Great Scott! What a Shot! Enter the Global Rescue 2023 Travel Photo and Video Contest

(Lebanon, N.H. – October 30, 2023) – People are traveling boldly during the post-pandemic travel rebound, taking multiple trips in 2023 and demonstrating a growing desire for authentic experiences in an increasingly globalized and connected…

(Lebanon, N.H. – October 30, 2023) – People are traveling boldly during the post-pandemic travel rebound, taking multiple trips in 2023 and demonstrating a growing desire for authentic experiences in an increasingly globalized and connected world. It’s why the theme of the 2023 Global Rescue Photo and Video Contest is Travel Boldly.

“Before the pandemic, people were more content with traditional tourist activities,” said Michael Holmes, Global Rescue’s head of marketing. “Cruising the Seine River in Paris, skiing in the Rockies or the Alps, or even soaking up the sun in Aruba, were usually go-to vacation activities. But now, activities that were not on most tourists’ radar are increasingly competing with traditional tourism pursuits.”

Global Rescue is celebrating the travel rebound through the spirit and strength of the images of travelers in a post-pandemic world. More than $50,000.00 in prizes will be distributed to the winners.

Complete information is available here (https://www.globalrescue.com/landing-pages/photo-contest-2023/).

The Global Rescue 2023 Photo and Video Contest is open to all through November 10, 2023. There are five categories available to enter. A winner will be selected for each category as well as a grand prize winner:

Urban Exploration – A photo showcasing how you spend time in a city.
On The Edge – Images of a traveler living life to the fullest, taking part in an activity or experience that is, perhaps, slightly outside of their comfort zone.
Family – Photos showing family coming together through travel and the sense of togetherness, shared memories, and the willingness to navigate new adventures as a unit.
Bleisure – Travel images that combine business and leisure which create a more well-rounded and enjoyable travel experience by blending work and leisure seamlessly.
Video – Unveil the spirit of Traveling Boldly through captivating video content that vividly portrays world exploration in all of its forms.

Entries accepted until 11:59 PM (EST) November 10, 2023. Winners will be announced by November 30th.

Global Rescue 2023 Photo and Video Contest judges include:

Alessandra Amodio, is an American fine art photographer based in New York City where she is Digital Photo Editor at Travel + Leisure. She has worked at Departures Magazine, Newsweek Magazine, The Knot World Wide (XO Group) and Kate Ryan Inc.
Mark Edward Harris, a photographer who has visited and photographed in more than 100 countries. His work has appeared in Vanity Fair, LIFE, Time, Newsweek, Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, Forbes, AFAR, Vogue Brazil, Elle Canada, Esquire Japan, Harper’s Bazaar, Italian GQ, Marie Claire, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The London Times Travel Magazine and The Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine.
Anna Haines, is an award-winning photographer and freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Forbes, Vogue, Insider, AFAR, Lonely Planet, Buzzfeed, Refinery29, TRAVEL+LEISURE, and Eater. She is a graduate of the International Center of Photography’s Visual Journalism program and notable photography clients have included Alain Ducasse and the Rockefeller Foundation.
Geoffrey Morrison, is a travel writer and photographer whose work has appeared in CNET, Wirecutter, The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Forbes.
Chelsea Bakos-Kallgren, Global Rescue’s graphic designer. Previous to her work at Global Rescue, her design talents shaped the brands of Simon Pearce, CBRE Group, National Park Service, Shire Digital and Cloudbank Inc. She’s won numerous awards for design: print, digital and best in show.

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About Global Rescue

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

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Focus. Click. Enter. Win!

The 2023 Global Rescue Photo and Video Contest is open! More than $50k in prizes will be awarded to winners in multiple categories, thanks to our generous sponsors. Submit your best work today!

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Global Rescue Wins Four Magellan Awards

(Lebanon, NH – October 25, 2023) – Travel Weekly, the most influential B2B travel industry news resource, awarded Global Rescue, the world's leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services, four 2023…

(Lebanon, NH – October 25, 2023) – Travel Weekly, the most influential B2B travel industry news resource, awarded Global Rescue, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services, four 2023 Magellan Awards for its travel solutions.

