Video: U.S. Trailer For Kon-Tiki

One of the greatest adventure stories ever is, without a doubt, Kon-Tiki. The book tells the tale of Thor Heyerdahl and his epic attempt to cross the Pacific Ocean on a simple raft, covering more than 4300 nautical miles in the process. When I heard they were making a film of this story, I was anxious to see it, and while it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film earlier this year, it is just now making its way stateside. The film opens on April 26 but you can get a sneak peek in the trailer below. It looks absolutely spectacular and everything you'd expect from this grand adventure.

Adventure Tech: The Clearpath Robotic's Grizzly Unmanned ATV

The days of pulling a heavy sled to the North or South Pole or lugging all of your gear across an open desert may be over. Clearpath Robotics has just introduced the new Grizzly ATV, which is designed to be an unmanned cart for carrying heavy loads over difficult terrain.

According to the Grizzly's specs, it can carry a load of up to 600 kg (1322 pounds) and can travel as fast as 19 km/h (11.8 mph). In the video below it also demonstrates its ability to go all kinds of challenging terrain. It is also packed with a host of sensors that help find its way and it's brains are powered by an open-source Robot Operating System.

Lest anyone think this new robot is going to make life easier on our favorite adventurers anytime real soon, I should point out that it's batteries are only good for about 12-hours max (much less with a heavy load). It then requires a 12-hour recharge time before use again. Something that wouldn't be very easy to do at the South Pole. Still, it is an interesting looking concept. No word yet on price.

Video: A Close Encounter With Humpback Whales

I've been fortunate enough to have all kinds of amazing wildlife encounters in my travels, but I haven't yet gotten the opportunity to go whale spotting. I hope to change that in the future and videos like this one only help to make that more of a priority. It was shot with a GoPro camera (of course!) and while it is short, it captures some amazing underwater images of a pod humpback whales. Simply beautiful.

GoPro: Cruising with Humpback Whales from GoPro on Vimeo.

Ueli Steck Talks To Nat Geo Adventure On Paragliding Adventures And More

Earlier in the week I shared a video of mountaineer Ueli Steck learning to operate a paraglider, which he would go on to use in some of his more recent adventures. In the past couple of days, that same video has started to show up elsewhere and this morning it was posted on the Nat Geo Adventure Blog.  But rather than just sharing the video with readers, the team over at National Geographic also tracked Ueli down for a brief interview. As always, the "Swiss Machine" has some interesting things to share.

In the interview, Ueli talks about his interest in paragliding and how he has integrated it into his mountaineering plans. Remember, last year Ueli linked up three iconic peaks in the Alps for a single day of climbing and gliding. He mentions that it adds a bit of weight to his gear (2.6 kilograms/5.7 pounds) but it opened up new possibilities for his adventures.

The conversation also shifts to Everest and his plans for this year, which the Swiss alpinist is still keeping close to the vest. We know he'll be climbing a new route with Simone Moro this spring, but what exactly that entails, we don't know yet. Ueli also commented on his Everest climb without supplemental oxygen last year, saying his descent was "easy" getting back to the South Col in just 2.5 hours. He even weighs in on the topic of over crowding on the world's tallest mountain.

In case you missed the video in question earlier this week, I've reposted it below. Go read the full interview by clicking here.

North Pole 2013: Racing To The Magnetic North Pole

The 2013 North Pole season has been a non-starter so far this year, but we're about to get a few adventurers heading out on Arctic adventures. The Barneo Ice Camp is now set to open early next week, which will grant access for last degree skiers to the North Pole. But on the other side of the planet adventurer Gavin Bate is preparing to embark on a long distance polar trek that will culminate at the Magnetic North Pole.

Gavin should arrive in Resolute Bay, Canada sometime today and he plans to embark on his 550 km (341 mile) journey on Monday. He'll then travel on skis, pulling a sledge filled with his gear and supplies, toward the MNP. That means he isn't headed toward 90ºN, which is the location of the Geographic North Pole, but will actually be skiing to 78° 35’N, 104°11’W, which was the location of the Magnetic North Pole in 1996. That position was marked for the first Polar Race, and although the MNP moves over time, it has remained a landmark ever since.

In the spirit of that Polar Race, Gavin has named his expedition the Race Me To The Pole. He'll be going solo on this journey but he is inviting supporters to race him to the finish line by donating to his cause. The explorer is using the expedition to raise funds for his Moving Mountains Trust, an organization dedicated to sustainable development in Tanzania, Kenya, Borneo and Nepal. Every £1 ($1.50) is worth 25 meters of distance and the hope is that those donating to the charity will actually raise enough money to cover the 550 km distance before Bate does.

You'll be able to follow Gavin's progress on RaceMeToThePole.com. While this won't be a full distance journey to the North Pole, but it will still be a good challenge. Considering how few expeditions to the Arctic we've seen over the pat few years, it's good to have one to follow this spring. Good luck to Gavin on this endeavor.

Video: Mt. Everest - The Quest

As we ramp up to the start of a new climbing season in the Himalaya, its fun to look back on a bygone era of mountaineering in Nepal. The video below is the first part of a documentary about the first expedition to climb the mountain and some of the old footage is great, including shots of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. I also happen to love the over the top narration and bombastic music. It reminds me of the educational films we use to watch as a kid in school and I mean that in the best possible way. At 42 minutes in length, you'll once again have to make yourself comfortable, but if you enjoy this look back at climbing history, you may want to check out the second part of the documentary  which can be found here.

Adventure Tech: Test A Smartphone Designed For Adventurers And Get Funding For Your Next Expedition

We all know that smartphones have become an almost indispensable part of our daily lives, keeping us connected to friends and family, helping us navigate through our busy schedules and providing all kinds of useful information right in the palm of our hand. But most of them aren't necessarily designed with the outdoor crowd in mind which makes carrying an expensive and fragile device with us on our adventures a bit problematic. But a company called Adaia is opening to change that by building the first smartphone specifically for the adventurer.

The device itself hasn't been shown yet, but the company's website gives us some hints about what they have in mind. The designers are looking to create a ruggedized piece of equipment that is shockproof, waterproof (down to 10 meters) and altitude proof (up to 9000 meters). They want to make it satellite-enabled so that it can work anywhere on the planet and include a single emergency button to allow for the calling of assistance at any time. On top of that, it will run the most up to date version of the Android operating system and look as good as any other smartphone on the market.

In order to achieve those loft goals, Adaia has put together a dedicated team with plenty of experience in the telecommunications field to create their dream phone for the adventurer who goes to the extreme places of our planet. They've also built an advisor board that includes the likes of extreme athlete Kevin Vallely and wingsuit pilot Jeb Corliss.

The company has also launched a new promotion on their Facebook page looking for adventurers to help test the device later this year. To that end, they are looking for the Adaia Daring Dozen to take prototype devices into the field and put them through their paces. The company might even fund a dream expedition for an adventurer too!

To be eligible, all you have to do is "Like" Adaia's Facebook page and enter their Daring Dozen contest by submitting photos via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram of your latest big adventure. Use the hashtag #ADAIADOZEN to help them find your entry. You can also submit YouTube or Vimeo clips and longer entries can be sent via email to daringdozen@adaiadevices.com. Each week, they'll select five winners to receive a base layer t-shirt and each month the'll select a big winner to send off to some exotic location to put the new smartphone to the test. Find out all of the details by clicking here.

As an outdoor adventurer and tech nerd myself, I have to say I'm very interested in seeing what Adaia has up their sleeve here. The device sounds very promising and could be a great new tool for taking into the field. Hopefully we'll get a look at it in the near future as it gets closer to becoming a real product.

