Video: Kayaks, Waterfalls and RC Drones

I've been saying that drones are the next big innovation for adventure filmmaking for sometime, and I'm happy to see that that not-so-bold prediction is starting to prove accurate. This video shows just what can be done when using a remote controlled drone to capture footage from a paddling expedition. In this case, a group of kayakers hit the water for a little whitewater and waterfall action, all of which is captured on video. Mind you, these drones aren't super expensive and out of the reach of the mainstream filmmaker. They are surprisingly affordable and can do some very cool things. Just check out the video to see what I mean.

Kayaks, Waterfalls, and RC Helicopters - Behind the Shot with Shifted Cinema from Shifted Cinema, LLC on Vimeo.

Video: Surviving The Iditarod Trail Invitational (Part 2)

A few weeks back, I posted the first in a new series of videos from EpicTV entitled Sport & Survival. The host of that series, Patrick Sweeney, specializes in showing us how to properly train to take on challenging endurance activities. In this case, he was showing us how to prepare for the Iditarod Trail Invitational, a grueling 1000-mile long ultra-event that takes place on the Iditarod Sled Dog Trail in the winter.

Below is the second part of what will ultimately be a five part series. In this episode, Patrick wraps up his final prep work, and begins the race in earnest. But just one day in, he finds out why this is one of the toughest events in the world.

Video: TravelSmith Travel Tips #18 - How To Avoid Festival Mistakes

It's Wednesday, which means it's time for another great travel time courtesy of Richard Bangs and TravelSmith. This time out, Richard has some tips to help us avoid making mistakes while attending a festival or other cultural event. This may seem like a no brainer, but it is a lesson he learned the hard way while visiting Spain to cover the running of the bulls at Pamplona. I won't spoil the story, but lets just say the reporter got more than he had bargained for. Always wear fast shoes!

Everest 2014: Threats On Western Climbers By Sherpas?

By now, you may be getting a little tired of hearing about the cancellation of the climbing season on Everest, and believe me, I'd rather be writing about the expeditions that are taking place, rather than rehashing the subject. But, this is a story that will shape the way the mountain is climbed in the future, and it continues to play out now, even after most of the teams have left Base Camp and headed for home.

There are some reports coming out of Nepal that western climbers who wished to continue climbing Everest after the cancellation, were threatened with violence by Sherpas. Apparently, they didn't want anyone going up the mountain, with or without them. Following the announcement of the cancellation, there were as many as four teams that wished to continue, but a vocal minority of Sherpas, possibly backed by the Maoists that hold sway in Nepal, aggressively pressured those teams to leave the mountain and go home.

If these reports are true, there is a dark side to the cancellation that hasn't fully come out yet. Most of the reports have focused on the Sherpas putting demands on the Nepali government to pressure them into giving the guides better benefits and providing support for the families of those who were killed in the avalanche on April 18. Those are demands that we can all get behind, and something that the climbers have been in support of all along.


This story has been spun as if the conflict was between the Sherpas and the government, with the western climbers caught in the middle. It seems the Sherpas may have turned their ire on foreign climbers along the way as well, which has not been widely reported just yet.

My feeling is that this incident is the straw that broke the camels back, if you will. I suspect there will be significant changes to the climbing season in Nepal moving forward, with the Sherpas receiving better pay and insurance benefits, amongst other things. There has been word of some new measures that could be taken to make the climb safer as well, but we'll have to wait to see if those rumors materialize.

While I fully intend to focus on the climbers still attempting Everest on the North Side, I will continue to post updates on what is happening in Nepal as well. I have a feeling that will be a bigger story that continues to evolve even after this season is over.

North Pole 2014: Closing In On 90ºN

Just a quick update from the Arctic today to give you a progress report on Eric Larsen and Ryan Waters. The two Americans have been out on the ice for 47 days now, and it is beginning to appear like they will accomplish their goal of reaching the North Pole, covering the full distance from Cape Discovery in Canada. If they do accomplish that, they'll be the first to do so in over 4 years, and while they still have some distance to go, their target is in sight, and it looks like it would take something catastrophic to prevent them from finishing now.

Updates have been sporadic over the past few days, mainly because they are skiing more hours in an effort to cover more ground. Right now, they're skiing 12 1-hour shifts per day, and sleeping just 4.5 hours. As you can imagine, this schedule is taking its toll on the explorers and their equipment. But, these extra hours are paying off, as they are now hitting 18 nautical miles (33 km) per day, which is what they need to cover in order to reach the Pole before they run out of supplies.

As of this writing, they are now 102 miles (163.9 km) from the North Pole. They have crossed the 88th degree, and are now rapidly closing in on 89. At their current pace, that would put them at 90ºN early next week. From the sounds of their audio dispatches, they'll be limping into the finish line. Much of their gear is being held together by makeshift repairs, following the abuse it has taken on the way to the Pole.

It is difficult to convey just how big of an accomplishment Eric and Ryan are about to complete. For my money, traveling to the North Pole remains the toughest challenge in the world of adventure today. The fact that no one has done it for so long underscores that. I also continue to believe that due to climate change, it'll only get more difficult to ski to the North Pole in the future.

I'll post more updates as they approach their end point. Hopefully there won't be any issues with extracting them from the ice. Only a few more days now.

Video: Mountain Biking Cape Verde

While we're showing off great mountain biking destinations today, I thought I'd include this video as well. It comes our way via EpicTV, and features some great shots of Cape Verde, a tiny country in the Atlantic Ocean that looks to be a hidden gem for adventure sports. The 3-minute video only gives us glimpse of what to expect there, but it just might be enough to get a few people on a plane to go visit the island for themselves. Looks beautiful!

Video: A Mountain Biking Adventure In Peru

Mountain biking films don't come much prettier than this one. It is 13 minutes of pure bliss, show off a spectacular riding adventure in Peru. If this doesn't want you to get out of your chair, and on to your bike, I don't know what will.

Thanks for sharing Kate!

Hiking The Caminito del Rey: Spain's Most Dangerous Trail

My friend Matthew Karsten recently had the opportunity to hike the Caminito del Rey, a notoriously dangerous trail located in Andalucia, Spain. The trail was originally built over a century ago to grant works building a new dam in the area access to the site. It sits 100 meters (328 feet) above the canyon floor, and over the decades it has slowly fallen into disrepair. Sections of the trail are completely missing, while others have just steel beams left in place. This has caused most people to shy away from the route completely, but some adrenaline junkies visit just to experience the Caminito in its current state.

Matt gives us an extensive report on his experience there, as well as a fantastic video that he shot along the way. Read his thoughts on the experience here, and watch the video below.  He describes the place as very beautiful, while also acknowledging the inherent dangers of walking this route at the same time.

If you've always wanted to walk the Caminito del Rey, you may want to hurry. Matt also reports that in May, the trail will be shut down, and a restoration plan will be put into place. This will, of course, make things safer, but it'll also take away the reputation of the route as well. Considering that there have been several deaths on the trail over the years, it is a good thing that it'll finally be repaired, But I'm sure it'll also diminish the lure of the trail for some as well.

Himalaya 2014: The Season Continues Away From Everest

With the South Side of Everest shut down, the news from the Himalaya will be a bit more sporadic and quiet as compared to other years. But now that the shock of the events that occurred on the Big Hill has started to wear off, everyone is getting back to work on the various 8000 meter peaks across the region. The season is still progressing, and there is much to report, even if it doesn't involve the tallest mountain in the world.

On Makalu, a summit push is underway. Mike Horn and Fred Roux set out from ABC yesterday, and hope to make camp at 7500 meters (24,606 ft) today. Once there, they plan to rest for a day, before continuing up to 8000 meters (26,246 ft) on Thursday. If they reach that point, they'll rest again, then make an attempt on the summit this weekend. Stay tuned for progress reports.

