Video: Felix Baumgartner's Space Jump Like You've Never Seen it Before!

In October of 2012, we were all mesmerized by Felix Baumgartner's amazing skydive from the edge of space. At the time, it was amazing to watch the entire event unfold in real time, with footage being streamed back to Earth. It is still just as compelling to watch the jump unfold today. But now, we have a new video that shows us that record setting skydive as we've never it before. This footage was captured by several GoPro cameras that were affixed directly to Felix as he fell through the atmosphere, giving us his perspective for the first time. It is amazing stuff to be sure.

Second Annual Trail Running Conference Coming to Estes Park, Colorado

The very lovely Estes Park, Colorado will play host to the second annual Estes Trail Ascent Conference later this year, bringing trail runners from across the country together for three days of activities. The event is scheduled to take place October 9-11, with October 12 dedicated to racing on local trails.

The conference as a very successful launch last year, and in 2014 organizers are looking to expand on that momentum. The first day of the event, Thursday, October 9, will be specifically geared towards race directors who want to share ideas for running more successful events. The following two days, October 10-11, will be open to the athletes themselves, with plenty of seminars and panel discussions on how to improve performance and get more enjoyment out of the sport. And while the conference officially wraps up on that Saturday, there are already plans for a number of trail runs to take place on Sunday, October 12.

The Estes Trail Ascent is looking to position itself as strategic planning event for promoting trail running across the entire U.S. The sport is growing in popularity and event organizers hope to capitalize on that growth in order to continue to push it to new heights. With that in mind, this year they have partnered with Trail Runner Magazine to not only promote the conference but also the activity.

Even though the event is still months off, you can still find plenty of details about what will happen in Estes Park this October. Check out a preliminary schedule of events, a list of the  types of speakers that will be there, and more. Those details will fill in further as the date draws near, but this will give you an idea if this is the kind of even you'll want to attend.

I'm glad to see that last year's Trail Ascent was a success and organizers are bring it back for another go. Hopefully it will continue to grow and become a premiere trail running event in the U.S.

Video: Cinedrones are Awesome!

Recently I've mentioned a few times how I think the use of drones in adventure filmmaking is going to change the craft forever. The video below is dedicated to that vary thing, showing us how these little flying camera platforms can deliver amazing results. This is really fun and interesting stuff to be sure.

CINEDRONES ARE AWESOME from ANTIMEDIA on Vimeo.

Antarctica 2013: In the Shadow of Robert Falcon Scott

The end of the Antarctic expedition season draws near, and soon we will close the book on what has been a very active few months on the frozen continent. All of the teams have departed now, save the Scott Expedition, who continue to press on towards their finish line. They should wrap things up in about another week, but before then they must pass through the shadow of the namesake, as they approach the final resting spot of Robert Falcon Scott and the infamous One Ton Depot.

Ben Saunders and Tarka L'Herpiniere have now been out on the ice for an astounding 99 days. Their journey from the Ross Ice Shelf to the South Pole, and back again, will go down in history as one of the longest Antarctic expeditions ever. Traveling on foot, these two men have already covered hundreds of miles across a frozen expanse that tests them mentally and physically at ever turn. As of now, they have just 174 miles (280 km) to go before they are through. At their current pace, that should allow them to finish up by the end of next week.

Yesterday, the two explorers reached their final cache, which means they now have plenty of food and fuel to see them through to the end. In fact, for the first time in a long while, they have enough food with them to actually have double rations. Their bodies will probably appreciate getting more calories after weeks of subsisting on very few.


Today, the boys will pass by the final resting spot of Captain Scott and his men. As you probably already know, back in 1911-1912 Scott and his crew were in a race with Norwegian Roald Amundsen to see which team would be the first to the South Pole. Amundsen won the competition, besting Scott by a few weeks. On the return trip, the British explorer and his men suffered mightily, before ultimately perishing in their tent while stranded by a blizzard that lasted for nine days. They were just 11 miles away from what would have been a life saving supply cache, the aforementioned One Ton Depot.

That is the kind of history that looms over the trail for Ben and Tarka today. They should ski past the place where Scott and his men died, as well as the location of their supply cache today. This expedition has given them even more respect for what the Scott team endured on their polar march, and I'm sure they'll be a bit quiet and solemn today as they follow the footsteps of history.

While they are exhausted and ready to be done with their journey, their spirits have been lifted by the addition of their new food supplies and the promise of reaching the end of their expedition. With a week to go, it appears that they will have succeeded wildly.

Gear Closet: Cocoon Merino Wool Mummy Liner

A good sleeping bag liner is one of the most useful pieces of gear that you can have in your gear closet. Not only does it allow you to add extra warmth to your bag, but it'll do so without breaking the bank in the process. Having a bag liner at your disposal can keep you from buying another sleeping bag, both for cold and warm weather situations. 

If you're in the market for a new sleeping bag liner, Cocoon has a wide variety of options to choose from. They have liners made of silk, fleece, cotton, flannel and even microfiber.  But if you want the absolute best of the bunch, then check out their Merino wool Mummy Liner, which offers warmth, breathability, and unbelievable comfort. 

For those who aren't familiar with sleeping bag liners, they seamlessly slide inside your existing bag, adding extra layer of insulation. Each type of fabric delivers a different type of performance. For instance, the silk version packs down to a small size, provides a few degrees of extra warmth and responds well to changing temperatures. Cotton, on the other hand, is machine washable, very durable and breathes nicely. Merino wool offers most of those qualities and and a few of its own.

As the names implies, the Cocoon's Merino wool Mummy Liner is shaped nicely to fit inside your mummy sleeping. That includes a nicely rounded top to fit inside your bag's hood without bunching up in the process. 

Cocoon says that the Mummy Liner will add approximately 7ºC or 12. 6ºF to any sleeping bag that it is added to. That's a substantial amount of extra warmth out of a product that doesn't add much weight to your backpack, and could potentially keep you from actually buying another sleeping bag for your outdoor adventures. Want to take that cool weather bag on a winter camping trip? Just add a bag liner and you're good to go. 

Using Merino wool in this particular liner was definitely an inspired choice. Not only is that particular fabric soft and comfortable, it also happens to be very warm. On top of that, it breathes very well, making it easy to regulate temperature throughout a long nights sleep. Merino wool also happens to have natural qualities that keep it from holding on to unwanted smells, which can come in handy on extended backpacking trips. 

This particular liner is comfortable enough that it can even be used on its own in warmer weather. The Merino wool is incredibly soft against the skin, and because of its natural ability to breathe, it works great as an extremely lightweight stand-alone sleeping bag for summer camping trips. When camping in environments that are too warm for a traditional sleeping, bag, you can pair this liner with a sleeping pad, and get a good night's sleep without overheating. 

Putting this liner to the test, I came away impressed with a couple of things. First, the Merino wool is very durable, resisting tears and abrasions, and coming away unscathed, even after using it on a couple of camping trips. I also appreciated how stretchy the fabrics were, making it easy to sleep without feeling to restricted. 

If you're an ultralight traveler or hiker who counts every ounce, there are other options available that are both smaller and lighter weight. At 495 grams (17.4 ounces), this is a rather heavy bag liner compared to some of the other options in the Cocoon line-up. When placed inside of its included stuff sack, it also carries a larger footprint than some of the other options as well. But it does deliver on the promise of 12+ extra degrees of warmth, and a super-comfortable nights sleep. If those are qualities you find that you need while backpacking, then this Mummy liner is perfect for your needs. 

