Happy Holidays From The Adventure Blog

I am hitting the road for home today to get some much needed time with friends and family, but before I go, I wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone Happy Holidays! This is the time of the year when we should reflect on our good fortune, treasure all the wonderful people in our lives and look forward to a promising new year ahead. Over the next week or so, I intend to do all of that and more. While I'm traveling, updates will no doubt be light, but I'll get back to a regular routine soon enough. Until then, enjoy the season and get outside and enjoy a few adventures of your own.

Video: The National Park Service Says Happy Holidays!

The National Park Service released a little holiday video a week or two back. It features park personnel
from a variety of different locations sharing holiday wishes to the travelers and outdoor enthusiasts who love visiting those amazing places. It also shows they have a bit of a sense of humor, something that comes in handy around the holidays as well.

Adventure Tech: A Solar Charging Snowboard

Lets face it, when we hit the slopes these days, we tend to take a lot of gadgets along with us. Between our smartphones, GoPro cameras, regular digital cameras and electronic goggles, we have a lot of batteries to keep fully charged. That's where the latest creation from Signal Snowboards can come in handy. The mad scientists that work in the company's labs have managed to add a thin photovoltaic cell onto the deck of a snowboard and wired a convertor between the bindings. The results? A board that can collect power while you're shredding the slopes, then allow you to charge your devices when you take a break.

The video below shows you how they want through the process of creating the snowboard, which isn't meant for production. At least not yet. It is more about the Signal team having a little fun and pushing the envelope to a degree. Still, a very cool project that I'm sure some snowboarders would love to have.

Video: First Winter Ascent Of Gasherbrum II

Tomorrow marks the first official day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, which means groups of very hearty climbers will now be working their way into position on some of the big Himalayan peaks in an attempt to make a winter ascent of one of those giant mountains. It seems only fitting then that we should look back at a previous winter climb in this video, which documents the first ascent of Gasherbrum II in winter. The mountain was climbed by none other than Simone Moro, Denis Urubko and Cory Richards, with the men topping out on February 2, 2011. The video below gives you an idea of what they endured on that climb.

Antarctica 2012: Eric Larsen Is Still Waiting To Ride

It has been emotional roller coaster for Eric Larsen the past few days and reading his most recent dispatch makes that clear. The veteran polar explorer who intends to ride a specially designed mountain bike to the South Pole has been delayed once again, and that has brought on some self doubts as he anxiously waits to begin. Meanwhile, elsewhere on the frozen continent, others are continuing to make their slow marches to the bottom of the world, knocking off miles as quickly and efficiently as they can. None are particularly close to reaching the finish line yet, so we'll continue to track their progress in the weeks ahead.

Yesterday was suppose to be the day that Larsen loaded up his bike on the Twin Otters aircraft and caught a ride over to his starting point at Hercules Inlet. But as the day progressed a fog set in over the camp at Union Glacier, grounding the flights and preventing him from getting started. He spent the day resting, but his sleep wasn't very restful as he struggled with nagging doubts. He chalks these feeling up as pre-expedition jitters and after months of planning, he is simply anxious to get started. An afternoon bike ride helped to calm him to a degree, but until he actually begins riding, he is probably going to continue to struggle with his emotions.

Fortunately he won't have to wait long. As I wrote this piece, Eric sent a tweet that simply read: "All systems go for departure to Hercules Inlet in one hour!" That means that he'll finally hit the trail today and start his 700+ mile (1126 km) journey to the South Pole. We should start getting updates on his progress as early as tomorrow, and it should prove interesting to see how this new mode of travel works in the Antarctic.


Richard Parks has been having a bit more success on the start of his solo South Pole ski. He set out a few days back and is already off to a good start. He claims to be easing into the start of the expedition, but yesterday he managed to ski for seven hours, covering 25.4 km (15.78 miles). That's a pretty good clip for someone who is just getting warmed up. Richard admits that he isn't "firing on all cylinders" just yet, but he has a very positive outlook and is very focused on his goal. The weather has been spotty so far, with some whiteout conditions, but nothing too horrible just yet. All in all, he has to be very pleased with his progress thus far.

Also continuing to pick up steam is Vilborg Arna Gissurardóttir, who has now been out on the ice for a month and seems as determined as ever to complete her solo and unsupported journey to the Pole. After a bout of homesickness earlier in the week, she seems to have bounced back nicely and is now covering more distance each day. Yesterday it was 23 km (14.3 miles) in very good weather. She also treated herself to a "Christmas Buffet" dinner, enjoying some tasty treats that she has been saving just for this occasion. I'm not sure why she's having her Christmas dinner early, but perhaps its because she is celebrating the fact that she has now passed the half-way point of her expedition and each mile now brings her closer to 90ºS and eventually home.

Aaron Linsdau reports that he had one of his best days so far, with incredibly good weather allowing him to knock off about 11 miles (17.7 km). He's now about 22 miles (35 km) from his next supply cache and he's hoping to reach that in the next two days. He has roughly enough food and supplies for 5 days, so he has a nice little cushion in case things don't go as smoothly as he'd like. Over the past few days, Aaron has been fielding questions from friends and family following along at home, with someone asking him what he intends to do when he reaches the South Pole. Obviously his roundtrip journey from Hercules to the Pole and back seems doubtful at the moment, but Aaron hasn't completely given up on the prospect. He says at this point he really hasn't decided what he will do just yet, as he is completely focused on one day at a time.

Finally, over on Mt. Vinson the climbing teams have been stranded in Base Camp. After making some gear shuttle runs up to Low Camp yesterday, bad weather set in keeping everyone in BC for now. This weather pattern could last few a couple of days, which means everyone will be well rested, yet anxious to get the climb underway. Hopefully early next week they make the push up to High Camp and assess the situation on when they'll make their summit bids.

Richard Bangs: The Cayman Islands - Fifty Shades of Bay (Part 4)

Today we have our fourth, and final, installment of Richard Bang's series on the Cayman Islands, which I've been fortunate enough to share with everyone this week. Richard is the host of the PBS television show Adventures with a Purpose and as such is fortunate enough to visit some of the best destinations on the planet. Judging from his stories from the Cayman's, I'd say that Caribbean paradise fits into that category.

I hope you have enjoyed the series and I want to thank Richard for sharing with us.


The Cayman Islands: Fifty Shades of Bay
By Richard Bangs

Part 4 of 4 Parts 


It’s the final afternoon in paradise, and I head for Hell.

Hell, it turns out, is a flash in the road near West Bay, named for a swatch of spiky, tortured, black, ironshore that looks like midday in the garden of evil. There are just a few structures in Hell: a bar named Club Infernal; the Devil’s Den novelty shop, a post office where one can send a postcard from Hell; and the fire-red barn called The Devil’s Hangout, sporting Beelzebub on the side, and the devil on a sheet of plywood in front with a circular hole where the face should be.

After I park on the brimstone pavement, a man wearing a red cape, pointed horns, a sharply trimmed goatee, and carrying a three-pronged pitchfork, bounds over with an arsenal of greetings:

"How the hell are you?" “Hell of a nice day.” and "Where the hell you from?"

“From Los Angeles, City of Angels. How do you like living here?” I ask.

“It’s a hell of a place.”

“How’s the weather?”



“Hot as Hell. But living Hell is the best revenge”

“Who the hell are you?”

Turns out Satan is septuagenarian Ivan Farrington, who makes a living dishing out every hellish pun on earth. He bought the shop in 1987 when it was called, like so many other affairs in these islands, “Paradise.” But, he says, “My business went straight to Hell, so I renamed it the Devil’s Hangout.” Now he does brisk commerce selling satanic souvenirs-- t-shirts with slogans such as “I took your advice and came here in a hand basket,” as well as coffee mugs, spoons, bumper stickers, whelk shells, and postcards with every mal mot conceivable.

As I pay for a bottle of Scotch bonnet-based Hell sauce Ivan pulls out his calculator and says, "I was born on July 17, 1934." He taps the numbers '17, 7, and 34' into the calculator, turns it upside-down. It reads: "HELL!"

