Outside Interviews Alan Arnette

For years Alan Arnette has been our go-to source for information related to Everest. Each spring he provides the most comprehensive updates and reports from the mountain, diligently tracking all of the teams as they make their way up and down (and back up and down) the slopes. Alan also does a great job of providing plenty of preseason coverage as well, providing insights into what it is like to climb the world's tallest mountain and interviewing the personalities that are in the Himalayan community.

Because of all this excellent Everest coverage, not to mention his own extensive personal climbing resume, Outside magazine decided it was time that someone interviewed Alan instead. That interview went online yesterday and it is an excellent read for anyone who has wanted to know more about the man behind AlanArnette.com.

In the article, Alan talks about what got him interested in climbing in the first place, how his site evolved from a page about his personal adventures into something more and why he works hard to raise funds and awareness about Alzheimer's. That is a cause that is particularly near and dear to his heart and has played a big role in his motivations for climbing today.

If you're a regular reader of this blog you know that I link out to Alan's content on a regular basis, in part because I think he does outstanding work and in part because I love his approach to adventure and climbing in general. I've been fortunate enough to connect with Alan on occasion through the Internet and he has always provided great insight, advice and knowledge. Reading this article you'll get a sense of who he is as person and it'll make your visits to his website have a little more meaning as well.

Thanks to Outside for spotlighting Alan. I can't think of anyone who deserves it more.

Video: World's Wildest Rope Swing!

Remember that video of the giant rope swing that we "oohed" and "aahed" over last year? Well the crazy folks that made that one are back, and this time they've gone even bigger and scarier. Their new rope swing is over three times larger than last year's version and the stone arch has been replaced with a large gorge.

I still think these guys are a little on the suicidal side, and you'd never catch me doing this, but it still makes for a great video the rest of us to enjoy.

Video: Life In Broad Peak Base Camp

For the past week and a half the Polish team on Broad Peak has been stuck in Base Camp, waiting for an opportunity to go back up the mountain. The weather has been less than favorable, so while they waited for a turn they had to find time to occupy themselves. The video below gives you a sense of what life in BC is like during these downtime, which mostly consists of resting, eating and finding ways to pass the hours. Apparently that includes jumping over large fires.

The team received good news yesterday in the form of an updated weather forecast that indicates a window may be opening early next week. To take advantage of that window they'll likely start back up the mountain tomorrow. This could be there final chance at nabbing the first winter summit of BP. We'll just have to wait to see if it happens.

Yosemite Junior Ranger Writes Adorable Letter Apologizing For Taking Sticks Home

One of the lesser known rules when visiting America's national parks is that everything within their boundaries is technically public property and as such is suppose to be left undisturbed. That means we're not suppose to pick flowers, take rocks or mess with the wildlife, although that last one should go without saying.

Recently one of Yosemite's Junior Rangers by the name of "Evie" accidentally took too sticks home with her when she left the park. When she realized she wasn't suppose to take anything at all, she immediately wrote a letter of apology and sent the sticks back to the ranger station in Yosemite. That letter, as it appeared when it was opened, can be viewed in the image below or click here to see it at full size. The rangers who received the message wrote Evie back and thanked her for her diligence and respect for nature. They promised to return the sticks to the wilderness for her as well.

This is an absolutely heartwarming story. I love that this girl was so bothered by the fact that she took the sticks that she just had to send them back. Someone promote this Junior Ranger to a full fledged ranger asap!

Video: Running New Zealand End-To-End With Jez Bragg

Back at the start of February ultrarunner Jez Bragg completed his audacious attempt to run along the length of Te Araroa trail in New Zealand, crossing that country north-to-south on foot. Along the way he covered over 3054 km (1898 miles) in some of the most scenic backcountry found anywhere on the planet. It was a long, grueling run that took 53 days, 9 hours to complete, which was a new record but just off his goal of finishing in 50 days even. In the video below we learn exactly why Jez missed his target (hint: three days in bed sick doesn't help!) and what it was like for him out on trail for all that time.

Everest 2013: The Never Ending Search For Mallory and Irvine's Camera

As the 2013 spring climbing season on Everest draws nearer, Alan Arnette continues to bring us compelling content to get us ready for the season ahead. Today he's posted an interview with Tom Holzel, an Everest historian, who continues to search for the Holy Grail of mountaineering – the missing camera that George Mallory and Sandy Irvine may have taken to the summit of the mountain back in 1924.

The reason why this camera is seen as being an important artifact in terms of climbing history is that it may definitely prove once and for all whether or not Mallory and Irvine actually managed to summit before their disappearance on the mountain. If so, it would mean that they managed to top out nearly 30 years earlier than Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, who didn't make the first successful summit until 1953.

Mallory and Irvine were last seen heading up the North Side of Everest and were reportedly about 800 feet (243 meters) below the summit. What happened after that remains anyones guess, but there are some who believe the duo reached the summit but died on their descent. And since they carried a Kodak camera with them it is believed that if they did summit, they would have taken pictures while at the top. When Mallory's body was discovered back in 1999, the camera was not with the rest of his gear. That would be consistent with the belief that Irvine was carrying the camera at the time and since his body remains undiscovered, the world waits to see what the camera may reveal.

Which leads us back to Alan's interview with Tom Holzel, who believes that he may know where Irvine's body is located. Holzel has reviewed high resolution images of the mountain and has spotted an "oblong blob" that he thinks could be the fallen climber. He further believes that the camera will still be on the body and that it will be intact, possibly showing exactly what happened that fateful day nearly 90 years ago.

In the interview, Holzel talks about his efforts to raise $10,000 to pay for a flyover of the mountain to get improved images to help aid his search. If those photos help solidify his case, he then hopes to send a small team of climbers up to investigate the "blob" in the images to see exactly what it is.

It should be noted that Holzel has been beating this drum for a couple of years now but hasn't had a lot of success in finding sponsors or raising funds. It doesn't appear that he has anything in the works for this year either, which means the mystery will probably continue to remain unsolved, at least for now. But hey, it wouldn't be a new Everest season if we didn't hear about the camera at least once!

Winter Climbs 2013: What A Difference A Day Makes On Broad Peak!

Yesterday I posted an update from Broad Peak that was mostly doom and gloom for the Polish team waiting to make their summit attempt there. At that time the weather forecasts indicated a prolonged period of high winds and snow on the  mountain, keeping the team in Base Camp until March 11 or so. But today there has been a major shift in that forecast and it now looks like a weather window could open next week.

According to reports, this new opportunity will present itself on March 4 or 5, which means the team is already preparing themselves to move up. In order to be in position on those dates, the climbers will need to set off on the 1st or 2nd of the month. That means on Friday or Saturday of this week they'll pick up their gear and begin heading back up the mountain for the first time in nearly two weeks.

News of this weather window came as a very pleasant surprise for the team who have been sitting in BC for nine days now. The men were beginning to worry that they would never get a chance to make the first winter ascent and this shift in the weather patterns has given them a much needed ray of hope. When word hit that they would be on the move again in just a few days, the mood in the camp lightened dramatically. As Tmasz Kowalski says in the latest report from Base Camp:

Yesterday, to our great surprise, we were informed that clouds open up and the wind speed decreases dramatically. A light appeared at the end of the tunnel: there is hope for the summit attempt on 4th-5th March! Suddenly, all of us are in good mood and we have forgotten about the stagnation in the base camp. We started to talk about ways to warm up feet, someone began to sharpen crampons and all of us felt motivated to wash our socks. We came back to life. It is not a secret that we have started to lose hope and the leader has not intended to wait till spring to attempt the summit. He said that “ice warriors have to be prepared for cold and wind”. And we are prepared for it! More than ever. We are just waiting for the command “Attack!”. All the best to all people that support us and to the ones that only sometimes read about our progress.

