Video: The Colors of Autumn

Now that autumn is officially here we can all take a bit of time to breathe in the fresh, crisp air and enjoy the lovely colors of the season. The leaves may not be turning crimson and orange just yet, but we can get a sneak peek at whats to come in the video below. There are some nice shots of wildlife as well, including a great clip of an elk bugling. This is a nice reintroduction to the season ahead and a good way to head into the weekend.

Autumn from Thomas Rasel on Vimeo.

Adventure Tech: Nikon 1 AW1 Ruggedized Interchangeable Lens Camera

The fastest growing segment of the camera market over the past few years has been in the area of interchangeable lens systems. These cameras offer the compact design of point and shoot with the ability to swap out lenses and other accessories like an SLR. The result is a versatile camera for adventure travelers and outdoor enthusiasts who don't want to be weighed down by bulky gear.

Last week Nikon introduced an exciting new product to the interchangeable lens market when they announced the latest addition to the 1 series. The new Nikon 1 AW1 seems to have been built with outdoor adventurers in mind. It features a ruggedized body that makes it the first waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof camera in the category. Additionally, a series of new lenses were also introduced for the AW1 that offer the same level of resistance to the elements making this camera an excellent choice when heading into extreme environments.

The specs on the AW1 are quite impressive for a camera that is lightweight (11.1 oz/313g), packed with features and offers the ability to swap out lenses. Out of the box it is waterproof down to 49 feet (15 meters) and shockproof to 6.6 feet (2 meters). It can also withstand temperatures as low as 14ºF/-10ºC without suffering an effect on its performance. It also has built in GPS technology for geotagging images and includes an altimeter, depth gauge, electronic compass and a virtual horizon indicator. The built-in pop up flash is even waterproof to help shed a little light on your subject no matter where you are. An optional WiFi adapter will even let you automatically share images to your iPhone or Android device.


Under the hood the AW1 is packing a 14.2-megapixel CX-format CMOS sensor with an ISO range of 160 to 6400. It has a 73-point AF array and is capable of capturing stunning photos as well as full 1080p HD video including modes to record slow-motion action at 400 fps or 1200 fps.

As an owner of the original Nikon 1 V1, I have to say that I'm really intrigued by what this new offering brings to the table. My V1 is a great little camera that takes excellent photos. It is also just plain fun to use. The AW1 looks like it will take all of that to the next level and it could just be the best option for outdoor adventurers on the market today. It's small size and rugged body make it an excellent travel companion and I know I for one would love to have one in my pack for my next adventure.

The Nikon 1 AW1 will be available in October in a single lens kit (AW 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6) for $799.95 or in a two lens kit (11-2.5mm and 10mm) for $999.95. Those lenses are all water, freeze and shockproof as well, which really completes the entire system.

Gear Closet: Mongoose Beast All Terrain Fat Tire Bike

If you're a self-proclaimed bike snob like myself your first reaction to being asked to ride a bike sold at Walmart is probably to turn up your nose and shudder in fear. After all, I own helmets that cost more than most of the bike sold in the big box stores. So when I was asked to test out the the Beast from Mongoose a agreed, although with a bit of trepidation. I wasn't sure what to expect from a bike that is almost completely devoid of features  and it's most notable calling card is a set of fat tires that are unlike anything most of us have ever seen before. Despite my reservations however, I ended up having a great time on this bike, proving that when you put aside your preconceptions, even a $200 bike can surprise you.

If their is a more aptly named bike on the market today, I don't know what it could possibly be. The Beast is big and bulky and its fat tires definitely make it a stand out from nearly any other bike you'll come across on the road or the trail. When fully assembled, including kickstand and old-school chain guard, the bike tips the scales at about 48 pounds (22 kg). That is absolutely massive. So much so, that I don't believe that my current road bike and mountain bike weigh that much combined. The Beast is built like a tank and its steel frame feels incredibly solid. That means it can survive just about any road or trail conditions that you can throw at it. In my time with the bike I didn't get the sense that it was in danger of falling apart or that Mongoose had cut corners on its construction.

Riding the Beast is certainly a no-frills affair. It is a single speed bike with 26" wheels and cruiser brakes. I haven't rode a bike that didn't have hand operated brakes since I was a kid and actually momentarily wondered how I was going to stop the Beast once I got it going. It didn't take long to adjust to the old school breaking system, but I'll admit there was a moment of panic before it dawned on me how the brakes worked.

The most notable feature on the Beast, at least from a visual stand point, are the massive 4-1/4" tires. They actually look like they've come off a small car and on more than one occasion I had someone stop me to take a look at them. Those tires provide a bit of a floaty ride but they also allow this bike to simply roll over just about any obstacle. They're designed to roll through snow and sand without any problems and I'd say they perform surprisingly well. I can't attest to how well it rides in the snow (It's still quite warm here in Austin), but I did ride through sand and deep sawdust, without missing a beat. Those big tires practically ignore rocks and logs on the trail too and they still manage to transition back to the road without too much of problem.


As you can imagine, a bike with a heavy frame and gigantic tires isn't exactly a speed demon. If you're looking for a fast ride, you'll want to look elsewhere. Likewise, this isn't the most agile of bikes either. Those big tires won't turn on a dime and they certainly wont take the sharpest of corners. But then again, when they are capable of simply rolling over just about anything that gets in their way, the point is mostly moot anyway.

Clearly Mongoose didn't have high performance in mind when they built the Beast, they were simply looking to create a bike that is fun to ride. If that was indeed their aim from the outset, I'd say they succeeded. While riding the Beast I found myself pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable it was to roll down a trail with relative ease. I'm sure that on more than one occasion I pedaled along with a goofy grin on my face as my big, oversized tires crushed everything that dared to get in their way. It's a pretty satisfying feeling.

That isn't to say the ride was all sunshine and roses. There were a couple of aspects of the Beast that made it a challenge to ride for extended periods of time. For instance, I wasn't overly fond of the stock seat that comes with the bike. After an hour or so I found myself getting very uncomfortable in the saddle, even while wearing padded shorts. The lack of gears and heavy weight make it tough to pedal the bike up any kind of substantial hill as well and on top of that the frame doesn't feel like it is designed with taller riders in mind. I'm over 6'2" in height and often felt kind of cramped, even with the seat extended to its highest point.

Despite these issues though, I did find myself enjoying the Beast far more than I would have expected. Sure, its big, heavy and ponderous and yes it lacks any kind of amenities that I'm use to on a bike. But in spite of all of that, it is still fun to ride, and isn't that one cycling should be all about? Sometimes in our rush to get the lightest, fastest and most tricked out bikes, we forget how important it is to enjoy riding just for the sake of riding. The Beast strips away all of the features typically found on a bike and just gives you pure two-wheeled experience. There is something to be said for that and I think a lot of riders will have the same experience with this bike that I had. And since it only costs $198, you won't break the bank adding a Beast to a garage already filled with bikes.

It's hard not to like this Beast, even when you try.

Introducing OutdoorX4!

I wanted to kick off the day today by introducing readers to a new project that I'll be collaborating on in the months ahead. It's called OutdoorX4 and it is a website and magazine that will be available both digitally and on local newsstands soon. The focus of the magazine will be outdoor adventure in all of its forms but with a decided slant towards off-road vehicles.

The team behind the magazine is currently working towards getting the first issue ready for print and if all goes right it should become available in January. OutdoorX4 will naturally feature articles about exploring jeep trails and other off-road expeditions, but it will also have stories about the activities that we all enjoy as well, including hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, adventure travel and more. Gear reviews will also play a role in both traditional outdoor products and those that are made specifically for 4x4 vehicles.

