Summer offers fabulous opportunities to frolic outside. Here are a few common questions and answers from the folks at Outback Adventures to help get you out the door!
1) Q: I am interested in trying out a new outdoor activity, but I am unsure how to go about it. Are there any tips to help me get started?
A: Outdoor activities like kayaking and rock climbing may be a little intimidating to the beginner. However, surrounding each of these are entire communities of friendly, helpful people who are eager to teach others about the tricks of their trade. One such community can be found right here at UCSD-- at Outback Adventures. Outback Adventures is a student group on campus comprised of rock climbers, backpackers, kayakers, surfers, and overall outdoor lovers. Throughout the year, we provide a multitude of opportunities to get newcomers and old-timers alike outdoors and having fun. Each quarter, our team of experienced guides facilitates trips for all skill levels that encompass all types of outdoor activities. We also operate the Outback Climbing Center and Challenge Course for people wanting to hone their climbing skills. No matter what activity you are looking at getting into, there are people willing to support, guide, and teach you all you need to know in order to be successful and have fun outdoors.
2) Q: What kinds of activities can be done in the outdoors? Do they incorporate all skill levels?
A: There are limitless activities you can do in the outdoors, all of which are beginner friendly. For people who have an urge to be out on the water, surfing, kayaking, and canoeing are great sports to start with. Each involves separate skill sets that are easy to pick up by those who are learning, but that also provide a challenge for those looking to advance their techniques. For those who prefer to stick to land, backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, and mountain biking can get you out and about and setting your own pace - from slow and steady hiking on trails to extremely technical climbing routes on rock faces. While La Jolla may never see snow in its lifetime, the mountains to the east of it get flurries every winter. To utilize this frosty playground, outdoor lovers can go downhill and cross-country skiing, as well as snowboarding. This keeps the action high even when the temperature is low. No matter what the time of year, the location, or the skill level, there is an outdoor activity that will fit perfectly with your interests.
3) Q: What are the physical benefits of outdoor recreation?
A: Just like other sports, outdoor activities can be physically demanding and rewarding. Backpacking miles a day with 40+ pounds of weight on your back can be exhaustive and climbing around on jagged rocks can put a lot of wear and tear on your hands. However, the overall benefits from these and other activities can be amazing. While most will improve your overall physical strength and endurance without a doubt, certain ones can enhance surprising areas of your body. For example, climbing can improve the strength in your hands, wrists, and back, while kayaking can develop your core. Cross country skiing can give you the same benefits of running without putting jarring stress on your joints, and mountain biking can exercise almost all of your muscle groups at the same time. Of course, injuries are a risk when participating in any outdoor sport, but by following safety guidelines, being aware of your surroundings, and knowing what your own physical limits are, you can help to prevent accidents and continue enjoying your activity.
4) Q: Are there any spiritual/emotional benefits to being in the outdoors?
A: Absolutely! Being in the outdoors, away from the stress and hubbub of everyday life, can truly alter one's life perspective. The rolling waters of the Pacific Ocean; the towering peaks of the Sierra Nevadas; the firery sunsets of the Anza Borrego Desert State Park—all of these elements can provide a chance to free your mind from your day-to-day responsibilities and allow you to to focus on truly Being. For thousands of years, people have lived and developed a working relationship with the world around them. In today's busy environment, it can sometimes feel as if this connection has been lost, but all it takes to reestablish it is to step outside and submerge yourself in the earth's splendor.
5) Q: What types of activities does Outback Adventures provide?
A: The guides at Outback Adventures lead a variety of trips, short and long, throughout the year. Our day trips range from snorkeling and kayaking off of La Jolla Shores, to hiking Cowels Mountain under a full moon and rock climbing around Mission Gorge. For those wishing to go on a weekend jaunt, we offer caving trips to Anza Borrego and climbing/backpacking trips to Joshua Tree National Park. During spring break we also facilitate week-long outings which involve surfing or kayaking in Baja California and backpacking in the Grand Canyon. Whatever your schedule, skill level, or outdoor interest, we have the perfect trip for you!
Want to know more about Outback Adventures or outdoor activities in general? Visit our website at http://recreation.ucsd.edu/outback-adventures.html or drop by the Outback Adventures headquarters located behind Sixth College.
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