"Danger is not a Chechen terrorist, but instead comes
up softly on the bunny-slippered. Chances are, you will die
at home."
Robert Young Pelton The World's Most Dangerous Places
Travel troubles are sometimes to be found in the unlikeliest
of places. Just ask Robert Young Pelton: he survived an Indonesian
plane crash unscathed, but once managed to lose all his luggage
from his locked vehicle - parked outside the Vatican.
You are probably more likely to die running with scissors
than die of SARS, and skateboards are statistically much more
dangerous than sharks. So really, when it comes to taking
risks, it's a matter of taking your pick.
A good traveller is an educated traveller, so we've compiled
some top adventure destinations and some crucial local knowledge
for you to take on your journey. These are the most climatologically
and geographically extreme environments... where you'll come
face to face with the worst (or most distant) lands that Mother
Nature has to offer, but often less in the way of human danger
- at least, statistically speaking.
Antarctica
Perhaps, the last refuge on earth where wildlife can look
humans in the eye unafraid, Antarctica is home to four kinds
of lichen, 8 species of whale, 6 types of penguin and 32 million
cubic kilometres of ice. It is impossible for visitors not
to be moved - the last great wilderness is one of the
most beautiful places on the planet. An unparalleled geography
of sculptured ice and abundant life gives a glimpse into what
the world may have been like before we etched our mark so
forcefully.
While our species has waged war on this continent since we
first set foot here, so far the continent has won. There are
still no permanent residents - even scientists rarely
brave more than a couple of winters. Massive sealing, whaling
and fishing operations - which drove some species to
near extinction - have all but ceased.
Today, however, Antarctica is contending with what is perhaps
its greatest threat of all: global warming. The implications
of Antarctica's disintegrating ice shelves are far from certain
- but they do have potential to affect the planet as
a whole. The recent collapse of the 3,250 square kilometre
Larsen B shelf suggests that the process is occurring more
quickly than scientists had hoped.
More and more people are making the journey to experience
this place firsthand. Today, it is hoped that tourism may
be one human activity that contributes to the conservation
of this amazing corner of the planet. This trip of a lifetime
is an education... and hopefully one that is motivating more
and more visitors to take action on climate change.
Dangers
Getting to Antarctica still poses a challenge, and all operators
stress the weather dependence of travel. The Drake Passage
is one of the deadliest stretches of water on the planet,
inspiring the sailors' maxim, "Below 40 degrees South,
there is no law. Below 50 degrees, there is no god."
Although today's tourist vessels are unlikely to succumb to
the elements, their passengers do so with alarming regularity.
In the words of one expedition leader: "People get so
seasick they think they're going to die... and then they start
wishing they would." Rough seas also wreak havoc with
ship doors, which have been known to slam unexpectedly, removing
sections of passengers' fingers on occasion.
Work
There are about 4,000 jobs in Antarctica each year, open to
the brave of heart. Bases employ scientists, doctors and a
whack of support staff; artists' programs are offered through
the New Zealand government (www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/artists)
and the US National Science Foundation (www.nsf.gov).
Ships and tourism operators also employ scientific staff as
well as expedition leaders, zodiac drivers, logisticians.
Study
Students on Ice: This Canadian educational organization operates
one expedition per year, in late December. Travel with a team
of scientists and experts, learn about the impacts of climate
change and the issues facing the Antarctic region. Open to
high school and university students; volunteer expedition
and medical staff are also eligible. www.studentsonice.com
Iceland
A starkly beautiful wilderness of active volcanoes, ice fields,
fjords, hot springs, mud pools and vast lava deserts -
Iceland offers much more than its name would imply. It was
a Norwegian explorer in search of new farmland who christened
the country - and the name reflects his bitterness at
the discovery of Europe's largest glacier.
It is, perhaps, the name that is partially responsible for
a relative lack of settlement here: Iceland is home to only
288,000 people. In an area the size of Newfoundland that leaves
plenty of space to explore, and it is no surprise that outdoor
adventure is a draw for visitors. Hiking here, you can take
your pick of any number of lush or near-lunar landscapes.
While you definitely need to prepare for the force of the
elements, it is an experience not to be missed.
This is one of the most volcanically active regions to be
found anywhere, a fact that is both a gift and a curse. Unpredictable
volcanic activity occasionally destroys sections of towns
- but is also the responsible for a landscape that is
beautifully surreal. And, geothermal activity has endowed
Iceland with a sustainable energy source that accounts for
over half of its energy consumption... making it one of the
most green and progressive nations in the world.
