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Navigating Risk

Following on from the comparisons in altitude of my last post, a major risk associated with travel to Aspen is the high altitude and the subsequent impacts this can have on the human body as they ascend.  Aspen is located over 2,400 meters above sea level which, for travellers from Melbourne who live at or near sea level, provides many associated risks that must be considered and prevented/managed before making the trek. Altitude sickness is the key example of this which causes symptoms like headaches, nausea, shortness of breath and, in severe cases, pulmonary or cerebral edema (swelling caused by fluid in the body).  The likelihood of one experiencing these symptoms is moderately high, especially for individuals who are not acclimatised to elevations such as those present at Aspen. However, the minimization of this risk is thankfully simple, especially with proper research and preparation. Some key tips are ensuring you are well hydrated, avoiding alcohol and taking it easy ...
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Navigating Culture Shock

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Travelling from Melbourne, Australia, to Aspen can seem like a minor shift in location due to the large similarities in culture between Australia and America on a macro scale when compared to other countries around the globe. However, it can bring about unexpected cultural challenges such as adjusting to the mountainous and outdoor lifestyle that dominates Aspen's identity.  Melbourne is typically regarded as a cosmopolitan city with a coastal, flat landscape. A massive contrast to the high altitude of Aspen gives it a foreign feeling to travellers such as me when we make the trip over. Unlike Melbourne, Aspen is catered towards tourism, focusing on skiing, snowboarding and hiking in contrast to the urban and/or beach activities commonplace at home.  The image above depicts the mountainous terrain located in Aspen which can be directly compared to the one below, a complete contrast in environment that can be challenging for travellers.  This difference may not be limited ...
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Meaningful Engagement (4)

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Taking the idea of "meaningful engagement" and running with it, I have decided to tackle issues discussed in my last post around the wealth gap disparity in Aspen. As a chemical engineer, I immediately tackle this by identifying what about Aspen makes it such a wealthy spot. The first, and lesser issue lies in its location as transportation is hindered due to it being surrounded by the rocky mountains.  Wanting to preserve the landscape,  resolving this issue would lie in making advancements (through research and engineering) to determine methods that allow for an easier method to transport a large number of goods. One solution would be to use aviation advancements to avoid the difficult terrain altogether. The second and larger issue lies in the high demand for tourists and potential homeowners to move to the town. This, coupled with the low room for growth (as an effort to protect the nature around the community) perfectly culminates in a climate suited to be expensive....
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Place Essentialism (3)

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This week has us looking into the concept of place essentialism, an idea that suggests a place or location possesses certain characteristics that define its identity. Aspen is typically regarded as a wealthy location as indicated by the median listing price of $3.3 million (Realtor, 2024) (compared to the average US house price of $412,000 (Caporal, 2024)). In addition, homes such as the one below, only fuel the public perception of Aspen as a place of luxury over necessity. This demonstrates an essentialist view that Aspen as a place is catered towards the wealthy of the world with little room for anyone else.         Recently sold, $75 million home in Aspen (WOW) !!  Whilst it certainly is a location catered towards tourism, this pinhole view seems to force an external viewer to gloss over many important aspects of the location, viewing it simply as a "billionaires retreat" (Vanityfair, 2014). This oversimplification underpins the community that has call...
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Street Art In Melbourne (2)

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This week's focus is centred on street art and its role in contributing to the experience of both local and external travellers. To look into this, a fellow student Zach and I explored a famous Australian landmark known as the MCG, questioning the importance of the player statues littered about the ground.   Street art transforms the landscape by commemorating important aspects of a community, an example being the sporting history of Australian culture. Whilst it is not the expected spot of colour that one would typically identify with street art (the murals down Swan Street serving as perfect examples of this), travellers who encounter these statues are allowed to connect with the space uniquely. Seamlessly blending the historical significance of each athlete with a public artwork that any and all can enjoy.  When travellers engage with street art such as these statues, they both promote the art to a wider population through a variety of social media forms subsequently drawin...
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Symbols in Aspen (1)

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This week has got me thinking about how symbols/features of a product, place or thing often convey a wide-receiving message to the public about the location and its importance.  In regards to Aspen, a large portion of its representation around the world is through the Aspen Leaf as shown below: This leaf, sourced from the Populus tremula (commonly referred to as the Aspen tree), is known to inhabit much of the rocky mountains, especially that of the town that shares the tree's name. An image of its leaf is shown below. Aspen trees are interconnected through a shared root system which, through this symbolism, is likened to the community of Aspen, identifying their strength in numbers. In addition, it conveys the community strength to the flora and fauna that surrounds them, ranging from the trees that bear this leaf to the mountainous terrain that provides much of the economic support for the community through tourism. In saying this, the symbol offers an idealised image of Asp...
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About Me!

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 Hey Everyone! My name is Jack and I am excited to share my new blog regarding smart travelling. Specifically focusing on Aspen, Colorado, USA since it is a place I will be travelling to at the end of this year! I believe this page will greatly help me to be aware of how I can ensure that I am travelling smartly throughout my trip! A little about me, I am a student studying science at Melbourne University, majoring in Chemical Engineering . My hobbies include surfing, drumming, running and hanging out with mates (if that counts)  I am a very outgoing person who loves to be busy, be it seeing people, exercising, partying or even studying, as long as it keeps me busy! A picture of me (far left) travelling to Falls Creek during the summer. A quote from the reading that stuck out the most to me is that we "travel, initially, to lose ourselves." So many of my adventures overseas have asked me to push myself outside of my comfort zone, to explore new ideas and new possibilities I h...
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