Gear Closet: Socks For Outdoor Adventure

When we think about performance apparel for our outdoor adventures we always seem to gravitate toward the latest in tech shirts, shell jackets or footwear. After all, those items are typically some of the most important pieces of gear in determining our enjoyment of our favorite activities. One article of clothing that can have a big impact on performance but is seldom considered at all is our socks. Keeping our feet healthy and happy is vitally important to many of our outdoor pursuits and our selection of socks can play an important role in making that happen.

Here are two excellent paris of sox that your feet will be happy are in your gear closet.

2XU Performance Running Socks ($44.95)
As I mentioned a few weeks back, I'm a recent convert to the great performance gear that 2XU makes for runners, cyclists and other outdoor athletes. I've been using a pair of their excellent shorts while running and a set of compression socks for post-run recovery, and both have performed beyond my expectations. In fact, they're so good that they set my expectations quite high for their new Performance Running Socks, which are designed for use both while running and in recovery afterwards.

Made from lightweight and highly breathable fabrics, these socks are extremely form fitting – which is exactly the point of compression gear. The Performance Sock is designed to promote increased circulation in the calf which can make for better performance, particularly on longer runs. They have the added benefit of reducing fatigue, which aids in quicker recovery time and fewer injuries.


I've been putting these socks through their paces on my longer 8-10 mile (12-16 km) runs and I've found them to be very comfortable to wear. The weather here in Texas has been warm already this spring, but the socks have wicked away moisture and kept my feet dry, while still working their compression magic. I'm not sure I'll want to wear them in the heat of summer, but they work well in moderate temps for sure. I didn't find that I was running any faster while wearing these socks but I can say that I did notice a difference in how my legs felt the next day when I was ready for another run. I didn't experience the same level of muscle fatigue and that helped performance in the days that followed and allowed me to extend my distances too.

Comfortable to wear, fight fatigue and allow you to run further and more often. What more could you ask?

Keen Olympus Hiking Socks ($20)
New this spring, Keen is introducing a line of socks for hiking that are designed to be both super-comfortable and very durable. The company's proprietary Dura-Zone fabrics are woven into the heel and toes and are reportedly "weight for weight" stronger than steel. I'll have to take their word on that, but I can say that while testing these socks on multiple hikes, they didn't show a single sign of wear and tear. I get the sense that when you buy a pair of these socks, you'll be using them on many adventures to come.

Like most of Keen's hiking socks, the Olympus come with both a left and right footed version. That may seem like a bit of gimmick, but trust me, you can certainly tell a difference in how they feel on your foot. Socks that are specifically tailored in this manner are more comfortable and cradle your foot to perfection. After you wear them once, you'll probably wonder why every pair of sock doesn't come with a left and right model.

One of the worst things that can happen while hiking or backpacking is getting blisters on your feet. The Olympus socks are designed to remain stable and not shift about, which is usually the cause foot irritation to begin with. I wore these socks fresh from the package and in a new pair of hiking boots that I was breaking in for the first time and even though I tackled some challenging trails, my feet came away none the worse for wear. The soft and thick fabrics that Keen has used here are extremely gentle on the feet and they provide more cushioning when traversing rocky ground, something we have in abundance in the Texas Hill Country.

Now that spring has arrived, you're no doubt thinking about getting back out on the trail for some long hikes in the warmer weather. Do yourself a favor and pick up a pair of these socks before you hit the trail. You'll be glad you did and your feet will be happier than ever. It'll be the best $20 you've invested in a long time. Particularly when you're still using them many years and miles from now.

James Cameron Donates Sub To Oceanographic Institution

Filmmaker/Explorer/All-Around Great Guy James Cameron has donated his Deepsea Challenger submersible to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in a bid to spur more underwater exploration and research. The Challenger is the same vehicle that Cameron used last year on his record setting dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of that epic adventure to the lowest point on the planet, located some 11 km (7 miles) below the surface of the Pacific Ocean. Cameron, whose filmography includes the likes of Avatar and Titanic, became just the third person to visit the Challenger Deep and the first to do so solo. He spent seven years and $8 million on building the sub, which captured footage for an upcoming 3D film about the dive. Despite some rumors about making another voyage to the bottom of the sea however, the director has not gone back into the depths.

In donating the vehicle to the WHOI, Cameron also joined the organization's advisory board. Researchers at the institute will use vehicles advanced lighting and camera systems as part of their own programs as they continue exploring trenches in both the Atlantic and Pacific. Cameron will consult with engineers there on those systems as well as others that he helped develop for his dive.

It is hard not to have massive respect for Cameron. He is highly successful in his day job, to say the least, and yet he has a passion for science and exploration that is tough to deny. I get the impression he makes hundreds of millions of dollars making films for Hollywood so he can fund his other projects. And when he's done with his high tech toys that he personally helped develop, he passes them along to others who can benefit as well. We should all be so lucky to have that flexibility in our lives.

The Coldest Journey Update: Stuck In A Whiteout

Following a delayed start, the Coldest Journey team got underway late last week and have been making solid progress during their first few days on the ice. The group is hoping to become the first expedition to complete a traverse of Antarctica during the winter, which means crossing more than 3800 km (2361 miles) of frozen ground while being battered by the coldest and harshest weather imaginable. 

The journey began at Crown Bay where the team first endured a four-day blizzard just prior to their departure. Since then they have been moving away from the coast, and slowly gaining altitude, which has resulted in a deterioration of the weather. In fact, it has gotten so bad that a whiteout has halted all progress today while the men sit in their "living caboose" and wait for things to improve. Considering how poor the weather can be in Antarctica this time of year, they could potentially be sitting their awhile.

The expedition is expected to take upwards of five months to complete with most of that spent in complete darkness. The Ice Team, which consists of Spencer Smirl, Ian Prickett, Rob Lambert, Richmond Dykes and Brian Newham, are traveling on skis the entire way, while the Train, consisting of two tractors, the living caboose and a supply trailer, follow along with all of their gear, supplies and shelter. When the weather is bad as it is currently, it is simply too unsafe for the team to proceed. 

You can follow along with their progress and get daily updates throughout the expedition at TheColdestJourney.org. 

Video: The Beauty Of Torres Del Paine

Patagonia is amongst the most beautiful and rugged environments on our planet and Chile's Torres Del Paine is the the best example of those landscapes. If you've never been there, you'll certainly want to go after watching the video below. It is four and a half minutes of eye candy that will leave you longing for wild spaces. Enjoy.

Torres Del Paine - Magallanes. Chile. from Imaginario Colectivo on Vimeo.

Everest 2013: Urubko And Bolotov Trekking To EBC

The 2013 spring Himalayan climbing season is set to get underway soon and as I've mentioned over the past few days, teams are already gathering in Kathmandu in anticipation of their adventures ahead. Some of the more experienced and ambitious climbers have already come and gone from the capital of Nepal however as they look to avoid the growing crowds and get an early start on their acclimatization process.

One of those teams is the squad consisting of Denis Urubko and Alexey Bolotov, who are in the Khumbu Valley and making their way towards Everest Base Camp, albeit in a round about way. The two men are using their trek to prepare their bodies for altitude and will be climbing several smaller mountains in the region before proceed to their eventual BC.

You may recall that Denis and Alexey are one of the teams attempting a new route on Everest this year. They hope to climb the Southeast Face starting in the Western Cwm. Their expedition will take place in alpines style and the duo will go without Sherpa support. They are attempting to travel as light as possible and don't even intend to carry satellite phones with them as they make their summit push.

