Video: The Making Of An Adventure Film

A few weeks back I posted a video called This is Backcountry, which was a fantastic short film that summed up why many of us enjoy the outdoor lifestyles that we do. It was an inspiring, beautifully made clip and if you haven't seen it yet, I definitely recommend you click on the link above and watch it now. If you've ever wondered how these kinds of films are made then you'll enjoy the video below which features some great insights into how this project came to fruition. You'll see lots of passion and dedication not to mention more of those amazing outdoor playgrounds that we all love.

Video: Unicycling Down A 14,000-Foot Peak In Colorado

Last Saturday Max Schulze was up before the crack of dawn to hike to the top of the 14,278-foot (4351 meter) Grays Peak in Colorado. He reached top in time to enjoy a beautiful sunset and then started a remarkable descent on a unicycle. The video below shares some of the footage from that ride which looks like it would be a fun one with two wheels but I'm not sure I'm ready to try with just one. This is quite the display of skill and agility. Definitely not an endeavor for the faint of heart.

Colorado 14er Muni: Grays Peak from Maxtron on Vimeo.

Himalaya Fall 2013: Teams Gathering In Kathmandu

It is hard to believe that the summer has nearly passed and it is time for the fall Himalayan season to begin. As I write this, teams are now gathering in Kathmandu for the start of the season, which is much less active than the spring but still draws hundreds of climbers to Nepal and Tibet. Many come to sharpen their skills ahead of an attempt on Everest next year but plenty visit the Himalaya during the fall to take advantage of a more relaxed, quieter atmosphere.

At the moment, the Himalaya are still shrouded in the storms that come along with the monsoon season.  Those rains will pass away soon however, opening up safe access to the big mountains in the days ahead. Some of the more popular summits for the fall include Makalu, Manaslu, Cho Oyu and Shishapangma. Everest sees few visitors this time of year, although there are occasionally a few teams who attempt a fall summit on the world's highest peak.

Our friend Alan Arnette will be atempting Manaslu this fall and today he'll begin the six-day trek beginning in Sama Goan. But before he left Kathmandu, Alan and his team met with none other than Ms. Elizabeth Hawley, the Grand Dame of the Himalaya herself. He wrote a great blog post about that encounter a few days ago, which you can (and should!) read here. He has entitled the post "A Morning with a Legend," which seems apt considering Ms. Hawley's stature in the mountaineering community.

For those who don't know who Ms. Hawley is, she is pretty much the authority on Himalayan climbing. For decades she has kept a definitive record on who climbed which mountains and generally a summit isn't official until she says so. She has a reputation for a keen mind, a sharp tongue and a long memory. Even now, in her 89th year, she can still make hardened men tremble under her scrutiny. She is a fascinating woman and it seems like Alan's encounter with her was a memorable one.

A number of the teams are now en route to their respective mountains and we will soon start to get reports on their progress. Typical of Himalayan expeditions they'll first begin with the acclimatization process over the coming weeks before waiting for weather a window to open for a potential summit bid. While it won't be nearly as active as it is in the spring, it should still be an interesting time in the big mountains.

Stay tuned for regular updates as expeditions get underway.

London2London Via The World: Sarah Changes Course, Heading To Alaska

It has been a couple of months since we last checked in with Sarah Outen, the British adventurer who is attempting to complete a self-powered circumnavigation of the globe. In my last update, Sarah had just returned to the water and was embarking on a row across the North Pacific from Japan to Canada. That leg of the journey was expected to cover 7500 nautical miles (13,890 km) and take months to complete. But earlier this week she announced a change in plans that will see her now make landfall ahead of schedule.

If you've been following Sarah's Pacific crossing you know that bad weather has hampered progress and in recent day she's had a difficult time covering any significant ground. Her slower than expected pace left her with the real possibility of being stuck in the North Pacific as the seasons begin to shift. Autumn and winter will bring all kind of challenges including more frequent storms and much colder temperatures. With that in mind, Sarah and her team have made the decision for her to turn north and head toward the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska. The plan now is to go ashore on one of those remote islands and than eventually island hop via kayak all the way to the mainland. Once there, she'll climb back aboard her trust bike and start cycling across North America before attempting to row the North Atlantic sometime down the line.

Sarah's circumnavigation attempt is called London2London via the World because she set out from that city on April 1, 2011 and it will eventually be her finish line as well. The journey began with a paddle down the Thames River and a crossing of the English Channel. After that it was onto the bike, with a ride covering some 11,000 miles (17,702 km) across Europe and Asia that eventually ended in Choshi, Japan. From there, Sarah returned to the ocean and began her row across the Pacific, but a tropical storm put a halt to the expedition, forcing her to temporarily abandon the attempt. That took place in the summer of 2012 and in the spring of this year she set off once again with the intention of finally reaching Canada. That doesn't seem likely now, which is why she has changed direction, but this slightly altered plan will still allow her to complete her goal of traveling around the globe completely under her own power.

As of today, Sarah still has 330 miles (611 km) to go before she reaches the Aleutian Islands. That means she could be out on the water for several weeks yet depending on the weather conditions. Once she actually arrives at the islands she'll need to find a safe place to land, which can be a bit tricky for any boat. After that, it seems likely she'll wait for spring to begin the kayaking portion of the Pacific crossing. By the time she wraps that up, I'm sure she'll be ready to get back on her bike.

Video: Trailer For Ski Film Elevation

Where I live the temperature today is expected to hit 100ºF/38ºC. It's hot and muggy which makes the arrival of the trailer for the new ski film from Powderwhore Productions entitled Elevation all the more welcome. At least it gives us some hope that winter isn't as far off as we think and cooler weather will soon be here. It doesn't hurt that his film looks to add adventure back into skiing with some backcountry excursions that should be amazing. The Trailer below gives you a hint of what to expect. The full film will be available on DVD October 1 with digital download coming soon.

Video: Three-Year Old Kills It At The Bike Park

If you're looking for a healthy dose of cute today you'll want to check out this video of a three-year old taking his push-bike for a spin through a terrain park. The little guy does pretty well all things considered, although there are a couple of wipeouts near the end. The kid will probably turn out to be a prodigy and in a few years we'll see more videos of him bombing down much bigger terrain. For now though, it looks like he's having a great time. We should all have this much fun on our bikes.

Mountain Quiz: How Well Do You Know Famous Peaks By Sight?

The Wenger Blog, a site that I regularly contribute to, has put together an interesting post that will surely test your knowledge of famous peaks. Their Mountain Pictorial Challenge presents us with images of 25 iconic mountains and provides and a brief clue as to the identity of each of them. It is up to us to then try to guess which mountain is in the image before mousing over the photo to get the correct answer.

This is a fun little challenge to say the least and the answers range from completely obvious to quite challenging. I was able to guess about 20 of the of the 25 correctly but it wasn't easy to say the least. You'll really need to know your stuff if you're going to get these right and the hints are only helpful some of the time. I don't want to give too many of the answers away suffice as to say that most of these are very famous mountains indeed.

Even if you don't have much of a clue about which mountain is which, you'll probably still enjoy the post anyway. The photos are quite lovely and some of them will inspire you to want to head out to the mountains soon yourself. There is nothing like a snowcapped peak to get your sense of adventure flowing.

I recommend having your morning coffee before getting started on this little "quiz" as it will likely tax your brain some. Good luck and post your scores in the comments below.

Yukon River Row: From Whitehorse To Dawson City In A Rowboat

The Yukon River Quest is an annual canoe and kayaking endurance race that runs 440 miles (708 km)  from Whitehorse to Dawson City in the Yukon Province of Canada. Over the years the race has evolved into one of the better known endurance paddling events and for good reason. It is a difficult, demanding competition that pulls in paddlers from all over the world.

