Video: Machu Picchu in 4K!

4K continues to be all the buzz in video. For those who don't know, it is a much higher standard of resolution than what we currently get with HD video, and while it naturally creates massive file sizes, it also captures images in stunning clarity. The video below was shot using a 4K camera. It is 4+ minutes of splendor shot in Peru, particularly around the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu. The results are quite spectacular. I personally can't wait until I can start viewing these videos in 4K myself. Really impressive stuff.

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!

Video: The Green Mansions Of The Amazon

The Amazon is an amazing place that few of us ever get the opportunity to see. It is an incredibly diverse biosphere unlike any on our planet, and quite frankly it is an awe inspiring place that I've been fortunate enough to visit. The video below takes us on location to that visually striking place, offering up a glimpse of the Amazon from Colombia, Peru and Brazil.

GREEN MANSIONS from Gātha on Vimeo.

Video: Explorer Louis-Philippe Loncke Discusses Lake Titicaca Exepdtion At TEDxFlanders

Last year, explorer Louis-Philippe Loncke, along with Gadiel Sanchez Rivera aka "Cho", spent 38 days circumnavigating Lake Titicaca by kayak. That body of water, which falls on the border of Peru and Bolivia, is considered the highest navigable lake in the world, and yet no one had ever completely paddled its shores before. Recently, Lou-Phi appeared at TEDxFlanders to share his story about that expedition. The video below is his presentation. It offers all kinds of insights into what they found on their journey, and the logistics of kayaking in the Andes.

Video: Mountain Biking Peru, GoPro Style

If you need further proof that the mountain biking in Peru is spectacular, than look no further than this video. It features Ali Goulet, Chris Van Dine and Aaron Chase on an adventure in the South American country that was captured on GoPro of course. The 4-minute clip is a bit older, but still a fantastic look at mountain biking in the Andes.

New Farthest Source Of The Amazon Discovered

Researchers say they have located a new source for the Amazon River and possibly adding an additional 47-57 miles to its overall length, which already extends beyond 4000 miles. But, with all things exploration related in the 21st century, there is some controversy as to whether or not this new location should actually be considered as a tributary for the longest river on the planet.

Since 1971, the Apurimac River has been considered the furthest source of the Amazon, and many explorers and adventurers have operated in the region under that assumption. According to this new report however, the Mantaro River, located in southwest Peru, now holds that distinction.

The researchers who have asserted that the Mantaro is the new source used satellite imagery and topographic maps to study the Amazon and it's numerous tributaries. With GPS tracking points, the team determined that the Mantaro is actually about 10% longer than the Apurimac, which would make the furthest source.


But as I mentioned, there is some controversy afoot. The Mantaro doesn't flow for parts of the year, thanks to a dam that was built in 1974. When defining a "source," most geographers feel that a river must flow uninterrupted. The researchers behind this new finding say that the Mantaro would flow all year if it wasn't for the dam.

Does it really matter where the true source is located? Most would probably say no. But if you're one of the many adventurers who has attempted to travel the length of the river, or explored the Amazon Basin, it means quite a lot. This revelation could invalidate certain past expeditions that paddled the entire river for instance.

Personally, I happen to enjoy that we're still discovering things about our own planet. It is stories like this one that remind us that exploration is important, even in the 21st century. Now, who wants to be the first to go upstream and actually visit the source? I'm in!

Video: Erik Weihenmayer Talks Paddling On The Rio Marañon In Peru

Adventurer Erik Weihenmayer is certainly one inspiring individual. Not only is he the first (and to date, only) blind person to climb Everest, he has also managed to compete in adventure races, compete in mountain biking events, and a number of other outdoor activities. He has even taken up kayaking, which must be terrifying for anyone who doesn't have the use of their eyes. Next year Erik plans to paddle the length of the Grand Canyon and as a training exercise for that expedition, he recently traveled to Peru to take on the Rio Marañon, which presents some similar challenges. In the video below, he talks about that adventure.

Thanks to Lou-Phi for sharing this video.

