Issue 99 | March 24, 2023

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Happy Friday. This is Adventure Fix. A weekly email that takes you to the wildest corners of our planet.

Here’s what we've got for you today:

​Let's do this 🤙

Landing on glaciers, seeing ice crumble into the ocean from high above, and soaring past snow-capped peaks. That's all in a day's work for the bush pilots honing their craft in Alaska's backcountry. These aren't your typical airline pilots, they never land anywhere that would be considered a real runway. To do this, they fly by feeling instead of numbers. Some do it for fun. For others, it's their profession. But, the one thing they all agree on is that the airplane is the ultimate tool for getting deep into the wilderness and exploring unknown places.

'The Bush Pilots of Alaska' is a short film, where the pilots of Ultima Thule Lodge give some insight into the world of this unique and adventurous style of flying. Even if flying doesn't interest you, the stunning aerial shots are worth checking out.

Watch it for free here.

Ah, the humble binoculars. Often the most overlooked pieces of gear, these handy little spy glasses are perfect for birding, checking the surf or even keeping an eye on where your 6 year old went wandering off to. Noc Provisions Standard Edition redefines compact binoculars by packing Swiss optical engineering in the palm of your hand. The best part? They are waterproof, compact, effective, and considerably cheaper than the established optics brands. Smartphone photographers will love the photo rig adapter (sold separately) to use with your phone for a zoom effect on your images.

Grab your pair of rugged, go anywhere binoculars today.

If traversing lush tropical terrain scattered with waterfalls, rushing rivers, towering trees, and bamboo groves that open up to spectacular ocean views sounds like a dream, this next hike is for you. The NorEste Trail is a pioneering 40-mile path through Puerto Rico's El Yunque National Forest that offers hikers the rare chance to be in a rainforest, climb up to a mountain peak in the clouds and go to the beach, all on the same day.

The sound of chirping birds and croaking frogs creates a forest symphony. Your lungs fill with oxygen-rich air as you tackle the steep trail. Along the way, you can stop at a family-owned food stall to fill up on alcapurrías (meat-stuffed fritters made from yucca, taro, or plantains) and mofongo (fried mashed green plantains served with meat and seafood).The NorEste trail takes you far away from the cruise ship terminal and souvenir shops of San Juan to a much more authentic and adventurous way to experience Puerto Rico.

If you're looking for a trail biking wonderland, we've found it.

Head to Cappadocia where you'll ride through Turkey's legendary land of towering fairy chimneys, cave dwellings, and dormant volcanoes, laced together with lush, green valleys. At dawn, hundreds of hot air balloons fill the sky, adding to the magic and wonder of this special place.

What this: Cappadocia Dreaming to see what this off-road biking dream trip would be like. The guys in the video are clearly pros but there are trails for all skill levels.

Looking for a great shoe for spring hiking? Part hiking boot, part trail runner, the ON Cloudwander waterproof shoe is built for tackling whatever terrain you come across.

The name is spot on with its cloud-like feel, making walking over the most rugged ground seem like walking on air. Grab your pair here: (men's version) // (women's version).

Pench National Park is known as India's Bengal Tiger country, but there is another big cat you can see here too - the leopard. In the lush green jungles of central India, finding one of the most secretive felines in the world is no easy task. Unlike tigers, leopards are much more reclusive, often spending time alone, high up in the trees. Their rose-like markings help them blend into the forest. Sightings might be tricky but when you get your first glimpse of a swaying tail or a twitch of an ear, your hard work to spot this elusive creature will be worth it. Watch this: Pench Leopard Quest where a pro wildlife photographer takes us deep into the Land of The Jungle Book. Cut to here to get straight into the leopard action.

🤤 Recipe: Osso buco, bushcraft style.

☁️ History: The Incan cities in the clouds.

🦶 Gear: What they don't tell you about barefoot shoes.

🤯 Good to know: Northern Lights viewing will be stellar over the next few years.

📸 Photo: Best tripod for traveling photographers.

Wanna flex your adventure geography skills? Take a guess at where this pic was snapped! Stumped? No worries, the answer is at the end of this email.

Please give us feedback by filling out this quick survey below so we can get to know you better. We're looking forward to reading your answers.

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ANSWER: Tadrart Rouge, Algeria 🇩🇿