So there you go!  Finally some good news out of the Karakoram. Stay tuned for more updates in the next few days and keep your fingers crossed for a safe climb for these tough and dedicated mountaineers.

Video: Bear Grylls Gives Airplane Safety Demo For New Zealand Air

When Air New Zealand went looking for a new spokesman to give their safety demo they decided it was a good idea to bring Bear Grylls in to educate passengers. The video below demonstrates Bear's unique ability to offer his own brand of survival and safety advice, which we all know isn't typically for us mere mortals. After checking out the funny video, hop over to airnzsafety.com to enter a contest to win a trip for two to New Zealand.

Video: Mirror River: Source-To-Sea On The Green And Colorado Rivers

In October 2011, paddler Will Stauffer-Norris, along with some friends, set off to make a source-to-sea journey down the Colorado River. They launched their adventure on the Green River in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming and then followed the waterway south, ending in the Sea of Cortez three months later. Their entire journey has now been condensed down to a three-and-a-half minute video, which you can watch below. You can also find out more about this amazing expedition at DownTheColorado.org.

While the timelapse images used in this video get a little herkey-jerkey at times, it still conveys a great sense of what it must have been like to paddle this impressive waterway. A fantastic adventure to say the least. Well done Will and Company!


Mirror River // source to sea in 3 minutes from Will Stauffer-Norris on Vimeo.

The Adventure Journal Lists 50 Things About Everest For 50th Anniversary Celebration

As I've mentioned a few times already this year, 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the first American summit of Everest by Jim Whittaker. Yesterday we had the privilege of hearing about how Everest has changed in the past half-century from the man himself and today we get even more insights from The Adventure Journal. Our friends at AJ have posted a great article listing 50 Things About The 50th Anniversary, with more than a few interesting nuggets of information for all of you Everest junkies.

Amongst the more tantalizing trivia is the fact that the American expedition numbered nearly a thousand strong on the trek to Base Camp. That trek was 187 miles in length back in 1963 and took a month to complete. Today it's just 40 miles and requires just 8-10 days. Whittaker was joined on the summit by Sherpa Nawang Gombu and each had a single cup of "hot" Jello for breakfast before setting out. How's that for a nutritious start to a tough climb?

Whittaker and Gombu topped out on May 1 and three weeks later, Tom Hornbein and Willi Unsoeld would follow suit, making the first ascent of the very difficult West Ridge. The Adventure  Journal piece has plenty to share about their climb as well, including Unsold reciting a very fitting line from poet Robert Frost on the summit.

I've mentioned that we're likely to hear a lot about these famous expeditions in the months ahead, but this piece is excellent for setting the stage for what it was like to climb the mountain back then. It paints such a different picture from what we're accustomed to today when hundreds of people flock to the mountain and traffic jams are the norm. If you want to reflect on a different era in Everest mountaineering, you'll definitely get your chance in the months ahead.

FEAT Canada Will Focus On Adventurous Females

You've heard me mention the FEAT events on more than one occasion on this blog. Originating in South Africa, FEAT stands for Fascinating Expedition & Adventure Talks during which guest speakers are given seven minutes to share an important aspect of their adventures in a style that is similar to TED Talks. Speakers generally include mountaineers, outdoor endurance athletes, rock climbers, kayakers, explorers and more.

Previous versions of the event have been held in Cape Town and Johannesburg over the past couple of years but now the FEAT format is coming to North America. On March 8, FEAT Canada will take place at the Rio Theater in Vancouver where a number of interesting guests will take to the stage to tell their story. And since that day also happens to be International Woman's Day, there will be a particular emphasis on female adventurers.

Some of the speakers that will be sharing their stories at FEAT Canada include ultramarathoner Ellie Greenwood, adventure racer Jen Segger, mountain biker Aimee Dunn and adventure photographer Robin O'Neill. In all, there will be a total of nine speakers, with each strictly timed to just seven minutes each. That adds up to one full night of adventure that will be hard to beat.

If you're in Vancouver, or will be there next weekend, you'll definitely want to drop by the event. Tickets are available online or at the door the night of the show.

Winter Climbs 2013: Broad Peak Weather Window Narrows Further

For the past week, the Polish Broad Peak team has been taking shelter in Base Camp while they wait for a weather window to give them an opportunity to head back up the mountain. On their last rotation they established Camp 4 and even attempted the summit, reaching as high as 7820 meters (25,656 ft) before turning back. But then the conditions shifted dramatically with high winds, heavy snows and cold temperatures moving settling in over the region. The team had hoped that they could make their next summit bid sometime this week, but a shifting forecast is now pushing that attempt well into March.

According to a dispatch from the team today their weather forecasts now say that the current weather pattern will persist until March 11 which means they are essentially locked in place for another week and a half. After that, they'll have to climb back up the mountain, assess the damage done to their high camps and proceed from there. That is assuming that a weather window opens at all, as the forecasts could very well shift again before the 11th, forcing them to adjust their plans as they go. Remember, in order for them to bag the first winter ascent of BP they'll need to reach the summit by March 21. It is starting to look like they may only get one more opportunity to do just that.

Meanwhile, the team sits and waits, passing the time by reading books, playing chess and chatting. After being confined to BC for several days they recently decided to take a hike over to K2 Base Camp which is typically just an hour walk away. In the winter months, with plenty of snow on the ground, the walk extended to 90 minutes while the climbers avoided a number of pitfalls including deep snow and hidden crevasses. While on K2 the boys took some time to locate the monuments built to fallen climbers there. Those monuments and cairns reminded them of their brothers who were lost in the Karakoram and just how challenging it can be to climb in that mountain range.

For now, the waiting continues.

Gear Closet: Keen Verdi Mid WP Hiking Boots

Comfortable, lightweight, durable and affordable. That seems to be the formula that Keen follows when designing their hiking boots, and over the years they've managed to work that formula into a fine art. Their boots have always been the perfect choice for the ultra-light backpacker, weekend warrior or adventure traveler. The company's new Verdi Mid WP doesn't stray far from that winning formula, although they do continue to refine their boots, improving them with every iteration.

Designed from the ground up to be a trail shoe for those who want to remain light on their feet without compromising performance, the Verdi Mid is everything you could ask for in a hiking boot. The tough and sturdy outsole provides good traction on a variety of surfaces while keeping your feet well protected from the rigors of the trail. They feature rugged, yet breathable, fabrics that do a remarkable job of resisting wear and tear, while the ankle support is much appreciated for those long treks. Throw in excellent waterproofing and a tongue designed to keep rocks and dirt out of the interior and you have an excellent shoe that lives up to the Keen reputation for quality.

One of the things that I always appreciate from any shoe from Keen is that they have a relatively short – or even nonexistent – break-in period. That happens to be the case with the Verdi Mids as well, which seemed ready to hit the trail right out of the box. Aside from needing to loosen up a bit around the ankles, my first day out with these boots felt like I had worn them plenty of times before. There is something reassuring about pulling on a new pair of shoes that feel like a comfortable old pair of shoes.

My local trails have proven to be the perfect testing ground early in the year. Living in Texas, we've already had temperatures ranging from cool to surprisingly warm and when you add in some rain here and there, you get a nice mix that will put any boot through its paces. In cooler, wet weather the Verdi Mids kept my feet warm and dry while maintaining perfect footing along the way. In warmer, dustier weather my feet stayed dry, blister free and completely comfortable. The boots get bonus points for having a spacious interior that accommodates thicker hiking socks without any problem.

