Off To Outdoor Retailer

As I've mentioned in a few posts over the past week or so, the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market gets underway in Salt Lake City, Utah tomorrow and for the next few days I'll be up to my eyeballs in new backpacks, tents, boots and other assorted gear. It is an incredibly fun show to attend although also very busy and packed full with more things that you can possibly see in the allotted time. Still, you won't find me complaining because it is four days of total immersion in the outdoor and adventure culture.

Since I'll be otherwise indisposed over the next few days there won't be any updates to the blog for the rest of the week. I will however be sharing my OR experience on social media. That usually involves posting photos of some cool new gear and maybe snapping a shot of a personality from the world of outdoor adventure. In the past, I've rubbed elbows with the likes of Conrad Anker, Ueli Steck, Alex Honnold and similar folks who go completely unnoticed in the regular world but are rock stars while at Outdoor Retailer. If you'd like to join in on the fun, follow me on Twitter or Facebook to get a glimpse of the show.

Regular updates to the Adventure Blog will resume next Monday when I'm sure I'll have plenty of thoughts on new gear and other things announced at the convention. Until then, make sure you get outside and find a little adventure of your own.

Adventure Tech: Eddie Bauer And Goal Zero Collaborate On Solar Powered Tent

A day before the start of the 2013 Outdoor Retailer convention the Gear Junkie brings us the scoop on yet another interesting new product that should be arriving later this year. This time it is new tent from Eddie Bauer that integrates a solar charging solution from Goal Zero to create a shelter that can also power your outdoor gadgets.

The new tent doesn't have a release day or price just yet, but we do know that it is an update on EB's Katabatic four-sason model. The upgrade comes in the form of a built in solar panel on the roof that links internally to a Goal Zero charging system that uses the company's Sherpa 50 battery pack. The Sherpa 50 is capable of charing a number of devices, including laptops, and is a fantastic mobile power source. So much so that I gave it high marks when I reviewed one earlier this year.

The combination of these products should make for a great mobile base camp for the outdoor adventurer and professional alike. The Katabatic tent weighs in at a little over 10 pounds and the Sherpa will adds another couple of pounds to that, so this isn't exactly an ultra-lightweight option. But if you're setting up camp in a single location for some time and need to keep your satellite phone, GPS, laptop and other gear charged, this is an interesting option.

As mentioned above, there is no release date or price yet, but Eddie Bauer sells the tent at $599 on its own and Goal Zero retail the Sherpa 50 system for $360. A little math will tell you this will be an expensive alternative but potentially a very good one for those who need this kind of set-up. The possibilities look promising anyway.

Eddie Bauer and First Ascent aren't at Outdoor Retailer traditionally but I'm hoping Goal Zero will have one of these on display in their booth. I'll try to drop by and take a peek and see if I can find out a few more details. I'm sure more than a few of you will be wondering how well the solar-tent performs and when you might be able to order one.

Video: What Happens In Nature When We're Not Around?

Have you ever wondered what goes on in the wilderness when we're not there to watch? The video below will give you a little insight. It was shot by a wildlife camera stationed in Kananaskis Country located in Alberta, Canada. It starts off relatively simple enough. A bear wanders by and later a deer. After that another bear takes a liking to one of the trees, which serves as a great scratching post. But about 55 seconds in a bear party breaks out around that same tree that is simply comical to watch. Funny stuff for sure and will likely put a smile on your face.

Thanks to The Goat for sharing this one.

Rowing The Northwest Passage: Last First Team Struggle To Make Progress

It has been a few weeks since we checked in with the Last First crew. You may recall, they're the group of four rowers (Kevin Vallely, Paul Gleeson, Frank Wolf and Denis Barnett) who are attempting to cross through the Northwest Passage this summer. They set out from Inuvik in Canada a few weeks back and are now hoping to row more than 3000 km (1865 miles) through freezing waters choked with ice bergs and other obstacles to reach Pond Inlet. If successful, they'll be the first to row this route in a single season.

So far it has been anything but easy for the crew. Despite the fact that it is summer, the only time of the year that the Northwest Passage is open at all, the weather conditions have been poor with high winds making it difficult to make substantial progress. In fact, some of the days have been so rough that the team has manned the oars for hours just so they don't lose any ground. Throw in the constant threat of icebergs, which could trap their boat or even break its hull, and you begin to understand just how difficult this undertaking has been.

With the wind at their backs, the boys can make excellent time however, as evidenced just a few days ago. While rowing near Franklin Bay they managed to cover 120 km (74.5 miles) in a 24 hour period. That was more than double what they had done on their best day previously. They paid for it yesterday however when headwinds and shifting ice kept them pinned down for most of the day, seeking refuge from the weather as best they could. After scrambling for most of the day just to avoid being dashed against the shoreline, the crew learned that it is best if they wait out the poor weather rather than expending a lot of energy to go nowhere. How well that plan will work remains to be seen as they still have the bulk of their journey ahead of them and the summer is passing quickly.

You can follow their progress on the expedition's official website and Facebook page as it unfolds in the weeks ahead.

Adventurer Making Human Powered Circumnavigation Of The Globe

Dimitri Kieffer is a lot of things. Born in France, he now holds dual citizenship in that country and the U.S. He is an international businessman, member of the Explorers Club, an ultrarunner and adventure racer, amongst other things. He also happens to be making a human powered circumnavigation of the globe, a journey he is making in stages as he explorers the cultures and histories of the places that he visits along the way.

Dimitri's adventure began in Alaska back in 2005 when he set out on foot from Anchorage. Walking west he eventually reached the Bering Strait, which he trekked, skied and swam across in order to reach Russia at Uelen, Chukotka Okrug in April 2006. From there he continued on foot through the remote eastern regions of that country before reaching Omsukchan where he decided to take a break from the expedition to pursue other goals. He returned to that city in 2011 and began the next phase of the journey on a bike. He, and his then girlfriend and now wife Gulnara, rode 1962 km (1219 miles) along the infamous "road of bones" to reach the town of Yakutsk. Last year, Dimitri returned to that city and rode another 4049 km (2515 miles) to Khakhorin, Mongolia. He is currently in Ulaanbaatar preparing to resume his journey aboard his bike once again. He now has his sights set on China and Kazakhstan.

So far, over the course of his travels, Kieffer has covered 11,391 km (7078 miles) with a total of 409 days of riding, walking and skiing.  Of those, 5230 km (3250 miles) were covered over six winters stretching from 2005-2008 and again in 2010. The past two summers he has covered an additional 6161 km (3828 miles), primarily on his bike. Of course, he has a long way to go before he is completely done, but you have to admire Dimitri's focus and dedication to seeing this project through to completion.

You can follow his updates on both his website and Facebook page. Since he will be departing on the next leg of the journey very soon, you should start to see regular dispatches on his progress in the near future. It should be interesting to read about the expedition as it continues to unfold.

Video: Bodhi - Silent Meditation With Nature

Looking to commune with nature but don't have time to escape your desk today? Then you'll want to checkout the video below which captures some stunning images from the Catskills Mountains that will go a long way towards getting your fix. Filmmaker Savva Svet called this wonderful little film "Bodhi" in honor of the tree under which the Buddha found ultimate enlightenment. This video may not achieve the same effect but it is certainly a step in the right direction. Simply wonderful.

Bodhi from Savva Svet on Vimeo.

