Women's Travel Climbs Higher

Outdoor Beyond, a provider of Women's Adventure Travel is implementing a climbing expedition program to their roster of trips for women.

(PRWEB) January 6, 2005 -- Outdoor Beyond, a provider of Luxury Adventure Travel for Women is adding a high altitude climbing expedition to their roster of multi-adventure, cultural and wildlife tours. This is a big step for the all women travel company, which has only offered soft" adventure travel in the past.

Island Peak, Nepal is the climb of choice, and is actually classified as a trek. However, the peaks summit is 6189 meters. This requires 8 days of trekking and camping at high altitudes, one day of climbing on ice and snow as well as being roped up while on exposed portions of the climb. Outdoor Beyond chose a guide service that donates a portion of its proceeds as well as volunteers time to Nepalese charitable organizations.

Its a perfect maiden trip for our new Expedition Program", says Deb Scisco, owner of Outdoor Beyond, who plans on adding whitewater and canyoneering expeditions to the program in 2006. Island Peak is high enough to be challenging yet 'basic enough for us to invite all women regardless of their climbing experience".

Outdoor Beyond started the program in order to offer women a choice when it came to all women adventure travel. The recent explosion of soft" adventure travel that has hit the womens travel market in the past few years includes shopping, spa visits and walking tours. I realize there is a huge market for the 'soft tours", admits Deb, however, I know there are women who, like myself, want the physical and mental challenge of climbing a high-altitude peak, running a class V river or rappelling into and navigating an unknown canyon".

For those not experienced in the sports of climbing, whitewater or canyoneering, Outdoor Beyond is offering skills classes to supplement each expedition. Our goal has always been to expose women to new experiences and skills and empower them through outdoor activities and international travel. We dont want the expeditions to be exclusive to athletic and experienced women". Not that it will be easy, there will be strict fitness and training guidelines as well as skills testing prior to each expedition. Our first concern is safety, if we have participants on the expedition who are not prepared, that puts us all at risk", she states.

For those women who are not quite ready for the full blown expedition, Outdoor Beyond offers a whitewater trip in Patagonia, Chile this March with a luxurious twist. Clients will have the choice of running class V whitewater (if staff feels they are ready. However, the facilities include luxury riverside cabanas, an onsite massage therapist, gourmet cook, full bar and hot tub overlooking the mountains and river. Not a bad introduction to expeditions!

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