Personally I'm not much of an off-road enthusiast so I'll be contributing adventure travel stories, gear reviews and other pieces that are more in tune with what you find here on the Adventure Blog. The editors of the publication are hoping to make it more than just a 4x4 mag however and they do want to appeal to a wide variety of fans who share an affinity for the outdoors. I think it holds a lot of promise and I'm excited to see the first copy in a couple of months time.

You can get a preview of what OutdoorX4 will be like by checking out our sample issue. Then head over to OutdoorX4.com to see some examples of the kind of content we're bringing to the website as well. I think you'll like what you find there.

Video: Ask The Mountains By Vangelis

If you're looking for a mixture of beautiful scenery and music, you can't beat the video below. It provides lots of great scenes of the high places of our planet with the sounds of "Ask the Mountains" from Vangelis playing in the background. It is eight minutes of pure alpine porn that you won't want to miss.

Adventure Tech: New Options For Hammerhead Bike Navigator

Remember the Hammerhead bike navigation system that I wrote about last week? It's the handlebar-mounted electronic device that when paired with your smartphone via Bluetooth will give visual clues on how to navigate through a route by using integrated LED lights. The system can also be used a rechargeable headlight and it uses route sharing to create a social element to your rides as well. It is certainly a unique and interesting product that has potential, particularly with commuter cyclists.

The Hammerhead Kickstarter campaign is now a couple of weeks from wrapping up and in an effort to jumpstart the fundraising options the designers of the device are now offering some new incentives to draw in potential customers. First, they're offering an "early bird" special for the first 500 people who contribute to the campaign that will allow them to purchase the Hammerhead for $68. Considering the navigator is expected to retail for $100 when it hits production that is a substantial savings for those who want to back the device now.

The other, perhaps more intriguing incentive, is a new limited edition version of the Hammerhead that will be available in translucent slate gray. Only 500 of this model will be available as well and they will come with their own unique serial numbers and will be engraved with the cyclists personal information such as name, address, emergency contact number and so on. The limited edition model is available from the Kickstarter page as well for a price of $78.

The designers of the Hammerhead are looking to raise $145,000 to get their device into production. Right now, with 16 days to go, they're sitting at about $48,000 in funding. If you're interested in this navigation system at all, this is a good opportunity for you to pre-order one before they are built and get it a substantial discount. The limited edition version with the engraving would make a great gift for your favorite cyclist by the way, giving them a cool, high tech navigation tool while showing you care about their safety at the same time.

In case you missed last week's post, here is a video of the Hammerhead in action. It helps explain what it does much better than I can.

Video: Exploring Canada's Jasper National Park

I often write about the amazing national parks that we've been blessed with her in the U.S. but we're not the only ones who have some spectacular outdoor playgrounds to explore. Our neighbors to the north also have an abundance of amazing landscapes at their disposal. Take for example Jasper National Park, located in Alberta, Canada. The park covers 10,878 square km (4200 sq. miles) and features more than 1000 km (620 miles) of trail. It has an abundance of wildlife, plenty of snow capped peaks and numerous lakes and rivers as well. In short, it is a wilderness paradise, which I'm sure you'll agree with after seeing the video below. Start planning your own visit soon.

Jasper National Park from Roadtrippers on Vimeo.

Himalaya Fall 2013: Summits On Manaslu, Cho Oyu and Shishapangma!

It was a very productive day in the Himalaya yesterday as the projected weather window remained open long enough for teams to top out on several mountains. That window is expected to slam shut today with high winds and snowstorms expected across the region. But the climbers who arrived early in the season, worked hard to complete the acclimatization process and patiently waited for their opportunity were rewarded with successful summit bids. 

We'll start on Manaslu where the majority of the action took place yesterday. The Altitude Junkies confirmed that their team started to top out at about 8:30 AM local time yesterday morning. First to the top were Pasang Nima Sherpa and team leader Phil Crampton, but not far behind was the rest of the crew that included Alan Arnette, whom I'm sure will pass along a detailed account of the summit push in the next day or two As they approached the top, the final 100 meters of rope still needed to be fixed and Pasang Nima joined with the Sherpas from the Himex squad to complete that work. Russell Brice's team had a good day on the mountain too, putting 13 of their clients on top and a total of 29 climbers overall. Reportedly it was a good day on the summit with warm temperatures and calm winds. Both teams report that everyone has now descended safely and after spending the night in Camp 1 they should arrive back in BC today. 

Meanwhile, ExWeb is reporting that there have been summits on Cho Oyu as well. Four climbers topped out there at around 12:40 PM yesterday afternoon. That group included American climber Adrian Ballinger, Russian Sergey Baranov, Passang Bhote Sherpa and Namygal Sherpa. The two westerners than proceeded to make a ski descent and were back in Camp 2 early in the afternoon. ExWeb also indicates that there are a number of other teams poised to make summit bids today before the change in weather arrives. 

Apparently there has also been a successful summit on Shishapangma as well. Details are still a bit light but it is being reported that Hungarian climber Lestak Erzsebet reached the summit of that mountain yesterday and then safely returned to ABC. If we get more details on the climb I'll be sure to share them.

While we're on the subject of Shishapangma, 74-year old Carlos Soria is still in Base Camp there and keeping a close eye on the weather. The hope is that once the current weather system passes a new window will open giving the teams enough time to make their push. That could come as early as next week, but for now everyone sits and waits. 

Finally, there hasn't been any updates from Ueli Steck or Don Bowie in about a week but presumably they have reached Annupurna Base Camp now and are setting up shop for the climb ahead. These two talented and very experienced mountaineers will likely go to work very quickly and I wouldn't be surprised to hear them start their acclimatization rotations immediately, weather permitting. Hopefully once they are settled in we'll start to get regular updates on their progress. 

I want to offer a big congratulations to all the climbers who were able to summit over the past couple of days. Job well done all around and I'm glad to hear that it seems everyone got up and down safely. 

More updates to come in the days ahead. Things will likely quiet down now for a few days while the weather moves in and out of the Himalaya. After that, there will be a host of climbers ready to make their move. 

Gear Closet: Balega Running Socks For Breast Cancer Awareness Month

As many of you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to show their support for for the event sock maker Balega is launching a line of socks to help in those efforts. Those socks come in the traditional pink color that is so closely associated with the Breast Cancer Awareness movement and feature inspirational slogans such as "Don't Tell Me I Can't" and "Never Give Up." Sales from these limited edition socks will benefit the Breast Cancer Fund with $1 from each purchase going directly to the organization.

If you're not familiar with Balega socks, they are specifically designed for runners and other athletes who are looking for comfort and performance from every piece of their running gear. The socks feature a blend of soft, natural fibers and synthetic fabrics that help your feet breathe while also keeping them comfortable dry, even in warm, demanding conditions.

I have to admit, I'm one of those runners who doesn't think much about the socks that he puts on his feet. Sure, I wear socks that are suppose to have been designed with the athlete in mind, but I've always felt that my shoes were far more important to the comfort of my feet. That may still be true, but it turns out a good sock can have some benefits too. I took a pair of the Balega socks out for some test runs recently and found that my feet were more comfortable in the same pair of running shoes that I wore with my more generic running socks. The thicker Balega socks provided more comfort on my daily workouts but actually kept my feet cooler and drier. That is certainly something I can appreciate in the Texas heat. Even in the fall we're still approaching triple digit temperatures.

Of course, like all good athletic gear the Balega socks don't come cheap. They'll set you back anywhere from $10 - $18 per pair, which obviously makes them an investment if you're an everyday runner like myself. But, much like most other gear that we buy, you get what you pay for and the investment in a good pair of socks is no different. Not only do they perform better than what you're probably wearing now, they're also more durable and will last longer too. Considering how much I spend on running shoes every three months, buying a few pairs of really good socks doesn't seem like much of an issue.