When he hands me change he snorts, "Thank you. Now get the hell out of here.” As I depart, I realize I’m made a wrong turn, ending up on Church road. So, I make the U-Turn, and once again pass through Ivan’s infernal town, so at least I can say, with all honesty, I’ve been to Hell and back.


---

So, what makes the Cayman Islands different? My undergraduate degree is in Sociology from Northwestern University, and I still pal around with sociologists, and some fret about constant e-mailers and texters losing the everyday connections to casual acquaintances or inconnus who may be sitting a touch away in the café or on the bus. That is the current dynamic in the continental U.S., in Europe, Asia and beyond; but not yet here. It could be said that we in the US are now, more than ever before, building barricades with our devices, employing screens that screen out strangers. Yes, they reinforce family and friends—we can chat and text and twitter with them more than ever—yet we are blocking the chance encounters, the random meetings, and with them the brushes against novel and unfamiliar perspectives, and the shivery flashes of insights. Cayman is different, and it disarms all who visit.

The Caymans Islands achieves a kind of correspondence between belief and place, between inner and outer landscapes, between travelers and locals, as all trace to somewhere else.

Caymanians talk to everyone. They look up at the clear sky. There is a dance to their tread. Adults become children as they swim with stingrays. Businesspeople walk to their appointments, greeting the people they see. Caymanians are connected to the sky and water and land, and, most of all, connected to one another, and to those who visit.

Wandering through the blades of sunlight along the paths of Cayman, witnessing the mastery of environmentalists and entrepreneurs, delving into the music, food, nature and culture, and basking in the welcomes of new acquaintances, I am knocked over with a feeling of being part of something deeply human and universal.

The paradox of the Cayman Islands is that it was a bleak, unwelcoming place that kept people away for much of its history; yet it became a place of gathering for modern questers, and as such, a locus for the exchange of fresh ideas, of fusions of food, song and the arts. It was once considered a Hell on earth, but it became Paradise. And it is today a milieu that transports identity and tolerance, romance and preservation; it unnerves habits and perceptions, unwinds the mind, sheds shells, and along the way leads to the loss of items not usually missed….pins and needles, taxing thoughts, and disquietude.

This is the treasure of the Cayman Islands.

Video: When Eagles Attack!

This video has really been making the rounds today, but in case anyone has missed it, it is a  must see. It was shot in a park in Quebec and features a large golden eagle swooping down and actually picking up a small child. The first part of the video is at regular speed, so it's hard to see what's happening, particularly when the cameraman starts to panic. But wait for the second half of the video when it drops into slow-motion to really see what was going on. Crazy!

Edit: Okay, so I've been had. This video is a fake. I knew it had to be too good to be true. Still a fun video. And kudos to those who made it for pulling this off.

The Mystery Of Indiana Jones' Mail Has Been Solved

Last week I posted a story about how the University of Chicago had received mail that was addressed to "Henry Walton Jones, Jr." otherwise known as Indiana Jones. The package contained some a journal that was written by Indy's friend and mentor Abner Ravenwood, as well as some postcards and photos from the 1930's era in which the first Indiana Jones films are set. At the time, it was a complete mystery as to how the parcel showed up in campus mail and who exactly sent it. Fast forward a few days, and the mystery as been solved.

It turns out, the replica props that were contained the package were actually created by a man named Paul Tabosa, who sells them on E-Bay. Tabosa has put together the package for a customer who was looking for the props for a personal collection, and as part of the experience, Paul puts all of the items into a large envelope and labels it for delivery to Henry Walton Jones, Jr. at the University of Chicago, were our favorite fictional archaeologist went to school. Tabosa then puts the package into a larger envelope/parcel and ships it off to whoever his buyer is. In this case, it was someone in Italy.

While in transit from Guam (where Tabosa lives) the outer package, the one with the real address on it, was destroyed and torn off. Revealing the replica package inside. When the U.S. Postal Service saw the  fake package, they mistakenly thought it was the real-deal and immediately forwarded it on to the University of Chicago, not even noticing that the Egyptian stamps were not real either. When it arrived at UC, it was dropped in campus mail, where an intern recognized who the intended recipient was.

So, that bring an end to the mystery, although I have to say the story is still a cool one. The mere fact that the fake package would actually be sent to the University is great, even if there isn't some deeper meaning behind it. It also says a lot about Paul's work if it was able to fool the USPS into deliver it.

Antarctica 2012: The Logistics Of Antarctic Travel

Another day has come and gone in the Antarctic, and yet there are still things to report in what is becoming a very active season down south. New South Pole explorers are off and running, while those that have been out on the ice for awhile continue to make progress. Meanwhile, over on Vinson, the teams begin their work all over again.

One of the more interesting dispatches today comes from Aaron Linsdau, the 24-year old American who is making his way to the South Pole. Aaron has been out on the ice for a month and a half now, and during that time he has learned a lot about traveling across the frozen expanse of the continent. In his audio message to today he talks about keeping his feet warm while on the go, but not too warm. If they start to sweat, his feet will get cold, inviting frostbite to set in. As a result, the wool liners of his boots are a vitally important piece of gear, and when they get wet they immediately start to frost over. That's when danger is setting in and he knows that something has to be done. Aaron also notes that he sleeps with those liners inside his sleeping bag each night in an effort to keep them as warm and dry as possible. The worst thing that could happen to someone skiing solo and unsupported to the South Pole is to contract frostbite in the toes, and the skiers take great care to prevent that from happening.

Also of interest, Aaron talks about the position of the sun at the moment, which is always overhead at roughly the same angle. At this time of year, the sun never sets in the Antarctic, which means it is daylight 24-hours per day. That can mess with the rhyme of the body and make it difficult to get proper sleep as well. Linsdau has also previously talked about how warm the weather can be, while the temperatures are still well below freezing. The direct sun can bake an explorer inside of his down suit, while taking it off can expose him or her to sub-zero temperatures. It is an odd experience to be both very warm and very cold at the same time.

These are just a few of the lessons he's learned while traveling through the Antarctic. Progress remains steady and sure at the moment, with his eyes firmly focused on reaching his next supply cache, at about 85ºS, sometime in the next few days.

Yesterday I posted that Eric Larsen was setting off on his attempt to ride his mountain bike to the South Pole, but it turns out I jumped the gun just a little bit. Eric actually spent the day at Union Glacier camp putting the final touches on his preparation for the start of the expedtion. He now expects to get underway today with the hopes of reaching the South Pole from Hercules Inlet, in roughly three weeks time. It should be interesting to see how well his specially modified Surely Moonlander bike handles the conditions on the frozen continent.

One skier who wasted no time in getting underway was Richard Parks however. Already a bit behind schedule, Parks was eager to get going on his solo and unsupported expedition to the South Pole, embarking yesterday. His first dispatch was a brief one, saying that it was a tough day skiing mostly uphill, but he still managed to cover 15 km (9.3 miles) in just six hours of time. That's a solid start to his expedition.

Vilborg Arna Gissurardóttir notched her best day yet, hitting the 22 km (13.6 miles) amidst a variety of weather. The Icelandic solo skier says that the day started off cold and windy, but later the winds dropped and the skies cleared, warming things up nicely. As she wound down the day, things took another turn as snow began to fall, making it difficult to see very far. Fresh powder also made it difficult to drag her sledge filled with gear and supplies.

Over on Vinson, the teams are starting their next round of climbs. The RMI squad made their first gear shuttle up to Low Camp at 8700 feet (2651 meters), which served to stretch the legs and start the acclimatization process. Weather was not ideal, but still good enough for them to take the walk. Similarly, the Seven Summits Club reports that both of their climbing teams are now in BC and will likely begin their first trip up the mountain today. 

Business as usual right now. Everyone is just focused on the tasks at hand. More to come soon. 

Richard Bangs: The Cayman Islands - Fifty Shades of Bay (Part 3)

Today we have part three of the excellent series contributed by Richard Bangs of Adventures with a Purpose fame. Richard recently traveled to the beautiful Cayman Islands and he's been sharing his thoughts on that amazing place, which provides visitors with a mix of adventure, luxury and romance. Enjoy!

