What’s the Most Adventurous Country?

Have you ever been to Chile and driven along the coast? Or tried to make your way across Norway and its fjords? Americans are not known for being world travelers – AJ readers being an exception, of course – and it’s true that there are at least 50 reasons to stay put. But there’s a lifetime of surfing along Chile’s 2,653-mile coast and several lifetimes of skiing in its mountains. As for Norway, well, what are your thoughts on reincarnation?

Fact is, there are 190-some sovereign states (the exact number is debatable, and debated hotly) and many offer deep potential for getting lost, getting found, and testing yourself in ways that involve sweat, effort, and human ingenuity, with a heaping helping of stoke thrown in to boot.

But how in this interconnected age to judge? Should we evaluate them on their potential for recreational sports – that is, their ski resorts, singletracks, and surf breaks? Should we choose based on their exoticism? On their development for adventure or lack of development? Or on their ruggedness, their rawness, their opportunity for old school, off-the-grid, adventures of discovery?

Hmmm.

(Note: Not gonna list all 190+ nations. Just the major and most likely. Fans Suriname and Senegal, sorry. Select as many as you like.)

WIN SMITH SUNGLASSES JUST BY VOTING
This week, one poll participant will receive Smith Optic’s Lowdown sunglasses. We’ll pick the winner via random number generator (and announce it here) – all you have to do to enter is vote and leave a comment so we have your email to contact you. Must have a U.S. or Canadian address. Contest ends Sunday, September 20, at midnight PST.

Congratulations to Kathleen Byrne, who wins the Smiths this week!