At $99.95, the liner isn't the most affordable option on the market. But it does happen to offer some of the best performances you'll find anywhere. Merino wool is one of the best fabrics available for use in our outdoor adventures, and I am happy to see it migrate from clothing, to other products as well. 

Video: Exploring Ireland's Donegal Region

Ireland's remote Donegal region, located in the remote northeast section of the country, is home to some amazing landscapes, including a series of impressive sea stacks just off the coastline. Over the past few years, climber Iain Miller has been exploring the region and climbing those stacks, while documenting his adventures online. He has even created a series of YouTube videos to better show off the area. The one below will give you sense of what Donegal has to offer, and I have to say, it looks like quite a destination.

Video: Dave Cornthwaite's Expedition 1000 Project

If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you've no doubt seen me mention Dave Cornthwaite and his Expedition 1000 project on more than one occasion. The concept is a simple one: Dave wants to undertake a series of expeditions, covering 1000 miles (1609 km) or more, completely under his own power. He's already been successful at a number of those expeditions and he is always planning his next one too. The beautiful and inspiring video below shares the philosophy behind Expedition 1000 – where it came from and where it is going. It also gives us a glimpse at some of the things Dave has accomplished so far on his amazing adventures.

Dave isn't letting up however. Later this year he has a 2000 mile recumbent bike ride through Chile's Atacama Desert scheduled and another 1000 mile non-motorized expedition in Europe as well. After that, it'll be 2000 miles of kitesurfing in Brazil.

At this point, I'm not sure if he ever stops moving.

Dave Cornthwaite's Expedition1000 from davecornthwaite on Vimeo.

Winter Climbs 2014: Daniele Nardi In Nanga Base Camp

As expected, the weather has taken a turn for the worse on Nanga Parbat, at least on the Rupal Face. And while teams on that side of the mountain seek shelter back in Base Camp, Italian Daniele Nardi has begun the all important acclimatization process as he starts his solo, alpine style ascent along the Diamir Route.

Nardi arrived in BC on Tuesday and  immediately went to work constructing his campsite, which he is sharing with a few porters and support staff. He indicates that the weather on his side of the mountain is good, although there is lots of snow on the ground. All of that powder made it a challenge just to get to Base Camp, but it seems conditions are good at that point.

Yesterday he donned a pair of skis and began traveling up the mountain. It was just an up-and-back to test his legs and lungs while scouting the route ahead. There is heavy snow on the upper slopes as well, but Nardi is prepared for those conditions. It is winter after all. With his first acclimatization hike out of the way, he will likely go back up today. The weather forecast indicates that high winds and more snow is in the forecast for the next few days, so he'll likely be back in BC and getting comfortable there through the weekend.


Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain, the North Face team of Simone Moro, David Göttler and Emilio Previtali are all back in Base Camp following an acclimatization rotation that took Simone and David up to Camp 3, located at 6800 meters (22,309 ft). They fixed ropes nearly to the Mazeno Ridge, and now that milestone location is within easy reach over the next few days, provided the weather cooperates.

Simone indicates that the route is very ice this year, making for a more difficult and technical climb than they have seen in the past. There are sections of the mountain that are vary treacherous, particularly when the winds increase, as they are expected to do this weekend.

For there part, the Polish Justice For All team is pressing ahead with their plan of attack too, which could include an attempt on the summit early next week. They have built an intermediate camp between C2 and C3, where they can rest while working their way through the more technical sections of the climb.

The Poles intend to push up to 7000 meters (22,965 ft) and dig a snow cave to help shelter than from the high winds that are expected to hit on Sunday. The forecast says those winds could exceed 100 km/h (62 mph) but once the storm passes, there is a period of relative calm in the days ahead. The Polish team would like to be in position to make a summit push right after the winds subside, so if possible, they intend to bivouac in the snow cave, then make an immediate summit push right after. Whether or not they'll be able to pull that off remains to be seen.

The stage is now set on Nanga Parbat. All of the climbers are now on the mountain and there are possible summit attempts to come next week. But this mountain won't be tamed easily, and the weather remains a wild card as always. We'll just have to wait and watch to see if the first winter ascent will come this season.

Gear Closet: Tigra Bike Console Power Plus Smartphone Mount

Over the past few years, our smartphones have become central to just about every aspect of our lives. They help keep us in contact with friends and family, they keep us connected to the web and social media, and they even provide plenty of entertainment on the go. These high tech gadgets have also become integral to our workout routines, offering us ways to map our running and cycling routes, tracking our performance over time, and sharing our results with others. In short, they can be wonderful tools for a wide variety of activities.

Cyclists in general have embraced the use of smartphones, tapping into a wide variety of apps that give realtime information about a variety of performance features. In fact, a good smartphone with the right software, can completely replace the traditional cycling computer, putting far more information at your fingertips, on a much larger screen that is easy to read while on the go. A good handlebar mount is essential however, and when it comes to holding your expensive electronic device in place, you certainly don't want to choose one that is subpar. Enter the Bike Console Power Plus from Tigra. It is protective case that packs a lot of features into a well built package.

The Bike Console comes with everything you need to quickly and securely fasten it to the handlebars of your bike. It only takes a couple of minutes to get the mount into place, and the sturdy, well built case then locks into place with a snap. Once there, it keeps your smartphone close at hand, making it easy to interact with, even while riding. The mount even allows the cyclist to rotate the case 360º, allowing apps to switch between portrait and landscape modes for more versatility.


The case itself is durable and solid, providing plenty of protection for the device inside. The flexible screen cover allows the user to still interact with his or her phone using its traditional touch interface. That allows you to launch your favorite apps,  interact with the music player, answer phone calls, and read text messages or emails. Tigra says that the screen protector provides up to 90% sensitivity when using the touch screen on the phone, which translated to no noticeable difference when using the case with my iPhone 4S. The case also provides easy access to your phone's Home and Sleep buttons, and is built to allow use of the camera as well.

When sealed up tight, the case becomes both water and shock proof, providing even more protection for the smartphone inside. Should you find you're caught in an unexpected rainstorm during a ride, your phone will remain very safe inside this case. It will also prevent damage from being dropped, and the double locks that seal it tight will ensure that it won't accidentally spring open, sending the device skipping across the sidewalk.

As is, the bike console is a great way to safely attach your smartphone to your bike. But, this particular version of the case actually has yet another great feature for cyclists. It includes a built-in 1100 mAh battery, which can add 50% to the life span of your phone. That may not sound like it is particularly a lot, but means that you can go on a long ride, use your phone along the way, and still get back home with a decent charge in place. Besides, if you're using GPS to track your progress, that service can put a real hit on your overall battery life.

With apps like Map My Ride and Cycle Tracker Pro at your fingertips, navigating your routes or tracking your performance on the bike is now more fun and interesting than ever. The Bike Console Power Plus smartphone mount make it simple to use those apps (not to mention thousands of others) putting all the functionality of your smartphone right at your finger tips. It also provides plenty of extra protection for your expensive gadget while riding, which is never a bad thing. The fact that it brings more battery life along for the ride as well, is just icing on the cake.

The Bike Console Power Plus carries a price tag of $89.99, which strikes me as a relative bargain for everything that it delivers to cyclists. If you're looking for a durable, versatile smartphone mount for your cycling adventures, than I'd whole heartedly recommend this product. It is an excellent way to extend the use of your smartphone while on a ride.

Video: End-to-End on the Pacific Crest Trail in 7 Minutes!

