I'm still recovering from this hike!  Not so much from my sore calves but more so from all the bee stings!  If you hike with trekking poles, be careful where you poke them.  My hiking partner, Dante, mistakenly stuck his pole in a bee hole on the side of the trail and since I was directly behind him I got attacked.  And, of course, I forgot to replace my Benadryl pills in my First Aid Kit, but luckily I had some generic allergy pills.  The older you get and the more you've been stung the more you're allergic to stings.  And all of this happened at the very beginning of the hike!

Oh well.  To say the least, the hike improved greatly as we reached our first overlook.  It was amazing how quiet it was looking out over the valley.  All you could hear was a lone dog barking in the distance.  Being August, there was still alot of tree cover that made it hard to see from the ridge we were on but the breeze still got through to help cool us down on a hot summer day.  We were definitely fortunate when it came to weather that day - mostly sunny in the 70's.

Next trip, I'm packing a better lunch and bringing more drinks.  The 'Elvis' sandwich (peanut butter & banana) was not that great looking after being smushed in my pack.  And I polished off my sports drink pretty quick huffing it up the hillsides.  To make my hunger worse, we spoke with a cyclist in the parking lot near the top of Brasstown Bald who had just eaten a hot dog from the General Store.  I refused to buy one because I'm bad to eat more calories than I burn on alot of my outdoor adventures.

After reaching the more crowded tourist section (there's a road from the bottom) near the summit, we finished the last 1/2 mile on a paved trail.  I'm an odd character when it comes to occupying my mind on long hikes/climbs; I like to track my time.  I usually average 2+ miles per hour in the mountains and in trying to keep on track I started humping it up the trail to get to the summit on time.   Dante wasn't too thrilled about my sudden burst of speed, but I had a Clif Bar waiting for him at the Viewing Platform on top.  FYI - the 12.5 mile round trip took us 3 hours & 15 minutes going up and 2 hours & 10 minutes going down including breaks & sting care.

When I reached the trailhead where my 'Monster' truck (a story for another time) was parked, it was a great feeling of accomplishment to get in such a great hike with a friend on a beautiful day with awesome views when the night before I was doubting that I'd make it to the top.  It just shows you that time flies when you're having fun and spending time in the Great Outdoors is always better than sitting at home on the couch - minus the bee stings.

Happy Trails!

Kevin Crowe

     Adventure is simply something that is challenging yet thrilling; pushing your limits but within your grasp; physical or mental.  For my company & I, the focus is typically on human-powered outdoor activities like cycling, hiking, climbing, rafting, diving, kayaking, skydiving, etc...  When I think of Adventure, I envision myself climbing to a summit, biking an epic ride, surviving a Class V rapid, getting un-lost (if that's a word?), or jumping out of a prefectly good airplane.

     Which leads me to the reason for me writing this blog, Adventure to one person can be totally different for another.  What excites me is probably boring to Lance Armstrong or Ed Viestrus.  But, what I strive to do outdoors might be an adventure of a lifetime to those trapped in an office or someone new to a sport or people who never get outside their own town.  Your skill level at a certain activity or your fitness or your gear does not necessary make an Adventure adventurous, although it definitely can make it more enjoyable.  If it excites you or makes your adrenalin flow or heart beat faster, then you're on an Adventure!

     Whether you want to test yourself, overcome a fear, compete against a friend, have fun with a group, gain local knowledge, experience something new, learn another culture, deal with mid-life crisis, get in touch with nature, or tempt fate, it's not so important What or Why but that you get off the couch and take that first step to "Live it before you Kick it!"

     My point is that you shouldn't worry about what anyone thinks about the Dream Adventures on your Bucket List.  But that If you desire to accomplish these goals of things you've always wanted to do, then by all means you should do so.  Life is short, Play hard!  Yeah, you've heard that tagline but it's true.  Or better yet, make memories of a lifetime every chance you get because "Life isn't a Dress Rehearsal!"

Posing like a 'Poser' at an AT shelter

Happy Trails!

Kevin Crowe

Most people know that having a team helps with getting the job done. But, what they tend to forget is how important it is to have someone to share in the accomplishment of getting that job done.

I know first hand the loneliness of seeing something beautiful and not having anyone to share it with.  Like my first time to the Grand Canyon while watching the sunset and looking around to only see couples snuggled up or parents showing their kids the beauty of nature.  The next time I brought my wife!

Team members also help by encouraging you to push yourself or help keep you safe - both ends of the spectrum.  As a matter of fact, alot of our dream adventures can't be done alone.  You quite often need help carrying the load or plotting a course or setting up camp.

It's also nice to have someone witness your great journey or break through for proof or another perspective or even to just snap photographs.  The benefits of sharing your adventures with friends, family, and sometimes strangers can make all the difference between success and failure.

This is why I'm a strong advocate of asking others you know to join you on an adventure.  You never know who might have the same dream and actually says yes to going.

Look at this crazy crew I talked into going hiking with me...

Happy trails!

Kevin Crowe

In short, Adventure Coaching is helping others turn dreams of adventure into reality.

Most people know 'what' they want to do but not 'how.'  This is where I come in to the picture.  As an Adventure Coach, I focus on assisting you in achieving your adventure goals on your life list.  By proper planning & training, we design an Adventure Map on how to reach your destination, whether it's the summit of a mountain or bike the climbs of the Tour de France.

If it were so easy, you'd probably already have done everything you dreamed of doing.  The first step is to clarify what exactly are your top Adventure Goals by creating your own 'Bucket List', which is a list of adventures you want to do before you 'kick the bucket.'   Once this is done, the fun really starts!  We now have to figure out how to get it done.  And this is why you would hire me to lead you through the mountain of logistics.  Working together as a team, we develop an action plan to handle supplies, guides, & lodging to gear, training, & travel.  Whatever it takes to get the job done.

If you're like me, with the money & time invested, you typically only have one shot to get it right.  With my help, you're guaranteed to have the best shot by being fully prepared to handle whatever's thrown at you.  My number one mission is to see you safely succeed at accomplishing your adventure of a lifetime.

Knowing which way to go is crucial in any adventure - the road signs aren't always clear.

Happy Trails!

Kevin Crowe