The Cayman Islands: Fifty Shades of Bay
By Richard Bangs

Part 3 of 4 Parts

Cayman Islands

The hours melt away as I snorkel the brilliant reefs, hike the filigreed interior, draw figures in the sand, collect lovely shells, even paddle around the island in a leaky plastic kayak. I finish reading my one book, Explorers of the Nile, and then stare at a palm tree. I come to admit I’m bored. All these studies about how continued connectedness leads to attention deficit disorder may be true. I’m restless, and anxious. I need a fix. It’s time to get back to civilization. So, I pull out my cell, and push the on-button. But nada. It’s out of juice. I panic. But then reach deeper into my pack, pull out an Energizer portable charger, plug it into the phone, and make the call. But it goes to a robot voice saying the mailbox is full; call again later. I’m castaway on a desert island.

So, I decide to swim for it. I stash my pack and sandals, towel, hat and sunglasses, and head into shark and jellyfish waters towards the shore of Little Cayman.

I make it, and after arranging for a pick-up of my left-behind gear and electronics, head to the Edward Bodden Airfield, and catch the first flight back to Grand Cayman, and then straight to Camana Bay, the new cosmopolitan development packed with so many high-end restaurants, glam shops and luxury labels some call it Brand Cayman.



I first stop at Books & Books, carrying the kind of collections the best Borders used to offer, and pick up several new titles, in case I’m stranded on a desert island again, or a hurricane hits. I step by the sports stadium, where the Rugby team “No Woman No Try” is practicing. I stop for a delightful meal at Ortanique, a Nuevo Latina Carib-Asian eatery. And I run into Kenneth Hydes, the VP of Product and Experiences, who tells me the billion dollar development is the brain child of Kenneth Dart, heir to the Dart Container Corporation of Michigan, world's largest manufacturer of foam cups. Kenneth gave up US Citizenship in 1994, moved to Cayman, becoming an investor, and a champion of recycling initiatives. His refined taste is represented in Camana Bay, which is more Rodeo Boulevard than Caribbean sugar shack, more Waterford and Cartier than watermelon and giclée, and it gives Cayman, already the most sophisticated stop in the region, an extra lift.

The perfumed tropic air is Sunday’s, and at the crack of noon I head out for the contrast to Camana Bay, the Grape Tree Café on the beach in Bodden Town with its locally-famous Sunday Fish Fry. This is where the islanders come, and bask in deep-fried bliss. “It humbles the stomach,” says Alex Bodden, related to the first settler on Cayman back in 1700, and who owns, with his family, the adjacent Texaco gas station and liquor store. The perfect combination platter. The café itself is the size of breadfruit basket, and sizzling away inside are chunks of snapper, mahi, wahoo, swai, chicharrón, as well as conch fritters, plantains, cassava, and sweet potatoes, all for a fraction the price of the fusion appetizers at the resort hotels and trendier west end eateries. And outside, around thatch-roofed tables, an array of well-nourished Caymanians sit and nosh, swap stories and jokes, and generally enjoy the island life and food.

After lunch I’m hungering for some island music, so head over to Hopscotch Studios, where the Swanky Kitchen Band is in full practice mode for an upcoming wedding performance.

It’s an incredibly energized jam—it’s music that softens rock, and could bend the ironwood tree. Between takes I chat with the electric violinist Samuel Rose, the leader. He explains that “swanky” is a Cayman word for lemonade (made with brown cane sugar), and that Cayman kitchen music represents the melting pot that is Cayman, tracing influences back to Irish fiddling and Scottish jig traditions, mixed with African slave rhythms. Then it blends in ostinatos of calypso, reggae and jazz.

“In the old days the kitchen, or caboose as we call it, was the center of Caymanian homes, a detached room in the back where everyone gathered, and so it became a natural place to socialize, celebrate, dance and create music, using cassava graters and other kitchen utensils. We’ve picked up on that tradition, and are carrying it forward with our own signature.” But Samuel doesn’t want to jab too long; he wants to skank, and I’m not suffering from an overabundance of good sensations, so I step to the back of the room, pick up my feet in terpsichorean splendor, and surrender to the swank.

A photobomb went viral recently, three women in midst of a vacation photo pose being hugged from behind by a pin-eyed stingray:

So, this final soft-blue morning I catch a fishing boat named Heavenly Hooker and head out to find the scene of the slime. We cruise out to a shallow bank in the North Sound, drop anchor, and beneath crystalline waters see a dozen gray-hued underwater bats, the size of pterodactyls, gracefully circulating at our stern. Captain Stacy leaps into the waist-deep brine with a bucket of smelly squid. Immediately the rays lap him, coddle him; cats to catnip. The captain motions me to join, but I’m a bit hesitant, remembering too well Steve Irwin’s untimely death by stingray barb in the Great Barrier Reef.

But what good is travel without a little fear? So, I take the leap, and though my mind is trembling on the edge of danger, the soft Portobello mushroom skin of the rays against my own is rather silky and sensuous. It is an agreeable kind of horror.

This interspecies dynamic came about some years ago when fishermen, to avoid the once mosquito infested coastlines (so bad it was, they say, the mosquitos could suck a cow to bloodless death), started cleaning their catch in this calm off-shore channel, and the Atlantic Southern stingrays gathered to nibble at the gut scraps. Soon the stingrays began to associate the sound of a boat motor with food. Now, it’s a daily ritual, and the wild rays have gone gentle, gliding about torsos, through splayed legs, planting hickies on exposed human skin while suckling for food, and wrapping wings around their guests in puppy-like hugs, all in symbiotic exchange for morsels of sea meat. “Oh, it feels good to be touched by a stingray,” beams Captain Stacey. It is undeniably, ahem, a raydiant experience.

The New Age Of Exploration (An ExWeb Editorial)

There is a new editorial published at Explorers Web this morning that I'm sure many of you will find very interesting. The article is entitled "Exploration Clubs - What Future for a Tradition in Decline" and it is written by CuChullaine O’Reilly, one of the founders of the Long Riders Guild. In the story, CuChullaine takes a good hard look at the current state of exploration and the role that clubs such as the Royal Geographical Society and the Explorers Club play in it. What he finds is that these once important institutions have become relics of the past, seemingly more focused on raising funds rather than promoting the importance of exploration in the 21st century.

The editorial offers some scathing commentary not on the current state of exploration itself, but the state of the RGS, EC and similar organizations. O'Reilly says that being a member of those institutions was once a badge of honor that had to be earned, but that now days many people are admitted who have only a superficial connection to true exploration or are simply armchair explorers who want to rub elbows with those who are actually continuing to push the envelope. In contrast, he points to his Long Riders Guild, which has no fancy headquarters, no membership dues and no regular meetings. Members are invited to join after completing a ride of 1000 miles (1600 km) or more and the group stays in touch and organized via the Internet.

Cuchullaine goes on to talk about a new age of "citizen-explorers" who no longer belong to such clubs but instead stay connected, and engage with, like-minded people through a variety of technologies that allow us to collaborate like never before. These tools open up the possibilities for exploration and adventure to everyone, not just a privileged few as in ages past. He sees this movement creating a new renaissance of exploration and I tend to agree with him. We've seen this in action many times in recent years, with men and women organizing small, grassroots expeditions that accomplish amazing things.




O'Reilly was also kind enough to name a few online resources that are helping to promote this movement, citing my blog as one of those resources. He also mentioned ExWeb as well, and if you're a regular reader of this blog you know how much I respect the work they do. Cuchullaine gives a nice tip of the hat to Mikael Strandberg for his efforts in this area as well. Mikael is also someone that I've cited here on numerous occasions and is an explorer that I admire quite a bit. I'm honored to be mentioned with prominently in the story and listed with these others.

The editorial is a good one and I urge everyone to read it. While I'm sure many will see it as a harsh critique of the RGS and Explorers Club, I choose to view it as a recognition of the democratization of exploration. In this new age, anyone with the desire and determination can carry the torch of exploration into the 21st century and beyond, and I think that is a great message to share.

Thanks to Cuchullaine for bringing this message to the community and for mentioning my small role in it.

