The tagline for Get Out! magazine is “outdoor adventure in the Ohio River region.” As an outdoor adventurer, I only occasionally ask myself what adventure is. Sometimes it’s like porn: you can’t define it, but you know it when you see it.
According to Merriam-Webster.com, adventure is defined as:
1 a: an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks b: the encountering of risks2: an exciting or remarkable experience 3: an enterprise involving financial risk
It’s interesting that the dictionary definition of adventure largely invokes the word risk. If adventure were strictly defined by risk, then driving a car to the trailhead would be the most adventurous part of your trip (see What Will Really Kill You Outdoors). But there is some truth to that – backpacking in bear country is definitely adventurous and largely because it’s so risky, or at least it feels risky. Ditto whitewater rafting, skydiving, rock climbing, BASE jumping, biking in rush hour traffic and so on.
I’d like to add another word to help define adventure: unknown. Sure, hiking, backpacking and mountain biking are adventurous. Now what about when you go off trail? Isn’t that where the real adventure begins? Rock climbing is adventurous, particularly a first ascent. There are still plenty out there – you need to be prepared with an escape route, but isn’t that exactly why it’s adventurous? (And it doesn’t have to be particularly risky).
I’ve rafted the New River, hiked the Laurel Highlands Trail, camped in bear country and had innumerable other adventures, real adventures. But I’ve also attempted a first ascent or two (first ascents to me and my partners – others have possibly climbed these remote rocks, but it was still unknown territory to us). I’ve found a red eft newt inside a black cup mushroom while hiking off trail on a morel mushroom hunt. I’ve discovered a long-abandoned coal mine while dropping the bike at the paved path and exploring the surrounding countryside.
I met a couple of people in Bloomington, IN who arrived at Indiana University from the East and West coasts. They decided to explore their new home by creating an adventure game for themselves that they call “brownsigning.” They pack a lunch, get in the car and pick a direction on the map and go. Whenever they see a brown sign, they follow it to the historic site/trailhead/oddity/whatever. What’s great about this is that the day begins with pretty much no idea of how it will go or where their route will take them.
Now that’s adventure.
We want to hear about your next adventure. Go to the Get Out! trip report section on our front page and share your story and photo with us.
According to Merriam-Webster.com, adventure is defined as:
1 a: an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks b: the encountering of risks
It’s interesting that the dictionary definition of adventure largely invokes the word risk. If adventure were strictly defined by risk, then driving a car to the trailhead would be the most adventurous part of your trip (see What Will Really Kill You Outdoors). But there is some truth to that – backpacking in bear country is definitely adventurous and largely because it’s so risky, or at least it feels risky. Ditto whitewater rafting, skydiving, rock climbing, BASE jumping, biking in rush hour traffic and so on.
I’d like to add another word to help define adventure: unknown. Sure, hiking, backpacking and mountain biking are adventurous. Now what about when you go off trail? Isn’t that where the real adventure begins? Rock climbing is adventurous, particularly a first ascent. There are still plenty out there – you need to be prepared with an escape route, but isn’t that exactly why it’s adventurous? (And it doesn’t have to be particularly risky).
I’ve rafted the New River, hiked the Laurel Highlands Trail, camped in bear country and had innumerable other adventures, real adventures. But I’ve also attempted a first ascent or two (first ascents to me and my partners – others have possibly climbed these remote rocks, but it was still unknown territory to us). I’ve found a red eft newt inside a black cup mushroom while hiking off trail on a morel mushroom hunt. I’ve discovered a long-abandoned coal mine while dropping the bike at the paved path and exploring the surrounding countryside.
I met a couple of people in Bloomington, IN who arrived at Indiana University from the East and West coasts. They decided to explore their new home by creating an adventure game for themselves that they call “brownsigning.” They pack a lunch, get in the car and pick a direction on the map and go. Whenever they see a brown sign, they follow it to the historic site/trailhead/oddity/whatever. What’s great about this is that the day begins with pretty much no idea of how it will go or where their route will take them.
Now that’s adventure.
We want to hear about your next adventure. Go to the Get Out! trip report section on our front page and share your story and photo with us.
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