“Travel has come roaring back, and it’s clear that providers, like Global Rescue, are responding to travelers’ evolving desires for safer, more authentic and immersive travel experiences for leisure, bleisure or business travel,” said Arnie Weissmann, editor in chief of Travel Weekly. “We had a record-breaking number of entries this year, and the creativity and innovative approaches wowed the judges. The winners’ collective desire to exceed consumers’ expectations was never more evident.”

The Global Rescue Medical and Security Mobile App (GRID 2.0) won a Gold Magellan Award for Overall Health & Safety Innovations for the second year in a row. “In an emergency, the GRID 2.0 app puts its members in immediate contact with the medical teams and military special operations veterans who staff Global Rescue’s global operations centers. It was used to coordinate evacuations of travelers from war-torn Ukraine, civil unrest in Sudan, help students and faculty get out of Russia, and provide security advisory for foreign news correspondents working for several major U.S. news outlets,” said Michael Holmes, marketing vice president at Global Rescue.

Global Rescue won a Gold Magellan Award for its Marketing/Client Newsletter communications program. “Global Rescue provides not only field rescue and medical evacuation but also advisory and travel assistance services. As a method of distributing up-to-date and relevant information, Global Rescue packages information in monthly newsletters to both current and lapsed members as well as specialty groups like the high-altitude climbing and trekking community,” Holmes said. Individuals can subscribe to the Global Rescue newsletter here.

A Silver Magellan was awarded to Global Rescue for its High-Altitude Evacuation Package in the Marketing with a Purpose category. “High-altitude field rescue and evacuation have always been central to Global Rescue’s services. But with the rapid growth and participation of mountaineering, trekking and other high-altitude activities, we expanded our capabilities through the High-Altitude Evacuation Package to provide emergency services in more regions, committing to longer deployments of our medical operations personnel, and extending our in-field rescue operational durations,” noted Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies.

Global Rescue won a Silver Magellan Award for its Social Media Revamp for the Travel Rebound campaign. “In 2023, we refreshed the Global Rescue social media voice and re-imagined how we use imagery. The results were overwhelmingly positive with double, triple and quadruple percentage increases for engagement across our social platforms,” said Josie Daigle, social media associate manager for Global Rescue.

“It is gratifying to be honored for so many Global Rescue initiatives that support and inspire people to travel boldly and take in all that the world has to offer while enjoying the peace of mind that comes from knowing we will rescue you from the point of illness or injury whenever and wherever you need it,” Holmes said.

###About the Magellan Awards

Travel Weekly annual Magellan Awards honor outstanding creativity, design, marketing and services for travel advisors, travel agencies, public relations and advertising agencies and industry suppliers. Travel Weekly is the most influential provider of news, research, opinion and analysis to the North American travel trade marketplace. It reaches a broad industry audience in print, online and with face-to-face events throughout the year. Travel Weekly is a part of Northstar Travel Group, the leading B-to-B media company providing information and marketing solutions for the global travel industry.

About Global Rescue

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

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Unique Laws That Every International Business Traveler Should Know

What’s permitted at work in your country may be against the laws of the country you’re traveling to for work. Here are some unusual examples.

One of the biggest mistakes travelers make is assuming that what’s permissible in their home country applies to wherever they travel. “Not so,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies. Which is why having some knowledge of your destination’s laws is critical before traveling.”

We’ve written about several unusual things that are illegal in parts of the world including wearing camouflage attire in the Caribbean, chewing gum in Singapore, and swearing in public in the U.A.E. – all of which are prohibited, respectively. Here are a few more unique laws that, while potentially surprising, are important to know.

Rx and OTC Drugs

Many prescription medications and even over-the-counter drugs are illegal in various countries. A few examples: Ambien (particularly in Nigeria and Singapore), pain medications containing tramadol or codeine, attention-deficit drugs, as well as psychiatric or opiate medicines. In Japan and Greece, Sudafed and Vicks are also illegal.