Outdoor Retailer Preview From The Gear Junkie

As I mentioned earlier, the Outdoor Retailer show is set to get underway tomorrow in Salt Lake City with the Open Air Demo, followed by the launch of the convention itself on Wednesday. Over the next few days, gear companies, retail buyers, media and a swarm of outdoor personalities will descend on SLC in what is one of the most outdoor and adventure focused events that you could ever imagine. Gear hounds in particular would love spending a few days at OR. There is literally acres of new equipment to sift through ranging from tents, backpacks and boots to stand-up paddleboards, camp stoves and just about anything else you can think of that is suitable for the outdoors. In short, it is gear nirvana with the latest and greatest products that will be filling our store shelves in the months ahead.

As usual, the Gear Junkie has done a good job of previewing some of the products that will be at the show in a few days. In a post that went up last week, and I'm only just now getting a chance to share, GJ gives us a nice glimpse of a few of the items that may be of interest to outdoor enthusiasts. For instance, there is a sneak peek at new sleeping bags coming from Sierra Designs. What sets these bags apart from the crowd is that one features waterproof down – a vast improvement over traditional down fill – while the other has a zipperless design with a built in "comforter." Other gear items in the preview include SUP boards that have built in lights powered be a rechargeable battery, a new tent from Big Agnes and a super-lightweight shell jacket from Bergans.

This is all just scratching the surface however and there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of new products on display. If you're in the market for an expensive new piece of gear, you'll probably want to delay your purchase at least through this week so that you can see what the gear companies have in the pipeline. You may be able to get older models at substantially reduced prices or the next big thing could very well be exactly what you're looking for.

I arrive in Salt Lake City on Wednesday morning and have appointments with many gear companies running through Saturday. As I have in the past, I intend to share some thoughts from the show floor, including photos, on both Facebook and Twitter. If you're interested in seeing what's new from the outdoor industry, you may want to give me a follow. Hopefully I'll have plenty of good stuff to show.

Adventure Tech: SPOT Announces Third Generation Satellite Messenger

On the eve of the start of the summer Outdoor Retailer gear convention, SPOT has announced the release of its new third generation Satellite Messenger. The new device, which is available at retail now, features some significant upgrades over previous SPOT devices, allowing outdoor enthusiasts to travel through the backcountry more safely then ever before.

Perhaps the biggest upgrade with the SPOT Gen3 is in the area of battery life. The new model can operate twice as long between charges as compared to previous models, which were already fairly energy efficient. That extra battery life is put to good use in terms of tracking as well, allowing this new device to update its location more regularly. The SPOT Gen3 is capable of sharing its location every 5, 10, 30 or 60 minutes, allowing friends and family to trace your path while out on an outdoor adventure. There is even a new mode that will allow the unit to share precise locations every 2.5 minutes, which my friends who are race directors for adventure races will surely appreciate. There is even a new mode that automatically sends tracking information when the SPOT Gen3 is moving but quits transmitting when it has stopped. This motion sensor will help save battery life while still providing regular updates on the users progress.

Speaking of battery life, the new SPOT device has improved in that department while also adding more ways to keep it powered. It can be operated using standard AAA batteries of course but the device now has the option for using rechargeable power cells or run off a direct connection from a USB power source as well. This lends a nice level of versatility to the Gen3 Messenger and means that there are more ways for us to keep it functioning while out in the field.

As with previous versions of the device, the new model allows users to send an S.O.S. message when they get into trouble or send pre-canned message to let friends and family know that they are okay. This simple, yet effective, messaging system is at the heart of what SPOT was intended for and the company claims that since it's launch a few years back, SPOT Messengers have been responsible for more than 2300 rescues worldwide.

The Gen3 model looks a bit larger than the older versions of the Messenger. It has also received a redesign that includes larger buttons and integrated loops designed to make it easer to use and carry. The unit remains waterproof and ruggedized of course, allowing it to take plenty of abuse while in the field.

I have an appointment to meet with the folks at SPOT while I'm at OR in a few days. I'll post some impressions on their new products, including the new SPOT Global Phone when I get the chance.

Expedition Gobi Update: Ray Completes Gobi Crossing!

There was good news from the Gobi Desert this weekend as ultrarunner Ray Zahab has successfully completed Expedition Gobi, his 2300 km (1430 mile) crossing of the desert on foot. It took him 34 days to complete the journey, averaging nearly 68 km (42 miles) per day during that time.

As with any expedition of this nature, the run included a number of major challenges. For instance, when he first set out, Ray was running with Kevin Lin, a fellow ultrarunner from Taiwan. Kevin was hampered by injuries however and eventually had to abandon his attempt at crossing the Gobi. That forced Ray to carry on by himself, which required a great deal of mental toughness. Covering all of those miles on a daily basis is tough enough, but to do it mostly by yourself is even more difficult.

The terrain in the Gobi certainly lived up to its billing, particularly near the end. Ray ran through all kinds of varying conditions along the way, but his final days were often spent running up and down massive sand dunes. Those conditions made it tough going in those last few days, but with a little help from some local military officials, Ray and his support team were able to find a faster and more efficient route to get them through the final leg.

The team is now en route back to Ulaanbataar, a journey that will take three days to complete in a 4x4 vehicle. That alone should tell you how remote the Gobi is and how difficult the conditions there are. Despite all of those miles and challenging environments, our intrepid runner managed to complete the expedition without a single blister, which is an impressive accomplishment on its own.

Ray can now add the Gobi to his growing list of deserts that he has run across. Previously the Canadian adventurer has also run across the Sahara and Atacama Deserts, as well traveled to the South Pole and across Death Valley on foot. Not bad for a guy who use to smoke a pack of cigarettes per day.

Congrats Ray! Well done once again!

Pakistan 2013: K2 Claims Two More Lives, Expeditions Cancelled

The climbing season in Pakistan is now coming to a rapid end as it appears that all attempts on K2 have now been cancelled. Summit bids had originally been expected this weekend but poor conditions on the mountain have made it impossible for teams to move forward. Unfortunately, not all of the teams heeded the warning signs and turned back and now two climbers have paid the ultimate price on one of the most dangerous mountains on the planet.

Late last week almost every team on K2 turned back at Camp 2 when they discovered that more than seven feet  (2.1 meters) of snow was blocking the route. Not only would that snow make it extremely difficult to climb any higher but it was also making things very unstable. Avalanches could be seen taking place on the upper slopes and that was enough to force most of the climbers to go back down. But the father and son team of Marty and Denali Schmidt, fresh off a successful summit on Broad Peak, decided to continue up to Camp 3 where they hoped to find less snow and improved route conditions. That wasn't the case however and ExWeb is now reporting that the two men have been killed in an avalanche.

It seems that the Schmidts did indeed manage to reach C3 last Friday as expected and they radioed back to Base Camp indicating that they had settled in for the night. But sometime after their last radio check-in the entire camp was swept off the mountain by a powerful avalanche. This was discovered yesterday when a team of Sherpas climbed up to Camp 3 and discovered that it was completely destroyed. There was no trace of the father and son.

My condolences go out to Marty and Denali's friends and family for their loss. I'm sure this is even more shocking after their fantastic success on Broad Peak a few weeks back.

Even before the sad news of the loss of two of their companions the other teams on K2 had already decided to go home. It seems that when they climbed up to C2 last week most of them saw the writing on the wall and that successful summits weren't going to be in the cards this season. K2 is an incredibly difficult mountain to climb even under the best of circumstances. Throw in unstable conditions and a penchant for avalanches and it just didn't seem like a recipe for success. By Saturday most of the climbers had already started packing their gear and planning their trek back civilization. That will take a few days and they'll now go with heavy hearts for the loss of their companions.

