Nat Geo Announces 2014 Emerging Explorers

Yesterday, National Geographic announced its 2014 class of Emerging Explorers, a distinction it awards to researchers, scientists, adventurers, and conservationists who have contributed significant advances to their particular field of study, while in the early stages of their careers. As usual, the men and women who make up this year's group of Emerging Explorers are smart, highly ambitious, and very passionate about their work.

In all, there are 14 people on this year's list, each working in a unique and important field. For instance, Christopher Golden is researching the effects of changes to the Earth's environment have on human health, while Shabana Basi-Rasikh has founded a nonprofit designed to help young people in Afghanistan – particularly women – seek education abroad. Xiaolin Zheng is a nanoscientist who helped invent a new kind of solar cell that is efficient and inexpensive and Juliana Machado Ferreira is a conservation biologist fighting illegal wildlife trafficking in Brazil.

This is just a sample of some of the impressive young men and women who have earned a spot on the Nat Geo list of Emerging Explorers this year. Other members of this class are focusing their attention on saving Kenya's rapidly depleting lion population, creating clean and inexpensive energy for cooking to Africa, and creating the next generation of robots. As you can see, their areas of expertise vary greatly, but each is doing important work.

Perhaps the most impressive person on the list is Jack Andraka, an inventor who just might be reshaping the way we think about medical care. Jack has invented a cheap, accurate, and simple test that can detect pancreatic, lung, and ovarian cancer in its early stages, possibly saving millions of lives. He holds the patent on this test, and hopes to bring it to market in the next decade, and he even believes the same test could be applied to other diseases as well. What makes Jack stand out from an already impressive crowd? This young man is just 17 years old, and is the youngest person to ever be given the distinction of being named an Emerging Explorer.

Along with the honor of being in an Emerging Explorer class, Nat Geo also awards the recipients with a $10,000 grant to help further their research.

To learn more about these remarkable men and women, check out their profiles on the Emerging Explorers webpage.

National Geographic Announces 2014 Gear of the Year - Spring/Summer Edition

For all of those gear hounds out there looking to get their fix, National Geographic has announced their selections for the 2014 Spring/Summer Gear of the Year. As usual, the list if filled with plenty of products that we'll all lust over, while trying to figure out how we'll pay for it all. The list includes something for just about every outdoor athlete, from backpackers, to climbers, to mountain bikers, and more.

Some of the items of interest include the first ever mountain biking helmet from Smith Optics. The lightweight helmet actually has an eye-catching sense of style, as well as being designed for safety and comfort. Barebones has introduces a great looking camping lantern lit by LED light, and with a built-in USB port for recharging other devices. Sierra Designs earns a spot on the list with its newly designed, and super comfortable, Backcountry Bed 800 sleeping bag, while Mountain Hardware gets a mention for its new South Col 70 backpack, which stands out from the crowd thanks to the fact that it is waterproof.

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are more than 20 great gear items that earned the distinction of being called "Gear of the Year" by Nat Geo, including a kayak, a bike, some running shoes, cameras, and more. If you're in the market to upgrade or add gear to your collection, you'll want to check out the list for some suggestions. Not all of it is overly pricey either, as many of the options are quite affordable. Take for example the new Loke Jacket from Helly Hansen, which is a water and wind proof shell with a price tag of just $100. That's an incredibly good deal from a company that knows how to create tough outdoor apparel.

Head on over and check out the entire list here. Be warned, your wallet might be a bit lighter afterwards, but you'll be a happy camper. Literally and figuratively.

National Geographic Presents 50 Tours Of A Lifetime For 2014

Earlier this week, National Geographic Traveler has released their annual selection of their Tours of a Lifetime, giving us 50 more amazing trips that we can take in our never-ending quest to explore the world. As in years past, the 2014 edition of this list offers some amazing tours, offered by some of the best adventure travel companies in the world, that anyone of us can book today. Provided we have enough money that is.

