[NA] A few days to feel alive, where to go?

ArrowFlyer86

ArrowFlyer86

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I start a new job on 1/5. They've telegraphed clearly: it's gonna be rough for at least a year. It's just the start-up life under the VC gun.

But I have a few days before I submit. I want to make the most of it.

I'm wondering... Any ideas for last minute trip ideas that are exciting? I can take off 12/26 and get back any time before 1/5. Solo travel. No considerations but my own! My starting point is ORD -- destinations are flexible.

I've looked at everything from Alaska to Svalbard (a long time dream but not doable now). I love the cold. I also love something off the beaten path. I gotta do something.

Recommendations welcome. The colder or more ridiculous the better. Will have to pull trigger soon.

Inspiration welcome!
 
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Ed Haywood said:
Don't come to the Colorado mountains; it's 50 degrees and bare ground here.

Try Norway. I loved it there in the winter.
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Not as warm, but Zugspitze is dry, too.

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Last night my wife and I had a really long conversation about climbing Mount Everest.

We decided not to do it but that might be something to consider.
 
Not all cold places because that’s nuts, but:

Pay to travel:
Antarctica / South Pole
New Zealand
Costa Rica
Galapagos
Egypt
Japan
Botswana
Roatan
(This is our list over the next few years)

Or

Fly yourself to:
Bahamas
PR
Cabo


Edit: ok one more. Go seaplane or kayak out to Isle Royale and camp out there.
 
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SixPapaCharlie said:
Last night my wife and I had a really long conversation about climbing Mount Everest.

We decided not to do it but that might be something to consider.
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Denali would be an easier travel destination and a more challenging, longer climb. The OP’s time is a bit limited.
 
Half Fast said:
Denali would be an easier travel destination and a more challenging, longer climb. The OP’s time is a bit limited.
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Kilimanjaro is also easier to get to and it’s easier to climb. Plus it’s summer there.
 
Montana just got hit with snow, we're headed there tomorrow with skis and sleds. If it's flying you'd prefer and Tucson, AZ is of any interest hit me up I have an empty shade port at KTUS with an Airbnb condo that's just ready to hit the market. You could be first.
 
"it's gonna be rough for at least a year." Haha, make that 5-10.

If you have not seen the Aurora during a solar storm, try to witness it in Fairbanks, Iceland, or Norway.
Independent of the Aurora, Iceland or Lofotens would be easy to visit and absolutely gorgeous.

For Lofotens, try to fly into Svolvaer and rent a car. If not, fly into Bodo (longer, but gorgeous drive).
 
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If you're flying with your own plane, you could go to Churchill, Manitoba and chill with polar bears. It also will definitely be cold since you're into that. (https://www.travelmanitoba.com/churchill/)

If flying with the airlines, check out Iceland. Maybe you get lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you see it) like me and get to see a volcano outbreak IRL, including the full experience with evacuations, speeding away from the danger zone, and more.

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Lake Placid probably has some snow and cold. For many reasons I'd rather go there than Mt Everest. Whiteface for skiing, Keene for pie, and a town for sleeping and drinking. I think that's the extent of activities. Only ridiculous if you don't ski.
 
Half Fast said:
I’m tellin’ ya, man - you should just stay in Florida and take up water skiing.
;)
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Been there, done that.

I prefer skiing in Georgia lakes though. Florida is too freaky thinking about the several dozen gators you 100% know are below you.
 
MountainDude said:
If you have not seen the Aurora during a solar storm, try to witness it in Fairbanks, Iceland, or Norway.
...
For Lofotens, try to fly into Svolvaer and rent a car. If not, fly into Bodo (longer, but gorgeous drive).
Click to expand...

Beautiful area. I first saw the Aurora while sleeping in a snow cave near Bardufoss, south of Tromso.
 
Ed Haywood said:
Been there, done that.

I prefer skiing in Georgia lakes though. Florida is too freaky thinking about the several dozen gators you 100% know are below you.
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You just need a faster boat…and tie yourself to it so that if you wipe out they can drag you to safety. :lol:
 
Ed Haywood said:
Been there, done that.

I prefer skiing in Georgia lakes though. Florida is too freaky thinking about the several dozen gators you 100% know are below you.
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It wasn't always that way. I learned to swim and ski in Florida lakes back in the '60s and '70s, and gators weren't a concern at all. Then some fool politician decided the bloody things were "endangered" and we needed to preserve them, so now you can't put your toe in the water without a gator biting it off.

We need to endanger them again.
 
ArrowFlyer86 said:
Yep, will report back on Christmas day! I expect to book something by then :)
Thank you for all the suggestions so far!
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Worst case… stay in cold Chicago and take apart then put back together a turbine engine and I’ll join you.
 
kaiser said:
Worst case… stay in cold Chicago and take apart then put back together a turbine engine and I’ll join you.
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I'm in.
 
Whoops my bad!

Trip to Northern MN (Ely). First time back in 16 years when I did a 14 day canoe trip, during a very different, very much warmer time of year.

Other options I considered:
Bozeman, Montana: too warm
Rapid City: too warm
Alaska: a little frigid outside Anchorage lol
International: too much time in transit

Edit: leave and arrive tomorrow!
 
ArrowFlyer86 said:
Whoops my bad!

Trip to Northern MN (Ely). First time back in 16 years when I did a 14 day canoe trip, during a very different, very much warmer time of year.
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Cool! I did a 10 day canoe trip there (Boundary Waters/Quetico Provincial Park) when I was in Boy Scouts. Rather more than 16 years ago. Amazing trip, amazing country, even though on our trip it rained for the first 9.5 days.
 
GaryM said:
Cool! I did a 10 day canoe trip there (Boundary Waters/Quetico Provincial Park) when I was in Boy Scouts. Rather more than 16 years ago. Amazing trip, amazing country, even though on our trip it rained for the first 9.5 days.
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That's actually how we picked it back in 2009. My buddy was in boy scouts and he had done a canoe trip years earlier to BW and Quetico Park and enjoyed it.

I picked it because he reminded me that I enjoyed it too in 09 -- and if I like cold -- there's few places better than Northern MN in winter. Didn't take much sales work!

EDIT: also, when I canoed there a while back I had a similar rain experience. First night it rained and everyone had good rain gear but me. Notably: my tent. I was in a local low area and it flooded. All my stuff was wet for about 10 days as it continued on and off rain. Couldn't fully dry because the area is just not very warm and has high humidity in the warmer months.
 
Also... In the extremely off chance an established PoA'er wants to meet up in Ely MN from tomorrow until Saturday, DM me!
 
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