Rio Marañon with Erik Weihenmaye​r from peter gandesbery on Vimeo.

impossible2Possible Team Running Across Peru

While I was away from my computer for parts of last week, the team at impossible2Possible launched a new youth expedition, this time sending a group of students on a run through Peru. The aptly named Expedition Peru got underway last Wednesday and should wrap up today after the five students involved have run from the heights of the Andes all the way to the Amazon Rainforest, one of the most ecologically diverse places on the planet.

As is typical with any i2P project, this one has multiple objectives, not the least of which is promoting the importance of large ecosystems like the Amazon for the health of our planet. The team has been educating others about the diversity of life that exists in the rainforest and the treats that those species face from the encroachment of man. The expedition has also promoted strategies for protecting these ecosystems in the future to ensure that the Amazon isn't damaged irreparably.

Education is always a key element for an i2P project as well and this one is no different. Throughout the expedition the team has interacted with numerous classrooms back home, sharing valuable insights about their experiences with students. Adventure has always played a key role in engaging those students with the message that the impossible2Possible team is promoting, with the hope of inspiring them to pursue their own adventures while gaining more knowledge on a specific topic.

For nearly a week, the five i2P youth ambassadors have run a marathon per day as they traveled across some of Peru's amazing landscapes. The journey started in the mountain town of Cusco, famous for its ancient ruins and sweeping views of the Andes mountains. Over the course of the run the team made their way to Manu National Park, a remote and diverse ecosystem that has been preserved to protect the wide variety of species that live there.

For an idea of what the expedition has been like for the runners, check out the video below.

Expedition Peru Day 4 & 5 from GOi2P on Vimeo.

Blind Adventurer Erik Weihenmayer Temporarily Detained In Peru

Blind adventurer Erik Weihenmayer found himself in an odd situation a few days back. Canoe & Kayak magazine is reporting that Erik was detained by locals in Peru while kayaking down the Marañón River, one of the main tributaries of the Amazon River. Weihenmayer is in South America with a group of 20 paddlers training for an attempt on the Grand Canyon next year and the team was mistaken for a group of scouts looking for suitable locations to build a dam on the Marañón. This is a highly controversial plan in Peru that has many of the locals up in arms.

According to the C&K report, the kayaking team was held overnight after being confronted by locals who warned them if they had proceeded further down river they would have been met by hostile villagers at the next location. Fortunately, the situation was resolved when it was revealed the paddling team's leader – James “Rocky” Contos – is a conservationist who is campaigning against damming efforts and has even made a film about the situation.

Weihenmayer is best known as the first blind person to summit Everest, but if you check out his website, you'll see that is just one of his many adventures. Erik has also climbed the rest of the Seven Summits, raced in the Leadville 100, competed in marathons and adventure races and a host of other activities.

After it was determined that the paddlers were not part of a dam survey team they were allowed to go on their way. But the situation underscores how passionate many Peruvians are about this topic. Commercial organizations have reportedly identified 20 locations to build a dam on the river, which will substantially alter its course and the landscapes around it.

These kinds of water rights issues are major points of contentions in South America at the moment. Chile is also facing similar resistance to several of it's rivers as well.

TitiKayak Debrief: Circumnavigating The Highest Navigable Lake In The World By Kayak

Back in August and September I posted a couple of time about the TitiKayak expedition. For those who don't recall, that was the attempt by Belgian adventurer Louis-Philippe Loncke and Peruvian explorer Gadiel "Cho" Sanchez Rivera to become the first people to circumnavigate Lake Titicaca by kayak. The lake, which is located at 3812 meters (12,507 ft) in altitude and falls along the border of Peru and Bolivia, covers an area of 8372 sq. km (3232 sq. miles) and is widely considered to be the highest navigable lake in the world. Lonke and Rivera set out to paddle 1100 km (683 miles) around Titicaca's parameter while taking photographs if its shoreline and GPS coordinates of its current position. The hope is that the data will allow researchers to study the impact of climate change on the lake in the years to come by having baseline numbers to compare their readings to.