Also on Makalu is Chris Jensen Burke, the Australian climber who is tuning up for K2 this summer. Her most recent dispatch was from Advanced Base Camp last week, where she and her team were waiting for the weather to clear. They had just completed their Puja ceremony, and were preparing for their first rotations up the mountain as they began to acclimatize. She also touched on how the tragedy on Everest had impacted the Sherpas on her team as well.


Jumping over to Cho Oyu, Matt and Mike Moniz have been acclimatizing above Camp 1, where they are making solid progress. Daily storms have been hitting the mountain in the afternoon, but otherwise the acclimatization process has been going as smooth as possible. Their initial plan was to top out on Cho Oyu, located in Tibet, then move back across the border for an attempt on Everest and Lhotse. Obviously those plans are now changed after the shift in climate on the South Side.

Over on Kangchenjunga, the team of Denis Urubko, Alex Txikon and Adam Bielecki have started acclimatizing for their attempt at a new route along the North Face. Once fully prepared, they'll attempt an alpine style accent, without the use of oxygen or Sherpa support. The 8586 meter (28,169 ft) mountain is the third tallest in the world, and a considerable challenge along standard routes. Attempting a new route is one of the boldest climbs we'll see this spring.

ExWeb has posted brief updates from several Himalayan peaks, including Annapurna. They report that Norwegian climber Tore Sunde-Rasmussen came within 1000 meters (3280 ft) of the summit, before turning back this past weekend. He has now left the mountain and is on his way back home. Conditions are said to be difficult and dangerous again on Annapurna this spring, which is a notoriously difficult climb under the best of conditions. Last year, it was so bad that no one reached the summit during the spring season at all.

Also, Horia Colibasanu and Peter Hamor are currently back in BC following an acclimatization rotation on Shishapangma last weekend. They'll make a push up to Camp 3 in the next few days, weather permitting. They had intended to use Shisha as a warm-up for Everest, which they had hoped to do sans bottled oxygen. Now, they'll hope for a summit here, before going home.

That's a rundown of some of the things happening in the Himalaya at the moment. Watch for more updates in the days ahead.

Explorer Julian Monroe Fisher Completes Inaugural Trek Of New Hiking Trail In Africa

Explorer and anthropologist Julian Monroe Fisher has completed the first trek of the entire length of a new hiking trail in Africa. His journey, which was Phase Three of RailRiders 2012-16 Great African Expedition, covered approximately 805 km (500 miles), as he walked the Sir Samuel and Lady Florence Baker Historical Trail. The journey took him through South Sudan and Uganda, and marked the 150th anniversary of the Bakers' exploration of that region.

The new trail, which only just opened in January, begins in the South Sudanese village of Gondokoro, located near Juba, the capital of the country. From there, it runs south to Baker's View, overlooking Lake Albert in western Uganda, before pressing on to the top of Murchison Falls on the Nile River. In order to properly identify the route, historical markers were placed in fifteen local communities that fall on the trail. Those villages also represent the locations where Sir Samuel Baker, and his wife Lady Florence, camped on their historic expeditions through Central Africa during the 1860's and 70's.

Fisher embarked on this latest expedition back in January, just as the trail had opened. Having planned his expedition for months, he could not have foreseen that civil war would break out in South Sudan just a few weeks prior to his departure. While visiting the portion of the trail that falls in the Eastern Equatoria State, he was only allowed to travel by vehicle, and with an armed government escort. That allowed him to complete the task of delivering the historical markers to the six communities in that region however.


The civil war brought a series of challenges that had not been planned for. "There were tanks on the streets of the capital of Juba, checkpoints along the road where blurry eyed dicey soldiers were a bit too trigger happy and a 6pm to 6am curfew in place which insured nightly gunfire throughout the
city making it impossible to get a good nights rest," Fisher said. He also added "My fixer north of Juba in the land of the Mundari herdsmen was nowhere tobe found. I have never heard from him again."

Things calmed down after he was able to pass across the border into Uganda, and in mid-February Julian was joined by his teenage son Charley, who walked the rest of the trail with him. They reached Murchison Falls on February 24th, officially completing their trek on the Sir Samuel and Lady Florence Historical Trail.

While out on the trail, Fisher gathered content for OutWildTV.com, providing regular dispatches and images from the journey. Those dispatches give readers a sense of what this expedition was like, and what to expect on the new hiking trail. That content can be accessed by clicking here.

This new trail is meant to not only highlight the efforts of the Bakers, but also become a new form economic development for the villages that fall on its length. Sadly, the ongoing conflict in South Sudan will make that a challenge for now. But, the trail is open in Uganda, and safe for trekkers to explore.

Video: New Zealand In 4K

Just when you think New Zealand, the adventure capital of the world, couldn't look any better, along comes this timelapse video that was shot in 4K. Obviously you'll need one of those fancy new hi-res monitors (Not to mention the 4K source file) to see it in all of its glory, but the video below will give you a taste of what to expect none the less. As you would expect, it is nothing short of spectacular.

AWAKENING | NEW ZEALAND 4K from Martin Heck | Timestorm Films on Vimeo.

Video: Lance Armstrong Talks To Outside Magazine

Lance Armstrong has maintained a relatively low profile over the past year, during which he admitted to using performance enhancing drugs while competing in, and winning, seven Tour de France races. Over the months since his confession, he has started to come clean about those transgressions, and he has been very open and frank about the nature of cycling in that era, and his own involvement. In the video below, he continues to speak candidly, this time with Outside magazine, about the situation. When asked if he feels he won the those seven Tour titles, that have since been stripped from him, he unequivocally says yes. It is an interesting, and straight forward interview, that fans of cycling and Lance should see. And for the record, I agree with him. He won those races on the road.

Video: The Best Scuba Diving On The Planet?

Scuba divers in search of the best dive sites on the planet will certainly want to check out this video from our friend Richard Bangs. This time out, Richard heads to Puerto Rico, where he sends a friend of his diving at The Wall, a 22-mile (35 km) long section of coral reef that drops to a depth of 1500 feet (457 meters). The reef is home to a stunning array of marine life, including sea turtles, moray eels, sharks, and countless species of fish. This definitely looks like a "must-visit" place for any diver.

Everest 2014: All Eyes Turn North

With all of the climbing expeditions on Everest's South Side cancelled for the year, the mountain has gotten very quiet in terms of the usual activity we see in the spring. But not everyone is done with the world's tallest mountain, as there are still a number of teams climbing on the North Side in Tibet. It is estimated that about 100 climbers will attempt to summit from that side of the mountain in the weeks ahead, and while word of the turmoil on the South Side has no doubt reached their ears, they are busy preparing for the challenges they will face.

The 7 Summits Club is a fixture on the North Side, climbing there every spring season. This year, their team consists of 19 mountaineers, all of whom have moved up to Advanced Base Camp at 6400 meters (20,997 ft) as part of their acclimatization rotation. Their Sherpa team has also built their camp at the North Col, located at 7000 meters (22,965 ft), where they'll proceed upwards later this week. With the South Side teams now all gone, 7 Summit Clubs holds the distinction of being the largest team on the mountain, something I'm sure their guides never thought they'd see.

The Asian Trekking squad has been following a similar path, spending some time in ABC before descending back to Base Camp. This is all part of their normal acclimatization rotations as they get ready for the higher altitudes to come. If the weather cooperated, they had hoped to move up to the North Col this past weekend, but there hasn't been any word yet if they actually reached this point.