This year the race took place from June 26-30 with 49 teams completing the course during that period. But the fastest time for completing the course doesn't appear on the official leader board. That's because a two man rowing team took to the water a few hours before the official start of the race to see if they could cover the distance faster than the teams in their canoes and kayaks. You see, rowboats aren't officially allowed in the race and in order to test their speed, the team of Steve Price and Colin Angus had to unofficially enter the competition.

Rowing in a 16-foot long boat designed by Colin himself, the two men set out just after 2 AM on June 26. The hope was to set a new speed record for covering the distance between Whitehorse and Dawson City but that attempt came up just short. The two rowers completed their journey in 50 hours, 50 minutes, which is just shy of the 49 hours, 32 minute record set in 2008 by a six-man canoe. Strong headwinds on the infamous Lake Laberge probably kept them from officially setting a new mark, although they did put up some impressive stats none the less. For instance, Steve and Colin's time was the fourth fastest ever recorded and the second fastest for a two-person team. It was also the fastest time recorded the past five years and nearly five hours faster than the best time in this year's official Yukon Quest race. Unlike the teams officially entered into the race, they also finished without any type of support and did so without ever stepping ashore, something that has never been done before either.

Part of the reason that Steve and Colin made this journey down the Yukon River was to show what a good rowboat is capable of. These types of boats can be incredibly efficient out on the water and the two men feel that they are often overlooked as a mode of river transportation. Their efforts were certainly eye-opening at the YRQ where they clearly performed far better than anyone else in the event.

To read a full report of their adventure checkout this blogpost that has more details on what it was like to row the Yukon.

The Rest Of Everest Episode 194: Buring... Stuff

It is Wednesday, which means its time to get your weekly fix of mountaineering in the form of a new episode of The Rest of Everest. This week the team is starting to look at possible summit bids on Broad Peak and after a final acclimatization round, they're back in Base Camp for a rest while keeping their eyes peeled for possible weather windows. And since this video web series doesn't pull any punches in terms of showing what expedition life is like, we get to see how the team deals with full latrines. Lets just say it involves kerosene. You won't find this kind of insight anywhere else!

Video: Himalayan Speed Training With Ueli Steck

There is no question that Ueli Steck is amongst the best mountaineers on the planet, in no small part because of how he prepares for his big climbs. The video below gives us a glimpse of that preparation for an expedition in the Himalaya. The video was just posted by Mountain Hardwear last week but the footage was shot a few years back prior to Ueli's showdown with the Sherpas this past spring. That encounter has reportedly turned him off from returning to the Himalaya anytime soon, but from this clip it is clear that he loves Nepal and the big mountains there. Something tells me Ueli isn't finished with the Himalaya just yet, but for now we'll have to settle for these images of him in the Khumbu Valley.

Two Teams Still Navigating The Northwest Passage

Yesterday I posted an update on the Last First expedition in which it was revealed that the team was pulling the plug on their attempt to row the Northwest Passage this summer. The four-man crew is en route to Cambridge Bay, which is a long way from their intended stopping point at Pond Inlet. Poor weather and an inefficient boat design resulted in slower than expected progress conspired against them to keep them from reaching their goal and within a few days, they should be off the water altogether. But it turns out that the Last First team isn't the only one paddling through the Passage this summer and while their journey may be coming to an end, there are two other teams who are pressing forward with their adventures even as the summer starts to wane.

First up, we have the team of Cam Webb and Matt McFadyen who have dubbed their journey the Beyond The Circle expedition. The two men set out in July from Inuvik in a small 17.5-foot (5.3 meter) rowboat that also happens to be equipped with a sail. This gives them the ability to harness the power of the wind when the can, allowing them to make better time in the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean. It hasn't exactly been a pleasure cruise for Cam and Matt so far but they seem to be enjoying their time out on the water and are making solid distances most days. They still have about half of their 2000-mile (3218 km) voyage to go, but they seem determined to see it through to the end. Watch for regular updates to their blog with more news and information on their progress.

The other Northwest Passage crossing attempt is by the Reve de Glace ("Ice Dreams") team, who are attempting to navigate the entire journey in a tandem sea kayak. If successful, they'll be the first to accomplish that feat in a single season. They set off from the village of Tuktoyaktuk in northern Canada and are paddling some 3500 km (2175 miles) to reach the tiny hamlet of Igloolik, which falls on one of the many waterways which gives entry into the Passage itself. The two men on this NW Passage attempt include Sébastien Lapierre and Olivier Giasson who hope to complete their journey in just 80 days. Find out more on their website, which is French but can be easily translated to get updates.

What is interesting is that all three of the teams, Last First, Beyond The Circle and Reve de Glace, are all roughly within the same area at the moment. The difference is that the Last First team is ready to go home, while the others will continue ahead. Hopefully the two teams that will continue on will stay safe and reach their destination as intended.

Many thanks to reader Steve Price for sharing these expeditions with me.

Tales From The Empty Quarter

Yesterday I shared a video teaser for a documentary film coming out later this year called Into The Empty Quarter. The film follows adventurers Alastair Humphreys and Leon McCarron as they follow in the footsteps of the famous explorer Wilfred Thesiger on a 1000 mile (1600 km) journey across the Empty Quarter – a massive desert that stretches over parts of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. We'll have to wait until this fall for our opportunity to see the movie but we can learn more about that journey now thanks to a story written for The Clymb by Alastair himself. 

The article, which you'll find by clicking here, provides plenty of insight into what it is like to trek through one of the hottest and harshest environments on the planet. The two men were inspired to attempt their expedition due to tales of Thesiger's exploits in the region, and Alastair says he had been planning such a journey for more than 15 years. In truth, he was probably dreaming about the Empty Quarter since he was a child and he first learned of the British explorer's exploits. 

Alastair and Leon knew that in order to make the trek on foot they would need to get creative. So, they built a homemade cart that was capable of carrying all of their gear and supplies, and most importantly their water. When fully loaded, that cart weighed nearly 700 pounds (317 kg) and the two men spent just one day training with it before leaving for their start in Oman. 

Just a few hours into their epic journey Alastair and Leon discovered that their cart was practically useless. When loaded with all of their supplies, it was nearly impossible to steer. The entire adventure was in jeopardy before they even truly got underway. They spent three days looking for a fix and for someone that could help them implement it. When they did, they were able to launch the expedition in ernest and what followed was at time glorious and heartbreaking, exhilarating and exhausting and inspiring and frustrating all at the same time. 

Read Alastair's account to get the fully story and you'll have a greater appreciation for what they accomplished. It'll also get you more excited to see the documentary when it is released in a few months too. 

Video: Highlining Over Moab

I enjoy a good adrenaline rush from time to time, but I'm not sure my heart could take highlining across an open canyon. This looks crazy scary, even with safety lines in place. In this video the craz-...err I mean... brave participants are waling a thin rope above a large chasm. Definitely not for the feint of heart.

Video: Into The Empty Quarter HD Trailer

Last year, adventurers Alastair Humphreys and Leon McCarron set off on a journey to cross the Empty Quarter, a massive desert in Arabia that stretches throughout parts of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. It was a 1000-mile (1609 km) journey on foot into one of the most remote places on our planet as they followed in the footsteps of Wilfred Thesiger, a British explorer who famously traveled through the desert on his best known expeditions.