Video: Beautiful Action

If you're in need of a dose of adrenaline today, then you'll probably enjoy this video. It is a beautiful action reel from Matchstick Productions various films, mixing together some impressive shots of a variety of outdoor adventures. You'll find everything from skiing and snowboard to mountain biking and base jumping in this four-minute clip. Where else will you see a snake charmer, someone jumping a camel on their bike and timelapse starscapes all in one video? We've got you covered here.


MSP Reel 2012 from MSP Films on Vimeo.

Antarctica 2012: Cycling South!

Today is another busy one in Antarctica, where two new expeditions officially being, even as the early skiers continue their march to the South Pole. Meanwhile, over on Mt. Vinson, the teams prepare for another round of summits on the continent's highest mountain.

Probably the highest profile expedition of this Antarctic season is Eric Larsen's Cycle South project. Over the next few weeks, Eric, who is a veteran of arctic exploration, will be attempting to ride a specially designed mountain bike some 700 miles (1126 km) from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole. He arrived at Union Glacier yesterday and spent most of the day getting his gear prepped and the bike assembled. If everything goes according to schedule, he should hop a short flight over to Hercules today and begin the ride. If he is successful, Eric will be the first person to ride a bike the full distance to the South Pole. Earlier this year, Brit Helen Skelton rode her bike to the Pole, but it was from a much shorter distance.

For those that are curious, Larsen will be riding a Surly Moonlander outfitted with special tires that are 4.8 inches (12.1 cm) thick. The rugged frame and thick tires will allow him, in theory, to ride over the ice and snow more smoothly and hopefully survive the rough sastrugi that are so common in the Antarctic. He'll be carrying most of his gear and supplies in panniers built by Granite Gear and he hopes to make the return trip from 90ºS back to Hercules, weather and time permitting.

Also on his way to the Hercules start today is Richard Parks, who arrived at Union Glacier with Eric yesterday. There hasn't been any updates from Richard yet since he hit the ice, but if he is staying on course for his plan, he should have completed his gear prep and testing of equipment yesterday, and will be embarking today. Richard is attempting a solo and unsupported journey to the South Pole, but thanks to delays due to issues with getting his gear shipped to Punta Arenas, he now has very little wiggle room in his schedule. Hopefully we'll get an update from him today as he hits the trail at last.


Solo South Pole skier Aaron Linsdau achieved two milestones today on his way to the South Pole. First, he has now been out on the ice for 45 total days, which is quite an accomplishment in and of itself. That's a month and a half in a tent and struggling day in and day out to move forward, despite difficult surface conditions, high winds and bitterly cold temperatures. But he's probably more proud of the fact that yesterday, for the first time, he managed to crack the 12 mile (19.2 km) mark. The weather has actually been pleasant for a change and that has helped him to make solid progress towards his goal. Better yet, the forecast looks to remain about the same in the next few days, so he's hoping to take advantage of that to make good time. Right now he has his eyes on his next supply cache, which he hopes to reach in about five days. At the moment he only has about eight days worth of supplies on him, so it is important that he stay focused and on target.

Similarly, Vilborg Arna Gissurardóttir is back on track today and counting off the miles. After feeling a bit homesick yesterday, she now seems more determined and focused to reach the South Pole. Weather conditions were good today, with plenty of clear skies and sunshine, although temperatures were on the cold side. That allowed her to hit her standard 20km (12.1 miles) without too much difficulty. Vilborg's trek as been a sure and steady one as she hits her target goals for distance each day just like clockwork. 

Finally, more teams arrived on Mt. Vinson last night, after just being shuttled onto the frozen continent by ALE earlier in the day. The 7 Summits Club has two teams preparing for the climb in Base Camp and RMI has their second squad in place as well. Mountain guide Dave Hahn says that as many as 60 new climbers arrived yesterday, which should make for a busy summit day sometime next week, provided the weather cooperates.

That's all for now. More updates soon. 

Richard Bangs: The Cayman Islands - Fifty Shades of Bay (Part 2)

Today we have part two of the guest contribution from Richard Bangs, the host of the television show Adventures with a Purpose. Richard continues his exploration of the Cayman Islands, a Caribbean paradise that offers a little something for every kind of traveler. Enjoy!


The Cayman Islands: Fifty Shades of Bay
By Richard Bangs

Part 2 of 4 Parts


From here I wind back to the western side of the island, to Lighthouse Point, to meet Nancy Easterbrook, the fire behind a critical ecological initiative in the Caribbean: Eat a fish; Save the fish.

Nancy, who is managing partner of Divetech, says in recent years the beautiful Indo-Pacific lionfish, studded with toxin-tipped spines, has found its way to the Caribbean, and is not only rapidly pro-creating (one female can produce 2 million eggs a year), but vigorously reducing the populations of native fish, insatiably gobbling up juveniles and hurting the reef habitat. It is an abundance that produces scarcity. Besides the threat of species elimination, there is a looming fiscal threat as well. Since diving the clear waters of the Cayman Islands, so vivid with their extraordinary array of marine life, is a key tourism draw, the loss of native tropical fish could send divers elsewhere, an economically devastating scenario.

How did this scourge get here? Some guess from ballast water released by freighters after passing through the Panama Canal; others believe from home aquariums in Florida, perhaps emptied during a hurricane. However they got here, they’re multiplying and devouring like zombies.



Throughout the world overfishing is a critical issue. But not here, at least when it comes to lionfish. In response to the invasion the Department of Environment offers culling courses and licenses special slings to capture and kill lionfish. Several dive companies set aside a day a week for hunting lionfish. And restaurants are buying the fish

Nassau groupers have the big mouths needed to devour lionfish. They routinely follow divers and consume lionfish speared by divers. If the grouper can learn to attack and consume lionfish without the aid of divers, then natural controls will take effect. After all, in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean lionfish populations are maintained at equilibrium by local predators, such as large groupers and reef sharks.

Nancy hands me a flier called “Cayman Sea Sense,” which outlines restaurants that are certified ocean friendly, and says I should boycott eateries that serve grouper, and instead look for places offering up lionfish, such as The Greenhouse, a new café in the neighborhood. The cook and co-owner, Jennifer Skrinska, fries up, in coconut oil, some lightly-floured lionfish, a flash in the pan we hope not…and concocts a lionfish ceviche served with homemade flatbread, which, though small in portions, is terribly tasty….and, if enough folks eat lionfish, encouraging more fishermen to clip the weed fish of the Caribbean, then the other, native fish will remain in healthy numbers. So, eat a fish, save the fish.




After lunch I catch a Cayman Airways Express Twin Otter to Cayman Brac, 90 miles to the northeast. At 12-miles long and a mile wide, it is the second largest of the trine that make up the the Cayman Islands. I check into the Alexander Hotel, have a cold Caybrew at the bar, and head out to explore with local guide Keino Daley.

There are no inclusive resorts in Cayman Brac; no casinos; golf courses; little in the way of shopping, and just a few restaurants. But it has birds, trails, cliffs, reefs, and caves. Brac and its sister island, Little Cayman, move to the rhythms of the natural world, relics of what the Caribbean used to be.

As we slope uphill Keino says the island is named for the limestone bluff, or Brac in Scottish Gaelic, that looms at its peak at 141 feet above the sea, where sits a solar-powered lighthouse, highest structure throughout the islands.

Then we climb down a cliff overlooking Spot Bay, Keino’s hometown, and crawl into Peter's Cave, one of 170 littoral caves on the island. Rumors persist this, and other grottoes, were used as lairs by pirates, even perhaps Captain Morgan and Blackbeard, using the dark recesses to hide their booty.

I was an active spelunker in college, and back then used a carbide lamp attached to a helmet to negotiate the stygian passages. Other times throughout the years I’ve used flashlights, headlamps, even candles and torches. But none of these illuminating accessories are with me now, so instead I tap the flashlight app on my iPhone (which is in turn attached to an Energizer charger so as not to lose juice while deep in some defile), and the dark world is alight.

Though not a deep cave, Peter’s has its share of fairy tale beauty and spelean riches. The flowstones look like melting cake icing; the cave coral like popcorn; the draperies like strips of bacon; and the Aragonite crystals like frostwork, or frozen flowers. Though no treasure be found, the long-winged bat of imagination soars here.