It is tough to write a review about socks. There is nothing fancy about them and they don't exactly have a lot of features. But if you're looking for something comfortable that also happens to perform well, it is tough to beat what Balega has to offer. And if you want to help the fight against cancer while picking yourself up some quality footwear, than be sure to look for Balega's Cancer Awareness line. You'll get all the performance that I spoke about above and you'll benefit a good cause at the same time. What more could you ask for?

Video: Mountain Biking A Dream Trail

The video below is brought to us via the Trailbusters, a team of mountain bikers who travel with a philosophy of challenging themselves to ride in some interesting and impressive places. They've crossed the Swiss Alps, rode the Rockies and the Carpathian Mountains in Romanian, just to name a few. In the video below they're riding what they describe as a "dream trail" and after taking one look at it, it is easy to understand why. The riding looks like it would be fun and the setting is absolutely gorgeous. What a place to take your bike out for a spin.

JUST A DREAM TRAIL from Slavik Petr on Vimeo.

Video: The Making of an Adventure Film (Part 4)

This is Backcountry is the adventure video that keeps on giving. Not only is it an amazing short film in its own right it has also spawned a series of behind the scenes clips that give us insight into how these kinds of movies are made. The latest of those can be found below with the creative team behind This is Backcountry heading to the desert to get some awesome climbing shots. These guys have to go to great lengths to try to get the footage they need. Aspiring filmmakers in this genre need to have a lot more skills than just how to handle a camera and make edits in Final Cut Pro, that much is certain.

Himalaya Fall 2013: No Summits on Shisha, Waiting For News Elsewhere

The waiting game continues in the Himalaya where we know that summit pushes are underway amidst good weather. But the forecast calls for a change starting tomorrow, with snow and high winds predicted. That means that teams are on the move today with news of successful summits to come shortly.

One team that we've been keeping a close eye on this week is the Ski Shishapangma squad. They made an attempt on the summit on Monday with the hopes of completing a ski descent of that mountain. Since then we hadn't heard any word on their progress, but a dispatch this morning tells us that Rich Emerson and Dave Etherington turned back 450 meters (1476 ft) below the summit. They are safely back in Base Camp now and Dave says that his climb is over. Rich, on the other hand, seems to be weighing his options and may consider giving it another go once he has had the chance to rest and recover his strength.

If the weather forecast holds as many as 60 climbers could top out on Manaslu today including groups from both the Altitude Junkies and Himex. Our friend Alan Arnette is a part of that group as well and I expected we'll get an excellent account of the climb once he he safely back in BC.

The other peak that should see plenty of action today is Cho Oyu where several teams should be closing in on the summit as well. The IMG squad isn't among them however as their latest dispatch indicates that they have now completed their second acclimatization rotation to Camp 2 and have descended to Base Camp as well. With the change in weather coming tomorrow they'll take the time to rest and eat lots of good food as they wait for a weather window to open to start their eventual summit bids. That looks like it won't happen until sometime next week at the earliest.


The Italian team on Lhotse has moved down the Khumbu Valley to Gorak Shep where they are taking a break as well. The sent a length dispatch today discussing the trash situation on Everest and Lhotse, where overcrowding have turned the mountain into a bit of a junk heap. Conditions in BC have improved considerably since the Nepalese government started imposing fines, but further up the mountain there is still plenty of trash to be cleaned up. The boys have a proposal on how to solve the issue, which would in a sense do away with commercial climbing on Everest altogether and put severe restrictions on who climbs the mountain. There ideas would never fly as they would be economically disastrous for Nepal, but it certainly makes for an interesting read and discussion.

That's all the news I have from the Himalaya today. Mostly we sit and wait for confirmation of successful summits today. With a shift in the weather coming, things will quiet down there heading into the weekend, but the season is far from over and there are still plenty of interesting developments to come I'm sure.

Ultrarunner Prepares to Run the Length of the Great Himalayan Trail

There are long distance hiking trails and then there is the Great Himalaya Trail. The GHT is a beast of a route stretches for more than 1700 km (1056 miles) through the High Himalaya in Nepal, challenging hikers with its thin air, high altitudes and challenging paths. Walking it end to end takes weeks to complete but rewards trekkers with some of the most spectacular views on the planet. Starting today, ultrarunner Philippe Gatta will attempt to run the length of the GHT with the intent of finishing it in record time.

Philippe is currently in the village of Simikot in Nepal where he has spent some time acclimatizing to the altitude while scouting the route ahead. Today he will launch his bid to become the first person to run the entire length of the Great Himalaya Trail, a feat that he hopes to complete in just 40 days. As an ultrarunner, Gatta has trained for these kinds of extreme challenges but the numbers on the GHT are simply staggering.

While the 1700 km length of the trail is impressive, it is hardly amongst the longest routes in the world. But no other trail can match the GHT in terms of vertical gain. Over the course of the run, Philippe will face 88 km (55 miles) of vertical. That is an incredible number to consider. Along the way he'll face a temperature variation that ranges from -25ºC (-13ºF) up to 35ºC (95ºF) as he passes through jungle, desert, forests and glaciers. He'll also run at altitudes of just 880 meters (2887 ft) to well above 7000 meters (22,965 ft).

Philippe will be joined on this journey by his wife Anna who will run at least some of the sections with him. Along the way they'll be testing out some new gear for Berghaus, including new lightweight equipment designed to move fast in the mountains. You can follow their progress on the expedition's Facebook page, where you'll find regular updates over the next six weeks. I'll post updates on their progress over that time as well. In the meantime, check out the video below that shows the couple training for this epic challenge.

Video: Spring Waterfall Hunt

How about a nice shot of adrenaline to close out the day? Our friends over at EpicTV have just the thing in the form of this excellent paddling video that was shot on location in Washington and British Columbia, where a group of talented kayakers find plenty of action in the form of wild whitewater and some massive drops over raging waterfalls. This is one activity I prefer to watch on YouTube rather than attempt myself. Scary but exhilarating stuff!

Video: Conrad Anker in Denali: National Parks Epic Challenge

Last week I shared an excellent video that featured Alex Honnold climbing in Yosemite that came our way courtesy of the National Park Foundation. It turns out it was just the first of a series of videos that will feature some well known outdoor personalities doing the things that they – and we – love. You'll find the latest of those videos below. This time we get to travel to Denali National Park in Alaska to go climbing with mountaineering legend Conrad Anker. If you need any other reason beyond that to press the play button, I can't help you. Enjoy!


Conrad Anker in Denali: National Parks Epic Challenge from National Park Foundation on Vimeo.

Himalaya Fall 2013: Weather Window Opens Across The Himalaya, Summits In Sight

As noted yesterday, the first real summit push of the fall Himalayan climbing season is now underway and we wait anxiously for word on the whereabouts of the numerous teams that are currently on the move. The weather forecast across the region seems favorable, at least for a few more days, and the climbers are now getting themselves into position to make a push to the top of their respective mountains within the next day or two. After that, it seems the window will close once again and those who aren't able to take advantage of it will wait for their turn in the days ahead. For now though, there is quite a bit of activity taking place.

Yesterday I noted that Rich Emerson and Dave Etherington of the Ski Shishapangma expedition were planning on making their summit bid. The weather was reportedly quite good and it was thought that they would go to the top, then attempt a ski descent. There has been no update on their progress since then however so it is unclear weather or not they did indeed summit and ski or if they ended up descending for some reason. We'll have to wait and watch their Facebook page for updates on their progress.

On Manaslu the summit push is in full swing with most expecting to top out tomorrow. As reported yesterday, the Altitude Junkies squad is amongst them with Alan Arnette part of that team. It seems that the Himex climbers have also joined the summit party and their team is on the way up as well. The forecast says that there should be little wind on Manaslu tomorrow, which should give the teams perfect conditions to top out. After that, rain and snow are expected on the mountain with the potential for some heavy powder to fall at higher altitudes. At the moment, as many as 60 climbers are in Camp 4 and waiting to launch their final push.