Medical marijuana is legal in 38 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Recreational marijuana use is legal in 23 states plus D.C. But marijuana is illegal for use in more than 100 countries including Fiji, the Bahamas, Monaco, Iceland, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Tanzania and Taiwan to name just a few.

WNBA star Brittney Griner’s arrest and conviction in Russia for possession of medical cannabis oil is a critical lesson for all international travelers to learn. International travelers who run afoul of the law may receive a stern warning or the item could be confiscated. At worst, officials can fine you, arrest you, expel you and even jail you, as was the case for Griner.

Travelers should carefully research the laws around their required medicine in countries they plan to visit and consult medical guidance on substitute medications. Even if a medicine is legal, travelers should always keep it in the original container and have a copy of a prescription.

Surfside Souvenirs and Seated Infractions

Maybe you’ve got some time during the day to visit a local beach if your work brings you to a coastal city, or perhaps you’re one of the millions of business travelers who take advantage of a little bleisure travel to bookend your trip. If you find yourself in Sardinia, Italy’s second-largest island, nice work! Just don’t scoop up any of the island’s white beach sand, colorful shells or polished quartz stones. It’s illegal. Under Italian law, trading sand, pebbles and shells is illegal and punishable with fines of up to €3,000 ($3,148 or £2,750). Pierluigi Cocco, Sardinian resident and environmental scientist, said one of the threats to the beaches is tourists absconding with these natural resources.

Or maybe your work takes you to another part of Italy, Venice. You’ve been walking along the narrow streets and gondolier-filled canals for several hours on your day off. You’re tired and you need to sit down. Completely understandable, just be careful where you sit if you’re at certain locations of St. Mark’s Square, including at the Piazzetta San Marco entryway. According to officials, it’s a finable offense Why? It’s an effort to reduce crowding. You can also be fined for going topless, feeding the pigeons, riding a bike, swimming in the canals and littering.

A black and white image of a sign that reads No Alcohol Beyond This Point

Drinking

Thinking of enjoying a cocktail made with the popular Dutch gin Jenever on a sunny sidewalk in The Netherlands? Think again. The consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the majority of public places in Amsterdam.

Traveling to Middle East countries like Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Tunisia? They have no alcohol restrictions, and it’s available in restaurants, bars and shops. Alcohol is prohibited, however, in Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen – all of which are “do not travel – level 4” destinations.

A red traffic light and red pedestrian crossing light in a city.

Right on Red and Phones While Driving

Turning right on red in the U.S. is overwhelmingly legal, except in NY City where it’s only allowed at certain intersections. If you’re driving during your trip abroad, however, many countries have banned “right on red” nationwide. For example, a right turn on red is generally not allowed in Europe, except where signage indicates otherwise.

And while we’re on the subject of driving yourself, be aware of smartphone use. While it’s against the law in the U.S., it’s rarely enforced compared to the U.K. where phone use while driving is taboo, according to Travel of Path. “Police are extremely vigilant when enforcing the law and can pull a vehicle over if they suspect a phone may have been used in any manner. The penalties can be huge and are set to get even stricter this year.

[Related Reading: Where Is Your Satellite Phone Illegal?]

Learn and Obey Local Laws

“The U.S. Department of State’s travel information web page for overseas travel advice explains you are subject to local laws while abroad,” said Harding Bush, a former Navy SEAL and Global Rescue’s senior manager of Security Operations. “You are bound by those laws. You can’t just say, ‘Oops, I didn’t know.’ Ignorance is not an excuse.”

Members can access destination reports in their Global Rescue app, the best place to start your research regarding the rules and laws of a country. Maintained by our travel intelligence analysts, these current reports cover 215 countries and territories, and are always accessible.

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Attack on Israel Drives Travelers to Obtain Security Extraction Services

San Juan, Puerto Rico – October 23, 2023 – The ongoing armed conflict between Israel and Palestinian terrorist groups led by Hamas is driving a spike in traveler purchases of security extraction services since the…

San Juan, Puerto Rico – October 23, 2023 – The ongoing armed conflict between Israel and Palestinian terrorist groups led by Hamas is driving a spike in traveler purchases of security extraction services since the attack on October 7th, 2023.