Their most recent dispatch came from Namche Bazaar two days ago. At that time they reported that Kathmandu remained quiet ahead of the arrival of most of the climbers and the Khumbu region is empty prior to the real start of the season in a few days. Denis remarked at how Namche has changed over the years, with more luxuries than in the past. WiFi service helps to keep everyone connected and there are actual hot showers to be had now. As the largest town in the Khumbu region, it is a popular place for climbers and trekkers to stop for a rest day before heading further up the trail. The bustling little village has a number of shops for picking up gear and other supplies as the towns get smaller and less populated further along.

Denis and Alexey's expedition is likely to be one that is watched closely over the next few months. While most of the climbers will stick to the traditional routes on the North and South sides of the peak, they are actually attempting something new and different. This is a major undertaking by two very experienced climbers but it will also be extremely difficult and dangerous. It should prove for some real drama in the weeks ahead.

Video: Ueli Steck Learns To Paraglide

We've known for some time that Ueli Steck has been using a paraglider in some interesting ways to bag multiple peaks in the Alps but learning to fly his glider wasn't as easy as he now makes it look. In the video below, Ueli shares his early training with us while talking about his new-found love for the sport and ways that he can use it to his advantage in the mountains.

A guy like Ueli seems to make everything look so easy, so it's kind of funny to see him struggle at first. But of course he learns to use his paraglider quite nicely in the end and we now know what he is capable of. Still, it is always interesting to find out what the Swiss Machine is up to.

Everest 2013: Climbers Arriving In Kathmandu As New Season Begins

Kathmandu is bracing itself for the onslaught of climbers and trekkers that will be arriving this over the next few days as the spring Himalayan climbing season is about to get underway. Over the next few days, the streets of the city will no doubt begin to swell with traffic as mountaineers from across the globe gather to connect with teammates, grab last minute gear purchases and put the finishing touches on their plans for the season ahead. It is a busy time in Nepal's capital where the energy and excitement of the adventures ahead is almost palpable.

Over the course of the next two months I'll be following a number of high profile teams and expeditions as they take on Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and other high profile Himalayan peaks. As always, it'll be a season filled with highs and lows, with spectacular successes and inevitable failures. There will almost certainly be some tragedies along the way as it seems to come with the territory, but hopefully this will be a safe season in the mountains with fewer deaths than we had last year.

Amongst the first teams to arrive in Kathmandu are the IMG squad which is already preparing to begin the trek to Base Camp. They met with officials from Nepal's Ministry of Tourism on Sunday and received their permits to climb both Everest and Lhotse. Over the next couple of days, the mountaineer will go through a series of briefings, spend some time getting to know one another and rest up from the long flights. They should depart KTM on Thursday, weather permitting.


Speaking of weather, one of the IMG Sherpas also shared a photo of the snow that continues to fall in heavy amounts this year. Colder weather and plenty of snow is a good thing for the climbers and will hopefully help them to avoid some of the issues that arose last spring when the warm, dry conditions made for a lot of falling rocks and loose scree on the mountain. Hopefully the harsher winter will make for a safer climbing environment in the weeks ahead.

The RMI team is also gathering in Kathmandu, where most had arrived by yesterday but they were still waiting for their fearless leader, Dave Hahn, to get into town. His flight was delayed, causing some issues, but nearly everyone else is there and preparing to depart on the trek. For Dave, this will be another full season on Everest and if successful, he'll have 15 total ascents of the peak. That would extend his record for the most by a non-Sherpa.

Finally, the Adventure Consultants are busy sorting gear and getting ready for the arrival of their team at the end of the week. They have squads heading to both Everest and Lhotse, so at the moment they are sorting gear and prepping for departure to BC early next week. They have a large group of Sherpas already on site at Base Camp and they have been busy preparing their site for the arrival of the climbers. By the time they get there, a small tent-city will have been erected to welcome them and make them comfortable. Those tents will serve as their home for the next two months.

That's all for now. Expect coverage to continue to expand over the next week or so. Things are about to get very busy in the Himalaya.

Underwater Camera Lost In Hawaii Found Six Years Later In Taiwan

Back in 2007, Lindsay Scallan travelled to Hawaii to enjoy that tropical paradise and take in a little scuba diving while she was there. She took with her a small Canon Powershot camera to capture the moments from her trip and she even had an underwater housing to use while she was on a dive. But while on an evening scuba excursion she accidentally dropped the camera and lost it in the sands at the bottom of the ocean. She searched for the device as long as she could but couldn't locate it in turbulent seas and sadly she returned home to Georgia without her photos, camera or expensive dive housing.

At the time she was sure that her camera was long gone and would never be seen again, after all what are the chances that someone would find it in the sea? And if they did, how would they ever know to return it to her. But someone did find it, just not where she expected. An employee of China Airlines came across the camera, still in the waterproof housing, last month when it washed up on a beach in Taiwan – thousands of miles and six years removed from where it was lost.

The person who found Lindsay's Canon Powershot then contacted Hawaii News Now and asked them to help find the person the camera belonged to. The website posted Lindsay's photos online and they were later spotted by a friend of hers who told her about the story. When she saw the images she says she was "floored." She couldn't believe that her missing camera was located so long after it was lost and so far away no less.

China Airlines has offered to fly her to Taiwan to claim the camera but Lindsay says she just started a new job, so she isn't sure she'll be able to get away. Instead, she may have to settle for having the camera shipped to her so she can review all of her long lost vacation photos at last.

Pretty amazing story. It also serves as a reminder of just how connected our planet is. Something lost in the ocean can travel a long way before its journey finally comes to an end. Oh the things that camera must have seen as it crossed the Pacific this past six years.

Video: The Nepal Documentary - Trekking To Everest Base Camp

Earlier today I mentioned that Everest Base Camp was getting ready to receive its first visitors of the spring season and that climbers were already en route to that point on the South Side of the mountain. If you've ever wondered what the trek to EBC is like, then you'll want to check out the video below. It does a good job of revealing that hike as well as showing off some other nice locations inside Nepal.

Make yourself comfortable for this one. It has a running time of 57 minutes, but it is worth it for those interested in the Himalaya and Nepal. This brings back a lot of memories from my own trip there a few years back.

ExWeb Interviews Walking The Nile Crew

Back in February I posted a story about two British explorers, Levison Wood and Simon Clarke, who had announced plans to walk the length of the Nile River, something that has never been done before. Since then, the expedition has received a great deal more attention and while no official start date has been announced yet, the two mean are gearing up to begin their journey later this year.

Earlier today, Explorers Web posted an interview with Wood which shares a few more details about the team's plans. He talks about how he and Clarke met (both soldiers stationed in Iraq), their experience as guides and what precautions they're taking for their upcoming adventure. He also discusses some logistics and inspirations for the journey, which will be quite the challenge.

The expedition will commence at the source of the Nile River, located along one of the tributaries in the dense forests of Rwanda. From there, Wood and Clarke will proceed more than 4250 miles (6839 km) to the sea, crossing through Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, The Sudan, and Egypt in the process. They are estimating that it will take approximately 12 months to finish the source-to-sea trek.

At the moment, the two men are reportedly in Sudan and South Sudan exploring part of the route ahead of their start sometime this summer. When they finish up that work, they'll likely head home to London for the final gear prep before setting out. But one of the biggest hurdles they still face is fund raising to help them get the expedition off the ground. With that challenge still ahead of them, they continue to ask for support through their Kickstarter page.

Good luck to Levison and Simon on this epic adventure. It certainly will be one to keep an eye on in the months ahead.

