Video: The 2012 Tour de France Course

As we all wait patiently for the start of Le Tour tomorrow, we can prepare ourselves by watching the video below which is a nice preview of this year's course. It'll give you an idea of what to expect in the next few days and the three weeks ahead, and when to use those sick days to call into work on those crucial mountain stages. Can't wait!

Video: We Are Forge 2012 Teaser Reel

A few days back I posted an amazing paddling video that was created by the creative team over at Forge Motion Pictures. While perusing their site earlier, I came across this beautiful sizzle reel of some of their other past work. It features some amazing imagery from the mountains, rivers and other remote places of our planet. It is incredibly well done, and I found it both inspiring and mesmerizing to watch.

Warning: the short film could induce a strong urge to visit the incredible places shown. Otherwise, enjoy.


WE ARE FORGE - 2012 REEL from Forge Motion Pictures on Vimeo.

The 2012 Tour de France Begins Tomorrow!

The 2012 Tour de France officially gets underway tomorrow with a Prologue on the streets of Liège. This 6.4km (4 mile) start will be fast and furious with the sprinters taking center stage and riders like Fabian Cancellara, who missed much of the early season, looking to put on a show. On Sunday Le Tour will move out onto the road for the first time with a flat 198km (123 mile) ride from Liège to Seraing that will give some of the faster cyclists a shot at early glory in the Yellow Jersey, but three very long weeks of riding loom ahead and the real contenders will save themselves for the inevitable showdown in the mountains.

The General Classification is probably as wide open as it has been in a very long time this year With Alberto Contador out while serving a suspension and Andy Schleck down for the count with an injury, there are a number of riders that could ride into Paris in Yellow on Sunday July 22. Chief amongst them is Cadel Evans of BMC Racing of course, who is the defending champ and has already shown he has all the skills necessary to win, even when Contador and Schleck are in the race. He'll be challenged by the likes of Robert Gesink of Rabobank and Vincenzo Nibali of Liquigas-Cannondale. But my pick to be on the podium, and possibly on top, is Bradley Wiggins of Team Sky. He's having a great year and seems poised to breakout in the Tour, provided he can avoid injuries and bad luck. Andy Schleck's brother Frank could be in the mix as well, although he lacks skill in the individual time-trial which is still a major hurdle to overcome.

The course designers have once again put together quite a challenging race this year. In addition to the Prologue, which returns for the first time since 2010, there are 9 flat stages, 4 medium mountain stages (with one summit finish), 5 big mountain stages (two summit finishes!), and 2 individual time-trials. There will also be two rest days mixed in as well. Those two summit finishes and two time-trials are really going to go along way to crowning a champ this year.

I will of course be providing my regular coverage of the race, doing my best to provide daily updates. The Tour is one of my favorite events each year and I can't tell you how happy I am to see it return tomorrow, even if the Prologue doesn't provide a lot of fireworks. On a personal note, one of my favorite riders, the God of Thunder himself Thor Hushovd is not riding this year as he is recovring from a viral infection. The big man is on the mend however and is expected to ride in the Olympics in London at the end of July, but his unique riding abilities will certainly be missed this year. At least by me. I'm not sure Mark Cavendish will miss him however.

I know cycling fans around the world are as eager as I am for the start of the race. Enjoy the next few weeks. Forget Christmas. This is really the most wonderful time of the year...

PS: Don't forget you can win some great cycling swag courtesy of Grape-Nuts, USA Pro Cycling and The Adventure Blog. Click here to find out more.

The Explorers Club Is Hiring A New Executive Director

Do you have experience managing a non-proft? Want to work with a group of extraordinary individuals? Than you just might be interested in a job opening with the Explorers Club. The organization is looking to hire a new Executive Director to help guide the day-to-day operations of the club and work directly with the EC President and other members. The Executive Director works out of the club's New York office and over sees a variety of fund raising and administrative duties.

You'll find a bit more information about the position by clicking here, although for a full job description and application you'll need to email the current ED, Matt Williams, at mwilliams@explorers.org. Applications are being accepted through August 3rd, after which I'm sure an exhaustive review and search will take place.

As many of you know the Explorers Club had a tumultuous start to the year with a public spat between members and leadership causing some issues within the organization. In the spring the members elected a new president and things seem to have calmed down some. Most members that I've heard from in recent weeks say that the club is now in a good position to move forward and that there are new opportunities for the organization and its members on the horizon. The new Executive Director will obviously play a role in leading the group forward.

Adventure Tech: JVC Has An Action Cam too!

Yesterday we got our first sneak peek at the new action cam from Sony and today we get word that JVC is getting into the game as well. The difference is that we know a lot more about JVC's offering, which looks to pack a lot of features into a tiny casing.

The new JVC ADIXXION Camcorder (Marketing people come with the best names!) weighs in at just 4.5 ounces (127 grams) and is waterproof to five meters, able to shrug off a fall of up to two meters, and is dust and freeze-proof as well. That means, unlike some of its competitors, you won't need to purchase separate housing for basic operation.

The camera features a 1.5-inch LCD screen, built-in image stabilization and WiFi. Additionally it can shoot full 1080p HD video at 30 fps, or 720p at 60 fps. The camera's built in 5MP CMOS sensor will capture decent still images as well and it's ultra-wide angle lens should capture a lot of action. The camera is capable of shooting time lapse recordings, has a self-timer and a 5x digital zoom.

The press release for the ADIXXION says that the WiFi feature will allow the camera to connect to smartphones for an external monitor and can attach to a PC for wirelessly transferring data as well. Perhaps most interestingly of all, the camera is capable of streaming live, high definition video in real time to USTREAM without the use of a PC. Apps for Android and iOS will be available at time of release too.

Seems like a pretty powerful little device and I can't wait to see how it performs. JVC says it'll be available later this summer starting at $349.95. Seems pretty reasonable for what you get and I can see how these could potentially be used in a lot of different situations.

Pakistan 2012: Acclimatization Rotations

It has been a few days since I posted an update from Pakistan, where the teams are trying being patient and waiting for an opportunity to resume their acclimatization rounds. The weather hasn't been all that cooperative this week however and so many climbers are in a holding patter at the moment.

On Broad Peak, Al Hancock says that his squad scrubbed its plans to climb up to Camp 1 yesterday due to the fresh snow that has fallen since the beginning of the week. He and a few other members of the team did move up today however and they intend to spend the night there before proceeding up to Camp 2 tomorrow. They're making a gear haul on this rotation and fixing the lines. The remainder of the team will follow along to C1 tomorrow with gear to help establish Camp 2. Weather permitting of course.

Also on BP is the Field Touring Alpine team who are reporting much improved weather today. They're starting their second rotation out of Base Camp as well with some of the squad climbing up to Camp 1 today and others following along tomorrow. Their goal is to spend the evening at C2 over the weekend in an effort to let their bodies get use to the altitude, as well as carrying gear for the climb ahead.

The team of Sandy Allan, Rick Allen and Cathy O'Dowd are on the Mazeno Ridge of Nanga Parbat where they saw their efforts to climb higher earlier in the week thwarted by heavy snow. They've since made up for lost time however, going all the way up to Camp 3 yesterday. C3 on the Ridge is located at  6450 meters (21,161 ft) and after spending the night there, they are now back in BC resting. They'll now watch the weather very closely and when a window opens they'll know attempt the summit along the very long and difficult route up the Mazeno. Stay tuned for updates on this one.

