A "kind of" extreme vacation for my 50th
 

I want to do something exertive...some sort of "can do" activity for my 50th birthday vacation but I'm having trouble deciding what that might be. My first thought was to climb Half Dome in Yosemite...however, my birthday is October 22nd so that will be closed a couple of weeks before.

Next thought was Grand Canyon rafting which there appear to still be a few trips going on at the end of October although I'm a little afraid that it might be freezing cold. Anyone have any experience with this?

Next thought was Costa Rica but I really don't want to go there during the rainy season.

Anyone have any other suggestions? I picked the US forum but it could be anywhere in the US, Caribbean, South/Central America. We only have 7 days so anything further is probably out of the question.

Seven days total might not be enough, but for a superb walk how about hiking the Inca Trail in Peru to Machu Picchu? Perhaps a bit tough, but not outrageously so. It's slightly past peak season but outfitters still offer it in October.

Very memorable trip for me, ... from 1981!

If you want to raft the Grand Canyon, better make reservations now.

incalandadventures.com Machu Picchu Slkantay(Savage Mountain)

route with Flavio VERY enjoyable and/or Suba Dive the

Galapagos with DiveMaster Dennis at www.guanguiltagua.com

wmaybe www.huaorani.com for some Amazon adventure

with Headshrinkers...if you are nice to them odds are

they will leave u yours if not they may try to get ahead.

Happy Planning!

If you want to climb Half Dome a couple weeks before your birthday, why not? Does your extreme vacation have to actually coincide with the actual birth date?

Yeah, I think I have to be doing the "wow" thing on my actual birthday (chalk it up to quirkdom) plus that week is when we've already got someone "volunteered" (coerced?) to watch my teen when we're gone.

I'll check into some of the other suggestions. Thx.

I had the same thought as Nelson and Qwo...Machu Picchu/Inca Trail.

And combine that with a trip to the Amazon.

Angel’s Landing and The Narrows in Zion are great.

Durango Train/Zipline is great.
Not a physical challenge though. It is expensive.

The best thing that I have done (including rafting the GC)
would be in Moab, UT with www.deserthighlights.com
I have gone with them in Moab and in Oregon. They do
cascade-canyoning there and it is great too.
Many of the hikes in Arches/Moab are spectacular too.
Utah is great in October. Fall Foliage in some spots around Zion.

You might consider a backpack/rim to rim GC hike as well.

Hike a section of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Probably a section in California since there may be snow in the Cascades by late October.
I have hiked several sections here in Oregon including the north entrance to Crater Lake.
http://www.trails.com/pacific-crest-trail.aspx