Elsewhere in Pakistan most of the other climbing teams on other mountains are wrapping up their expeditions as well. It has been a season with some good success stories, particularly on the Gasherbrums, Broad Peak and a Nanga Parbat. But it has also been a season of incredible sadness and loss. 11 climbers lost their lives on Nanga Parbat when armed gunmen stormed the camp and killed them execution style. A few weeks later, Polish climbing legend Artur Hajzer was lost while descending Gasherbrum I and three Iranian climbers perished after opening a new route on BP. Just this past weekend we also received word that the search has ended for three missing Spanish climbers on GI as well. Add in the deaths on K2 and you have far too many climbers losing their lives in just a matter of a few weeks in Pakistan. This will be a season that will be long remembered, but unfortunately it will be for all of the wrong reasons.

The mountaineering community will mourn the loss of their friends for years to come. Lets hope we don't see another season like this in our lifetimes.

Video: A Timelapse Journey To Everest Base Camp

Not planning on visiting Everest Base Camp soon? Better yet, want to relive a previous journey to EBC? Then check out this wonderful timelapse video of the trek from Lukla to Base Camp that will give a great sense of what it is like to make that hike. I think this is a perfect way to end the week.

The Himalayan - Mt.Everest Base Camp trek HD Time Lapse from Amit Haware on Vimeo.

World's First Travel Documentary To Be Aired At Film Fest

The Guardian has a really interesting story today about two Iranian brothers who are credited with creating the first travel documentary films. The movies, which were made in the 1950's, had fallen off the radar for most fans of the genre, but thanks to a the curator of an upcoming film festival focused on adventure travel, the film will be shown to a new generation of fans.

Back in 1954, Abdullah and Issa Omidvar set out on a grand adventure. The two brothers wanted to ride their motorcycles to some of the most remote places possible, while learning more about the cultures they visited along the way. With just $90 in each of their pockets, they packed up their filmmaking equipment and hit the road. They're route took them through Pakistan and India, across Southeast Asia and into Australia. From there they hopped across the Pacific, rode the length of the Andes north and continued on all the way to Alaska and Canada where they crossed above the Arctic Circle. After that, they returned home briefly before returning to the road for another adventure in Africa. All the while they filmed their exploits, capturing some incredible footage of an evolving world that was still reeling from the changes brought on by a post-World War II shift in politics and imperialism.

The Omidvar spent ten years traveling the world, taking in as much culture, history and adventure as they could. And when they were finished, one went to Chile to found a film company while the other returned home to Iran, where he became a celebrity for his works. But over time, the western world had mostly forgotten about their contribution to cinema as their documentary films haven't been seen in years.

But Lois Pryce, who has ridden her motorcycle the length of the Americas and Africa, and written two wonderful books about the experience, learned about Abdullah and Issa's story and went searching for copies of some of their films for the Adventure Travel Film Festival which she co-founded. Pryce called in many favors and went to great lengths to find the films, eventually ending up with copies being sent her way from Issa himself. Those films will be shown at the fest, which will take place in Dorset in the U.K. on August 16-18. It will be a rare opportunity to see these vintage travel films, which are a time capsule of sorts, giving us a window into the past.

It must have been quite the adventure for the two brothers to travel the world during the 50's and early 60's. The planet was evolving a lot back then and some of the places that they visited aren't even there any more. It would be fun to see these films and compare the conditions for travel back then with now. We've come a long way since those films were made, but we've lost much along the way as well.

Thanks to CuChullaine for sharing this fascinating story.

Video: A Father-Son Motorcycle Adventure In The Himalaya

Here's a great story of a father and son duo who traveled through the Himalaya with one another on motorcycles, covering 4500 km (2800 miles) in the process. The son is an experienced motocross rider to whom being on the back of a bike is second nature. The father was new this type of travel but the pair bonded over their shared adventure through some pretty amazing landscapes. The entire journey was captured on GoPro cameras of course and makes for quite the compelling short film.

Pakistan 2013: Search Officially Ends On Broad Peak, Continues On Gasherbrum I

It has been another very difficult week in the mountains of Pakistan where one search operation came to a tragic end, another is on going and a third has saved a life. All the while that these dramas have been unfolding, other teams have been making summit bids, some successful and some not.

Starting on Broad Peak, the search for the three missing Iranian climbers has been officially canceled. Bad weather has moved onto the mountain making it impossible for anyone to go up to 7800 meters (25,590 ft), which is where the men were last believed to have been camped. After more than a week at that altitude – without food and water no less – the climbers' friends and family have decided that it was time to let them go. They are presumed dead at this point.

The three men who have given their lives while opening a new route on BP are: Aidin Bozorgi, Pouya Keivan and Mojtaba Jarahi. My sincere condolences to their loved ones in their time of need.

Over on Gasherbrum I the search for missing climbers Xevi Gomez, Alvaro Paredes and Abel Alonso is still on going at this time. Bad weather has grounded the helicopter and hampered efforts there thus far, but the SAR teams haven't given up hope just yet. The three men topped out on GI last Sunday and were expected to descend to C2 the following day, but no word has been heard from them since. While the outlook is not good, some of the Spanish climbers friends are still holding out hope.

There was some good news from GI yesterday however, as Alfredo Garcia was located on the mountain and assisted down from Camp 3 by Mariano Galvan. Garcia turned back from the summit this past weekend as well but struggled on the descent. He has now gone down to Camp 1 and should be resting there for a time before proceed to Base Camp.

Meanwhile, summit pushes are now underway on both Gasherbrum I and II. Amongst those looking to top out is Jon Kedrowski, whose team should be in position to summit GII later today or tomorrow. Also on the move is Chris Jensen Burke, who fresh off a successful climb on that peak will now maker her way to the summit of GI. It would seem, weather permitting, there is the potential for several summits on these peaks in the next few days.

Finally, the summit push on K2 that was expected to be taking place as I write this has been called off. Poor conditions are to blame for stalling out the attempt which was to coincide with a weather window opening tomorrow. But when the first climbers reached Camp 3 on the mountain they discovered heavy snow higher on the slopes. As much as seven feet (2.1 meters) of snow to be exact. That fresh powder is believed to be unstable and avalanches have been observed higher on the slopes. For now, the teams will retreat, let things settle and regroup again next week.

There is no need to panic just yet on K2. It would have been an early summit had they topped out this weekend as expected. It is not uncommon for climbers to complete their K2 expeditions in the first week or so of August. Hopefully patience and persistence will pay off this year as well.

Alex Honnold To Free Solo A Building On Live Television

Alex Honnold just might be the best rock climber in the world. Over the past few years he has earned himself a reputation for free climbing some incredibly tough routes and doing so in record time. Now, National Geographic has announced that Alex will turn his considerable skills on a new challenge later this fall when he will attempt to free solo a building on live television.

For safety reasons, exactly which building Honnold will be climbing remains a mystery at this time. But what we do know is that the climb will air live on the Nat Geo Channel later this year. Much of the camera work for that event will be handled by Sender Films, who have worked closely with Alex on several climbing films in the past.

The announcement of the event that I linked to above comes with a brief interview with Honnold, who says that he is very much looking forward to the challenge. He says he hasn't climbed a building since he was a kid but feels that it is very much like climbing a rock face in Yosemite with the same movements involved. When asked if he thought doing the climb on live television would change anything for him, Alex said that it wouldn't. He'd simply be focused in as on any other climb, without even really noticing that it was being broadcasted for the world to see.