Everest 2013: Season Begins As Teams Trek To BC

The 2013 spring climbing season in the Himalaya is about to get underway as scores of climbers and trekkers began to descend on Kathmandu this weekend. They arrive at that colorful and bustling city as their last stop over before beginning their trek to Everest Base Camp or starting their transition to Tibet for those climbing on the North Side. Ahead of them is two months of hard work that will hopefully culminate with a successful summit sometime in mid to late May.

Last week I mentioned that Base Camp on the Nepali side of the mountain was already open and teams were starting to erect their tents there. But more importantly than that, the famed Everest Ice Doctors had already performed their Puja ceremony and have started work on route through the treacherous Khumbu Icefall. That section is one of the most dangerous on the mountain and climber must navigate it multiple times throughout the season. The Ice Doctors create the route by placing ladders across open crevasses in the icefall, which the teams then use to safely traverse the crumbling glacier. It is slow, difficult work to create the route and it must be maintained and adjusted throughout the season, which makes the role of Ice Doctors extremely important to the success of anyone hoping to summit.

Over the weekend, Alan Arnette posted a new blog story that shares insights about the trek to Everest Base Camp. He indicates that several teams are already on the trail and starting the hike to EBC, which can take anywhere from 7-10 days to complete. He also mentions how important that trek can be to the acclimatization process which is also crucial to the success of any climber.

It was on that trek in 1997 that Alan fell in love with the Himalaya. Little did he know that he would be back there on multiple occasions climbing several of those peaks – including Everest – himself. I'm sure he also had no idea that he would eventually be chronicling the expeditions to the mountain on an annual basis either. In this latest post, he shares his thoughts not only on the trek, but on an Everest climb as well. He talks about the camaraderie that is built with teammates on that adventure and the feeling of being in Base Camp when other climbers return, some triumphant and some defeated. it is a good read for those of us who will likely never get to experience that climb for ourselves and a nice piece to set the tone for the season to come.

Over the next week or so, there won't be a lot of news to report just yet. But as the teams arrive in BC on the South Side, they'll take very little time to rest before they start heading up the mountain. We're in the calm before the storm, but things are just about ready to get very busy indeed.

Video: Interview With Dean Karnazes - The Ultramarathon Man

Want a little inspiration for a weekend run? Look no further than this interview with Dean Karnazes, probably the most well known ultra-runner in the world. Dean talks about how he got started in running, what his daily running routine consists of and his passion for running really long distance. This is a guy, after all, who has run more than 250 mile (400 km) non-stop. And yet, he still says he's just an average guy.

Final Member Of Hillary-Norgay Everest Team Passes Away

Mountaineer George Lowe passed away yesterday at the ripe old age of 89 after leading an astounding life of adventure that took him to the Himalaya, Antarctica and beyond. His passing marks the end of a mountaineering era, as he was the last remaining survivor of the team that first successfully climbed Mt. Everest back in 1953.

By all accounts, Lowe was instrumental in putting Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on top of the mountain. He did much of the work shuttling gear up the South Col to help establish the high camps and broke trail for the two men who would eventually claim the lion's share of the glory. It was also Lowe who was first to go up the slopes of Everest to greet his life-long friend Hillary, and the Sherpa guide Norgay, while they were still descending from their historic climb.

A talented photographer, Lowe managed to capture many of the iconic images that helped chronicle the expedition that finally conquered Everest. Those skills earned him a spot on the first Trans-Antarctic Expedition, which crossed that continent for the first time in 1957-58.

A renowned ice climber, Lowe was a schoolteacher by trade although the remote places of the planet called to him more. As part of a New Zealand climbing team, he and some friends managed to climb six new peaks in the Himalaya in 1951 alone. Other expeditions took him to Greenland, Ethiopia and the Pamirs. Later in life he would serve as part of the U.K.'s Department of Education serving as an inspector of schools. He also helped fund the Sir Edmund Hillary Himalayan Trust in that country as well.

Lowe truly lived a life of exploration and adventure. His journeys took him to the far corner of the globe and into the history books. While it is sad to see him pass, 89 years of adventure is quite a lot for any single lifetime. I give George a tip of the cap for a life well lived.

On Life, Death and Risk In Mountaineering

A few weeks back I wrote about an impressive new film called The Alaskan Way that is set to make its debut at adventure film festivals this spring. That film takes a look at the risks and rewards of outdoor adventure centered around heli-skiing in the Alaskan backcountry. Ben Clark, the filmmaker behind the project, is a veteran of 15 Himalayan expeditions including a successful summit of Everest. In continuing of his exploration of the themes explored in that film, Ben has written an insightful and thoughtful piece for the Osprey Packs Blog entitled "Looking Back is Moving Forward" in which he shares some of his harrowing experiences during his climbing career and the decision he made to step away from those dangerous pursuits when he finally felt like he was cheating the odds.

At the beginning of the article Ben puts his obsession with climbing into perspective by telling us the impact the sport had on his life between the ages of 20 and 32. It became an all consuming passion that drove him quite literally to new heights as he scaled and then skied back down a number of big mountains. It was more than just something that he did in his spare time. It was a way of life and he went to great lengths to chase his high altitude dreams.

But the more he pursued his passion the more often it put him into a position of high risk. Ben shares stories of hanging precariously from a rock face in a remote valley in China where one wrong move would have sent him plummeting to his death. He also talks about huddling on a ledge in the Himalaya for five days while he and his teammates waited for a storm to pass. As those incidences became more frequent, it forced him to reevaluate his goals and the level of risk he was willing to accept. All of that came to a head on a climb last year during which he decided it was time to "press pause" to consider what was important to him in his life at this point.

This article puts readers directly into the mind of a mountaineer and gives good insights into what they thing about when weighing the risks of the things they do. I think you'll finding a fascinating read to say the least.

Click here to read it in its entirety.

Death Of Iditarod Sled Dog Brings Practices Under Investigation

The death of a sled dog racing in the Iditarod has kicked off an investigation into exactly what happened as race organizers begin to search for better ways to protect the animals in the future. The dog, who was named Dorado, was dropped off at the Unalakleet checkpoint by rookie musher Paige Drobny and later died while in the care of veterinarians there.

Drobny says she first noticed that Dorado wasn't running well at Ophir, where she had a vet check him over but the dog was given a clean bill of health. She continued on Unalakleet but by the time she arrived there, she knew she was going to have to drop Dorado for his own safety. She handed him over to the vets in charge of that CP where he was put with a group of about 130 other dogs that were also dropped there and were waiting for a flight back to Anchorage. High winds and blowing snow grounded all flights out of small town Dorado and the rest of the dogs were forced to stay there for three days. During that time, most of the dogs were moved into indoor facilities but about 30 of them, including Dorado, remained outside. On the morning of March 15, it was discovered that Drobny's dog had died sometime in the overnight hours. An autopsy indicated that he died of asphyxiation.

It is very common for mushers to drop dogs as they travel along the 1000-mile long Iditarod trail. They may start with as many as 16 dogs but over the course of the race, some will grow tired or sick and be forced to pull out of the competition. The vast majority of the time, dropped dogs are left in the care of vets and end up back in Anchorage where they can be retrieved at a later date. The system has worked well in the past and it is actually unusual for a dog to die while racing. But this incident has Iditarod organizers thinking about ways they can improve the process.

One suggestion is to use a system similar to something FedEx or other package delivery systems use. When vets at a checkpoint take possession of a dog, they would immediately put a tag on the animal that indicated who it belonged to, where it was dropped, what meds it needs and how often it is being fed. Those taking care of the dogs could then do quick scans of the tags to determine all kinds of important information. Whether or not a revised system can be in place before next year's Iditarod remains to be seen.


