photos & videos highliting the Good & Bad to help all involved promote their offerings along with ways to ensure the next trip will go smoothly.

This service is trully a Win-Win scenario for not just myself & tour companies but also for select VIP clients I take with me.  My clients who qualify get to go at a reduced rate as well as receive free coaching to prepare for the adventure in exchange for their feedback as a Target Customer.  If they are in any of the photos or video footage, they'll have to give consent to use their image for marketing purposes only.

For those of you who want to travel with me, watch for Upcoming Adventures on my Calendar such as my Kilimanjaro Climb & Balloon Safari, and for you Tour Companies needing help marketing yourselves, let's work together to bring in more clients.

Happy Trails!

Kevin Crowe

Bucket List Adventure

While preparing for my upcoming trips to Brazil, and Peru this month, I have been reminded how much a headache it is to travel out of the country. 

First, there was negotiating with an outfitter which took forever and to this day I'm not sure everything is settled. 

Second, I had to set dates based on alot of factors like work, family, weather, seasons, airfare, and so on. 

Third, I needed to recruit others to go with me for support and help split the costs.  This part in itself meant I had to triple my efforts by helping them prepare as well. 

Fourth, the fun returned with getting vaccinations & medications - expensive and painful!  Luckily, I had renewed my Passport last year so had that taken care of.

Fifth, trying to decide what gear to last me 17 days/16 nites in all ckind of weather through all kinds of outdoor adventures, plus be able to pack as lite as possible to avoid headaches at airport security as well as avoid airline baggage fees.

Sixth, increase training so that my fitness wouldn't be an issue at altitude or in the different climates.  It's hard cross-training for several sports at once - mtn biking, backpacking, rafting, etc...

And finally, there's the tough part of saying goodbye to wife & kids for so long.  This is the toughest part for me.

Happy trails!

Kevin Crowe

BLAC

My first test of the year, a local outdoor club hike/run race, was a success but not for the reasons you might think.  Yeah, I won the overall contest but that wasn't my main goal.  My main objective was to compete against myself and beat my best time from my earlier practice runs.  Mission accomplished!  I beat my own time by 30 minutes and ran a well planned race.  Most of my competition got lost on the course so pre-hiking the course ended up being a good idea after all.  The weather was the real surprise - into the 60's!  I was used to the cold winter weather and almost overheated near the end.  Luckily, I didn't run out of energy drink until the end.  We had to carry a backpack with 10% of our bodyweight plus your water, so I had to calculate how much was necessary but no more.  I also used 4 energy gels for refueling which helped me eat on the run - literally!  I must say I was most proud of the fact that I was the Heaviest contestant with the Heaviest pack.  Reminds me of the mountain bike racing days where I mostly competed as a "Clydesdale", the only class based on weight instead of age where you had to weigh more than 200 pounds.  Overall, everyone who finished had fun and were winners due to the fact that they set a goal and completed it.  Can't wait til the next one!

Happy trails!

Kevin

For those training for an upcoming outdoor adventure, this book does an excellent job of preparing you by improving your fitness level specific to the activity.  Not only is the book packed with valuable reference material, but it also explains the info in easy to understand instructions.  I use Doug as my personal trainer and rely on him & his wife's instructional DVD to prepare for adventures like climbing Mt. Rainier.

There are alot of fitness books out there on the market but very few focus on Outdoor Sports such as hiking, climbing, trail running, mtn biking, paddling, & skiing.  This niche is important since the endurance, strength, and balance you'll need for these activities are more specialized than average sports.  For example, carrying a heavy backpack, running on uneven terrain, as well as pushing your stamina just to reach the summit.

All of the photos, charts, and outlines make it simple to follow and refer back.  Even how the contents are brokedown into various activities or fitness topics makes it easy to jump right to the area you need.  Their extensive background in outdoor sports shows as you see how many different activities they cover.

Two thumbs up for the book, their personal training, and them as outdoor athletes!

Kevin Crowe

BLAC