I was so impressed with their performance that I would recommend these boots for anyone in the market for a new three-season hiking shoe heading into the spring. They definitely subscribe to the Keen formula that I opened this post with, being comfortable, lightweight and quite durable. As for the "affordable" portion of that formula, the Verdi Mids come with a price tag of $120, which makes them a great buy for such a high quality product. Over the years, I've come to learn that you get what you pay for, particularly when it comes to outdoor gear. Keen shoes remain one of the best values on the market however, providing plenty of performance and long life, making them a worth investment for any outdoor enthusiast.

If you have some big plans for spring hikes but need some good footwear to see you through those adventures, then the Keen Verdi Mids are certainly a great choice.

Jim Whittaker Reflects On 50 Years Of Changes On Everest

On May 1, 1963 Jim Whittaker became the first American to summit Mt. Everest. His successful expedition was a result of months of preparation and weeks of hard work in the Himalaya that culminated with him reaching the highest point on the planet. Back then, Everest was a very different place than it is today, something that Whittaker reflects upon in an Op-Ed piece that he wrote for The Seattle Times that was published over the weekend.

In the article Whittaker talks about the massive changes that have come to the mountain since he made his historic climb five decades ago. He mentions that when he climbed Everest his team had to hire 32 Sherpas and 909 porters just to help get all of their gear and supplies to Base Camp, which was a 100-mile (160 km) trek back in those days. Today, a short flight puts you into the Khumbu Valley, making the walk in a mere 40 miles (64 km).

That isn't the only change however. Whittaker laments the fact that the crowds on Everest have grown so large, with some climbers lacking the proper skills, training and experience to take on such a massive peak. Whittaker's son Leif made his second ascent of Everest last year and we're told he had to wait at 28,700 feet (8747 meters) for more than an hour thanks to the traffic jams going up and down the mountain. The elder Whittaker feels that those crowds could be a disaster waiting to happen should extremely bad weather move in unexpectedly.

As we get closer to the start of new season on Everest I expect we'll see more pieces like this one. The 50th anniversary commemoration will no doubt also bring other media attention to the current climate for climbing on the world's tallest peak. But I doubt any of them will be written by anyone who has the same unique perspectives of Whittaker who really has seen the mountain evolve and change since he stood on top. This is definitely an interesting read from a man who knows what he is talking about.

Thanks to Bill Snyder for passing this my way. Much appreciated my friend!

Video: GoPro Goes Speedflying In Alaska

Speedflying is a unique melding of skiing and paragliding. Those who take part in the activity climb up a mountain then proceed to ski back down, using their parachute to gently lift them over obstacles or see them down particularly steep slopes. It is an interesting mix of outdoor sports to say the least and the results are often spectacular.

Recently the GoPro BombSquad went to Alaska to put their skills to the test. The result is the short but excellent video below that captures them skiing through fresh powder and sailing through the air. They make it look effortless and fun, but I don't think you'd ever catch me trying this.


GoPro: BombSquad Alaska TV Commercial from GoPro on Vimeo.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes Pulls Out Of Antarctic-Crossing After Contracting Frostbite

One of the biggest upcoming expeditions that I have been anticipating is the first-ever winter crossing of Antarctica led by Sir Ranulph Fiennes. The 3200km (2000 mile) journey would test even the heartiest of explorers, exposing them to temperatures as cold as -90ºC/-130ºF as they battled incredibly high winds and massive snow storms in what some consider the most challenging polar adventure left to do. Today we learned however that Fiennes has now been forced to pull out of the expedition after contracting severe frostbite while training.

Fiennes and his teammates have been in the Antarctic for several weeks now, putting the final touches on their preparations to launch their trans-continental trek. He and his companions were on a training exercise when Fiennes took a spill, damaging his ski bindings in the process. The famous explorer than proceeded to remove his gloves to fix the bindings in -30ºC/-22ºF temperatures which caused the frostbite. He is now waiting evacuation from the Antarctic to return to South Africa to receive treatment.

This isn't the first time that Fiennes has had to deal with frostbite. The veteran polar explorer has contracted it in the past on his numerous expeditions to the cold regions of our planet. In 2000, while traveling solo to the North Pole he had to be evacuated for the same reason. It was not long after that that he famously amputated his own finger tips to remove the necrotic area after his doctor urged him to wait until they were more fully healed. It is likely that that incident had an impact on him contracting frostbite once again.

The rest of the team is still proceeding ahead with their plans. They will depart on the Antarctic crossing on March 21 with several members of the team on skis, while others drive support vehicles behind them. We'll be able to follow their progress at the Coldest Journey website.

The BBC article linked to above indicates that Fiennes is absolutely devastated that he won't be able to join the team on this trek. Some believe that he saw this as a possible swan song to his career, capping an already impressive resume with one last grand adventure. Unfortunately that isn't going to happen. As soon as the weather clears, he will be on a plane back to South Africa.

Winter Climbs 2013: Weather Keeps Everyone Stationary

Reports out of Pakistan are starting to sound a bit like a broken record. The entire region is stuck in a bad weather pattern and it is keeping the climbers locked in place while they wait and watch the skies. The forecast doesn't look particularly good over the next few days, which means that one team will remain in Base Camp waiting for an opportunity to go up, while another waits to discover what has become of a lost climber.

On Broad Peak there is little news from the Polish team that is hoping to make the first ascent of that 8051-meter (26,414 ft) mountain. They were forced back from the summit early last week and have been in BC ever since. They are still hoping that conditions will improve and give them a shot at completing their climb, but the forecasts indicate that bad weather will remain over their position late into this week. If that holds true, they'll be unable to move up for another couple of days and they'll have to hope that their high camps remain in position when they start their next summit bids. One thing is for sure, they'll certainly be rested and ready to give it another go if a weather window does actually open.

The weather report on Nanga Parbat isn't any better as that mountain is expecting heavy snows throughout the week. Considering nearly everyone has left Nanga for the season, that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. But search and rescue teams remain on the Rupal Face where they have been searching for missing French snowboarder Joel Wischnewski and the poor weather conditions are not helping their cause any.

Wischnewski set off on a solo summit bid nearly three weeks ago and hasn't been heard from since. The SAR team has gone has high as Camp 2, which was his launching point on February 6, but there has been no sign of the climber. Since he was traveling in alpine style there is little gear to be found and because the weather has been so awful, no one has been able to go above C2 in their search. It could be another three or four days before they'll have the opportunity to go up, but at this point we have to wonder if they'll ever find anything at point.

I've tried to remain optimistic about Joel's wellbeing over the past 2+ weeks, but it seems the writing is on the wall. It seems nearly impossible that he could still be alive and healthy after this long on the mountain. At this point it seems the search teams are simply looking for his remains to try to figure out exactly what happened to him. I no longer believe that this story will have a happy ending.

My condolences to Joel's friends and family. It must be awful to simply sit and wait for news. Stay strong.

Alan Arnette Interviews Richard Salisbury - The Man Behind The Himalayan Database

As I've mentioned before, Alan Arnette is the best source of news and information on Everest, both leading up to the start of the spring season and while it is in full swing. As usual, Alan is getting us all ready for another year on the Big Hill by sharing some insightful interviews prior to the start of this year's expeditions. One of those interviews, posted earlier this week, is with a man you've probably never heard of, but whose impact on Himalayan mountaineering is undeniable.