It should be noted that the vets at each of the checkpoints are volunteers although they do go through a vetting process before they can join the team. That includes proving that they are licensed to practice and attending mandatory workshops prior to the start of the race. All told, there are roughly 40 vets each year, most of whom are shuttled between CP's as needed.

The mushers also do a great job of taking care of their dogs. For most of them, these dogs are like family. The race also requires that a musher arrive at a checkpoint with the same number of dogs he left the last CP with. In this year's Iditarod a musher was disqualified because one of his dogs escaped the harness while out on the trail and couldn't be found. When he arrived at the next CP, he was immediately removed from competition. The dog was later found and returned to his owner in good health.

The Iditarod Race Marshall has called the death of Dorado one of the worst tragedies in the race's 41 year history. Hopefully steps are being taken to ensure that something similar doesn't happen again in the future. The Iditarod is a fantastic annual event, but I think everyone involved wants to see the safety of these amazing dogs put front and center.

Gear Closet: Outdoor Research Men's Torque LS Tee

The calendar may say that it's officially spring but no one has bothered to tell the weather. The temperatures are still cool across much of the country and there is still plenty of snow falling too. But as any outdoor enthusiast will tell you, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear. So as you head out for your spring adventures you'll want to dress properly for the wildly fluctuating spring weather.

The new Men's Torque Tee from Outdoor Research is the perfect technical shirt for a variety of active adventures. Built from highly breathable and moisture wicking Polartec fabrics, it is a soft and comfortable garment that performs well on its own or part of a layering system. In fact, OR has done the seemingly impossible by creating a shirt that is lightweight enough that it can be used in warmer weather and yet is still highly effective in cooler temperatures as well.

I've been using the Torque quite regularly over the past couple of months and it has quickly become my go to shirt for a number of vigorous activities. I've worn this shirt trail running, hiking and mountain biking and each time it has impressed me with how comfortable it is and how well it performs. A lot of garments claim to be breathable and wicking, but the Torque delivers on the at promise in spades. On more than one occasion I've worked up a good sweat on a workout but still managed to remain comfortable and dry thanks to this shirt.


Have you ever had a piece of outdoor clothing that was so good that it easily became your favorite the first time you wore it? One that performs so well that you're actually disappointed to find it is in the laundry pile waiting to be cleaned and not available for your latest adventure? That's how I feel about the Torque Tee. It has become the first shirt I look for when I go to the closet, which should tell you everything you need to know about just how good it truly is.

My Torque Tee has been used numerous times since I added it to my gear closet and it still looks brand new. The fact that it hasn't shown a single sign of wear after running up and down more hills than I can count, and pedaling and walking many trails, says a lot about the quality of this garment. It'll make a great travel shirt as well, as it is easy to keep clean, resists odor and looks great too.

Outdoor Research has priced the Torque Tee at $69 which at first glance seems like a high price to pay for a shirt. But if the old adage of "it's worth every penny" has ever been more applicable, I don't know where that would be the case. I can't say it any more plainly. This is an amazing piece of gear and I really need to add one or two more of them to my closet.

Adventure Tech: Thuraya's SatSleeve Turns Your iPhone Into A Satellite Phone

iPhone owners who want to expand their coverage into the remote regions of the Earth now actually have an option that will allow them to do just that. Satellite communications provider Thuraya has announced the new SatSleeve which serves as a dock of sorts for Apple's iconic device. Users simply slide their iPhone 4 or 4S (an iPhone 5 model is coming soon) into the SatSleeve and they can instantly begin sending and receiving calls from anywhere within 140 countries from around the globe. That includes far flung locations such as the Himalaya, Karakoram, Sahara Desert and more.

The SatSleeve comes with its own built in battery pack which will extend the life of the phone's battery nicely.  Thuraya rates the Sleeve for 48 hours of standby and an additional 4 hours of talk time with a 2.5 hour recharge time. A built-in emergency "SOS" button allows adventurers to place a call for help to a predetermined number, even if they don't have an iPhone docked in the sleeve. This adds a nice safety net for those traveling in the backcountry that is not unlike a SPOT communicator. A free SatSleeve app grants access to all of the device's capabilities.

MSRP for the SatSleeve is $500, so obviously this isn't cheap technology. A version that supports data over satellite is expected in the fall as well. Depending on price and capabilities, that might be worth waiting for. Still, this looks like a great option for iPhone users and I'd love to hear how well it works. I can't be the only one who read about this however and immediately thought "Well that's one way to improve AT&T's coverage."

Video: Frozen Frontier - Post Expedition Update From Mikael Strandberg

One of the expeditions that I've written about a few times already this year is Mikael Strandberg's Frozen Frontier journey with the Reindeer People of Siberia. The explorer has spent the last couple of months traveling through one of the coldest inhabited regions on the planet and yesterday he released a post-expedition update in the form of the video below. It gives us a good sense of what he's been up to these past weeks and what we can expect from the documentary he is working on from this adventure.


Post-Trip Update from Outwild TV on Vimeo. 

Everest 2013: South Side Base Camp Now Open!

A few days ago I mentioned that we were in a bit of a lull in the adventure world right now while we waited for the spring Himalayan season to commence. I indicated that things would really start to pick up around the first of April as the teams began arriving in Kathmandu. It seems I was a bit off on my estimation however, as one of the more prominent mountaineer companies has already established its place in Everest Base Camp on the South Side of the mountain.

In a blog post earlier today, Alan Arnette pointed out that IMG's Eric Simonson reported that his team had already established BC two days ago. The advance team of 14 Sherpas and 3 cooks are already on site and have staked out their campsite. They report that the area around Base Camp has changed even in the past few months as the Khumbu Glacier moves through the area. The staff has started to erect all the tents necessary for the IMG clients and will descend in a few days to pick-up more supplies as they arrive in Lukla.

IMG isn't the only team that is already in BC either. Eric indicated that the Sagarmartha Pollution Control Committee team is there as well and preparing to get started on their all important work. The SPCC is in charge of building the route through the Khumbu Icefall and their Sherpas, collectively known as the Ice Doctors, have already gone to work. The team held their Puja ceremony on Sunday and with that formality out of the way they are now cleared to begin moving up the mountain. They'll spend the next few weeks building a safe route through the icefall so that when the climbers begin arriving, they'll be able to move up to Camp 1 as soon as possible.

Alan also broke the news that Russian climbers Gleb Sokolov and Alexander Kirikov have cancelled their expedition to Everest this year. They had hoped to climb a new route along the East Face in alpine style and without oxygen but the duo were unable to find the funding that they needed. They hope to give it another go next year.

It seems early in the season to be getting reports from Base Camp already, but I believe this is the nature of Everest these days. Teams want to get their camps established as early as possible and they want their clients to be happy and comfortable when they arrive. The climbers won't begin to shuffle in until around the first of the month, or even later, but the Sherpas are already hard at work. I'm sure the streets of Kathmandu are jumping with anticipation at the moment as that city is about to be over run with climbers and trekkers. It's good to see the start of the season is so close now.

The Coldest Journey Update: The Journey Begins Today

Yesterday I posted a story on the start of the Coldest Journey, the five-month long, 4000 km (2485 mile) expedition to cross Antarctica in the dead of winter. The team was suppose to get underway late in the afternoon, but a four-day blizzard dumped quite a bit of snow on the area and they ended up spending most of the day cleaning up the support vehicles and getting their gear re-organized. With that work now behind them, they are planning to set off sometime today.

According to their latest dispatch all the prep work is now out of the way and things are looking good for the start later today. They are planning on a 12:00 GMT launch, although they may shuffle their schedule some based on a new weather front moving in. At the moment, the skies are reportedly clear and conditions are good, but in the Antarctic during the winter, those conditions can change very rapidly.