Over on Gasherbrum I, Louis Rousseau and members of  his team have just returned to BC after spending the night in Camp 1. They report unusually warm conditions while crossing through the already dangerous icefall and as a result it was much slower going than they had anticipated. Louis has already expressed concerns about conditions in the icefall this season and it seems that it may be even more precarious than usual. They're expecting to climb to C2 sometime early next week, and from there the climb gets really challenging as the upper slopes of GI start to get much steeper.

It looks like the season is in full swing right now and should continue to be interesting over the next few weeks. I'm not sure how many squads are confirmed for K2 yet, but that mountain always puts an exclamation point on the end of the season. Can't wait to see if anyone can tame the Savage Mountain this year.

Win A USA Cycling Prize Package From Grape-Nuts And The Adventure Blog

The start of the 2012 Tour de France is now just two days off and cycling fans across the globe are eager for the race to get underway. To celebrate I'm excited to announce that I have several great prize packages to give away over the next few weeks thanks to Grape-nut cereal and USA Cycling, who have partnered together to not only promote the sport of cycling but also healthy, active lifestyles.

Over the next three weeks I'll be giving away one fantastic prize package each week. Each of those packages will include some great USA Cycling gear including 2 t-shirts of different colors, 1 hat, 1 jersey, a USAC ID card, and a box of Grape-Nuts.

As with all giveaways here on the Adventure Blog this one will be very easy to enter. Simply send me an email at kungfujedi@gmail.com with your prediction for who will win this year's Tour de France. In the subject line of the email type "Grape-Nuts" so I know that you're entering the contest. On Friday of each of the next three weeks I'll randomly pick a winner and announce his or her name here on the blog. The contest is open to U.S. residents only, so please keep that in mind when entering.

I'd like to thank Grape-Nuts and USA Cycling for proving the great gear. Be sure to drop by the Grape-Nuts Facebook page to thank them for sharing.

Good luck everyone!

Do You Have The Next Big Idea In Outdoor Gear?

Have you ever had a great idea for a new or improved product for the outdoors? Ever wished you had the chance to pitch that idea to someone who could make it a reality? If so, you'll want to listen up, as I might just have the perfect opportunity for you.

Discovery Expedition and Edison Nation are teaming up to find the next big thing in outdoor innovation. Between now and September 5, inventors and innovators can submit their ideas for new products. Those ideas will be vetted through a rigorous process with the top ideas being presented to Discovery for possible licensing opportunities. If your idea is selected, you'll immediately be awarded a $2500 advance on future royalties and will receive a 50% split of any future royalties as well.

If you think you have something that Discovery Expedition may be interested in, then click here to find out all the details on how you can submit your idea for consideration. This has the potential to be a great opportunity for someone who has the right product in mind but just doesn't have the contact to make it a reality.

The Heroes Project Sets Sights On Kilimanjaro

At the beginning of May I posted a story about a non-proft organization called the Heroes Project, a non-profit organization founded by Everest summiteer Tim Medvetz to help wounded vets overcome their physical challenges by climbing some of the tallest and most iconic mountains on the planet. Tim, you may recall, suffered a severe injury of his own when he was in a terrible motorcycle accident some years back that required metal implants, a long recovery time and lots of physical therapy. Motivated by that challenge, he went on to climb Everest as part of Discovery Channel's Everest: Beyond The Limit.

On June 30th Tim will set off on his next expedition this time traveling to Africa to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak on the continent. Accompanying him on that journey will be Marine Staff Sergeant Mark Zambon, who lost both of his legs while serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan last year. This will be both a tremendous challenge to Mark and a fantastic adventure as he treks to the Roof of Africa.

We can all follow Tim and Mark on their journey as they'll be posting regular audio dispatches to the First Ascent Facebook page. First Ascent is of course the line of outdoor gear from Eddie Bauer that has become quite popular with climbers over the past few years. They are a proud sponsor of the Heroes Project and will help share the progress of this expedition.

Good luck to Tim and Mark. Enjoy the climb!

Video: Jake Norton and Wende Valentine Teach Us About Wild Love

Filmmakers Andy Maser and Jenny Nichols have delivered us a real treat today in the form of this wonderful video below. Entitled Wild Love: Jake + Wende the short film gives us a glimpse of what life is like for mountaineer and guide Jake Norton and his wife Wende Valentine. Both share a passion for life and adventure, something they hope to instill in their children as well.

In the video, Jake is off on a tough expedition to climb Mt. Stanley, a 5109 meter (16,762 ft) peak located in the Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda and Rwanda as part of his Challenge21 project. That endeavor will see him climbing the three highest peaks on each of the seven continents, which isn't easy when they are trying to balance an adventurous life while still remaining a typical family.


Wild Love: Jake Norton & Wende Valentine from Andy Maser on Vimeo.

Adventure Tech: Sony Releasing Action Camera

Looks like GoPro and Contou  are about to have some new competition in the action/helmet cam market. Yesterday Sony gave us the first look at their entry into that space, which features image stabilization technology, an ultra-wide angle Carl Zeiss lens and rugged build construction designed to take punishment in the field.

Aside from that, not much else is known about the device at the moment. Sony has said that it will offer  waterproof and ruggedized housings for the camera, which doesn't even have a name yet. They were a bit light on the technical specs, simply saying that it will offer "super high-quality video," which I'm assuming translates into 1080p HD. Price and release date remain a mystery as well, although it is being shown off at a major camera conference in New York this week.

Sony's entry into the action cam market shows how big that market actually has come. A few years ago these types of cameras were mostly a novelty, shooting blurry video of our adventures. Now they've matured greatly and they not only have great image quality but a host of other technology that has made them much more useful. GoPro and the other action cam companies have been doing some amazing things in their recent iterations, and Sony is going to have to come strong if they want to break into this space.

Still, it is always great to have another option, particularly when it comes form a big company with an established track record. Looking forward to checking this out myself.

Indian Climbing Teams In Everest Summit Dispute

We already know that some climbers will go to great extremes to climb Everest, but it appears that others will simply say they went and use Photoshop to fill in the details instead. That seems to be the case in a story that is making the rounds today, which involves two climbing teams from India who are at odds over just exactly who managed to climb the world's tallest mountain.

According to this story from Desi News, the two teams are from Pune, located in Western India. Both sent expeditions to Everest this spring, with the Giripremi Team taking a more traditional approach to their climb, while the Sagarmatha Giryarohan Sanstha squad attempted to make a cut rate, budget approach. The Giripremi expedition successfully put all eight of its climbers on the summit, while their rivals claim that managed to get three (of their eight) to top as well. But now the former team is accusing the latter of falsifying summit claims and doctoring photos in effort to earn official summit certificates from the Nepal Ministry of Tourism.

Apparently the official summit photos submitted by the Sagarmatha Giryarohan Sanstha group have been modified to include two climbers who never actually reached the top. Sherpas on the trip say that Shahiri Tapkir was the only member of the team to actually climb Everest, while climb organizers say that their other lead climbers, Anand Bansode and Sagar Palkar, made it to the summit too. They say that the photos have not been tampered with at all, and that all three men were successful in their bid.

Nepal has formed a committee to investigate the claims and to look into the matter further. They take falsified climb reports very seriously and they will examine the evidence very closely. There are also some indications hat one of the climbers may have not been listed on a permit as well.

So why would anyone go to such great lengths to falsify summit claims? In India a successful summit of Everest translates into endorsements and sponsorship deals that will allow climbers to continue their pursuits. For these climbers it could potentially mean a lot of money and a degree of fame, and that is enough of a reason alone to generate false stories.