Climbing on the North Side of Everest is very different in a lot of way. Obviously the route to the summit is complete unique, with its own set of challenges that need to be overcome, including the infamous Second Step, which is negotiated with the help of a ladder. But aside from that, the climate in North Side Base Camp is quite different from that on the South Side. The Chinese control all aspects of the climb, and rather than having the large commercial teams working together to fix ropes, they employ a team of Sherpas with the specific task of ensuring a safe route to the summit. This allows the teams to focus on acclimatizing, while the ropes are installed by a completely independent group.


Of course, the North Side is also much less crowded. In recent years, the Chinese have shut down climbing on that side of Everest due to political unrest, and their own agenda for taking the Olympic torch so the summit a few years back. Because of the uncertainty this has created, many climbers have decided to go to the South Side in order to avoid these kinds of issues. While there hasn't been a shutdown for several years now, the North Side remains much quieter than the South as a result.

Updates from Everest will continue in the days and weeks ahead. There will be fewer teams to report on of course, but the season will continue to unfold as it always has. Look for the first summit bids to begin sometime around mid-May, depending on how the weather shapes up. Wish so few people still on the mountain, there could be just one or two summit waves, and then it'll all be over. We'll just have to wait to see how the season develops.

Back on the South Side, some Sherpas were flown to Camp 1 and 2 by helicopter to collect gear. They've stashed much of their supplies for next season at C2, which is an unprecedented move. Most of the teams have left the mountain, and are now on their way back home, while a few others will focus on some of the lesser peaks in the region before calling it a day. A great deal of uncertainty remains about the future of climbing on Everest in Nepal, and there will be many issues to resolve before the 2015 season gets underway. It will certainly be interesting to see how things shape up in the months ahead.

More updates will follow, both on the progress on the North Side, and the political developments.

North Pole 2014: Resupply and Relocation

With the clocking ticking on the 2014 Arctic season, there is still quite a bit to report from up north. While we're down to one team making its way to the North Pole, there are several heading in the opposite direction, or chasing other objectives in the Arctic at the moment. The conditions remain very difficult of course, but the potential remains for the completion of the first successful North Pole expedition in the past four years.

Eric Larsen and Ryan Waters continue to press ahead with their attempt to reach 90ºN. With time starting to become a precious commodity, they've now added an additional 2.5 hours of skiing to their day. After being out on the ice for 45 days, they still have 140 miles (225 km) to go, with approximately 10 days worth of food and fuel left. Simple math says they need to cover 14 miles (22.5 km) per day to reach the Pole. Preferably, they'd want to have a little extra time in there, just in case.

Fortunately, things seem to be improving for the duo. They have had better ice, and the leads that they have encountered have been frozen over as well. That has allowed them to pick up the pace some, hitting 17 nautical miles (31.4 km) in a single day. They have also passed the 87th parallel, which is a major milestone too. As they near the Pole, conditions should continue to stabilize, helping to increase their speed further. If everything comes together as it should, they have a legitimate chance of completing their expedition.

Japanese solo-skier Yasu Ogita was successfully retrieved from the ice last Wednesday. He had been traveling north for 48 days, but poor weather and ice conditions prevented him from covering the ground that he needed to in order to reach the Pole. He was tent bound on several occasions due to weather, and simple ran out of time. With food and fuel running low, he called for an extraction, and he is now back in Resolute Bay, waiting to go home.




The Expedition Hope team received a resupply over the weekend to help them on their expedition. The trio of skiers that includes Eric Phillips, Bernice Notenboom, and Martin Hartley, are traveling from the North Pole back to Cape Discovery, and have had their fair share of difficulty along the way as well. Bad weather has plagued the team as well, and negative drift has sent them further east than they had intended, so they were also planning to be relocated closer to their original course. With the resupply and relocation out of the way, they hope to get back to traveling south this week.

Over in Greenland, Eric McNair-Landry and Dixie Dansercoer continue to struggle for every mile. They are now nearly three weeks into their attempt to circumnavigate the country by kite-ski, and the weather has been almost completely uncooperative. They had hoped to use their kites to cover large distances in a single day, so far they've had few opportunities to kite at all. So, instead they ski along as best they can, covering 15-18 km (8-10 miles) per day, while dreaming of eventually picking up speed. They're going to need to if they want to finish this journey. The 5000 km (3100 mile), 80 day expedition won't be an easy one, and they are already well behind schedule for what they had harped to accomplish.

That's all for now. I'll post more updates as it is warranted. With Eric and Ryan inching closer to the Pole, we'll have to keep a close eye on their progress. If they do manage to complete the journey, it'll be one of the more impressive accomplishments in polar exploration in recent memory.

Video: Teenagers Skip School To Make First Ski Descent In The Alps

Here's an awesome story of two kids who already have a thirst for adventure. 15-year old alpine skiers Nicolas Jean and Leo Delafuente dream about making first descents on some of the big mountains in the Alps. In fact, they'll sometimes sit in class, and make sketches of their plans. Recently, they actually skipped school to become the first to ski down an impressive looking mountain that is in their neighborhood. The video below captures that first descent. Reportedly, they were back in school in time for 5th period, and kept their accomplishment a secret until they could release the film. Kids these days!

Video: Mountain Biking The Kootenay Rockies

Want to catch a glimpse of one of the best mountain biking destinations in the world? Check out this video shot in the Kootenay Rockies of British Columbia. The trails look sublime, and the scenery is drop-dead gorgeous. What a beautiful place to ride. Who wants to go?

KOOTENAY ROCKIES from Mountain Biking BC on Vimeo.

Everest 2014: Confusion And Disarray Remains On The South Side

Yesterday, it was reported that the climbing season on Everest was officially shut down following a meeting with the Sherpas and officials from the Nepali government. Several teams had already announced that they were leaving, and as the days passed this week, more and more climbers elected to go home. But despite reports of a closure, Nepal has said that the mountain does indeed remain open, and that they were working with Sherpas to provide support for those who wished to climb. Of course, as has been typical with this story, there are many facets to what we are being told, and Nepal's attempt to save face with the mountaineering world.

It should be noted, that despite the fact that the mountain remains "open," the two remaining large teams – Himex and Altitude Junkies – announced that they were ending their expeditions yesterday. That means that even if any of the smaller teams decided to stay, there would be little support with helping to fix ropes to the summit.

But the other challenge is getting through the Khumbu Icefall, which is quite possibly the trickiest section of the mountain on the South Col route. Without the Ice Doctors in place to help maintain the route, it is incredibly difficult to pass through. It is unclear at this time if the Ice Docs would even want to stay, following the departure of all of the other team. Some reports indicate that there have even been threats against the Doctors, and their families, should they choose to stay. Nepali officials say they are negotiating with some of the Sherpas to try to get them to stay, but whether or not they do, remains to be seen. If they do stay, who exactly are the supporting on the mountain? The major teams are now all gone, or leaving soon.


All of this come in the wake of the avalanche that killed 16 Sherpas last Friday, which led to the remaining Sherpa contingent asking for a seven day moratorium on climbing out of respect to those that had lost their lives. In the days that followed, tension and anger grew in Base Camp, leading to some of the local guides departing, while western climbers waited to see what would happen. Over the past few days, a massive drama has played out on mountaineering's grandest stage.

The repercussions from this season are likely to be felt for years to come. The Sherpas are tired of doing the bulk of the work on Everest, and taking the brunt of the causalities, while not being compensated fairly for their work. It is likely that their share of the pot will increase by next year, but will Nepal raise the price of climbing permits to account for the changes?

