My main Year Off theme was outdoor adventures. I wanted to gain as much experience as possible in the great wilderness areas of the world. So I got outside and got out of my comfort zone as much as I could during my Year Off.

I spent an entire spring and summer out west in the U.S. and spent almost 3 months in Africa so I had plenty of time for exploration. And there are no better places for outdoor adventures than the American West and Africa.

This is my top 10 list of my favorite outdoor adventures from my Year Off, along with some tips and links to help you plan the same outdoor adventures.

10. White water rafting in Colorado and Uganda

My buddy Tony flew out to Colorado in May 2016 to meet up with me during the first leg of my Year Off. We rafted the Numbers and the Narrows sections of the Arkansas River near the town of Buena Vista with AVA Rafting. It’s a series of fun class III-V rapids with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.

In Uganda, I rafted the Nile River with Nalubale Rafting near the town of Jinja. It’s a series of 8 monster rapids, the first rapid being a 12 foot waterfall. Our entire raft flipped 3 times on the big waves, but we all escaped with nothing but an incredible story to tell.

9. Backpacking and climbing 14ers in Colorado

There’s no better state than Colorado (check out my Colorado guide!) for outdoor adventure, and for anyone who loves backpacking and climbing mountains, it’s an absolute paradise. I spent over 3 weeks in Colorado during my Year Off and had a blast making the Rocky Mountains my home. 14ers.com is your go-to resource for planning a 14er climb.

My buddy Sam and I took a couple backpacking trips in the Maroon Bells – Snowmass Wilderness. By Crater Lake, we were treated to one of the most spectacular sunsets of my entire Year Off. After Sam flew home, I spent a week climbing 8 of the 14,000 foot mountains in Colorado (Grays Peak, Torreys Peak, Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Democrat, Mt. Bross, Mt. Sherman, Mt. Elbert, and Mt. Massive).

8. The Green River kayak trip in Utah

Spring and fall are the prime seasons for a float trip on the Green River through Canyonlands National Park. It’s an incredible multi-day trip through Stillwater Canyon, covering 52 river miles from Mineral Bottom landing to just below the Confluence with the Colorado River.

I floated the river over the course of 4 days and 3 nights, stopping for some incredible hiking around Bonita Bend and Turks Head. I reserved my sea kayak and the return jet boat ride with Tex’s Riverways in Moab. There are no rapids on this stretch of the river, but I did encounter high winds and high river levels which made for some interesting paddling.

7. The Mountaineer’s Route on Mt. Whitney in California

Mt. Whitney, standing at 14,505 feet, is the highest mountain in the lower 48 states. There are two main routes to the summit, the main Whitney Trail and the Mountaineer’s Route. Spring is prime season for the Mountaineer’s Route, a snow climb requiring crampons and an ice axe.

I climbed it in April 2016 with Sierra Mountaineering International. It was a Summit for Someone climb to raise money for Big City Mountaineers, a charity that helps get under-served inner-city youth outdoors. The Sierra Nevada mountains are my favorite mountains in the world, so I was in heaven the entire climb to the summit.

6. Gorilla tracking in Uganda

Want to get up close and personal with endangered mountain gorillas? Head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the southwest corner of Uganda in Africa. It’s one of the last places on earth where you can track the gorillas then spend time watching them in their natural habitat.

Make sure to save up some money for this. The permits can cost upwards of $600. I coordinated the gorilla tracking with IVHQ, a volunteer organization with placements all over the world.

I tracked the Kahungye gorilla family during my Year Off. We hiked for about 4 miles with the park rangers through the dense forest and had a face to face encounter with the dominant silver back. On our way back to the trail, we got too close to him and he charged us, making one of the most terrifying sounds I’ve ever heard. We all made it back safe and sound though!

5. Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

At 19,341 feet, Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the largest freestanding volcano in the world. The are seven routes to the summit, requiring 5-7 days of acclimatizing and climbing. They are all non-technical routes, but battling the cold and altitude make this climb very difficult. January through March and June through October are prime times to make your bid for the summit.

I successfully climbed Kili in February via the Lemosho route over the course of 6 days and 5 nights. I was treated to some spectacular sunsets while camping and a spectacular sunrise from the summit. My climb was once again coordinated through IVHQ with Viva Africa Tours.

4. The Teton Crest Trail in Wyoming

The Teton Crest Trail, through the heart of the back country in Grand Teton National Park, is a world-class backpacking trip. Covering 40 miles from the Death Canyon trail head to Paintbrush Canyon, it packs amazing views of the 3 Tetons and the surrounding countryside.

Don’t forget your bear spray. This is grizzly country! And try to reserve your permit ahead of time or snag a last-minute walk-up permit.

My wife and I hiked the trail over the course of 4 days and 3 nights, camping on Death Canyon shelf, Cascade Canyon, and next to Holly Lake. We encountered black bears and a moose family, but no grizzlies. And the weather was perfect in late August.

3. African safaris in Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya

There’s nothing like bouncing along in a safari vehicle through the African wilderness, tracking the incredible African wildlife. East Africa and the Serengeti ecosystem are prime areas for an African safari.

Uganda has Murchison Falls National Park, where the Nile River is home to the Nile crocodiles and hippos and elephants (stay in the boat!!!). Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area are the world-famous parks to visit in Tanzania, but be ready to pay over $1200 for a 4 day safari. It’s worth the money though.

If you’re on a budget, head to Kenya for a safari. You’ll see the Big 5 and won’t break the bank doing so. We used Faru Tours for our safari to the Maasai Mara, where we saw the Big 5 and a cheetah hunting a gazelle.

2. The John Muir Trail in California

It’s hard to refute the claim that the John Muir Trail in California is the most beautiful trail in America. Starting in Yosemite Valley, the trail winds through John Muir’s Range of Light for over 220 miles to the summit of Mt. Whitney. It passes through the high country of Yosemite National Park, the Ansel Adams Wilderness, Kings Canyon National Park, and Sequoia National Park.

Be ready for snow on the high mountain passes until the end of June or July. And permits are very hard to get for a JMT hike starting in Yosemite or on Mt. Whitney. Plan ahead and complete the trail in sections if need be.

I completed the trail in 14 days at the end of July during my Year Off. I felt such a sense of adventure during the trip. And it was amazing waking up every day in a beautiful campsite with no other “job” for the day than hiking.

1. Mt. Rainier in Washington

No other outdoor adventure created the feelings of freedom and adventure more than my climb of Mt. Rainier in Washington. At 14,410 feet, it’s the highest mountain in Washington and still an active volcano. The Disappointment Clever Route is the most common route to the top. You cross multiple glaciers and travel in rope teams to the summit.

The climb starts at 5,500 feet elevation at Paradise Visitor Center in Mt. Rainier National Park. You spend Day 1 climbing to the Muir Hut at 10,000 feet elevation. Day 2 begins a few short hours later at midnight as you set out on the first glacier with your crampons, ice axe, and headlamp. After your summit attempt, you descend all the way back to Paradise. The climb is a true mountaineering adventure.

The sunrise during my climb of Mt. Rainier in early August is one I will never forget. We encountered high winds and low temperatures throughout the night, so it was rather miserable for a while. But the sun started to shine above a low-lying layer of clouds, and a feeling of awe hit me like never before.

No matter what your Year Off theme is, make sure you get out of your comfort zone.

Outdoor adventures are a great way to do that. That’s where the feelings of adventure and freedom live. And make sure you save up enough money to cover the costs of your outdoor adventures.

What adventures are you wanting to take during your Year Off?