As usual, Nat Geo has broken down their selections by geographic categories. That means you'll find options for travel in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Europe, North America, and the South Pacific and Oceania. This makes it incredibly easy to find new options for travel in a favorite region, or look for options for some place you've never been before. Each of the regions have a plethora of unique trips to choose from, offering up a wide range of choices that any world traveler will appreciate.

The editors of the magazine look for unique offerings that also align nicely with the organization's mission of immersing us in diverse cultures and delivering experiences that can't necessarily be found anywhere else. For instance, for those wanting to visit Africa, one of the suggestions is a trip to Namibia, offered by a company called Adventures in Africa, that sends you off to the Namib Desert to track endangered black rhinos and elephants that have adapted to living in that incredibly dry place. In Asia, there is an excursion from Wild Frontier Travel that takes you along the Trans-Himalaya Highway in India and another from Explore! that take travelers into Iraq (don't ask me why the Middle East falls under the Asia category). Have dreams of South America instead? How about going on a Jaguar safari in Brazil with Wild Planet Adventures?

There truly is something here for everyone, no matter what your style of travel or how you define "adventure." It is certainly fun to read this list and dream about all the possibilities. Of course, not all of them fall into the affordable category, at least not for most of us. Make no mistake, there are certainly some inexpensive trips to be had on this list, but others are quite expensive, putting them well out of there reach of the average traveler. Still, these suggestions are also a good launching point for hatching ideas for our own travels. While Nat Geo's specific suggestions may not always be friendly to our bank accounts, they do allow us to seek other options that are.

Video: A Tale Of Two Atolls

It is no secret that we, as human beings, have had a detrimental effect on the word's oceans. We have polluted them, over fished them, and generally treated them poorly in most regards. As a result, the creatures that live in the sea are not as plentiful as they once were. Recently, marine biologist and photographer Thomas P. Peschak traveled to the Mozambique Strait to shoot a story for National Geographic. What he found there was something extraordinary. Two atolls that remain protected and largely untouched by man's effects on the sea. The video below gives us a glimpse of what he found.

A Tale of Two Atolls from Save Our Seas Foundation on Vimeo.

Video: Stormscapes In Timelapse

National Geographic always delivers quality content, whether in print or digital format. Case in point, this fantastic video from their YouTube Channel that captures storms fronts in timelapse that allows viewers to see things change and grow. It is pretty awe inspiring to watch these forces at work, while being oddly beautiful at the same time.

Video: Inspire The Next Generation Of Explorers

This video comes our way via National Geographic Adventure and features Adventurer of the Year winners Amy and Dave Freeman, who have dedicated their lives to inspiring others through their expeditions. They've done that by paddling, dogsledding and hiking their way across North America, while interacting with more than 85,000 students along the way. The video below shares that story, as does a companion interview posted to the Nat. Geo. website.

This couple is proof that we can all go on big adventures if we put our mind to it.

Kilian Jornet Named National Geographic 2014 People's Choice Adventurer Of The Year!

Ultrarunner Kilian Jornet has been named the 2014 National Geographic People's Choice Adventurer of the Year. Jornet, who edged out 12 other Adventurer of the Year candidates, won this honor following a voting period that saw more than 75,000 people cast online ballots.

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you've read my regular reports on Kilian's exploits. For my money, he is amongst the top endurance athletes in the world today. His ability to scramble up and down a mountain at unbelievable speeds is remarkable, something he demonstrated on two of Europe's most iconic peaks last year. It took him just five hours to conquer Mont Blanc, and he set a record on the Matterhorn, going up and down that mountain in 2 hours and 52 minutes.

In announcing the winner of this year's People's Choice award, National Geographic Adventure's online editor Mary Anne Potts is quoted as saying: “We believe that Kilian exemplifies the spirit of adventure in the truest sense of the word. He has demonstrated over and over that limits are meant to be pushed, and his growing list of remarkable accomplishments is truly inspiring.” She went on to add “We received a record number of online votes from our fans across the adventure community, and we’re thrilled to call Kilian the National Geographic 2014 People’s Choice Adventurer of the Year.”