The subject of Alan's latest interview is Richard Salisbury who works closely with the one and only Miss Elizabeth Hawley. For those who don't know Elizabeth Hawley, she is the preeminent expert on mountaineering the Himalaya, having spent more than 50 years in Kathmandu cataloging climbs and verifying just who has, and who hasn't summited. Quite frankly, if Miss Elizabeth says you haven't summited, no one else in the world is going to believe your story either.

Salisbury first met Hawley back in 1991 when he was planning a climb up Annapurna IV. At the time, he shared a spreadsheet he was using to keep track of the details of his climb, and he suggested that Hawley should start using a database to track all of the records that she was keeping of the big climbs in the Himalaya. She told him that she already had a grad student on that very project, but when the student moved to the U.S. to attend university, the project hit a wall.  In 1992, she and Salisbury reconnected and he began working on what would become the Himalayan Database, the most comprehensive expedition archive of the region.

This database has become the definitive work and lasting legacy of Elizabeth Hawley and it is used by climbers, guides, media outlets, writers and numerous other people to keep track of what happens on Everest and the other big Himalayan peaks each year. In the interview, Richard talks about the origins of the project, problems with false summits, how Everest has become increasingly safer to climb and a whole lot more.

For Everest junkies this will be a fascinating read. Lots of good insight and statistical information from a man who has a long history of climbing and trekking in the Himalaya and working with a woman who knows more than probably anyone else on the subject.

Video: Garmin fēnix For The Trekker

Okay, I promise this is the last video I'll post about the fēnix GPS watch but I didn't want the hikers and backpackers to feel left out on the fun. This latest video from Garmin features German trekker Ferdinand Thies who thru-hiked the 2200-mile (3500 km) Appalachian Trail and used his fēnix to share his adventures with friends and family along the way. Ferdinand likes the watch because it is lightweight and helps him navigate through areas he hasn't been to before without the bulk of a traditional GPS device.

The most intriguing thing to me about the fēnix is that I pretty much do everything that Garmin has showed us in the video. Climbing, hiking, trail running and so on. That makes this one very versatile watch as far as I'm concerned. I haven't decided if I'll pick up the fēnix or Suunto's Ambit, but both are definitely on my "wish list" at the moment.

Winter Climbs 2013: Search Continues On Nanga, Winds Howl On BP

Just a couple of short updates from Pakistan this morning as we head into the weekend. Not much has changed in the past few days, but I wanted to share what little information we have at the  moment.

On Nanga Parbat the search continues for missing French snowboarder Joel Wischnewski. After being forced down by poor weather earlier in the week, the team of high altitude porters who have gone looking for him had hoped to climb back up to Camp 2 yesterday and possibly go higher. There has been absolutely no sign of Wischnewski who now hasn't been heard from in more than two weeks. Because he was climbing in alpine style however, there are no fixed camps to search for. He had all of his gear with him when he set out for his summit push on February 6. That means he could be stuck in a tent, high on the mountain and currently out of reach. If that is the case, he has to be running low on food and fuel by now, regardless of his health.

I'm sure friends, family and the mountaineering community that has been following his climb are still hoping for a miracle, but the chances of him coming down safely now seems incredibly small. Over the past two weeks the weather hasn't been good on Nanga and he would have had to endure that at altitude. Not impossible of course, but highly unlikely during the bitterly cold winter. I think everyone should be preparing themselves for bad news at this point.

Over on Broad Peak the Polish team continues to sit and wait in Base Camp. After being turned back on a summit bid last weekend, they'll now rest and prepare for another window that could give them access to the top of the mountain once again. The problem is, the weather forecast indicates that high winds have now settled over BP and are expected to remain there well into next week. That means it could be the first March before the Poles get another shot at going up. And this being winter in Pakistan, that next weather window may never come. Still, they'll wait it out until the bitter end, hoping to nab the first winter ascent of the mountain and with a month to go until spring arrives, they should get at least one more chance. For now, we all wait and watch the skies.

That's all for today. Hopefully there will be some more news next week.

Video: First Ever Footage Of Baby Tigers In The Wild (Updated!)

Tigers are notoriously reclusive cats that have gotten rarer as their species has continued to shrink in numbers. But recently the BBC was able to capture the first ever footage of a mother tiger with her cubs in the wild. And just how exactly did they manage to do this after years of trying? Simple! They strapped cameras to elephants! It seems the pachyderms and big cats are not exactly mortal enemies, so the tigers don't flee when the elephants wander by. As a result, the BBC was lucky enough to capture this footage. Narration provided by Sir David Attenborough of course!

Update: It has been brought to my attention that this video is older than the February 15 posting date to YouTube and likely dates back to 2007. It was originally used in a BBC documentary entitled Tiger: Spy in the Jungle which was broadcasted in 2008. The footage is still remarkable and the story remains the same, but wanted to clarify that this isn't completely new after all.

Video: A Mountain Guide's Take On The Garmin fēnix

Judging from the amount of traffic that this series of videos from Garmin has gotten over the past few weeks, I think it safe to say that you are enjoying learning more about the fēnix GPS watch and how it can be used in our outdoor pursuits. The latest video features German mountain guide Christof Schellhammer, who worked closely with Garmin int he development of the fēnix. Christof shares how he uses the device to navigate through the mountains and the role it plays in helping him be a safer guide.

The more I see of these videos, the more I think I need one of these watches, which is kind of the point huh?

Filmmaker Set To Sail The Pacific In Search Of Adventure And "Guapo"

I have to admit, I have a soft spot for expeditions that plan to set off in search of nebulous adventures. The kind that don't have a lot of concrete goals per se, but are just looking for adventure in what ever form it arrives. That happens to be exactly what three filmmakers have in mind when they launch their "Finding Guapo" voyage later this year. The team is setting off to shoot a documentary on what they say will be "about life, adventure, nature, sailing, diving, freedom, but mostly about madness."

The men will be joined on this voyage by a mysterious adventurer who is simply named "Guapo." I don't know a lot about Guapo, but from what I have heard, he sounds a bit like he Dos Equis Most Interesting Man In the World.  In addition to being both a scuba and sky diving instructor, he is also a mountaineer who has climbed the big mountains of the Americas. A few years ago he also sailed solo from New York to New Caledonia, a tiny island located in the South Pacific, which he ended up making his home. In short, he is a free-spirited adventurer who goes where his wanderings take him.

It turns out, Guapo was planning on being in Mexico for a short time later this year and our intrepid filmmakers at KRAKEN decided they wanted to make this documentary with him during which they would be sailing across the Pacific Ocean. The current plan is for them to set sail for Australia, but as you'll see in the video below, those plans are in flux. They four men are going to see where their whims, and the tides of the Pacific, take them as they go looking for the adventure of a lifetime in the hopes of making a film about their travels.

To help fund this endeavor the men have set up an Indegogo campaign. They hope to raise $15,000 towards creating the project, although they're off to a bit of a slow start at the moment. With nearly a month to go however, they'll hopefully reach their goals.

Good luck to Guapo and the rest of the crew!


Finding Guapo - Indiegogo from Kraken Productora Tentacular on Vimeo.

Video: Walk On Water - The Greg Mallory Story

18-years ago a skiing accident left Greg Mallory paralyzed from the waist down. For most of us, that would be a life-altering event that would probably end our ability to enjoy the outdoors, but Greg turned to kayaking to continue his adventurous pursuits. Today, he is an expert paddler who routinely runs Class V waters with ease. The video below tells his story, which includes a deeply personal connection with the water.

Amazing and inspiring stuff, beautifully shot by Andy Maser.

Walk on Water from NRS Films on Vimeo.

