Posts

Posted on

Bored With Skydiving? Try These Base Jumping Destinations

BASE jumping has been popularised in a number of films, including second Laura Croft Tomb Raider, several James Bonds and xXx. It is also a growing favourite among extreme sportsmen and women who tire of the thrill of skydiving. The BASE in BASE jumping stands for Buildings, Antennae, Spans and Earth, which are the four categories of fixed objects from which participants can jump.

People have been BASE jumping for decades (recorded jumps go back to the 1960s) but it was film-maker Carl Boenish who first coined the term. In 1978, Boenish filmed the first BASE jumps made with ram-air parachutes using the freefall tracking technique. The jumps were made from El Capitan, in Yosemite National Park.

BASE jumping is more dangerous than skydiving: firstly, BASE jumpers have less distance to play with; they fall at lower speeds and have less aerodynamic control. They have to time the moment to open their parachutes perfectly and to do that they need to ensure that they are stable. A good launch is essential as a poor one can put the jumper into a tumble and tumbling compounds the difficulties of opening the chute. To minimise the danger (relatively speaking) BASE jumpers use specialised equipment, including harnesses, parachute containers and extra large pilot chutes.

A second danger, not associated with the physical jump, is arrest. Not all locations used sanction jumping, in fact, many jumps from buildings are not sanctioned and jumpers risk arrest for trespassing, breaking and entering, reckless endangerment and vandalism. Conscientious jumpers ask permission before leaping from buildings. Some destinations are more BASE jumper-friendly than others, for instance Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho, allows BASE jumping all year-round, as do Norway’s Lysefjord and a number of sites in the European Alps.

Some of the most thrilling and most popular BASE jumping destinations around the world include:

• Perrine Bridge, Twin Falls, Idaho, (mentioned above), is the only US structure that allows BASE Jumping all year-round. At 486 feet above the Snake River, the bridge is one of the lowest jumping locations in the world, as a result jumpers hold onto small pilot chutes that deploy the main chute rather than rely on ripcords.

• Norway is very BASE jumper-friendly, it has two popular destinations: Troll Wall and Kjerag,. At 3600 feet, Troll Wall is the longest vertical drop in Europe, while Kjerag is close behind with a drop of 3200 feet.

• Angel Falls,, Venezuela is the highest waterfall in the world and offers a BASE jump of 2648 feet. It’s only for the most dedicated jumpers as they first have to brave the Venezuelan jungle before they reach it. All who have completed, however, believe the trip to be well worth it.

• Trango Towers,, Northern Pakistan is also a challenging destination as jumpers have to climb an almost sheer sheet of granite 4400 feet high before catching their breath and heading down in a fraction of the time it took it get up.

• Burj Khalifa,, Dubai, United Arab Emirates is the tallest building in the world, so it was inevitable that it would attract the attention of BASE jumpers. Nasr Al Niyadi and Omar Al Hegelan took the plunge in 2010, breaking the record for the highest BASE jump off a building (2200 feet).

• Meru Peak, Himalayas, is the location of the highest BASE jump in the world. An Australian jumped 6604m (21 666 feet) over the east face of Meru Peak in the Garhwal region of the Himalayas, in India.

• The cliff faces in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland are notoriously challenging and, of course, exceedingly attractive for BASE jumpers. According to the website, jumps in the Lauterbrunnen valley are unsuitable for beginners, as the height of the sites make jumping technically difficult. It also cautions that the Lauterbrunnen valley has already claimed the lives of 10 BASE jumpers.

Of all extreme sports, BASE jumping has one of the worst fatality rates. It is this that makes so many jump spots illegal, as authorities don’t want any blood on their hands. It is also this that makes it so attractive to daredevils and thrill-seekers. So, if you’re going to jump, be responsible about it.

Posted on

6 Questions to Ask a Travel Agent Before Booking a Trip

Travel agents are indispensable resources for planning complicated trips, finding out the ins and outs of a destination, saving time, preventing travel headaches and getting the best value. However, each agent is different. Be sure that your travel agent is a good match for you by asking these questions.