The expedition actually wrapped up in late September but due to busy schedules and other commitments, it has taken a bit of time to upload the photos from their journey and share details of what it was like out on the water. All told, it took Lou-Phi and Cho 38 days to paddle around the lake, staying close to the shore for most of the way. Stopping frequently to take photos and gather GPS data, the two men were meticulous in their approach and stuck closely to their plan as much as they could. They did run into some issues when attempting to cross the border into Bolivia, as law enforcement at the checkpoint between the countries were reluctant to let them pass, in part because they had never seen a kayak before. It took two days to sort out the paperwork, but eventually it came together and the adventurers were allowed to continue on their way.


Dealing with immigration officers were the least of their worries however and there were plenty of other challenges to keep them on their toes. For starters, August and September are winter months in the Southern Hemisphere and this was one of the coldest winters in recent memories. The boys faced freezing temps for much of the way and the Puno region through which they traveled received its highest amount of snowfall in the past 30 years. Cold temperatures, snow and a big lake don't always make for the best of conditions.

The primary focus of the expedition was to not just paddle around its shores but to also survey the health of the body of water. What Loncke and Sanchez Rivera discovered is that Titicaca is facing some serious challenges. The water was littered with garbage and is contaminated by chemicals and sewage dumped into into it from the surrounding communities. In short, the lake faces some major issues in the future and with no regulation or proper water treatment in place, it is going to get much worse before it ever starts to get better.

You can read more about the expedition and the team's experiences on the TitiKayak blog. You can also review the photos they took along the way in their Photo Inventory. All of the images have been uploaded and organized, but GPS coordinates have not been matched to them just yet. That is a big job that will be completed sometime early next year, completing the full data set of the inventory.

Congrats to Lou-Phi and Cho on completing this amazing adventure. Great effort on both the exploration and environmental front.

Explorers To Circumnavigate Lake Titicaca By Kayak

Two explorers are about to embark on a paddling adventure around Lake Titicaca, the largest lake in South America and widely considered the highest navigable lake in the world. Their expedition is expected to take six weeks to complete and will cover 1100 km (683 miles) as they survey threats to the healthy of the lake, which is located at an altitude of 3812 meters (12,507 ft) in the Peruvian Andes.

Belgian adventurer Louis-Philippe Loncke and his partner Gadiel Sanchez Rivera will launch their kayak journey tomorrow, August 16. The plan is to circumnavigate the shoreline of the lake, taking GPS coordinates and extensive photographs to document the current position of the water, which can then be compared to future readings to determine if Titicaca is shrinking in size due to climate change. As temperatures warm up and glaciers in the Andes retreat, the rivers that feed the lake will provide less flow. That could spell trouble for the ecosystem around Lake Titicaca and the communities that fall on its shores.

Those same communities are already facing issues with water contamination due to chemicals and sewage being deposited directly into the water. The hope is that the expedition will help raise awareness of these threats to the lake and spur those communities to plan for water treatment options before it is too late. While paddling around Titicaca, the two explorers will discuss these issues with the local inhabitants, many of whom are already suffering as a result of pollution in the water.

Neither of these two men are strangers to exploration. Loncke, who is a member of the Explorers Club, once trekked solo and unsupported across the Simpson Desert in Australia and kayaked for 600 km (372 miles) along the waterways of his home country of Belgium. Rivera, who is better known by his nickname of Cho, spent two years walking the Amazon River with Ed Stafford a few years back. LouPhi and Cho have recently become fast friends and are now ready to embark on an adventure of their own.

A paddling expedition around Lake Titicaca sounds like it should be amazing and I'm actually surprised that no one has done it before. Taking GPS readings of the shore line may prove only marginally useful however as GPS readings are only accurate to within a few meters, which isn't necessarily close enough to track retreating water lines on the lake. The photographs they take will help to alleviate this somewhat and should prove useful in creating the first ever extensive inventory of the lake's shore. We'll be able to follow along with the adventure on LouPhi's blog where he will be documenting their findings and posting updates of their progress.

Video: A Mountain Biking Adventure In Peru

If you're looking for yet another reason to visit Peru, check out this fantastic video which was shot on GoPro cameras by friends Ali Goulet, Chris Van Dine and Aaron Chase. The three men recenly visited the South American country where they had a chance to ride some gnarly mountain biking trails while interacting with the local culture. The result was this fine short film that may inspire you to want to follow in their tire tread.