I am happy to say that Kilian would have been my choice for Adventurer of the Year as well. His incredible feats in the mountain have been simply amazing. Other than Ueli Steck's solo summit of Annapurna, I'm hard pressed to think of anyone who has come close to what the Spaniard has accomplished. I'm happy to see him earn this much deserved recognition.

Congratulations to Kilian on this honor.

Reminder: Hangout With Nat Geo's Adventurers Of The Year Tomorrow!

I posted about this last week, but I wanted to remind everyone that National Geographic will be hosting a Google Hangout tomorrow with five of its 2014 Adventurers of the Year. That means, that through the use of modern technology, we'll all get the chance to attend a virtual meeting with some pretty impressive people.

Amongst those scheduled to be in attendance at the hangout are ultrarunner Kilian Jornet, surfer Greg Long, long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad, snowboarder Kevin Pearce and explorer Sarah Marquis. Climber, storyteller and adventure filmmaker Fitz Cahall, who did the individual pieces on the Adventurers for Nat Geo, will also be in attendance.

The Google Hangout will take place from 1-2 PM Eastern Standard Time tomorrow. Questions for the group can be submitted through all the usual social media outlets, including Twitter, Google+ and Facebook using the hashtag #AdvOfYearChat. If there is something you'd like to ask these folks, it is best to get your questions in ahead of time so they can be reviewed and asked during the online meeting.

And as always, don't forget to cast your vote for the People's Choice Adventurer of the Year. Voting will run through the end of January. I know who I'd like to see win, but we'll just have to wait until the winner is announced in February.

Nat Geo Invites You To Hangout With The Adventurers Of The Year

National Geographic, and the wonders of modern technology, are giving all of us the opportunity to hangout with the 2014 Adventurers of the Year next week. On January 15, Nat Geo will host a Google Hangout with five of these amazing men and women, who will share their stories of courage and determination with us online.

The virtual meeting will take place from 1-2 PM Eastern Standard Time next Wednesday and will include the following adventurers: ultra-runner Kilian Jornet, surfer Greg Long, explorer Sarah Marquis, endurance swimmer Diana Nyad and snowboarder Kevin Pearce. The event will also be hosted by Fitz Cahall, who is the mountaineer and filmmaker who has been instrumental in telling the stories of this year's crop of winners.

Questions for the group can be submitted via Twitter, Google+, Facebook, and YouTube using the hashtag #AdvOfYearChat. Due to time constraints, those questions will be reviewed ahead of time and submitted to the adventurers during the Hangout.

And don't forget you can still cast your votes for the People's Choice Adventurer of the Year. Voting remains open until January 31, with the winner being announced in February.

This should be a fun way to use modern technology to learn more about these amazing athletes and explorers. I know that if I have that hour free, I am going to try to be there for the event.

Video: Everest Paragliders Get Mainstream Press On 'Nightline'

In the spring of 2011, Sanobabu Sunuwar and Lakpa Tshiri Sherpa captured the imagination of the climbing community with their astounding feat of climbing Everest and then paragliding off the summit. Their flight lasted 42 minutes and covered 15 miles, before landing in Namche Bazaar. Anyone who knows the Khumbu Valley realizes that that is a heck of a long way to glide and that the views must have been spectacular. Last night their story was told on the news program Nightline and the video from the show can be found below. It is always great to see someone from the world of adventure get some attention from the mainstream media. It just doesn't happen all that often, but this story was handled very well.

Thanks to my friends at Nat Geo Adventure for sharing.

Breaking News from ABC | ABC Sports News

Video: A Manifesto For The National Geographic Adventurers Of The Year

Last week, National Geographic announced their 2014 Adventurers of the Year, revealing a cast of 13 amazing men and women who have pushed the boundaries of exploration in the past 12 months. A few days ago, they also released this awesome and inspiring video with Fitz Cahall, an adventurer who turned his passion for storytelling and the outdoors into a job as a filmmaker. Fitz's story is a good one and his drive to succeed can be applied to many facets of our lives. His message it to pursue the things you love and don't be afraid to take some risks along the way. The rewards will be worth it.