“We’ve seen a 33% increase in traveler purchases of security services since the attack compared to the same period before the strike,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services, and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“Terrorism and war in a country drives down traveler confidence in the entire region as travelers grapple with a dramatically different risk environment. We’re also seeing an increase in traveler concern worldwide, but it is the most pronounced in the Middle East,” he added.

Global Rescue continues to orchestrate operations to bring member tourists and others to safety.
“We’re doing everything we can in a tough and evolving situation,” Richards said. “Our security operations teams already have successfully helped more than 68 members to safety and we will continue to assist those who contact us in need of help.”

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About Global Rescue
Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

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Crowd Control: How To Be Stadium Safe at the World’s Biggest Events

Sometimes massive crowds attract big trouble. This guide will help you keep your guard up.

On July 23 of this year, Taylor Swift caused a 2.3 magnitude earthquake in Seattle. Well, not Taylor specifically, but her fans—the more than 70,000 “boisterous Swifties” who filled Lumen Field that night, reported Wide Open Country.

In May, The Indianapolis 500 beat out the Super Bowl for the largest sporting event thus far in 2023 with 230,000 tickets sold, Forbes reported.

Can you imagine being in a crowd of that size? Or at an event with volume and attendance so high it could cause a minor natural disaster?

If you made plans to attend an upcoming major concert or sporting event—like one of Taylor Swift’s international concerts, or the Olympic Games in Paris next year—you could find yourself in one of these frenetic environments. The fun, the excitement, the energy—everything would be at a fever pitch, sure to create one of the most memorable events of your life.

But what if something goes wrong? What if you lost your child? Or violence broke out among fans? How would you find each other? How would you escape? At Global Rescue, our experts think through the worst-case scenarios and know what to do when they occur. Our experience shows us that emergencies don’t just happen when you’re fly fishing in Bolivia or adventure racing in Fiji. They can happen at major events too, where large crowds are gathered.

[Related Reading: 5 Crowd Safety Tips for the Holidays]

With this in mind, we’ve compiled our best tips for staying safe in a crowded stadium or venue.

A sea of concert goers surround a musician as he plays amongst the crowd.

Safety in a Crowded Stadium

There are five main ways to stay safe in a crowd:

Do your homework. In advance of the event, save a map of the venue on your phone and identify the exits, where you’re sitting and transportation location. Choose three meeting points for the group if you should get separated: two inside and one outside. Make sure you can find the spots in a large crowd (like a banner or a large pole) and try to find a spot with good lighting. If there’s a crisis, it may not be possible to take a direct route to your transportation, so identify alternative routes in advance.
Outfit yourself for the unexpected. Wear or bring comfortable shoes in case you need to walk a long distance or run. Fully charge your phone in advance of the event and bring a portable charger with you. Bring proper clothing, not just for the event but in case you have to wait for a long period in the cold or rainy weather. If you’re traveling with small children, attach an AirTag to their ankle with a bracelet. If they get lost, you can check their location on your phone.
Keep group members close, and if you’re walking around the venue, travel in pairs. Tell others in the group that you’re leaving and be specific: “Jane and I are going to get another pretzel from the vendor outside zone M420. We’ll be back in 10 minutes and have our phones. We’ll let you know if we get delayed.”
Understand incident response. Unless you’re in imminent danger, stay where you are and take all instructions from competent authority. Avoid rushing to an exit and getting caught up in a large and panicky crowd. If you’re forced into a crowd, attempt to stay near a wall and walk purposefully.
Stay alert. Throughout the event you should be practicing situational awareness, which goes beyond preparing for the occasion itself; It’s all about being attuned to your immediate surroundings. This will help you stay alert to notice if things seem off or if the worst-case scenario happens.

A massive soccer stadium with fans wearing red and white inside the well-lit, open-roofed round building.

What To Do If the Worst Occurs

Harding Bush, security expert and operations manager at Global Rescue, offers these tips for worst-case scenarios.

If violence breaks out:

Resist the temptation to draw closer to a disturbance to see what’s happening.