While Everest may remain officially open, it is going to be a very quiet place the rest of the season. Unless some of the top mountaineers in the world decide to go scale the mountain while it is empty, there will likely be no summits from the South Side this year. In fact, it is highly likely that there won't be a single team in Base Camp following this weekend.

It is a lost season on the world's tallest mountain. At least not the South Side. There will still be plenty of summits from the North, and starting next week, we'll get back to following their progress.

Travel Stories From FlightNetwork.com

It has been a few weeks since I shared some of the stories we've been posting at the "Let's Roll" blog over at FlightNetwork.com. Here's a sample of some of the things that we've been sharing with our readers.

• 20 Gorgeous Photos From A 30-Hour Iceland Road Trip
• 10 Summer Travel Accessories You Didn't Know You Needed
• 22 Stunning National Parks to Check Out
• Can You Name The World's Top Ten Airports?
• The World's 16 Most Incredible Caves
• Which Destination Topped TripAdvisor's 2014 Traveler's Choice List?
• The 5 Best River Cruises In The World

As you can see, there is a diverse number of topics for world travelers, with some excellent writers sharing great tips and suggestions. On top of that, FlightNetwork is a great place to shop for airfares, offering up some great discounts on flights. And I'm not just saying that because I write for them. It truly is a good option for comparison shopping for flight online. 

Video: First Descents In Michoacan, Mexico

I posted a teaser trailer for this expedition awhile back, with the promise of more to come. The video below fulfills that promise. It features paddlers Rafa Ortiz, Dane Jackson, and several others, as they go looking for whitewater and waterfalls in the Mexican state of Michoacan. They found everything they could have asked for and more. Looks like an amazing place to paddle.

Help Pick The Mode Of Transportation For The Next Leg Of Expedition 1000

Yesterday I posted that Dave Cornthwaite, and his traveling companions, had wrapped up the most recent leg of his Expedition 1000 project, in which the British adventurer is attempting to complete 25 individual journeys – each 1000 miles or more in length – completely without the use of motorized transportation. Earlier in the week, that meant finishing a 1000-mile journey across Chile's Atacama Desert on a wind and pedal powered bike known as a Whike.

As he wrapped up that journey, Dave was already planning to move on to the next one. But this time, he's letting us decide exactly how he'll travel. This weekend, he'll be appearing at the Spezialradmesse, a special conference dedicated to non-motorized transportation that is taking place in Germany. Once he has finished speaking at the "Spezi," he'll then have to get back home to the U.K. He plans to pedal a bike of some kind, but which bike exactly is up to us.

Dave has posted information on all three options, and launched an online poll so we can vote. His potential modes of transportation include the ICE Sprint 26X Trike, the Vartibike FR3, and the Troytec Revolution Low Rider.

On Sunday, Dave will announce the bikes we've chosen for him, and Monday he'll set off on his next 1000-mile sojourn. It should be interesting to see what gets picked, and how it fares on this leg of the project.

Go cast your vote, but don't be too evil in your choice.

Video: TravelSmith Travel Tip #17 - Adding More Pages To Your Passport

Here's a handy travel tip from our friend Richard Bangs that I'm sure more than a few of us have wondered about. If you're a frequent traveler, you know doubt like to collect stamps in your passport. But what happens when you start to run out of pages? Richard explains how to quickly, and easily, add pages to your passport prior to embarking on a journey.

Everest 2014: Season Over On The South Side

Following the departure of almost every major climbing team on the South Side of Everest yesterday, Nepali officials have made it official today. The climbing season on the world's tallest mountain is over. No one will climb the South Col route this year.

As usual, Alan Arnette has all of the details before pretty much anyone else. He reports that a government official finally appeared in Base Cape today to make the official declaration that the season was finished. As Alan rightly points out, that proclamation was almost a foregone conclusion considering the mass exodus that was taking place from BC yesterday. With all of the big teams heading home already, there wasn't much else to be said at this point.

With Sherpa support eroding, either by choice or default, there are few people left on the mountain to fix ropes, shuttle gear, and guide western climbers to the summit. On top of that, the Ice Doctors need to be able to maintain the route through the Khumbu Icefall, and when no one is there to do that, it is extremely difficult to proceed up. The Ice Docs were reportedly some of the most vocal about going home.

Alan indicated that the Nepali government has said that it will honor the climbing permits from this year for up to five years. That means anyone who had their expedition cancelled, can return in the future to attempt to climb Everest again. That is probably little solace at the moment, but at least not all opportunities are lost. Many of these climbers will find a way to return. It will remain an expensive proposition for sure, but at least they have the option.


What all of this means for the long term prospects for climbing on Everest has yet to be seen. The canceling of the season is probably the start of changes to come. The Sherpas clearly aren't happy with the situation, and will likely continue to press for better working conditions, compensation, and insurance. But really, the issue is the mountain itself. It is becoming more dangerous, as climate change makes accidents like the avalanche that claimed the lives of 16 Sherpas last week, potentially more common. The serac that collapsed has been there for the past several years, quite literally looming over the head of the climbers. It is the same serac that prompted Himex team leader Russell Brice to cancel his expedition back in 2012. With the way things are evolving on Everest, and the Himalaya in general, these kinds of accidents are only going to become more likely.

Over crowing on Everest remains a serious issue, and while that didn't play into the disaster as such, it could have easily become a factor. Had the avalanche occurred just a few days later, there was the potential for far more climbers to be on the Hill. The loss of life could have been far more than 16, and that number already marks the worst in the history of the mountain. There are no easy answers. People will continue to climb Everest and face the risks. But this tragedy does seem like it'll spur more discussion on how things can be improved in general. At least we have to hope that that will be the case.

All of this said, Alan points out in an update that there are some indications that there may be a few teams that will yet try to summit from the South Side, even with the official shut down. We'll have to wait for those stories to pan out, but they do seem rather unlikely. There are few climbers in the world who can summit without Sherpa support, but we'll have to wait to see what happens.

Also, it is important to point out that there are still teams on the North Side of the mountain in Tibet. While they have all obviously heard about the situation in the South, the are continue to move forward as planned. I will be following their progress closely, and providing updates in the days ahead.

I'll also continue to post updates on the situation as it evolves in Nepal. This story is far from over.

North Pole 2014: Barneo Closes For The Season

Just a few quick updates from the Arctic to get things started this morning. First off, the Barneo Ice Camp officially closed on Tuesday, as the final travelers and researchers were picked up from the ice and began their long journeys back home. The temporary camp, set up annually a degree off the Pole, served its purpose well this season, allowing numerous adventurers to come and go from the Russian side of the ice. A new camp will be built next spring to continue support efforts in the Arctic once again.

One of the final people to leave the North Pole this season was Norwegian explorer and polar guide Bengt Rotmo. He'll now ski south on the Canadian side of the planet, making his way towards Cape Discovery on Ellesmere Island. He began his journey on Monday, and will spend the better part of the next 6-8 weeks in the Arctic.

He'll be heading in the same direction as the Expedition Hope team, who have a few weeks head start, and are making good time, but have had to battle very poor weather at times. Starting at the North Pole is easier than ending there, but skiing to Canada is still a big challenge.

There hasn't been any word yet on whether or not Yasu Ogita has been retrieved from the ice. The solo-skier had called for extraction last weekend, but poor weather left him tend bound while he waited for a flight to come pick him up. That flight may have happened yesterday, but we're still waiting on confirmation. After 45 days on the ice, it was clear that he wouldn't have enough food nor fuel to reach the Pole, so the veteran polar explorer was forced to abandon his expedition once again.