Back at the Alexander Hotel the manager Karen Gascoigne wants to show off her latest toy, a two-seater Wheego LiFe, the first electric car on the island, and the first offered to hotel guests in the Caribbean, she says. As we tool to a vanilla-hued beach for sundown she says the car can travel about 100 miles on a single charge (more distance than all Brac roads combined), and can reach 80 miles per hour, though she has yet to test that claim.

Karen says it is the right kind of vehicle for an eco-destination such as Brac. And it is quiet, to match the mood of the place.

Not so that night. It’s Friday, but crawling around caves is exhausting, and so after a rum cocktail and some jerk chicken at the Captain’s Table, and I take to bed early. But down by the bar it’s Cowboy karaoke open mic, and even with earplugs, the party seems to be at the end of my bed. When I was president of Outward Bound I realized, after reading countless accounts of sunsets and rainbows in the journals submitted by participants, that the organization might just be responsible for more bad poetry than any other on earth. And about 2:00 this morning I realize that the Alexander Hotel could be responsible for more bad singing than any other, at least in the Caribbean.

A blue dawn at last swallows the ink of night. I take the twin otter on a 10-minute hop to Little Cayman, the smallest of the archipelago, shaped like a 10-mile-long coral cigar. Only about 160 folks live here year round, so it’s more like a family picnic than a municipality. Nobody locks their homes, and they keep the keys in their cars.

The first sign upon walking into the closet-sized airport: “Terminal A, Gate 1,” painted by the chortling baggage boy. The next sign is on the road, “Iguanas have the right of way.” There are more iguanas than people here. More hermit crabs on the roads than people. More of almost any living native creature than people. This elongated spit hosts the largest bird sanctuary in the Caribbean, full of red-footed boobies, whistling ducks and frigates. Electricity didn't make it here until 1990, and phone service until 1991. This is my kind of place.

I’ve decided to come here for a digital detox; to surrender to a sanctuary unplugged. But even Little Cayman seems too crowded and connected. There is even Wi-Fi.

So, I hire a little outboard boat to take me to Owen Island, a true desert island off the southern coast of Little Cayman. The isle has no lights; no electricity; no man-made structures; no men or women. Just talcum-soft white sand, driftwood, scrub and a lagoon.

But as the little boat is pulling away after dropping me off I yell to Jeremy, the driver, “When will you come back to pick me up?”

“Call me when you’re ready,” he shouts over the din.

“But I’m on a digital detox.” I protest as he disappears over the blue waves. I dig into my pack, exhume my buried cell phone, and turn it on, against the self-imposed rules. There is, to my amazement, a signal. But the battery is low, so I turn the phone off and entomb it again.

Alastair Humphreys and Leon McCarron Completed Trek Across The Empty Quarter

Adventurers Alastair Humphreys and Leon McCarron have completed their 1000-mile (1600 km) long trek across the Empty Quarter, arriving yesterday in Dubai. After spending nearly six weeks in the desert, the two men finished their expedition at the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, which had to have served as quite the contrast to the environment they had been traveling through.

The Empty Quarter, or Rub' al Khali, is the largest sand desert in the world, stretching out across much of the Arabian Peninsula. This vast and largely unexplored section of the world covers parts of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, spreading out over some 225,000 square miles (583,000 sq. km).

Inspired by their hero Wilfred Thesiger, who made two famous expeditions into the Empty Quarter himself, Alastair and Leon set out in early November to explore that desolate place for themselves. Lugging all of their gear behind them in a cart that weighed 250 kg (551 pounds), the two men were able to navigate across the desert, using Bedouin watering holes to refresh their supply of drinking water as they went. Their no frills, grassroots approach to adventure has paid off, as they were able to make the crossing in a completely self supported way.

While out in the desert, neither Alastair or Leon shared much about their experience. Now that they are home however, that is likely to change. Look for updates to both men's blogs to find out what it was like for them on this amazing adventure.

Congratulations to both Alastair and Leon for a job well done. Now get home in time for the holidays boys.

Massive Photo Of Everest Puts Mountain Into Scale

NASA may have flubbed their image of Everest from orbit last week, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with the photo that GlacierWorks has posted. it's a GigaPixel photo of the world's tallest mountain captured in all of it's glory and one that I'm sure you'll all appreciate. It is the MUCH larger version of the image above, but the best part is you can zoom in on the mountain, pan around in all directions, and really get some amazing views of the place. It also provides a great sense of scale, as you can spot the tiny little yellow specks at the base of Everest, which are of course the tents in Base Camp.

This truly is a beautiful, amazing image. To see it in all of it's glory, click here. I recommend setting it to "Full Screen" mode to get the full effect.

Woman Spends Two Years Sleeping In A Tent In Antarctica

Stacie Murray is a Chef for the U.S.'s research base in Antarctica, which by all accounts is a comfortable and warm refuge in an otherwise cold and forbidding environment. But Murray happens to enjoy the outdoors and as such she tends to sleep outside of the base in a tent. In fact, according to this story at the Adventure Journal, she has just reached a milestone for having slept 730 nights – two years – outside. 

In an email to AJ, Stacie says “Last night was my two-year mark for sleeping in a tent in Antarctica. It has not been all in a row, but over the past few seasons here on the ice. I awoke this morning to beautiful calm weather, minke whales feeding on krill out my front door and hot coffee, brought to me to celebrate my achievement.”

That sounds like a pretty great way to start a new day in the Antarctic, especially with the whales just outside the tent in the morning. This is also an impressive streak of consecutive nights outside while in Antarctica, as you would think that occasionally it would be so cold that she'd want to spend an evening or two inside. Apparently it is pretty cozy inside that tent. No word on what brand of shelter she uses or which sleeping bag she prefers either.

Adventure Journal is quick to point out that Kerry Kells also spends her nights outdoors while stationed in the Antarctic. In her case, Kerry clearly uses a Mountain Hardwear tent. Good to know which brand works well in those extreme conditions. 

So where are all the guys that are camping in the Antarctic? 

The Best In The West Ski Tour Gets Underway

Here's a great story for skiers and snowboarders who are constantly on the lookout for new places to hit the slopes. My friend Matt Gibson, along with his girlfriend Emilie Warden, are hitting the American west to go in search of the best ski resorts in the country. They're calling their search the Best in the West Tour, and they began their ten week road trip this past weekend, setting out for Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

The basis of the tour, other than being a great excuse for sampling powder all over the western part of the U.S., is to actually apply a measure of scientific research into what makes a good ski resort for any given person. The assertion being that what makes a resort great for one skier or snowboarder, may have no bearing at all for someone else. Particularly if there is a vast gap in the skill levels of the two individuals.

Matt and Emilie intend to visit more than a dozen different ski towns, interviewing visitors at to what they find to be their favorite and least favorite aspects of the local resorts. By connecting with the average skier or snowboarder, they hope to get a better picture of what appeals to the weekend warrior more so than the professional.

The first half of the Best of the West itinerary has already been posted in case you want to get in touch with our intrepid duo while they are out on the road. If you're planning to visit Jackson Hole this week, or Grand Targhee, Snowbird, Squaw Valley or Sugar Bowl in the days ahead, you'll definitely want to check in to see if you can offer your opinion on what makes those places great. If you're not going to be in the area, then weigh in with your thoughts on Matt's Facebook page or take this brief survey. As an incentive to participate, they're giving away $10 gift certificates for discounted lift tickets on Liftopia and a chance to win $2500 worth of gear from First Ascent.

And even if you don't get a chance to participate, you can still follow Matt and Emilie's skiing adventure, which looks like it'll be a fun one. Who wouldn't be jealous of a ten week tour of ski resorts out west, huh? Watch Matt's webpage for regular updates.

Richard Bangs: The Cayman Islands - Fifty Shades of Bay (Part 1)

It's not often that I post guest articles here on the Adventure Blog but when I do they generally come from someone that I respect and admire quite a bit. Such is the case with this article, which was sent my way late last week by Richard Bangs, host of the television show Adventures With A Purpose. If you're not familiar with the show, it is an excellent adventure travel series in which Richard scours the globe, spotlighting travel opportunities that have a positive impact on the world around us. The show airs on PBS and is one of my favorite travel shows on television.