This fall, a documentary about Alastair and Leon's journey will be released. That film is entitled Into The Empty Quarter and it will give us, the viewers, an opportunity to witness their adventure first hand while catching a glimpse of the amazing desert that enthralled them and Thesiger. The trailer for that film can be found below and based on what is shown here, it looks like a movie we won't want to miss.

Rowing The Northewest Passage: The Last First Expedition Nears End

One of the adventures that we've been following this summer has been the Last First expedition, which is the attempt by four men to row the Northwest Passage from Inuvik to Pond Inlet. The team got underway back in July and had hoped to cover some 3000 km (1865 miles) along their route. Now, 70 days into the journey they're just hoping to hold on and make their way to an abbreviated finish line in Cambridge Bay. That end is in sight, but like all things have been with this expedition, the final few days won't be easy.

The team is made up of experienced adventurers who all have previous experience on difficult expeditions. The crew consists of Kevin Vallely, Paul Gleeson, Frank Wolf and Denis Barnett. They've been rowing a specially built 25-foot rowboat through the Arctic with the hope of reaching Pond Inlet for days, but they simply haven't been able to travel as fast and often as they would like. This summer has seen more ice in the Passage than was previously anticipated and frequent storms have often hindered their progress as well. As a result, there is no possible way for them to reach their intended destination before the season comes to an end.

With that in mind, they've pointed their rowboat towards Cambridge Bay and hope to reach it sometime in the next few days. But before they can row back to land they must first address another problem. The  team's fresh water supply has become contaminated with sea water and they must replenish it with some fresh water first. Today they will stay close to the shoreline while they search for a stream with which they can refill their water tank. If that can be quickly and easily taken care of, they will then proceed towards the end.

Judging from their latest blog entries I'd say the boys are ready to be done with their time in the Northwest Passage, even if it means they won't be completing their original objectives. It has been a difficult and demanding journey that has tested them in ways that they didn't expect. Progress has been painstakingly slow or nonexistent at times, which has been a constant source of frustration. If the weather holds and the seas cooperate, they should reach Cambridge Bay within the next 3-4 days, bringing an end to their row.

Keen Launches "Build Your Own Shoe" Option

One of the coolest things I saw at this year's Outdoor Retailer gear show was a sneak peek from Keen on their new option to build your own custom version of their classic Newport Sandals. In a cool behind the scenes demo, I got an early look at a website that would allow customers to choose colors for various parts of the shoe, including the laces, soles and even the individual straps. At the end of the demo we were told that the new website was in beta testing but would go live soon, and true to their word, Keen launched the "Build Your Own Keen" option last week and I was fortunate enough to get the chance to take it for a test drive.

The Newport is the perfect shoe for Keen to use to introduce this new option. After all, is the sandal that put the company on the map and has remained a mainstay in their line-up for the past ten years. This is a shoe that is durable, comfortable and versatile enough to go with you just about anywhere and my aging pair have been with me on many adventures. The close toed design makes them a great option for hiking trails, paddling rivers or just kicking around camp. They're even stylish enough that you'll enjoy wearing them on your urban adventures too.

Knowing what I know about these shoes and Keen's new option for building your own custom designs, I was eager to see just what the new website would allow a customer to do. I was not disappointed. Choosing from numerous color options and patterns I was able to create a one of a kind pair of Newports that aren't likely be matched by anyone who crosses my path. The colors options allow you to be as conservative or wild as you want and it is possible to select each and ever individual strap, giving you the ability to create some truly outrageous looking shoes.


The site is incredibly easy to use, but more than that it is also incredibly addictive. I hopped on to see what it could do figuring I'd spend 10-15 minutes putting together something that I liked. An hour later I realized that I was never going to complete my order unless I stopped playing around and made some tough decisions about which color combos to go with. I eventually did just that but not before lamenting the various choices that I had to reject in favor of my final choices

Building your own custom Newport sandals will set you back $130, which is $30 more than buying a pair off the rack. Not bad for a pair of shoes that is completely built to your specifications and expresses your own individuality. Keen says that it takes approximately 2-3 weeks to get your shoes after they've been ordered and my pair hasn't arrived yet. Once they do get here, I'll do a follow-up post with my thoughts on the final project. I suspect it will be indistinguishable from any other pair of Newports in terms of quality and comfort, it'll just happen to be of a design of my own creation.

Try your hand at building your own custom Keen sandals by clicking here.

Video: Beauty In The Eye Of The Beholder

These timelapse videos keep getting more and more impressive. This most recent one was shot in the Canadian Rockies, Southern Appalachians and the Sierra Nevada Ranges and as we've come to expect it is three and a half minutes of eye candy. If you're looking for a beautiful way to wind down a Monday, you'll certainly appreciate this short film.

Eye of the Beholder from The Upthink Lab on Vimeo.

Video: NASA Remembers Neil Armstrong

Yesterday marked one year since the death of Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon. In tribute to the quiet astronaut who stayed mostly out of the limelight in his later years, NASA released this touching tribute video. The song is aptly entitled Tranquility Base by Eric Brace and it is the perfect background music for some amazing photos from the moon.

Explorer Announces Expedition To Tibesti Mountains In The Sahara

Irish explorer Jeremy Curl has announced an interesting and ambitious expedition and is asking for support on Kickstarter to make it a reality. Curl is hoping to make a journey deep into the heart of the Sahara Desert as he goes in search of a seldom contacted tribe that lives there and to document some of the oldest rock art on the planet.

Dubbed Expedition Tibesti 13, the plan is to visit a remote volcanic region located in northern Chad that is home to the Tibesti Mountains. This long chain of peaks features a series of summits that rise above 3000 meters (9842 ft) and form a bit of an oasis from the harsh desert that surrounds them. The slopes of these mountains provide a bit of a respite from the Sahara, giving the Toubou tribe, which is sometimes called the Tedu, who live there a place to graze their animals and grow some meager crops.

Because the Tibesti Range is surrounded on all sides by 1000 km (621 miles) of desert, they are seldom visited by outsiders. The Toubou have lived there for more than 2000 years and have managed to maintain their culture even in the modern age, thanks in no small part to their isolation. The mountains have served as a fortress for the tribe for centuries, helping them to maintain their way of life with little interference from the outside world. Something that is becoming increasingly unique across the globe.

Curl would like to visit the Toubou villages and document their way of life, while also photographing and cataloging the extensive rock art that exists throughout the region. Some of the art work is estimated to be more than 10,000 years old and it often depicts a world that is very different than the one that is found in the Tibesti Mountains today. The images on the caves show indigenous hunter and gatherers in their daily lives but also animals such as giraffes and elephants that simply don't exist there now. It is a record of change in the Sahara and a portal into our past.

As mentioned, Curl has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund this adventure. He is seeking £6000 ($9350) to get his expedition off the ground and as of today he has earned roughly £930 ($1450) towards that goal. There are still 27 days to go in the campaign however, so there is a good chance that he'll achieve the numbers he is looking for. You can find out more about Jeremy's adventure in the video below, which includes a message from the explorer himself.

I have to admit that I have a bit of mixed feeling about using Kickstarter as a method for funding an expedition. On the one hand, Curl's story is a compelling one and I'd love to learn more about the Toubou people, but on the other hand I'm not sure I agree with asking others to pay for your adventure. It is a slippery slope to say the least and obviously this approach circumvents the traditional sponsorship methods used in the past. In the long run, I suppose it is just another way to get an expedition off the ground and as long as the backers don't feel cheated then it is all good. Lets hope that is the case here.

USA Pro Cycling Challenge Update: Tejay Wins!