Personally, I'm not sure what to make of this event. On the one hand, it is an opportunity for a non-climbing audience to see what Alex can do, but then again I feel that would be better served with a straight climbing film on his achievements. Climbing a building feels like a bit of a gimmick to me and watching the entire thing live lends it a voyeuristic quality that seems a bit unsettling as well. There will obviously be a lot of people tuning in just to see if he will fall and that seems just wrong. I'll wait to learn more about the details of the event before I pass too much judgement, but so far I don't think this is something I'd go out of my way to tune into.

The North Face Announces New Line Of Training Gear - Mountain Athletics

Outdoor Retailer is less than a week away and the product announcements are already arriving in my email inbox with surprising regularity. One of the latest press releases to catch my attention comes our way courtesy of The North Face, which has announced a new line of apparel specifically designed to meet the training needs of outdoor athletes.

The new line of gear will be available starting in January 2014 and will fall under the "Mountain Athletics" brand which will include both clothing and shoes. TNF will offer four products at launch including the Kilowatt Jacket, short sleeve shirt and shorts. The Killowatt Ultra, a lightweight minimalist training shoe will released later in the spring of 2014.

Each of these products is the result of a collaboration between The North Face and Mountain Athlete gym located in Jackson, Wyoming. The facility is a strength and conditioning center that focuses on preparing outdoor athletes for big challenges, with a particular focus on skiing and snowboarding, rock and ice climbing, mountaineering and ultrarunning. A number of TNF sponsored athletes train at the gym and played a role in creating and testing the Mountain Athletics line.

The new gear will get a tough field test later this fall when ultrarunner Mike Wolfe will attempt to set a new speed record on the John Muir Trail. The current record was set by Brett Muane, who completed the 211 mile (340 km) route in just 3 days and 9 hours back in 2009. Brett, who will be joined by fellow endurance athlete Hal Koerner, will be training for the record-setting attempt using the new Kilowatt gear. The rest of us will have to wait for it to be released next year before we can give it a go.

I'll be on hand at OR next week to check out the gear for myself. I'm looking forward to seeing the new line and what it brings to the table for outdoor athletes. I'll try to snag some photos that I can share on Facebook and Twitter while I'm there.

Video: Drone Captures Awesome Surf Footage

It wasn't all that long ago that drones seemed like something out of a science fiction movie. Now they're common place and even average people can own one for personal use. We've seen them becoming increasingly popular with adventure filmmakers, who can now attach a lightweight GoPro camera and capture ariel footage of just about anything. Case in point, check out the beautiful and mesmerizing footage that was shot from a small drone at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz. The video simply looks amazing and I'm happy that photographers now have these tools at their disposal. Great stuff!

Aerial footage of surfers at Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz (DJI Phantom) from Eric Cheng on Vimeo.

Adventurer Bags Britain's Six Peaks While Cycling Between Mountains

British adventurer Leon McCarron has just completed a very cool expedition. Leon, who has walked 3000 miles (4828 km) from Mongolia to Hong Kong and trekked through the Empty Quarter from Oman to the UAE, as now completed a climb of the "Six Peaks," which consists of the tallest mountain in each of the major regions of the British Isles. And in doing so, he also rode a folding bike between each of his destinations, covering 750 miles (1207 km) in the process.

Leon shares some of the details of his expedition in a recent blog post on his site, although he promises more updates in the days ahead. The entire journey took 19 days to complete and like any good adventure it didn't always go as planned. Still, it seems like he managed to improvise quite nicely and ended up having a fun and incredibly satisfying adventure during which he rode his bike between the mountains and carried it on his back when he trekked to the summits.

So exactly which peaks did he climb? The list looks like this: Slieve Donard (850 m/2789 ft) in Northern Ireland; Carrantoohill (1038 m/3406 ft) in the Republic of Ireland; Snowdon (1085 m/3560 ft) in Wales; Snaefell (620 m/2034 ft) on the Isle of Man; Scafell Pike (978 m/3209 ft) in England and Ben Nevis (1344 m/4409 ft) in Scotland. Leon says that each of the climbs was completed in unusually warm and sunny weather, with the exception of Ben Nevis, which can be notoriously foggy, damp and cold. In this case, it continued to live up to that reputation.

Aside from the peak bagging, Leon also says that he had a fantastic time riding his bike between each of the mountains. The landscapes that he passed through were scenic and made for some of the best cycling he's ever encountered. The fantastic summer that the U.K. is experiencing didn't hurt the situation either.

Reading the text of his blog post, it is clear that this was an enjoyable experience all around and it is another example of finding adventure in your own backyard. He didn't have to travel off to some far flung locale for this expedition and yet it was still very satisfying. Well done Leon!

20 Famous Hikers Pick Their Favorite Trails

Looking for a new backpacking or hiking challenge? Want to experience some of the best trails in the world? Then you'll definitely want to check out the list of 20 top trails as picked by 20 famous hikers that was put together by the team over at National Geographic Adventure. They poled some well known figures from the world of exploration and adventure and shared their selections for their ultimate dream hikes. The results are a list of hikes that range from legendary to those you may not even have heard of.

Some of the walking routes that earn a place on the list include the Sierra High Route in California, which was selected by über-hiker Andrew Skurka and the Pacific Crest Trail, which is a favorite of ultrarunning phenom Scott Jurek. Unsurprisingly, American mountaineer Jim Whittaker names the trek to Everest Base Camp as his favorite hike, while Sally McCoy, the CEO of CamelBak loves the 200-mile (321 km) Snowman Trek in Bhutan.

As you can tell, there are some very diverse and interesting hikes on the list that were selected by a very diverse and interesting group of people. But one of the hikes isn't even officially open yet, although it continues to evolve into a true world-class trekking route that will draw backpackers from around the globe. That is the Sir Samuel and Lady Florence Baker Historical Trail that runs through South Sudan and Uganda. This route, which I first told you about several months back, is 360 miles (580 km) in length and runs from Gondokora near Juba, in South Sudan, to Baker’s View, which overlooks Lake Albert in Uganda. This particular trail was suggested for the Nat Geo list by explorer Julian Monroe Fisher, who has been instrumental in its creation. It is set to open in 2014 with the first trekkers walking its length shortly there after. The photo above is actually a shot of an existing plaque commemorating the Bakers in one of the villages along the trail. Official trail markers will be added alongside it soon.

If you're planning a new treking adventure in the near future then you'll certainly want to check-out the trails that made Nat Geo's list. There are some excellent options for sure and whether you want to hike a well known classic route or take on a complete new one, there is a little something for everyone.

Video: Mountain Biking In The Tetons With Yeti Cycles

The Tetons are some of the finest mountains you'll find in all of North America. They form a virtual outdoor playground for those who love to climb, ski, hike, camp and more. From the looks of the video below, which was made by Yeti Cycles, they look like a beautiful place to go mountain biking as well. You may not have been planning to go for a ride tonight, but after watching this video you may want to.

Thanks to The Goat for sharing.

The Tetons from Yeti Cycles on Vimeo.

Latest Issue Of Trail Run Magazine Now Available

While we're on the topic of trail running today, I wanted to point out that the latest issue of Trail Run magazine is now available online in .pdf format, as well as in the Kindle Fire and Apple app stores for your favorite tablet device. If you haven't had a chance to look at this excellent e-zine in the past, now is the perfect time to check it out. It has the same level of quality that you would expect from a traditional print magazine delivered in an environmentally friendly electronic format.