Eric Larsen and Ryan Waters don't appear to have any plans on pulling the plug on their North Pole expedition, and they are slowly but surely inching closer to the Pole. Today marks their 40th day out on the ice, and they will pull within 200 miles (321 km) of the goal. They are carrying enough supplies for about 15 more days in the Arctic, but considering they are still facing extremely poor conditions, the success of their expedition is still up in the air. They are covering longer distances at last, but with just over two weeks to go, they'll still have to average approximately 13.3 miles (21 km) per day. Coincidentally enough, that is exactly how far they travelled yesterday.

Finally, over in Greenland, Dixie Dansercoer and Eric McNair-Landry  are now two weeks into their attempt to circumnavigate the country by kite-ski. The weather hasn't been particularly cooperative so far, as a result, they aren't covering the miles that they would like to at this point of the journey. They are remaining patient however, and hope to make up for lost time as conditions improve. They have been tent-bound for the past few days while they wait out a storm, but are anxious to get back on track. Considering this is a 5000 km (3106 mile) journey, that could last up to 80 days, they still have time to make up ground. But they are also aware that the clock is ticking, and they need to get moving soon.

That's all for today. More updates to come soon.

Video: Scenes From Alaska

This is another great video that will more than likely inspire you to want to visit the featured destination. In this case, that's Alaska, which remains one of the last truly great wildernesses on our planet. The scenery is breathtaking and the images captured here are spectacular. If you didn't want to go before, you'll probably want to now.

Alaska from Ryan Lightbourn on Vimeo.

Everest Update II: Discovery Channel Making Documentary On Avalanche

A few days back, it was reported that the Discovery Channel had scrapped plans to film Joby Ogwyn's attempt to summit Everest, then jump from the top in a wingsuit. At the time, they said it was out of respect for those what had died in last week's avalanche, which claimed the lives of 16 Sherpas. Now, we have word that Discovery will instead make a documentary about the accident, which was the deadliest in the history of the mountain.

According to reports, the documentary will not only focus on the avalanche itself, but the aftermath, which we all know is still unfolding. The reaction of the Sherpa guides, how they deal with the loss of friends and family, and their interactions with western climbers and the Nepali government will take center stage.

When I read this news, I couldn't help but wonder if this was Discovery's way of taking lemons and making lemonade, or simply a way for them to profit off of the tragedy. Obviously they've invested a lot of money and resources to send a team to the Himalaya this spring to film Ogwyn's jump. That team is still there, and have been witness to the disaster – not to mention the fallout that has occurred afterward.

Perhaps I'm being too cynical, but it just seems too early to already be making such a special. Of course, it will all come down to how the delicate situation is handled, and considering the Discovery team had hired Sherpas who were lost in the avalanche, I'd like to think that they'll produce something that won't just take advantage of the situation. Only time will tell of course, and we'll have to wait until it airs to know for sure. Here's hoping it is a well done piece on the plight of the Sherpas, and not just something that is put together to profit from the sad situation.

Before we judge them too harshly, it is only fair to point out that Discovery is contributing to the Sherpa relief fund. With 5 of the dead coming from their team, this seems like a good gesture on their part, and an indication of their understanding of the situation.

What are your thoughts on this story? 

Everest Update: IMG Team Heading Home, Climbing Season Over?

As I've mentioned before, the situation on Everest's South Side is very fluid at the moment, and things are definitely in a state of flux. But, it seems the situation took a major step towards resolving itself, as the IMG team, one of the largest on the mountain, has made the decision to go home. 

Alan Arnette broke the news a short time ago, and does a good job of explaining why this could be the definitive end of the season. Essentially, IMG, along with Himex, the Altitude Junkies, and a few other major teams, are the ones who handle the bulk of the work in fixing the ropes up the mountain. With this team now headed home, a major part of the work force for handling the high altitude rope-fixing is now gone. While that doesn't mean it'll be impossible for others to do the work, it does make things much more challenging.

The IMG statement reads in full as follows:

IMG leaders Greg Vernovage and Ang Jangbu Sherpa have been forced to end the expedition due to the perilous conditions resulting from the April 18 Icefall avalanche. After several days of intense meetings at Base Camp and in Kathmandu among climbers, sherpas, and representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, no agreement was reached on restarting the 2014 Everest climbing season. The Icefall route is currently unsafe for climbing without repairs by the Icefall doctors, who will not be able to resume their work this season. We have explored every option and can find no way to safely continue the expedition. 

The IMG team will be starting down valley in the next few days, with some trekking and some hitching rides by helicopter. They are joined by climbers from other expedition teams that had also been waiting at Base Camp and have also been forced to end their climbs. 

—Eric Simonson, IMG Partner

As Alan also points out, this isn't just about having the Sherpas there to help coordinate and support the climbs. With a week of no movement, most of the teams are now way behind in their acclimatization process. By now, most everyone would have made a rotation up to Camp 1 and 2, but as they sit in Base Camp, they are not preparing their bodies for the altitude challenges they would eventually face. There is no way to safely acculturate that process, and since there tends to be a rather narrow weather window for a summit attempt, it looks like things could get dicey in this regard as well. Again, the door isn't closed entirely, but it is slowly creeping in that direction.

More to follow soon.

Everest 2014: Another Team Leaves Base Camp, Tensions High On The Mountain

It has been another tumultuous 24 hours on Everest, where tension continues to run high amongst the Sherpas, who continue to mourn the loss of 16 of their companions in an avalanche last Friday. While the Government of Nepal has agreed to most of the terms set down by the mountain guides, there is still a level of distrust and uncertainty. Whether or not that gap can be bridged remains to be seen, and  while efforts are being made to do just that, the entire climbing season hangs in the balance.

Yesterday I reported that the Adventure Consultants had cancelled their expedition after losing three Sherpas in the accident. At the time, I speculated that other teams might make the same decision, and that prediction has proven accurate. The Alpine Ascents squad has also made the decision to go home. They lost 5 members of their team to the avalanche, and have been struggling with that loss ever since.

If you've been following this situation closely, Alan Arnette has two good posts that you'll definitely want to read. The first, is an update on the situation, with Alan's contacts in Base Camp providing him with a sense of the mood there. In short, those contacts report that things are extremely tense, and there is a great deal of anger in the Sherpa community. This is not unlike the emotion that was felt last year, when several Sherpas came to blows with western climbers. The local guides are feeling disrespected once again, but this time the anger is aimed at the Nepali government, and not so much the western climbers.



The second post you should read is Alan's account of his relationship with his Sherpa. It gives you a first hand account of how a climber interacts with the man who is there to help him reach the top. It is a good read, and gives readers personal insight into how the mountaineer and the Sherpa work together.

Meanwhile, the New York Times is reporting that a meeting took place in South Side Base Camp yesterday, with two-thirds of the Sherpas voting to end the season. If that number is accurate, it doesn't bode well for the climbers, and we could be looking at the end of the season by as soon as this Friday. The Times also says that two veteran Everest leaders flew to Kathmandu via helicopter in order to meet with officials from the government. The hope is that they can broker some kind of deal that will keep the mountain open.

Fox News is also weighing in on the topic, and they indicate that sources in Base Camp have told them that Sherpas have already begun to walk out. Indications are that these men are just the beginning, and that over the next few days, more will follow. CBS News is offering a similar account, going so far as to say that most of the Sherpas have already left BC.

That doesn't appear to be the case with the Peak Freaks however. Team leader Tim Rippel has indicated that he has offered his Sherpas full-pay, even if they decided to go home. They all have chosen to stay.

It seems that no matter what the government says, or the western climbing leaders, if the Sherpas make the decision to go, they will go. Anger, resentment and grief seem to be the emotions that are most prevalent in Base Camp at the moment, and only time is going to help heal those feelings. For now, we'll all just have to wait and see what happens.

