Adventure Travel Love for You and KOTO

Hiking Mt. Wilson, a 14er: Adventure Travel at Its Best in Colorado

I think it’s so cool that we have some of the best adventure specialists based right here in Telluride, Colorado. It makes sense, since Telluride and the outlying region provide the perfect terrain for heading out and exploring the great outdoors whether you’re cycling, hiking, skiing, fishing, climbing or jeeping. Some of these guiding greats have done so well in the region that they also conduct tours beyond southwestern Colorado, as far away as the other side of the globe, in fact.

A few of these companies have generously offered tours to KOTO’s current fundraising campaign. I’ll be chatting more about these adventure specialists on tomorrow night’s Travel Fun, a special live edition of my talk show on travel, which airs Thursday, September 17, A LITTLE EARLIER THAN USUAL at 6:20 pm mountain time.

I have been doing this show for almost eleven years and you can find many of my interviews posted on my blog as podcasts. If you have enjoyed Travel Fun, I encourage you to contact me to make a pledge or a donation. You can also show your love by snatching up one of the below tours at a deeply-discounted price. Thanks to Lizard Head Cycling Guides, Telluride Mountain Guides, Telluride Adventures/San Juan Outdoor Adventures and Telluride Offroad, here’s what I have to offer:

A Bike Tour Pause

Lizard Head Cycling Guides provides vehicle-supported road and mountain bike tours through some of the most stunning and wild parts of the American West from Oregon to Colorado to Arizona. John Humphries, founder of this nationally-recognized company, is generously offering a six-day bike tour, good for any confirmed departure in 2014 and 2015, for the killer price of $1000. Valued at $2,695., you may choose from any one of John’s twenty-four itineraries for this inclusive package of six nights lodging (with shared room occupancy), meals, shuttles, entry fees, guide service–contact me about the whole shebang! Built into that price is a fabulous donation to KOTO. And as a special bonus to this KOTO offer, if you sign up a second rider, he or she receives a 10% discount.

More Great Southwest Scenery Viewing with Lizard Head Cycling Guides Tours

Ready to Roll on a Lizard Head Cycling Guides Tour

If all goes well, John will be calling into the show tomorrow between 6:30 and 7:00 pm. He’s on the road this week doing one of his tours in the company of renowned cyclist Jan Ullrich. Thanks to John, Jan and a bunch of other top cyclists will be joining in on the Mountains to the Desert Bike Ride that goes from Telluride to Gateway, Colorado and the stunning Gateway Canyons Resort. Spectacular mountain views and desert landscapes punctuate this event, which has been benefiting the Just for Kids Foundation for over a decade.

Skiing with Telluride Mountain Guides

Peter Walker, founder of Ryder-Walker and Telluride Mountain Guides, has been turning people onto the mountains for three decades. It’s many people’s dream to climb a fourteener–a mountain with an elevation of at least 14,000 feet–although to many, it’s a daunting feat. Peter is donating to KOTO an ascent of a local 14er or another one of his adventures such as a backcountry ski or a rock or ice climbing excursion. Based on availability and good through 2014-2015, this exploit, valued at $600., can be yours for $300. when you contact me; all proceeds go to Telluride’s favorite community radio station. To learn more about Peter and his passion for the mountains, read about and listen to my interview with him at Ryder-Walker:  Global Trekking Specialists.

Climbing with Telluride Adventures

Not for the Faint of Heart:  Telluride’s Via Ferrata

Tara Butson, from Telluride Adventures/San Juan Outdoor Adventures, another long-established guiding company, is offering a half-day climbing tour for two, valued at $300., for $250., which also includes a donation to KOTO. Based on availability and good through 2014-2015, this deal is on any of their half-day climbing tours, including rock and ice climbing as well as the Via Ferrata. Let this Telluride adventure specialist show you the nooks and crannies of our magnificent mountains. Contact me to give your donation in exchange for this two-for-one.

On Top of the World with a Telluride Offroad Adventure

Our little slice of paradise here in southwestern Colorado is well known for its jeeping. Getting up into the high country is one of the best ways to enjoy our spectacular scenery and learn about our mining heritage and geology. Since many of the old mining roads rate as some of the most challenging in the world, I suggest you let an expert take you there and provide you with a proper tour. Herb Manning, founder of Telluride Offroad Adventures, offers excursions in Swiss Army Pinzgauers, super solid vehicles that assure a safe and reliable journey on these rugged rides. Herb is donating a half-day 4 X 4 ride for two, based on availability and valued at $170. Contact me with a KOTO donation of $120. and it’s yours.

Visiting an Old Mining Camp

I’m happy to welcome Herb, from Telluride Offroad Adventures, and Tara, from Telluride Adventures, on my show to chat about their tours and adventure travel in general tomorrow at 6:20 pm. mountain time. Feel free to call in at 970-728-4333 with questions and/or comments for him at that time.

My Travel Memoir: My Own Travel Adventure

Thank you to all the above adventure specialists and well-regarded fun leaders for your generous donations to KOTO. Thank you also for making our spectacular surroundings more accessible to all.

And last but hopefully not least, I’ll be offering a few signed copies of my travel memoir, A Tour of the Heart:  A Seductive Cycling Trip Through France, in exchange for a $20. donation to KOTO. It represents a big outdoor adventure for me and I’m delighted that it has inspired many people to go on their own in France–even for just some short pedals and sips of wine around the vineyards of the French provinces. It has a 4.3 rating (out of 5) on amazon, so folks seem to be enjoying it. I’ll be sure to chat about it as well on tomorrow night’s Travel Fun.

To you my listener and/or reader, please contact me with your donation and/or pledge. For the above offers, the first one that responds, receives the premium.

Once again, if you’d just like to show your support for KOTO and Travel Fun, I’d love to hear from you in the form of a donation, pledge or even just a kind word.

Going for it in Colorado