corners of the globe. As such, adventure travel has for them, become today's lure with many heading across the United States, Europe, Canada and even South America, either via mountain bike or their own brute strength aided by no more than a guide and a strong rope. And with a visit to the nearest hospital emergency room a possible end result in both cases, experts are issuing safety warnings and precautions in hope of having such activities flourish. "Mt.

Tamalpais is sort of a mecca for mountain bikers,'' said Dr. William Teufel, director of the emergency room at Marin General Hospital in Mill Valley, California. "They seem to want to go there on weekends and injure themselves.

They're magnetically attracted to the idea of going there and heading downhill and getting into an accident.'' Most of the injuries occur under similar circumstances: an inexperienced rider who isn't familiar with the intricacies of a particular trail hits an unexpected rock or takes a turn too fast. Or an expert rider pushes it too fast and skids out. Then the predictable happens -- they go straight over the handlebars and break a wrist, finger or arm. Or they fall over onto their side, hurting a shoulder. At Arches National Park in Southern Utah, ranger Wendy Howell sees a different set of problems: Riders without helmets suffer head injuries and people who forget to bring water -- or don't drink what they brought with them -- get heat exhaustion. Despite the differences, both the ranger and the doctor have similar recommendations.

Climbing can be a battle between the climber and the mountain, and experts stress the importance of consulting a good climbing service. "A good guide service, in general, is one that plans well and hires experienced guides who are not only excellent climbers but have strong leadership, people and decision-making skills,'' said Bill Larson, visitor management specialist at Mount Rainier in Seattle. When looking for a guide service, talk to people who have climbed the mountain you want to and ask your local park service and rangers whom they would recommend, he said. Check out the service's reputation and what it does to retain its steady customers and attract new ones. Talk to climbers who went on the guide's trip about their experience. He emphasised that the most important things to look for in a guide are the safety he provides and his experience and certifications and suggests that one look for guides with both technical and teaching ability. "The guide has to be able to recognise the ability the client has in comparison to the route conditions and not be afraid to turn back,'' Mr. Larson said. "The guide you pick should also be familiar with the route and the local weather conditions to be able to assess route conditions. In Stowe, Vermont, Tom Remsing, manager of Umiak Outfitters noted that interest in the sport has definitely increased. "People have a desire to be outdoors more,'' he said, "and they want an alternative to exercising inside that is more reasonably priced than, say, skiing.'' Advanced techniques in climbing have led to lighter, more synthetic gear that reflect increased safety concerns and standards. What are the keys to finding a good guide service and how do you know what makes a good guide? Mountain climbing is a physically demanding sport, and training is essential before a climber sets out. "A lot of people are trying climbs they're not quite physically ready for. You must be willing to put in the time to prepare yourself,'' said Gary Bocarde, owner of an Alaska-based guide service. A guide for 33 years and the 25-year owner of Fantasy Ridge Alpinism in Telluride, Colo., Michael Covington leads climbers up Alaska's Mount McKinley and through expeditions in Peru. He also runs a year-round training school. "Ask a lot of questions and be selective about the guide you climb with,'' he advised.

"Climbers these days often come in with minimal experience but are physically fit due to cardiovascular training such as running, biking and weight training. Combining these exercises with a pack is a good way to prepare for a climb. "Mental attitude is also a key. Climbers tend to be more successful when their goal is spiritual rather than social.''