Ahead of this team sits a massive challenge. They'll now endure some of the most inhospitable environments on the planet as the attempt the last great polar challenge. A winter crossing of the Antarctic will include temperatures that drop to as low as -90ºC/-130ºF. They'll also face weeks of complete darkness as the sun retreats from the Southern Hemisphere. This will be a true test of their endurance, determination and skill. Following along over the next several months should prove very interesting.

Good luck to the entire team. Godspeed and be safe.

The New York Times Profiles Kilian Jornet

Ultrarunning has gone mainstream today as the New York Times has published an excellent interview/profile of Kilian Jornet, perhaps the greatest endurance athlete on the planet. The article does an excellent job of showing Kilian not only as a focused and determined runner driven to accomplish his amazing goals but also as a regular guy who just happens to love being in the outdoors, just like you and me.

Of course, as we all know, he isn't just a regular guy. This is the man who managed to run up and back down Kilimanjaro in just 7 hours, 14 minutes. He's the guy that came out of nowhere to win the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc at the age of 20, setting a new course record in the process. He has since won the Western States and just about any other ultra-marathon he has entered. Part of the reason he is so good is that his VO2 max has been recorded at 89.5, which is amongst the highest ever. But Kilian is also a relentless in his training, in part because he simply loves what he does so much.

As he continues to push himself to new heights, both literally and figuratively, Kilian is pursuing his Summits of My Life project, which will see him make speed attempts on a number of mountains, including Mont Blanc, Elbrus, Denali, Aconcagua and even Everest. The NYT article even suggests he may be headed to the Himalaya this spring to test his lungs and skills in that environment. They even compare him to guys like Ueli Steck and Chad Kellogg, who are more experienced pure mountaineers although probably not as gifted athletically.

Reading this profile I came away even more amazed at Kilian's accomplishment. The man truly is a running and climbing machine. But I write about him, and other outdoor athletes like him on a regular basis, so hearing these stories doesn't really surprise me all that much. I couldn't help but wonder what the average New York Times reader must think when reading about his exploits however. I'd be willing to bet that a lot of them weren't even aware that it is humanly possible to do some of the things that Jornet or other endurance athletes do. He is a special athlete to be sure.

Thanks to my friend Bill Snyder for sharing this. Much appreciated. Great story and good to see something like this in the mainstream press.

The Coldest Journey: Winter Antarctic Crossing Ready To Get Underway

One of the most difficult and demanding expeditions we have seen in a very long time is set to get underway today as the members of the Coldest Journey team prepare to embark on their epic trek. As you probably recall, this is an attempt to traverse Antarctica, via the South Pole, in the dead of winter – something that has never been accomplished before. The men are preparing to face horrendous weather conditions, including extreme cold and incredibly high winds, as they get ready to embark. But true to form, Mother Nature isn't exactly cooperating, so they may have to delay their launch by a day or two.

For the past four days a blizzard has raged around the team, which is in place and ready to go. They'll begin at Crown Bay and plan to cover approximately 4000 km (2485 miles) before ending on the far side of the continent along the Ross Ice Shelf. They are predicting that it will take about 85 days to reach the South Pole and another 60 to get reach the finish line. That means nearly five months of travel in the harshest environment on the planet. Just how harsh? They expect temperatures to routinely hit -90ºC/-130ºF. Now that is cold. And if that wasn't bad enough, most of the expedition will take place in complete darkness as there isn't much light at the bottom of the world this time of year.

The members of the Ice Team, Spencer Smirl, Ian Prickett, Rob Lambert, Richmond Dykes and Brian Newham will be traveling on skis while motorized support vehicles follow along. Those vehicles will carry food, fuel and supplies for the journey, allowing the men to focus on simply moving forward. While this is a departure from what we're use to seeing out of Antarctic skiers, most of whom drag sleds behind them with their gear, the only way this team could get insured for the expedition was to bring more reliable support with them.



The best known and highest profile member of the team was suppose to be Sir Ranulph Fiennes, but he was forced to pull out of the expedition after contracting frostbite while training last month. Ran is now back home in the U.K. and facing possible surgery on his injured left hand, but he'll be following the expedition closely and providing advice for the five men who will carry on without him. Since having to leave Antarctica in late February, he has expressed his frustration with not being a part of the expedition.

While the start of the journey was delayed due to the weather, the latest update from the team says that the skies are clearing and conditions are improving. It now looks like the delay will be a brief one and they may still get underway today or tomorrow.

Expect to hear a lot about this expedition in the coming weeks. It is going to be an incredibly challenging excursion to say the least. This team hopes to make history, but ahead of them sits 4000 km of open, desolate landscapes and unforgiving conditions. Add in the fact that they won't be able to call for a rescue and there is the potential for some serious drama here. Lets all with them some luck and hope all goes well.

North Pole 2013: Work Begins On Barneo Ice Camp

Thanks to climate change and shifting conditions in the Arctic, there won't be much of a North Pole season this year. In fact, I'm not aware of a single person attempting a full expedition to 90ºN in 2013 although there are sure to be some doing a last degree journey to the Pole. Most of those who undertake that endeavor will do so starting from the Barneo Ice Camp, a temporary base that is built each year on a floating slab of ice in the arctic ocean. Due to the shifting nature of that ice, the entire camp must be rebuilt every spring and construction is now underway for the 2013 edition.

Dispatches from the team in charge of establishing Barneo indicate that their "assault team" is now on the ice and doing the preliminary work to get the station ready for its first visitors. That includes setting up tents, organizing supplies and building an ice runway that is long enough to accommodate an Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft. The team charged with completing these tasks parachuted onto the ice a few days ago to begin their work, while a second wave of support is en route via helicopter. Part of the team has been held-up in Khatanga do to bureaucratic red tape. They hope to have that resolved soon and get the aircraft moving again ASAP.

We're told that conditions on the ground are extremely cold at the moment with temperatures hovering around -39ºC/-38ºF. But other than that, the weather remains good with minimal winds and no snow. At least for now. That can change rapidly of course, but it seems that there is a window of opportunity for work to proceed at the moment.

The base is looking to open for its first visitors by April 1. After that there will be a string of scientists, researchers and adventurers making their way to Barneo over the following few weeks. The lifespan of the station is brief however, and operations there should wrap up by late April, sometime around the 24th of the month.

It seems any action in the Arctic this year will be centered out of the Ice Camp. We'll have to wait to see if anything interesting arises.

Video: Urban Wingsuits Over Rio

Lets start the day out today with a little adrenaline rush. This video was shot using GoPro cameras as wingsuit pilots Ludovic Woerth and Jokke Sommer fly into Rio de Janeiro. The highlights from this clip include that they launched their flight from motorized paragliders and they managed to buzz between two towers on their descent, before coming in for a landing in a small park in the middle of the city. Crazy stuff, even with a fogged over lens.

Video: Portrait Of A Photographer

One of the many things that I love is photography. I'm regularly trying to hone my skills and learn new things in effort to improve my own photos, which is why I like to talk to others who share that passion. The video below spotlights Marty Knapp, a landscape photographer who has spent the past 25-years capturing beautiful images from Northern California. A number of his photos are shown throughout the video and most are breathtaking. It's images like these that remind me how far I have to go in learning this art.

Thanks to my friend Bill Snyder for sharing this on Facebook.

Marty Knapp - Portrait of a Photographer from Vertical Online on Vimeo.