According to ExWeb, the summit bids have begun on Cho Oyu as well with the first climbers possibly topping out as early as tomorrow as well. The forecast there is the same as elsewhere: good conditions through Wednesday with heavy snow moving in afterwards. Considering that no one has been above Camp 2 yet on the mountain, it is unclear what conditions will be like on the way to the summit, but after tomorrow they are expected to get a whole lot more challenging. Amongst those hoping to top out are American mountain guide Adrian Ballinger and Russian climber Sergei Baranov.

The Italian team of Edmond Joyeusaz and Federico Colli are back in Base Camp on Lhotse where they have enjoyed a warm shower and some much needed rest. They intend to descend to Gorak Shep for a bit of a break and to get an Internet connection to post some more detailed updates. The boys are no longer alone in BC however as a Korean team has arrived in the past day or two and has begun to set up shop. It is unclear at this point whether or not the Koreans will be attempting Lhotse as well or if they are there to make a rare attempt on Everest in the fall. We'll just have to wait to see what exactly their objectives are.

Finally, Ueli Steck and Don Bowie should now be settled into Base Camp on Annapurna and will most likely be scouting the route that they'll take to the summit. There have been no updates yet from the dynamic duo but it is their hope that they'll be able to find success on one of the world's toughest mountains where both have had their struggles in the past. Even if they don't manage to climb Annapurna this fall however, it is good to see Ueli back in the Himalaya following the unfortunate events of this past spring.

That's all for now. Hopefully my next update will contain good news of successful summits.

Dedicated Everyman Puts Up Two First Ascents In The Indian Himalaya

Mountaineers Bryan Hylenski, Jake Preston, Jonn Jeanneret, Dan Kopperud and Gabriel Thomas, collectively known as the Dedicated Everyman, had quite a summer in the Indian Himalaya. In July of this year, the five men traveled to three remote and unclimbed peaks in the Hagshu Glacier region with the hopes of putting up the first ascent on each of those peaks. The team ended up having quite an adventure while still managing to accomplish several of their goals.

The original target of the Everman squad was an unclimbed peak in the Uttarkhand province. But back in June, that part of the world was hit by one of the worst floods in recorded history. Those floods destroyed buildings, wiped out crops and killed more than 10,000 people. This unmitigated natural disaster caused the team to alter their plans, heading to the Hagshu Glacier instead.

Due to that shift in plans, the squad was looking for something to attract their attention and provide a new challenge. Arriving in Base Camp on July 8, the boys decided that they wanted to attempt to bag three unclimbed peaks in the region. With that in mind, they set their sights on Hagshu (6520 m/21,391 ft) and two mountains that didn't even have names – Peaks 6035 and 6191.


After a couple of weeks working the mountain, acclimatizing and establishing their high camps, the team was finally ready to start their first push. That began on July 15 with an attempt on Peak 6191 but due to bad weather and poor health conditions, they were forced to turn back. A few days later, the team made an attempt on Peak 6035 and while three of them turned back, Bryan and Jonn managed to reach the summit, completing the first ascent of the mountain, which they then dubbed "Under Moonlight."

With their first successful summit out of the way, the men moved on to Hagshu on July 25. Despite their best efforts however, they were forced to turn back less than 80 meters fro the top. Undaunted by the failure to reach the summit, they decided to make a second attempt on Peak 6191. On July 28, Bryan, Jonn and Dan topped out giving them their second first ascent of the expedition. As is their right after becoming the first to climb the mountain, they named the peak "Hana's Men," after Bryan's five-year old daughter.

All in all, it was a successful adventure for the entire team and next February the intend to head back to India to attempt the first winter ascent of a mountain that hasn't been climbed in 20 years. To find out more about their summer expedition, visit DedicatedEveryman.com.

Video: Who Am I?

It isn't often that we come across a video that is as beautiful as it is philosophical. That is exactly what we have however in an amazing looking short film that combines stunning timelapse images with the intriguing words of philosopher Alan Watts. This is a thoughtful piece that will leave you thinking about yourself and your relationship to the world around us long after you finish watching it. This is a feast for the eyes as well as the soul. Powerful stuff to be sure.

WHO AM I? from Bodhi Films on Vimeo.

Adventure Tech: Microsoft Surface Pro 2

When I reviewed the Surface Pro tablet from Microsoft last month I lauded it for being a lightweight and compact device that didn't compromise performance. It is, for all intents and purposes, a full-powered touchscreen laptop in tablet form. I wasn't so impressed with battery life however, which I felt was the main limiting factor for using the device in the field. I wasn't the only one who felt the Surface Pro was a great product that was hindered by its lack of battery however and Microsoft certainly took note. Earlier today the announced the new Surface Pro 2 with a lot of upgrades and enhancements. The result is a more refined piece of technology that just might be the ultimate adventure travel/expedition computer.

Amongst the improvements on the the Surface Pro 2 are a 20% increase in it's already fast processor performance, an improved screen with better color accuracy and improved graphics and sound as well. Microsoft is using Intel's new Haswell chip to increase battery life and claims that the new model has a 75% increase in the amount of time it can run without needing a recharge. That would put it into the 8-9 hour category, which is certainly a significant upgrade over the first generation product. A new Power Cover integrates a battery as well, increasing the life by an astounding 2.5x the tablets stand alone performance. That's enough to keep you going all day and then some.

Cosmetically speaking, the Surface Pro 2 looks exactly the same as the original model with the exception of a new integrated kickstand that now features two positions for propping up the display. Last year's model only had one, which didn't always work in every situation.


The Surface tablets get some new accessories this year as well. In addition to the Power Cover keyboard mentioned above, the new Type and Touch Cover keyboards are both 1 mm thinner and features backlit keys. A docking station adds additional USB ports (including a single USB 3.0 option), as well as a mini DisplayPort. Headphone and microphone jacks and gigabit Ethernet are also built in.

The Surface Pro 2 will be available for preorder starting tomorrow with the entry level model starting at $899 for 64GB of storage. It begins shipping on October 22.

Remember, this is a tablet that runs full Windows 8 and when paired with one of its keyboard covers, it really does become a pretty awesome tablet/laptop hybrid. You can literally run all of your software on this device and still have access to an app environment that is not unlike what you find on other tablets from competitors. With its ruggedized case, compact design and relatively lightweight, the Surface Pro is an amazing device for adventure travelers or those heading out on an extended expedition. It has a feature set that is unmatched in any other tablet and really does bring a lot to the table. The new model really looks like it is upping the ante in terms of performance.

Microsoft also announced the non-pro Surface 2, dropping the "RT" that was part of the title last year. This model runs a simplified version of Windows that doesn't grant you access to the desktop and won't let you install any software that you like. It is instead confined to the app environment, which is still quite good but doesn't offer the versatility available in its Pro counterpart. This model will start at $449 with 32GB of storage. It is also a little thinner and lighter than the previous Surface RT and includes the two-step kickstand as well.

To entice customers even further, Microsoft is offering Surface 2 and Surface 2 Pro buyers 200GB of storage on Skydrive – their cloud storage system – and free international Skype calls for a year as well. Those are both excellent options to have at your disposal while traveling too.

Video: A Month On The Colorado Trail

Backpacker Wesley Trimble spent a month hiking the Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango, covering 486-miles along the way. He took his GoPro camera with him for the hike and then put the footage together in the video below. It took him 31 days to hike the entire distance through a wilderness that looks both beautiful and varied.

From the 16th to the 16th from Wesley Trimble on Vimeo.

Himalaya Fall 2013: Summit Bids Underway!