The Pacific Crest Trail is one of the greatest long distance hikes anywhere in the world. Stretching for more than 2600 miles (4185 km) from the U.S. border with Mexico to the border with Canada, the PCT passes through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the western United States. But not all of us have the time to walk it ourselves, which is where this video comes in handy. It allows you to see the trail, end-to-end, in just seven minutes, using three-second clips the entire way. After watching it, you'll probably want to hike it yourself even more.

The Pacific Crest Trail (Three Second Thru-Hike) from Halfway Anywhere on Vimeo.

Video: TravelSmith Travel Tips #4 - How To Travel Wallet Safe

Adventure travel guru Richard Bangs returns again this week with yet another video sharing tips on how to travel safer and smarter. This time out, Richard tells us how to travel "wallet safe," which is to say he gives some pointers on preventing us from getting permanently separated from the contents of said wallet while exploring a foreign country. He even shares a tale of his own, in which he learned a valuable lesson about keeping credit cards, cash and other valuables close at hand.

Walking The Nile Update: Into Uganda

It has been awhile since we checked in with Levison Wood, the British explorer who is walking the length of the Nile River in Africa. The journey began back on December 3rd, and Wood has been making steady progress through often challenging and difficult conditions. Starting at the furthest source of the river, located in the highlands of Rwanda and Burundi, the trek will eventually cover more than 4000 miles (6440 km) and require a year to complete, making it one of the most amazing expeditions in recent memory.

Currently, Lev is in Uganda, where he has been enjoying a bit of downtime in the capital city of Kampala. There, he has found himself to be a bit of a celebrity, and had a very nice welcome party a few days back. He even received a ritual blessing from one of the more well-known local witch doctors, that was performed to keep him safe and give him strength on his journey.

Wood has now been joined on his expedition by a local Ugandan man named Boston. He has been traveling with the Brit for some time, and was reunited with his family when they arrived in Kampala as well. It isn't clear how long Boston will continue to walk with Lev, but his addition to the expedition reminds me a bit of Cho, the constant companion of Ed Stafford, the explorer who walked the Amazon a few years ago.

Wood and Boston have now completed the first 1000km (621 miles) of the walk, which means they still have a very long way to go before they reach the Nile Delta in the Mediterranean Sea. They are expected to attend a large festival in the town of Jinja this weekend before returning to the trail next week to resume the walk. After they leave Uganda, they'll face the uncertainty of travel in South Sudan, where political upheaval and old rivalries are making things difficult at the moment. They are still weeks away from crossing the border however, so hopefully things will have quieted down by then, and they'll be able to pass without too much difficulty.

You can follow the Walking the Nile expedition on Twitter, Facebook and on a special Channel 4 page dedicated specifically for the journey. Lev is posted regular updates, with good information from the field. It should be a lot of fun to follow along with his progress.

Is it More Important to be Mentally or Physically Tough For Everest?

The spring Everest season may still be a couple of months off, but it is approaching rapidly at the moment. In order to get us ready for the start of what should be another interesting and exciting year on the Big Hill, Alan Arnette continues his pre-season coverage with another excellent blog post about the experience of climbing the tallest mountain on the planet. This time out, he asks the question of whether or not it is more important to be mentally or physically tough.

Alan, who has been on four expeditions to Everest, shares his own personal experiences as he wrestled with the sometimes overwhelming mental and physical challenges. Those experiences helped him to understand what it takes to climb an 8000 meter peak, which goes well beyond simply putting in the work in the gym. He says that it isn't about how strong you are, but about how well prepared.

He also talks about how important it is to keep your body in balance when climbing at higher altitudes. It is a precarious equilibrium with not pushing yourself too hard that you kill your chances of reaching the summit, but still moving at a fast enough pace to safely make it up and down in the allotted time. Your heart and lungs help to keep the body moving, but your mind must overcome self doubt and indecision in order to continue going up.

Everest junkies will find Alan's break down of each stage of an Everest climb to be very interesting. It mentions all of the major milestones of a summit push from the South Side, and indicates the specific challenges that they present. For instance, he says that the trek to Everest Base Camp in the Khumbu Valley is one of the best parts of the climb, as you enjoy a leisurely walk through the Himalaya. But later, when you're on the Lhotse Face, you face a real test of determination in getting up that impossibly vertical wall. He offers similar insights on the Khumbu Icefall, the Western Cwm, the South Col and all of he other important steps up to the summit.

We're now about two months away from the start of the teams gathering in Kathmandu. At this point, most are still working on their physical and mental training ahead of the start of their expeditions. Alan's blog postings leading up to the beginning of the season continue to bring excellent insights into what an Everest climb is all about, and while most of us will never be able to attempt such a climb for ourselves, we can get a better understanding of what the climbers go through in these stories.

Video: Banff in Timelapse

All you really need to know about this video is that it is a timelapse set in Canada's Banff National Park, one of the most beautiful settings on the planet. Enjoy!

Timelapse: Banff National Park from Roadtrippers on Vimeo.

Video: Above the Noise in Two Minute

Adventure filmmaker Sean Anderson created a fantastic mountain biking video called "Above the Noise" which not only looks great, but captures some fantastic elements of that sport that we enjoy so much. If you get the chance, you should watch the full film, but if not, you can get a taste of it in the video below, which gives us a glimpse in just two short minutes.

Above the Noise in 2 minutes from Sean Anderson on Vimeo.

Winter Climbs 2014: Patience and Perseverence On Nanga Parbat

As is always the case with a big winter climb, the teams on Nanga Parbat have had to use patience and perseverance so far. The weather dictates when they can move and when they must take shelter, and while conditions were good early on, they have fluctuated wildly since then. At the moment, the weather is good by winter standards, but things are expected to change over the next few days, forcing the climbers to return to Base Camp and wait for another window.

The Polish Justice for All team has reported in for the first time in awhile. They indicate that things are good there, but overcast skies have made it difficult to use their solar panels for recharging the batteries on their various devices, including their laptops. While they've been under a media blackout, they have continued to work the route however, and have now cached their gear at 5800 meters (19,028 ft). As part of the acclimatization rotations, several of the team members have even been has high as 6400 meters (20,997 ft) as they get use to the altitude. The Poles also indicate that they have been doing most of the rope fixing so far, with just a little help from the smaller, but very experienced, North Face team, who put in 200 meters of line along a very crucial section leading up to the 6400 meter mark.

The team now has Camp 2 established and is shuttling more gear to that point. They hope to have C3 built soon as well, and were hoping to climb up to 7000 meters (22,965 ft), but weather conditions have turned them back for now.  Steady snowfall in recent days, with more in the forecast, means that they'll have to be more careful as they go up.


Meanwhile, the North Face team hasn't posted a status update in more than a week, which followed Simone Moro and David Göttler acclimatization rotation to C2. ExWeb is reporting that they went back up the mountain on Sunday and are back in C2 today. Tomorrow, they will attempt to reach Camp 3, weather permitting. If that happens, they'll try to cache gear and supplies there and may even spend the night, provided the weather window remains open long enough.

Finally, ExWeb is also saying that Italian solo climber Daniele Nardi is still en route to Nanga, but should arrive in BC on the Diamir face tomorrow. He is being escorted to that point by armed guards i an effort to ensure safety for foreign visitors following the massacre that took place in Base Camp last summer. Once he has established his camp, and acclimatized some, he'll make an alpine style ascent of he mountain.

Remember, each of these teams is attempting to make history. Nanga Parbat is one of two 8000 meter peaks that has yet to be climbed in the winter, the other being K2. Conditions on the mountain have been good so far, but with a little less than two months to go in winter, the worst weather is probably yet to come. Still, if things remain consistent, one or all of these teams has a shot at reaching the summit.