Yesterday the USA Pro Cycling Challenge wrapped up in Denver, Colorado on a flat and fast stage that favored the sprinters. It was a fitting way to end the seven day event that continues to improve every year and grow in prominence on the cycling calendar. As usual, the race offered plenty of climbing and altitude for the riders to contend with, but the course was set-up this year to let the sprinters shine as well and one man certainly took good advantage of those opportunities.

As we suspected on Friday, it was going to be tough to catch Tejay van Garderen, who held a 30 second lead over his closest rivals. Saturday and Sunday's stages were not conducive for others to try to make up that time so it seemed a foregone conclusion that he would head for the finish line with the Yellow Jersey on his back. That proved to be accurate and van Garderen went home as the winner. Second place went to his BMC teammate Mathias Frank while Tom Danielson of Garmin-Sharp locked down third place.

In the race for the other jerseys, it was Peter Sagan of Cannondale who proved to be too tough to beat in the points competition. The sprinter walked away with a victory on four of the seven stages, including yesterday's final ride through Denver. The award for the best young rider in the race when to Garmin-Sharp's Lachlan Morton and the King of the Mountain jersey was awarded to American Matt Cooke riding on Team Jamis-Hagens Berman Presented by Sutter Home (how's that for a mouthful?).

That wraps up another great race for this three-year old event that has become a popular one with riders. Each year, the USA Pro Cycling Challenge continues to draw some of the best riders in the world and the future for the event seems bright. Lets hope the race is around for a long time to come.

Video: Richard Bangs Swims With Whale Sharks

Our friend Richard Bangs of Adventures with Purpose fame has shared a wonderful video with us today. It was shot off the coast of Cancun where Richard had the opportunity to go swimming with whale sharks, something he describes as the underwater equivalent of going on safari. This looks like an amazing experience and one that has now been added to my bucket list. Really amazing stuff.

USA Pro Cycling Challenge Update: Tejay Leads Heading Into The Weekend

As I mentioned a few days ago, the USA Pro Cycling Challenge is underway in Colorado where some of the best bike riders in the world are squaring off on a course that offers plenty of climbing at altitude. It has been a solid week of riding already, but yesterday's stage was one that put the real contenders out front and ready to duel for the win.

Heading into the weekend there is a familiar name at the top of the leaderboard as American Tejay van Garderen holds a 4 second lead over his teammate on Team BMC Mathias Frank. In third place sits Janier Alexis Acevedo Calle, 30 seconds of the pace, while Tom Danielson and Lachlan Morton, both of Garmin-Sharp are further back in 4th and 5th place respectively.

Tejay has been riding well this week and he looked very strong and confidant on yesterday's leg during which he took over the Yellow Jersey. It'll be tough to beat him as the riders turn towards Denver, which will host the final leg of the race on Sunday. That one is designed for the sprinters to take center stage, which means if anyone is going to crack van Garderen, they had better do it today or tomorrow.

Today's stage is a short one. It a 16 km (10 mile) time trial that is tougher than it sounds. The first half of the ride will be fairly flat and fast, while the second half is all uphill. In fact, it climbs about 516 meters (1694 ft) in the last 8 km (5 miles). Considering the fact that Tejay is viewed as the best time trialist amongst the top contenders and he's a strong climber, he shouldn't give up much ground today.


That leaves Saturdays 185 km (115 mile) stage 6 between Loveland and Fort Collins as the place for someone to make a move. It features plenty of climbing (more than 3657 meters/12,000 ft) but potential headwinds could make the riders feel the pain even more than those numbers indicate. It also happens to be a down-hill finish, which would allow any potential contenders to be easily swept up. In short, it's tough to see anyone catching van Garderen as this point, but it isn't over until it's over.

In the race for the other jerseys, Cannonadale's Peter Sagan is the current leader in the Sprint category while Matt Cooke is the King of the Mountain and Morton is the Best Young Rider. Whether or not any of them will be able to hold on to those honors will also be learned this weekend.

It has been another exciting race this far. Great to know that the event continues to get great crowds lining the roads and plenty of fans following along at home. Lets hope this race stays healthy for years to come.

Video: Hit The Road In India On The Mumbai Xpress

The Mumbai Xpress is a 1900 km (1180 mile) race across India that takes place over 13 stages between  the cities of Mumbai and Chennai. The catch is, the race is run in tiny little rickshaw vehicles that don't seem built for such a long distance. Recently, two friends - Ric Gazarian and Keith King - competed in the race and have now released a travel documentary of their experience entitled Hit The Road: India. The movie is available on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and various other digital distribution sources and follows Ric and Keith on this grand odyssey across India. Judging from the trailer below, it looks like it was quite the adventure.

Hit The Road: India - Trailer from Manana Films on Vimeo.

Casting Call: Naked And Afraid Season 2

Want to be a reality TV star? This may be your chance. Yesterday an open casting call was put out for season 2 of the show Naked and Afraid, which is a Discovery Channel program although the press release said it will air on the National Geographic Channel.

If you're not familiar with the show, each episode features a man and a woman being dropped off in some wild place completely naked and left with the task of trying to survive for 21 days. Some of the locations from season 1 include the Serengeti, the jungles of Costa Rica and the island of Borneo. Each environment presents unique challenges to the people who are dropped there, including how to find food and water, building a shelter and finding some makeshift clothes.

Metal Flowers Media is handling the casting call and they're looking for men and women over he age of 18 who want to take part in this survival show. They are quick to point out that this is not a realty competition. Those who are selected to appear in an episode will be taken to their destination and dropped there for 21 days, where they must learn to survive off the land. Those who make the cut will be paid for their episode and during the casting process they'll be flying finalists to Los Angeles to meet with the producers.

If you have any interest in being on the show contact Naela Duarrani-Linday at naela@metalflowersmedia.com. Who knows, you might become the next Les Stroud or Bear Grylls, although I don't recall either of them doing a nude scene. I'd have to demand a stunt butt.

Here's an example of what the show is like for those who haven't seen it.

5000 Mile Project: Couple Running The Length Of South America

On July 28, David and Katharine Lowrie set out on a run like no other. The pair have hit the road to run the length of South America. Yes, you read that right. They are planning on running south to north across the entire continent and they're doing so to raise awareness and funds to protect the wildlife that lives in threatened areas there. Their expedition is aptly named the 5000 Mile Project, as that is the distance that they will cover before they are through. (That's roughly 8046 km for most of the world.)

The began their epic adventure last month by setting off from Punta Arenas, Chile, the southernmost settlement in South America. They'll now work their way north through Patagonia, crossing between Chile and Argentina as they go. Eventually they'll cross into Bolivia before continuing on to Brazil, where they'll face one of the biggest challenges to the expedition – a crossing of the Amazon Rainforest. If successful there, they'll emerge into Venezuela and finish the journey with a run to the Caribbean coast.

The Lowrie's hope to wrap up their journey approximately a year after they started. That seems rather ambitious considering the difficult miles that lie ahead. The couple aren't just out on the road running unencumbered. They're pulling specially designed carts behind them that carry all of their gear and supplies as well. David and Katharine are hoping to cover roughly the length of a marathon each day (26.2 miles/42.1 km), which is a challenge but highly feasible while on roads. But once they hit the Amazon, things will be completely different and much more difficult in general.


The husband and wife team have undertaken the 5000 Mile Project to raise funds for Asociacion Armonia, BirdLife International and Conservacion Patagonica. The hope is to collect enough money to help fund the purchase of threatened habitats in South America to protect the wildlife that lives there. As part of the project, they are also recording the various animals they see along their run including the many bird species that inhabit the continent.

Their efforts don't end there however. They've also launched the BigToe Classroom which contains lesson plans and projects for teachers to use with their students to get them engaged with conservation projects as well. There is even a way to contact David and Katharine and set up a video conference call with them directly from the road.

