In past entries we’ve tackled some of the challenges you’re likely to face in preparing for an expedition with OneSeed, now we’ll take on a different, but often confusing part of the experience: how, what and when to tip your OneSeed guide.
Protip: Guides love hot tea almost as much as the Himalayas
When you lace up those (well worn) boots and...
Now that you’re all pumped up and ready to get going on your alpine adventure it’s time we let you in on a little-known trail trekker’s secret: High Altitude Yoga! While the novelty of striking an expert pose on a big peak to show your physical prowess is certainly satisfying, the ancient spiritual exercise is actually an excellent way to bring relief to achy bodies and weary minds.
Whether you’re trying to get a stretch in during a water break, or ease some muscle tension...
Alright all you aspiring OneSeedlings, it’s high time for some tough love. Now we’re not trying to scare you off, but the fact is that one of our most consistent topics for post-trip feedback is the physical demands of our expeditions. We plan our trips carefully to make sure that they are accessible to as many people as possible, but if you’ve called one of our expeditions a walk in the park, chances are you were talking about Rocky Mountain National. The fact is, you’ll be hiking at moderate to...
If you’ve pulled the trigger on joining us for one of our Chilean expeditions, the good news is that you’ve already got a lot to look forward too. The better news is that you’ll be flying into Santiago, Chile’s inspiring capital city.
While you’re sure to have an unforgettable journey with OneSeed, Chile and Santiago have a lot more to offer then we’ll have the chance to show you. Just in case you choose to visit the Santiaguinos a few days early, we’ve put together a brief list of sights and experiences...
We get a lot of questions about altitude here at OneSeed. We do play in the mountains a lot after all!
Altitude can effect people differently, but some we’ll cover some of the details here:
Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), can be very...
Trying local food while traveling is one of my favorite things about being abroad, but as a vegetarian it can sometimes be difficult. I used to be a strict vegetarian so I know the hassle it can be, but I spent five months in China and survived!
Some countries are extremely vegetarian friendly, as they themselves don’t have a lot of meat in their diet (Nepal), but in others the term ‘vegetarian’ is as foreign to them as you are (Chile). While vegetarian foods are easily found in Nepal, if...
One of our newest Chilean guides, Sabine is well traveled and has five years experience guiding treks in Patagonia. Born in Venezuela, she grew up in Santiago before traveling through Bolivia, Argentina, Venezuela, France and England where she really mastered her English. In addition to leading trekking trips through Patagonia, she has also led extended horseback riding trips through the region as well! Learn a bit more about what makes Sabine tick in our interview with her.
What inspires you/do you love about the outdoors and adventure?
It is what I...
OneSeed loves the mountains! Hopefully you do too. OneSeed staffer Cat shares the reasons for her love of the mountains, how they have influenced her life, and why she feels at home among them.
The beach or the mountains? It’s a question that seems to be asked in nearly every awkward social situation, ice breakers at new jobs, school orientations, first dates, etc…, as if the answer tells you everything you need to know about a person. They can make you feel insignificantly small, they could be your life’s calling,...
Meet Chris, the founder of OneSeed Expeditions. Over the past seven years, Chris has split his time between Nepal and the US. While in Nepal, he conducted research in Kathmandu and throughout the Khumbu region surrounding Mt. Everest. As a Fellow with Kiva.org, Chris worked closely with local microfinance institutions. Chris founded OneSeed in 2010 with friends Bishnu Thapa and Tek Bahadur Dong. He loves milk and makes a delicious pizza.
What was your first adventure?
When I was 12 years old, I was going to the airport with my dad....
Meet Sergio, OneSeed’s Country Director in Chile. Originally from Chile’s far south, Sergio grew up playing in the outdoors and exploring Patagonia. He studied business in school and has experience running his own trekking companies. He loves climbing and trekking with his daughter who is a budding adventurer herself. As an amateur photographer, he captures the beauty of Patagonia and his work has been published in National Geographic. This rugged outdoorsman owns a pink espresso maker which makes a darn good cup of coffee!
1. How did...
One of OneSeed’s newest additions to the team, Cat Wile, is our operations guru. Born and raised in a small town in chilly Massachusetts, she set her sights on migrating south, finding herself down in North Carolina. Graduating from Elon University with an International Business degree, she then took up employment with a large firm in Charlotte. Between her studies and demanding career, she still managed to explore the world, spending five months in China learning Mandarin and visiting Mexico, Peru, Turkey, Greece, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Most...
The toilet, commode, W.C., throne room, head, latrine, loo. We’ve got a million names for the bathroom, but it isn’t exactly dinner conversation (unless you happen to be with a bunch of travelers or backcountry enthusiasts). Let’s face it though, when nature calls, it’s nice to know what to expect at the facilities. When you are sneak attacked by a bout of traveler’s diarrhea in a foreign country and are suddenly faced with a hole in the ground and a bucket of water, your uncomfortable experience can become suddenly...
Climate Overview
Although the park is located in an area that includes a “mild- cool climate, rainy, without dry season”, the weather conditions observed during the year are various, depending on location, altitude, topography, or proximity to glaciers, lagoons or lakes. The characteristic aspect of the area is its thermal homogeneity, which allows tourists to visit this place in every season.
The cooler temperatures are recorded in summer. The month of January records the annual maximum, that fluctuates around the 15 º C, while in winter the minimum temperature does not...
Packing for a hike in the Himalayas is more involved than throwing things in your carry-on for a getaway weekend, but it does not need to be overwhelming. OneSeed has provided you a packing list with the basics of what you will need for your trek. Some of you – especially those with outdoors experience – will take that list and run with it, needing no further guidance. For trekking novices, hyperplanners, and the rest of you, here are some tips on...
We break our expeditions into levels of difficulty. We base these ratings on number of hours walking per day, elevation gain, trail quality, etc. Generally, mountain expeditions fall into one of two categories: Intermediate or Difficult.
What’s the difference?
Intermediate
Intermediate adventures require that you are at the least at an average fitness level. Activities will be mandatory and occasionally physically demanding. Experience in this sport is recommended.
These are great first treks and a perfect fit for people looking for a challenge without daily exhaustion. Most of our expeditions fall into this...
Racking up those stamp-covered passport pages is satisfying, but what if you could bank a little bit of good karma along the way?
OneSeed tries to keep it simple: you take an amazing trip; a local woman launches or expands her business. Through the OneSeed Fund, local microfinance institutions are able to tap into the revenue stream of adventure travel to fund the creativity of local entrepreneurs.
“Doing a little bit of good doesn’t necessarily have to be complicated,” says OneSeed’s founder, Chris Baker. “It just has to make sense.”
His advice...
Chris Baker is the founder of OneSeed Expeditions.
When I first started this draft (on June 27th), I began by reflecting on just how much had happened in only a month since our launch in May.
Time got away from me.
Now, three full months since our launch, I can’t believe how much has come together in such a short time:
1) Redesign and launch of our website. While I’ll always have a soft spot for our iWeb-designed layout with flashing graphics, the new site looks great. Kudos to our 99Designs...
What are the elevation changes on my trek?
So you’ve made the decision you want to go on a OneSeed trek. Awesome! That’s a decision well made. But now might come the tricky part. Which one will suite you best for your next adventure? Our team at OneSeed is here to help make your decision process less stressful.
With our newly developed elevation charts you are now able to visualize our trips beforehand! These charts will help prepare you both physically and mentally for the estimated time and distance each trek requires.
Everest Base Camp
Total Trekking Time: 55...