The 10Adventures Podcast

Adventures in Ecuador with Christian Valencia

Founder of Activexpedition, Chritstian Valencia, enlightens us about the adventure travel opportunities Ecuador has to offer. 

From paddleboarding the Amazon, snorkelling in the Galapagos, trekking and cycling through the Andes, to indulging in the great food of Quito, there is no shortage of outdoor adventures here. 

The small country of Ecuador is about the size of the state of Colorado, but it packs a punch. Straddling the equator, Ecuador is divided into four districts: the Andes, the Amazon, the Galápagos Islands, and the Pacific Coast. Home to the longest continental mountain range in the world and the Amazon Rainforest, the stunning natural environment offers endless activities for all types of outdoor enthusiasts. Explore this incredibly diverse terrain by thru-hiking, biking, trekking, swimming or skiing, this country is sure to appease adventure travellers. Undoubtedly this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast will tempt you to book an adventure tour to Ecuador. 

You can find some of the tours described on the show today by checking out Activexpedition Tours and explore the many other Educador Tours we offer.

Check out our Instagram @10Adventures for more adventure travel inspo.

Learn about Bike Touring Tips with Karin

Learn the ins and outs of bike touring from experienced bike tourer Karin Campbell. On this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, co-host Karin shares her knowledge on gear, routes, tips, and challenges when bike touring.

Karin Campbell (@adventureafterall) is a medical doctor and accomplished bike tourer who has done guided, self-guided and independent bike touring adventures. Karin has a passion for seeing the world in unique ways and taking on epic adventures. On this episode, we learn how to get the best experience out of bike touring from a knowledgeable and passionate expert who has learned from her mistakes. Campbell depicts how she transitioned from organized bike tours, to solo multi-day bike excursions and everything in between. Learn more about what bike to choose, what to wear and how to journey safely on extended bike tours. Begin planning your next big biking adventure with the helpful advice from Karin Campbell.

 

Check out our epic bike tours at 10Adventures Bike Tours , and learn more tips and tricks: 10 Great Cycling Tips: Expert Tips for Beginners.

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Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail with Charles Dement

Find out how thru-hiker Charles Dement changed his life, and went from overweight and depressed to hiking the complete Appalachian Trail on this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast. Charles Demet lost over 100lbs, found love, and underwent a transformative experience thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian trail is a 2,200 mile foot-traffic only trail that stretches over 14 states from Georgia to Maine.  Learn about losing weight on the Appalachian Trail, how to prepare for a thru-hike and what to expect on this lengthy journey. 

On this episode of 10Adventures, Dement depicts the struggles of hiking the Appalachian Trail as an amateur adventurer and narrates the life-changing experience he underwent on this thru-hiking excursion.

Guest profile

Charles Dement (@feeling_arkansaucey) embarked on his first thru-hike ever, on the legendary Appalachian Trail, going from depressed and overweight to walking an average of 15 miles per day, Completing the AT in five and a half months. After a chance encounter online where Charles came across the AT, he decided to quit his office job and embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Following a life-changing thru-hike experience, Charles developed a true passion for carrying his life on his back and dodging the “rat race” to pursue an alternative lifestyle centred around outdoor adventure. As Charles looks forward to his next big thru-hike, he enjoys reminiscing about his time on the Appalachian Trail and sharing the personal transformation he experienced on the epic trail.

 

Topics mentioned in this episode:

What I Lost Hiking the Appalachian Trail

America’s 10 Best Backpacking Trips

10 Best Backpacking Trips in Canada

Check out the @10Adventures Instagram

Training for your Next Hiking Adventure with Rowan Smith

Learn about specialized training for hikers, trekkers, and mountaineers with Summit Strength founder Rowan Smith on this exciting episode of the 10Adventures Podcast. When Rowan Smith noticed a lack of resources in the adventure community for hike training he knew he found his niche. Many people turn their nose up to the idea of training for hikes, but Smith believes  that successful conditioning for thru-hikes, backpacking adventures and treks mitigates the chances of serious injury. His four step specialized training program focuses on strength training, hiking specific conditioning, hiking itself, and recovery and mobility training. Learn about the do’s and don'ts of hiking conditioning on today’s episode of the 10Adventures Podcast. 

Guest profile

Rowan Smith (@summitstrength.au) is a passionate certified personal trainer specializing in helping hikers get strong and pain-free, enabling them to achieve their wildest adventure dreams. Rowan has chased and embodied the adventurous spirit from a young age, beginning with scouts as a child and travelling the globe as an adult; adventure is his first language. Today, Rowan combines his career with his passion as the founder of Summit Strength where he specializes in comprehensive training for trekkers, hikers, and mountaineers.

Learn more about training for your next big hiking adventure: 

The Training for Trekking Podcast

The Training for Hiking and Trekking Facebook Group

Summit Strength Webpage

Topics mentioned in this episode:

Couch to Mountain Top: Expert’s Training Guide for Hikers 

Training for your First Backpacking Trip 

Training from Home for the Future Hike 

Learn more about hiking on the @10Adventures Instagram

Thru-Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail with Ally Watson

Learn about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from thru-hiker Ally Watson, as she shares her tips for hiking the PCT on this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast.The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail is a demanding adventure along the pacific coast of the United States stretching from Mexican border to the Canadian border. Ally Watson shares with us  her experience with ultralight packing and discloses what gear is necessary and what can be left behind. Get inspired as Watson narrates the highs and lows of this incredible thru-hiking adventure and you may just be persuaded to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail yourself. 

Guest Profile

Ally Watson (@allywatson) was born into an adventurous family on the west coast of Canada in Squamish, British Columbia. Growing up, Ally Watson spent a lot of time in the mountains, which fostered her love of outdoor adventures. A former seasonal employee of Parks Canada in Alberta’s Banff National Park, Ally has enjoyed travelling worldwide, spending much of her off-season time in Central America, South America, and Japan. Today Ally is an adventure writer and editor at 10Adventures and enjoys taking on exciting backpacking and thru-hikes, like the Pacific Crest Trail, which she joins us to talk about on the 10Adventures podcast.

 

Resources for this podcast:

The Pacific Crest Trail with David Xiao

Planning your trek on the Pacific Crest Trail

Check us out on Instagram @10Adventures