Stay tuned for more updates soon.

Yet More Gear From Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2014

The Outdoor Retailer Winter Market came to an end this past weekend, bringing to conclusion the unveiling of another round of amazing gear that we'll all be clamoring for in a few months time. While the bi-annual gear-fest is now behind us, the previews of the what was revealed there continue to pop up. If you haven't gotten your fill of gear news lately, check out these options:

The Gear Junkie always has excellent coverage from OR, and this winter edition was no different. The GJ crew have revealed their choices for the Best in Show, with some fantastic products getting the nod. For instance, they liked the new North Face Origami jacket, which is impressively cut from a single piece of cloth. They also liked the Black Diamond Jetforce avalanche survival system and the Outdoor Research Lucent heated gloves, amongst other items. This is only part 1 of the Gear Junkie's "Best in Show" winners, so expect more to be posted soon.

Trailspace continued their excellent coverage of the show right through the final day. They posted not one, but two Day Three previews. The first gives us their take on a new headlamp from Princeton Tec, new mittens from Outdoor Research, and yet another look at the North Face Uno jacket. The second preview gives us a glimpse of women's apparel from Black Diamond, snowshoes from Easton, and packs from Lowe Alpine.

That ought to quench your gear-thirst for a few months. The Outdoor Retailer Summer Market is just seven months away!

Video: Climbing and BASE Jumping in the Cirque of the Unclimbables

The Cirque of the Unclimbables is a region of impressive rock towers located in Canada's Northwest Territories, where climbers and BASE Jumpers Tim Emmett and Sean Leary went to try their luck on a peak known as the Lotus Flower Tower. Their aim was to both climb and fly from the top of that mountain. The video below chronicles that expedition and gives us a glimpse of this spectacular, but seldom mentioned, climbing area.


The Cirque of The Unclimbable's from Chad Copeland on Vimeo.

Video: Mega From Behind - Finishing Last In An Intense Downhill Mountain Bike Race

The Megavalanche is an incredible mountain bike race down Alpe d'Huez in France during the middle of winter. The cyclists have to deal with snow, ice and slick conditions on their way to the bottom, which causes all kinds of issues, as I'm sure you can imagine. In the video below, filmmaker Ralf Schupp sets out to finish the Mega last. As you'll see, he is in no hurry to join the furious start and he makes his way down the mountain in cautious fashion. Along the way, he stops to talk to other racers to learn about their experiences and what has caused them to drop from the race. Its a fun video for a crazy event for sure.

Mega From Behind - Alpe d´Huez from Ralf Schupp - thesureshot.tv on Vimeo.

Video: The Ibis Expedition - In Search Of The Ultimate Sleep

The video below is in reality a commercial for Ibis Hotels and a promotion they are having for finding the "Ultimate Sleep." But, it is also a rather funny and clever spot that shows adventurers out in the wild, where they are attempting to sleep at the top of a mountain. It is all rather tongue in cheek, but enjoyable none the less. At the end, the video points to ibis-expedition.com, although there doesn't really seem to be much going on there at the moment, other than a beautiful shot of Roraima, the "Devil's Mountain" in the video. Maybe there is more to this promotion to come.

IBIS EXPEDITION - Ultimate Sleep [TRAILER] from The Skeeto Lounge on Vimeo.

Video: The Scott Expedition Celebrates 90 Days In Antarctica

Speaking of the Scott Expedition, here's a video they released to commemorate passing three months out on the ice. It is a series of still photos that they've taken over the course of their journey, and it gives us all a good idea of what conditions are like in the Antarctic. Three months is a long time to be spent traveling anywhere, but on the frozen continent, that has to be an eternity.

Antarctica 2013: And Then There Was One...

The Antarctic expedition season is nearing an end, and soon travel across the frozen continent will become even more difficult than it currently is. While most of the teams have wrapped up their projects and have headed home, we still have one expedition that continues to push on to the end. But the finish line is nearly in sight now, and it looks like the most ambitious undertaking of the season will be a major success.

Ben Saunders and Tarka L'Herpiniere, the two blokes who collectively make up the Scott Expedition, continue to set small goals for themselves as they keep pushing forward on their return trip to their starting point at the Scott Hut out on the Ross Ice Shelf. They currently estimate that they have about ten days left on their journey, although judging from the distance they have yet to cover, I'd say it is closer to 11-12 days. That means they should be wrapping up sometime near the end of next week. Currently they have been out on the ice for 95 days, and they have endured just about everything that Antarctica can throw at them. Now, they are eager to be done, but still have quite a few miles yet to cover.

As of yesterday, there were 271.2 miles (436.4 km) to go until they are done. Currently they are averaging about 24 miles (38 km) per day, hence the reason it will possibly take them longer than ten days to wrap things up. They continue to pick-up supplies from their various caches on the way back, so they seem to have plenty of food and fuel to see them through to the end. The real difficulty comes from their exhausted bodies and minds. Three months out on the ice has certainly taken its toll.


Ben and Tarka have been following in the footsteps of the tragic Robert Falcon Scott. Back in 1911-1912, Scott was locked in a race with Norwegian rival Roald Amundsen to see who would be the first to reach the South Pole. Amundsen eventually won that race, although Scott arrived at 90ºS a few weeks behind. On the return trip, things took a turn for the worse, and Captain Scott, along with his four companions, all died along the way. The purpose of the Scott Expedition was to trace the same route as the famous polar explorer and complete the journey that he was never able to do.

For the most part, they will be successful in that endeavor. Ben and Tarka have skied every mile of that expedition and will finish a journey that is more than a century overdue. Starting at the Ross Ice Shelf, they were able to reach the South Pole, which was the halfway point of their journey. With little time to rest, they then turned around and started skiing back to the start. Along the way, they did receive a single resupply along their way, which Scott wouldn't have had the luxury of in his day. Other than that, they have been able to do something that many thought wasn't possible.

The Scott Expedition isn't quite done yet however and there are still nearly two weeks to go before they return to their starting point. I'll continue to follow their progress and post updates right up until they reach the finish line at last.

Win An "Expedition" To Brazil

Ever wanted to visit Brazil? If so, the very tasty Fogo de Chão restaurant has you covered. The company is giving away a trip to your choice of four destinations within the country, which is sure to be abuzz with World Cup fever later this summer.

Dubbed Expedition Brazil, entrants in the competition can choose between the Brasilia Cultural Tour (cultural, historical and architectural tours of the capital city), Big City Exploration (activities in and around São Paulo), Rio Beach Vacation (sun and surf in Rio!) and Traditional Gaucho Experience (cowboy tradition Brazil style).

To enter, just visit the Expedition Brazil website and select the adventure you'd most like to go on. Then fill out the form, telling Fogo why you deserve to go on that particular trip. Then rally your troops over social media, getting them to "like" your submission. The number of "likes" will factor into the the final decision. Once they've selected three finalists, there will be a final vote online to determine the winner. That person will than share their adventure with video, photos and more.

Each one of these trips would be a great way to see Brazil, although I have to say that I'm surprised they didn't offer an option to visit the Amazon as well. If I had to chose from one of these four options, I'd go with the Gaucho experience. Horseback riding in Brazil's cattle country, a Gaucho rodeo, and similar activities sound the most adventurous to me. Then again, hanging out on a beach in Rio wouldn't be bad either.

The contest runs through Feb. 16, so hurry and get your submission in. The extra voting time may come in handy. Good luck!