Expedition 1000 Update: Atacama Whike Crossing Complete!

The latest leg of Dave Cornthwaite's Expedition 1000 project is complete. You may recall, Dave, and his two traveling companions,  Ned Aufenhast, and Jamie Fulbrook, set out from Santiago, Chile a few weeks back with the intention of crossing the Atacama Desert using a Whike – a specially designed bicycle that uses both the wind and pedals to propel itself along.

As with all previous legs of Expedition 1000, the crossing of the Atacama was completed using only non-motorized transportation, and covered a minimum of 1000 miles. It took Dave and company 19 days to wrap up the expedition, climbing more than 18,000 meters (59,055 feet) in the process.

According to Dave's Facebook page, they averaged 6.2 mph over the course of their journey, which may not sound like a lot, but when you consider how mountainous Chile can be, that is a fairly steady pace over a 19 day period. Their top speed was 39.3 mph, no doubt on the downside of one of the aforementioned mountains. Their longest climb in a single day was from sea level up to 2087 meters (6847 feet), which is an awful lot for the body to compensate for if you're not prepared for altitude. Over the course of the journey, they averaged nearly 9 hours per day on their Whikes.

The Atacama Desert is well known for being the driest place on Earth. Trapped between the Chile's Pacific Mountain Range on the west, and the Andes on the east, it falls into a rain shadow that is very difficult for storms to pass over. As a result, there are actually places in the Atacama that have not seen rainfall in recorded history. But the place has a stark beauty to it that can be breathtaking. It is, without a doubt, one of my favorite places that I have ever visited.

The boys will now rest for a few days before they launch the next leg of Expedition 1000. That journey will get underway on April 28, but what exactly it will be remains a mystery. Stay tuned for more!

Video: New England Nights In Timelapse

Shot mostly in the states of Maine and New Hampshire, this video reminds us that the eastern United States has its fair share of fantastic landscapes as well. It is yet another beautiful timelapse, capturing the lovely night skies over those places.

New England Nights from Aaron Priest on Vimeo.

Video: Mountain Biking An Abandoned Railway In Argentina

Here's a mountain biking video that straddles the line with looking incredibly fun, and incredibly crazy at the same time. It follows a team of riders as they explore an old railway that has been abandoned for nearly 20 years. They follow it for about 100 km (62 miles) through remote Argentine deserts, crossing rickety looking old bridges, and sketchy trails in the process. It looks like it would make a great trail, if someone bothered to clean everything up. But for these guys, it presents a few challenges.

Meet Adventure Legend Mike Horn

Last week I told you about Mike Horn's plans to climb Makalu, before launching a new expedition to circumnavigate the globe via both the North and South Pole. This past weekend, Mike and his climbing partner Fred Roux, arrived in Base Camp, and are now acclimatizing before launching their alpine style ascent in the Himalaya. As they prepare to get underway, a profile of the South African explorer has been posted to the Red Bull blog.

For those who aren't familiar with Mike's resume, he has, amongst other things, already visited both Poles, climbed several 8000 meter peaks, swam the length of the Amazon, and circumnavigated the globe at the equator, completely under his own power.

In the interview, he talks about such wide ranging things as what he eats for breakfast, the challenges of climbing an 8000 meter peak vs. traveling to the Poles, and the difference in facing Amazon crocs and Polar bears. He even tells the tale of how a polar bear once sat on him while he was in his tent. The bear was searching for food in his sled, and didn't even realize that the explorer was there.

Mike reaffirms something that I have been saying for some time. A journey to the North Pole on foot, could possibly be the toughest challenge in the world of adventure today. It is just such a herculean task to undertake, and it is one that he has already completed, but will attempt again next year.

All in all, the brief interview is an entertaining read to say the least.

Everest Update: Nepal Meets Sherpa Demands, Climbing Season Still Uncertain

Another quick update from Nepal today, where things seem to be evolving quickly in the wake of the deadly avalanche that occurred last Friday, and the subsequent shut down of all climbing operations on the mountain. As you may recall from yesterday's post, the Sherpas working on Everest had a list of demands for the Nepalese government that included paying compensation to the families of those who had died, increasing the amount of insurance covering the those working on the mountain, and paying for the medical expenses for those injured in the accident. The government was given seven days to reply, at which time the Sherpas would determine the fate of the climbing season.

It didn't take the Ministry of Tourism a week to come up with their answer. Reports are starting to trickle in that they have agreed to the terms set down by the Sherpa leadership, possibly ending the climbing boycott. The fate of the climbing season still hangs in the brink however, as there are indications that some of the Sherpas may leave Base Camp, and return home. This comes amidst stories of rising tension in BC between the local guides and the foreign climbers there.

The news article linked to above says that during a Puja ceremony performed for the 16 fallen Sherpas today, the chanting became "furious" in nature, with many calling for the end of climbing on Everest this spring. The Sherpas continue to mourn their lost comrades, and many do not want to step foot back on the mountain. Whether or not this sentiment will continue remains to be seen, but it certainly sounds like things remain very uncertain there at the moment.

My guess is that the Sherpas will take the full week to grieve for the fallen, then make a decision at a later time. Right now, they are angry and heartbroken, and it will take some time before they can begin to heal. That may happen at the expense of this season, and I don't think many of us would blame them for leaving.

Stay tuned for further updates. I'll post more news as it comes in.

North Pole 2014: One Team Left To Challenge The Arctic

Yesterday we received the news that Japanese solo-skier Yasu Ogita has pulled the plug on his expedition to the North Pole. Bad weather and rough ice led to slow progress this season, and with food and fuel running out, it was evident that he would not be able to make it to the North Pole in time. He is still waiting for a plane to come retrieve him from the ice, but his departure means that only one team remains to challenge the Arctic this season, and they are doing their best to complete a full journey to 90ºN. That's a journey that no one has been able to complete in four-years.

Ryan Waters and Eric Larsen continue to press ahead with their expedition to the North Pole, despite the fact that they have faced many of the same difficulties that Yasu did. They are now in their 38th day out on the ice, a week behind their Japanese counterpart. With 55 days of food and fuel with them, the clocking is starting to tick on their progress as well.

As of now, they still have 235 miles (377 km) to go before they reach their goal. That means they need to average approximately 13 miles (20 km) per day, for the rest of the journey, in order to make it before they run out of supplies. That is a tall order, but their speed has increased in recent days, and should only continue to do so as they get closer to the top of the world. They are now past 86.5ºN, and picking up steam. If the weather cooperates, they still have a chance of completing an expedition that has only gotten more difficult overt he past few years. Stay tuned for updates on their progress.

Elsewhere, the Expedition Hope team of Bernice Notenboom, Eric Philips and Martin Hartley are heading in the opposite direction. They set off from the North Pole and are traveling to Cape Discovery, the starting point for Eric and Ryan. A bad storm has plagued the team for the past few days, making travel difficult, and reminding them of how challenging the Arctic can be. Things have improved now, and temperatures have warmed up to a balmy -18ºC/0ºF. That's quite warm for the region of the world they are traveling through, which has made things easier, at least for today. The squad is nearing in on 87ºN at the moment, and should pass their second degree over the next few days. That's a good milestone for the expedition so far.



Over in Greenland, Dixie Dansercoer and Eric McNair-Landary are now 13 days into their attempt to circumnavigate the entire country using kite-skis. Temperatures there are not so hospitable it seems, as they are currently facing -30ºC/-22ºF conditions. They've faced their fair share of storms already in the past few weeks, and have been tent-bound because of it. But when they can ski, they've been able to cover some decent mileage. Yesterday they knocked off 250.6 km (155.7 miles), a distance the North Pole skiers can only dream of. But considering this is a 5000 km (3100 mile) journey, that could last as much as 80 days, those distances seem trivial at times. With a bit of luck, hopefully conditions will improve, and they can continue to see good travel days.