On a side note, I'm going to become the first person to be photoshopped into summit photos on each of the fourteen 8000-meter peaks. A guy has got to have dreams and aspirations.

Thanks to the Goat for the tip on this story.

Arctic Row 2012 Team Prepares To Begin Arctic Ocean Crossing

Way back in November of last year I wrote about a team of rowers who were gearing up to challenge the Arctic Ocean this spring. At the time, they were still looking to add a fourth member to their crew and the expedition was still taking shape. Fast forward a eight months and now they are in the final stages of preparation before setting out in July.

The aptly titled Arctic Row 2012 will put paul Ridley, Collin West, Neal Mueller and Scott Mortensen out on the Arctic Ocean for as much as 30 days. The plan is for the team to set off from Inuvik, Canada and cross the ocean into Providenya, Russia. The route will cover approximately 1300 miles (2092 km) of water that will, at times, be chocked with ice.

In order to cover that distance within a four week time span, the team will be rowing non-stop, 24-hours a day. They'll take two hour shifts with two men rowing at all times while the other two rest. In order to maintain that pace, the crew will eat in excess of 5000 calories per day while onboard desalinators convert up to 400-pounds of salt water into drinking water on a daily basis as well.

The expedition isn't just about making the first crossing of the Arctic Ocean in a row boat, although that is a worthy goal in and of itself. While they're out on the water the team will be making observations about the health of the Arctic ecosystem and will be collecting samples of plankton throughout the region. Those tiny fish are a crucial food supply for the whales that migrate through the area and the health of the plankton population can offer insights into how the entire ecosystem is faring.

Good luck guys!

Belgian Adventurer Completes Poland Trek

Back in May I posted a couple of updates on the Poland Trek, a 1200 km (745 mile) journey undertaken by Belgian adventurer Louis-Philippe Loncke. The expedition, which began with a climb up Mount Rysy, the tallest peak in Poland and finished on the Baltic Sea, which Loncke reached at the beginning of June after traveling on foot and kayak across the length of the country.

When last we checked in with Lou-Phi he was reporting that the weather was good but water levels on the rivers were low. That changed dramatically near the end of the expedition however, as the sunny, relatively warm and dry weather came to an end with torrential rainfalls making the final three days a rather cold and wet paddle to the Baltic.

The weather wasn't the only obstacle to overcome on his way to the finish line. Loncke says that as he neared the coast there were a number of close calls with man-made obstacles that made it a challenge as well. While in the more remote regions of Poland he enjoyed relative solitude, but as he reached populated areas, boat and barge traffic increased, causing more than a few close calls. At one point he was nearly run down by a barge that had no idea he was there and a close encounter with an unexpected cable in the water nearly left him cut in two.

Fortunately he did survive the journey and is now at home planning his next escape. Much of the Poland Trek was documented on video however, so expect to see plenty of footage from the expedition down the line.

Congrats to Lou-Phi for wrapping up another successful expedition.

Jordan Romero Launches Find Your Everest Tour To Inspire Youth

Seven summiteer, and youngest person to climb Mt. Everest, Jordan Romero is setting off on a summer tour that he hopes will inspire young people to get active and pursue their own adventurous aspirations. Along the way  he also hopes to climb the highest point each of the 50 states and he wants us to come along with him.

Dubbed the Find Your Everest Tour, Jordan launched the first leg yesterday appearing at the YMCA in Bar Harbor, Maine. Today he sets out to climb Mt. Katahdin, which is the tallest peak in that state at 1606 meters (5270 ft). He'll follow that up with a climb up Mt. Washington (1917 m/6288 ft) in New Hampshire tomorrow and Mt. Mansfield (1340 m/4395 ft) in Vermont on Thursday. He'll also cap the week with a stop off at Polartec Headquarters in Lawrence Massachusetts on Friday.

Jordan has always said that he had hoped to inspire other young people to get outside and explore the world around us in a more active way and it seems that he is doing just that with this tour. He invites anyone who is interested in coming to meet him or join him on his climbs to "like" his Find Your Everest Facebook page where updates and information will be posted on a regular basis. Obviously he'll be making his way around to each of the U.S. states, so keep a close eye out for when Jordan will be appearing in your area.

Seems like a great way for Jordan, who is now 15, to continue to set goals for himself and inspire others. I'll definitely be watching to see when he'll appear in Texas.

Video: Mountain Bike Race Across A Glacier

I came across the video below when one of my friends at Gadling posted it to the site yesterday. It shows a crazy mountain bike race down a snow covered trail near Saas Fee, Switzerland that looks like a lot of fun, at least for those who don't mind taking their lives into their own hands. This will definitely give you a shot of adrenaline to get your day started. Wow!





More Mountain Biking Videos

Pakistan 2012: Progress and Preparation

The weekend was a busy one in Pakistan, where the summer climbers are busy preparing for the challenges ahead. Some spent some time getting settled in their respective base camps while others have started the long process of shuttling their gear up the mountain. Things are starting to get busy there and it won't be long before we start to see the first summit attempts of the season.

On Nanga Parbat Romanian climber Torok Zsolt is back in BC after spending some time at altitude. At the end of last week he was heading up to Camp 3 for an acclimatization round, but has since come off the mountain. He reports bad weather at the moment with steady rains in Base Camp and snow accumulations continuing up high. At least a meter of new snow has fallen over the past few days and it looks like the weather pattern could stay the same throughout this week. After that, the predictions are for good weather ahead, but it will take a few days before the snow settles and the route is safe to climb.

Over the weekend the Mazeno Ridge team got their first real look at what they'll be attempting. The climbers shuttled gear and supplies up to Camp 1 and 2 and caught their first real glimpses of the ridge itself, which is called the "ultimate endurance challenge" of mountaineering.  In order to summit Nanga Parbat, the team will first have to negotiate a long ridge which includes a strong of eight sub-summits of 7000 meters (22,965 ft) or more. The image attached to this post is one that they shot while climbing along that ridge this past weekend.

Over on Broad Peak, Al Hancock and his team arrived in BC on Saturday and spent the weekend getting established and resting. Today the team is planning on sorting their gear and will likely prep the equipment to for hauling up to Camp 1 within the next day or two. Al reports that he has now shaken off the flu like symptoms that he was feeling on the trek into BP and is now feeling strong and ready to climb.

A Hungarian team that plans on climbing Gasherbrum I arrived in BC over the weekend as well. They are currently prepping their gear as well and will begin their ascent with their first gear-shuttles in the next few days. Also on GI is Italian climber Annalisa Fioretti, who is part of the Louis Rousseau team that I mentioned last week. Annalisa says that the team began shuttling gear to Camp 1 on Saturday, but  slow progress through a very dangerous icefall forced them to turn back before they reached their destination. The hope is that conditions will improve as the season goes along, but at the moment, access to GI seems to be very sketchy.

Look for more updates as weather conditions improve and teams get their legs under them. More to come soon.

Video: Paddling Remote Quebec With Ben Marr

Another beautiful and well made video to start the week, this time we go from the mountains to the rivers. This beautiful short film was shot by FORGE Motion Pictures and features kayaker Ben Marr pushing the limits of his skills on a wild stretch of water in remote Quebec. Amazing stuff.

Thanks to the National Geographic Adventure Blog for this great video.


OF SOULS + WATER: THE SHAPESHIFTER from NRS Films on Vimeo.