Video: Aerial Shots From The Okavango Delta

One of my dream destinations that I haven't gotten the chance to visit just yet is the Okavango Delta in Botswana. The video below was shot in that amazing place using just a GoPro Hero3 camera mounted on a DJI Phantom quadcopter drone. I truly believe that personal drones are going to revolutionize the way we make adventure films, and this footage is a perfect example. The wildlife on display here is fantastic, and many of the shots would have been tough, far more expensive, to capture without the Phantom. Really cool stuff.

Aerials from the Okavango Delta, Botswana from Symbio Studios on Vimeo.

Video: Climbing The Monte Rosa Chain

Last summer, mountaineer (and Adventure Blog reader) Marc Lambert traveled to the Italian Alps to do some climbing along the Monte Rosa Chain, a series of mountains that top out at 4634 meters (15,203 ft). Marc was kind enough to share some video footage from his adventure, which featured some scary looking knife-edge ridges along the way up to a series of summits. There are definitely some beautiful views to be seen here, but if you get queasy just at the thought of steep drop offs, you may want to pass.

Congratulations to Marc on a job well done and thanks for sharing the video mate!

Video: TravelSmith Travel Tips #3 - How To Hold Onto Your Luggage

With 843 passport stamps to his name, Richard Bangs knows a thing or two about travel. That's what makes his new travel tips video series so useful and interesting. This time out, we get some tips on how to keep tabs on our luggage, what to put on your luggage tags, and how to keep your bags secure while traveling. Good tips from a man who has made more trips than just about any of us.

Adventurers Reach The Pole Of Cold

Back in November I wrote an article about a team of three adventurers who were setting out on one epic road trip. That team included veteran polar explorer Felicity Aston, filmmaker Manu Palomeque and mechanic Gisli Jonsson, who at the time had just left the U.K. on a drive to the "Pole of Cold," which is defined as the coldest inhabited place on the planet. Now, more than two months after setting, out, the team has finally achieved that objective, having just arrived Oymyakon, a remote village in Northeast Siberia.

In order to reach the Pole of Cold, Felicity, Manu and Gisli drove more than 20,000 km (12,427 miles) through a variety of terrain that ranged from extremely well maintained highways to barely-there backcountry roads. Traveling in a Land Rover Defender, they were able to comfortably carry all of their gear and supplies, without fear of being hampered by the conditions. The Defender has a legendary background for use on off road expeditions, and it continues to show its worth today.

The team arrived in Oymyakon on Wednesday, but that point is far from the end of the actual journey. On the contrary, the Pole of Cold is actually just the halfway point. They will now travel back to their starting point at the Royal Geographical Society in London, albeit along a more southerly route. It is still the dead of winter in Siberia however, so they will face many of the same challenges along the way back to the U.K. as they have in the first half of their expedition.

You can follow along with their progress on the Pole of Cold website or on Facebook, where they are posting regular updates and photos from the field.

Personally, I think a journey like this one would be fantastic. What a great way to explore Europe and Asia. If anyone wants to loan me a Land Rover Defender, I'll be happy to report on my journeys as well! :)

More Gear From Winter Outdoor Retailer

Yesterday I posted a gear preview from the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, giving us a glimpse of new products that we'll all be wanting to add to our equipment sheds come next fall. Today, we have even more interesting gear to lust after, as manufacturers continue to unveil what they'll be offering in the months ahead.

First up, we have Outside magazine's picks for the best gear of the show, giving us their selection of five items that really stood out from the crowd. An innovative new jacket from the North Face earned a spot on Outside's list, as did an avalanche airbag from Black Diamond. A new fitness tracker from JayBird also gets a nod, as does the new energy-generating cook stove from BioLite. Scarpa's new ski boot rounds out the winners.

Our friends at Trailspace have posted a nice round-up of their second day at the show, giving us a first look at new ski packs from Osprey, Deuter and Gregory. They also share thoughts on new shoes from La Sportiva and various other great outdoor gear.

The OR gear show will go on for another couple of days, with plenty more to be revealed. Watch for a couple more "best of show" reports to come, with some thoughts on all the outstanding new products in our future.

Video: Into The Cave Of Wonders

There are two buzzwords we're hearing a lot about these days in terms of filmmaking (three if you count drones!). Those buzzwords include 4K and HDR. 4K shoots video at resolutions higher than HD, while High Dynamic Range video (and photography) captures colors in brighter, more saturated fashions. The result is an ultra-realistic looking video that has to be seen to be believed.

The filmmakers behind the video below used both 4K and HDR in the production of their short documentary entitled Into the Cave of Wonders. The results are pretty spectacular, as you'll see when you view the 9 minute clip. And before anyone asks, yes, the Cave of Wonders does exist. It is located in southern Spain near the town of Aracena. It is also open to the public, so start planning your visit soon.

Into the Cave of Wonders [4k HDR short documentary] from LovetheFrame on Vimeo.

Video: Falling and Flying - A BASE Jumping Review Of 2013

This video holds the appropriate title of "Falling and Flying" as it follows filmmaker Charley Kurlinkus on a years worth of BASE jumping activities that includes wingsuits, paragliding and giant rope swings in some fairly impressive settings. It isn't intended for those who have a fear of flying. Or falling for that matter. Proceed with caution.

2013 Falling and Flying from Charley Kurlinkus on Vimeo.

Winter Climbs 2014: Poor Weather Descends On Nanga Parbat

The winter climbing seasons is progressing quickly,  and the teams in Pakistan attempting the first ascent of Nanga Parbat have already spent more than a month on the mountain. As is usual with a winter climb, weather dictates when progress can be made, and until recently that weather had been fairly cooperative. But things have taken a turn for the worse at the moment, putting the climbers back in Base Camp, where they wait patiently for an opportunity to resume their expeditions.

The North Face team of Simone Moro, David Göttler and Emilio Previtali have been making solid progress on the mountain thus far. Simone and David have shuttled gear up to Camp 2 last week when the weather was good, and spent a few nights at altitude acclimatizing to the thin air. They had hoped to go as high as 7000 meters (22,965 ft), although it seems that they weren't quite able to reach that point. Still, they seem pleased with the work they have put in so far, and with just under two months to go in the winter, they aren't watching the clock too much just yet.

David granted an interview to German adventure sport journalist Stefan Nestler, during which he shared some thoughts on the climb so far. He indicated that he and Simone had gone as high as 6400 meters (20,997 ft) in their last acclimatization rotation, but they were forced to return to BC with the onset of poor weather. David also noted that his team is getting along great with the Polish squad they are sharing Base Camp with. Both units have been sharing intel and the duties of installing the fixed ropes up the slope.

Speaking of the Poles, their Justice For All team hasn't made an update in awhile, but ExWeb says that most of the team has gone up to 6100 meters (20,013 ft), with one member even spending some time in C2. Much like the TNF squad, they are acclimatizing as best they can while carrying gear up the slopes, and always keeping an eye on the weather. The forecast indicates that it will remain bad through  the weekend, with a potential window opening at the start of next week.

Meanwhile, Italian climber Daniele Nardi has arrived in Pakistan and is making his way towards Nanga Parbat. He'll attempt a solo, alpine style ascent along the Diamir Face, which means he won't be sharing BC with the other teams. That side of the mountain is reportedly quite unstable this year, but Daniele will give it a go none the less. Hopefully he'll be safe during his stay on the mountain.

That's all for now. We'll be keeping an eye on developments on Nanga Parbat in the days and weeks ahead. This could be the year that someone finally climbs the "Killer Mountain" during the winter.

Winter Outdoor Retailer 2014: New Gear For Cold Weather Adventures!

