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The veil of the Vietnam War that has shrouded so much of my concept of the country is virtually irrelevant.

Climbing let me move my body without consequence—my income, competition results, and social media followers are not hinged to my performance on rock.

Join adventurers Erik and Sarah on yet another epic Baffin vacation as they kite ski north along the remote coastline of Baffin Island. Over their 69-day holiday they ski mountains, climb a big wall, and cross a glacier in search of new rivers to whitewater kayak.

Paddler Ava Christensen reflects on her journey as an adventure whitewater kayaker.

I bitterly recall the touring cyclists we saw on the ferry with their nimble road bikes and their fast, skinny tires. I might as well be pedaling a Mack truck by comparison.

Expedition kayakers Erik Boomer & Ben Stooksberry take on the mile deep Barranca Candameña in the Wild West of Chihuahua, Mexico.

The route is supposed to be 100% rideable; however, as we soon found, the Icelandic highlands are full of surprises.

I wouldn’t consider myself a control freak, but somewhere along the line I learned I could only rely on myself for safety, comfort, and needs. The desert was about to challenge that.

Look around any city long enough and you will find a Glue Up: climbing holds attached to an urban surface with industrial-strength epoxy. To know how they got there is to understand the local climbing scene.

I was terrified of living an easy life of going through the motions. This fear of the mundane drove me to this adventure.

I was coasting downhill when another rider flew past me. My competitive fire was reignited and roaring, as if someone had doused gasoline on a spark. There was no way in hell this rider was going to finish before me.

The moment we left the ranger station, a transformation occurred – Cumberland Island unfolded in front of me as an untouched oasis of natural splendor.

Searching for a romantic vacation? Try Baffin Island! Remember: an expedition is the same thing as a vacation, it just depends on your attitude. A Film by Sarah McNair-Landry and Erik Boomer Produced by Erik Boomer, Sarah McNair-Landry, and Rush Sturges Presented by Whitewater

Those miles did, however, possess the power of imagination and gave each of us a reason to dream about returning to a range unlike anywhere else.

Standing in the midst of nature’s epic rejuvenation, I hope to everything good and holy that I’ll be just as revived after a few nighttime hours lying horizontal in an emergency bivy at our upcoming camp spot.