Video: K2 - Siren of the Himalayas

Standing 8611 meters (28,251 ft) in height, K2 is the second tallest mountain on the planet, but it just might be the toughest to climb. The legendary peak, located in Pakistan's Karakoram Range, is brutal and deadly, earning it the moniker of "The Savage Mountain." A team of climbers that attempted K2 back in 2009 are hoping to release a documentary of their expedition. As such, they've released a trailer for what they hope to produce and have set-up a Kickstarter page where they are now accepting donations to the cause. You can checkout the trailer below and if this looks interesting to you, contribute to the cause. Looks great to me!

Thanks to The Goat for sharing.

Outside's Five Reasons To Watch Le Tour This Year

We're now just a little over a week away from the start of the 2012 Tour de France. For many of us it is amongst the top sporting events of the year and I can honestly say that I look forward to it for months ahead of time. But others see a large shadow looming over the sport of cycling as doping scandals mount and big name stars drop like flies. I even have some close personal friends who don't tune in to watch the Tour any more. For them, Outside magazine has put together a list of five reasons we should all watch this year.

Outside's list includes some compelling reasons, at least for someone like me who is already a big fan of the sport. That list includes the following:

No Clear Favorite - The race is wide open this year, especially with Alberto Condator banned and Andy Schleck out with an injury. 2011 champ Cadel Evans will be back to defend of course.

Extreme Carnage - Not sure I agree with this one, as I'm not the kind of person who tunes in to auto racing to watch the wrecks either. But there are always nasty crashes at the Tour, although it'll be tough to top some of the big ones from last year.

Fastest Bikes Ever - The top cycling companies continue to refine their designs and as a result, the bikes are improving nearly every year. This year's bikes will certainly be the fastest to ever hit the roads of France. Speaking for myself personally, the bike porn is part of the reason I enjoy watching so much. I can't help but drool over those machines I'll probably never get to ride, let alone own.

It is a "race of truth" - This is a reference to the time trials that are always a part of the Tour de France. I know I love it when the race comes down to two or three great riders dueling it out for the Yellow Jersey. Hell, everyone loves that. Except maybe the Schleck brothers.

American Riders - Outside is an American magazine, so of course they're going to cheer on the toop American cyclists, even if there is little chance of one making the podium. The U.S. does have a very good crop of up and coming riders however and it will be fun to watch them mature and gain experience in the race. I suspect we'll see Tyler Farrar contending for some sprint finishes at the very least, although I'm not sure anyone can touch Mark Cavendish for the Green Jersey.

The article on Outside Online goes more into detail in each category and it is a good way to get the juices following for the beginning of the race next Saturday. I'll be doing regular coverage as much as I can this year. I know I for one don't need an incentive to watch. Can't wait!

NOLS Offers Tips For Dealing With High Altitude

A few days ago the National Geographic Adventure Blog posted a story that shared some good tips for recognizing, preventing and treating some of the adverse effects of altitude. Those tips come courtesy of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), whose members know a thing or two about dealing with altitude.

The article first discusses the six factors that have a direct affect on whether or not you'll suffer altitude sickness. Those include things like rate of ascent, amount of altitude gained, hydration and so on. It also does a good job of breaking down the various types of altitude sickness including AMS (acute mountain sickness), HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema) and HACE (high altitude cerebral edema). Symptoms of each are listed as are ways of treating them, although we all know that the best way to address the problem is by going to lower altitude.

Hiking and climbing in the mountains is one of the most rewarding outdoor activities I know, but if you go high enough, anyone can have issues with the altitude. Even if you've safely been there before without any issues you can still experience any of the three types of sickness listed above. Knowing how to recognize those symptoms and address them is an important part of safety in the mountains.

Pakistan 2012: Teams Gathering Across The Region

A few days back I mentioned that most of the action in the Himalaya this summer has taken place on Nanga Parbat thus far, but that there were a host of other teams en route to Pakistan and the various mountains there to begin their climbs. In addition to further progress on Nanga, climbers have now started their expeditions on Gasherbrum I and Broad Peak as well.

Al Hancock has begun posting dispatches from BP, which he hopes to use as a warm-up for an attempt on K2 later in the summer. After arriving in Skardu on the 15th, he and his team were off to Askole the same day, taking five hours to drive to that location. The following day they started their trek to Base Camp on Broad Peak and they should be settling in there today. Al reports that he has been feeling a bit under the weather, fighting off flu like symptoms. Hopefully he and the team will have a day or two of rest before the begin the first acclimatization rounds on the 8047 meter (26,414 ft) mountain.

Meanwhile, over on Gasherbrum I, Canadian Louis Rousseau has arrived in BC as well following a six day trek across the Baltoro Glacier. He and his team spent yesterday getting settled and expect to make their first foray up to Camp 1 today. It will be a bitter-sweet expedition for Rousseau, who came not just to take on the mountain, but to look for signs of his friend Gerfried Goschl who, along with two other climbers, perished on this mountain while trying to climb it this past winter.

ExWeb is reporting that the Rousseau expedition isn't the only one in Gasherbrum Base Camp. Three other teams are already onsite as well including Polish, Korean and Swiss squads. Others are expected to join them in the next few days with some of the climbers looking to bag GI while others will attempt Gasherbrum II.

On Nanga Parbat the teams there continue to make solid progress on the mountain. After a rest day yesterday, two members of the Mazeno Ridge team hope to climb up to Camp 2, located at 6200 meters (20,341 ft), but then immediately descend back down to Camp 1 to spend the night. This is all part of their acclimatization plan of course as they wait for their Sherpa team to set up C2.

Romanian Torok Zsolt is also on NP and reached Camp 3 yesterday. He reports very deep snow high on the mountain, which could delay his summit bid. Having spent the night at C3 Torok is probably physically ready to go, but will likely descend to BC now and wait to see if the amount of snow on the peak is reduced in the days ahead.

The summer climbing season is just starting to ramp up. Look for plenty more updates in the weeks ahead. It should be an interesting summer in the Himalaya and Karakoram.

Video: Matt Harding Is Still Dancing Around The World

Back in 2008 Matt Harding became an Internet sensation when he released a video of himself doing a silly little jig in some of the most amazing places around the world. The video entitled "Where the Hell is Matt?" has garnered more than 43 million views and has now generated a sequel. Check out the brand new 2012 edition below. In it you'll see Matt has picked up a few new moves but is still traveling the world with a smile. I'm guessing the video will get you to smile as well. Enjoy!

Alan Arnette Attempting Alpamayo For Alzheimer's

Try saying that title three times fast!

Alan Arnette is about to embark on his next expedition, this time setting his sights on the 5947 meter (19,511 ft) Alpamayo in Peru. According to his blog, which has some great information about the peak and the logistics of climbing it, he'll set out this week for Lima, where he'll join a team guided by the Altitude Junkies.

Located in the Cordillera Blanca range of the Andes, Alpamayo is an iconic mountain for its shape and appearance. The peak features two very sharp summits that are connected by a precarious ridge with an ice cornice stretching between them. Alpamayo also has a unique fluted face that gives it a look unlike nearly any other peak and has earned it the distinction of being called "the most beautiful mountain in the world."

It is also a challenging technical climb that will test the mountaineers. As Alan notes in his blog post, on summit day the team must negotiate a 457 meter (1500 ft), 6-pitch wall that is located directly below the summit itself. It is a steep final ascent and a dangerous one.

If you're familiar with Alan's blog posts and Everest coverage, you know he always does a great job of keeping us updated from the field and sharing his progress and thoughts on the climb. I expected that this will be a similar experience and even has a page dedicated to his Alpamayo updates. If you want to follow along, simply click here.