National Geographic Announces Adventurers Of The Year!

While I was away last week National Geographic announced the 2014 Adventurers of the Year, a distinction that goes to 13 individuals who achieved extraordinary accomplishments in exploration, adventure sports, conservation or activism. As usual, this year's list includes climbers, skiers, endurance athletes and a host of other amazing individuals who pushed boundaries in some unique ways.

Amongst those who have earned a place of honor on the 2014 list are Dave and Amy Freeman, who traveled across North America on foot, in kayaks and on dogsleds, covering some 11, 647 miles (18,744 km) in the process. They're joined by Raphael Slawinski and Ian Welsted who put up the first ascent of the tricky K6 in Pakistan, and Sarah Marquis, who traveled on foot from Siberia to Australia over a three-year period. Unsurprisingly, Diana Nyad makes the list for her amazing swim from Cuba to the U.S., and ultra-runner Kilian Jornet is honored for his amazing feats of speed and athleticism in the mountains. See the full list by clicking here.

As has been the norm the past few years, Nat Geo is also letting us cast our vote on who we think should be the top adventurer. The winner of the vote will be named the People's Choice Adventurer of the Year in early 2014. Vote early and vote often by clicking here.

As usual, there are some very good choices on this list and some people that I've written about regularly. It's great to see some of the folks that we admire get recognition beyond just a niche following on the Internet. Congratulations to all of the winners. These honors are much deserved all around .

Nat Geo Presents 2014 Ultimate Bucket List

Did you manage to scratch a few things off your bucket list last year? Are you in need of adding a few new adventures for the future? Then look no further than the 2014 Ultimate Adventure Bucket List from National Geographic Adventure. This year's list consists of 40 classic adventures and 20 new ones, giving would-be explorers a chance to scour the globe in search of amazing experiences, breathtaking views and adrenaline pumping activities.

The list was compiled by 20 men and women who know adventure. People like professional kayaker Tyler Bradt, mountain biker Rebecca Rusch and ultrarunner Kilian Jornet. These explorers and adventurers provide options for some of the most classic travel experiences anywhere with such suggestions as climbing in Patagonia, skiing in the Dolomites and riding the Kokopelli Trail in Colorado and Utah.

But if all of that sounds like old-hat and you're looking for something completely new to add to your adventure resume, these experts have you covered there as well. For instance, there are suggestions for going mountain biking in Iran, running a trail race in Nepal or trekking in Papua New Guinea. Between the classic adventures and the new ones, there truly is a little something for everyone on this list.

As 2013 begins to wind down and we start to look ahead to the promise of a new year, it's never too early to start thinking about where you'd like to go and what you would like to do to add a little adventure to your own life. There really are a lot of great suggestions on both of these lists and it is never too early to start planning your next escape.

I think my personal bucket list just expanded by more than a few adventures.

Video: National Geographic Live! - The Call of Everest

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

Casting Call: Naked And Afraid Season 2

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

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

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

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

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

Alex Honnold To Free Solo A Building On Live Television

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

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

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

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

National Geographic Honors Six Explorers, Conservationists and Adventurers

Last night the National Geographic Society's 125th Anniversary Gala took place at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. The event continued the year-long celebration of the "New Age of Exploration" by honoring some very distinguished guests for their contributions to science, the expansion of knowledge and pushing the boundaries of exploration in the 21st century.

Nat Geo CEO and Chairman John Fahey was on hand to hand out the Hubbard Medal, which is the Society's highest honor. This year's recipients included filmmaker James Cameron and oceanographer Sylvia Earl, both of whom were honored for their work in exploring and protecting the seas. Cameron was also named Explorer of the Year for 2012 dive into the Mariana Trench. The medal was also given to author Edward O. Wilson for a lifetime of writing about the diversity of life on our planet. BASE Jumper Felix Baumgartner was on hand to collect his award as the Adventurer of the Year, which he earned with his record setting leap from the edge of space, while Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebeck was given the Alexander Graham Bell Medal for his 25 years of service as the host of the National Geographic Bee. The Chairman's Award went to philanthropist Howard G. Buffett for his leadership in conservation efforts around the globe.

