As an adventure story, "The River Wild" gives audiences a very bumpy introduction to the world of white water rafting. In this 1994 thriller, Meryl Streep plays Gail Hartman, a wife and mother who enjoys rafting down some of the more challenging rivers.

While taking son Roarke (*Joseph Mazzello* from "Jurassic Park") and husband Tom (*David Strathairn*) on a rafting trip, they meet a nice young man named Wade (*Kevin Bacon*). It soon becomes apparent, though, that Wade and his buddy aren't quite as nice as they seem. As it turns out, the two men are armed robbers and need someone to guide them down the river. With the lives of her family at stake, Gail reluctantly agrees to take the two men to meet their accomplices. Along the way, she uses all her white water rafting skills to dump these desperate criminals overboard. As the water becomes more and more threatening, Gail faces the twin dangers of death by drowning and a bullet from Wade's gun.

Directed by Curtis Hanson ("8 Mile"), "The River Wild" is a game of cat-and-mouse set against a breathtaking outdoor backdrop. Filmed in multiple locations, including Glacier National Park in Montana and Oregon's Upper Rogue River, Hanson gives white water rafters and those interested in the sport a really good look at some prime spots for rafting.

Things get pretty wet and wild for Gail and her family on the rapids. Tom, her onscreen husband, could have benefited greatly if he wore a Marmont Storm Front jacket, which would have kept him warm and dry while he helped his wife figure a way out of their predicament.

An actor with a reputation for co-starring with just about everyone in Hollywood, Kevin Bacon is pretty cold blooded in "The River Wild." He and Meryl Streep turn a rafting trip into a real matter of life and death. "The River Wild" is a good movie to watch, even if you aren't a rafting enthusiast.

"The River Wild," rated PG-13 for some violence and threatening moments, is available on DVD.

There are many movies, which upon watching their footage, inspire people to get out into the wild in one way or another. One of such movies is the IMAX film, Yellowstone. Set in Yellowstone National Park in Montana, the beauty of the park's nature and wildlife will leave those who have never visited planning a trip.

As seen in the movie Yellowstone, there are many breathtaking scenes of nature all around Yellowstone National Park. Old Faithful, the famous geyser, is located at Yellowstone National Park. Old Faithful can be viewed by foot on the trail or by car on a one-way drive. To get the whole nature experience, by foot is probably best. Since this will be on a hiking trail, onlookers should be sure to wear the proper hiking shoes, as well as carry a knapsack of hiking supplies.

Yellowstone also features an animal stampede, which may also be seen at the Yellowstone National Park. There is an abundance of wildlife in Yellowstone National Park, much of which can be seen very up close. It is important to stay in your car in some areas because of this closeness. There are designated areas to view animals on foot. Safety is key when in a natural wildlife habitat.

Inspired by Yellowstone to run wild in the nature at Montana's Yellowstone National Park? You just may be in luck. Backcountry hiking sites with overnight camping are available at the park, with a Backcountry Use Permit. Be sure to bring all your hiking and camping gear to be prepared.

Because a safe distance from the wild animals is at least 100 yards away (anything closer is prohibited for safety purposes), a good pair of binoculars is essential for viewing wildlife. To capture those images, a good camera is also ideal.

When it's time to settle in for the night, a sturdy tent can provide a decent shelter in an outdoor environment. Be sure to choose the one that is the right size for your group. Speaking of groups, keep in mind that when in a wild outdoor scene, such as this, safety is in numbers. Backcountry hiking alone is not recommended by the parks.

Sources:
http://boxoffice.com/reviews/2008/08/yellowstone.php
http://www.nps.gov/yell

Looking for a new adventure? Get into the wild with outdoor movies. Movies with intense nature scenes can invoke that adventurous spirit and inspire us to explore new territory. Ever heard of the movie Cliffhanger with Sylvester Stallone?

In the movie Cliffhanger, Stallone's character does some serious mountain climbing to evade the villains. He uses amazing rock climbing skills to leap from cliff to cliff with ease. I'm not saying you should be leaping cliffs here, but perhaps you could try a little rock climbing. Whether you're normally the adventurous type or not, it could be interesting, as well as fun and exhilarating to learn a new skill such as rock climbing. The best bet for beginners is to take a class. Rock climbing is not a sport that you test out by yourself, and even if you're skilled, you'll still want to go in a group for safety purposes.

Just as in the movie, be sure you have the right gear. One thing that Stallone always has while rock climbing in Cliffhanger are trusty carabiners. Without carabiners, rock climbing would be quite dangerous, especially at the extremely high elevations Stallone faced in the movie. Key locking carabiners will help to secure a hold, making the climb safer. To get a good foothold, you also will want to wear the right footwear. Depending on the terrain, there will be a variety of choices. There are rock climbing shoes, as well as crampons.

Also needed, of course, will be a strong harness. Carabiners attach to these to secure the hold to the rocks. Other tools and accessories include an axe, a helmet, camming devices and gloves. The camming devices, along with the harness and carabiners, will help secure your position during climbing. Stability is very important in rock climbing.

Rock climbing can be quite an interesting to hobby to take on and is also a great way to exercise in a less mundane way than those daily workouts. Just remember to always be safe and follow the instructions of a professional. Also be sure to check with a doctor before starting or stopping any physical activities.