As usual, Alan is climbing to raise money and awareness for the Cure Alzheimer's Fund, a cause that is very near and dear to his heart.

Good luck Alan and enjoy the climb!

A Mugging On Everest?

Yesterday Outside magazine posted a story about a disturbing incident that took place on the North Side of Everest back in May. It seems that a group of young men, all graduates from the Tibet Mountaineering Guide School (TMGS), assaulted a Chinese climber that they suspected of being on the mountain without a permit. When the man raised his ice axe in an attempt to defend himself, the group over powered him, roped his hands together and proceeded to force him back down the mountain. One witness who saw the incident is quoted in the article as saying, "It was disgraceful. They literally kicked him down the ropes. It was a disgusting example of a pack of bullies egging each other on and literally beating him down the hill."

Obviously being on the mountain without a permit is a major offense and Outside writer Grayson Schaffer says this climber was keeping to himself, which is a dead giveaway of someone trying to keep a low profile on the world's tallest mountain. But that certainly doesn't justify the treatment of this man, who would normally be fined heavily, kicked off the hill and possibly banned from climbing in Tibet for a period of time.

To add a bit more fuel to the fire, the climber also happened to be Chinese. Considering the delicate nature of the relationship between the Tibetans and the Chinese, its possible that the young men involved in this incident may have let pent up frustrations boil over to a degree. There is also a fear that the Chinese government could react harshly to the treatment of a Chinese citizen, possibly cracking down further on the Tibetans.

The Outside article says that the entire incident was captured on film mountain guide Kari Kobler who is one of the founders of Kobler & Partner, a company that leads expeditions to the North Side on an annual basis. Kobler says that he has no intention of releasing the film and that he has ties to the TMGS, where discipline is being handled internally. Kobler also indicated that the same group of thugs may have been involved in other problems on the North Side this year. He didn't wish to elaborate, but Schaffer speculated it had to do with the theft of bottled oxygen.

Stories like this are always a bit unsettling, as we like to think that their is a camaraderie that exists amongst the climbers on these big mountains. Hopefully this won't escalate into something really nasty between the Chinese and the Tibetans, but we do know that Beijing doesn't take kindly to any kinds of displays of aggression there.

The North Side has always been a bit more unruly than the South Side and this could be an indication that that side of the mountain still has a long way to go before it is completely tamed.

The Mongol Derby: A 1000km Horse Race Across The Mongolian Steppe

I have an uneasy relationship with horses. I think they're beautiful, intelligent and powerful animals, but somehow whenever I end up riding one, I get stuck with the biggest, orneriest, most ill-tempered creature possible. So that said, the following adventure opportunity probably isn't for me. But I'm sure there will be plenty of others that will see this as a fantastic experience.

The Adventurists, who are well known for putting on crazy motorized adventures in extreme places, are prepping for a decidedly different kind of adventure. In August of this year, they'll send a group of riders across the Mongolian Steppe on horseback, covering more than 1000km (621 miles) in what they call the "the longest, toughest horse race in the world."

Dubbed the Mongol Derby, the event features no set route. The adventurous men and women who join the Derby will instead be on their own navigating to the 25 different Horse Stations that are located across the vast and open wilderness. If the riders so choose, it'll be just them, their ponies, and the Mongolian Steppe to explore.

The safety and care of the horses is of the utmost concern for the organizers of the event, which is why the riders are tasked with getting their horses to the stations in a healthy state. They are also required to switch horses at each station as well, and a high trained and experienced team of vets will be on hand to ensure the animals are well treated and an medical issues are taken care of.

The 2012 edition of the Derby is already sold out, but its never too late to start planning for next year. You'll be able to follow progress in this year's race on the Mongol Derby website and for glimpse of what the event is all about, be sure to check out the video below.

The Girls Get In On The Fun, Set New Speed Record On The Nose Too!

The boys aren't the only ones having fun in Yosemite this summer. Earlier in the week we received the news that Alex Honnold and Hans Florine broke the speed record for The Nose on El Capitan, and now another record has fallen, this time for the ladies.

Climbing.com is reporting that Quinn Brett and Jes Meiris scaled the iconic route on June 11 in 10 hours, 19 minutes. Thats a full 21 minutes faster than the previous record which was set last fall by Libby Sauter and Chantal Astorga. Brett and Meiris launched their climbing collaboration while working together at SOS Outreach, an organization that seeks to mold young people through outdoor adventure. The ladies hope to inspire others, particularly youth, through their efforts.

Congrats to Quinn and Jes on an amazing climb. Well done!

And a tip o' the hat to The Goat for sharing this story.

Pakistan 2012: Action On Nanga Parbet

It has been a bit of a slow start to the climbing season in Pakistan this year although things should start to get interesting in the next few weeks. At the moment, there are two expeditions on Nanga Parbet who are getting settled in and have started their work, but for the most part the other teams are still in transit.

One of the more interesting climbs of the summer will no doubt be the attempt at a first ascent along the Mazeno Ridge. This expedition includes Sandy Allan, Rick Allen and Cathy O'Dowd, who will be trying to summit NP along a very challenging and difficult route. The Mazeno Ridge is over 10km (6 miles) in length, making it the longest approach of any 8000 meter peak, and features eight individual 7000 meter (22,965 ft) sub-summits. As you can imagine, this makes for an incredibly demanding climb, which has led to the route being labeled "the ultimate endurance challenge" in mountaineering.

The team arrived on the 8126 meter (26,660 ft) tall Nanga Parbet last Thursday and immediately went to work on setting up Base Camp. Since that time they've also climbed up to their Camp 1, which is located at 5650 meters (18,536 ft) as part of their first acclimatization rotation. They've since gone back down to BC where they'll be resting tomorrow before going back up. The plan is to reach C2 on Friday, but descend back to C1 for the night's rest.

Conditions are said to be good so far, although colder weather and some wind to help pack the snow would be welcome. The team needs some clear days to help with navigation but at the moment they're mostly interested in stability and predictability while they get established.

Meanwhile, ExWeb is reporting that a second expedition in on Nanga as well. That one consists of Romanian climber Zsolt Torok and Americans Kathy Koslicki and Bob Semborski. They've already established their route up to Camp 2 on the mountain, but avalanches have already played havoc with their gear in C1 and BC. Both camps will need to be rebuilt before they proceed much higher.

Watch for more updates from the region in the near future. Expeditions are prepping for Broad Peak, Manaslu, the Gasherbrums and of course K2.

Adventure Tech: Microsoft Surface Tablet

In addition to my obvious passion for the outdoors, travel and adventure, I also happen to be a bit of a technology and gadget nerd. I tend to stay up on all the latest news and information from the tech industry and I incorporate some of that gear into my daily life and travels. Occasionally a new piece of gear is announced that seems like it could have a revolutionary effect on the way we communicate and get work done while in the field. Earlier this week Microsoft announced a new product that could become very popular with travelers and adventurers alike.

The new product is called the Surface Tablet and it comes in two flavors, the Surface RT and the Surface Pro. The RT is clearly an opportunity for Microsoft to try to compete with the iPad. It features an operating system specifically designed for a touch interface and to use apps in a new environment, known as Metro. The Surface RT will likely be a very competent and easy to use tablet that could potentially be the first real competition to the iPad that we've seen.