Deadline Passes For Lance Armstrong To Deal With USADA

Yesterday was the deadline for Lance Armstrong to come forward and fully cooperate with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency if he hoped to get his lifetime ban from competition reduced to eight years. The deadline came and went without Armstrong meeting with USADA officials, leaving many to wonder what the next move is for the disgraced cyclist who seems embattled on numerous fronts at the moment.

Following his much publicized interview with Oprah Winfrey last month, in which he admitted to doping while riding in the Tour de France, the USADA asked Armstrong to testify under oath about his use of performance enhancing drugs. The organization dangled the carrot of removing the lifetime ban if he came clean on the subject and shared his information on which doctors, coaches, trainers and cycling officials facilitated his doping over the years. In other words, they were willing to reduce the ban provided Lance named names.

Armstrong's lawyers say that he is willing to cooperate and share more details, but the cyclist fears opening himself up to more lawsuits. He also says that the USADA should be a part of a larger investigation conducted by WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency. Lance believes that WADA has more jurisdiction over the sport because cycling is so Euro-centric. Lance has always maintained that the USADA's efforts were too narrowly focused on only select American riders when the entire sport needs to be cleaned up.

For its part, the USADA now says it'll move forward with its own investigations. After extending the deadline for Lance already, they don't seem too thrilled with the idea of delaying further. The organization still has a lot of work to do in terms of tracking down everyone who was involved in the widespread use of PED's in cycling. As we all know by now, that is a rabbit hole that runs quite deep.

Personally, I believe Lance is hoping to get his ban reduced even further. A lifetime ban from competition is pretty clear cut and an eight-year ban isn't much of an improvement. For an athlete, eight years is an eternity. Most can survive a two or three year band and get back to a competitive level, but eight years might as well be a lifetime. The chances of us ever seeing Lance competing in a race of any kind again seems fairly remote at this point.

Team Adidas-Terrex Prunesco Wins 2013 Patagonian Expedition Race

I haven't written much about the 2013 edition of the Patagonian Expedition Race in large part because it has been difficult to get much information about what was happening. For a decade this has been the first big adventure race of the year and it is notoriously challenging with unpredictable weather always playing a role. This year was no different and we even had familiar faces at the top of the leaderboard.

For the fourth year in a row, Team Adidas-Terrex Prunesco has claimed victory in Chile. The team, which is made up of Mark Humphreys, Nick Gracie, Sally Ozanne and Chris Near, crossed the finish line yesterday after nine days of non-stop racing. They beat out ten other teams, most of which are still out on the course. It appears that Team Eastwind will claim second place today.

It seemed that the only way to follow the race this year was on Facebook and Twitter. The website for the event has typically provided live tracking, an up-to-date leaderboard and regular news posting on what was happening out on the course. Those things were absent this time out, which made it a lot more challenging to figure out what was going on. Hopefully next year's version of the race will bring those tools back for us fans to follow.

Congrats to the champs once again. It seems that over the past few years they've made Patagonia their home turf. Well done!

Video: Mountain Of Greatness Trailer - Trail Running Around Kilimanjaro

Tanzanian ultrarunner Simon Mtuy has always wanted to raise awareness of his homeland's fantastic trail running opportunities and in 2012 he finally got his chance. Last year, Simon led a group of endurance athletes that included ultrarunning legend Krissy Moehl on an 8-day, 160-mile run around Kilimanjaro. The group crossed through difficult terrain, dealt with plenty of heat and ran trails that see very little traffic as they completed the first circumnavigation around Africa's highest mountain. They also encountered breathtaking scenery and the interacted with the wonderfully friendly Tanzanians that live along the base of the mountain.

While they were off on their trail running adventure a film crew captured the experience from start to finish. The film, which is entitled Mountain of Greatness, is set to make its debut at the Trails In Motion Film Festival in March, but you can check out the trailer below. It gives us a sneak peek at what the runners experienced while on this epic run along the base of Kili.

If after watching this trailer you should happen to find yourself motivated to make this run for yourself, you're in luck. Simon is organizing another Kilimanjaro Stage Run for 2013. It will take place from October 19-29 and comes with an all-inclusive price of just $2125 per person. Seems like a bargain for this kind of adventure.

Thanks to Andrew King for sharing this great story and video!


Mountain of Greatness - Teaser from D4 PRODUCTIONS | Andrew King on Vimeo.

Adventure Tech: Google's Project Glass

One of the expected next big things in terms of tech gadgets is wearable technology. Smartwatches are starting to get a lot of buzz, especially since Apple is rumored to be making one, and Google's Project Glass has been building some momentum for quite awhile now. For those who aren't familiar with Glass, it is a high-tech device that mounts a lightweight and tiny LCD screen right on the edge of your peripheral vision that can provide all kinds of information as you need it. The device pairs with your smartphone via BlueTooth, which allows the wearer to read and send text messages, get directions, take photos and video, and of course make Google searches.

Up until now, the exact functionality and how it looks has been a bit of a mystery. But Google is holding a developers conference at the moment and more information about Glass is starting to filter out, including the video below which gives us a real sense of what these things can do.

I have to admit, I wasn't completely sold on this technology when I first heard about it. I took a wait and see attitude because I wanted more information out of Google before I formed an opinion. But looking at the video, this looks like really exciting stuff. I like the idea of having a language translator ready to go at all times and the ability to get directions, with routing information right before your eyes, looks very promising. Sending texts with photos and interacting with friends over video calls could be a great deal of fun too. On top of that, the built in camera could be the first real challenge to GoPro in terms of the action cam market.

Right now Glass is only available to developers, with a new round of applications just opening, but Google is hoping to make this available to the general public sometime next year. It should be fascinating to see how it evolves in the months ahead.

Winter Climbs 2013: First Winter Ascent Of Laila Peak, Hopes Fading On Nanga Parbat

It has been another difficult year for the winter climbers in Pakistan where the weather conditions have once again been extremely difficult to overcome. But the season isn't over just yet and one team has found success by putting up the first winter ascent of a mountain in the Karakoram.

ExWeb is reporting that Alex Txikon and Jose Fernandez were successful in their bid to climb Laila Peak, topping out on Monday,  February 18. The 6096 meter (20,000 ft) mountain located in the Hushe Valley didn't make it easy on them however. The two men battled high winds and snow that was chest deep at times just to reach the summit. Their final push took ten hours to complete, with the descent requiring another four.

Alex and Jose say that wind speeds on the final push were in excess of 60 km/h (37 mph) and temperatures were hovering around -35ºC/-31ºF before taking into account the windchill. Exhausted from their efforts, the climbers spent the night in Camp 2 with two teammates who turned back earlier in the day due to injuries. All four have since descended to Base Camp where they are resting and preparing to head home.

Congrats to Alex and Jose on a job well done.

On Nanga Parbat search and rescue teams continued to look for missing French snowboarder Joel Wischnewski. It has been two weeks since we last heard anything from him as he started a summit push up the Rupal face that was expected to take three days to complete. The SAR team reached Camp 2 yesterday but still found no trace of the man. The rescue effort had to be halted however as bad weather prevented them from going any higher. Heavy snow and high winds are now expected over the next few days, so it will likely be the weekend before they can even think of proceeding higher.

After so long on the mountain without word, it is getting increasingly more difficult to see a happy ending on this one. Supplies would have to be running very low at this point and if he was capable of coming back down, he probably would have by now. I'm still hoping for the best, but reality is setting in.

Finally, the Polish team on Broad Peak has returned to BC to wait for another weather window. They had made a summit push over the weekend and into the first part of the week, reaching as high as 7800 meters (25,590 ft), but once again it was the poor weather that turned them back. The team has posted a recap of that "attack" on the summit, which you can read here.