You can learn more about the 5000 Mile Project in an interview that the couple did with Explorers Web earlier in the week. You can also follow along with David and Katharine's blog or on Twitter and Facebook.

Video: Beautiful New Zealand Timelapse

New Zealand has a reputation for being a beautiful country with plenty to offer the outdoor enthusiast. The video below certainly bares that out with some stunning landscapes captured in timelapse. The footage was captured over a three month period during which filmmaker Shawn Reeder took more than 100,000 photos. The results pretty much speak for themselves.

Oneness New Zealand from Shawn Reeder on Vimeo.

Kilian Jornet Sets New Speed Record On The Matterhorn

Ultrarunner Kilian Jornet continues to demonstrate that he is amongst the best endurance athletes on the planet by once again setting an impressive new speed record. This time he made short work of the Matterhorn, crushing a record that has stood for 18 years in the process.

This latest test of Kilian's athletic abilities also marked the final phase of his Summits of My Life project. The speed attempt started and ended at the Church Square in Cervinia, Italy with the turn around point being the summit of Mount Cervino, which sits at a height of 4476 meters (14,685 ft). The round trip journey covered 17.48 km (10.86 miles) with a total ascent of 2469 meters (8100 ft). Kilian was able to cover that distance in a time of 2 hours, 52 minutes and 02 seconds. That easily beats the previous record set in 1995 by Bruno Brunod, who finished he same route in 3 hour, 14 minutes, 44 seconds.

As always, Kilian never fails to impress. The guy is simply an incredible athlete. This latest record comes on the heels of him setting a speed record on Mont Blanc in July when he ran up and down that 4810 meter (15,781 ft) peak in 4 hours, 57 minutes and 40 seconds. That was 13 minutes faster than the previous best time set by Pierre-André Gobet in 1990. I guess it would be an understatement to say that he's had a busy and productive summer, huh?

Congratulations to Kilian for another amazing run. Thanks for reminding the rest of us that we are just mere mortals.

Video: Boundless - New Television Show Follows Endurance Athletes On Global Adventures

Next month a new television network will launch called Esquire TV. It will feature all kinds of programming aimed at a predominantly male audience but with a little something that will be of interest to just about everyone. One of their first original shows will be Boundless, an eight-part documentary series that will follow friends and endurance athletes Simon Donato and Paul "Turbo" Trebilcock on a series of adventures around the globe. For instance, they'll take part in an seven-day stage ultramarathon in the Sahara Desert and and a 46-mile foot race across the Serengeti in Kenya.

The show begins airing on Sept. 25 and for a taste of what to expect, check out the video below.

Ueli Steck Returns To Action In The Alps

What do you do when you're a world-class climber coming off a disappointing season in the Himalaya where you were caught up in one of the biggest Everest stories in recent memory? If you're Ueli Steck, you look for new challenges in your own backyard. In this case, that means speed-climbing the longest and toughest ridge in the Alps in impressive fashion.

Last week, Ueli set his sights on the Intégrale de Peuterey, a very long and difficult ridge that culminates at the summit of Mont Blanc du Courmayuer. This route features a vertical gain of 4500 meters (14,764 ft) and typically takes about 2-3 days for most climbers to complete. But most climbers aren't Ueli Steck, a man who has made a career out of going light and ver fast in the Alps. This time out he managed to knock of the entire climb – both up and down – in a little over 16 hours.

The ascent began well before dawn on August 12. With his camp located an additional 1000 meters (3280 ft) below the Intégrale de Peuterey, Ueli set off in running shoes traveling as quickly as he could. He covered that first 1000 meters in about an hour and then moved out onto the ridge itself. His pack was filled with only the bare essentials including a light down jacket, 60 meters or rope and assorted other climbing gear. He chewed through the early stages of the ascent in typical fashion – which is to say very fast – and switched over to his climbing shoes as he transitioned off the trail and onto the mixed rock, snow and ice that would be the crux of the challenge.

Traveling solo, Ueli was able to go at his own pace and made great progress, even when he encountered a pair of other climbers making the same ascent. He gave them a wide berth so as to not kick rocks back down upon them as he went by, leaving those climbers to wonder who was the speed demon that just left them in the dust.

The Swiss climber reached the summit of the Mont Blanc du Courmayuer just before 3:00 PM local time. That meant he had gone from his tent to the summit in under 11 hours. He took a few moments o enjoy the accomplishment before starting back down, crossing over to Mont Blanc proper and heading to the Dome de Gouter before descending into the Chamonix valley. By the time he passed the church in the village of Les Houches he had been on the move for just over 16 hours. He arrived back at his tent a short time later and immediately climbed into his sleeping bag for a much deserved nap. It had been a good day to climb in the Alps.

For more details on the climb, read Ueli's account on his website or a translated version here.

Gear Closet: 180 Watt Cup Inverter

A few days ago I reviewed a surprising product from Energizer in the form of the Ultimate headlamp, a light that is bright, durable and very affordable. Today I have an entirely different product. One that isn't specifically meant for the outdoors but is incredibly useful while traveling. Particularly on a road trip during which you need to keep your gadgets and tech toys fully powered. It is the 180 Watt Cup Inverter , a device that any road warrior will want in their arsenal.

Designed to fit in the cup holder of just about any vehicle, this power inverter comes equipped with four USB ports and a standard AC outlet. When plugged into the DC port (cigarette lighter) of a car it can provide enough juice to power up smartphones, GPS devices, cameras – even a laptop – all at the same time. A small, almost completely silent, fan keeps the interior from overheating so that it can continue pumping out the power indefinitely, making this an essential piece of gear on any driving excursion.

As the name implies, this inverter is capable of cranking out 180 watts of continuous power. That's enough to provide each of the USB ports with up to 2.1 amps, which is sufficient juice to charge a tablet including  the notoriously power hungry iPad. All of that energy is shared across all four USB ports however, so if you plug several power-hungry devices in at the same time, they won't quite charge as rapidly as they should. Still, the inverter is efficient enough to keep multiple devices up and running for when you need them.


Energizer has built a very solid and dependable device that looks good for a device that is essentially a portable power strip for mobile devices. The clever shape allows it to slip into nearly any cup holder, which is the perfect place for a device like this one. It put it within easy reach of just about anyone in the vehicle but it also keeps it well out of the way of the driver, keeping it from becoming a distraction.

This is a simple product that works exactly as advertised, which is what you want of course. If you make frequent road trips and need to keep your gadgets charged while you're on the go, this is the perfect device to have in your vehicle. It's MSRP of $44.99 is a great price for something that can charge all your mobile devices and a laptop too. This is the kind of device that will change the way you travel and pay for itself many times over. Buy one, keep it in your car and never be without power again.

The Rest of Everest Episode 193: Turn The Lightbulb, Pet The Dog

It's Wednesday which means we're treated to another episode of The Rest of Everest, the absolute best web show focused on high altitude mountaineering. The current season is focused on an expedition to the Karakoram where a team that includes climber Brian Block is first attempting Broad Peak before taking on K2. In this latest episode the team is acclimatized and waiting for an opportunity to make their summit bid once a weather window opens. In the meantime, they find ways to amuse themselves in Base Camp.

The Thunder Rolls Adventure Race Takes Places This Weekend

The 11th annual Thunder Rolls Adventure Race will take place this weekend in at the YMCA Camp in Mt. Carroll, Illinois. The race, which is now in its 11th year, will get underway at midnight on August 24 and will feature both a 12-hour and 24-hour competition.