It was a busy weekend in the Himalaya where most of the teams continued their acclimatization rotations in an effort to prepare for the challenges ahead. While those squads dutifully marched up and down the mountain in an effort to get their bodies accustomed to the thinner air, other teams launched their summit bids at long last. If the weather stays calm and things go according to plan, we could see our first successful summits of the season later today.

One of the teams that is now in position to top out is the Ski Shishapangma squad. They started their summit push last Friday and should top out today, hopefully putting both Dave Etherington and Rich Emerson on the summit. The weather report indicates clear skies and tranquil conditions on the mountain, so provided any unforeseen changes, it seems summit day will be a good one. As the name of the expedition implies however, climbing the mountain is only part of the plan. Dave and Rich also intend to ski back down Shisha, which is the shortest of the 8000-meter peaks at 8013 meters (26,289 ft). Good luck to the team as they make this final push and ski descent.

Also on Shishapangma, 74-year old Carlos Soria is biding his time and waiting for his opportunity to summit. With his acclimatization rotations done, he is now resting in Base Camp, watching the weather and waiting for the right time to move. He is estimating that he'll get on the move around the middle of the week with a possible summit on Sept. 28, which would be Saturday. A savvy veteran of the Himalaya, Soria also says that his team is patient and they will wait for the right opportunity to being their bid for the summit.

The Altitude Junkies have also launched their summit bid on Manaslu setting out on Saturday for their final push. The team, which includes our friend Alan Arnette, spent the night in Camp 2 last night and will proceed to Camp 3 today. Tomorrow they'll move up to C4 and be in position for a potential summit bid on Wednesday of this week. The weather window looks promising at the moment and it seems that the route to the top is in good shape. Over the weekend the Sherpas had to replace three ladders that went missing in avalanche, but all is good now. Hopefully we'll hear news of their success in the middle of the week.


On Cho Oyu the IMG team has moved up to Camp 2 where they spent the night last night as part of their normal acclimatization process. The climbers have now been in Tibet for three weeks and their bodies should begin responding positively to the higher altitudes. The weather is reported good on the mountain and everyone is expected to descend back to Base Camp today for a couple days rest before proceeding back up.

The Italian team of Edmond Joyeusaz and Federico Colli had a tough climb up to Camp 1 on Lhotse over the weekend. As much as 40 cm (15.8 inches) of fresh snow had fallen and it made what should typically be a relatively easy climb into a very tough slog. As they moved higher, the snow started falling again and soon the found themselves in a blizzard that ended up dropping as much as 70-80 cm (27-31 inches) of new powder. With conditions deteriorating rapidly, they were forced to continue up to C1 rather than turn back. They spent an cold, wet and generally uncomfortable night at that spot, waking up the next day to find that the skies had cleared and conditions had improved dramatically. This gave them the opportunity to return to BC for some much needed rest. While on the hike up to Camp 1, Edmond displayed some signs of altitude sickness which could be troubling. Hopefully the rest in Base Camp will help alleviate the issue and he can continue with the expedition as planned.

Finally, Ueli Steck and Don Bowie were expected to reach Annapurna Base Camp yesterday, which means they have probably already gone to work today. The duo planned on scouting various routes to the top once they arrived in BC. It is there belief that Annapurna, which is amongst the most dangerous mountains in the world, will be more stable in the fall with colder conditions and less snow. Both men have tried this mountain in the past and the summit has eluded them thus far. Hopefully this season will be a little different.

Stay tuned for more updates as they come in.

London2London Via The World Update: Sarah To Make Landfall In Alaska Today

Sarah Outen's bid to complete an entirely human powered circumnavigation of the planet will reach another milestone today when she makes landfall in Alaska. For the past several days she has been rowing towards the Aleutian Islands where she will wrap up the current stage of her London2London expedition during which she has been paddling, rowing and cycling around the world.

As you may recall, Sarah has been rowing across the Northern Pacific for the past several months having set out from Japan this past spring. A few weeks back the decision was made to turn towards the Aleutians rather than to risk traveling all the way to Canada as originally planned. Bad weather, slower than expected progress and the onset of fall have all played a part in this decision and if all goes according to plan, she should reach remote Adak island sometime later today. A support team and a guide boat are already on hand to greet her and help her reach land safely.

This row across the Pacific is just the latest stage of the London2London adventure. Sarah first set out from London back on April 1, 2011 by first paddling her kayak under the Tower Bridge on the Thames River. From there she crossed the English Channel, made landfall in France and began riding her bike across Europe and Asia. In the spring of last year she set out in a rowboat from Chosi, Japan with the hopes of eventually reaching Canada. A few weeks into that stage of the journey a tropical storm hit hard, forcing Outen to abandon that attempt. This spring she returned to Japan with a new rowboat and started the crossing once again.

Once she reaches the Aleutian Islands, Sarah will take another break from her travels and wait for the calmer weather of spring to arrive. She'll then island hop in a kayak all the way to the Alaskan mainland where she'll get back on her bike and begin ridding across the U.S. and Canada. Eventually she'll return to the water however and attempt to row across the Northern Atlantic as she eventually returns to where she started back in London.

As of this writing, Sarah is still a few hours from reaching land. Everything is going according to plan however and while the weather is less than ideal, there is no reason to believe that she won't soon be safe and sound with her support team. After 150 days at sea, I'm sure she's more than ready to get off the water for awhile.

More updates as needed.

Video: Timelapse Clouds In Paradise

It has been a busy week here on the Adventure Blog and I can't think of a better way to wrap it up than with a relaxing and beautiful video like the one below. It was shot in Hawaii recently and it captures the serenity of that place quite spectacularly. We can't all escape to the islands for a long weekend, but that doesn't mean we can't bring a little slice of the islands home. Enjoy.

HONOLULU CLOUDS from Sunchaser Pictures on Vimeo.

Video: Eagle-Cam Gives Us A Birds-Eye View Of The Alps

Ever wonder what it is like to soar through the Alps like an eagle? Wonder no more as the video below gives you exactly that perspective. Not much is known about the clip other than that a small camera was placed on an eagle who then flew above the Mer De Glace region near Chamonix in France. The footage that this avian cameraman captured is nothing short of spectacular.

Video: Life's Better On A Mountain Bike

The video below expresses a feeling that many of us already share: Life is better on a Mountain Bike! It is a clever little clip created by our friends over at Sacred Rides, an adventure travel company that specializes in organizing amazing trips by mountain bike to some of the more spectacular corners of the globe. You catch a glimpse of a couple of those places in the video but I think a lot of us can relate to the main character in this story. Especially on a Friday.

Sacred Rides: Life is better on a Mountain Bike from Filme von Draussen on Vimeo.

Himalaya Fall 2013: Big Changes On Manaslu, Avalanche On Cho Oyu

The climbers in the Himalaya this fall have really started to pick up momentum and this week has certainly been a busy one. Most have started their first acclimatization rounds and things seem to be proceeding according to plan. But this being the Himalaya, things are not always as they seem and there have certainly been some difficult struggles even in the early going.

We'll start on Manaslu where Alan Arnette has weighed in following his first acclimatization rotation up to Camp 2. Alan says that the mountain is very different this year and that the lack of snowfall is having a dramatic effect on the route. He reports that there are numerous crevasses to negotiate and that the movement of the shifting glacier has forced the Sherpas to find new ways to navigate up the mountain. Apparently even the Sherpas who have been climbing on Manaslu for many years are surprised at how it looks this season. The ascent from Base Camp to C1 and 2 has always been on the technical side, but this year it is even more challenging. As always, Alan's dispatches from his expeditions are insightful, well written and share a wealth of information. You can read his latest in its entirety by clicking here.

