Matthew Pesner

Whether you’re planning for a family trip or a group of friends, selecting the best outfitter for your white water rafting adventure can make all the difference. Having a knowledgeable and friendly guide can ensure that everyone has a great experience. You may have noticed that many outfitters offer a wide variety of options, so how do you choose the one that will provide the most thrilling yet safest trip? Here are a few tips on choosing the best outfitter for your adventure.
Top Priority
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Hiking is an activity that has gained a lot of popularity recently. Avid hikers will go to any length to enjoy the fantastic scenery and connect with nature. However, as with any adventure, there are dangers everyone needs to know about. From falling and scraping a knee to having an open wound, hikers need to be prepared in case an accident happens.
Here’s how to build a first aid kit that fits into a backpack.
Don’t Assume
Before getting into how to build a first aid kit and what to put in i...

For those seeking to escape the heat and set out on an adventure, white water rafting and kayaking can be exhilarating. As with many outdoor adventure sports, there is a classification system designed to prepare adventurers for the challenges they may encounter. The system is based on the technical difficulties and skill level required to navigate the rapids successfully. The International Scale of River Difficulty rates rivers using roman numerals I-VI. It’s important to realize that even wi...

If you are a hiker that also happens to enjoy climbing, repelling, and at times swimming, there’s one sport that encompasses all of those skills – canyoneering. There are sites that very few individuals have seen if you’re willing to go the extra mile. In Utah, there are several options for canyoneering adventures ranging from easy to extremely advanced and technical expeditions. Here are a few on the easy to intermediate side all conveniently located in the Grand Staircase-Escalante area, wh...

When we think of Utah’s land formations, we generally think of the giant red sandstone arches, pinnacles, fins, and tafoni; however, there’s an equally impressive range of formations below ground as well. Utah’s many caves offer spectacular sights and adventure for those willing to venture into their depths. Here are a few of the fantastic caves you can find in Utah.
Timpanogos Caves
Timpanogos Caves consist of three caves: Hansen Cave, Middle Cave, and Timpanogos Cave, all found high on the ...

A compass is a fascinating little tool that can keep people from ever getting lost, even when their phone loses a signal or their GPS device loses power. Those who want to take advantage of this helpful tool need to know how to use it. Here are some essential things to know about navigating with a compass.
Understanding How Declination Works
An important thing to remember when trying to get one’s bearings with a compass is that it points to magnetic north, not true north. There is a slight di...

Some travel industry experts have posited that when quarantine ends and travel resumes in the U.S., road trips and camping trips will be among the first travel plans considered. Most individuals would reportedly rather not take trips involving hotels, public transportation, or air travel due to continued concerns about the coronavirus, so camping does seem like a logical choice. For those who may venture out to a local campground, state, or national park in the coming months, here’s how to be...

One piece of preparing for a camping trip that you don’t want to forget is meal planning and preparation – otherwise, you end up out in the wilderness looking for edible bark, berries, and beetles. I jest, but figuring out what you’re going to eat while on your camping trip is an essential part of the planning process. Depending on where you’re camping, you may not have ready access to a local supermarket or diner, so it’s vital to consider these things before you venture out.
Campsite Amenit...

Next to meal planning, packing for a camping trip can be the most stressful aspect of a trip. Everyone is excited to get to the campground, set up, and set out to explore, but there’s a great deal of prep work involved to make the trip run smoothly. While you can find a packing list on almost every outdoor website, they don’t always provide advice on how to pack it all in. That being said, here are some tips on the how-to of packing for a camping trip.
Create a Checklist
It’s easy to forget t...

During this time of social distancing, many people are starting to experience cabin fever. Getting out of the house and into nature can be great for clearing our heads and dealing with anxiety over the current situation. However, some may be wondering exactly what types of outdoor activities are okay beyond hanging out in our backyards. While hiking may seem like the perfect answer to this quandary, there are certainly some things to keep in mind if that’s your plan. Here are a few tips for t...

We may all be stuck indoors right now with the Coronavirus outbreak, but that doesn’t mean we can’t daydream about our next outdoor adventure. For those planning to hit the trails again as soon as the pandemic dies down and it’s safe to venture out again, you can always begin planning your next trip. Here to help you with that are a few places online where you can discover your next hiking adventure.
National Park Service
The National Park Service provides an interactive map of over 21,000 mi...

The current lockdowns due to the outbreak of COVID-19 have put a damper on plans for those of us bitten by the travel bug and even those just looking to get away for a weekend. However, all is not lost. Some museums, zoos, and aquariums have turned to the internet to help us while away the hours in quarantine. While we may not be able to travel in person, virtual opportunities abound. Here’s a look at some of those virtual travel options.
Museums
For arts and culture, you need to look no furt...