This unsupported, expedition style race will mix the usual AR disciplines of trail running, mountain biking and paddling. But it will also mix in plenty of orienteering of course, not to mention rappelling, caving and a few other activities. In short, it is everything you could hope for out of an adventure race that just so happens to take lace in the heartland of the U.S.

The race has managed to attract a sizable group of competitors already with 30 teams signed up for the 100-mile long 24-hour race and another 15 registered to compete in the 12-hour race, which is a mere 50 miles in length. The teams are made up of 2 or 3 racers and fall into both the coed and same-sex categories.

If you're looking for a last-minute weekend adventure, registration for the Thunder Rolls is still open. Entry fees are $195/person for the 12-hour race and $235/person for the 24-hour event. That includes onsite accommodations (cabin or campsite), pre-race meal and post-race pizza and drinks. canoe rental, all land-use fees, a North Face fleece race shirt and more.

Thunder Rolls takes place near my old stomping grounds back in the Midwest. I grew up in Iowa, so I'm always glad to see a successful event taking place near there. Race director Gerry Voelliger always does an excellent job as evidenced by the fact that this race has been going on for more than a decade and it continues to attract a great field of racers. A hearty congratulations to all involved and have another great event this weekend.

USA Pro Cycling Challenge Underway

No, I haven't forgotten that the USA Pro Cycling Challenge is currently going on in Colorado, it has just been a busy week at Adventure Blog world headquarters and I haven't had a chance to really mention the race yet. It has been a spirited couple of days to say the least with the riders battling each other out on the course while struggling to adapt to the altitude, which is a hallmark of the event, which has become the premiere bike race in North America.

Heading into today's third stage Lachlan Morton of Team Garmin-Sharp is the current leader. He holds down a two second lead over Mathias Frank of BMC and an 11 second lead over Peter Sagan of Cannondale. Sagan sprinted to a victory in Stage 1 while Frank rode to a solo victory in yesterday's second stage.

The third stage of the race will take place today with a 170 km (105 mile) ride from Breckenridge to Steamboat Sprigs. It features a long tough climb up Rabbit Ears Pass but it will mostly be a fast and furious down hill affair with the sprint teams looking for a victory at the end of the day. This is one of the few stages that actually drops in elevation as the riders go on.

Morton isn't just in the Yellow Jersey of the overall leader but he is currently at the top of the Best Young Rider category as well. Sagan leads the points category that traditionally goes to the top sprinter, while the King of the Mountain Jersey is currently on the back of American Matt Cooke who rides for Team Jamis/Hagens Berman presented by Sutter Home (How's that for a mouthful?). Team BMC leads the way in the team competition.

There are five more stages to go, including today's Stage 3. The race will wrap up on Sunday with a fast 116 km (72  mile) flat finale on the streets of Denver that will favor the sprinters.

Antarctica 2013: Teenage Explorer To Attempt Speed Record To South Pole

The 2013 Antarctic season is still three months from getting underway and yet it is already shaping up to be an interesting one. Last week I told you about the husband and wife team of Chris and Marty Fagan who will be heading to the South Pole together in November and yesterday I received word about an even more ambitious expedition. In December, 19-year old Parker Liautaud will attempt to set a new speed record for skiing to the South Pole, covering the distance from the Ross Ice Shelf to 90ºS in just 22 days.

The expedition is set to begin, weather permitting, on December 3. On that date, Parker will embark on a 400 mile (643 km) journey to the Pole that will be a true test of his endurance and dedication. If he hopes to break the speed record he'll need to average 18 miles (29 km) each and every day, which is a lot to ask in an environment like the one he'll find in the Antarctic. Even during the summer months in the Southern Hemisphere conditions can be challenging there. Temperatures will routinely fall between -28ºC (-18ºF) and -60ºC (-76ºF). High winds, whiteout conditions and sudden snow storms can all make it tough for him to complete those distances. If he is successful, he'll also become the youngest man to ski the full distance to the Pole as well.

Despite his young age, Parker is no stranger to polar exploration. He has skied to the North Pole on three separate occasions. Those were all "last degree" journeys however and his journey to the South Pole will be the full distance. His visits to 90ºN have all been guided by veteran polar explorer Doug Stoup as well. There is no word on whether or not Doug will join Parker on this journey too. The press release detailing the expedition says that it will be "unsupported" but there is no mention of whether or not it is also "solo." (Update: I've heard directly from Parker that Doug will indeed join him on this expedition!)


In keeping with the themes of his previous expeditions, Parker will once again be drawing attention to climate change, global warming and its effects on the polar ice caps. While he is skiing to the South Pole he will be taking samples of the snow that he passes by each day and he will deploy a brand new, lightweight weather station that will collect data in realtime. The hope is that through the samples and data collected, we'll begin to learn a little bit more about how climate change is impacting the Antarctic.

You'll be able to follow Parker when he gets underway at WillisResilience.com. Currently there is a clock there counting down the days until the start of expedition as well as some more info about the he hopes to accomplish while traveling through the Antarctic.

Gear Closet: Microsoft Surface Pro Tablet

If there has been one piece of technology that has been released in the past year that offers intriguing possibilities for the expedition and outdoor adventure crowd, it is the Microsoft Surface Pro. It is a tablet with the full power of a laptop wrapped up in a lightweight, but very durable, package that offers more versatility than similar products from competitors. But does the Surface Pro live up to is potential or is it another tablet that is battling for attention in the rather large shadow of the iPad? The answer is probably somewhere in the middle.

Before we get too deep into my thoughts on the Surface Pro it is important to understand the difference between it and the Surface NT, it's smaller, cheaper and less powerful cousin. The NT is powered by a slimmed down version of Windows 8 that is only capable of running Windows apps. It doesn't provide access to the desktop nor will it run the entire library of Windows software, but it is thinner than the Pro model and offers battery life and performance on par with the iPad. In simple terms, the Surface NT is a tablet that aspires to be a laptop, while the Surface Pro is a laptop with tablet tendencies.

Unlike most other tablets, which are powered by mobile processors, the Surface Pro has an Intel Core i5 processor. That's on par with what you would find in an ultrabook computer and comes with enough power to run most Windows software short of high end games. That processor is what helps set the Pro apart from similar products as it is a fast and smooth experience both in the Win 8 app environment and when interacting with the classic Windows desktop. Essentially the Surface Pro is a powerful computer that you can hold in your hands, giving you the ability to blog, edit photos and video, make Skype calls and so much more. Best of all, the Surface Pro features true multitasking, running multiple programs at the same time. So while you're on a video conference call with your family back home you can still be working on that latest dispatch from the field.

The Surface Pro has a few other tricks up its sleeve that help it stand out from the increasingly crowded tablet market. The device has a built-in Wacom digitizer and comes with a touch sensitive stylus that opens up all kinds of opportunities. For instance, Windows 8 has integrated handwriting recognition which means you can scrawl notes on the touch screen and they'll automatically be turned into typed text. The system takes a bit of getting use to, but once you adjust to it, it is an excellent option that can come in handy in a variety of situations. The stylus also works great in drawing apps and other software too.


One of the distinct features of the Surface line is the Touch and Type Covers. These protective screen covers include an integrated keyboard that when opened up turns the tablet into a mini laptop. The Touch version is thin and light with soft keys, while the Type Cover is a bit thicker but has a keyboard that more closely resembles a laptop. If you've seen the numerous commercials for the Surface, you've no doubt seen these covers which click into place in a dedicated port on the bottom of the device. Microsoft includes one with the less expensive NT tablet but for some inexplicable reason it is an added expense for the more costly Surface Pro model. Anyone who buys the Pro model will want one of the keyboards however and I'd recommend spending the extra dough to get the Type model.