Not far from where Alan is camped in Manaslu BC, the Himex team has also set up shop for the season. Their Sherpa teams have just returned from carrying gear up to Camps 1 and 2 and will now take a day or two off before they proceed higher. The climbing team will sit for another day as well and then head up for their first acclimatization rotation this weekend. Most will spend the night at C2 as they begin to get their bodies accustomed to the altitude. The team reports that the weather is starting to take a turn however with more freezing rain in the forecast. They'll keep an eye on the sky of course, but for now it just seems to be conditions uncomfortable rather than putting anyone in real danger.
Over on Cho Oyu the climbers are going through their early rotations as well with a number of teams just returning to BC after their first trip up the mountain. The IMG squad is reportedly gearing up for their climb to Camp 2, which may take place as early as this weekend. There was a scary moment on the mountain a couple of days ago when an avalanche hit four Sherpas that were busy fixing ropes up to C2. One of those climbers was seriously injured and had to be evacuated but thankfully no one was killed during the incident. A day later the rope fixing to C2 was complete and the teams now seem confident enough in the conditions to proceed up.

The Italian team of Edmond Joyeusaz and Federico Colli are making some slow progress on Lhotse. The duo are back in Base Camp today and were planning on descending down the Khumbu Valley for a little rest in Gorak Shep. They have just made their first foray up to Camp 1, which involved a tricky climb through the Khumub Icefall, which is made all the more difficult this time of year since the famed Ice Doctors aren't there to maintain the route. Apparently the two support Sherpas who are accompanying them on this trip are not very experienced at passing through the Icefall without the aid of ladders and ropes. The two Sherpas, both of whom have Everest summits on their resumes, expressed concerns about the dangers of that section of the mountain. As a result, the Italians have requested two other porters with more experience to come join them. While they are climbing in mostly independently, they are using Sherpa support to shuttle gear up to Camp 1 and 2. It'll take a few days before their new support team will arrive in BC, so for now they'll rest and prepare for the challenges ahead. The plan is to summit and ski the mountain, which makes this one of the most ambitious expeditions taking place this fall.

The team of Rich Emerson, Dave Etherington and Steve Wilson are also hoping to make a ski descent of Shishapangma this fall. They've already completed their final acclimatization rotation and launched their summit bid yesterday with Rich and Dave expected to reach Camp 1 today and then proceed to C2 tomorrow. If all goes as expected, they could be on top early next week and skiing back down shortly there after. It has begun to snow on the mountain, which may be good for the descent, but we'll have to wait to see if the weather impacts their final push to the summit.

Meanwhile, 74-year old Carlos Soria has arrived in Base Camp on Shishapangma and will spend the next few days resting before he starts his acclimatization. Carlos is an amazing man as he continues to take on big Himalayan peaks well into his 70's and never seems to take much of a break. He is a staple in the mountains and seems to be constantly on an expedition of some kind or another. I hope that when I reach his age I'm still as active and strong.

Finally, Ueli Steck and Don Bowie are already in and out of Kathmandu. The duo flew to Pokhara yesterday and began the trek to Annapurna Base Camp today. They should arrive on the mountain early next week and start their climb then.

More updates soon.

Two Round-The-World Cyclers Seek Crowd Sourced Funding For Their Expeditions

Two different long-distance cyclists are seeking modest funding through crowd sourcing to help get their expeditions to the finish line.Both of them are trying to complete very different projects in very similar ways as they attempt to cover the final legs of their individual journeys that have taken them to the far reaches of the globe.

First up, we have Stephen Fabes who has spent the past three and a half years attempting to ride across six continents. Over that time, he has managed to cover 54,339 km (33,765 miles), passing through 42 countries along the way. During that time he has managed to check off four of the six continents – North and South America, Europe and Africa. He is now in Australia and seeking funding to help him ride across that continent, then proceed into Asia to begin heading back home to the U.K.

Stephen is seeking £3000 ($4800) to help him wrap up his cycling adventure and get him home. To that end, he has set up an Indiegogo campaign, which is just a few days into the process but is already a long way towards achieving its goal.

On his fundraising campaign page Stephen addresses the issue of having others fund his personal adventure. He gives some pretty compelling reasons why we should donate to his cause, not the least of which is some of the nice perks he is offering to those who assist. He also happens to be a medical doctor however and while he has been riding around the world he has also take time to visit medical aid stations to support those who suffer from several different tropical diseases. As he rides he has been attempting to raise awareness of the threat of these diseases in developing countries and the things we can do to overcome them.

Here ia an excellent video of Stephen's journey thus far and what he intends to do on his final ride across Australia and Asia as he heads home.


Cycling Six Continents - The Final Frontiers from Stephen Fabes on Vimeo.

Our other long distance cyclist is Rob Lutter, who also happens to come fro the U.K. Rob has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund his attempt to cycle around the world which began in London and will hopefully end there too. Rob has managed to pedal 15,000 km (9320 miles) and now finds himself stranded in Hong Kong with another 25,000 km (15,535 miles) to go before he is done. Rob has set up a Kickstarter campaign and is seeking £5750 ($9220) to help get him back to London. 

Rob calls his bike expedition the Lifecycle Adventure and while is goal has been to circumnavigate the globe on his bike he is also been to use his camera to capture stunning images of the places he's been and the people he has met along the way. So far his journey has taken him across Europe and Asia. When he leaves Hong Kong he will ride through Southeast Asia, into Indonesia, then down under to Australia before hopping across the pond to ride across the U.S. When that segment of the ride is complete, he'll cross the Atlantic and head back to London. To get an example of Rob's excellent photography, be sure to checkout his Kickstarter page or watch the video below.

I received requested from both of these cyclists yesterday and was amazed that there were two round-the-world riders looking for funding to continue their expeditions. I struggled for a time as to whether or not I should publish either of these fund raising campaigns as I'm not sure how I feel about either of these men asking others to help fund their adventure. On the other hand, they are offering incentives for those who help them out and their fundraising goals are rather modest compared to many others that I've seen. While I don't condone the idea of getting someone else to pay for your adventure, I do feel like both of these men have proven their worth on their respective rides so far and that they are both offering solid incentives for anyone who backs them. I also appreciate that they are both upfront and forthcoming about their goals. Those qualities make it a lot easier to chip a few bucks in to help out. I'd love to hear your thoughts?

Video: The Brilliant Moment

Every once in awhile we get a video that manages to capture the spirit of adventure perfectly. That happens to be the case with the clip below which comes to us courtesy of Mountain Hardwear. Through its words and imagery it manages to encapsulate all the pain and suffering, as well as the joy and triumph that comes along with a good adventure. This video is inspiring and beautiful in a number of ways and I think more than a few of us can relate to the sentiment shown here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Thanks to the Adventure Journal for sharing this.

The Brilliant Moment from Mountain Hardwear on Vimeo.

Video: Behind The Scenes On Those Epic Coors Light Commercials

If you live in the U.S. you've probably seen those epic Coors Light beer commercials that feature mountaineers going to great lengths to find and deliver ice cold beer to patrons in a bar. If you haven't seen them, click here to see what I'm talking about. I have to admit, while I enjoy the scenery in those ads, I wrongly assumed that most of the action was filmed on a soundstage in Burbank with green screen effects filling in most of the adventurous parts. Turns out I was wrong. Very wrong.

The team behind those commercials actually went on location to capture those outdoor shots and they've posted a short behind the scenes video of some of their work in the field. It turns out they went to great lengths to ensure those brief advertisements were done right and in the video below you'll get a chance to see how they were made. Needless to say, the stars of those ads earned their pay.

Adventure Tech: Hammerhead Bike Navigation System

GPS navigation seems to have proliferated through just about every portion of our lives. Having GPS built into our smartphones has been a game changer and many outdoor enthusiasts now have GPS watches to aid them in their active pursuits. One company is trying to bring a new navigation system to cyclists as well in the form of the Hammerhead, a revolutionary new device that uses a series of LED lights to direct riders on where to go.