It is that time of year again. The Outdoor Retailer Winter Market is underway in Salt Lake City, with gear manufacturers big and small showing off their new products to be released in the months ahead. As the name would imply, most of what is on display at the show is aimed at cold weather activities, although as usual with OR, there is plenty of gear for every outdoor sport.

While I'm not attending Winter OR this year, some of my friends are there and are doing an excellent job of sharing some of their favorite new products. For instance, the TrailSpace team is on hand and has already started posting their highlights from Day 1 of the show. Some of the items that have caught their attention include a new cooking system from a company called Baro that doesn't even need a fire. There are also some great photos of the first jackets coming to the U.S. from Berghaus, a company that has a great reputation in Europe. There are also new jackets coming from Icebreaker and Mountain Hardwear too, with the theme being lighter and warmer. The Trailspace coverage also includes a look at new boots from Keen and Vasque, as well as a new packraft from Klymit. Be sure to "Like" Trailspace on Facebook to get updates throughout the next few days.

Similarly, the GearJunkie is doing is usual bang-up job of covering the new gear as well. The GJ squad takes a look at the latest offering from BioLite, who make stoves that generate electricity from the burning of wood. They also found the new winterized toe shoes from Vibram of interest, as well as Outdoor Research's new high performance heated gloves. The GearJunkie's extensive coverage expands further, taking a peek at solar powered speakers from Goal Zero, a new pack from Dakine, and much, much more.

Expect some other great gear reports over the next few days with lots of attention being shown on the latest and greatest products, most of which won't be available until the Fall of this year. Still, it's great to start dreaming about all of these new items now.

Video: Timelapse From The Valley Of Fire

The Valley of Fire is a  popular state park in Nevada that makes for some dramatic backdrops for photos and video. The short clip below captures those landscapes in timelapse, giving the place an otherworldly feel. I've never been to this park, but I have to say that it looks spectacular. I guess I'll need to start adding great state parks to my list of destinations along with the national parks I love so much.

Goldpaint Photography & eMotimo from Goldpaint Photography on Vimeo.

Video: Paragliding Video Will Make You Believe You Can Fly!

The sensation that comes along with flying is one of the allures of paragliding for sure. But if you're not sure you could ever actually take up the sport, this video may be the next best thing. It gives us some great shots of paragliders doing what they do best, often with some great scenery for the background.

Video: Crisp - A Film About Mountain Biking The Iditarod Trail

Yesterday I posted a video from the 2001 Iditasport adventure race along the Iditarod sled dog trail. In the years since that video was made, the event has morphed into the Iditarod Trail International, which is amongst the most grueling endurance events in the world. Last year, European mountain bikers Ausilia Vistarini and Sebastiano Favaro took on the 1800 km (1100 mile) trail in the dead of winter. It tested their resolve and pushed them to their limits as they rode their bikes through one of the harshest winter environments on the planet. The creative team and Explore MediaLab made a documenter about that experience and the trailer for the film can be found below. It looks amazing.

Thanks to Filippo Salvioni for sharing this with me!

Crisp - Official Trailer from Explore MediaLab on Vimeo.

Antarctica 2013: South Pole Cyclist Finishes Ride

Yesterday I posted a comprehensive round-up on the status of all of the Antarctic expeditions we've been following closely over the past two months. Several of them had reached the South Pole this past weekend, bringing an end to their very long, very hard journeys. But there are still a few out on the ice, struggling to reach their respective finish lines. Another one of the explorers did just that yesterday, setting a new record in the process.

Mountain biker Daniel Burton completed his attempt to ride the entire distance from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole late yesterday. It has been a very difficult journey, and at times it wasn't clear if he would make it, but Daniel persevered when times got really tough and managed to push on, even when the weather, the terrain and his own body threatened to put an end to his expedition.

Along the way, Burton received three resupplies, the last of which he burned through fairly quickly and ended up riding the final 20 miles (32 km) without food. To say that he was happy to have finally reached 90ºS would be a vast understatement. He may have completed his dream of riding to the South Pole, but this is a feat that is far from easy and will certainly be grueling for anyone else to attempt.

Congratulations to Daniel for completing the ride. Hopefully a much deserved rest is in order, preferably some place warm and tropical.


Meanwhile, Daniel isn't the only cyclist to wrap up his expedition. Over the weekend, Juan Menendez Granados accomplished the same feat. He also limped into the Pole with barely any food left in his pack, struggling over the final couple of degrees with fatigue and lack of calories to keep him going. The difference between the accomplishment of these two men is that Juan skied some of the journey, while Daniel rode his bike the entire way. Still, Juan's achievement should not be over looked either, and while I didn't follow him as closely as I would have liked over the past 50 days, congratulations are in order none the less.

Finally, no Antarctic update would be complete without first checking in with the Scott Expedition. Ben and Tarka have now descended from the Beardmore Glacier and are trucking across the Ross Ice Shelf. That means the hardest, most dangerous section of the journey is now behind them and they have their sights set firmly on the finish line back at the Scott Hut along the coast. Their daily distances have increased nicely, yesterday the knocked off 23.6 miles (38 km), and while they've still got 395 miles (635 km) to go before they are done, there does seem to be an air of optimism and energy returning to their updates. It has been a very long and difficult journey for them, but they can see an end in sight, even if it is still a bit of ways off.

In true Antarctic fashion however, the frozen continent found another way to challenge them yesterday. While temperatures were warm by Antarctic standards, they did have to ski for 9 hours in a thick fog, which didn't make for the most enjoyable day out. Still, progress is good and each day brings them closer to home. I'm sure they'll take that.

Soon, the Scott Expedition will be the only team still on the ice. We'll continue to follow them right up until the end. Hang in their guys, not much further to go!

Activists To Launch 15,000 Mile, 5-Month Road Trip To Promote Clean Drinking Water In Americas

Two adventurers are preparing to launch what promises to be an epic road trip adventure across the Americas in an effort to promote clean drinking water initiatives in that part of the world. Later his week, American Paul Cebul and German Steffen Mueller will embark on a five-month long journey that will cross 15 countries and culminate in Rio de Janeiro in time for the World Cup in July.

Cebul and Mueller will set out from Boston on Saturday and begin heading south. Their trip will take them across the U.S., into Mexico and then on into Central America. Eventually, they'll cross over the Panama Canal and move into South America, before eventually reaching Rio around July 13. Along the way, they'll pass through 70 different cities and visit an estimated 65 colleges and universities as they spread their message about the importance of clean drinking water, particularly in developing countries.

The two men are calling their expedition Water for the Americas, and while they have a website set up to support their initiatives, the site doesn't offer a lot of information at this time. Hopefully they'll update it before they hit the road, allowing us to follow their progress and adventures as they go.

Clean drinking water is one of the hot button topics across the globe right now. While most developed nations don't struggle with having water to drink, poorer nations have a difficult time, especially as climate change begins to take its toll on the environment. Cebul and Mueller hope to educate people about this issue, particularly in nations that are being most hard hit.

While I applaud their efforts, this sounds like just an excuse to make a months long road trip to the World Cup. I kid! I kid!

Video: A Thin White Line - A Documentary of the Iditasport Adventure Race

In terms of impressive feats of human endurance, the Iditasport trail race has always been intriguing one. It pits athletes against one another as they travel on bike, skis and foot to follow the entire 1000-mile route of the Iditarod sled dog race. It is a grueling and demanding race, which you'll discover for yourself in this hour-long documentary on the 2001 edition of the race. This is one you'll want to grab a snack and get comfortable for. It is definitely well worth watching!