The Surface Pro is much closer to a true laptop than any other tablet on the market and as such it has some nice touches that you don't find on competing models. For instance, it has a full sized USB port that allows you to attach external hard drives, printers, or USB memory sticks. A miniSD card reader is great for added storage capacity while front and rear facing cameras open up all kinds of possibilities. Bluetooth 4.0 functionality allows for wireless interaction with all kinds of other devices. Integrated gyroscopes and accelerometers helps orient the screen and smoothly flip from portrait to landscape mode and back again. The distinctive Surface kickstand is a great feature when the device is sitting on a flat surface but is less useful when propped up on your lap.

The 10.6" display is one of the Surface Pro's more impressive features. It is clear and bright, supporting resolutions up to 1920 x 1080. Video looks fantastic on the screen and photos appear vibrant and beautiful. The screen is a definite high point for the device.

The Surface Pro's case is built out of a material called VaporMg which was specially developed by Microsoft for the tablet. The liquid metal is very tough and durable, which does come in handy when in the field. The metal case can take a lot of punishment, particularly for a device so light and small. This provides a great sense of confidence when carrying the device in a backpack into the remote corners of the globe. Short of carrying a Panasonic Toughbook on an expedition, which is a much heavier laptop, I can't think of another device that I'd want to have with me in rugged conditions.

All of these features and integrated technology is great of course, but the real question is how does the Surface Pro perform as a travel or expedition computer. The answer to that question is that it does quite well, provided you can keep it powered up. The battery life on the Pro is about 5.5 hours, which is underwhelming if you compare it to other tablets but about average for an ultrabook laptop. It is far below the new Macbook Air of course, which is getting 12+ hours on a single charge, but doesn't provide the same touchscreen/tablet form factor as the Surface. My biggest complaint about the Surface Pro is the battery life and if there is one upgrade I'd like to see in the next model, it would improved performance in this category. On the other hand, the relatively low capacity batteries are quick to charge and don't require a lot of power. A good solar panel in Base Camp will more than do the trick, so while stand alone battery life isn't great, it is relatively easy to keep the device charged.

The Surface Pro packs a lot of performance into a small package but it is priced closer to a laptop than a standard tablet. The device starts at $799 for 64GB of storage and $899 for 128GB. Add in $119 for a Touch Cover or $129 for a Type Cover and you're shelling out quite a bit of cash for a Surface Pro. On the other hand, if you need an ultra-portable device with plenty of power and features to take on your next expedition, this is a great option. It is durable, dependable and versatile. It is also very powerful, not to mention down right fun to use.

Is it the ultimate expedition computer? No. But it is very close. And with the ability to keep it charged while in the field, you may find that it fits your needs extremely well.

Video: Return Of The Human Slingshot

We've seen the human slingshot before but it still looks like fun. This time the folks behind the original video are back (with sponsors no less!) and this time they're hurling their friends toward the side of a mountain. All in good fun of course. That is, if you think hurling through the air at breakneck speed is your idea of fun.

Adventure Tech: Garmin Introduces VIRB Action Camera

The already crowded action camera market, currently dominated by GoPro, just got a bit more crowded. Garmin, the company so well known for making GPS devices, has released two new enteries for aspiring filmmakers to consider in the form of the VIRB and VIRB Elite. Whether or not they'll be able to make a dent with consumers remains to be seen, but they are packing some serious technology under the hood.

The VIRB is capable of capturing video in resolutions up to 1080p HD, which is pretty much standards for any action camera these days. But Garmin's device also features onboard image stabilization and lens distortion correction, which help to make the footage just a bit cleaner and clearer. Battery life is a rated to be a solid three hours and both versions of the VIRB are capable of capturing still images while video is recording. A built-in 1.4-inch display allows the user to watch video already shot or see exactly what they are filming at all times. The VIRB Elite also comes equipped with onboard WiFi and GPS, while both units feature ANT+ connectivity for pairing with other devices.

Garmin knows their market well and built the VIRB to appeal to the outdoor crowd. The camera is rated for IPX-7 waterproofing, which means it can survive under a meter of water for up 30 minutes. That makes it tough enough for most waterborne adventures, although if you want to take it diving you'll need to purchase the optional dive case. A number of mounts will be available for the VIRB as well allowing the user to connect it to their handlebars, helmet, surfboards, kayaks and more. A built-in HDMI port and a microSD card slot rounds out the package. The camera can support up 64GB of microSD storage, which is enough for as much as 7 hours of 1080p footage.

The VIRB and VIRB Elite will be available in September with a price tag of $300 and $400 respectively.

Long Rider Nears End Of Epic Journey Across The Americas

German equestrian explorer Guenter Wamser is nearing the end of an epic journey on horseback that has covered more than 25,000 km (15,535 miles) and nearly two decades of his life. Back in 1994, Guenter set out from Patagonia on horseback with the intention or riding north to the very top of Alaska. Now, he is deep in the Alaskan backcountry and nearing the end of his expedition, which has become not just an adventure but a way of life.

Guenter has dubbed his wandering journey the Transhumanica expedition and over they years it has taken him to some wild and remote places. His path began in Argentina and wandered into Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador, carrying him to the top of South America, which he reached in 1999 after five years in the saddle. But the ride didn't end there. In 2001 the German set off once again, passing through Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and eventually Mexico which he reached in 2005.

The journey across Mexico was a long and rewarding one and reading Guenter's journal it is clear that he enjoyed his time there. But when he reached the border with the U.S. he ran into a bit of trouble. He seems that his horses had contracted a tropical disease on their journey and they were not allowed to enter the States. The horses were found a good home however and Guenter found new mounts in the form of four mustangs that he adoptedf rom the Bureau of Land Management. Those horses have been his companions through the final phase of his journey, a ride along the Continental Divide Trail.

In 2007 Guenter and his traveling companion Sonja Endlweber, began traveling north on the CDT, passing through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana before eventually passing into Canada. As of last fall, they were in the Yukon territory, where they settled in for the winter. Earlier this year they returned to the trail with an end in sight and while the two riders are currently out of contact somewhere in the Alaskan wilderness, they will soon reach the northern most point of that state, thus bringing an end to the ride at last.


In his journal, Guenter says that his journey started simply as an adventure with his focus on riding across the Americas. But along the way it became less about getting to a destination and more about exploring the landscapes he was passing through and interacting with the people and cultures that he connected with along the way. He adopted a nomadic life that was its own reward. What he'll do after this trail comes to an end remains to be seen, but after so many years traveling on horseback, I have to imagine it'll be a challenge to return to a "normal" life.

Guenter is one of the founding members of the Long Rider's Guild and as such his journey by horseback has been an exemplary one in terms of distance and time on the trail, but also for how he has treated the animals that have helped him along the way. His horses have been cared for very well and not treated simply as beasts of burden but as companions and partners who came along on this adventure like any other teammate. It is admirable that this incredible journey is soon coming to and end, but even more so that Guenter will complete it in such an ethical manner.

Thanks to my friend CuChullaine for sharing this wonderful and amazing story.

Gear Closet: Energizer Ultimate Headlamp

Energizer is a company that is well known for making batteries that power everything from watches to cars. Their power cells are amongst the best in the business and help keep our gadgets up and running when we need them most. But Energizer also makes a line of outstanding lighting products that are durable, bright and perform extremely well even in harsh conditions. They also happen to be extremely affordable, providing an excellent alternative to some of the more well known brands that typically cost twice as much.