As for Richard, he has an extensive background in exploration, including making first descents of more than 35 rivers across the globe. He is also one of the founder to Sobek Expeditions, one of the top adventure travel companies in the world. Bangs has spent over 40 years of his life exploring remote areas of the planet, and I'm honored that he wanted to share one of his more recent stories with us here on my blog.

This article is the first of four parts, that focuses on the Cayman Islands and the numerous opportunities for adventure that exist in that Caribbean paradise. I hope you enjoy this series as much as I did, and again, big thanks to Richard for sharing with us.



The Cayman Islands: Fifty Shades of Bay
By Richard Bangs

Part 1 of 4 Parts

Over the years I’ve caressed many of the Caribbean gems, but never a set like the Cayman Islands. An accident of geography and geology, the three coral islands, cursed with terrible soil, minimal terrestrial relief, no rivers or lakes, but a bask of crocodiles, was not settled by the Caribs, Arawaks, Tainos, or any other autochthons, by the time Christopher Columbus sailed by in 1503. The sharp, black dolomite outcroppings in some places evoked Hades rather than any sort of haven. The first recorded English visitor was Sir Francis Drake in 1586, who reported that the crocs, or caymanas, were edible, as well as the many turtles, but that note didn’t persuade immigration until around 1700, when the first recorded permanent inhabitant of the Cayman Islands, Isaac Bodden, of Welsh descent, was born on Grand Cayman. After him came pirates, refugees from the Spanish Inquisition, shipwrecked sailors, and slaves, but not many as the barren land couldn’t really support plantations or communities of consequence, as nearby Jamaica and Cuba could.



So, it grew up a place with few people. Instead the world came to Cayman, into its coves, sounds, channels, runs and bays. And that diversity of settlers may have saved it from the worn-out, overtaxed fate other islands have suffered. It became a place where everyone was from somewhere else—over 100 different nationalities are represented today--- and that ripened into an ethos that invites strangers into the conversation.

The Caymans Islands float at a magical inflection point influenced by three continents, and a radiance of nearby islands. Buccaneers prowled about in search of provisions, safe harbors, and remote spots to bury doubloons. The anchored ships were in a way like bees pollinating flowers in gardens far from where they started, spreading ideas, arts and cultures over this trinity of islands. They brought different music, dance, foods, customs, crafts, beliefs, and new human constructs….the travelers and adventures found shelter and social interaction, and the seeds of multiculturalism were sown.

I take the Bird of Paradise, Cayman Airways, from Miami, a Boeing 737-300, and am delighted to find the carrier allows two free checked bags, the exception these days. It is also the only carrier I’ve ever flown that offers rum punch on the service tray. Turns out the punch is supplied by the Tortuga Rum Cake factory, started by a former pilot, Robert Hamaty, whose son, Basil, is our captain.

As we pull to the gate at Owen Roberts Airport there is a giant green iguana on the tarmac. No ordinary airport, this. No ordinary airline. There have been dozens of airlines in the Caribbean that launched and then fell into the ocean of bankruptcies. But Cayman Airways has been around since 1968, and now serves half a dozen cities in the U.S., as well as Cuba, Jamaica, Panama and Honduras.

On the taxi ride to the Westin Casuarina, the driver, almost to the point of overprize, crows about how safe Cayman is…. “You can walk anywhere, anytime, mon. The beaches have no litter, no vendors, no hassles, no homeless, just pure sugar sand.” I live in Venice Beach, near the Google offices, and despite the home prices and wealth, there is a large indigent population, and a crime rate not to be envied. How do they do it here?

In 1966 legislation passed enabling the banking industry in the Cayman Islands, and that changed everything. The British Overseas Territory went from a sleepy backwater with scarce resources to the fifth-largest banking center in the world with trillions on deposit. Today it has branches of 40 of the world's 50 largest banks. One five-story building in the capital George Town, The Ugland House, no bigger than a boutique hotel, houses over 18,000 corporations. Business and financial services contribute 30% of the GDP, and employ more than 20% of the labor force. The Cayman Islands has the highest per capital income in the Caribbean, no taxes, and almost no unemployment. And it has evolved into a matchlessly clean, pristine and pleasing destination for travelers.

At the northern end of Seven-Mile Beach (it clocks in at five miles and a few minutes long, but that’s the nature of Cayman….everything is a little bigger than reality), I check into the hotel and take a room where I can see the powdery sweep of sand, the tufted tops of palms soughing in the breeze, and the tourmaline waters that will somewhere to the west brush the shores of Central America.

The tumbling sun bathes the remnants of the day in gold, the norm here I’m told, and radiates romance. Barefoot couples stroll the seam between sand and water, hand-in-hand, while others sip champagne on lounge chairs as the tropic air seduces. By the reckonings of a number of sand experts, this is the most romantic beach in the Caribbean. It’s as close to living brochureware, or a set for a diamond commercial, as I’ve seen in real life. Later I chat with Joanne Brown, CEO & Creative Director of a company called Celebrations, a wedding planning company, and she says business is booming. Many folks come here, she says, and are bewitched by the beaches, the diving, the sunsets, the food and wine, and decide to return to tie the knot.

Shuttles of birdsong nudge me awake the morning next. After a tropical fruit breakfast I drive east to Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park to see first-hand one of the most remarkable species comeback stories in modern history: the back-from-the-brink saga of the blue iguana.

Just a decade ago, the Grand Cayman blue iguana teetered on the cliff of oblivion, with only 10 to 25 left in the wild, all on this one island. Unaccustomed to predation, it fell victim to an invasion of stray dogs, feral cats and rats. Many ended up as road kill as they sunbathed on increasingly busy streets.

But as of my visit the turquoise-colored reptile has returned to promising numbers, and is no longer listed as a critically endangered species. It dodged the bullet of extinction.

With a switchblade strut that telegraphs sense of purpose, John Marotta, head warden of the Blue Iguana Recovery Program, shows me around the captive breeding facility. He says the blue iguana now has a population of about 750, and is on the path to achieving the goal of restoring 1,000 blue iguanas to Grand Cayman's shrub lands. “If I’m successful, I’ll work myself out of a job,” John volunteers. “And I’m happy with that.”

The blue iguana is the largest native species on Grand Cayman, up to five feet in length and weighing in at more than 25 pounds (the native crocodiles were bigger, but they are all gone.) The Blue Iguana once ranged over most of the island's coastal areas and interior dry lands, but without anyone paying attention, they almost vanished.

Blue Iguanas are beautiful, with a pimpy fashion sense, but they also have that red-eyed Godzilla look that evokes menace, and they are in fact dangerous. John has 37 stitches from various bites over the seven years he’s worked to help the coldblooded critters, as well as a dislocated thumb. But one friendly fella, Methuselah, 27-years-young, lets John hold and pet him, and even allows me to rub his spikes and scratch the back of his head. John says the charismatic nature of the blue iguanas has helped raise the monies needed to bring them back, but also has helped habitat protection, as the unglamorous scrubland that few value, but which is important from an ecological standpoint, is now being set aside and protected.

John explains the program helps give juvenile iguanas a head start by protecting them for their first two vulnerable years of life, when they are still small enough to be easy snack food. Then, with radio monitors attached, they are released into the wild. After an hour of barely containing his feral enthusiasm for saving the blue iguanas, John excuses himself, as a school group is approaching, and he wants to direct energies to them. A dozen years ago I did a stint as president of Outward Bound, and one initiative under my watch was “expeditionary learning,” in which students participate in outdoor, hands-on education, rather than from books or lectures. “This is the way to get them involved in life-long conservation,” John echoes, and bolts off to his outdoor classroom, where the future is being written with lightning.

Antarctica 2012: New Expeditions Hit The Ice

Following another busy weekend in the Antarctic, it looks like this pre-holiday week is shaping up to be eventful once again at the bottom of the world. The skiers that we've been following are continuing to make steady progress, while two more expeditions will get underway today. The next few weeks should prove very interesting, as the explorers begin to zero in on 90ºS.