A Thin White Line from Brüdder on Vimeo.

Video: TravelSmith Travel Tips #2 - How To Prevent Jetlag

A few weeks back I posted the first in a new series of videos in which our friend Richard Bangs shares travel tips that will sure come in handy for any of us who hit the road on a regular basis. In that first video, he shared tips on how to avoid getting the dreaded "traveler's tummy" and in the second video he tells us how to avoid jetlag. If you've ever experienced severe jetlag, you'll appreciate any options that help alleviate the problem. It can be a brutal to overcome, but if you follow Richard's advice you might be able to get through your next bout with out too much trouble.

Video: Champéry Still Rocks!

The Swiss mountain resort of Champéry has a reputation for being one of the best mountain biking destinations in Europe due to its extremely steep course. The video below gives you a taste of what that is like, while also giving you a healthy dose of adrenaline in the process. As you can imagine, the trail is fast, technical and wild. Definitely not for the beginner rider, but it looks like fun!

Champéry still rocks! from Shaperideshoot on Vimeo.

Antarctica 2013: More South Pole Arrivals!

While I took a bit of a long weekend, the teams in Antarctica were busy steaming towards the finish line. As expected, several of those teams reached that mark over the past few days, while others continue to struggle towards their own respective goals. The end of the season is in sight, and soon there will be just one last team battling the elements. The team that started the season will also be the one to end it.

The big news over the weekend is that Lewis Clarke, along with guide Carl Alvey, has reached 90ºS. It took him 48 days to get there, but upon his arrival he achieved his goal of becoming the youngest person to ever ski the full distance to the South Pole. The 16-year old is already on his way back to civilization, and has even booked a speaking engagement in the U.K. for next weekend. That's a pretty ambitious schedule, but I guess he can sleep on the long plane rides he has ahead.

Also reaching 90ºS on Saturday was Chris and Marty Fagan, who limped into the finish line with hardly andy rations to spare. They enjoyed a little quite time at the South Pole station before flying to Union Glacier yesterday with the intention of returning to Chile today. Their journey took 47 days to complete, with the husband and wife team celebrating their achievement together.

Congratulations to these latest explorers to reach the Pole. It is a great accomplishment and an inspiration for those of us who have been following their progress over the past couple of months.


Still out on the ice, is South Pole cyclist Daniel Burton. Daniel is slowly but surely closing in on 90ºS as well, but his last stage of the journey hasn't been an easy one. In addition to wandering off course, both on purpose and unintentionally, he had run out of food until Antarctic legend Hannah McKeand appeared out of nowhere to bring him a resupply. Hannah works for ALE and was sent out to make sure Daniel had enough food to see him to the finish line. As of yesterday, he had 20 miles yet to go to reach that point, and his intention was to ride straight through to the end today. He says his next update will be from the South Pole, so hopefully we'll receive news of his successful arrival soon.

Finally, Ben Saunders and Tarka L'Herpiniere, collectively making up the Scott Expedition, continue to make progress. The duo have now left the Beardmore Glacier behind and have returned to the Ross Ice Shelf. They had hoped that by reaching shelf that things would begin to pick up for them, but they immediately found themselves in a nasty crevasse field, which made for tough (and slow!) going for awhile. After 88 days out on the ice, the boys are ready to be done and headed home. Unfortunately, they still have 418 miles (672 km) to go before they are finished. That's the equivalent of another couple of weeks of travel, which has to be a difficult proposition after nearly three months on the ice.

To help cheer the lads up, Prince Harry, who recently skied to the South Pole as well, sent them an encouraging message. That will certainly help lift their spirits as the press on. It won't be too much longer and they'll be the lone team still in the Antarctic. I'm sure Ben and Tarka will relish their "first to arrive, last to leave" status.

That's all for now. I'll post more updates as we get news on Daniel Burton's finish and other developments in the Antarctic season that is about to end.

Video: Timelapse Of Magic Iceland

A timelapse video of Iceland. Thats all you need to know about the short film below. Those words alone should tell you how beautiful it is. Just hit play and enjoy.

My magic Iceland | Timelapse from MY WORLD MY MAGIC on Vimeo.

Video: Beautiful Light In Victoria, Australia

As I take a bit of a day off here today, I have a few videos queued up for your enjoyment. The first is a stunning timelapse of the shifting light in Victoria, Australia. The video was shot throughout 2013 in numerous places throughout the state, capturing some of its best natural settings in beautiful fashion.

VICTORIAN LIGHT from Daniel Johnson on Vimeo.

FlightNetwork Travel Stories

One of the blogs that I routinely contribute to is the Let's Roll Blog over at FlightNetwork.com, a site that aggregates great deals on airfare. We cover all kinds of travel related topics, which I try to share here from time to time as well. Here's a sampling of what's been posted there recently.

• The 7 Wonders of Canada (According to Canadians Themselves)
• You Should Be Able To Fly In Space In 2014 (If You Can Afford It)
• Massive Africa Road Project Will Change Lives, Make Travel Easier
• 6 Mind-Blowing Adventure Journeys In South America
• Pulse: The Elephants and Epic Adventures Edition

I hope you find some of those interesting, and check back on the blog regularly to see whats new!

Video: IMAX Documentary - Antarctica: An Adventure Of A Different Nature

Looking for a good video to watch this weekend? How about an IMAX documentary on Antarctica? The entire 40-minute film is on YouTube and offers some spectacular footage of the frozen continent. Sure, watching it on a computer monitor or television set isn't the same as seeing it in a giant IMAX theater, but the visuals are pretty stunning none the less.

Video: Hiking Angels Landing In Zion National Park

Angels Landing is easily one of the most popular hiking trails in Zion National Park. The five-mile long route offers stunning views throughout the walk, but the trail is very narrow, making it a fun, but sometimes scary endeavor. The video below gives you a taste of that, as well as a glimpse of what to expect when you visit Zion itself.

Angels Landing from David Lerman on Vimeo.

Video: Adorable Lion Cub Meets GoPro

By now, we all know that the versatile GoPro camera is good in a variety of situations. In the case of this video below, it's for getting very close to lion cubs. This particular GoPro was mounted on a remote controlled vehicle that allowed it to sneak up on a lioness and her young. The result is some great shots of the not-so-big cats, including an adorable close-up of one of the cubs who isn't too happy to see the camera.

Antarctica 2013: South Pole Prepares To Welcome Visitors!

The Antarctic season is drawing to a close as numerous teams now close in on the South Pole. This weekend should be a very busy one at the bottom of the world, where the inhabitants at the research station there are known for giving warm welcomes to those who ski in for a visit. They'll have to put the welcome mat for sure over the next few days, as several teams are now on final approach.

The first arrival to the Pole is Antony Jinman, who reached that point earlier today after 47 days out on the ice. He skied the final 14 nautical miles (26 km) today, and reportedly is in good spirits now that his expedition is done. Antony's 700+ mile (1126 km) journey has had its challenges, just like everyone else, but the Polar vet showed his strength by quietly going about his work, pushing ahead at a steady pace, and completing the journey on the same day that Captain Scott reached the Pole more than 100 years ago. Along the way, Jinman carried two drones with him, which were used to capture arial video footage. It should be interesting to see what he has to share with us once get home and has a chance to review. 

Chris and Marty Fagan are on track to arrive at the Pole tomorrow, which is a good thing. They're down to just emergency rations at this point, with Marty drinking his final cup of coffee this morning. If that isn't incentive enough to get to the finish line, I don't know what will be. With 20.4 miles (37.7km) yet to ski, they're not quite done yet. But they can now start turning their attentions to home, where there son has been patiently waiting for their return for the past two months.