In this issue, you'll find gear reviews for new shoes and winter gear (the magazine is focused on trail running in Australia and New Zealand), as well as some thoughts on PocketFuel for keeping your energy up while on a long run. There are also a couple of athlete profiles, trail guides for Oz and NZ, rundowns of some upcoming events and plenty of other articles that will be of interest to avid trail runners, whether they run "Down Under" or not.

The .pdf version of Trail Run is absolutely free while issues on the Kindle or iPad will set you back a few dollars for each back issue, although a discount given for a year (4 issues) subscription. I happen to be a big fan of electronic magazines (that's how I get several of my favorite mags now!), particularly when they are this high in quality. The only thing that separates this from something you would pick up  on a newsstand is the method of delivery. Give it a go. It think you'll like it too.

Video: The Manaslu Trail Run - Running In The High Himalaya

Standing 8156 meters (26,759 ft) in height, Manaslu is the eight tallest mountain in the world. It also happens to be the focus of an amazing competition known as the Manaslu Trail Race, which is run in the High Himalaya of Nepal each year. During the race, competitors will cover a total of 212 km (131 miles) over seven stages, going as high as Manaslu Base Camp located at 5100 meters (16,732 ft). It is a difficult and demanding event that rewards runners with stunning views and an almost spiritual connection with the world around them.

The video below is an amazing introduction to this trail race. It is a 10-minute long mini-documentary that will leave you inspired to want to run this route yourself while pulling no punches with how difficult the run actually is. The short film begins in Kathmandu and takes viewers through the various stages of the race, giving us a sense of what it is like out on the trail. This seems like an incredible mix of cultural immersion, breathtaking scenery and an unbelievable physical challenge.

The next edition of the Manaslu Trail Race will take begin on November 9 of this year. There is still time to enter and get training.

MANASLU TRAIL RACE PROMO (LOW RES) from Adventure Types on Vimeo.

Pakistan 2013: Hope Fades On Broad Peak, Rescue Operations Underway On GI

The very busy summit season has begun in Pakistan where a number of teams have been successful on their bids to climb the big peaks throughout the region. While those teams celebrate their good fortune and prepare to head home, others are mourning the loss of friends as another team seems to have run into trouble.

We'll start on Broad Peak which has been the site of much drama over the past week. An Iranian team reached the summit on Tuesday, July 16 but ran into trouble on their descent. They spent several days stuck at 7800 meters (25,590 ft) but in radio contact with their friends, who were organizing a rescue operation that would deliver food and water to the three men. The hope was that they could then assist them in coming back down the mountain hopefully saving their lives in the process. On Saturday they lost radio contact with one another and the search parties had no luck in locating their missing compatriots. Helicopters were brought in to assist but bad weather kept them grounded. Now, as the days have dragged on, hope has started to fade for the stranded climbers and as the weather takes a turn for the worse, it appears that the search will have to be called off altogether

This is a sad ending to a story that had started so well. The three men, Aidin Bozorgi, Pouya Keivan and Mojtaba Jarahi, had completed a new route to the summit of BP, but struggled often on their climb. It seems they became exhausted when even their descent along the normal route proved more difficult than expected. They've now been without food and water, while stuck at altitude, for several days. With bad weather setting in, it seems very unlikely that they are still alive – something that their friends and family are now coming to grips with. My condolences to those that were close to these three men. Their names are added to a list of men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the mountains this year. It has certainly been a costly one.

Over on the Gasherbrums there have been a number of summits over the past few days, including Chris Jensen Burke topping out on GII yesterday. She reports that about a dozen climbers stood on top at roughly the same time. Meanwhile, Jonathan Kedrowski has also set out for the summit and hopes to complete his ascent by Friday or Saturday. He'll be amongst another group of seven or eight climbers who should all be topping out around the same time, weather permitting.

On Gasherbrum I another rescue operation seems to be unfolding at the moment. The Spanish team climbing on that mountain seems to have run into some difficulty on the descent following a successful summit. Xevi Gomez, Alvaro Paredes and Abel Alonso all reached the top of GI a few days ago but are having problems making it back down now. Friends and teammates are on the move there today and hope to reach them soon, then help with getting them safely back down the mountain. Stay tuned for updates on this situation, which is still unfolding.

Finally, it is go time at last on K2. Several teams, including one with both Adrian Hayes and Al Hancock on it, have launched their summit bids today. A weather window is expected to open this coming weekend and everyone wants to be in position to take advantage of the improved conditions if and when they come. If all goes as expected, we could see the first summits of the season as early as Saturday or Sunday. But this is the world's toughest mountain, so we'll just have to wait to see if the climbers can actually find a way to stand on top.

More updates to come as needed. There is a lot of activity right now and the end of the season is almost in sight.

Adventure Tech: Magellan Introduces Smart Running Watch

Over the past couple of years there have been some significant advances in terms of sophisticated watches for use while running, cycling or doing just about any other outdoor exercise. Suunto and Garmin in particular have gone head-to-head in an effort to expand this market. Consciously absent from that competition was Magellan, a company that is known for building excellent GPS navigation devices but hadn't jumped into watches just yet. That all changed yesterday with the announcement of their latest product the Echo. A watch that pairs with your smartphone and gives you full control of fitness apps directly from your wrist.

The Echo uses Bluetooth technology to connect the watch with your iPhone or Android device to unlock all kinds of potential. The link lets your smartphone handle most of the heavy lifting and while streaming data about your pace, heart rate, distance and so on directly to the screen of the watch. You can also control the apps from the Echo, including full control over your music as well. If your favorite fitness app provides notifications they will appear on the watch as well, keeping you full informed at all times about the state of your workout. Your performance can then been analyzed and shared over social media too, if you're into bragging about your killer times to your friends.

Echo uses an open API designed by Wahoo Fitness for use with apps. That means that it should be easy for many of the top running or cycling apps to integrate support for the watch, but before they can be used with one another, those apps will need to be updated. Magellan says it is working closely with some of the top apps for iPhone and Android to get them ready for the launch of the Echo, which is expected to come in the 4th quarter of this year. The new watch will be officially unveiled next week at Outdoor Retailer and I hope to get a better look at it when I'm there.

Magellan is taking an interesting approach with the Echo. While the other companies creating similar products have tried to cram as much technology into the watch as possible, Magellan has instead decided to pair the watch with a smartphone and let that device do all of the heavy lifting. Since mobile phones already have integrated GPS and a host of other technology, there is no need for it to be on the watch itself. That should make this a much more lightweight and energy efficient product. In fact, while Suunto and Garmin's watches feature built-in rechargeable batteries, the Echo uses an easily replaceable watch battery that you can buy in any drug store. Using Bluetooth 4.0 technology, this watch should sip power slowly and last quite a long time on a single battery.

We'll have to wait to see how well Echo performs. If it receives good app support, it should be quite an interesting product. I don't personally run with my smartphone, but this might give me an incentive to change that. Looking forward to learning more at OR.

Video: Whales Nearly Have Divers For Lunch!

If you thought that video of the flash floods that I posted earlier was scary, have a look at this one. It features a couple of divers in the water amongst a school of sardines, which just happen to be a popular snack for humpback whales. Near the end of the video a pair of the 40-ton beasts spring out of the water, narrowly missing one of the divers.

Warning: Some of the language may not be suitable for youngsters, but I'd be reacting in exactly the same way. Whoa!

Thanks to Outside Online for sharing.