Video: Freediver Yasemin Dalkilic Tells Us About Her Dream Home

Like most of us, nine-time world freediving champion Yasemin Dalkilic has an idea of what her dream home is like and she describes it quite vividly in this charming video. Turns out her perfect home is a lot like the Aquarius Reef Base near Key Largo, Florida. The base, which has fallen on hard times in terms of funding, seems like the proper place for someone who can hold her breath for extended periods of time.

Video: Climbing Everest With A Mountain On My Back - The Sherpa's Story

We are in a bit of a lull in the world of adventure at the moment. With the South Pole and winter climbing seasons behind us, and the North Pole season a bit of a bust once again, we now wait for spring in the Himalaya. That is only a few weeks away from really getting under way, but until then we're in the calm before the storm.

To help us get through this period and prepare for the Everest climbing season ahead, I thought some of you might enjoy this fantastic documentary from the BBC that takes a look at what it takes to climb the highest mountain on the planet from the perspective of the Sherpa. Most of us know that very few climbers would ever reach the top without the assistance of these incredibly strong and dedicated men and women. They truly are the unsung heroes of the Himalaya and the video below pays tribute to them quite nicely.

Be warned, this one isn't short. It's nearly an hour and length, so you'll want to make yourself comfortable and have a block of time to enjoy it. Well worth it however. Hope you enjoy.

Win A Winter Escape To New Zealand

I know that for many of my readers spring is now just a few days away. But if you simply can't get enough fresh powder and other winter conditions, outdoor apparel company Mons Royale has just the contest for you. The company known for its stylish and technical clothing made from merino wool is looking to send one lucky winner to New Zealand for a backcountry snowboard adventure of a lifetime.

Entering the contest couldn't be easier. Simply visit the Mons Royale Facebook page and hit the "like" button or follow them on Instagram at #monsroyalewintervibes. Then, upload an original photo that best conveys the sense of the joy of the winter lifestyle, whether thats carving a perfect line, catching some big air in the pipe or something else entirely. Get creative, have some fun and do something unexpected. And once the image is uploaded, start sharing it with friends and family to garner votes and attention for your image.

And the grand prize if your images is selected at the winner? An all expense paid trip to New Zealand for some of the best snowboarding and skiing on the planet. The winner will get to drive a rental 4x4 for their entire visit and receive free passes from Treble Cone, Cardrona and Snowpark NZ. They'll even get to fly into the famous Wanaka backcountry to go heliskiing on untouched powder. And at the end of the day, they'll relax at the luxurious Oakridge Resort and Spa in beautiful Lake Wanaka. And if that wasn't enough, they'll also receive a $3,000 Mons Royale shopping spree. Find out more on the official contest page by clicking here.

Seems like a pretty great prize for someone who just can't get enough time on the slopes. Good luck everyone, I hope one of you gets to visit NZ later this year.

Video: Running - Are You Out Or In?

I came across this video from Merrell and thought it was quite clever. It compares the workout of a runner who goes outside to that of one that is running on a treadmill in a gym. The side-by-side juxtaposition of the two approaches to running is interesting – for about 15 seconds. Then you realize the poor schmuck on the treadmill is boring as hell and mostly just start paying attention to what the other runner is up to.

This pretty much sums up how I feel about running. I'm going to be outdoors all the time, rain, shine, wind, heat or cold. I personally can't stand to run on a treadmill. But after watching this video, you tell me which looks like it is more fun and interesting.

Google Street View Visits 4 Of The 7 Summits

Google Maps continues to push the boundaries of where they'll go with their awesome Street View technology adding two new galleries earlier today. One of those galleries is likely to be of interest to readers of this blog as it takes us to four of the Seven Summits without requiring long flights, expensive gear or lots of training.

The new "World's Highest Peaks" gallery allows us to use the interactive Street View technology to explore Everest Base Camp and visit the summits of Kilimanjaro, Elbrus and Aconcagua. Images captured at lower altitudes on those last three mountains provide a sense of what it is like to climb each of them, with stops in various camps along the way and visits to specific landmarks, such as the famous Lava Tower on Kili. The gallery also contains a virtual climb of Everest's neighbor Kala Patthar and a visit to the interior of Tengboche Monastery. Google has even given us the opportunity to stroll the streets of Namche Bazaar, the largest town in the Khumbu region of Nepal.

If you're looking for a bit of a virtual escape from your day, head on over to the Google Street View Collections. Not only will you be able to take a virtual walk up these mountains, but you'll also be able to visit Italy, the Grand Canyon, famous UNESCO World Heritage sites and much more. Be warned however, these little field trips can suck up a lot of time and you may just wonder where your day went. Totally worth it though.

Everest 2013: Denis Urubko Shares Thoughts On New Route Up Southwest Face

As mentioned a few weeks back, the 2013 Everest season is shaping up to be an interesting one with several teams looking to try some different routes. In addition to Simone Moro and Ueli Steck's attempt at a new route on the Nepali side of the mountian, Glab Sokolov and Alexander Kirikov will take on the East Face from the Tibetan side. But Denis Urubko is also joining forces with Alexei Bolotov to try a new route along the Southwest Face as well, something that he discusses in a new interview prior to heading to Kathmandu in a few weeks.

This expedition will be done in pure alpine style with Denis and Alexei planning on climbing without oxygen, fixing their own ropes and without Sherpa support. The plan is to go up a path in the center of the Southwest, relying on their own substantial experience and skills to get them to the top. But as Denis says in the interview, they'll also be relying on favorable weather and a bit of luck too.

Urubko has already successfully climbed Everest, and all of the other fourteen 8000-meter peaks, without oxygen, but he is being lured back with this opportunity to do something different. When asked what the mountain means to him he answers:

"For me Everest is simply the highest mountain of the world. All other things depend on the personal view: Beautiful, difficult, magic mountain – this applies to many mountains. But the highest, this is only Everest."

In the interview he also touches briefly on over crowding on the mountain, his experience climbing with Alexei in the past and his impending 40th birthday in July. He also talks about the potential of his team joining forces with Simone and Ueli on their climb (don't hold your breath!) and his thoughts on any future attempts on Everest too.

The interview comes across as a bit stilted because it has been run through an online translation service before it was posted to ExWeb. Still, you can easily get the gist of what is being said about this major expedition which will likely get underway in early April.

Swim1000 The Film: Following Dave Cornthwaite Down The Missouri River

One of the most inspiring expeditions we followed last year was Dave Cornthwaite's 1000-mile swim down the Missouri River. It was the latest phase of his Expedition 1000 project, during which Dave is undertaking 25 separate journeys, each of 1000 miles or more in length, without the use of motorized transportation. In the past, he's done such things as skateboarding 3618 miles (5822 km) across Australia and stand-up paddleboarding along the length of the Mississippi River.

While each of those expeditions were challenging in their own right, nothing prepared Dave for the challenges he would face on the Missouri River. Day-in and day-out, for 58 days, he dove into the murky waters of the Missouri to swim 12+ hours per day in order to cover the 1001 miles between Chamberlain, South Dakota and St. Louis, Missouri, where he eventually pulled himself out of the river for good at the famous Gateway Arch.

Much of Dave's journey was captured by filmmaker Miguel Endara, who has now put together an amazing 8-minute short film of the Swim1000 expedition. That film gives us a very personal look at the journey down the Missouri, which took a physical and mental toll on our intrepid adventurer, who was shadowed by a support team that paddled along the entire way. To watch the video click here.

And when you're done enjoying Miguel's wonderful short film, read about Dave's fund raising efforts for CoppaFeel, an organization dedicated to the prevention of breast cancer through early detection. A cause that we can all agree is a worthy one.

Video: A Few Reminders Of Why The World Is An Awesome Place

We'll end the week on this great video that provides us with some wonderful reasons why the world truly is an awesome place. As if we didn't know it already, here are some examples to consider as you head into your weekend.

