The TravelWorld International Adventure Issue marks the debut of Travelogue, a new column that profiles travel writers and their specialty. The first features Linda Ballou, an avid adventurer who published her first travel article 10 years ago. She’s also penned two books: Wai-nani, High Chiefess of Hawai’i: Her Epic Journey (Star Publish LLC, 2008) and Lost Angel Walkabout: One Traveler’s Tales (Create­­Space, 2010), which was recently selected as the Third Place Winner in the NATJA 2010 Awards Competition in the category of Travel Book or Guide.

How do you define adventure?
Any time you step out of your normal frame of reference, it is an adventure. Being from Alaska, my baseline for adventure is a bit higher than the average person. My pioneering parents gave me wonderful outdoor experiences in the most pristine wilderness area in North America. A genetic adventure-lust gives me a tre­mend­ous appetite for exciting ways to explore our planet.

Which among your myriad travel experiences do you consider the most intense?
Cross-country jumping a fine Irish Hunter on the wild-west coast of Ireland was by far my most challenging and dangerous adventure. After pulling that off without getting badly bent, I was high as a kite for weeks. It was the pinnacle of my riding career and probably the most insane thing I have ever done!

Which has been the most cherished?
Rafting the 140-mile run on Tatshenshini River from the Yukon Territory to the Gulf of Alaska through the largest road-less wilderness area in North America was a great privilege. Before this trip I appreciated nature, but after witnessing the majesty of the Fairweather Range and the ice rivers carving the earth, I determined to join the fight to preserve our remaining wilderness areas.

However, one of the most exciting incidents in my life took place in the Sea of Cortez. I was kayaking up a deep, narrow channel when a pod of at least 100 dolphins came up behind me and swam all around. The chuffing air puffing rhythmically from their blowholes as they arced with powerful grace in synchronicity [surrounding] me for about fifteen minutes was incredible. For a few fleeting moments, I was a part of the pod…and I will always cherish that incident.

What made you decide to become a travel writer, and how did you get your start?
I have a degree in English Lit and have been writing in one form or another all my life. I was thoroughly immersed in the horse world when a herniated disc in my lower back stopped me from being able to ride full-time. While mending from this injury, I had time to re-think things. I decided to use my writing to get me to places I wanted to go before the show was over.

Did you make a decision to focus writing about adventure travel, or did you eventually find yourself gravitating toward it?
I thought about who I am and what I have to offer. Combining the things that I love the most—writing, horseback riding and the great outdoors—I put together a platform that I hoped would entice outfitters. I queried a high-end ranch in Telluride attaching a couple of articles I had previously published in Equus magazine and Horse Illustrated. They responded immediately with a “Howdy” and “Come on up.” I wrote a piece [titled] “To Ride Among the Clouds” that was published in Equus. I got paid good money for the article and had an incredible time. I’ve been hooked on travel writing ever since.

What adventures are next on your “must do” list?
A rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. Hiking the Columbia Gorge in Oregon. Canoeing in the Okavango Delta in Botswana combined with a ­safari in South Africa. Hiking in Tasmania is rising to the top of my list, but Patagonia and the Lake District of Chile are also places I want to experience in this lifetime. My list is ever growing!

What would you never do, in terms of adventure travel experiences, if any?
I would love to explore underwater realms, but I can’t skin dive. I get claustrophobic at about ten feet, become hysterical and suck in water. Not fun, so I stick to horseback riding, river rafting, hiking and kayaking as my favorite ways to get out into it.

Any tips for aspiring adventure travel writers?
Ask yourself, who am I? What do I have to offer that is unique? How do I want to get to where I want to go? The answers to these questions will give you direction, help you find your niche and give you the tools to build a platform that will appeal to the types of travel experiences you crave. This works for any kind of travel writing, not just adventure travel. If you go to www.lindaballouauthor.com, you will find a free download How to Make Travel Writing Work for You.