Video: Scary Flash Floods In Southern Utah

If you're an outdoor enthusiast chances are you already have a healthy dose of respect for the forces that shape our planet. But just in case you need a reminder, check out this scary video that was shot a few weeks back in southern Utah. It shows the incredible power of the flash floods that can hit that region following a tremendous rainstorm. In this case, the floods occur about six hours after heavy rains (3 inches/7.62 cm) fell to the north. As the water rolls through the area, it puts on an impressive display as it pushes debris of all types, including large rocks, onto the dry creek bed.

Thanks to Jon Miller for sharing this. Amazing stuff for sure.

Expedition Gobi Update: Toughest Leg Yet To Come

Ray Zahab has been in the Gobi Desert for a month now as he continues his attempt to run through that massive and demanding environment. When he's done, he hopes to have covered 2300 km (1430 miles) in approximately 35 total days, averaging roughly 70 km (43.5 miles) per day. Along the way, he has been interacting with the locals that inhabit the Gobi and learning about the effects of desertification on their lives and homeland. As is typical with one of Ray's expedition's, he is also sharing those insights and experiences with classrooms around the globe.

Yesterday was a rest day for Ray and his support team as they prepare for their final leg of this journey. With just 320 km (198 miles) left to run, the toughest challenges may still lay ahead. The route will now take our intrepid ultrarunner into one of the most desolate and difficult regions of the Gobi yet. A region that is seldom visited and largely unexplored. So much so, that Ray says that the team will share their video with the Mongolian government to help them understand the environment he'll be running through much better.

As he enters the stretch run, Ray is planning on reach the finish line this coming weekend. It won't be easy however as this next segment is incredibly dry, warm and utterly devoid of places to resupply. They are leaving the last settlements behind as they move into this "No Man's Land." Over the next few days, they'll have to rely on themselves and the supplies they've brought along to see them through to the end.

Stay tuned for updates and check out the video below to see what Ray has been dealing with on his run so far. The Gobi looks incredible but I'm not sure I'd want to run for 35 days across it.


Expedition Gobi - Khongoryn Els (Singing Sands) from GOi2P on Vimeo.

Tales From Down Under: A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words!

Since I returned from Australia last week I've been sharing stories about some of the things I did there. Things like go to a regatta in which all the boats were made out of beer cans, spend an afternoon at the camel races and explore the amazing Aboriginal artwork found in Kakadu National Park. That is barely scratching the surface however and I have more to share about the hiking and camping I did while there as well and eventually I'll get around to telling those tales too.

Today I wanted to share some of the photos I took while in the Northern Territory, which featured some of the most dramatic and breathtaking scenery I've ever seen. The Outback is a wild and remote place, mostly untouched by man and there are places there that are still overgrown with prehistoric plant life that isn't found anywhere else on our planet. The sheer expanse of the place is mind boggling as it is at times both desolate and foreboding, yet oddly inviting and intriguing at the same time.

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and if what I've written about Australia's Northern Territory hasn't inspired you to want to visit yet, perhaps some of these images will. The sunsets at the "Top End" of the NT are some of the best you'll find anywhere on Earth and the sweeping vistas of the "Red Center" will compel you to want to explore more. This is a part of the world that is still open for exploration and you get the sense that there are still secrets to be discovered deep in the heart of the Outback.

I had fun capturing these photos and I hope you enjoy seeing them as well. Check out the full gallery by clicking here.

Video: Iceland In Timelapse

If you've ever had any doubt that Iceland is one of the most beautiful countries on the planet, they will be put to rest after watching this amazing video. It features some of the most breathtaking landscapes you'll ever see captured in timelapse. I had already wanted to go to Iceland before seeing this, now I want to go even more. Simply spectacular.

Expedition Iceland from Eric Hines on Vimeo.

Tour de France 2013: Is The Race Forever Tainted By Doping?

So another Tour de France has come and gone and I find myself already going through withdrawals. This year's race was a special one for a lot of reasons and now that it has come and gone, I'm already missing it. The 100th edition of Le Tour had plenty of excitement both on and off the road and it also introduced us to some rising stars who are likely to be names that we'll be hearing for many years to come. In fact, the podium featured 28-year old Chris Froome in the Yellow Jersey and runner up Nairo Quintana, who is just 23 and went home with both the Polka Dot Jersey for the King of the Mountains competition and the White Jersey awarded to the race's best young rider under the age of 25. Green Jersey winner Peter Sagan is just 23 years old as well and already showing the savvy of a veteran rider in the Tour.

This year's race featured a great deal of pomp and circumstance, with celebrations for the 100th edition of the Tour taking part nearly every day. That was even more evident yesterday with the start of the race taking place at the Palace of Versailles and rolling up the Champs Élysées at dusk in front of a cheering crowd. Afterwards there was a lavish display for this year's top riders as well as a tip of the hat to previous winners such as Miguel Indurain, Bernard Hinault and the incomparable Eddy Merckx.

Not so conspicuously absent from that line-up was Lance Armstrong, who you know would have been on that stage if it weren't for the events that have transpired over the past year. Even though he wasn't in Paris, Armstrong's shadow still loomed over the event. The former pro-rider who had his seven wins stripped from him earlier this year was quoted in an interview before the race began as saying that it would have been impossible to win back in his day without doping. The implication was that doping was so prevalent in the sport and that everyone was using some form of performance enhancing substance, that if you didn't dope, you weren't even going to be able to hang with the peloton. In a sense, it was the culture of the sport at the time and if you couldn't beat the cheaters out on the road, you might as well join them in the lab.

While I think what Lance said is absolutely true, the timing of the statements didn't sit well with some in the press. Regardless, I don't think it was Armstrong's quotes that put the use of performance enhancing substances back on their collective radars, but doping was once again a popular topic throughout the race. Considering how well Chris Froome performed in the mountains, usually blowing just about everyone else away, it was almost inevitable that questions about whether or not he was doing it clean were going to arise. Froome had to field those questions often after his performance in the Pyrenees, prompting team management to share data showing his performance over the past three years with little difference in his output. They were trying to show that he has consistently performed at a top level for years and that his performance in the Tour was nothing new. He also hasn't failed a drug test, although that was Armstrong's defense for years as well.

As these inquiries continued to come up I couldn't help but wonder if this is what pro cycling had come to. The sport is trying desperately to clean up its image and with some excellent young riders on the rise, they have a new crop of stars to help with that project. But cycling's sordid past continues to haunt it, and those young riders will now have to face increased scrutiny thanks to the sins of those that have come before them. Froome fielded the questions on an almost daily basis and he answered them with patience and conviction. That was in contrast to last year's champ Bradley Wiggens, who bristled at the mere suggestion of the possibility that he was doping.

I fear that this will be the norm moving forward. Cycling must now deal with it's long history of doping issues and considering how often we as fans have been burned, I think a healthy dose of skepticism is to be expected. It took the sport a long time to dig this hole it now finds itself in and it's going to take a long time to dig itself out. It is just a shame that the current crop of riders will now be met with suspicion, even though they may not have done anything wrong, while riders in the past got a free pass at the time.

The Tour is one of my favorite annual sporting events and I have a great deal of respect for the riders. Hopefully there will eventually come a day where I no longer need to defend the race to my friends who just want to dismiss it as being full of cheaters. I'm sure the riders would like to put that part of the race's history behind them as well and move forward with a clean slate. They're going to have to earn that trust and respect however and that is going to take some time.