Lewis Clarke and Carl Alvey are slowly but surely closing in on 90ºS. As of yesterday, they still had 37 miles (68 km) to go before they finished, and while that is still a daunting distance to cover, they hope to arrive tomorrow too. If high winds persist, as the weather forecast indicates, their arrival could get pushed off until Saturday. It has been 45 days since they left the coast in Lewis' attempt to become the youngest person to ski to the South Pole, and that goal looks like it will soon be a reality.


Daniel Burton is pushing forward with is attempt to be the first person to cycle the full distance to the South Pole. He passed another milestone yesterday by entering his final degree. He reports soft snow on the ground, which makes it harder for him to pedal and slows him down some. Still, he keeps pushing ahead as best he can, and now seems likely to reach the finish line early next week. From the tone of his dispatches, I think it is safe to say that he'll be very happy to have this journey behind him.

Another cyclists, Juan Menendez Granados, is reportedly suffering mightily on his final push to the Pole. We knew that he was nearly out of food a few days back and ExWeb is reporting that he is also going without much sleep. He is trying to get to 90ºS, but he is tired, weak and low on energy. Not a good combination in the Antarctic. His last update said that he is 48.5 km (30 miles) from the finish, so it will likely take him another couple of days to get there.

Finally, on this important day in Antarctic exploration history, the Scott Expedition continues its push back to their starting point. They've been out on the ice longer than anyone else – 84 days at this point – and yet they still have more than 500 miles (804 km) to go before they are done. By early next week they hope to have descended from the Beardmore Glacier, which should make it much easier for them to progress. But at this point, they are exhausted both mentally and physically. Each day is a challenge, but yet both Ben and Tarka seem resolved to see their expedition through. If they manage to make it back to the coast, it will be one of the most impressive expeditions in recent memory. More than 3 months in the Antarctic is enough to test anyone. I sure hope they're making plans to sit on a warm beach when all of this is through.

That's all for today. My next update next week should have news on the successful arrivals of numerous teams.

Brooks Range Traverse Cancelled

Last week I posted a story about an attempt by Aussies John Cantor and Evan Howard to make the first ever winter traverse of the Brooks Range in Alaska. The expedition was expected to take up to two months to complete and cover more than 1000 miles (1600 km) in the process. The duo knew that to be successful, they would need to endure incredibly high winds, bone chilling temperatures and a host of other difficult conditions. Yesterday, about a week and a half into the journey, they were forced to pull the plug and abandon the expedition altogether, as fears for their safety grew.

 Early on, John and Evan admitted that the conditions were more challenging than they had expected. Posting to their Facebook page, the hinted that the extremely cold temperatures and high winds were making progress incredibly difficult. But as the week progressed, they seemed to hit their stride to a degree and gained confidence in their ability to make progress across the arctic landscape they were passing through. Weather conditions improved a bit as well, with the winds dying down to a degree.

But last night, they posted a new update that indicated that Cantor had contracted frostbite in one of his fingers early on and it has continued to worsen over the days. If he were to stay out on the trail, there is the real possibility that he could lose the finger altogether, and put both himself and Evan at greater risk. On top of that, the chance of a rescue operation being safely conducted in their remote location became a factor too. So, with that in mind, they decided the wisest option was to pull the plug and head home.

This is a good reminder that not all expeditions are successful. The world is still filled with wild and difficult places, and the Brooks Range is one of them. The conditions there are trying at the best of times, and during the winter they are all but inhospitable. I'm sure John and Evan are disappointed in having to go home, but it sounds like it was the right decision.

Video: Lorraine - Skiing Movies Don't Get Much More Beautiful Than This

When it comes to ski movies, they don't often come much more beautiful than this one. It is entitled Lorraine, after its subject Lorraine Huber, who explores untouched backcountry powder in breathtaking settings. The music in this one is wonderful too, setting the mood nicely. There is no dialog, just great skiing and unbelievable scenery. Don't miss it.

Lorraine. The Movie from Hanno Mackowitz on Vimeo.

Video: Mountain Biking - Why We Love Downhill

It may be winter here in the Northern Hemisphere, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a good mountain biking video. This one features some spectacular shots of downhill riding that will leave you anxious for the arrival of spring and the chance to get back on your bike. And if you're luck enough to be in a place where you can ride right now – well, what are you waiting for? Go get on your bike!

Winter Climbs 2014: Big Update From Polish Team

The winter climbing season on Nanga Parbat is proceeding at a good pace at the moment. The weather has finally improved and heading into the weekend, it appears that the teams should have an opportunity to acclimatize higher on the mountain. With just over two months to go in the winter season, the expeditions to the mountain have gone about as well as could be expected so far. Patience is the key to a winter climb on an 8000 meter peak, as the weather will truly determine if and when the climbers can proceed.

On Tuesday, the Polish Justice For All squad posted their first update in more than two weeks. It began with a nice message about the reality of travel in Pakistan, where many westerners have been led to believe that the people are hostile and unfriendly. That couldn't be further from the truth and the Poles have had nothing but warm encounters with the Pakistani people. After 50 days in country, they report that they feel safe, welcome and lots of friendly feelings from everyone that they have met along the way. Far from what they had expected based on how the media portrays the country.

The rest of the report has given us a break down of what the team has been up to over the past couple of weeks, which essentially has been acclimatizing and shuttling gear up the mountain when the weather has permitted it. So far, they've been stashing equipment in Camp 1, and have gone a little higher, which has put them at approximately 5400 meters (17,716 ft).


The update also discusses the departure of Marek Klonowski, who is traveling home to be with his partner Ida as they prepare for the arrival of their baby in a few weeks. The team will obviously miss Marek, as he is described as being one of the main engines driving the expedition forward. His leadership means a lot to the group, who will never the less continue on without him. Marek has had four previous attempts on Nanga Parbat in the winter, and that kind of experience is hard to replace.

Also leaving Base Camp soon is Michal Dzikowski, who was on the expedition in a support role, helping the team carry gear. His allotted holiday time is just about up and he needs to return home to his job and normal life. His departure will drop the team down to four members, which will make it challenging moving forward, even though they knew he wouldn't be there for the entire climb.

Fortunately, the Poles have a great relationship with the team they are sharing BC with. The North Face squad of Simone Moro, David Göttler and Emilio Previtali. The two groups have been sharing information about the weather and the route, and while they haven't been coordinating their climbs directly just yet, I don't think it would be a surprise if they joined forces for an eventual summit push.

Simone and David moved up the mountain last week, shuttling gear to C1 at 5600 meters (18,723 ft) and spending some time at altitude to acclimatize. They were warned by their meteorologist to be back in BC by Tuesday of this week, so they descended early to avoid bad weather. When they arrived back in Base Camp, the skies were clear and the weather was great, so they thought they may have made a mistake by descending. Later that evening, the skies clouded over and the snow began to fall, so they were glad for such accurate weather predictions.

Since then, the conditions have been dicey, but the forecast says things should begin to improve tomorrow. If that proves true, they're prepared to head up the mountain and probably begin taking supplies to C2. They could possibly spend a few nights at that location this weekend, working in any chance to acclimatize that they can.

Finally, Daniele Nardi is expected to arrive on the mountain next week. He'll be climbing the Diamir Route solo and in alpine style. Hopefully, we'll get some updates on his progress once he gets settled in and starts his expedition.

Stay tuned for updates as we get them.