Congratulations to all of the winners. Each is more than deserving for their in their own field. Some for their amazing achievements over the past year and others for a lifelong contribution to the ideals that the National Geographic Society has espoused since it's inception 125 years ago. These fine individuals are certainly representative of exploration in a new age.

You can read a complete rundown of the evening here.

National Geographic Announces 2013 Emerging Explorers

Yesterday, the National Geographic Society announced its 2013 class of Emerging Explorers, once again turning the spotlight on some of the brightest young minds who are working in a wide variety of fields today. In fact, this year's recipients are helping to redefine exactly what the term "explorer" means in the 21st century as the group includes a roboticist, an entrepreneur and a couple of artists, along with the more traditional biologists, geologists and conservationists. It safe to say that the world of exploration has opened up in some new and very interesting ways.

In all, there are 17 individuals who have been named to the Emerging Explorers Program this year. Each of them is recognized for having accomplished important things in their particular area of expertise during the early part of their career and their work shows significant promise for future breakthroughs as well. To aid them in their research, Nat Geo awards each Emerging Explorer $10,000 as well.

Amongst this year's class of Emerging Explorers are Bethany Ehlmann who is a planetary geologist on NASA's Rover Curiosity team. She is focused on exploring our solar system to see how planets formed over time. She is joined by Sandesh Kadur, a wildlife photographer and filmmaker who focuses on creating documentaries about endangered species and threatened habitats. Conservation Biologist Andrea Marshall earned a place amongst the Emerging Explorers for her research with threatened marine megafauna such as the stingray while adventurer Gregg Treinish is recognized for his efforts in founding the non-profit Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation.

This is just a sampling of the amazing men and women make up this year's class of Emerging Explorers. Each of them is a fascinating personality in their own right and they are all doing interesting work in an incredibly diverse number of fields. You can take a look at the entire class by clicking here.

Congratulations to the entire 2013 class. This honor is well deserved all around.

Video: Americans On Everest

As I mentioned yesterday, 2013 is an important year on Everest. Not only does it mark the 60th anniversary of the first ascent by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, but it also is the 50th anniversary of the first ascent by an American and the first ascent along the difficult West Ridge.

While surfing through YouTube I came across this great classic climbing film that chronicled that 1963 American expedition. The footage is classic in every sense of the word and I'm sure this short film will bring back memories of watching these kinds of National Geographic movies in our classrooms while growing up. This is a real hidden gem and definitely one that fans of Everest will not want to miss.

Nat Geo Adventure Shares 2013 Spring/Summer Gear Of The Year

In the market for some great new gear for your upcoming Spring and Summer adventures? Okay, I know! That's a silly question. We're always in the market for new gear right? Just in time to kick off a new season of outdoor run, National Geographic Adventure is presenting their picks for the best new gear for warm weather fun.

All told, there are 29 items that are given the nod for Gear of the Year, including tents, sleeping bags, packs, shells and more. In fact, no matter what you're outdoor passion is, there is likely to be something on this list that you can not only use but will probably want to add to your gear closet. For instance, the new Ultimate Direction PB Adventure Vest is perfect for long trail runs in warmer weather while the Big Agnes Fishhook UL2 tent will provide plenty of shelter for those camping excursions. The GoPro Hero3 Black Edition gets a mention as well, but considering how ubiquitous that device is these days, it's no surprise it showed up here as well. Columbia's Omni-Freeze Zero line of apparel sounds like it is just the thing for keeping us cool on a warm summer day and the new Patagonia Encapsil Down Belay Parka promises to take down jackets to a new level for any upcoming mountaineering adventures.

This is just a taste of some of the great gear that is finding its way into our favorite gear shops at the moment. There are a host of other great products on the list as well. Spring is the perfect time to head back outdoors and new gear is always a good incentive to do just that.

Now if I could just get my hands on one of everything!