If you've never been to a Monster Truck Show, more specifically a Monster Jam, you're probably thinking it's for rednecks and men only.  Well, you'd be mistaken.  Most attendees are families with kids or women curious of what it's all about as well as the redneck male like myself who just loves big trucks.

I attended my first show this past Saturday with a local social club, Sky's The Limit, after meeting for dinner at a favorite sports bar called Stats.  We parked just outside the bar in one of many stadium parking lots for $8, not bad especially if you consider that I had to find an open air lot to park my own "monster" truck since it won't fit in parking decks.

We walked just up the street to the Georgia Dome where the event is held.  I was surprised to find 65,000 screaming fans already packing the gates, some had been there most of the day for the Pit Party and Driver Sutograph Sessions.  We had "nose-bleed" seats but probably a good idea since the truck noise levels were very loud.  Most of the kids and some adults wore ear plugs.

I found myself constantly telling others how "awesome" this was.  I've seen alot of the shows on TV but seeing it live for the first time was totally different.  It blew me away how high the trucks jumped and how cool it wass to see them crush stuff.

The only down side was trying to beat traffic in a big 4x4 truck on tiny city streets when it was all over.  I would go again but would buy better seats and drive a smaller car.  For $15 tickets, it was very entertaining.

It never fails, when a group of people get together for any sport or outdoor activity, it usually turns into a competition.  Even something as laid back as a scenic hike gets turned into a contest to see who gets to the top or end first.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining.  I'm typically one of the instigators or competitors.  The observation was verified when my local hiking club scheduled their own Hiker Race-off to see who's the fastest hiker in the club.  This surprised me since most clubs tend to play conservatively to avoid anyone getting hurt or from wanting to focus more on fun instead of racing.  With that being said, I'm looking forward to the challenge - you bet I'm in it to win it!

With all of the attention on the upcoming event, some of my fellow hikers have put pressure on me to win it all.  Although I like the support, now I feel the need to train that much harder to not disappoint.  This leads to my original point that it's more important to play well than it is to win.  Trust me, I'll be doing everything possible to win but not at the risk of injury or offending others.  The trash-talk has started which only fuels my drive to beat that person, but I still know my limits and that my goal is to just do my best.

I'll be sure to post an update on how I do and how well the event unfolds.  Hopefully, you'll see me on the top step of the podium - well, holding my generic 1st place blue ribbon.  But if I don't win, I know I'll have plenty to report on how hard it was but how much fun I had.  Yes, it truly isn't whether I win or lose but how I play the game.

It's funny how within the same group of hikers out on the trail, you can have several smaller groups that are so different from one another.  Yes, they have hiking in common but sometimes that's it.  In my experience, you always have the Turtles and Rabbits; Whiners & Doers; Fitness Freaks & Tree Huggers; Tourists and Travelers; City Slickers and Cowboys; Leaders and Followers.

The first pair of groups refer to the pace at which the group prefers.  Obviously, the names Turtles & Rabbits says it all.  Most of the time, I'm at the back doing Sweep making sure no one gets left behind, lost, or hurt.  So, I get to talk to alot of Turtles, and I'm always hearing them complain that the Rabbits are going too fast, which also puts them in the Whiners group.  I reassure them that 'Slow & Steady wins the Race' and that those who start out too fast will be caught in the end if not burn themselves out beforehand.  The Rabbits also complain that the Turtles are holding them back which is preventing them from getting a good workout, which puts them in the Whiner group as well as the Fitness Freaks group.  I just try and keep the two groups close so that in the end we all end up at the same destination.  The most important advice for both groups to heed is that you should always go at your own pace so as to not 'red-line your engine' and blow up or 'bonk.'

I've already given examples of the Whiner group above, but the Doer group is much easier to deal with.  Doers are those that will lend a hand no matter what you ask of them.  They're just excited to be given responsibilities or tasks that will help the group.  They also fall into the Followers group but some stand out as Leaders.  They don't tend to whine but instead prefer to stay busy and assist however they can.  No trip would be a success without this group.

Although I mentioned Fitness Freaks already, I haven't fully described who they are.  These are people who always look for the physical challenge in order to get a workout more so than take in the view.  Unlike the Tree Huggers who are always stopping to take photos or 'smell the roses', Fitness Freaks are always monitoring how far, how fast, or how high we've gone while checking their GPS or HRM.  To each his own, as long as both groups get along and have a good time, I'm happy.  I personally like doing both.