We'll start with Aaron Linsdau, who has now been out on the ice for 44 days and continues to have to battle a number of different challenges. The young American who hoped to make a round trip journey from Hercules Inlet to the Pole and back has faced equipment failure, slow progress and poor weather almost since his first day on the trail. Most of those things continue to dog him, although you can add sore feet to the list as well. Additionally, Aaron estimates that he currently has about nine days worth of food on him and 60 miles (96 km) to cover before he reaches his next cache. If the weather takes a turn for the worse, or he struggles to cover significant distances, his food could begin to run short very quickly. He has been knocking off 10+ (16+ km) per day of late, but this is still a cause for concern none the less. Aaron did achieve a new milestone however as he passed the 84th parallel on Saturday.

Vilborg Arna Gissurardóttir has been quietly and efficiently going about her business, knocking of 20 km (12.4 miles) per day with remarkable regularity. For the most part she has remained very upbeat and focused on her goal of becoming the first woman from Iceland to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole. But today's dispatch indicates that the long days alone out on the ice may be starting to get to her. She admitted that it was difficult to stay motivated today and she was homesick for the first time on the expedition. She was able to muster through and reach her distance goal, but it wasn't an easy day at all. This could be an issue in the week ahead as the realization sets in that she's all alone for the holidays while friends and family are home celebrating. It can be a lonely time for the skiers.

While Aaron and Vilborg continue their march towards the bottom of the world, two more adventurers are preparing to set out at last. Richard Parks indicated that ALE had given him the green light for a flight out to Union Glacier today and if the weather forecasts have held, as of this writing, he should already be in transit or actually on the ice. After having a major issue with his gear not being shipped, Richard was able to get a member of his support team back in the U.K. to fly down and personally deliver his kit over the weekend. With a borrowed pulk from the ALE team, he will now set out from Hercules Inlet tomorrow, after spending the rest of the day today getting his equipment organized and packed today.

Parks will be eager to get underway and start knocking off the mileage. He had built some extra days into his schedule to allow for some padding in case of extremely bad weather, slow progress or other delays. Thanks to the gear shipping snafu however, those days are pretty much all gone and he'll now have to stay focused on reaching 90ºS at all times. He is more than up to the task, but his margin of error has narrowed considerably. 

Also setting out today is Eric Larsen, who will be riding his bike to the South Pole. The veteran polar explorer will also get underway from Hercules Inlet and if time and weather are permitting, he would like to pedal back to the starting point as well. Prior to boarding the airplane to Antarctica this morning, Eric was shaving his head for the journey. He says that this is a pre-expedition ritual that he has gone through for the past ten years, as it definitely make it easier to keep clean while on the move. I'm sure it also holds some psychological significance as he mentally prepares himself for the challenges ahead as well.

Eric and Richard will be on the same ALE flight to Union Glacier this morning and will likely be on the same flight to Hercules Inlet tomorrow. Expect both to begin sharing dispatches in the next few days. Good luck to both men and for a profile of Eric from Outside Television, check out the video below. 

Website Recommendation: OutdoorEquipment.com

Looking for a good source of information and reviews on all kinds of outdoor gear? Then look no further than the new site OutdoorEquipment.com. The recently launched site is the brainchild of a husband and wife team who came up with the simple idea of interviewing everyday folks like you and me about our favorite outdoor gear. They then record those interviews on video, edit them and post them on the site, providing fresh, unbiased insights into how well a piece of gear performs.

In addition to each of the video reviews, the site also provides a written transcript of what is said as well as a brief description of the item. The "Where To Buy" section even links out to online sources to purchase the product in case you decide that you want to add it to your personal gear closet too, while "The Lowdown" is a summary of the pros and cons, and the best places to use the particular gear item.

What i like about the site is that we get mostly unfiltered thoughts from the various reviewers, who are knowledgable about the products and the outdoors. Each of the videos that I watched featured someoe who is obviously an outdoor enthusiast, and in some cases an outdoor professional. They came across as being smart and experienced with gear, without conveying the sense that you were watching someone spout PR jargon.

As you would expect, the site is broken down into sections based on activity such as camping and climbing. There are even sections for both men's and women's gear, which is a nice touch too. There are already a nice catalog of reviews in place, with more being added all of the time.

If you're looking for a new resource for gear reviews, then you'll want to add OutdoorEquipment.com to your bookmarks. There is definitely a lot to like here.

Adventure Tech: Boombot REX Wearable Bluetooth Speaker

Wireless, Bluetooth speakers have become popular accessories for smartphones and tablets over the past couple of years, allowing us to listen to our favorite music, podcasts and streaming audio from a quality source no matter where we go. I've personally tested and reviewed several of these devices and found some of them to offer exceptional sound quality in a tiny package that is perfect for travel. Soon there will be a new entry into this competitive market in the form of the Boombot REX Ultraportable Speaker, an speaker system that has been designed to be rugged enough to take with us anywhere and small enough that you can actually wear it on your person as you go.

The Boombot REX has just been launched as a Kickstarter project and to say it is off to a successful start is quite the understatement. The designers of the speaker set out to raise $27,000 in order to launch production of their device. They have now raised more than $68,000 with 28 days still to go in the Kickstarter campaign. In other words, it is safe to say that this thing is getting funded. Judging from teh video below, it is easy to see why too. The unit is small, tough and seems to put out good sound. It is just the kind of thing that would come in handy to listen to some tunes while relaxing in base camp or sitting around the campfire with friends on a backpacking trip.

Unlike most other speakers of this kind, the REX also lets you pause tracks and skip ahead with built-in audio controls. It even works as a speakerphone, allow users to take handsfree calls. For such a small device, it seems to pack in plenty of bass as well, which isn't often the case with these types of speakers.

The Boombot Rex will be available in a variety of colors and is expected to begin shipping in early 2013. Looks like a winner for those who don't want to leave home without their music.

Antarctica 2012: Summits On Vinson, Richard Parks Ready To Roll

It has definitely been an eventful week in terms of news from the Antarctic. Some of the skiers have continued their progress towards the South Pole, while others wait for a chance to get out on the ice. And while they deal with their various issues, teams on Mt. Vinson have continued to seek that elusive summit.

Earlier in the week we heard the troubling tale of Richard Parks, who is hoping to embark on a solo and unsupported expedition to the South Pole soon. In that update, we learned that while Richard had made it to Punta Arenas just fine, his all important gear was still stuck on a shipping dock back in London. The question was whether or not the gear could make it to Chile on time, as Richard felt his small safety window was closing rapidly. If the gear didn't get to him by Monday, which is when the next ALE flight out to Union Glacier is scheduled, he may have to cancel the expedition altogether. Turns out that won't have to be the case, as one of Richard's support crew back in the U.K. has picked up most of his equipment and is now en route to Punta to deliver it to him personally. He had to leave a few items behind, most notably his pulk, but Parks is borrowing one from ALE so that he can get underway. Hopefully he'll now be back on schedule for a Monday departure, provided the weather cooperates.

There was good news from Vinson yesterday too, where the RMI team, led by Dave Hahn, has successfully topped out on the mountain. Earlier in the week the group was turned back by bad weather, but after descending to High Camp, they were able to rest up, gather their strength and have a second go at it. The weather was far more cooperative this time out, with nearly no winds and warmer than expected temperatures. The entire team made good, steady progress all the way to the top and actually spent a half hour on the summit, enjoying their accomplishment.

For Icelandic skier Vilborg Arna Gissurardóttir it has been business as usual the past couple of days. She just goes about methodically chipping away at the mileage, hitting her 20 km (12.4 miles) goal day in and day out, despite the conditions and changes to the Antarctic surface. She has had to deal with whiteouts the past few days, which can be a bit demoralizing, but her daily dispatches always come across as upbeat, focused and on course. Slowly, but steadily, she is making her way towards 90ºS.

Finally, another explorer is getting ready to set out soon and has now arrived in Chile. Eric Larsen indicated earlier that he had made it to Santiago, along with all of his gear, and would be on his way to Punta Arenas today. He is, of course, attempting to ride a specially designed bicycle from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, and possibly back again, weather permitting. My guess is that he's hoping to be on that same flight to Union Glacier that Richard Parks is catching on Monday. If so, then both should be underway by Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.

That's all for now. I'm sure there will be plenty of more news early next week.

