Jon Krakauer the author of the popular book  Into Thin Air slammed climbing journeyman Beck Weathers for putting on a pair of brand new boots without breaking them in first. Weathers' foolhardy neophyte's habits almost cost him his life, Krakauer intimated. Somehow, Weathers made it back alive, and now has had his say in a new book, " Left for Dead : My Journey Home from Everest."

The contrast between the two men couldn't be greater. Krakauer, a deeply experienced climber, left Everest unclimbed for most of a long career in the mountains. Weathers, on the other hand, came to mountaineering later in life to combat depression, then jetted around the planet "bagging" the tallest mountain on each continent, a collector of sorts.

The Adventurer?
But it wasn't Weathers that really set Krakauer off, but a new breed of dilettante adventurer who leaned on guides and creature comforts; one socialite climber on the mountain in the fateful 1996 ascent insisted on bringing an espresso maker.

Even then, these days, you can go and see the world's most remote places without even buying a new pair of boots. Travel to Antarctica is up 300% over the past few years, but the majority of these folks aren't donning snowshoes - they're taking luxury cruises.

Ropin' a Fourteener: It's not only coddled cruises to the nether reaches of the Earth that are being soft-peddled - vis. safari packages pitched as "Touch of Class - South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana: The best of South Africa in 13 days;" and climbing expeditions titled "Ropin' a Fourteener" ("Come discover what real climbing is all about! First you'll learn basic techniques, followed by a trek with packstock to the base of Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle, two famous 14,000-foot peaks. Accompanied by a professional guide and climbing at your own pace, your goal will be the summit and a feeling you'll not soon forget!")

This new breed of adventure travel takes all forms: kayak tours of the Arctic Circle; surf trips to speck-like islands with surf breaks named things like "Cloudbreak." And then there are hybrid inventions like "Heli-Hike Combo: Luxury Hiking in the Canadian Rockies." You can hold class reunions in whitewater rafts on the Colorado; take your corporate retreat on a cattle drive; take your family across Wyoming on the back of llamas. And if scuba diving is one of the hot activities of our time, the new craze for swimming with sharks was only the next logical step.

All of these can be done with the full protection and comfort of an all-expenses paid package tour, or even as shore excursions on a cruise. If a bit on the safe side, these excursions can be every bit as exciting and fulfilling as disappearing into the wilderness with a pen knife and a walking stick. Well, maybe not quite as "exciting" as that, but still a break from the everyday theme park.

The explosion of all-expenses paid, fully guided adventures is a perfect example of "build it, and they will come." And come they have; adventure travel may be the fastest growing segment of the travel market.

Margarita Bars and Disney?
Is this new accessibility of the planet's most remote and potentially hazardous locales necessary a bad thing? Must folks who are getting a little older, or who no longer have the desire or physical resilience truly to "rough it," give up their appetite for the quiet, beauty, and wonder of the wild? Are they banished to Margarita bars and Disney for the rest of their lives?

And what about the younger set? Kids can come away with life-changing experiences in the wild every bit as much as adults. Having healthy, reliable meals and exceptional safety measures is essential for families.

So it's settled; the kinder, gentler side of adventure travel is likely a good thing, all told. So what's to know about it, and what's to worry about?

Tips
1) Hire a reputable outfitter.
You may literally be putting your life in the hands of your guides; make sure you get solid references, check out past history, talk directly to people who have used them whenever possible.

2) Think hard about how hard you want to work.
Two package deals may look the same on paper, and be anything but on the trail. Are you willing to cook for yourself, or do you want the cooking done for you? When you research your trip, make sure you know what is expected of you, and what you expect of your guides.

3) Inquire about difficulty ratings.
Many outfitters and guides have taken to rating their trips for difficulty, a very helpful trend. However, these ratings can vary greatly not only from one outfitter to the next, but even on a single trip. I've seen a trip that was described as "perfect for the novice," but also rated "challenging." Make sure you understand perfectly the level of skill, fitness, and effort your trip will require.

4) Make sure your trip isn't too easy.
This tip follows on the above, but I wanted to be specific here. Adventure-hungry folks are more likely to take care that they're not in over their head than they are to make sure they're not completely coddled. Remember that some adventure trips are cruises by any other name; if you're looking for a little moderate hardship, you'll want to make sure that you actually get a chance to get off the ship to wander around.

This goes also for hikes and other types of physical junkets; if you're ready to hike several miles daily, and your trip is geared for more languorous sorts, you'll be revving your engines all day long.

5) Research your chosen activity.
In my opinion, it's not enough to show up with some broken-in boots and a hankering for the outdoors; you'll want to know a little about the local terrain, the flora and fauna, what kinds of critters you'll see. Know about changes in elevation, terrain, local climate, and anything else you can find out about your trip. You're going to see things you've never seen before, and might never encounter again, and you can't swing past the local bookstore to read the book. Your guides will help here, but a little homework will serve you exceptionally well.

6) Get in shape.
Even an "easy" hike can take its toll if you haven't done more than walk the dog around the block in months. When it comes to real adventure travel, "getting in shape" doesn't mean hitting the Stairmaster every once in a while. Trimming off a few pounds will help - don't use your trip to get in shape; you'll enjoy it much more.

7) Get in specific shape.
Athletes and coaches use the concept of specificity in their training - runners run, swimmers swim, rowers row. If you're going hiking, don't prepare by swimming laps. If you're going kayaking, the treadmill isn't going to get your shoulders ready.

Whenever possible, do exactly what you're going to do.

8) Take care of all gear issues long before you leave.
Break in your boots. Make sure everything fits. Make sure everything works. Ask your guide or outfitter what kind of weather you might encounter - hot days, cold nights; lots of rain; lots of sun. Pack accordingly.

9) Anticipate adversity.
I know, we're looking for adventure without the adversity, but the point of your trip isn't a string of perfect days - that's what golf resorts and amusement parks are for. If everything goes perfectly, your trip will be the lesser for it, in my humble opinion. When challenges present themselves, approach them with vigor and resolve - No Whiners!

10) Don't count on your guides for everything.
Remember, this is an adventure. Don't wander off into the wilderness, but make sure you don't simply let your guides take your trip for you. Look around, get involved. Take in the sights, smells, and sounds of your new environment. Turn on all your senses. Put away the camera and soak up everything. Have A Good Lime!