The device attaches to the handlebars of your bike and pairs with an iPhone or Android device via Bluetooth to provide navigation information. A specially designed app then sends specific turn-by-turn data to the Hammerhead itself which uses its embedded lights to indicate where and when to turn, distance to the next turn, and how close you are to your destination. It is a simple but effective interface that allows riders to glean a lot of information without ever having to take their eyes off the road.

The Hammerhead app uses crowd sourcing to share information about bike routes and the best way to navigate through urban settings and trails alike. It allows users to upload and share their favorite rides with the online community, which makes the device's way finding smarter and more accurate. Data can also be shared with other apps such as Strava and MapMyRide as well.

As if all of that wasn't interesting enough, the Hammerhead also functions as a headlight and includes two side lights for added visibility. A red dot on the top serves as a compass too, providing even more functionality in a simple design.


Currently the team behind the Hammerhead is seeking funding via a Kick-starter like campaign. If you're interested in the product you can learn more about it and back the project by clicking here. The designers of the device are seeking $145,000 to get it off the ground and they are currently at about $42,000 with 23 days to go in their campaign. You can also find out more on the Hammerhead Facebook page.

Seems like an innovative looking piece of technology. I like that it is so simple and yet provides quite a bit of information without having to really look at it too closely. I think the Hammerhead has lots of potential but to really tap it they'll need a good, active community. Time will tell if that happens.

Antarctic Explorers Ready To Follow In Scott's Footsteps

British explorers Ben Saunders and Tarka L'Herpiniere are in the final stages of preparation for what promises to be the expedition of a lifetime. The two veteran adventurers are now just a few short weeks away from launching the Scott Expedition which will mark their attempt to complete the fateful journey to the South Pole undertaken by Robert Falcon Scott back in 1911. Those that know their exploration history will recall that Scott arrived at the South Pole a few weeks after his Norwegian rival Roald Amundsen became the first man to reach that location. Dejected and defeated, Scott and his men turned for home but did not manage to survive the return trip. Scott died alone in a tent on the Antarctic ice and to this day his route has never been completed. Ben and Tarka are hoping to change that.

I first wrote about story back in June when the expedition was announced and at the time the 2013 Antarctic season seemed a long way off. Fast forward a few months however and it is looming large. Ben and Tarka are now in the final stages of planning and preparation and as of this writing they are just 25 days away from setting out on this adventure. That means that they will most likely set out for Punta Arenas, Chile – the launching point for most Antarctic expeditions. Once there, they'll play the waiting game, watching the weather closely to hop a flight to Union Glacier and eventually getting dropped off at their starting point on the Ross Ice Shelf. The two men will actually begin their journey at Scott's famous hut on Cape Evans as they begin traveling south through some of the most desolate and demanding terrain found anywhere on the planet.

In all the two men will travel roughly 1800 miles (2896 km) on their way to the South Pole and then back again to the coast. They will follow the same route that Scott had intended had he been succesful in his endeavor more than a century ago. Even now this will not be an easy journey as only a handful of people have actually managed to make an unsupported round trip journey form the Antarctic coast to the Pole and back. If Ben and Tarka hope to succeed they'll need to be focused, dedicated and even a little lucky. The weather will have to cooperate to some extent and they'll have to overcome all manner of challenges including fatigue, equipment failure and loneliness.


It seems that this expedition has all of the social media outlets well covered. They have launched a Twitter feed, Facebook page and an Instagram account. They even have a YouTube channel and a G+ account as well. Follow them on your social media of choice and stay well informed of their progress leading up to departure and throughout the entire adventure.

Good luck to Ben and Tarka. I'll certainly be following along and posting updates in the days ahead.

Video: Downhill Mountain Biking In Alaskan Backcountry

A group of mountain bikers calling themselves the Downhill Brigade have released a teaser trailer to an upcoming video that follows them into the Alaskan backcountry for a little riding. The video features some great shots of the team finding some beautiful and interesting places to take their bikes that have probably been seldom, if ever, ridden before. Apparently they've launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to complete the film, which looks like it holds a lot of promise.

Downhill Brigade | Alaska series teaser from JGS-Concepts on Vimeo.

Video: Team MTN Qhubeka: An African Bicycle Dream (Episode 2)

Way back in April of this year I posted an excellent video of the new Team MTN Qhubeka pro cycling squad which is now in its first year on the Pro Continental circuit. The team, which is the first from Africa, has had a solid year of competition.

A few days back, episode 2 of the online web series entitled An African Bicycle Dream was released on YouTube. In that video, which you'll find below, the spotlight turns to the talented young riders from Africa who are working to form the nucleus of this team moving forward. The hope is that these riders will be able to graduate up to one of the Grand Tours in the next year or two. Find out more about those motivations in the short documentary below.

Himalaya 2013: Ueli Steck Back In The Himalaya, Attempting Annapurna

Here's a story that I didn't expect to be writing. Ueli Steck, the amazing Swiss mountaineer who has put together some of the most impressive climbs in the Alps and Himalaya in recent memory is back in Nepal this fall and preparing to take on one of the most notoriously tough mountains in the world. Ueli, along with his climbing partner Don Bowie, have set their sights on Annapurna this fall. They hope that the post-monsoon climbing season will provide more stability on the mountain, allowing Ueli to reach the summit that has eluded him twice in the past.

The reason I'm surprised to be writing this story is because of the now infamous showdown between Steck and his two teammates (Simone Moro and Jonathan Griffith) with an angry mob of Sherpas this past spring. That incident got plenty of coverage even outside the traditional mountaineering community and after he had returned home, Ueli was fairly vocal about his feelings, even going so far as to say that he would possibly not ever return to Nepal or the Himalaya. Obviously a little time and perspective have changed those feelings and it is good to see him return to the big mountains.

Ueli and Don should now be in Kathmandu where they'll spend the next few days organizing their gear and preparing for the climb. By the weekend they will be off to Pokhara where they'll begin their trek to Annapurna Base Camp. Once on the mountain, they intend to survey the conditions there and decide which is the best route to take to the top. They'll also be shuttling their own gear up and down the mountain, so it sounds like they'll be making this climb with little or now Sherpa assistance.


As mentioned, this will be Ueli's third attempt on Annapurna having been turned back from the summit in both 2007 and 2008. Both of those expeditions took place in the spring however where there warmer weather brings unstable conditions and deadly avalanches. Additionally, pre-monsoon moisture brings plenty of snow to the mountain, which makes it even more unsafe to climb.

With an altitude of 8091 meters (26,545 ft), Annapurna isn't even close to being as tall as Everest or K2. But what it lacks in height it makes up for in pure challenge. The mountain has a fearsome reputation for being one of the most difficult in the world to climb and for having the highest death rate of any of the 8000 meter peaks. The fatality-to-summit ratio exceeds 38%, which means that more than a third of those who attempt reach the top die in the process.

It will take some time before Ueli and Don actually begin the climb itself but their permit is good until November 15. That means they have the better part of two months to get settled into Base Camp, acclimatize to the altitude and launch their summit bid. Hopefully they'll find fall in the Himalaya to their liking and Annapurna more forgiving than it has been in the past. I'll certainly be watching this one unfold with great interest. Stay tuned for more updates soon.

Update: Long Rider Completes Ride Across Americas

Last month I posted the story of Guenter Wamser, a German long rider who was nearing the end of a journey that spanned two continents and has taken nearly 20 years to complete. Wamser began  his journey back in 1994 at the southernmost tip of South America and he has been slowly making his way northward ever since. We I wrote that original piece he was deep in the Alaskan wilderness and was approaching the end of the trail. Now, a few short weeks later he has completed his ride at last, bringing an end to his Transhumanic expedition.