Adventure Tech: BirkSun Solar Backpacks

As rechargeable battery technology improves, more and more gear manufacturers are incorporating the power cells into our outdoor gear. Now days it is not uncommon for our headlamps, GPS devices and altimeter watches to all have lithium batteries keeping them powered up for our excursions into the backcountry. Not to mention our iPods, mobile phones and tablets. All of those items makes travel more convenient than ever before, but in order for those devices to be anything but dead weight, we need to find a way to keep them charged while away from home.

Thats where the BirkSun Solar Backpacks can come in handy. BirkSun offers two different packs, in two different colors, that range in price and size. Each of the packs has a built in solar panel and a built in battery pack. That battery pack can be either charged from a wall outlet at home or from the sun as you head out for the day. Whenever your gadgets need a recharge, you simply plug it into the battery pack, which stores 2400 mAh of power. That's enough to juice up your iPhone or Android device a couple of times.

The packs are reasonably priced at $125 and $150 and begin shipping in April.

Solo Ocean Rower Sets New Atlantic Speed Record

Ocean rower Charlie Pitcher completed his solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean yesterday and achieved his goal of setting a new world record in the process. Pitcher set out from La Gomera, an island off the coast of Africa, last month and he arrived in Barbados in the Caribbean on Wednesday. Total time for the 2900-mile (4667 km) crossin? Just 35 days, 33 minutes. That shatters the old record by more than five days.

Pitcher attributes his great success to perfect timing for his start, great weather and the best possible equipment. His boat was custom built just for this voyage with a carbon fiber hull and a 100% green energy footprint. The 6.5-meter (21-foot) vessel featured state of the art desalinization systems and the ability to self-right following a capsizing. That happened twice during the crossing. The boat was also knocked down on four occasions as well.

Over the course of his 4+ weeks at sea, Pitcher actually managed to average more than 82 miles per day. That's a pretty impressive number for a solo rower. His goal was to become the first person to cross in under 40 days, and he managed to smash the old record, which was 40 days, 9 hours, 44 minutes.

Charlie used his Atlantic crossing to raise awareness and funds for two of his favorite charities, the Great Ormond Street Hospital and The C Group which is dedicated to helping British marines in need. Certainly two very worthy causes.

Congrats to Charlie on an amazing performance. Well done!

Video: Trekking The Annapurna Circuit

While the trek to Everest Base Camp is probably the most popular hike in Nepal, most people will tell you that the Annapurna Circuit is more scenic and interesting. Filmmaker (and reader!) Gerardo Segovia recently spent five weeks walking that iconic route, shooting more than a terabyte of digital video footage in the process. That footage was edited together to create this spectacular video that truly gives you a sense of how amazing this trek really is. Simply beautiful.


Trekking the Annapurna Circuit from Gerardo Segovia on Vimeo.

Video: Morocco In Timelapse

As I think about the next place I want to travel to, Morocco is on my short list of possible destinations. I'd like to trek in the Atlas Mountains there and visit the arid deserts as well. It is a country with a rich culture and history that I would love to experience for myself.

The video below only fuels that desire. It is a beautifully shot time-lapse film that will probably leave you wanting to join me on a trek to this amazing looking place. It truly does look spectacular. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.


The Maghreb from Enrique Pacheco on Vimeo.

Cyclists Preparing For Round-Trip South Pole Expedition On Bikes

One of the more intriguing expeditions form this past Antarctic season was Eric Larsen's attempt to travel from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole on a mountain bike. He was attempting to make that journey solo with a few resupplies along the way, but it didn't take him long to realize that the sastrugi, high winds and surface conditions were just too difficult. After nine days out on the ice, the veteran polar explorer decided to pull the plug on the expedition and return to Hercules. 

But Eric's valiant attempt has inspired others to try a similar ride to the South Pole and late this year two cyclists hope to succeed in that endeavor. During the 2013 Antarctic season, Daniel Burton and Todd Tueller hope to ride from Hercules Inlet to the Pole and back again, covering a distance of 2260km (1404 miles) in the process. They're calling this expedition the South Pole Epic and they already have a Facebook page and blog set up to chronicle their experiences. 

ExWeb has posted an interview with Burton during which he talks about his motivations for this expedition, his experience in cold weather climes (not much!) and the logistical things they learned from Larsen's attempt. He also discusses training for the ride (he already rides a lot!) and whole lot more. 

This expedition will be very different in its approach from what Eric attempted. For starters, just having someone else along for the ride will help ease the loneliness of the journey. But Daniel and Todd will also have a support team with them on snowmobiles will be responsible for towing the gear and supplies they'll need for the long journey. 

This seems like a good approach for this type of adventure and definitely gives them a bit of a safety net  along the way. It also lets the bike riders simply concentrate on doing just that – riding their bikes. They won't be bogged down by carrying heavy gear and equipment, which should help them to be a bit faster out on the ice. This should be an interesting expedition to follow later this year. 

Check out the website for Daniel's bike shop at EpicBiking.com. 

Sierra Club Needs Two Interns For Best Internship On Earth

Attention college students or those who are about to graduate! The Sierra Club is once again looking for candidates to fill their Best Internship on Earth position, which is always a highly coveted gig. Over the past couple of years, the intern has spent ten weeks of their summer traveling across the U.S., taking part in all kinds of adventurous activities and serving as part of the Sierra Club's advocacy program, helping spread the word about the importance of protecting our favorite outdoor places. Those interns would write blog posts and create videos about their activities, sharing all of the cool things they were doing and generally making the rest of us feel jealous about not getting the internship ourselves. This year, that tradition will continue, although this time there are two internships up for grabs.

The 2013 interns will work in tandem with one another as they once again hit the road for the Sierra Club. They'll be creating even more multimedia productions as they shoot, edit and share video of their adventures. Along the way they'll pick up valuable skills, develop communications techniques and work closely with the Club's staff on a number of projects.

To be eligible for the Best Internship on Earth you must be at least 18 years old by May 15 and be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or legal resident with a work permit. The internship begins in June and runs into August. Both interns will receive compensation for their work, will have all of their travel expenses paid and will receive $1000 worth of gear from The North Face to keep them outfitted for the road.

For more information visit the Best Internship on Earth webpage. To apply for the position, simply fill out this form online. Applications are due by April 9, so hurry! This is a great opportunity and I would have personally loved to have done something like this while I was in college.

Kickstarter Project Looks To Show Impact Of Budget Cuts On National Parks

A couple of weeks back I posted a piece about the impact of budget cuts, as a result of sequestration, on America's national parks. At the time, we had just a few hints as to how those cuts would effect visitors to the parks in the  months ahead, but there is still a lot of speculation about just how deep that impact will be over the long haul.

Now, Utah-based photographer Chris Mabey is looking to explore that question more in depth and he's launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund his project. Chris plans to visit ten parks in the months ahead to capture photos that demonstrate how the budget cuts are altering not only the landscapes of the parks but also the experience for those that visit them. He's looking to raise just $3500 to get his project off the ground and as of this writing he's already about a third of the way to his goal with 21 days to go.

As Chris points out, the parks are not just amazing destinations at allow us to connect with nature, they're also a boon for economic stimulus. As he points out, the parks actually generate about $10 in economic activity in the surrounding area for ever $1 that is invested in them. That's a pretty impressive ROI, wouldn't you say? And that doesn't take into account the park's importance as part of our cultural, historical and natural heritages.

It is a shame to see them underfunded, particularly when they occupy such a small amount of the overall budget and are so popular with visitors. Lets hope something is done soon to change that.