Outdoor enthusiasts will be especially interested in the Energizer Ultimate headlamp. This light was built with extreme adventure in mind and was designed for use in harsh conditions. It's case is built out of an aluminum alloy that is rugged enough to stand up any abuse you dish out while continuing to provide plenty of light. It features a single lamp that is capable of putting out a constant beam of 100 lumens which comes in handy when flying down a dark trail on a mountain bike but is probably brighter than most people will need. But just in case you do need a little extra light, a "boost" button on the side of the housing will temporarily amp it up to 130 lumens, at the expense of battery life of course.

Other modes include low and medium settings which give off 25 and 50 lumens respectively. There is also a flashing strobe mode to signal in an emergency and a night vision option that emits a red light that is easier on the eyes when in a dark space. Battery life varies depending on the level of brightness of course. On the highest setting the batteries will last 10 hours but drop the brightness down to low and   that time increases to an impressive 40+. The fact that the Ultimate headlamp uses three replaceable AA batteries (Energizers preferred of course!) means that it is easy to swap out a fresh set when needed.


Other nice touches include a comfortable strap, a pivoting head that allows you to change the direction of the light and a focus ring that allows you tighten up the beam for greater distance. There is also a blinking green light on the back of the battery pack that make it a breeze to find the headlamp in the dark or when it's found its way the bottom of your pack. That can certainly come in handy when you're fumbling around in a tent during the wee hours of the morning.

Energizer had built the Ultimate headlamp to resist the elements and as such it is designed to be weatherproof. While it isn't exactly meant to be immersed in water, it can survive a sudden rainstorm without missing a beat. Better yet, this light is rated for use in extreme temperatures as well. Energizer says that it will operate in a range from -40ºF (-40ºC) to 140ºF (60ºC). That means you can take this light into some pretty remote places and expect it to continue burning bright.

All of these features added up to a great headlamp that is surprisingly versatile and efficient. But what kicks the Energizer Ultimate headlamp into a category all its own is the price. The light carries an MSRP of $44.99, which is a bargain for a piece of gear that performs as well as this one. Even better, you can find the Ultimate at discounted prices online making it an even better bargain. For instance, Amazon has it for just $34.01, which makes it nearly impossible to pass up.

This headlamp is an excellent choice for anyone who needs a quality light. But mountaineers, backpackers, winter campers and other outdoor athletes will really appreciate everything it brings to the table. If you need an affordable headlamp that happens to also be very durable for your next adventure, then look no further. This is the one for you.

Video: Ode To The Bike

The video below probably sums up how many of us feel about riding our bikes, whether it is on a road or on a trail. It is a beautiful love letter written to the bicycle in video form and if you enjoy riding at all, you'll probably be able to relate.

Thanks to Adventure Journal for sharing.

Ode to the Bicycle from Tim Pierce - Director / DOP on Vimeo.

Video: Sweetgrass Productions' Latest Ski/Snowboard Video - Valhalla

The calendar may read August but we're still long over due for a good skiing and snowboarding video. We received one last week in the form of this trailer for Valhalla, the latest from Sweetgrass Productions which is due out on September 13. If this doesn't get you in the mood for winter, nothing will. And don't worry, the slopes will be open before you know it.

Sweetgrass Productions' VALHALLA - Trailer 2 from Sweetgrass Productions on Vimeo.

Challenge21 Expedition To Trace Ganges River Source-To-Sea

Remember the Challenge21 initiative? It was the ambitious project by climber/photographer Jake Norton to summit the three highest peaks on each of the seven continents in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of safe, clean drinking water in developing countries across the world. The project was launched a couple of years back and the team behind it have been diligently working away towards their goals while facing an uphill struggle to find funding and link their message to their efforts in the mountains. That hasn't been an easy task and it looks like Challenge 21 is going through a bit of a refocusing phase as Jake and company search to find new ways to spread the word on how important having a source of clean drinking water really is.

In a recent post to the Challenge21 blog, Jake talks openly about these struggles while also pointing out that the project has been a great success. Since its start, Challenge21 has reached more than 1 million people and raised over $260,000 for Water For People. But at the same time he feels the organization can do more and that he needs to broaden the appeal of the project and cast a wider net in spreading the message that he had originally intended. With that in mind, Jake and his team will continue climbing, but he is finding new ways to link the story he wants to tell with the natural spaces that he visits.

The blog post also included the announcement of an upcoming expedition which will see Jake joined by Pete McBride and David Morton as they travel to India to make the first ascent of Chaukhumba IV a 6885 meter (22,589 ft) at the headwaters of the Ganges River. After they've summited that peak, the team intends to then travel source-to-sea, documenting life on the Ganges, which is one of the most important rivers in the world, but culturally and environmentally. It also happens to be one of the most polluted in the world. The dichotomy of these things will be part of the story that they tell as we follow these three men down a river that is considered sacred to hundreds of millions of people.

Stay tuned for more information on this expedition as it gets underway later this year. It should be well documented and feature some great stories both from the mountains of India and the river that plays such a significant role in that country's identity.

Ultrarunner/Mountaineer Ben Clark Preps For Nolan's 14

Mountaineer turned ultrarunner Ben Clark has set an impressive goal for himself this summer. The man who has climbed multiple Himalayan peaks, including Everest, will be facing an entirely different kind of challenge when he sets out to complete Nolan's 14 – a 100-mile long route in Colorado that features 90,000 feet of vertical gain, linking 14 different mountains of 14,000 feet (4267 meters) in height or more. If he can complete the route in less than 60 hours, he'll add his name to a short, but distinguished, list of other runners who have managed to finish the grueling run as well. 

The state of Colorado has 54 mountains that rise above 14,000 feet. Locally they are known as the "14'ers" and many climbers take great pride in adding some or all of those peaks to their resume. One of those climbers was a man named Jim Nolan who discovered that the highest number of those 14'ers that a person could bag in a 100-mile stretch was 14. Thus the idea of Nolan's 14 was born with the challenge of completing a 100-mile long run up and over all 14 peaks in a quick of a time as possible. 

The concept of Nolan's 14 was strong enough to attract a field of ultrarunners for an unofficial race that ran between 1999 and 2001. Since that time, only seven runners have managed to complete the full course, navigating between Mt. Massive and Mt. Shavano along a path of their own choosing. This freedom of route finding allows the runner look for the most efficient way to cover the 100 miles while still topping out on as many of the 14'ers along the way as they possibly can. Ben hopes to get all 14 and still finish in under 60 hours.

Training for such an event is no small feat and last week in a post to the Osprey Packs Blog, Ben shared some thoughts on what he has been doing for the past two months to prepare for this epic run. He has spent a great deal of time in recent weeks scouting the route and picking the lines that will work best for him so that he can cover the distance in as fast of a time as possible. The best part? He isn't doing this to raise funds for a charity or to draw attention to one of his sponsors. He's taking on the Nolan's 14 strictly for the challenge of it. He wants to see if he can do it in under 60 hours with no other motivations other than just pushing himself to test the limits of his own endurance. 

Ben will begin his Nolan's 14 run next Sunday, August 25 and with any luck, he'll wrap it up two-and-a-half day later. I'll keep you posted on his results. Good luck Ben! 

Video: Himalayan Monasteries

One of the most amazing things about visiting the Himalaya is that nestled amongst those towering, snowcapped peaks are a series of Buddhist monasteries. Those colorful, yet tranquil, places are sometimes found in surprising places and their presence can be an unexpected surprise. The video below provides a beautiful glimpse at how nine of these monasteries blend in with the natural landscapes around them. This is three-and-a-half minutes of zen calm that is well worth the time.

Thanks to Adventure Journal for sharing.

Landscapes - Himalayan Monasteries from pani on Vimeo.