But what should be of real interest to many of us is the Surface Pro. This device will actually run a full blown version of Windows 8, which is set to release later this year, and will essentially give you laptop functionality in a tablet casing. The Pro weighs in at a shade under 2 pounds (903 grams), is about a half inch thick (13.5 mm) and comes with a 10.6" full HD display. It also has an Intel Core I5 processor, which is similar to what you'll find in may laptops available today, a USB 2.0 port, micro-SD card reader, and more. Customers will have the option for 64GB or 128GB of onboard storage and and included cover ingeniously converts into a keyboard and touchpad when needed. 

What is most exciting about the Surface Pro is that it will run any piece of software that is available for Windows 8. That means you can get a full version of Office for instance or Photoshop. It can even run games or video editing software, although it remains to be seen how it performs with more intensive programs. The point is that the Pro won't just run apps, although it can do those too, but full versions of the software that you already use to be productive. 

The Surface is built with a unique magnesium casing that should be tough and able to withstand punishment while traveling. That could make it a great companion for those looking for a lightweight, durable and powerful computer to use while they are away for an extended period of time. I could see these being quite popular in base camps around the world for instance, as they are lighter than a laptop but still have plenty of muscle to do most of the things we need to do on the road. 

Despite the rosy outlook for the Surface tablet there are still quite a few questions that need to be answered. For instance, at this point we still don't know anything about the battery life of the device, which is always crucial in any piece of technology that you travel with. Microsoft hasn't given us a release date or price yet either, although both the RT and Pro are expected to come on staggered dates later this fall. The RT is reportedly going to be priced to compete with the iPad, while the Pro will be more inline with an ultrabook laptop. That means that they are likely to be $500 and $1000 respectively. 

Personally I'm looking forward taking one of these Surface tablets for a test run. They have a great design and seem like they'll be a perfect option for road warriors and adventure travelers. The proof will be in the pudding as they say and we won't know if the device will live up the hype until they are released to the real world and we can see how they perform. For now though, this looks like a potentially great new product that will help us stay in touch and chronicle our adventures. We'll know a lot more in the weeks ahead.

Double Amputee Summits Kilimanjaro

A few days ago Canadian motivational speaker Spencer West completed an amazing challenge by climbing to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa. But unlike most who take on that mountain, West is a double-amputee who was making the climb to raise money for charity.

Dubbed the Redefine Possible expedition, Spencer took on Kili to raise funds for the Free The Children organization, an international charity that looks to empower young people through education. To date the climb has raised more than $500,000, which is earmarked for a project to bring clean drinking water to children in Kenya.

Standing 5895 meters (19,340 ft) in height, Kili is a challenge for any hiker. But for West it was a completely different level of difficulty. Born with a rare genetic disease called sacral agenesis, Spencer lost his legs at the age of five. He was determined to not let that be barrier to him leading a normal life however and he has used his upbeat message to inspire others as well.

On June 12 Spencer, along with his best friends David Johnson and Alex Meers, set out on an eight day climb of Kilimanjaro, which West did on his hands and in his wheelchair. Yesterday they reached the summit in time to watch the sun come up over Africa. Most of their journey has been captured in photos, blog posts and videos. You can learn more about their experience at the expedition's official website, where you can also donate to the cause if you're so inclined.

Checkout video from summit day below. Very inspirational!

Video: Father's Day Interview With Peter and Lou Whittaker

Lou Whittaker is a true legend in mountaineering and the founder of Rainier Mountain Guides. His son Peter is no slouch in the mountains either. They sat down for a fun Father's Day interview during which they talked about Lou taking Peter to the top of Mt. Rainier at the age of 12 and a number of other shared experiences. Good stuff!

Design A T-Shirt For Team Sky, Win A Trip To The Tour de France!

The Tour de France is now less than two weeks away and cycling fans across the globe are gearing up for what promises to be another great race. One of the teams that promises to be well in the mix this year is Team Sky, who are led by top sprinter Mark Cavendish and GC contender Bradley Wiggins. The team is celebrating the start of the Tour with a unique contest that will give one lucky fan the opportunity to join them in Paris.

Team Sky is asking fans to design a t-shirt that captures the character of the squad in a unique and creative way. To that end, they've created a template that you can use to show off your artistic talents and impress a panel of judges. That panel will include Team Principal Dave Brailsford, as well as riders Cavendish, Michael Barry and Ben Swift. The winning design be produced and worn by the team and will be shared with the Sky's large Twitter following and more than 150,000 Facebook fans. Better yet, the person who comes up with the best design will be flown to Paris to present the team with the shirt and will be awarded £500 (About $785). The official contest entry information and template, which can be downloaded in .pdf format by clicking here.

The contest runs through June 30th, which is the start of the race, and I'm told that it is open to entrants from anywhere. So grab the template, come up with a unique and interesting design and submit it to website@teamsky.com to be eligible to win. Who knows, you may find yourself in France for Le Tour this year!

If I had an ounce of artistic ability I'd be all over this contest. Not only does it sound fun, it would give me a chance to actually be in France for the race itself. One of these days I'll actually provide coverage from the Tour, but for now you'll have to settle for my usual updates from afar.

Kayaker Prepares For Solo Pacific Expedition

Explorer Wave Vidmar is preparing to embark on another epic adventure. The man who has years of sailing experience and has made a solo journey to the North Pole, will soon set off on a long distance paddling expedition that will see him journey from California to Hawaii in a kayak.

Dubbed the 2012 Seaward Pacific Ocean Expedition, Vidmar intends to paddle his specially designed and built Seaward Kayak 3000 nautical miles across open ocean. Along the way he intends to document the journey on video while conducting research on marine wildlife, the effects of a prolonged paddling expedition on his body, the use of technology in the field and more.

The plan is to set out from Monterey in California and work his way west to Maui in Hawaii. When he'll set off isn't exactly clear, but according to PR from Seaward it should be any day now. I also haven't been successful in finding an official website for the expedition, but updates are being posted at the Seaward Kayak Facebook page.

Wave, who seems aptly named for aquatic adventures, says that he thinks it should take him about 50 days to reach Hawaii. That's a lot of time in the cockpit of a kayak. Good luck!

Walking Home From Mongolia Complete, CheapTents Has The Interview!

I've written about the Walking Home From Mongolia expedition on more than one occasion. For those who don't remember, it was the epic journey undertaken by Rob Lilwall and Leon McCarron during which they traveled on foot from the capital of Mongolia – Ulaan Baator – back to Hong Kong, during the dead of winter no less. The journey covered 5000km (3100 miles) and took 195 days to complete, ending exactly one week ago today.

Our friends over at CheapTents.com were able to get in touch with Leon, who is already back home in the UK, and pick his brain about the expedition. As you can imagine, he had a lot of interesting things to say. You can read the full interview here, in which he talks about his favorite parts of the walk, how he and Rob stayed motivated for weeks on end, which gear items performed well and what the two men might plan to do next. As usual with CheapTents, the interview is insightful, interesting and fun, and anyone thinking of doing a similarly long journey can probably pick up more than a few nuggets of good information.

Rob and Leon actually filmed their adventure and it is now being edited for airing on National Geographic. You can catch a glimpse of what they have in store for us in the clip below and keep your eyes peeled for the final film down the line.

Congrats to Rob and Leon on an amazing adventure and thanks to CheapTents for another good interview!

Untamed New England Adventure Race Begins Tomorrow

One of the toughest and most well known adventure races in the U.S. is set to get underway tomorrow when 49 of the best teams in the world embark on the 2012 Untamed New England event. The four-day long, non-stop race will also serve as a qualifier for this year's AR World Championship to be held in France this September.