1. What is the agent’s specialty?

An agent who narrowly specializes in a destination or certain products, such as cruises, can provide solid advice that will be crucial to booking a rewarding, problem-free trip.

Does the agent specialize in adventure tours or culinary trips? Does he or she frequently book groups? Is the agent a cruise expert? You wouldn’t go to a podiatrist to treat a toothache. The same concept goes for travel agents. If you’re traveling to the Caribbean, work with a Caribbean travel specialist.

2. Has the agent traveled to your destination?

There’s no substitute for first-hand knowledge. An agent who has actually traveled to the place where you want to go will know first-hand about the activities in which you plan to participate and the hotels in which you plan to stay. An agent who has been to the destination can make informed recommendations to steer you in the right direction.

3. What are the agent’s fees?

Agents may charge a fee for each service, such as a flight, charge a flat rate, or earn a commission. Expect to compensate the agent for his or her time, advice, planning expertise and work. Still, it is a good idea to find out the fees and deposits up front so there are no surprises.

4. Does the agent have special relationships with travel suppliers?

Travel agents can often get you perks that are not available to the general public or published on the Internet. Hotels, car rental agencies and tour companies often make perks such as upgrades, discounted parking, and express check-in available only to agents who have negotiated them or to agents who have elite status. Find out if your agent is one of them.

5. What happens if something goes wrong?

Inconveniences are sometimes unavoidable. A flight may be canceled; the weather may be uncooperative. Find out how your agent responds to problems when they occur and what his or her policies are. It is also helpful to pay attention to how the agent interacts with you. Is he or she easy to reach? Does the agent get back to you promptly when you call or email? An agent should be there for you even after the trip is booked.

6. What questions does the agent have for you?

Make sure that your travel agent has the right information about you to make the best recommendations. Also, choose an agent who is receptive to your priorities.

Even if you request something as simple as a four-day trip to Rome, you should be asked a number of questions from whether you prefer fine dining establishments or street vendors to what type of hotels you like best. In the end, you will be offered a trip that is the best match for you.

Posted on

How To Preserve Food With the Atacama Deluxe Food Dehydrator

Everyone is more health conscious these days. They are trying to eat healthier, cut out processed foods and eat organic foods. Food preservation is a touchy topic because some food manufacturers use ingredients that are a bit sketchy when it comes to elongating the lifespan of their products. In many cases, traditional methods take away the nutritional value of the food. The Atacama Deluxe Food Dehydrator offers a different way to preserve foods.

The Atacama Deluxe Food Dehydrator allows you to preserve food while maintaining its flavour. No other ingredients are added to this process so it tastes just as good after it has been preserved because it doesn’t lose the flavours. It delivers the vast majority of foods with the same vitamins and minerals as the fresh foods. The flavours, nutrients and enzymes are remarkably concentrated with this form of food preservation.

This catering equipment has 6 stainless steel trays so you can dehydrate a number of food items in the one unit. It has 6 automatic programs which offer you versatile use in terms of dehydration and food preservation. It may have 6 trays but the dehydration process is even throughout this food dehydrator due to wide flow technology. All the food on the different levels will dehydrate at the same level.

The food dehydration process is quite simple because this unit does it all on its own so you don’t need any specific skills to dehydrate the food products. You can dehydrate tomatoes, onions, peas, plums, beef, chicken, and cheese, amongst others. It gives you the freedom to be creative with your food, so you could create unique and interesting dishes with the dehydrated food. In addition, you will reduce your wastage because dehydration extends the shelf life of the food. For added convenience, this catering equipment has a maintenance cycle at the end of each dehydrating process and it has an energy saving on/off safety switch.

The Atacama Deluxe Food Dehydrator is a more natural way to preserve food as it maintains flavour, doesn’t require preservatives, and keeps the nutrients and enzymes locked in the food. Many people throw food away so this is a great way to eliminate wastage in your kitchen. If you think about it, it could save you money too. The food dehydration process is a more effective way to preserve food especially if you are on a mission to maintain a healthy lifestyle.