I received an email from Guenter yesterday informing me that he and his traveling companion Sonja Endweber, had wrapped up their journey a few days ago. Their travels came to an end when they reached the northernmost shores of North America, having covered more than 25,000 km (15,535 miles) in the process. In true long rider fashion, the first thought they had when wrapping up their ride was for their horses. Guenter told me that they had located a large pasture where they were going to let their mounts rest for a few days before they continue south to Canada where they'll spend the winter on a friends ranch.

That's about all I know about how they wrapped up their adventure, at least so far. Hopefully Guenter will post updates to his blog once he gets a chance. Even though the official ride is over, remember that he and Sonja are still deep in the Alaskan backcountry. It'll take them some time before they get back to civilization. When they do, hopefully we'll learn a lot more about the final days of this amazing journey.

Congratulations to Guenter and Sonja for wrapping up this impressive ride. It is a testament to Guneter's determination and spirit of adventure that he never lost site of his goal, even as his focus became more about the journey and less about the destination. We could all learn a little something from that.

Video: Alex Honnold In Yosemite: National Parks Epic Challenge

Watching Alex Honnold climb the legendary big walls in Yosemite never gets old. The guy grew up three hours away from the park and over the past few year he has made it his personal playground to be sure. In the video below we get to watch him scale Half Dome, El Cap and Mt. Watkins using nothing but his own talent and skill. Not a rope in sight. The man is fearless. I got nervous just watching this.

Alex Honnold in Yosemite: National Parks Epic Challenge from National Park Foundation on Vimeo.

Video: National Geographic Live! - The Call of Everest

I missed this video when it was released a couple of months back but in this case, it's better late than never. It is a 30-minute look of the past, present and future of climbing on the world's tallest peak. It features mountaineers Mark Jenkins and Conrad Anker, amongst others, who share their experiences from Everest.

Himalaya Fall 2013: Acclimatizing For The Challenges Ahead

The Fall 2013 climbing season in the Himalaya is definitely in full swing now with most of the teams now fully ensconced in their Base Camps. With good weather in place across the region, the climbers have begun taking advantage of the opportunity and have started their first real acclimatization rounds. If the forecast remains good we could see some early summits this year. But for now, most are content to work hard and take things one day at a time.

One of the more ambitious projects this fall will take place on Lhotse, where Italian climbers Edmond Joyeusaz and Federico Colli hope to summit and make a ski descent of the mountain. The two men have been acclimatizing in the Khumbu Valley over the past week or so and are now settled in at Everest Base Camp, which is of course the shared launching pad for Lhotse as well. Yesterday they went up Kala Pattar, a nearby peak that provides excellent views of Everest and they report that their conditioning is good and everything is proceeding as they had hoped. They also completed their Puja ceremony, which will now allow them proceed up the mountain. They hope to make their way through the Khumbu Icefall today and climb to Camp 1 as part of their first acclimatization rotation.

Over on Manaslu things are proceeding well. The Altitude Junkies have finished their first big rotation and are now back in BC after spending a night at Camp 1 and two more at Camp 2. They'll take a few days off to recover now before heading higher and the Sherpas hope to establish Camp 4 within the next few days. The team is in good spirits after their first real workout and the good weather is helping to make things a bit easier at the moment.

Also on Manaslu is the Himex team, whose Sherpas have been doing the bulk of the work fixing the ropes, with a little help from the Altitude Junkies as well. The group made it's first rotation a few days back going up to Camp 1 for the first time. It was a four hour journey from BC up to that point but everyone climbed strong and had very few issues. They're now back in BC as well and preparing for their first push to Camp 2 where they'll spend a few nights at altitude to get their bodies accustomed to the thinner air.

Polish climber and skier Andrzej Bargiel has his sites set on Shishapangma this fall. He hopes to make a speed attempt on that mountain and then ski back down. It isn't clear if he is in Tibet just yet, but his plans were to begin climbing in late September and hopefully complete the expedition in October. Hopefully we'll get more updates as he proceeds.

Also making his way to Shishapangma is 73-year old Spanish climber Carlos Soria. He isn't quite into Base Camp just yet, but should be there within the next few days. The video at the bottom of this report gives an update from the trek and while it is in Spanish, you'll still get a good idea of the logistics involved in getting to the mountain. There is also a wild scene with a yak who simply does not want to carry a heavy load further up the valley. Scary stuff!

Things are starting to heat up on Cho Oyu as the teams begin their first rotations there as well. The IMG squad reportedly went to Camp 1 and spent the night while the Sherpas having been busy fixing lines and shuttling gear. They should have Camp 2 well established today and will continue up the mountain after a brief respite back in Base Camp.

That's all for now. Expect more updates soon as the teams in the Himalaya really start to progress.

Gear Closet: Keen Alpha WP CNX Hiking Shoes

When shoe company Keen isn't busy building sandals to our custom specifications they're putting together some of the most comfortable and versatile footwear available to travelers and outdoor enthusiasts. For the past ten years Keen has pushed the envelope in terms of design while continually creating lightweight and durable products for both town and trail. That tradition continues with their new line of CNX shoes, which feature a minimalist design that doesn't compromise on stability or protection.

The latest addition to the CNX line-up is the new Alpha WP, a low-cut shoe that has been built with the multi-sport athlete in mind.  It features a lightweight midsole and contoured arch support that allow these shoes to feel much sturdier than their 12 ounce (340 gram) weight would normally imply. The Alpha has a unique, flexible sole that keeps your feet in tune with the surface yet still provides plenty of comfort and protection. In keeping with Keen's typical high standards, the shoes are also very durable, brushing off all kinds of punishment while remaining as good looking as if they had just come out of the box.

At first glance, the Alpha resembles a mash-up of a light hiking shoe and a trail runner. Its synthetic upper is soft, lightweight and breathable. It also happens to be waterproof, which lends these shoes a level of versatility that isn't found in many of tis competitors. This combination of properties makes these a great shoe for hitting the trail for just about any kind of activity. While putting my pair of Alphas to the test, I took them hiking on trails of mud and rock, mountain biking and even trail running. In each case, they performed exceptionally well. At the end of each of those activities my feet felt as comfortable as they did when I first set-out. That's no small feat for footwear that weigh so little.



One of my favorite aspects of Keen shoes has always been the fact that there is little to no break-in time. That holds true here as well. Typically I take a new pair of hiking shoes out of the box and wear them while running errands around town for awhile before I actually hit the trail, but when I put the Alphas on for the first time they felt like they were good to go straight out of the box. As a result, I never experienced any kind of abrasions or blistering while wearing these shoes, even when I hiked a substantial number of miles in them on hot Texas trails.

As mentioned, these shoes are waterproof and feature Keen's proprietary Keen.dry technology. At the heart of that system is a breathable membrane that manages to keep moisture out while also allowing heat and vapor from inside the shoe to escape. This is an extremely effective system as the shoes managed to keep my feet nice and dry while crossing streams but also kept them from getting too warm during the heat of the day. When paired with a lightweight hiking sock, these shoes are perfect for just about any conditions.

Many of Keen's shoes have a styling that makes them work well both on the trail or in casual settings around town. The design of the Alpha definitely lean more towards the trail however, although I still found plenty of reasons to wear them in an urban setting where they performed equally well. Because they are lightweight and easy to pack, they also make great shoes for the active traveler, where versatility and performance are greatly appreciated.

If you're in the market for a pair of shoes that can serve you equally well on local trails – both on foot and on a bike – or while trekking in remote locations on the other side of the planet, the Keen Alpha WP is a great option. These lightweight, comfortable and durable, not to mention waterproof, shoes are a great investment for the active outdoor enthusiast who doesn't want to break the bank. Keen has priced these shoes at $130, which seems like quite the bargain for a footwear that is this easy to like.