“We always advise our members to avoid all areas of demonstration and public unrest when they’re traveling. It’s the same idea at a sporting event,” Bush said. “Don’t engage, go the opposite direction and, since you already have situational awareness and know where the authorities are, alert them to the issue.”

[Related Reading: What To Do if Violence Breaks Out at a Sporting Event]

If an explosion occurs:

Be thoughtful about where you exit after an explosion, avoiding popular exits where another explosion could happen.

“There may be a second explosive located where emergency responders may arrive to or from, or where the attackers may think additional targets may move to,” Bush said, referencing the 2017 Manchester Arena Ariana Grande concert bombing, where the attacker intentionally targeted the busiest exit. “It may often be best to pause and evaluate, rather than hastily move. The best exit may not be the one closest to you.”

A large crowd of angry men fight in a dark room.

If the crowd stampedes:

When a crisis occurs, you may have the instinct to follow the crowd to safety. But there are risks with this approach, especially if there is a stampede or crowd crush. Consider an alternative exit if everyone is heading toward the most obvious or closest one to avoid getting swept up in a crowd altogether.

If you do find yourself amid a swarm, fold your arms up in front of you at chest level — much like a boxer stance — to maintain balance and protect your breathing space.

Next, try to keep pace with the crowd overall and avoid pushing against it — it’s extremely important you stay on your feet, plus pushing against a crowd will only tire you out.

Finally, carefully weave your way diagonally to the outer edge of the stampede, to avoid ending up stuck at a chokepoint (chokepoints are doorways, hallways and other narrow spaces that restrict the flow of the crowd).

Be Prepared, Not Scared

Don’t let an awareness of the risks stop you from buying tickets to see your favorite band or sports team. Go ahead and buy the tickets. And for an extra measure of confidence, get a Global Rescue membership before you go. We’re there for you at any event, helping you evaluate the risks so you can be prepared (not scared), knowing that we have your back with our security, medical and evacuation services.

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Sex, Sand and Sitting: Laws Every Traveler Should Know

What’s permitted at home may be against the laws of the country you’re visiting. Let’s explore some of the most unusual examples.

One of the biggest mistakes travelers make is assuming that what’s permissible in their home country applies to wherever they travel. “Not so,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies. “Which is why having some knowledge of your destination’s laws is critical before traveling.”

A person popping out yellow pills from their wrappers.

Rx and OTC Drugs

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Sex Services, Surfside Souvenirs and Seated Infractions

The exchange of sexual services for money is legal in the UK and many European countries but not in Northern Ireland or all U.S. states, except certain parts of Nevada. In Amsterdam’s famous red-light district, it’s illegal to take pictures of sex workers.

White sand, colorful shells and polished quartz stones are sought-after souvenirs among tourists visiting Sardinia, Italy’s second-largest island, but it’s illegal so don’t risk it. Under Italian law, trading sand, pebbles and shells is illegal and punishable with fines of up to €3,000 ($3,148 or £2,750). Pierluigi Cocco, Sardinian resident and environmental scientist, said one of the threats to the beaches is tourists absconding with sand, shells and pebbles.

Tired? Need a break? Be careful where you sit if you’re in Venice, Italy. According to the officials, it’s a finable offense to sit in certain locations at St. Mark’s Square including at the Piazzetta San Marco entryway. Why? It’s an effort to reduce crowding. You can also be fined for going topless, feeding the pigeons, riding a bike, swimming in the canals and littering.

Naked female legs walking in a grassy field of purple clover.

Drinking, Right Turns and Naked Hiking

[Related Reading: Helpful Tips for Driving in a Foreign Country]

Turning right on red in the U.S. is overwhelmingly legal, except in NY City where it’s only allowed at certain intersections. However, many countries have banned “right on red” nationwide. For example, a right turn on red is generally not allowed in Europe, except where signage indicates otherwise.

Most drivers are regularly reminded of the rules against using their smartphones while driving. Rarely enforced in the U.S. it is the opposite in the U.K. where phone use while driving is taboo, according to Travel of Path. “Police are extremely vigilant when enforcing the law and can pull a vehicle over if they suspect a phone may have been used in any manner. The penalties can be huge and are set to get even stricter this year.