Local Dangers
Even our own, very conservative, Department of Consular Affairs
could find little for us to worry about in Iceland. Stick
to the trails, try not to fall into active volcanoes or hot
springs, don't drink too much Brennivín and you should
be OK.
Volunteering Environment Agency of Iceland (Umhverfisstofnun)
Participate on practical conservation projects around Iceland.
Most work is focused on maintaining and improving trails,
though some volunteers undertake wilderness management and
heritage management projects. No cost to participate. http://english.ust.is/of-interest/ConservationVolunteers/
New Zealand
Picture all of Canada's landscapes condensed into an area
the size of Britain, a smattering of friendly natives and
no real winter to speak of. Add a dash of rainforest, a modicum
of volcanoes, and an unparalleled network of national parks.
Crack open a Steinlager, kick back and think about it a while...
sound good? It doesn't begin to do justice to the paradise
that is New Zealand.
Any nation that proudly proclaims that sheep outnumber people
(16 to 1) and chooses a bizarrely adorable flightless bird
as its national symbol has a pretty good outlook on life.
Despite its distance from our home and native land, New Zealand
has a feel that is remarkably similar in many ways. It's not
just some parallels in the country's heritage, but also their
international political outlook and a love-hate relationship
with their neighbouring state.
People known for their love of travel, Kiwis are welcoming
to visitors who turn up on their turf - and more than
ready to point you in the direction of a good adventure. And
their sense of adventure knows few boundaries. The spectacular
landscape seems to inspire a different adrenaline activity
at every turn: take your pick from hiking, paddling, skiing,
canyoning, biking, bungy jumping, rock climbing, sailing,
scuba... need we say more?
Dangers
Well, it's impossible to find wild creatures any more dangerous
than a deer or a kiwi. And this is a respectable, law-abiding
country. Chances are good that the biggest trouble you're
likely to encounter will be self-induced; there are plenty
of charming locals eager to throw you in a raft or off a bridge.
Study
With a higher education system comparable in quality to Canada's,
New Zealand attracts huge numbers of foreign students every
year. It's difficult to think of a reason not to study here:
from the student life to the overall setting, New Zealand
offers an amazing lifestyle to go with an equally outstanding
selection of degrees. And, to boot, programmes tend to be
shorter than in Canada (3 years for undergraduate degrees;
entry into medical and law degrees straight from high school)
- making study here surprisingly cost-effective for
foreign students.
AustraLearn Canada
A not-for-profit agency offering free services to help students
select a school, file the necessary paperwork for applications
and visas, and provide on-the-ground support throughout your
stay in New Zealand. www.australearn.ca
Patagonia
When I visited Argentinean Patagonia a few years ago, I met
a young man who had grown up near El Chaltén, just
East of the Andes. He had left Patagonia only once in his
life. "I had to come back," he told me. The outside
world just felt wrong. "I couldn't get used to the quiet,"
he explained.
Patagonia is famous for its howling wind, which can be unforgiving
and relentless. Those who can brave it, however, are treated
to a landscape that is wild and beautiful, and people who
are both warm and colourful. For years, this area of the world
has been a magnet for adventure travellers.
Jagged granite peaks of the Andes contrast with the dessicated
grassland and scrub steppes to the east and rainforests along
the coast to the west. Patagonia encompasses both the highest
and the lowest points on the South American continent, and
stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast across Chile
and Argentina. South America's most famous park Torres del
Paine attracts adventurers from around the globe, while other
parts of Patagonia can seem almost undiscovered.
Dangers
Again, you are more likely to get yourself in trouble than
to find trouble elsewhere. Exercise normal precautions for
travel in South America.
Volunteer Cultural Embrace offers placements for those willing
to volunteer teaching English in Chile (culturalembrace.com).
The Great White North
We had to make the list somewhere, didn't we? No, we don't
mean Ontario... it's not all that great and these days it's
rarely white. We mean that land of permafrost and tundra north
of 60ß, home to our country's original residents. A visit
here is absolutely necessary to appreciate the true natural
and cultural diversity of Canada; it is a trip that too few
of us ever make.
Differences between the Canadian North and South cannot be
measured in miles. They go beyond the midnight sun and northern
lights, beyond the thousands of miles of open space shared
by only a handful of residents. The landscape and the elements
are both so forceful and so magical that being here, one begins
to feel, and understand, Northern peoples' connections to
the land.
Dangers
The main danger might be an overall reluctance to return to
the hectic life in southern Canada.
Volunteer
Frontiers Foundation operates education projects and construction
projects across the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the
Yukon. www.frontiersfoundation.ca