Finally, on the Russian side of the ice, the Barneo Ice Camp is getting ready to shut down for another season. The temporary base, built in the Arctic each year, has served its purpose well, allowing a number of researchers, explorers, and well-heeled travelers to visit the North Pole. But the season didn't end without a little drama. A youth group had to be rescued from the ice when they began to run low on food and fuel. No one was in any imminent danger, but discretion seemed the better part of valor, and a helicopter was sent to retrieve them. It is best to not fool around when traveling in those conditions.

That's all for now. We'll have more updates as things progress.

Everest 2014: Adventure Consultants Cancel Expedition, Will Others Follow?

Climbing operations on the South Side of Everest have been shut down since the tragic accident that claimed the lives of 16 Sherpa last Friday. During that period, the mountaineering community there has been mourning the loss of their friends and teammates, while attempting exactly how to proceed from here. The death of those men has touched every team, and every climber, in some way, and at the moment, the fate of the entire season is hanging in the balance. That is no longer true for one team however, as they have made the difficult decision to end their expedition. 

Earlier today, the Adventure Consultants sent the following dispatch from Base Camp:

The past few days at Everest Base Camp since Friday have been a very difficult time for all on the AC team as we grieve for the Sherpas who have been lost. Our three dear friends were integral to our operation and our Sherpa, Guides and staff know most of the other thirteen Sherpa and Nepalese who have died. After much discussion and consideration of all aspects the tough decision has been made to cancel the 2014 expedition this season.

Our team members have empathy for the Sherpa community and we wish for everyone to be able to mourn their lost family and friends in peace.
We thank you for all your support and condolences, which mean so much as we try to recover from the enormity of this tragedy.

The Adventure Consultants Everest Expedition 2014 Team

The AC squad is the first team to publicly announce that they are going home, and understandably so. Three of the Sherpas that were killed were on their squad, and the loss of those men has surely underscored the dangers of climbing the mountain. With heavy hearts, they will now begin the long journey back home.

I suspect that this won't be the only team that makes the decision to pull the plug on their expedition over the next few days. Indications are that there is a lot of uncertainty and doubt on the South Side at the moment, and the climbers are unsure how to pick up the pieces and continue on after the single deadliest day in Everest history. The decision could be made for them however, as the Sherpas themselves have asked for a seven day moratorium on climbing so that they could mourn the loss of their friends. At the end of that period, the entire group could call in an end to the season, particularly if the Nepali government doesn't respond to their list of demands.

We'll know a lot more in a few days, but for now, things continue to be quiet, while the everyone tries to sort out their options.

Video: Night Lights - Saudi Arabia In Timelapse

Saudia Arabia is not a destination that typically comes to mind when you think of adventure. But the country has some spectacular landscapes and beautiful places to share with visitors who do venture there. The video below captures some of that beauty in a wonderful timelapse. The mood-setting music adds to the effect, inspiring viewers to want to visit these destinations for themselves.

Night lights from Mohamed ALangari on Vimeo.

67-Year Old Kayaker Completes Atlantic Crossing

Polish kayaker Aleksander "Olek" Doba completed an epic paddling expedition this weekend when he reached the coastline of Florida. The 67-year old Doba wrapped up a 6000-mile (9656 km) long journey that carried him solo across the Atlantic Ocean in a specially modified sea kayak.

Doba set out from Lisbon, Portugal on October 5 of last year, with the intention of kayaking the Atlantic at its widest point. That meant arriving at Cape Canaveral, which he did on Friday. But his ultimate destination was New Smyrna Beach, where friends were waiting to greet him Saturday. By the time he stepped ashore, he had spent 195 days alone at sea, and paddled an estimated 6700 miles (10,782 km) in total.

The journey was not without its challenges. Back in February, bad weather damaged the rudder on the kayak, forcing Aleksander to stop in Bermuda to make repairs. That same bad weather knocked him hundreds of miles off course, so once repairs were complete, he caught a ride aboard a ship, which returned him to his original position, so he could resume the journey where he had left off. That was on March 23. Less than a month later, he was crossing the finish line in Florida.

In staying true to the nature of his solo expedition across the Atlantic, Doba did not restock his boat with food and other supplies when he stopped for repair in the Bermuda. Instead, he continued to use the items he brought with him when he set out from Portugal back in October.

This is a pretty impressive accomplishment at any age, and I respect Aleksander for sticking to the "rules" of the challenge that he set down for himself. Inspiring stuff to say the least.

Video: Paddler Sets New Record For Biggest Drop In A Canoe

Last fall, paddler Jim Coffey made an epic drop in an open canoe, going over the 60-foot (18.2 meter)  La Cascada de Truchas on the Alseseca River in Mexico. In doing so, he broke a 20-year old record, and wrote his own name in the annals of paddling history. The video below shares his story and gives us some unbelievable footage from his run. If you thought big drops in a kayak were scary, wait until you get a load of this one. Don't try this at home kids. There is a reason the previous record stood for so long.

Everest 2014: Picking Up The Pieces

It was a sad, somber weekend on both the North and South Side of Everest following the massive avalanche that claimed as many as 16 lives on the Nepali side of the mountain last Friday. It was the single most deadly accident in Everest history, and it will not only have a lasting impact on this season, but many seasons to come.

While the efforts to retrieve the bodies of the fallen continue, climbing on the South Side has come to a complete standstill. The Sherpa community is in shock, and mourning the loss of their brethren. As a result, they have asked for a 7-day moratorium on operations on the mountain, while they sort through their grief and come to terms with how to proceed. That means, none of the clients are moving up the slopes at the moment, while everyone waits to see what will happen next.

Over the weekend, the Sherpas met in BC and discussed their plans moving forward. Out of that meeting came a list of demands that they wanted to see fulfilled before they would resume their work. Alan Arnette summarized those demands, and they are as follows:

• Increment of immediate relief announced for avalanche victims
• Provide Rs 10 million (US$103,590)  each to families of deceased
• Set up a memorial park in the name of the deceased in Kathmandu
• Cover all expenses for treatment of the injured
• Provide Rs 10 million (US$103,590) to critically hurt who cannot rejoin mountaineering activities
• Set up mountaineering relief fund with 30 per cent of royalty collected from issuing permits to different mountains (est $1M for 2014)
• Double the insurance amount to the mountaineering workers
• Provide additional chopper rescue to mountaineering support staff if insurance fails to cover the cost
• Provide perks and salaries, except summit bonus, through concerned agencies to Sherpas if they want to call off climbing this season
• Manage chopper to bring logistics and equipment from different camps if mountaineers decide to abandon climbing this season
• Don’t take action against SPCC icefall doctors if they refuse to fix ropes and ladders on the route this season
• Let the expedition members call off this season’s climbing if they wish so

If these demands are not met by the end of the week, there is a real chance that the Everest climbing season could be cancelled this year. The Sherpas are essentially threatening to walk off the mountain, which would bring a halt to the vast majority of expeditions. It is unclear at this time, what the response to these demands will be. 

In the wake of the tragic accident, the Discovery Channel has cancelled its planned coverage of Joby Ogwyn's attempt to summit, then jump off the top in a wing-suit. Ogwyn says that he is still going ahead with his plans, it just won't be televised now. 

The rest of the teams are in a holding pattern while they decide what to do. There are some reports of climbers already leaving BC and heading back to Kathmandu, while others wait to see how things will unfold. Dave Hahn, one of the top guides in the world working for RMI, said in a dispatch: "Our Sherpa partners love their jobs and love to climb, but nobody is climbing now and all are struggling to come to terms with how to proceed in a way that honors those lost and protects those left alive."