For now, the entire squad will rest and watch the forecasts closely. They still have a few more weeks of winter left and with most of the work done, they simply wait for an opportunity to go up. All of their ropes are fixed, they're acclimatized to the weather and altitude and they're regaining their strength for another push. Lets hope they get the opportunity to have another go.

Become An Outdoor Gourmet With CampingRecipes.co

Are you the kind of person who spends more time cooking over a campfire or backpacking stove than you do in your own kitchen? If so, there is a new website you'll definitely want to checkout and add to your bookmarks. It's called CampingRecipes.co and it is sure to become a popular resource for the outdoor crowd.

As you would expect from an online cooking site, Camping Recipes has a database filled with all kinds of suggestions for things to eat while out on the trail. It features hundreds of suggestions for healthy and tasty snacks and meals for when you're out on the trail. It even features full meal plans designed to provide plenty of calories for extended trips.

The site offers a solid search tool for finding new versions of your favorite recipes but it also provides plenty of categories to explore as well. For instance, there are vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options.  There are also suggestions for car camping , backpacking and ultralight trekking, as well as recipes that don't require any cooking at all. Camping Recipes provides excellent choices for kids, low carb selections and even gourmet meals for the talented trail chef.

But what really sets this site apart from others is the wealth of information in provides specifically for backpacking. Not only does it provide the full recipe for the meals but it also provides calorie counts too. It also offers an estimated weight for carrying all the ingredients in your pack, which is helpful for those who want to know exactly what they're carrying with them when they hit the trail.

If you're looking to add some new options to your outdoor cooking repertoire, then head over to CampingRecipes.co now. While you're there, sign-up and join the community. You'll be abel to share some of your favorite trail-menu options, interact with others and review recipes.

Now if you'll excuse me, I suddenly find myself very hungry.

Video: Climbing Nanga Parbat's Mummery Face - Round 2

Daniele Nardi and Elisabeth Revol have just returned home from their attempt at a winter ascent of Nanga Parbat in Pakistan and now have shared another video from the mountain. The duo were attempting to climb the Mummery Face but like everyone else, were turned back by high winds, deep snow and bitterly cold temperatures. In the video, they spend the first minute and half explaining their route using a photo from a book. After that footage from the climb takes over giving us an idea of just how difficult the climb really was. It is some very impressive footage from the peak and indicates what the climbers were dealing with there the past few months.

Nanga Parbat Winter - videonews 07 - Mummery attempt 2 from Daniele Nardi on Vimeo.

Video: Freediver Catches Ride On A Great White Shark

The woman in this video, the aptly named Ocean Ramsey, is most certainly braver than I am. Not only is she a freediver but she also seems to have no fear of sharks. Freedivers swim to impressive depths without the use of scuba gear and in this video she's doing just that when she decides to grab a passing great white shark to go for a ride. Despite the fact that she's flirting with one of the more impressive predators on the planet, the video is oddly tranquil to watch.

Thanks to the Goat for the recommendation.

Winter Climbs 2013: Summit Bid Halted On BP, Search Continues On Nanga

More news from Pakistan this morning where weather has once again put a temporary halt to a summit attempt and the search continues for a missing climber who hasn't been heard from in two weeks.

Yesterday I posted that the Polish team on Broad Peak was in the middle of a summit push as they strove to take advantage of an open weather window. It turns out that window didn't last as high winds moved over the summit of the mountain. Two climbers got as high as 7820 meters (25,656 ft) before turning back as visibility decreased and the already frigid temperatures began to drop further.

Two other  two-man squads were standing by to make their attempts but as conditions worsened, the entire team decided to return to Base Camp. All are safely in BC now and will wait to make another attempt as the forecast permits. There is no word yet as to when that might possibly happen.

Meanwhile, the search continues on Nanga Parbat for missing French snowboarder Joel Wischnewski. According to ExWeb, the SAR team has now climbed as high as Camp 1 but they still haven't seen any signs of Joel. They reached that point yesterday and hoped to climb higher today, although the weather forecasts indicate heavy snows moving into the region over the next three days.

The last we heard from Wischnewski he was climbing above Camp 2 in an attempt to make the summit in a three-day push. That was on February 6. Unfortunately, that doesn't bode well for the man who was climbing solo and already quite sick before he set out. Hopes have to be growing dim at this point, but he was well supplied and it is possible he is still holed up somewhere without any way to communicate. That seems increasingly unlikely to me at this point, but it isn't beyond the realm of possibility. Hopefully we'll know more soon.

Gear Closet: Osprey Volt 60 Backpack

Backpackers and adventure travelers in the market for a high quality, yet cost effective, pack for their next adventure have a serious new contender to consider in the form of the Volt 60 from Osprey. This durable, versatile and lightweight pack is well suited for everything from weekend trips to local trails to weeks long excursions to the far corners of the planet.

As with all packs from Osprey, the Volt is very comfortable to wear and carries a full load quite nicely. Of course, comfort is a relative thing of course but it always starts with getting a good fit. At first glance, it is easy to be intimidated by the Volt's various belts, clips and straps, but once  you pull the pack on, it's a breeze to adjust everything to your liking. Admittedly, I have a lot of experience adjusting a backpack, but even taking that into account, it takes just a minute or two to get the Volt locked in for your body type.

Adjusting the exact fit of the Volt extends to the torso as well, with the length being adjustable just as quickly and easily as the rest of the pack. A quick tug on a velcro attachment allows the back panel to slide more than five inches up or down, making it possible for this one pack to work well for people of a variety of heights. Out of the box, my Volt was far too short for me, but once again I was able to adjust it and find the right fit in a matter of moments.

I happen to be an unabashed fan of Osprey packs but even I was impressed with how thick the Volt's padding is on both the shoulder straps and the hipbelt. That padding helps to make carrying a heavy load much easier and at the end of the day you won't feel quite so sore. The hipbelt also comes with two surprisingly spacious pockets which are perfect for a point and shoot camera, energy bars, GPS device or what ever else you want to keep close at hand.

The interior of the pack doesn't disappoint either providing an ample 60L of storage. Osprey says that's enough for 2-5 of travel, although I've found if you know how to pack properly and don't mind going a bit light, it is enough to go well beyond that. The top pocket on the Volt is large and spacious as well, providing a nice option for storing small but essential items. A dedicated sleeping bag compartment provides access from both the interior of the Volt or through a zippered wide-mouthed access port at the bottom. A mesh pocket on the back is perfect for overflow storage, while two more on the sides serve as bottle holders.

Other features include a hydration sleeve that can accommodate up to a 3-liter bladder, sleeping pad straps, ice axe loops and trekking pole storage. In short, Osprey has hit all of the important points with the Volt, delivering a product that continues the company's legacy of high quality in simple, well designed and compact package.

First time backpack buyers will find the Volt to be a great option, particularly because it comes with a price point that is easy to swallow. Considering everything that this pack delivers, the $179 cost seems like a real bargain. And since it is built with durable, high quality fabrics it should be an investment that will last for many years to come.

That's not to say veteran adventure travelers won't find a lot to love here as well. This is a comfortable, well built pack that can easily carry a heavy load without missing a beat. It has everything that we look for in a backpack and then some.

I happen to love the 60L size, which for me seems to be the sweet-spot for "just enough" storage for a trip. But if you find that is a bitt too confining for your needs, the Volt also comes in a 75L version as well. That pack shares its little brothers quality and comfort with just a bit more storage.

If you have big camping, backpacking or adventure travel plans for the year ahead, and you need a pack to see you through, the Volt is a great choice.

