Home Adventure What is a Microadventure? Exploiting the 5-to-9

What is a Microadventure? Exploiting the 5-to-9

by Ashli

A microadventure is an escape from the ordinary in everyday life. With planning, practice, and a little bit of dedication, you can be camping on a hill tonight and at work again tomorrow.

I first learned of the term from Alastair Humphreys, a professional adventurer and one of National Geographic’s Adventurers of the Year. I was looking for ways to find adventure more often without spending a lot of money or having to take time away from work.

After my 6 month thru hike on the Appalachian Trail, I got to feeling a bit restless in everyday life. I have a few adventures planned for this year, like a road trip to Colorado in June among others, but what about in the meantime? What about right now? I needed to find something that would give me a feeling of adventure without all the hard work, planning, money and vacation time that usually comes with it.

“You work from 9 to 5 but what about the 5 to 9?”

A microadventure is just that. It is getting out of your home or office if just for the evening. Cooking dinner and sleeping on a hill. Watching the sunrise over the nearest city. Trying something new like a race, or biking to a part of town that you have never been to before. The idea is that you can get outside anytime with adventures that are quick, easy, cheap, and fun.

As Alastair puts it, “you work from 9 to 5 but what about the 5 to 9?” You don’t have to wait for the weekend for an adventure, you can have one right now!

This year along with some other adventures I have planned, I want to follow the microadventure calendar from alastairhumphreys.com.

microadventures

This calendar serves as a quick look at some of the best days to get out there and experience nature, and a great reminder that it doesn’t have to be difficult to do so.

So… who wants to come?

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3 comments

Sunset on the Susquehanna River | AshliLauryn March 4, 2015 - 1:04 pm

[…] find out more about microadventures and see the microadventure calendar, check out my post, “What is a Microadventure?” Last month we successfully made our way to Harriman State Park for my first winter […]

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Winter Backpacking in Harriman State Park | AshliLauryn February 4, 2015 - 6:29 pm

[…] I mentioned in my last post, “What is a Microadventure?”, I am trying to get out on an adventure at least once every month this year. January is a […]

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Anna B. January 28, 2015 - 11:14 am

I love this! It’s such a great reminder that we don’t have to have huge adventures as long as we just get outside. It’s easy to just stay inside, especially in the winter. Thanks for the motivation!

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