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...somehow, in my brain, it made total sense to start a 4-hour roadtrip to Vermont after a 20-hour workday. Thanks to divine intervention, and the state troopers that stopped us on the way up, we made it to the Arlington Campground in one piece at around 2 in the morning and quickly set up camp. And at that time, in freezing temperature, it made complete sense for 3 full grown adults to sleep in a tent designed for 2 people...
Five hours later, we're up and were told we camped on the wrong side of grounds, so we packed everything back up, registered for the weekend and grabbed a hearty breakfast, because that day, we were going caving!
It took 3 hours to get to the caves, which included a 1,000 foot hike up some sketchy terrain with lots of climbing before we got to the entrance of the cave. And then it started to rain. Not that summer-rain-in-the-city stuff. We're talking fall-weather-Vermont-ice-water-forest rain that sucks every once of enthusiasm out of your bones. (One of the cavers, Alina, looked downright catatonic on the hike down.) And when we found the cave and went in, there was no way around having to step and crawl into a foot of ice cold underground river water. The caves are a series of beautifully polished marble boreholes formed by running underground rivers. And those rivers were still running downstream. And of course, we were crawling upstream.
So we get to this part where it's just a waterfall of this freezing river dumping on our heads. And the only way through it is over it, meaning, we had to climb through it. I'm looking right at this ‪waterfall‬ of ice cold water and thinking, I ain't ‪climbing‬ that. I'm in a cave. I'm freezing. I'm exhausted. And now I gotta climb 12 feet of slick, unstable rock with no rope through water so cold it makes an ALS challenge look like a sauna. F*ckthatsh*t. And as I was thinking that, my frozen hands were already gripping the white marble and finding footholds until hey, I just climbed 12 feet with no rope through a waterfall of ice cold water and just kept it moving. Out of a group of 16, just 3 of us got through this. And all 3 were Outerthere fam. Word.
At this point, you might be thinking to yourself, why? There's no simple answer. But if I were to give you one, I would tell you what I was thinking about just before I climbed through that waterfall. I was thinking that after having (barely) slept 5 hours in the last 2 days, I'm never more awake, more focused, and more alive than at those moments. No drugs, no coffee, no partying, nothing could have had the same affect. So, the question I would ask you is, why not? Why wouldn't you want that in your life, too?
F*ck your desk. See you outerthere!
.al
P.S. There's a pretty big announcement below disguised as a camping/backpacking trip. Hope you're down!
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Al Berrios
Editor/Publisher
Outerthere Adventures
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Featured Outerthere Trips
Sept 27th, 2014 - Scouting Trip - Storm King Mountain. Scouting trips are meant for us to "test the adventure" (like breaking gadgets on purpose to see if they'll hold up to regular use) and figure out all the risks before planning a safe adventure for anyone. Learn more about these types of trips here. This trip is a 10+ miler with 1,300 feet of elevation up to the top of Storm King Mountain. (For anyone who's ever been on the Breakneck Ridge hike, it's the prominent mountain directly across the river.) There is no fee for this trip. This trip is not on the site. If you're interested, reply to this email for details.
NEW! Oct 11 + 12 - Underthere MAR. Apparently, Fall is caving season and everywhere there are caves on the east coast, there's a group of people going into them. This October 11 and 12th, Outerthere is going caving in Pennsylvania where The Seven Valleys Grotto hosts the Mid-Appalachian Region (MAR) of the National Speleological Society Fall 2014 weekend. These weekends are always a blast, with food, skills trainings, lots of adult beverages, and plenty of caves to sign up for. All levels welcome, especially beginners. Especially if you're a girl #icecreamandflowers! (If you go, I'll explain the joke.)