First 8000 Meter Summiteer Maurice Herzog Passes Away

Sad news from France today, where we've received word that Maurice Herzog has passed away at the ripe old age of 93. If his name is familiar, it is because he was the first man, along with climbing partner  Louis Lachenal, to successfully summit an 8000 meter peak.

Herzog and Lachenal climbed their way into the history books back on June 3, 1950 when they made the first successful attempt up Annapurna, the tenth highest peak in the world at 8091 meters (26,545 ft). Even more remarkable, considering the time, they actually made the ascent without the use of supplemental oxygen. The climb was not an easy one by any stretch of the imagination however, as the summit team, along with two companions, spend a night camped out in a crevasse on the descent. They had one sleeping bag between the four men and as a result, they suffered severe frostbite. Herzog himself had lost his gloves on the way to the summit and ended up having all of his toes and several fingers amputated in the field.

Ironically, Annapurna was the first of the 8000 meter peaks to be summited, but is now considered to be amongst the most challenging of those 14 mountains to climb. It wouldn't be successfully conquered again until 1970.

After his harrowing climb, Herzog published a book about the adventure entitled Annapurna: The First Conquest of an 8000-Meter Peak, which has gone on to be one of the best selling mountaineering books of all time. The book has been translated into 40 languages and has sold over 12 million copes across the globe, inspiring generations of mountaineers that followed. He also served as the Commissioner of Youth and Sport in France and was the mayor of Chamonix from 1968-1977.

A legend of the mountaineering world has passed but his legacy will certainly live on.

Thanks to Lou-Phi for sharing this news.

Who Is Sending Mail To Indiana Jones At The University Of Chicago?

A strange package addressed to one "Henry Walton Jones, Jr." arrived at the University of Chicago's Rosenwald Hall this past Wednesday and it has gotten a lot of attention on the Internet and elsewhere. Upon its arrival, no one thought too much about the parcel, although they weren't sure who to pass it along to either. You see, the University doesn't have anyone by that name on their faculty, to the large envelope went into the delivery bin to be sorted along with the rest of the mail. It wasn't until an intern stopped by later in the day that the true identity of the person was revealed. You see, Henry Walton Jones, Jr. is better known by the name "Indiana," the professor of archaeology made famous in the four Indiana Jones films.

The mystery of the package only deepened when it was opened. Inside the UC staff found a very detailed replica of Abner Ravenwood's journal, along with numerous postcards and pictures including some of Marion Ravenwood, Abner's daughter. There was also some old replica money and the stamps on the outside of the envelope also resembled those that would have come from the 1930's, when Indiana Jones was going off on many of his adventures.

Now, who ever sent this package clearly knows their Indiana Jones lore and history. Not only did they know his full name, which isn't given in the films and is shared only once in the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles television show, but they also know that as a young man he attended the University of Chicago. It was there that he met Professor Ravenwood and eventually his daughter. Ravenwood never appeared in the films either, but he was mentioned extensively in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first film in the series. Marion was played in that film by Karen Allen, who would reprise the role in 2008's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.



Who exactly sent the package, and why, remains a mystery. There is some speculation that it could be viral marketing before the announcement of a fifth film, although I personally don't think that it the case. The contents of the envelope were painstakingly put together though and who ever did it sure has a keen eye for detail. The journal is said to have extensive writing and notes in it that are consistent with the stories on which it is based. Including photos and postcards from the era is a nice touch too, and getting them to look authentic couldn't have been easy.

As a big fan of the movies (the Raider's Theme is the ringtone on my phone) I found this story to be fun and interesting. Not sure what, if anything, it is leading to, but I would have loved to have found that package on my doorstep. I salute the fan who put it together, as it had to be a labor of love.

To read the full story, and get caught up in the mystery yourself,  click here.

EpicTV Posts Patagonia 2012 Climbing Season Update

EpicTV has posted an excellent update on the 2012 Patagonia climbing season, which is underway in Chile as we speak. The article shares some good information on the current conditions across the region and some of the more impressive climbs that have already taken place.

The article quotes Colin Haley, who has become a staple in Patagonia over the past few years, as saying that conditions are actually not as icy or snowy this season thanks to a very warm and dry summer last year. That hasn't stopped Haley from joining foraces with Italian climber Andrea Di Donato to take on the West Face Ragni Route on Cerro Torre. The duo managed to knock off that route in a mere 17 hours. Colin shares his thoughts on that climb and some of the challenges that he and Andrea faced on their way to the top.

EpicTV goes on to share some interesting news on other ascents as well, specifically expeditions on Cerro Standhart, Aguja Mermoz and of course Fitz Roy. Climbers Korra Pesce and Manu Cordova were also able to link-up of Punta Herron and Torre Egger in what sounds like a very impressive climb.

Climbing in Patagonia doesn't receive nearly the amount of coverage as the Himalaya of course, but the region at the End of the World really does serve up some great routes that are extremely technical over mixed ice and rock. EpicTV includes some truly excellent photos from these climbs as well, which helps to give us a sense of what the teams were up against there. If you're into climbing porn, you'll definitely want to check out these images as well.

Click here to read the report in its entirety.

So, About That "Everest From Orbit" Image ...

A few days back I posted an image that was purportedly a picture of Mt. Everest as seen from the International Space Station, citing The Atlantic as the source. Turns out, it wasn't a photo of Everest at all and NASA is now admitted they made a mistake in identifying the world's tallest mountain.

According to this story from the BBC,  the mountain is actually Saser Muztagh, a collection of peaks located in the Karakoram Range in India. The tallest of those peaks is Saser Kangri I, which reaches a mere 7672 meters (25,171 feet) in height, well below Everest's 8848 meter (29,029 ft) height.

The photo was taken by cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko while looking out one of the windows on the ISS. It isn't clear how the image got mislabeled, but NASA has confirmed their error. They haven't released any other images shot by Malenchenko, but I found the photo below on the space agency's website, which is a confirmed shot of Everest from space. That one will have to do for now.

Video: Tour The International Space Station

The International Space Station is an incredible piece of technology, serving as a laboratory, observatory and research facility. It has also served as home for countless astronauts who have stayed in orbi for an extended period of time. Most of us will never get an opportunity to ever step inside the station, but thanks to this video we can still get a good look around. It was shot recently by atstronaut Sunita Williams, who served as commander on board the station until she returned to Earth last month. Just before she departed for home, she decided to film this extensive tour of the ISS, giving us all an inside look like never before.

Antarctica 2012: Climbers Turned Back On Vinson

Considering how active the Antarctica news has been this week, I have just a couple of brief updates this morning.

First, we'll start on Mt. Vinson, where the RMI team had been hoping to summit yesterday, but were forced to turn back due to bad weather. According to team leader Dave Hahn, the group set off on schedule, feeling good and amidst clear skies and good conditions. But as they moved up, a group of clouds gathered around the summit, bringing high winds and poor visibility with them. After a long and tiring ascent, they decided to turn back just 700 feet (213 meters) below the summit. That may not sound like much, but on Vinson that means another two hours of climbing, which wasn't going to be very safe considering the weather and the level of exhaustion that was starting to set in.

The entire team then descended back to High Camp, with a cold wind in their face. The descent was a challenge as well and the team was disappointed they couldn't bag the summit, but as soon as they dropped to lower altitudes, the sun returned and the weather improved. Fortunately they still have plenty of time to take another crack at completing the climb, so they'll likely rest for a day or two in HC, watch the forecasts and decide when they can make another attempt.

There has been no update from Richard Parks today on the status of his gear, which was never shipped to Punta Arenas. He now waits to see if it'll arrive on time so he can launch his expedition next week, so lets keep our fingers crossed for him. He'll soon be joined in Chile by Eric Larsen however, who simply tweeted "Leaving for Antarctica" this  morning. With a little luck, Eric will be in Punta sometime tomorrow, which gives him a few days to get his his gear organized before heading out to Union Glacier next week. You may recall, Eric will be riding his bike to the South Pole in the days ahead, completing the 700 mile (1126 km) journey from Hercules Inlet to the bottom of the world. Time permitting, he may even ride back as well.

That's all for today. I'll post more news when we get it.