Video: Social Media Driven Epic Adventure In Peru

Peru is one of those countries that ever adventure traveler should visit at least once in their lifetime. Travel blogger Dan Moore recently discovered this for himself when he allowed the Facebook followers of Covermore travel insurance to dictate his entire trip, starting with the destination. Dan chronicled his travels using a GoPro camera and along the way he visited classic sites like Machu Picchu, the Nazca Lines and Lake Titicaca. The essence of his trip is captured in the video below, which is likely to inspire you to want to visit Peru too. Looks like he had a great time.

Video: Poco Loco - Climbing In The Peruvian Andes (Pt. 4)

Today we have the fourth and final video from the climbing series that I've been featuring all week long that has taken us on an expedition to the Peruvian Andes to climb the 5440 meter (17,847 ft) Puscanturpa Este. The Dutch team featured in the videos climbed a new route along the North Face of the mountain, dubbing that route Poco Loco after they completed it.

After watching the team train in the Alps, then travel to Peru to reach Base Camp, followed by some acclimatization in the Andes, it's now time for the climb to begin in ernest. This video gets down to the nitty gritty of this first ascent, giving us some great views of the massive wall and the surrounding countryside. Lots of excellent climbing shots in this segment and a great capper to a series of good grass-roots climbing videos for sure.

Peru Expedition episode 4 of 4 - Puscanturpa Este from vincent van beek on Vimeo.

Video: Poco Loco - Climbing In The Peruvian Andes (Pt. 3)

Today we have the third of four excellent climbing videos that chronicle a team of Dutch climbers who recently traveled to Peru to climb a new route along the North Face of the 5440 meter (17,847 ft) Puscanturpa Este, a difficult peak located in the Andes.

In this video the team has arrived on the mountain and are climbing up its slopes as part of their acclimatization process before taking on their main objective. This time out we get plenty of great shots of the surrounding landscapes, which are breathtaking as you would expect.

Peru Expedition episode 3 of 4 - Acclimatisation from vincent van beek on Vimeo.

Video: Poco Loco - Climbing In The Peruvian Andes (Pt. 2)

Yesterday I shared part one of a new series of climbing films that follow a team of Dutch climbers who traveled to the Peruvian Andes to put up a new route on Puscanturpa Este, a 5440 meter (17,847 ft) peak that had to be conquered along its North Face. The team spent three weeks climbing the new route, naming it Poco Loco after they successfully completed it.

In Part 1 of the series we saw the team traveling all over Europe to train for the challenges they'd find in Peru. In Part 2 which you can watch below, the crew travels to Peru and makes the long journey to Base Camp. Along the way they experience the colorful culture of the country before setting off into the rugged backcountry for their ultimate objective.

Peru Expedition episode 2 of 4 - Road to Basecamp from vincent van beek on Vimeo.

Amazon Express Update: End In Sight

Over the past few months we've been closely following the Amazon Express expedition, during which West Hansen and his team of paddlers have been attempting to travel source-to-sea along the Amazon River. This is, of course, a major undertaking which began back in the Peruvian Andes in August, continued down into some of the most intense whitewater on the planet and later out onto the wide expanse of the might river itself. It has been quite an adventure for the entire group, who continue to paddle on now, knocking off roughly 50+ miles (80+ km) per day. But the end is in sight and they are nearing the finish line at last. If all goes according to plan they should reach the mouth of the river and the Atlantic Ocean sometime early next week.

According to their latest dispatch, West and company are expected to reach Belem, the last major city before the end of the paddle, on Monday, December 3. Belem sits approximately 77 miles (123 km) up river from the point where the Amazon empties into the Atlantic. At this point, they don't expect to pull into the city at all, but instead paddle past it. Taking their current speed into account, it seems likely that they will then wrap up the expedition on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week at the very latest. By the time they are done, they'll have kayaked in excess of 4000 miles (6437 km) through some of the most remote and isolated regions on Earth.

