Hiking and Backpacking
Hiking is a great activity that gets me in to the middle of the forests among the trees and wildlife. No other activity gets me closer to nature. I mostly enjoy solo hiking where I can set any location, pace, and mileage without conflicting with others. For me, hiking is the purest activity anyone can participate in. The only piece of gear required is a water container and the only skill necessary is the ability to walk. Of course, the most important and necessary thing of all is to have an adventurous spirit.
Rock Climbing
What better sport to compliment hiking? After countless miles hiking alongside massive bluffs and on the edge of cliffs I finally decided to learn how to explore their faces. I engulfed myself with climbing and quickly bought some gear and joined a local climbing gym. I was absolutely fascinated with climbing and for two years spent just about every nice weekend at the crag. I would also spend two days out of the week in the gym working on technique and getting stronger. Climbing means something different to everyone. For me, it's another way to get outdoors and have a great time and lots of fun. Climbing is a sport that requires a partner, but it's very much a solo experience once on the rock. I tend to enjoy having people around while climbing. It adds to the excitement and creates a supportive atmosphere.
Kayaking
I've always been drawn to water and when combined with my sense of adventure you end up with kayaking. For years I wanted to get in to kayaking, but never pursued it for miscellaneous reasons. After a climbing friend started showing interest in kayaking it quickly resparked my interest. Soon we both had kayaks and were off on our first float trip. I'm pretty much hooked now and my favorite type of water is small creeks snaking their way across the land with their shoreline covered in trees. I pretty much like any water area that lends itself to great exploring and awesome scenery, but I tend to avoid large open bodies of water where I feel overwhelmed by it's vastness. Kayaking is a sport for anyone and everyone. The expense is minimal for a flatwater boat and the little bit of gear required. Get out there and discover this wonderful sport, you won't regret it.
Mountain Biking
I've only been mountain biking for a few months, but it's been a lot of fun so far. It's quite different then hiking even though the trails are extremely similar. While biking on trails specifically created for mountain biking, there isn't much time spent watching scenery. Even so, it's a great way to enjoy nature and get outdoors. It's also a great way to get in shape and build up overall endurance and strength. Also, just like when I first started climbing and kayaking, I've discovered a lot of new muscles. This sport requires a different way of thinking if you plan to spend much time on trails created specifically for mountain biking. Focus is key or you risk getting injured. The key to mountain biking is getting to a level where you can maintain a stady pace throughout the trail which allows you to use momentum to make it up hills without heavy peddling. Otherwise, you find yourself winded pretty quickly after some of the more challenging hills. I'm looking forward to the many miles of trails in my future.
Motorcycle Dualsporting
Dualsporting is a perfect activity for adventurous people. With the ability to explore beyond the asphalt, the dualsport rider can seek out many different levels of off-roading. I own a 2006 Kawasaki KLR650 which has an almost cult like following and admired for it's amazing diversity. Although on the heavier end of the spectrum, the KLR650 is still quite manageable even when asked to thread itself down overgrown singletrack. Within the short time of owning the motorcycle, I've discovered quite a few places to ride within reach of the tri-state area. The biggest hurdle to overcome has been my riding ability. The KLR650's capabilities extend far beyond my feeble skills. Even so, I've taken it in to some pretty interesting areas and I'm never surprised that it makes out, even after the way it gets used and abused. It's almost as if it begs to be treated this way. Unlike the other sports above, I cannot recommend dualsporting to everyone. A motorcycle is far from being a toy and it takes a strong attitude toward safety and a certain mindset to be able to enjoy this activity. Besides those attributes, the initial expense of dualsporting is far higher then all my other activities put together. To those fortunate enough to experience true dualsporting, welcome to the club.