As is typical with this kind of race, the athletes will be tested in a host of disciplines that include trail running, paddling, mountain biking, climbing and more. The emphasis of the Untamed New England is on coed teams of four, although there will be teams of two and three competing as well. The prize package for the inner includes $5000 in cash and free entry into the ARWC. The second place finisher will earn a free entry as well.

Northern Maine will provide the wilderness course for this year's event and anyone who has ever visited the region knows that it is a spectacular setting. Rugged and remote, the course will no doubt provide plenty of challenges to go along with the beauty that is found there.

Good luck to all the teams competing in the race. Keep your eyes peeled for bears and stay safe out there.

Kilian Jornet's Climbing Partner Killed On Mont Blanc

Another tragic climbing accident occurred this past weekend in France, where Kilian Jornet was attempting to cross the entire Mont Blanc Massif in just two days with partner Stéphane Brosse. The two had already covered a great deal of ground and were on Aiguille d'Argentière when a snow cornice broke, sending Stéphane falling 600 meters (1968 ft) to his death while his friend and a film crew looked on.

The expedition was part of Kilian's Summits of My Life project, which I told you about just a few weeks back. That ambitious four-year adventure is meant to put Kilian, who is one of the top endurance athletes and climbers in the world, on some of the most iconic peaks on the planet. Mont Blanc plays a pivotal role in those plans.

According to the story from Kairn.com, Stéphane was just 41 years old and is survived by his wife and two young children. The couple were expecting their third child soon as well.

Once again, my sincere condolences to friends and family in this very sad time.

Thanks to Louis-Philippe Loncke for sharing the sad news.

Alex Honnold and Hans Florine Break Speed Record On The Nose

Newsflash: This Alex Honnold kid just might be a pretty good climber.

Yesterday, Honnold teamed up with Hans Florine, another very talented climber, to go after a new speed record on the Nose, the most famous climbing route up Yosemite's El Capitan. The duo managed to complete the climb in just 2 hours, 23 minutes and 51 seconds, shaving nearly 13 minutes off the old record set by Dean Potter and Sean Leary back in 2010.

According to this story from Examiner.com, the two men did a few warm-up climbs last week to scout out the route and get accustomed to working with one another. With that work out of the way they elected to make their attempt yesterday, which also happened to be Florine's birthday. The results were nothing short of spectacular. It's going to be hard for another team to cut more time off the route in the immediate future, although we all know someone will be trying.

Honnold continues to make Yosemite his personal playground. Less than a month ago he teamed up with Tommy Cladwell to complete a free climb of Mt. Watkins, El Cap and Half Dome back-to-back-to-back. That feat is known as the Triple Crown. Not satisfied with that effort, Honnold returned a couple of weeks later and re-climbed the Triple Crown, this time solo. Now he's added a speed record on The Nose to his already impressive resume. All I can say is "wow!"

Thanks to the Adventure Journal for the tip!

Avalanche Claims Four Climbers On Denali

It was a rough weekend on the tallest peak in North America when it was announced that four Japanese climbers were killed on Denali after being swept off the mountain in an avalanche. The team of five was ascending the West Buttress at 3496 meters (11,800 ft) when they were hit by the snow, knocking all of them into a crevasse. One member of the team, 69-year old Hitoshi Ogi, managed to survive the fall and climb out.

The incident actually occurred last Wednesday, but it wasn't until Thursday that Ogi managed to make his way down the mountain for help. Search teams were organized immediately with the hope of finding other survivors, but that search was called off last night. Rangers on the mountain were able to descend into the crevasse, and found what could be remnants of the team's gear, but there were no sign of survivors. The heavy snow and ice also made the recovery of bodies impossible.

There have now been six deaths on Denali this year. Early in the season one climber fell to his death after chasing his backpack down a steep slope, while another perished when he fell on his descent a week later. With a few more weeks left to go in the Denali season, lets hope that there aren't any more fatalities.

My condolences go out to the friends and families of these Japanese climbers.

Video: It's Beer O'Clock With Xavier de Le Rue

We're kicking off a new week with another snowboarding video from Xavier de Le Rue, who returns to the Alps for the final video of the season from his TimeLine series. Xavier and friends wanted to cap the year in style, so they took on some impressive slopes in Europe before taking the summer off. This is a beautiful way to end what has been an impressive strong of great snowboard outings this past winter. Enjoy!

Old Man River Project - Chapter 10

Today brings the tenth and final episode of the Old Man River Project, an online series of short films that chronicled a 2400 mile (3862km), 110-day journey down the Mississippi River aboard a hand built  boat. In this video the crew dodges an almost overwhelming amount of traffic on the river as they approach their final destination, the Gulf of Mexico, at long last.

This has been a great series of films and if you haven't been following along, I'd definitely recommend heading over to their Vimeo page and watching them all from the start. Well worth it.

What Is The Strange Object At The Bottom Of The Baltic Sea?

Last year a group of Swedish ocean explorers discovered a strange disc shaped object at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. The came across the object while making routine sonar sweeps of the water in hopes of finding sunken ships to salvage. At the time, they were unsure of what it was, so they planned to return to the site this summer to check it out first hand. After doing so, they are still unsure of what it is they've  found.

The object is said to be 18 meters (60 feet) around and rises like a mushroom head 3-4 meters (10-13 feet) above the seabed. It also sits at the end of a 985-foot long path of flattened seabed that gives the impression that the object landed at the bottom of the Baltic Sea after falling from above.

The divers say that they expected it to be a giant stone of some type, but that isn't what they found exactly. They discovered what they describe as an egg-shaped opening in the top and a strange stone circle formations around it that resemble small fireplaces. They've ruled out unusual volcanic activity mainly because there has never been any indications of such activity in the region.

One of the members of the team said it was the strangest thing that he'd ever experienced as a professional diver. Another said that he'd never seen anything like it in over 6000 dives. What is it exactly? Who knows, but you can take a look at it in a video over at Gizmodo. To me it appears to be a massive rock of some kind, although it is unnaturally smooth. Perhaps a meteorite that managed to survive entry into Earth's atmosphere and then rapidly cooled in the waters of the Baltic.

What ever it is, I think we all know who the right man for the job is. Someone get James Cameron on the phone stat!

Checkpoint Tracker Championship Set For Sept. 29 In Oak Hill, West Virginia

Adventure racing teams looking for a great race this year will want to mark September 29th on their calendars, as that is when the 2012 Checckpoint Tracker National Championship will take place in Oak Hill, West Virginia. The race, which will feature the usual AR disciplines of trail running, mountain biking and paddling will be 100 miles in length and take roughly 30 hours to complete.

Registration for the event is already open, and filling up fast, so if you're interested in racing in this event I'd recommend you sign-up ASAP. The course design and race management are being handled by Odyssey Adventure Racing this year and if you know anything about the sport, you know that they have a sterling reputation for putting on quality events.

The Gauley River National Recreation Area will be the setting for the 2012 edition of the race and we're promised plenty of Class III and IV whitewater for the kayaking and river boarding sections. A zipline will also be part of the course this year as well, adding another adrenaline inducing thrill to the event.

For more information click here.

Update: When I originally posted this story I noted that registration was already open. Early registration actually started today, June 18. Sign up early and receive a discount on entry, but early-bird discount ends on July 1.

Video: Thank God For Everyday!

