It’s Saturday morning in the early weeks of spring. Gray clouds that had covered the mountain peaks of Killington, Vermont, have cleared away. Snow dusts the slopes, and wind pulls at Jack Foltynski’s skis, as he ascends a lift 3,000 feet in the air. He’s about to take the ride of a lifetime down what’s known as The Beast of the East.
“For me, it’s a pretty gnarly feeling to be on top of a mountain looking down,” says Foltynski, 29, of Morristown. “It’s just you and the mountain. It’s a challenge, and you’re proving you are able to do it. When skiing, rafting, or hiking, at the end there’s always that feeling of ‘Wow, I just conquered that!’”
Foltynski is one of about 20 adventurers who attended the Killington Bau Haus weekend trip hosted by Live More Adventures (LMA) in March 2016.
How often do you find yourself daydreaming at your desk about a trip you’ve always wanted to take but never got around to doing? Planning a getaway can be a nightmare that ends with a no-go or cancellation. For Dave Skibinski, cofounder of LMA, there is no excuse to not get outdoors and make those reveries into memories.
“I get a very common response like, ‘Oh, I’ve wanted to do that for so long! My friends and I have been talking about it, but we’ll go nowhere or don’t know how,’” says Skibinski. “And the idea of LMA is to just sign up and everything will be taken care of.”
Dream Job
For a long time Skibinski knew he wanted to help connect people with the outdoors but never knew exactly how. Serendipitously he met Nick Masino, a fellow adventurer who shared similar ambitions; together they launched LMA. They realized that most people will put off trips even though they still yearn to go, just because they can’t handle the logistics. Skibinski says this makes the experience more enjoyable when it finally happens.
“Once you get past your mid-twenties, you’ve already done all the going out and going to bars you want,” says Skibinski. “People eventually want to do something different. They’ve been wanting to do that rafting trip, they’ve been wanting to go sky diving. They’ve been wanting to do it since they were younger. Those people are hungry for these types of trips, and they want to be out there meeting new people. “
Foltynski, who has taken five LMA trips, says that each time he returns he feels rejuvenated. Getaways like these are a way to escape the stress of work, and being outdoors allows him to decompress.
“When I go back to the office after some of these trips, people ask me what I did over the weekend, and I tell them, and I feel great,” he says. “There’s a great sense of accomplishment. It’s something to be proud of. Plus, it’s fun.”
LMA’s mission is to help fulfill that urge to be outdoors by making it accessible while also connecting adventurers with other likeminded people. With trips that range from hiking to paintballing, it arranges an itinerary that includes transportation, accommodations, amenities, and food.
The Killington Bau Haus was held at a 30-person luxury estate, which featured an Oktoberfest dinner party that served German cuisine, including potato pancakes, sauerkraut, bratwurst, and beer. LMA offers gourmet options for all diets.
In Good Hands
Skibinski and Masino are experienced guides who put safety first. Travelers of all skill levels can join the adventure and experience the joy of pushing life to the limits.
“People sometimes think that you have to be an adrenaline junkie or out of your mind to do some of these things,” says Foltynski. “It’s not that at all. You don’t have to take a huge risk. It’s just about taking that first step. That’s what LMA helps you do.”
LMA plans trips according to the seasons. In May, with temperatures warming, it will offer a Hudson Whitewater Escape, a weekend of whitewater rafting on the Hudson River with fellow thrill-seekers while staying at upscale cabins near Lake George.
Prices start at $330, which includes lodging, rafting activities, and food. Roundtrip transportation from Hoboken is also available.
Now’s the time to push past your comfort zone and create memories that will last a lifetime.
“When you’re on your deathbed, what are the moments you’re going to be thinking about?” asks Skibinski. “It’s really these moments. These moments stand out because you really do feel alive.”—07030
For more information, visit livemoreadventures.com