Finally, some people like to go au natural when they are in nature, wearing little more than their birthday suit. Whether it’s a preference to avoid tan lines or simply to feel unconstrained by clothing, there are nude beaches in Ibizia, clothing-optional hotels in Negril, and naked skiing in Colorado. But Switzerland, a country famous for its outdoor lifestyle, does not permit naked hiking. The country has no law on public nudity, but it does prohibit indecent exposure. When a hiker was found wearing only socks and hiking boots, they were fined. The fine was challenged and debated before officials determined hiking naked was a violation of the indecency law. So, if you decide to hike anywhere in Switzerland, be sure to keep your pants on.

Learn and Obey Local Laws

If you’re a member of Global Rescue, the best place to start your research regarding the rules and laws of a country is with our destination reports. Maintained by our travel intelligence analysts, these reports cover 215 countries and territories, and are always accessible in your member portal or on your My Global Rescue App.

Not a member? You can download one free destination report on our Travel Intelligence Center.

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Mountain Mastery: Unveiling the Most Epic Peak-Bagging Challenges

Jaw-dropping views, distinct trails, and new perspectives are just a few of the reasons to summit – that and bragging rights.

“There’s only one way to eat an elephant: one bite at a time.”

Desmond Tutu probably wasn’t thinking about peak-bagging lists when he shared this bit of wisdom. But it holds true for hikers, trekkers and climbers who want to travel the world by summiting its most famous peaks. How do you complete your massive peak-bagging list? One peak at a time.

And it can take a long time.

Ed Viesturs needed 18 years to become the first American, and 12th climber in history, to summit all 14 mountains over 8,000 meters (collectively known as the eight-thousanders). That was in 2005. Eighteen years later Chris Warner became the second American to accomplish this same challenge. It took him 24 years.

If, however, spending a quarter of a lifetime climbing to the highest points on earth sounds a bit too lofty a goal, there are plenty of other summiting challenges out there waiting for you to scale. Here’s a list that’s sure to inspire peak baggers of every variety from the cautious newbie to the seasoned pro.

Mt. Kilimanjaro Summit at Sunrise

The Seven Summits

Make it to the top of the highest point on each of the seven continents, and you’ll have bagged some of the most challenging peaks in the world, packing in some serious sites and cultural experiences as you do.

A grassy canyon between two peaks in the Scottish Munro Mountains.

The Scottish Munros

In September of 1891, mountaineer Sir Hugh Monro, “changed hiking in Scotland forever,” Stuart Kenny wrote for Much Better Adventures. He published his “Tables giving all the Scottish mountains exceeding 3,000 feet in height,” which now (with subsequent revisions) amount to 282 mountains rising 3,000+ feet above sea level. Why not plan a trip to Scotland next fall? Lonely Planet calls it “an excellent time of year for outdoor pursuits,” due to the “dry and mild” weather. Plus, there’s tons of great attractions to enjoy in Scotland as a reward for bagging these legendary summits.

[Related Reading: Are You Prepared To Summit?]

The New Hampshire 48

With each peak conquest, hikers reach new status, exclusive to those with the stamina and grit to summit. According to New Hampshire Way, if you climb all of the New Hampshire 48 (each over 4,000 feet), you can be recognized by the Appalachian Mountain Club, get an achievement patch and be invited to an awards dinner. Climb it in the winter—an especially treacherous time, even on the “easy” hikes—and you can earn another patch.

A Colorado mountain scene, with blue skies, tower mountains, and green pine trees.

The Colorado 14ers

The 53 summits rising above 14,000 feet in Colorado, known as the Colorado 14ers include “peaks easily accessed by urban visitors, as well as, remote backcountry peaks that provide a wilderness experience,” according to the Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Colorado.com writes that the peaks are ranked 1 to 4 by difficulty. The easiest are still challenging, Colorado.com says, but have “straightforward, clearly marked trails.” The difficulty increases with unmarked trails, steep climbs, scrambling, and in category 4, “Steep and dangerous terrain necessitating hand- and footholds to reach the top, plus ropes and climbing.”

