Altitude sickness When planning a trip to the San Luis Valley, keep in mind that much of the area sits above 7,800 ft. Symptoms of high altitude sickness include headache, lightheadedness, weakness, trouble sleeping and an upset stomach. These most often pass as your body adjusts. If you have confusion and difficulty breathing, even while resting, consult a doctor immediately. Severe high altitude sickness can be treated with doctor prescribed medications. A simple way to prevent altitude sickness is to take traveling to a higher altitude slowly, rest often and drink plenty of water. Those with certain lung and heart problems are encouraged to consult their physician before visiting the Valley.
Hide and seek Geocaching Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game that has become a popular outdoor activity in Colorado and throughout the world. Adventure seekers who participate are equipped with Global Positioning Systems (GPS), or they may use other navigational techniques to hide and seek out containers, called geocaches or caches. Participants then share their experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by many types of people from all age groups and walks of life. A typical cache is a small waterproof container, which has a logbook in it where the geocacher enters the date they found the container and sign it with his or her code name. Some larger containers may be plastic storage containers, which hold items for trading, Traded items include inexpensive toys or trinkets. Currently geocaches are placed in more
than 100 countries, and the game is played around the world on all seven continents. In the past 12 years of activity there have been over 1,639,000 active geocaches published online in various websites from more than 5 million geocachers worldwide. San Luis Valley geocache coordinates can be found at www.geocaching.com. Info: www. geocachingcolo.com
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Treasure hunt Scurvy Dogs Adventures Scurvy Dogs Custom Treasure Hunts & Adventures was created in 2000 by entrepreneur Bill Sauvigne’ and is based in Del Norte. In a time of video game obsessions and monosyllabic family conversations, Scurvy Dogs has come up with a fun and entertaining way for families to bond, by creating custom treasure hunts to conduct at home or while on vacation. These interactive adventures lead groups on quests, following clues to uncover hidden treasure. “Having fun as a group and working together towards a successful conclusion is what positive teamwork is all about,” reports Sauvigne’. Customtreasurehunts.com is not only a fun activity for the whole family; it sets the stage for future problem solving, non-violent competition and working well with others. As a teacher, Sauvigne’ found children losing a sense of interactive play, becoming isolated and interacting mainly with a computer monitor. He created the customtreasurehunts. com concept to re-live his own childhood of imaginative games and play. “It’s not all together surprising,” offers the 52-year-old, “that the people who really get
into treasure hunting are not just the kids, but the parents, as well. In fact, we’ve had a number of corporations approach us about running team building exercises and chambers of commerce interested in creating a “buzz” for their downtown areas.” Scurvy Dogs works with each group to design a custom “hunt” tailored to their interests that incorporates each group’s information. Two weeks prior to the adventure, Scurvy Dogs sends a series of clever, themed mailings to heighten interest. During the actual hunt, the on-site team from Scurvy Dogs guides the hunt with additional clues, adding color with actors and staged meetings. One of the many options offered by Scurvy Dogs is to videotape or photograph the adventure for a bound memory book or DVD. The culmination of the hunt is the discovery of the missing treasure – customized for each group and shared by all participants. Custom treasure hunts are a great way to add a unique activity to a vacation or reunion without paying a fortune. It’s good clean fun, and even the surliest teenagers will have the time of their lives! Info: www. customtreasurehunts.com
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