Expert Sources

Debra Klein, Newsweek ,“Doing It All on Vacation: A new wave of global travelers are testing their limits on multi-sport adventures.” (Sept. 4, 2000)

Klein’s article discusses how people are opting for a more rounded out vacations by using their time to enjoy multiple activities available in the area rather than just traveling to one place and being content with the usual trends: going to the beach, shopping, or sight seeing.  In this modern age where people want to get as much bang for their buck as possible, travelers/vacationers are either cramming as many activities in their vacations as they can or else they are taking part in more extreme recreation activities in order to get out of the daily boredom in their lives.

The multi-sport/multi-activity trend has been growing due to more and more people wanting to make their vacations more memorable.  Many of these people have the usual careers and lead a regular routine in their daily lives and want something dynamically different than what they are used to.  In response, resorts and travel planners have been changing their operations to cater to this new trend.  Resorts have added additional area to their operations and host a diverse range of activities for clients to make sure they don’t get bored.   Likewise, travel agents are becoming adventure outfitters and putting together travel tickets loaded with multiple types of activities for their customers to enjoy when they go on vacation.

These trends are widely apparent if anyone has ever been to any vacation destination lately.  Most of Colorado’s ski resorts offer a wider range of opportunities for guests to take part in.  These activities may not be affiliated or hosted by the specific resort or hotel but they advertise them anyway due to their close proximity.  This benefits both the resort or hotel and the individual outfitter.  An example of this is the snowmobiling guides located up near Camp Hale, which is in close proximity to Vale, Colorado.  When guests come to Vale, they may want to take a break from skiing and try some other winter activities.  With a snowmobile operation just up the road, they have an opportunity to try something different.  People are more active these days and the last thing they want is to get away from their daily tedium and do more of the same.

Kurt Schultz, retired professional hunting, fishing and backpacking outfitter, former president of the Colorado Outfitter’s Association and 15-year member of the state’s licensing board.

In his 30 years as an outfitter, Kurt has been able to identify changes in the user trends with vacationers visiting Colorado’s high country.   Granted, Kurt’s primary operation was as a hunting guide and outfitter, but he also offered summer pack trips and fly-fishing tours.  Mr. Schultz has observed over the decades that there are fewer hunters returning to pursue the activity.  And those that continue to hunt have gradually changed in their mindsets.  

In his early years, Kurt noted that most people who came to Colorado’s high/back country were from rugged rural backgrounds.  They were hardy, and independent adventurers.  With the country’s population shifting towards more urban lifestyles, the rugged hunter started to become a thing of the past.  Hunters would still come out but the type of hunter he worked for was a different client.  There were fewer hunters willing to weather the elements as a way to relax.  They preferred the setting to be more like home with as many conveniences as possible.  Seeing these changes in clients’ needs coming down the road, Kurt shifted his operations from personally guided hunts to drop camp operations.  In this way Kurt was still able to provide for his clients without having to exhaust himself and his staff to meet their needs.

Over the years, Kurt has also noticed a growing number of outside influences that have negatively impacted the outfitting business.  With the more prominent urban culture, less people are pursuing what are considered consumptive recreation such as hunting and participating in non-consumptive activities like day hiking, camping, and canoeing.  There is also urban encroachment and loss of access to areas that had formerly been open to the general public.  Government regulation has also forced many outfitters out of business either because an individual operation is unable to comply with new regulations or else their access to their usual areas of operation have been shut down.  This can be seen with the mule packer tours that operate in the Grand Canyon and horse ride tours in Yellowstone National Park.