California's Mount Tamalpais, with its green vegetation and winding summit road. — Mount Tam – Photo by Fabrice Florin

Everest by the Bay

Not quite ready for Mount Everest’s 29,032 feet in one go? Climb “it” in installments via the nine peaks of Everest by the Bay in San Francisco. According to Public Lands, the summits are “all between 2,000 and 3,000 feet, surrounding San Francisco Bay. If you summit them all, you’ll have climbed roughly 32,000 feet in elevation—the same as climbing Mount Everest from sea level, and then some. The catch: they all require between a 10- and 20-mile hike, making this list a tough one for novices.”

The Adirondack 46ers

This bundle of peaks was first identified in 1927 in a book called “Peaks and People of the Adirondacks” by Russell M.W. Carson, according to Adirondack.net. Originally, all the mountains were recorded to have elevations of at least 4,000 feet. More recent studies have revealed some fall short of that, and one summit that meets that number was not included. “Nevertheless, the original 46 are still grouped together and recognized as the ones to overcome. If you climb them all, then you are eligible to become an official Adirondack 46er,” Adirondack.net reports.

South Beyond 6000

There are more than 60 summits in the southern Appalachian Mountains, according to The Carolina Mountain Club, but only 40 meet the criteria for the South Beyond 6000: the summit elevation is more than 6,000 feet above sea level, and there is a drop of 200 or more feet to a saddle between one peak and another qualifying peak or, there is a distance between the peaks of .75 miles. The Carolina Mountain Club notes that the terrain has changed significantly over the years, making the hike more difficult.

[Related Reading: How To Get into Mountaineering]

MLK’s “I Have a Dream” Peaks

In Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, he calls for freedom to ring out from the peaks of mountains across the United States. The eight peaks he references are now a peak-bagging list, which hikers can summit in solidarity and remembrance of his powerful message.

King declared, “Let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania! Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado! Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California! But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia! Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. Let freedom ring from every hill and mole hill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring!”

While King referred to, but did not call out, specific peaks, his references have been narrowed down to this list from peakbagger.com and range from elevations of 800 feet to more than 14,000 feet.

A snow-capped mountain range in Montana, USA. — Montana Mountains – Photo by Cloud.Shepherd

Montana 53

Peakbagger.com outlines the 53 peaks of the Montana 53, first established in Cedron Jones’ 2011 guidebook Peakbagging Montana. Peakbagger.com notes that although the list is not as daunting as some other Montana peak bagging lists, “there are still many stiff challenges…only skilled scramblers comfortable on Montana’s notoriously crumbly rock will be able to complete it. Under ideal weather and route conditions, no peak on this list will require a rope for peakbaggers comfortable with class 3 terrain with occasional bits of class 4. Still, many peaks require multi-day expeditions and solid wilderness skills. The peaks in Glacier National Park and the Beartooths in particular can be difficult.”

Arizona 20-20 Challenge

The Arizona 20-20 is unique to the lists here because it includes 20 of Arizona’s deepest canyon hikes, in addition to its 20 highest peaks. You can see a map of the list and learn more about hiking it on The Arizona’s 20-20 Challenge website, which shares that “Arizona has a diverse landscape. In addition to deeply incised canyons, for which Arizona is famous, we also have snowy summits above tree line. The statewide distribution of the hikes in Arizona’s 20-20 Challenge allows you to experience the physiographic, biotic, geologic, and climatic diversity of Arizona.” As far as difficulty goes, the site says the hikes are challenging for different reasons. “Some hikes are steep (Humphreys Peak), some are long (Paria Canyon), and some are in extremely remote areas (Jumpup Canyon).”

A woman poses with an American flag in front of an enormous summit sign on top of a mountain in Africa.

Ready To Bag Some Peaks?

Don’t set off without a Global Rescue membership. If you’re planning to go above 15,000 feet or 4,600 meters at any point during your peak-bagging excursion, include Global Rescue’s High-Altitude Evacuation Package. We’re here for you in even the most extreme circumstances—like when you’re standing atop the world’s highest peaks. Our medical and evacuation services provide the protection you need to fearlessly hike, climb and scramble your way around the world.

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