NEW! Nov 1 + 2, 2014 - Mini-Ocktoberfest Overnight Camping/Backpacking, Part Deux! That's right campers! This is the 2nd annual! Whaaaa?!? (Here's a recap of the first). And it's not your typical camping trip either, 'cause you know how we do. This trip marks a significant milestone because from here on out, all Outerthere hikes are pay-optional. WhatchutalkinboutAl?!? So here's the deal. All summer, I've been telling some of you guys how much I love doing this and after months of mulling it over, I've finally decided what I want Outerthere to be. Outerthere is an adventure planning service, not a professional guiding service. With some exceptions, I'm organizing you awesome people on adventures you would have probably never thought of doing on your own. And I work with pro guides who provide training, gear, and expert knowledge to make your adventure epic. That said, starting with Outerthere hiking and camping trips, you will have the option of making a contribution (like you would at a museum) when you reserve your spot. Your money will go towards investments to improve the Outerthere experience. But just like a museum, you don't have to make a contribution to spend time outdoors with the rest of the Outerthere fam and everyone else we meet along the way. No judgements. Your presence and enthusiasm will be appreciated either way. So, sign up now and help me take this idea to the next level!!
And here are some examples of what's meant by "adventure planning":
UPDATED! Year Round - Outerthere Climbs! - If you're looking to step up your climbing game, Outerthere Climbs! is for you! Working in collaboration with local guides and instructors, Outerthere is helping NYC locals plan rock and ice climbing trips year round in the best outdoor climbing settings in the northeast, the Shawangunk Ridge, the Catskills, and the Adirondacks! Visit the link to plan your trip now!
UPDATED! Spring, Summer - Outerthere Paddles! Beginning with all 315 miles of the Hudson River, there's plenty of paddling on the east coast, from whitewater kayaking and rafting, to touring on a kayak, stand-up paddle boarding, and canoeing. Working in collaboration with local guides and instructors, Outerthere is helping NYC locals plan their next paddling adventure on awesome Class I through IV rivers they probably didn't know existed, let alone could paddle. Visit the link to plan your trip now!
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SPONSORED MESSAGE
Need gear? Need gear fixed? Reach out to our homies at Traverse Outfitters. They'll fix your broken gear and rent you the rest. Outerthere fam gets 30% off rentals through 2014! Word. With delivery to our departure point, because they're awesome!
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What You Missed
Sept 6th, 2014 - Outerthere Surfs the Rock!, So yea, we went surfing at Rockaway Beach. And yea, it was pretty awesome. You see, the day started all cloudy and whatnot. But then, just because we got there, the sky turned blue, the water got warm, and lo' and behold, surf was up. Small swells that were perfect for beginners. So yea, surf, sun, and Thai food and beers after. Word. Big shout out to Marisa and Veronica (who invited me to do her BUTI yoga class the next day, a practice combining yoga, dance, plyometrics, and a lot of booty shaking. Double word.) See what you missed.
Sept 12/13/14 - Underthere NRO. I don't have to say it again. NRO was awesome. And in case you missed it on my Facebook, here's a snapshot of all the fun. Huge thanks to Adele, Maylis, and the notorious Julia, who's ability to make you blush "while you're down there" is second to none. #icecreamandflowers
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Inspiring Adventures From Your Seat
Hipsters are hunting now. It's true. I've seen them.
And they've finally killed PBR. Now Russians own it.
And starting skipping clubs! And charging for it!! WTF!!!
F*ck 'em! Let's go bouncing instead.
Or surfing in the arctic. Oh wait, they're already doing that...
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WARNING: Outerthere does not advocate doing any of the stunts, activities, or sports we feature here without proper training, guidance, support, and resources. This stuff is dangerous and you could get seriously injured or worse if you don't know what you're doing, like this guy. Outerthere always advocates safety first.
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Before You Go
Like this update? Invite your homies to get Outerthere!
Not sure if you can get down with Outerthere? Check our trip difficulty ratings. Want to skip all that? Take our adventure survey. Don't forget to check our kinda-sorta waiver. And if you roll through, pack correct. But that fine print, though.
That rumor that Outerthere makes money by ransoming lost hikers... Totally not true. Learn more about Al and Outerthere.
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