Video: Garmin fēnix For Trail Running

While we're on the topic of trail running today, here's another video in the new series from Garmin that extolls the virtues of their fēnix GPS watch. This time out we hear from French trail runner Sebastien Camus who competes in utramarathons and other endurance runs. He loves this watch because of how well it helps him train and since he once ran across New Caledonia for three days, non-stop and without sleep, he appreciates the long battery life too.

North America's First Trail Running Conference Comes To Estes Park Colorado

Trail running in one of the most popular and fastest growing outdoor sports in the U.S., so it seems only natural that the first ever conference in North America focused on the sport should take place later this year. The inaugural Estes Trail Ascent is scheduled to take place June 20-22 in Estes Park, Colorado - one of the premiere trail running destinations in a state that is known for its amazing locations for all mountain sports.

The event is tailored for athletes, event organizers and vendors alike, with something to offer everyone. The daily schedule, which is still being completely filled in, will include seminars, speaker panels, a gear expo and of course trail runs – including a 5.9-mile (9.5 km) race that features 1900 feet (579 meters) of elevation gain.

Event organizers will be especially interested in the Event Director College. This first of its kind event will run at the same time as the trail running conference and is designed to give race directors all of the tools they need to focus on and build a quality event. Seminars and panels will share secrets on finding sponsorships, event management, marketing, public relations and more. Managers of successful trail running events across the U.S. will share their wisdom and knowledge that will allow the sport to continue to grow in new areas.

Registration for the Estes Trail Ascent is now open. If you're interested in attending, book your plans now.

It is great to see this kind of event cropping up in the U.S. for the first time. Trail running is popular with outdoor enthusiasts, so its wonderful to see the sport growing to the point that a conference of this type can take place. Estes Park is also a beautiful setting for the event as well and well worth attending just to spend a little time in the area.

The Adventurists Launch Unsupported Bike Race From London To Istanbul

The Adventurists, whose devious minds have brought us the Mongol Rally and the Rickshaw Run, are launching a new adventure this summer and this time its geared  for the cycling crowd. Starting in August, the first ever QuickEnergy Trans Continental Race will get underway, launching Europe's longest unsupported race covering more than 2000 miles between London and Istanbul.

As is typical with an event put on by the Adventurists, this race gives participants a lot of leeway in how they get from the starting gate to the finish line. Riders will be allowed to take any route they see fit, although they will have to pass through a few checkpoints along the way. These CP's will ensure that everyone faces similar challenges on their ride to Istanbul, with one of the biggest of those being a crossing of the Alps. Navigation along the route is also very flexible and competitors are free to use good old fashioned maps, a GPS device or simply get directions from those they meet along the way. The point is that there are very few restrictions to the race, aside from getting across Europe to the finish line.

As noted, this is an unsupported race, which means the riders will need to carry all of their gear and supplies with them when they set out. That will require them to make tough decisions about what is absolutely necessary and what can be left at home. It comes down to shaving weight off the bike while still having all of the necessary gear with them for a prolonged journey.

Registration for the Trans Continental Race opens tomorrow and the event is scheduled to begin on August 2. Thanks to their partnership with QuickEnergy, the entry fee is going to be just £95 ($146), which is incredibly affordable for this kind of event.

Crew Wanted For Pacific Ocean Row

Have you ever wanted to row across an ocean? If so, you'll definitely want to read this post. 

Earlier today, adventurer Alastair Humphreys, who rowed across the Atlantic last year,  posted a call for a crew to row across the Pacific next year. Alastair, who says rowing one ocean was enough for him, has shared a message from Philip Cavanagh who is looking to put together a team to compete in the Pacific Ocean Rowing Race that is scheduled to take place between California and Hawaii in 2014.

The note reads as follows:

Philip will be participating in the first Pacific Ocean row in June 2014, and is looking for crewmates. The race is a 2,100 nautical mile row from California to Hawaii, and the boat will be powered by human strength alone. Everything needed for the row will be onboard, and the crew will receive no assistance during the race. 

To join the crew, you do not need rowing experience! All we want is a sense of adventure, a desire to succeed and the will to do something extraordinary! 

The shift pattern will be a demanding 2 hours on 2 hours off for the duration of the race. (Which means you’ll be able to sleep 50% of the time… glass half full!)
If you’d like to express an interest, or would like more information, contact Philip at Philip.cavanagh3@gmail.com

 So there you go. If you're looking for a big adventure next year and rowing across a giant body of water sounds like something you'd like to try, then drop Phillip a note and find out more of the details. This could be a fantastic opportunity for the right person.

Winter Climbs 2013: Summit Push Underway On Broad Peak

It was a very busy and active weekend on Broad Peak where the Polish team has launched their summit bids amidst forecasts of better weather ahead. As is typical with this squad, they have been taking a methodical and focused approach with two-man teams alternating going up higher as they fix ropes and build camps. One of those teams is hoping for a successful summit push today. If that happens, it'll be the first winter ascent of the 8051 meter (26,414 ft) peak.

Over the weekend, two members of the team, Adam Bielecki and Artur Małek, were able to push as high as 7820 meters (25,656 ft) in their push but returned to Camp 3 after completing their work. Another temporary camp is now in place at 7400 meters (24,278 ft) which is where summit bids are being launched today. The hope is that with three or four rotating squads, they'll continue to assault the summit while the weather window remains open.

Keep your fingers crossed for the team. They've been working very hard this season and their goal is now in sight. Lets hope they get up and down the mountain safely.

Over on Nanga Parbat, the whereabouts of Joel Wischnewski remains a mystery. Last week I reported that he had been in contact with his support team and that everything was fine, but if you missed the update to that story, it turns out that report was in error. There still has been no word from Joel, who was incredibly sick the last time we heard from him. That was nearly two weeks ago, which doesn't bode well for the French snowboarder, who claimed that his summit push would be three days in length. Now ExWeb is reporting that a search and rescue operation is underway with a team of local climbers now on the Rupal Face searching for the missing climber. Lets try to hope stay positive and hope for the best.

Allen Moore Wins 2013 Yukon Quest

The 1000-mile long Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race wraps up today when the final competitor is expected to cross the finish line. That musher will be Dyan Bergen, who has been running behind the pack since almost the start. Still, as a testament to her skill and endurance, she will complete the difficult event today and pick up the ceremonial Red Lantern when she arrives at the finish line in Fairbanks, Alaska having traveled all the way from Whitehorse in the Yukon in Canada.

This year's Yukon Quest was particularly challenging thanks to an over abundance of snow in certain areas of the course. There was so much powder in fact that race organizers were forced to cut a 50-mile section from the route because it was impassable. Twenty-six sled dog teams started in Whitehorse, but six of them, including four-time champ Lance Mackey, dropped throughout the course of the event.

But for the men running up front, it was quite the competition. Allen Moore and Hugh Neff, both very experienced mushers, pushed each other at every turn, each making strategic moves at various times that would have an impact on each other and the eventual outcome of the race. In the end, it was Moore who finished first this past Monday, just an hour and fifteen minutes ahead of Neff. Brent Sass came along later in the day to claim third place.

Throughout the rest of the week the other mushers and their dogs have been trickling into Fairbanks, with several arriving just yesterday. That leaves Bergen as the lone sled still out on the course, although she will make it home later today. In a race like the YQ, there is absolutely no shame in coming in last place however, as it is an accomplishment just to finish. I'm sure she'll display her Red Lantern very proudly as she absolutely should.

With the Yukon Quest wrapping up, its nearly time for the Iditarod to begin. In a few weeks, a larger field of racers will take to that classic course in the annual race from Anchorage to Nome. As usual, I can't wait.