Here are two groups that are separated by experience - Tourists & Travelers.  Most people start off as Tourists and migrate to Travelers after years of travel.  Sounds straight forward.  The main difference is how each group handles the trip.  Tourists want it quick and hit all the highlights, whereas Travelers want to take their time to dig behind the scenes to discover what's hidden.  Not to sound judge mental but Travelers are not as pushy and tend to be more respectful of their surroundings.  Let's all strive to become either better Tourists or more seasoned Travelers.

God help the City Slickers who find themselves in an unfamiliar environment that is the Great Outdoors.  They usually dress like they're going jogging more so than going into the back country for hiking or backpacking.  They like the idea of having an Outdoor Adventure but in reality they're ill-prepared and need help getting through the ordeal.  On the other hand, Cowboys try and fake their way through it since they've always been Outdoorsmen who hunt, fish, and car camp.  There's a big difference between certain outdoor activities that seem the same because they both take place in the woods.  Backpacking is totally different than car camping; hiking in nature is completely opposite to hunting; climbing gear is absolutely foreign to someone used to using fishing gear.  It's amazing how these groups somehow find a way to bond and develop a new-found respect for one another while dealing with their new surroundings.

And lastly, there are those who Follow and those who Lead.  Most people find it hard to do both - you either have that take-charge command to Lead or you prefer to take a back seat and Follow.  Once again, like the Doers, a trip will not be successful unless you have some of either group.  Of course, too many 'Chiefs' and not enough 'Indians' is bad for morale and nothing gets done.  I choose to always share the duties by putting each person in charge of a task or a smaller group.  Everyone wants to feel needed and useful.

Go on a group hike and see if you can pick out who belongs to what group.  You might even discover new groups.  Also, see how you fit in or don't fit in.  People are so interesting if you stop, listen, and watch.  I love them all as long as they're making the effort to get off the couch and get outside, even the Whiners.

Happy trails!

Kevin Crowe

BLAC

To help get you started on creating tour Bucket List as well as designing a plan to making it happen, I'm offering you the opportunity to get some answers that will help start you on your way to achieving those adventure goals you've always dreamed of.  But first, I need some background info from you to get the ball rolling.

This questionnaire is no obligation to you nor will it cost anything for the reply from BLAC founder Kevin Crowe regarding his initial thoughts. If you don't want to go forward from there, then you'll have gotten a great idea-booster and free counsel from Kevin. If you got excited though...you'll be given the opportunity to go to the next step.

"Every Great Adventure Starts With The First Step!"

Step Here...
 

Once again, I was reminded on an outdoor adventure how many people are afraid of going into the outdoors because they're just not confident.  Whether it's getting lost, not having the right gear, unsure of what to do in case of an emergency, or simply fearful of the unknown, I have seen firsthand fellow hikers uncomfortable at taking a walk in the woods.  To ease their fears, I plan on leading clinic hikes, not hiking clinics, where I teach a skill or demo gear or layout a map to follow and then we test it out.  It's not a hiking clinic because I'm not necessarily showing people how to hike since most people can walk which is the main activity.  But instead I'm instructing them on all things vital to outdoor safety or essential gear to have fun without fear.

On the other side of the coin is how much I take for granted when it comes to what I've learned about playing in the outdoors.  On a recent club hike, I realized that not everyone knows how to follow a map or trail whether it's marked or not.  I've learned to tell the difference between animal paths vs people trails, closed vs open , trail blazes vs property line markings, and following map directions based on topography.  I will never again assume that each member of my party has all the skills necessary to succeed much less survive on an outing.

I'm constantly asked about what gear is needed and where to buy it, so I'll make this offer.  If you attend one of my hikes, you should be able to contact me afterward via email where I'll need you to list your current gear, what gear you're wanting, and what you plan on doing with said gear.  I'll be able to tell you what you need, where to buy it, how much it should cost, and in some cases, show you how to use it.  Of course, my time is in short supply but I'll do everything I can to point you in the right direction in the outside chance I can't answer all of your questions myself.

At the end of the day, all you need to know is that having fun outside is much more beneficial than laying on the couch inside.  There are basic guidelines to follow when going into the backcountry but nothing you can't easily grasp.  Whether it's scenery, exercise, or socializing you're after, getting out of doors is well worth stepping outside your comfort zone.

Happy trails!

Kevin Crowe

BLAC