This trip to the top of Mt. Ngauruhoe is a perfect example of what should've been in National Geographic Adventure, but wasn't.
After more than 10 years, National Geographic Adventure is going to stop publishing.
As an adventurous sort of cat, how should I feel about this? The truth is, aside for the people losing their jobs, I just don’t really care. I picked up many editions of the magazine whenever I’d spy something interesting on the cover. But I never pulled a single interesting and useful tidbit out of it.
Did the editorial staff really think it was serving the bulk of its readership by telling us about 16-day, $7,000 adventures in Africa? Or by giving us a list of 10 Bikes You Must Buy This Year? I found every issue to be thin on practical advice, and far too heavy on “well, maybe if I win the lottery” fare.
Obviously, the magazine was trying to appeal to its advertisers. But from where I sit, it grubbed so much for advertising dollars that it lost sight of serving its readers. I suppose there may be a few people out there lounging on their yachts who picked up an issue and splashed down for a two-week guided tour starting in Timbuktu - but I’ll be there are a lot more like that who just wondered where they might be able to see a wild cassowary in Queensland. Would that story attract as many advertising bucks? Probably not. But it’s actually something more of its readership could afford.
I’m hoping for the rise of a magazine for travelers who are on real budgets, but have a desire to push themselves just enough to satisfy. In the meantime, you have WanderingJustin.com, right?