Fortunately, they are off to a good start so far and the future looks bright. Here's to another 100 years of racing. Vive Le Tour!

Video: A Pack-Rafting Expedition Across Scotland, West To East

I'm a big believer that adventure is where you find it. That you don't need to climb big Himalayan peaks nor venture deep into the heart of the Amazon Rainforest to have a big adventure. It can be right out your front door and last a few hours or a few days. Case in point, this great little video that was sent my way by some readers who undertook their own micro-adventure during which they traversed Scotland, traveling west to east, on foot and with pack rafts. Along the way they crossed some spectacular looking terrain and had themselves a fantastic time. That's what an adventure is all about after all and while this one may not have been as epic as some, it still looks like an amazing escape to me. Well done gentleman!

SCOTLAND, WEST TO EAST (TRAILER) from EduMB on Vimeo.

Pakistan 2013: Rescue Operations Continue On Broad Peak, Summits On Nanga Parbat

It was another very busy weekend in the mountains of Pakistan, where teams were on the move once again. The season is starting to wind down at last and some of the climbers were able to take advantage of a weather window to complete their summit bids. Meanwhile, on Broad Peak hope begins to fade as rescue operations continue for the Iranian team that has been stranded at altitude for nearly a week.

We'll start with the news from BP where search and rescue teams continue to look for the three missing Iranian climbers who topped out along a new route last week but ran into trouble on their descent. The three men, Aidin Bozorgi, Pouya Keivan and Mojtaba Jarahi, first spent three days above Camp 3 just trying to reach the summit and have now reportedly been stuck above 7800 meters (25,590 ft) since last Tuesday when they tried to descend along the normal route. Their teammates have gone up the mountain to try to deliver food and water before attempting to help the climbers down, but so far they have been unable to locate their missing friends.

News of the predicament has spread to other teams in the Karakoram and climbers have come from K2 and other mountains to try to lend a hand. Reportedly helicopters have also been dispatched to help in the search efforts too, but so far there has been no luck in locating the men. The situation is now quite desperate as they were already low on food and water when they called for help late last week. By now they are probably out of food and no longer have fuel to melt snow for water. They are also probably far too weak at this point to continue down themselves. Lets continue to keep these three men – as well as their friends and families – in our thoughts. Hopefully it is not too late to find them and safely get them off the mountain.

Elsewhere there were successful summit bids on several mountains. On Nanga Parbat, the sight of eleven brutal killings earlier in the season, the lone remaining team managed to top out. The Romanian squad, climbing along the Rupal face, put four climbers on the summit on Friday, bringing an end to a tough expedition which was made all the more difficult by lingering fears that another terrorist attack might occur. The team should now be back in Base Camp and preparing to depart for home today.

Meanwhile, over on the Gasherbrums teams have launched summit bids as well. Chris Jensen Burke and her team have left for the summit of GII on Saturday and if successful, they'll return to BC and then make an attempt on GI as well. Carlos Carranzo is attempt GII as well although his latest dispatch says that conditions have taken a turn for the worse there, so we'll have to wait and see how things play out. It may be that teams are already in retreat on that mountain. The Spanish team climbing there found success yesterday however, putting some of the climbers on top of Gasherbrum I, while others rethink their strategy and consider GII instead.

Finally, the schedule on K2 is finally starting to fall into place. It looks like a weather window is set to open on July 27 that will grant access to the summit for several days. In order to take advantage of this stable pattern, teams are now planning to set out from Base Camp on Wednesday of this week so that they can take advantage of this first, and possibly only, weather window of the season. K2 is notoriously tough to climb and the alpinists want to be in a good position to take advantage of any opportunity that they might get. More on that as they launch their summit bids in a few days.

Thins are pretty active in Pakistan at the moment. More news in the days ahead and keep your fingers crossed for the missing Iranians.

Tales From Down Under: The Camel Cup

On my recent trip to the Northern Territory in Australia I had the chance to really soak up the culture and take in a lot of what the region has to offer visitors. That included making a visit to Kakadu National Park to take in the Aboriginal artwork that adorns the rocks there and while in Darwin I had the opportunity to witness the famous (infamous?) Beer Can Regatta. But those two experiences were just the tip of the iceberg for what the NT has to offer and in the days ahead I'll be sharing more of my experiences from the Outback.

One of the more unique events that I attended while visiting Australia was the Lasseters Camel Cup, which I wrote about this past weekend for Gadling. The Camel Cup is an annual event held in the town of Alice Springs that pits professional camel riders against one another in a series of races that are held on an oval track not unlike what you'd find horses racing on. And while the event didn't hold the same prestige of a Triple Crown event, you wouldn't know it by looking at the stands, where many in the crowd came dressed in their finest clothing and wildly cheered on the riders – and their mounts – in each race.

If you know anything about horses, you know that they often love to run, which is why horse racing can be such a compelling sport. If you know anything about camels, you probably already know that they are not the most cooperative of animals. They can be stubborn, strong willed and down right nasty at times, all of which came out on the track in Alice Springs. Sometimes the camels refused to run and sometimes they refused to slow down. I saw camels throw their riders, run in the wrong direction and trot around the course completely ambivalent to the fact that there were 5000 people in the stands watching them go. The personalities of the beasts manifested themselves on the track in various ways and that helped to give the event a personality all of its own as well.

For more than 40 years the Camel Cup has taken place on the second Sunday in July and it doesn't look like that will change anytime soon. The locals absolutely love this event and support it whole heartedly. Most of the proceeds go to support the local Lions Club and revenue generated helps to fund projects within the community. On top of that, the camel has played an important role in Australia's history and is now a part of the culture in the Outback. That legacy is celebrated in the event which has a feel that is undeniably Aussie.

Read more about the Camel Cup in this post at Gadling.com.

Video: Alex Honnold On Half Dome And Moonlight Buttress

Apparently free climber Alex Honnold has a new sponsor in the form of BALL Watches. The video below is a commercial for the company but mostly features Alex climbing on Moonlight Buttress iN Zion National Park and Half Dome in Yosemite of course. It's more amazing footage of Alex doing what he does best, namely climbing big walls with the use of rope.

Some of the shots are down right scary. I'm not sure how his mom lets him get away with this stuff.

Tour de France 2013: Battle For The Podium Heats Up, Froome Cruising In Yellow

It was another big day in the Alps for the 2013 Tour de France, but as expected there were no real challengers for the Yellow Jersey. Today's stage featured plenty of climbing but with a fast descent to the finish it was hard for anyone to really gain much time. With just two days to until Paris, Chris Froome is in complete control but the battle for second and third is just heating up.

Today the riders took to the course to cover a 204 km (126.75 mile) stage that ran from Bourg d'Oisans to Le Grand Bornand. The stage featured two tough Beyond Category climbs early on than added a Category 2 and two Category 1 climbs near the end. That was enough to shake things up and allow a break to succeed but not enough to put Froome in any kind of real danger, especially since the finish line was at the bottom of steep descent.

Team Europcar's Pierre Rolland put in a valiant effort out in front in an attempt to win the stage and earn France a second stage win at this year's Tour, but his legs couldn't quite deliver him to the finish line ahead of the pack and he was caught 5 km (3.1 miles) out and ended up finishing 16th on the day. The winner was Rui Costa of Movistar who finished a full 48 seconds ahead of Andréas Klöden who surged near the end as well. It was an impressive win from Costa, who isn't a threat in any way to the GC contenders.