Similarly, my friend Gulnur Tumbat, who is in Base Camp now, posted this to her blog: "The mountain is shut down at the moment and this season is to bedeclared as "Black Year" with the deadliest day ever. We are exhausted and broken. We are trying to figure out what to do."

Both quotes give you an idea of the mood on the mountain right now. 

Word of the tragic events that occurred on the South Side, spread quickly to the North as well, where, the Sherpa teams are mourning the loss of friends and family too. But teams like the 7 Summits Club and Adventure Peaks have begun to arrive in Base Camp there, and work is proceeding on that side of the mountain. There are preliminary plans for the first climbers to head up to Advanced Base Camp today, as the acclimatization rotations begin. There will be further reports from the North Side as things unfold. 

As you can see, it is another strange year on Everest, with tragedy creating unusual circumstances. What will happen over the next few days remains to be seen, and it is possible that even if he Nepali government meets on the requirements of the Sherpas, that the season will be cancelled anyway. It is a sad, uncertain time on the mountain, and my heart goes out to everyone who is there right now. 

North Pole 2014: Yasu Ogita Abandons Expediton

A quick update from the Arctic this morning, where ExWeb is reporting that Japanese solo-skier Yasu Ogita has abandoned his attempt to reach the North Pole. His support team is arranging for a pick-up as soon as possible, although bad weather may delay any attempt to retrieve him for the next few days.

Reportedly, Yasu is in good physical and mental condition, he simply ran out of time. After setting out from Cape Discovery back on March 7, Yasu has spent the last 44 days traveling north. Unfortunately, rough ice, bad weather, and negative drift have conspired against him. Now, as he's running low on food and fuel, he knows that he won't be able to complete the journey. As of now, he is located at 86º 16’43.8”N, 63º 38’43.8”W, although drift won't keep him there for long.

Weather forecasts say that a blizzard is bearing down on his position now, and that would have prevented him from making further progress. Now, it'll keep the pilots from Kenn Borek Air from getting to him as well. Hopefully they'll be able to safely extract him in a day or two.

With Yasu's departure, on the the American team of Ryan Waters and Eric Larson remain out on the ice. They are still attempting to reach the North Pole, and while they still have 240+ miles (385 km) to go, they have been picking up speed in recent days. They have enough fuel and food to last for about another two and half weeks, so there is still a chance they could complete the expedition as scheduled. I'll post an update on their progress in the next day or two.

Video: Alaska In Full Technicolor

We'll round out the week with this beautiful video, which is a timelapse taken in Alaska, and capturing the night sky in all of its glory. Simple, beautiful, and breathtaking.

Technicolour Alaska from Alexis Coram on Vimeo.

Video: The Running Connection From Mountain Hardwear

For an outdoor gear company, Mountain Hardwear sure is great at making videos. Case in point, this beautiful clip that features some of their sponsored athletes talking about why they love trail running in the mountains. Sure, the MH gear is prominently displayed, but for what is ultimately a commercial, the focus is squarely on getting outside and doing what you love. Oh, and the settings that these folks are running in are certainly easy on the eyes as well.

The Running Connection from Mountain Hardwear on Vimeo.

Video: Mountain Biking The Tour du Mont Blanc

The Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the best hiking trails in all of Europe, if not the world. At 170 km (105 miles) in length, it circles its namesake mountain, and passes through three countries - France, Italy, and Switzerland – in the process. Typically it takes 7-10 days to walk the entire route, but last summer a team of Belgian mountain bikers rode the entire thing in three days. The video below tells their story, and it is a good one. The 17-minute short film, will leave you wanting to ride and/or walk this route too.

Big thanks to reader Mar Knox for sharing this great video.

Himalaya 2014: Progress Reports From Other Mountains

While hearts are heavy with the news from Everest today, climbers on other peaks have been checking in with progress reports as well. Much like the teams on the Big Hill, they are mostly just getting underway, and starting their acclimatization process. But with the season starting to roll, there will be more things to report soon.

Denis Urubko and his team, which includes, Artem Brown, Adam Bielecki, and Alex Txikon, are on their way to Kangchenjunga where they will soon begin their attempt of a new route on the North Face of that mountain. At 8586 meters (28,169 feet) in height, it is the third tallest peak in the world, behind only K2 and Everest. It is also a considerable challenge to climb no matter which route you choose. After acclimatizing in the region, Denis and company will attempt an alpine style ascent, without Sherpa support at altitude. They should arrive in Base Camp this weekend.

Mike Horn and Fred Roux are now in BC on Makalu, where they'll be attempting an alpine style ascent as well. They'll also being going up without Sherpa support, and sans bottled oxygen. They are just starting to get settled into place, and haven't posted too many updates just yet, but expect to hear more from them soon. Makalu is the fifth tallest mountain in the world, standing 8481 meters (27,825 ft) in height.

Aussie climber Chris Jensen Burke has her sights set squarely on Makalu this spring as well, and should arrive in Base Camp today. She reports heavy snow on the trail, but BC is said to have no powder at the moment. This will serve as a warm-up for other things to come. This summer, Chris will head to Pakistan to attempt K2.

Finally, Mike and Matt Moniz are on Cho Oyu, where they are acclimatizing for their first 8000 meter peak of the year. The father and son team (Matt is just 16 years old), are attempting to put together a Himalayan triple-header this spring. Once they wrap up their climb in Tibet, they'll jump back across the border to Nepal, where they'll attempt Everest and Lhotse as well. They report that things are going great so far, and their first rotations have been successful ones.

Everest 2014: Avalanche Near Camp 1, Numerous Sherpas Dead

Update: The death toll on Everest has climbed to as many as 16, as some of the missing climbers are found amongst the snow and ice that tumbled down the mountain. That is making things even more somber in Base Camp, as the names of the dead have now been revealed. Alan Arnette has a full list, as well as other info about which teams will be impacted by this accident. Certainly a rough day for all.

Sad news from the South Side of Everest this morning, where reports have come in that a major avalanche has claimed the lives of numerous Sherpas working near Camp 1. Preliminary reports from the mountain indicate that as many as 13 have been killed, with several more missing. Search and rescue efforts are still ongoing at this time, and all climbing activities have been suspended.

The avalanche came off of the West Shoulder, sweeping down the mountain as the Sherpas were shuttling gear up to Camp 1 and 2. There were few western climbers on the slopes at this point, as most were still acclimatizing in Base Camp, or on other nearby peaks. 

Alan Arnette has posted reports from major teams operating on Everest, and most didn't have any Sherpas involved in the accident. Those that did, suffered only minor injuries. There are quite a few smaller teams that guide climbers up the mountain, and presumably most of the dead were working with those companies.

Because of the size of this avalanche, and ongoing rescue operations, all of the climbers have been restricted to BC for now. Reports indicate that more than 150 people are stranded above the slide however, so some efforts will need to be made to help them get down. Helicopters will be brought in today to help retrieve bodies as well. 

If 13 Sherpas have indeed died in this avalanche, and all indications are that those numbers are accurate, it would be the single biggest accident in Everest history. That is a sad way to start the season, and once again the Sherpas are taking the brunt of the losses. Thankfully, this avalanche did not occur next week, when there likely to be more climbers in C1 and C2. The loss of life could have been considerably higher then. 

My condolences go out to the friends and families of the Sherpas who have perished on Everest today. I'm sure their loss will have an impact on the entire season as it unfolds. Lets hope that this isn't a sign of things to come, and that there are no more deaths on the mountain this spring.