There is a popular expression that I'm sure I'll hear more than once today. "TGIF!" or "Thank God it's Friday!" But the video below reminds us that we should be thankful for every day.  Live life to the fullest be happy to be alive. It's a message we should remind ourselves of often and don't just reserve the livin' for the weekends.

Gear Closet: Outdoor Research Axiom Jacket

When Outdoor Research offered to send me their new Axiom lightweight shell for a review, I jumped at the chance, even though I knew it had a lot to live up to. After all, not only is it the latest and greatest creation from one of my favorite gear companies, the Axiom has already earned Gear of the Year awards from both Outside magazine and National Geographic Adventure. To say my expectations were set high is an understatement, but after using the shell for a few weeks I can safely say that it not only lives up to the hype, it actually exceeds it.

Weighing in at just 13.5 ounces (382 grams), the Axiom is made from the newest fabrics from Gore-Tex. Normally that would tell me two things, first the jacket will perform very well in bad weather, and two it'll probably cook the wearer in the process. Gore-Tex is well known for its ability to repel moisture but it is equally well known for how warm it can get underneath. That simply isn't the case with this new, 21st century, version of the fabric however and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Axiom maintained the great performance in inclement weather but gained the ability to breathe freely as well. So much so that Outdoor Research was able to save weight simply by eliminating pit vents altogether.

Lightweight and breathability aren't the only elements that this new Gore-Tex fabric brings to the table. It also has a higher level of elasticity that allows for more freedom of movement while hiking or climbing. I always appreciate outdoor apparel that doesn't impede motion, particularly when you need it to work well under the most demanding circumstances. Thanks to this newly developed fabric, the Axiom can keep you dry and moving swiftly no matter what the weather throws at you.

New Gore-Tex is only half of the equation however and Outdoor Research has incorporated some great design choices to make the Axiom stand out as well. For instance, the jacket features three zipped pockets, each of which can be accessed even while wearing a backpack. As you would expect, the adjustable hood has been built to fit over a helmet and the zippers are high quality and weather resistant.

The Axiom makes a great jacket for any number of outdoor activities from peak bagging and trail running to cross country skiing and backpacking. Its combination of light weight, excellent fit and fantastic performance in inclement weather have made it the new standard that all other shells will be compared to. OR prices the Axiom at $375 which is a relative bargain compared to much of the competition as well.

If you're in the market for a new lightweight shell, there seems to be one clear-cut choice at the moment. The Axiom performed above and beyond my expectations and I have a feeling it will do the same for you.

Chinese Submersible To Attempt Mariana Trench Dive

After years of mostly being ignored, the Mariana Trench has become a busy place this year. A Chinese submersible named Jiaolong (aquatic dragon) is set to make another dive into the trench sometime in the next few days, where its crew of three hopes to plummet 7000 meters (22,965 ft) below the surface of the ocean. To date, the vessel has only been down to about 5188 meters (17,020 ft).

As of the last report, the small craft was still aboard the  Xiangyanghong 09 science vessel and was approximately 200 nautical miles away from the proposed dive site. The crew was waiting for a tropical storm to vacate the area, and for seas to calm, before proceeding with the operation. They intend to make a shake-down dive to 5000 meters (16,404 ft) before proceeding deeper towards their ultimate goal.

This deep sea expedition is vastly different from the one James Cameron made back in March. For starters, Cameron went down solo and in a smaller vehicle. The Jiaolong will be manned by Ye Cong, Cui Weicheng and Yang Bo who are hoping to claim a "deepest dive" record, although what that record is I'm not sure. When he went down a few months back, Cameron reached a depth of about 10,940 meters (35,900 ft).

Still it is great to see more renewed interest in exploring the ocean's depths and I'll be watching to see how this crew fairs when it finally does make its big dive. Hopefully all will go well and they'll come back with some interesting finds as well.

New Backpack Redefines Ultralight

At the Teva Mountain Games a few weeks back a company by the name of Trek Light Gear unveiled a new backpack that is sure to be a hit with those who like to go light.

The GearJunkie has the scoop on this interesting little product that is dubbed the "PackBack." The bag, which is made out of parachute nylon, weighs in at just 3 ounces and compresses into its own stuff sack and can easily fit inside of your pants pocket. When its expanded, the bag is said to be able to hold up to 30 pounds although it offers few frills beyond hits packability.

Apparently the pack was a hit at the Mountain Games, as the first run of the product, which retails for $26.95, sold out very quickly. Trek Light doesn't even have any in stock at the moment, and we're told to check back later in the summer when they become available again.

While I wouldn't anticipate this ultralight pack replacing most full featured daypacks, it certainly could come in handy while traveling. Having a tiny piece of gear that instantly becomes a larger pack would be a great addition as far as I'm concerned. Looks like a handy item to have along and I can see where it would be useful in a variety of circumstances.

National Geographic Honors Two Explorers Tonight

National Geographic will host a "Evening of Exploration" event tonight to honor two famous explores that have gone to the opposite ends of the Earth. The organization will posthumously present it's highest honor, the Hubbard Medal, to Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard and name Austrian mountaineer Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner its Explorer of the Year.

Piccard, who died in 2008, is best known for diving into the depths of the Mariana Trench, along with Don Walsh, back in 1960. The duo were the first to travel seven miles below the surface of the ocean, into the Challenger Deep, to explore the floor of the Pacific. That feat wouldn't be repeated for another 52 years, when James Cameron did it a few months back. Cameron and Walsh, who received the medal in 2010, will join Nat Geo CEO John Fahey in presenting the award to Piccard's family.

Kaltenbrunner, who is no stranger to readers of this blog, is being honored for her climbing efforts on the world's tallest peaks. Last year she became the first woman to summit all fourteen 8000 meter peaks without supplemental oxygen when she topped out on K2. It took her 13 years to accomplish this feat and along the way she has been a great role model for other climbers, men and women. She'll receive the Explorer of the Year award from last year's winner, Kenny Broad, along with a specially engraved Rolex Explorer timepiece. Rolex is the sponsor for evening's festivities.

Congratulations to the family of Jacques Piccard and to Gerlinde on these much deserved honors. For more information about Piccard, Gerlinde and the Evening of Exploration click here.

Belgian Explorers Plan Expedition To Lake Inari

Two Belgian adventurers are in the final stages of planning a canoe and hiking expedition to the remote Inari Lake, located in Finland. The journey, which is set to begin in September, will be three weeks in length and looks to put a heavy emphasis on exploration of the region. The duo hopes to make a complete circumnavigation of the lake, provided the weather allows, spending plenty of time on and off the water.

Bert Poffé and Dirk Michiels will travel on foot and by canoe as they not only paddle the shores of Inari but also trek through the wilderness that surrounds it. The lake, which is the third largest in Finland, falls above the Arctic Circle in the northernmost region of Lapland. Covering 1040 square kilometers (646 sq. miles), Inari has more than 3000 islands sprinkled across its waters, while a wild and untamed wilderness lines its banks.

Refreshingly enough, Bert and Dirk say that they won't be chasing any speed records or racing from point to point on a map. They intend to explore the region as much as they can and that means making slow, deliberate progress. It is their hope that by taking this approach they can genuinely get to know the lake and all of its hidden corners.

In preparation for their expedition they've launched a blog that provides much more information on Inari Lake and the region they'll be visiting. Hopefully they'll also be updating that blog as they travel to keep us not only informed of their progress but share what ever they discover there.

Personally I love these small, grassroots adventures that send adventurous men and women off on excursions to remote areas. These two men sound like they have the hearts of explorers past and visiting remote Lapland should be an amazing experience.