The real battle out on the course came between four riders who are all hoping to find a way onto the podium in Paris. Just 47 seconds separated these men, of whom the closest to to Froome is Alberto Contador who sits 5:11 behind the leader. Behind Contador in third is Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas of Movistar. Lurking just slightly back are Roman Kreuziger, Contador's teammate on Saxo-Tinkoff and Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver of Team Katusha. A little advantage out on the road for any of these men could see them reverse their fortunes and end up on the podium with Froome, and they all know it. Late in the stage today there was some jousting between them to see if something could shake out, but there was no change in the standings at the end of the day. That should bring at least a little drama tomorrow however when these four could really be fighting it out on the final climb of the day and the Tour itself.

Speaking of tomorrow, it is the penultimate stage of the race and will once again be a tough day in the mountains. It is a 125 km (77.66 mile) ride from Annecy to the summit of Annecy Semnoz, a Beyond Category climb with a the finish line right on top. Earlier in the stage there are several Category 2 and 3 climbs and a single Cat. 1, but considering the amount of climbing the riders have done in the Alps this week, their legs are likely to be quite tired. The push up that final hill will determine the final rankings of this year's race. Since no one will attack the Yellow Jersey on the way into Paris, Sunday will be a day for the sprinters. Tomorrow will decide second and third place since the winner is already in the bag.

Once again today there was no change in who holds the various Tour jerseys. Froome stays in Yellow of course, and Peter Sagan is in Green as the top sprinter. He won't give that title up in the next few days either. The White Jersey for the best young rider is still on the back of Quintana Rojas who has looked fantastic at just 23 years of age. The battle for the Polka Dot Jersey for the King of the Mountains is still up in the air however with a number of possible winners. Currently that jersey is also held by Froome, but Pierre Rolland is just one point back. It is likely that his legs are shot after today's effort, and Mikel Iturralde of Team Euskaltel-Eusadki and Quintana Rojas are both within striking distance, as is Christophe Riblon. The winner of this title will obviously be decided on the climbs tomorrow as well.

I haven't mentioned the team competition much this year but it has been a good battle too. Team Saxo-Tinkoff is in the lead at the moment and the entire squad has performed very well throughout the race. Their closest rival is Radioshack Leopard who are about three and a half minutes back. It is possible that they could overtake Saxo tomorrow, but it doesn't seem likely, especially with two members of the team looking to get onto the podium.

The official outcome of the race will actually be decided tomorrow, so if you're a fan of the race you'll certainly want to tune in. Sunday is largely a ceremonial ride into Paris for the Yellow Jersey during which he can take in the scenery and wave to the fans. This year's final day should be a special one however, as it will be an evening ride into Paris and will start in the gardens at Versailles and cover 118 km (73.31 miles) into Paris where the peloton will pass through the courtyard of the Louvre. As always, the race will end on the Champs Élysées but instead of turning in front of the Arc de Triomphe as is traditional, the riders will actually race around that monument. It should make for an exciting finish and we'll have to see if Mark Cavendish is able to once again claim victory on the final stage.

Video: An Octogenarian's Himalayan Adventure

Looking for a little inspiration for your own adventures? Then you'll certainly want to watch the video below which features 80 year old Simon Gandolfi riding his motorcycle through the remote Indian state of Himachal Pradesh which falls squarely in the Himalaya Mountains. Road conditions are somewhat less than ideal but the views are spectacular. We should all be so lucky to be enjoying life like this while in our 80's.

Pakistan 2013: Climbers In Trouble On Broad Peak

We're at a crucial stage of the summer climbing season in Pakistan. Most of the teams have now been on their respective mountains for a number of weeks and many have now wrapped up their acclimatization and are making summit bids. That includes an Iranian team on Broad Peak, which has already successfully topped out but is now facing serious problems on their descent.

ExWeb has all of the details on the Iranian team's climb, which began on July 10 with a five man team setting off for the summit along a new route on BP's Southwest Face. The ascent went mostly as planned up to Camp 3 but above that point things started to get extremely difficult. Poor conditions and a rocky route slowed progress to a crawl and the climbers were forced to bivouac for three consecutive nights. On Tuesday, July 16, three members of the team (Aidin Bozorgi, Pouya Keivan and Mojtaba Jarahi) reached the summit and then attempted to their descend along the normal route. That is when things took a turn for the worse.

It turns out there were complications with going down along the established route and the three climbers ended up bivouacking above C3 for an additional two nights. Yesterday the climbers called their support team and told them that their tent had been shredded and that they were in desperate need of food and water. Worse yet, one of the members of the team is in poor shape and having problems descending. That prompted the team to spring into action and today a rescue mission is underway with a number of climbers moving up to try to help get the three Iranians down safely. Lets keep our fingers crossed that all goes well. We've lost enough climbers in the mountains already this year.

Broad Peak hasn't been particularly accommodating to climbers this summer as it has also been reported that four Polish climbers have suffered frostbite on their summit bid earlier this week. It isn't clear how bad the frostbite is but it is enough that a helicopter was expected to arrive in Base Camp today to evacuate the four men. That would indicate to me that at least one of them has fairly severe injuries but hopefully they'll all make a full recovery.

Over on Nanga Parbat, the Romanian team climbing the Rupal Face has reached 7500 meters (24,606 ft) and established their High Camp there. If conditions continue to hold out they should make their final summit push this weekend. After the murders that took place in BC on the Diamir Face, this is the only team that remains on the mountain this summer. It would be good to see them successfully top out.

Teams are now on the move on both Gasherbrum I and II with climbers hoping to summit the next few days. The big news on these peaks at the moment is the burial of Polish climbing legend Artur Hajzer, who died on GI back on July 7. Hajzer fell to his death on the Japanese Couloir and his family determined that he would have wanted to be buried on the mountain. That took place a few days ago with the help from a few of his friends. Rest in peace Artur.

According to Jon Kedrowski, four members of his team, all of whom are from Belgium, are now making summit bids on Gasherbrum I. There is a narrow weather window open and while Jon and his guide are waiting for a better opportunity, these four climbers decided to give it a go. If they are successful, they should top out early next week.

Similarly, Chris Jensen Burke has completed her acclimatization on GII and should now be back in BC waiting for a weather window of her own. No word yet on when that might come, but a shift in weater was expected to take place late this week which could provide the opening she and her team needs.

Finally, over on K2 teams have now gone as high as Camp 3 and acclimatizations are proceeding as expected. Most are starting to look at the weather forecasts to see if a five-day window will be coming soon. That's how long they'll need to travel from BC to the summit and then begin their descent back down. Right now, there doesn't appear to be such a window on the horizon, but summits on the "Savage Mountain" often come in late July or early August. Expect more teams to start arriving on the mountain soon however as some will attempt K2 after warming up on one of the other big peaks in the region.

That's all for now. Expect more updates next week following possible summits in the next few days.

Video: New Gear From OutDoor 2013 Show

Here in the States we're still a couple of weeks away from the Summer Outdoor Retailer show, which will unveil all of the great new gear we can expect to see on store shelves in the months ahead. But across the pond in Europe their big gear show, known as OutDoor Friedrichshafen, just wrapped up with plenty of new products making their debut. Our friends over at EpicTV were on hand to check out the latest gear and they've been posting videos to a YouTube playlist for all of us to enjoy. If you're a gear hound of any kind, you'll probably want to check out some of the videos for yourself. Here's an example of what EpicTV has put together. It's a sneak peak at the new ultralight Exos backpacks coming from Osprey, something I'm looking forward to seeing for myself in a few weeks.