Svalbard Solo Expedition: Four Weeks Alone In The Arctic

Traditionally this is the time of the year when arctic expeditions begin to ramp up, particularly with skiers attempting to go to the North Pole. As I've mentioned numerous times in recent weeks however, that is becoming a more difficult prospect with each passing year and fewer and fewer adventurers have set their sights on that difficult journey.

But that doesn't mean the arctic doesn't have plenty to offer in terms of other challenges and there are still plenty of opportunities to explore its icy landscapes. Take the Svalbard Solo expedition for example, which will send Liam Wilton on a month-long journey through Norway's Spitsbergen island, the largest in the Svalbard archipelago.

Wilton intends to set out in early-March on what will be a 450 mile (724 km) unsupported and unassisted ski expedition through the Arctic. He'll spend the first week acclimatizing near Longyearbyen, the largest settlement on Spitsbergen. Those early days of the expedition will give him the opportunity to get use to the cold temperatures while also testing his gear and supplies. Once he completes that work, he'll launch the expedition proper, heading north to the furthest reaches of the island.

Liam has set a goal of covering approximately 15 miles (24 km) per day, which would mean he should finish the route in about 30 days. Along the way he intends to shoot video of the landscape and his travels through it with the intention of making a short film about solo arctic travel when he returns home.

The expedition is still a couple of weeks from getting underway and Wilton is busy getting his gear sorted and last minute travel details worked out. You'll be able to follow his progress on SvalbardSolo.com or through his Twitter feed.

Good luck Liam! Enjoy the experience.

Walking The Nile Team Launches Kickstarter Campaign

Earlier in the week I wrote a story about two Brits, Lev Wood and Simon Clarke, who are preparing to walk the length of the Nile River. At the time, the details for the expedition were still filling in, but we knew that they were planning a year-long expedition that would cross through seven countries and cover more than 4250 miles in the process. There was no date set for the start of the journey, but we do know that Wood and Clarke intend to embark this year.

Fast forward a few days and we're starting to get a clearer picture of their plans. The team has now launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the expedition and they're hoping to raise £30,000 (roughly $46,500) to get things underway. The campaign is scheduled to run for another 51 days, which means they won't be setting off on their trek until late April at the earliest.

The Kickstarter page tells us that Lev and Simon have already secured a television deal which will include three 60-minute episodes of their expedition to be aired on the BBC. Once underway, they'll also have a live GPS tracker that will allow us to track their progress at all times. The Walking the Nile website will also be updated to provide regular blog posts as well as video and photos from the field.

As of now, the team has received just 2% of their funding goal on Kickstarter, with 11 people contributing to the cause. Hopefully they'll achieve their goal however and be able to get the expedition off the ground. This is definitely one adventure I'm looking forward to following.

Winter Climbs 2013: Joel Safe On Nanga, Poles Wait On Broad Peak (Updated!)

It has been a challenging week on Nanga Parbat where the weather took a turn for the worse and sent several teams home for good. But one climber remains on that mountain and is determined to stay through the end of the season, despite the fact that conditions are less than ideal.

It has been a week and a half since we last heard anything out of French snowboarder Joel Wischnewski, which has been a cause for concern amongst those of us who are following the winter expeditions closely. His last dispatch indicated that he would be moving up the Rupal face on Nanga and that we could expect news in three days time. That deadline came and went without an update and considering how sick he was before setting off, it is understandable that we would wonder about his condition.

But Raheel Adnan, writing on his Altitude Pakistan blog, says that Joel is fine, feeling good and just waiting for a weather window. He is reportedly camped at about 5300 meters (17,388 ft), which is a lower altitude than expected, with plenty of food and supplies to hold him over. As suspected, the charger on his cell phone isn't working properly, which has been part of the problem with keeping in communications. He has been signaling back down the mountain using a light however, letting his support team know that he is okay.

It seems that Joel is extremely determined to climb this mountain and if the weather cooperates, he'll be there to take advantage of the opportunity.

(Update: As you'll see in the comments section below this post, there has been a miscommunication between Raheel and Joel's support team. There has been no communication between him and his logistics company, which leaves us wondering once again where he is at and what his condition is. What started as a possible ray of hope that everything was okay, has gotten a bit dimmer after Raheel's update. Lets continue to keep our fingers crossed that Joel is okay.)

Meanwhile, over on Broad Peak, the Polish squad continues to sit and wait in Base Camp. Their forecasts indicate that the weather will remain bad for another few days, at which time they can finally proceed back up the mountain. The next set of duties include fixing ropes to Camp 4, erecting tents and building a gear cache at that location and then waiting for an opportunity to make a summit bid. Once the skies clear, they'll be more than rested and ready to complete that task.

In the meantime, they've posted some great photos that detail the route to the top which you can view in this blog post. They also posted the amazing image below of the final approach to BP's summit. Beautiful stuff to say the lest.

The Alpinist Celebrates 50 Years Of Everest

As many of you no doubt know, 2013 will mark the 50th anniversary of the first American summit of Everest (by Jim Whittaker) and the first successful climb along the very challenging West Ridge (by Tom Hornbein and Willi Unsoeld). Over the course of the next few months we're sure to see plenty of tributes to those accomplishments as the Everest season gets into full swing, but Alpinist magazine is one of the first out of the box with two features stores that shouldn't be missed.

First, back in January, Alpinist.com featured a great article that takes a historical look what the American team accomplished on the West Ridge. Just getting there was a bit of a challenge and things only got more difficult from there. But climbing in lightweight style, Hornbein and Unsoeld proved that an approach to the summit along that route was possible, despite the hazards. Their story, as told by historian Maurice Isserman, is definitely required reading for anyone who is a fan of mountaineering in general and Everest in particular.

Today, Alpinist has followed up that story with their own article entitled "50 Years on Everest." This piece discusses the legacy of the West Ridge summit which inspired generations of climbers that followed and encouraged many Americans to go outside and explore the world around us. But the legacy runs even deeper than that, with mountaineering evolving a great deal since that expedition from a half-century ago.

The story also points out that  that even though Hornbein and Unsoeld received the glory, it took a whole team of men to put them on top, something the two mountaineers are quick to acknowledge. It was a real cooperative effort on the part of everyone involved, which isn't always the case on some expeditions today.

Both are excellent articles and worth a read. Especially as we head into a new Everest season in the weeks ahead.

Adventure Tech: RFLKT iPhone Powered Cycling Computer

Cyclists looking for a new gadget to help track their rides are going to love the RFLKT from Wahoo Fitness. Like other cycling computers, the RFLKT connects to your handlebars and displays information about your ride, including speed, distance and time. But unlike most other devices of this type, the RFLKT connects to an iPhone via BlueTooth, which allows it to do so much more.

In a sense, the RFLKT actually serves as a second screen for the iPhone, providing data from multiple cycling apps, controlling music, providing GPS functionality and even connecting to the Internet. It will also offer turn-by-turn directions, lap timers and the ability to connect with heart rate monitors, displaying that information on the fully customizable screen. In short, it is everything you could ask for in a cycling computer with some nice additional features as well. And since the two devices are wirelessly connected with one another, you can safely keep your phone in a jersey pocket at all times.

I'm not a big fan of listening to music while riding, but having the ability to control your tunes without taking the phone out is a nice option. If the RFLKT also had integrated caller ID and the ability to see text messages, this would be an almost perfect option. It definitely is intriguing however and since its based on an open platform, I'm sure we'll see some interesting things being developed for it. At $129, it is also quite affordable. There are plenty of cycling computers that cost more than that without nearly as much functionality.