They say that when going on vacation, the happiest time is the day before you leave. They say that it is the anticipation of a new adventure that creates more happiness than the trip itself.
This I believe to be true.
While I feel I have gone on many adventures in my lifetime, it is in the planning and preparation that makes my heart sing. While I long for summiting a mountain to see the view from high up above, it is the packing and unpacking of my backpack for days at a time — strategizing the merits of the utility of items that weigh fractions of an ounce — obsessively reading first-hand accounts of the travelers before me — and planning the precise camera body/lens combo that i want to have — that gives me the jolt of satisfaction.
This is probably because no matter what I end up packing I will still carry it on my back. No matter what camera I bring, I will always say I brought the wrong one. And no matter what my eyes see and my ears hear when I am finally there, no words will be able to replicate it sufficiently for others when I return.
You see, it is in the dreaming that makes me feel alive. The actual accomplishment of doing it simply validates my dreams of adventures are worth pursuing.
So it is in this spirit that I share with you my current obsessions. Five adventures that I am currently deep-diving on to visualize, plan, and dream about to throw more wood onto the fire. I don’t have specific dates yet. I don’t have committed companions yet. If you have any experience with any of these places, please give me tips!
Tour du Mont Blanc
The Tour du Mont Blanc is a 106-mile trek in the Alps that travels through three countries: France, Italy, and Switzerland. It takes typically 9-11 days to hike the full route. This adventure promises stunning. views, a moderately challenging trek, and amazing food as it weaves through 17 towns.
Annapura Base Camp Trek
I decided very early on that I had no interest in hiking to Everest Base Camp. I do, however, have a dream of hiking in the Himalayas and to spend some time in Kathmandu. The Annapura Base Camp Trek is an 11-day trek through diverse landscapes and up to the 10th highest peak in the Himalayas (13,355 ft). You stay at teahouses along the route giving you a real taste of Nepal.
Dana to Petra Trek
When I visited Jerusalem in 2016 I passed up an opportunity to extend my trip to visit Petra. This trek starts at the Dana Nature Reserve and travels through deep gorges and across high ridges for 80kms over 6 days finishing up at the famous Monastery of the ancient city of Petra. This is one of the World’s sites that I must see with my own eyes!
Snæfellsjökull Glacier
It seems like everyone is traveling to Iceland lately. A noticeable effort by the Iceland Board of Tourism has meant there are non-stop flights from RDU to Iceland now. And while, I am fascinated by basically everything this country has to offer, the part in particular that I am very interested in is the Snæfellsjökull Glacier: a 7,000 year old snow-capped volcano. This trek is a chalenging one, but the views promises to be worth it.
The Wave
Ok, this is probably the biggest bucket list item in the United States for me. The Wave is one of the most sought-after photographic locations in the world. That is because they only let 20 people per day visit it. There is no trail, it is about 6 miles roundtrip, and you need to use a compass to find it. It is quite literally like winning the lottery to get a permit. At some point I will make a full push to apply for a permit and should my name get called, quickly book a plane ticket to go and visit it.
These are my current top 5 places I want to visit. What are the places in the world that are on your list?