These past few weeks have not been particularly easy ones for the team. As they've paddled further down the river, the current has gotten slower, making it more difficult to cover adequate mileage each day. On top of that, the conditions have gotten windier, which always makes paddling tougher, and they are now dealing with the effects of tides as well. As a result, they're only managing about 3-3.5 mph (4.8-5.6 km/h) in the mornings. In the afternoons the winds die down, allowing them to go faster, but that is also when the tides are at their highest, so that time of day presents its own set of challenges. Needless to say, it has been exhausting work and the crew is ready to finish up and head home.

It looks like next week they'll get to do exactly that.

Amazon Express Update: Into Brazil, Picking Up Speed!

The Amazon Express paddling team, led by West Hansen, continues to make progress in their attempt to kayak the length of the Amazon River in record time. The expedition that began back in the Peruvian Andes in August has now proceeded much further downstream and this week they've managed to once again pass some impressive milestones. They still have a long way to go until they reach the Atlantic Ocean, but West and company seem to really be in a groove now and knocking off the miles at an impressive clip.

Perhaps the biggest news to come from the AE squad this week is that they have left Peru behind at last and are now padding the waters of the Amazon in Brazil. Upon arriving at the first settlement in that country they had to share their paperwork, permits and passports but once the officials there saw that everything was in order, they were allowed to continue on their way. That means they've crossed the last diplomatic hurdles in their way, and should now have a free run to the finish, although they are likely to be stopped by local police or the Brazilian navy a few times along the way.

Shortly after enter Brazil, the team also moved into another timezone. While that may not really seem like much of an accomplishment, when you consider that they've now paddled far enough to completely traverse one timezone and enter another, it gives you an idea of the scope of their adventure.  Add to it that they've now been on the water for 62 days and you being to get an idea of how challenging this journey must be for them, both physically and mentally.  (Note: The 62 days represents the number of days they've been in their kayaks and paddling. The expedition has actually been longer.)

That daily grind isn't slowing them down much, as they have managed to really crank out the miles this week, even setting a new single-day distance record yesterday. Earlier in the week they came close to passing 80 miles (128 km) in one day, missing it by the narrowest of margins. Yesterday they blew past that mark however, covering an impressive 85.6 miles (137.7 km).


As they head further east, the team is finding fewer and fewer places to camp each night. The river is growing wider and larger as they go, and they are probably wandering further away from something that actually defines a shoreline. When camping last night they also reported that there were quite few caiman eyes watching them from the water. For those who don't know, a caiman resembles a small alligator, with most measuring no more than a couple of meters in length. They aren't particularly dangerous or aggressive, but I'm sure the boys are giving them plenty of respect none the less.

I'll post more updates as the team continues to make progress. They're doing quite well at the moment, but still have a number of weeks on the water  before they're done.

Amazon Express Update: Milestones Passed And Ahead

It has been a few weeks since we last checked in on West Hansen and his paddling team as they make their way down the Amazon River. As you probably know, they're attempting to complete a source-to-sea kayaking expedition in record time, calling the excursion The Amazon Express. When I last wrote about their progress, the team had cleared the dangerous red zone and were leaving the last of the whitewater behind. Since then, they've moved onto the Amazon proper and have cleared a few more hurdles on their journey.

One of the bigger milestones for the expedition thus far was achieved this past weekend when West and company arrived in Iquitos, by far the largest city that they'll encounter along the Peruvian Amazon. Iquitos is an isolated, yet bustling, city that once held the distinction of being the largest in the world without access by road. When I was there back in 2008, the only way in or out was by boat or plane. I'm told that there is now a single road that leads into town and helps connect the city with other nearby villages.

By reaching Iquitos, the Amazon Express crew has now passed more than 1800 miles (2897 km) on their journey, but more importantly the city gave them the opportunity to spend a few days resting up and gathering supplies for the next leg of their journey. That will be a 300 mile (483 km) jaunt to the border of Brazil, where they'll find their next town of any size, Santa Rosa. They should arrive there by this weekend. Iquitos also meant that there was still roughly 2500 miles (4023 km) to go before the expedition ends in the Atlantic.

West and the rest of the paddlers are making good time these days. Most of their updates indicate that they are covering between 50-60 miles (80-95 km) per day. That's a solid pace on a river that doesn't always offer much in the way of current to help push you along. Still, considering how massive and lengthy the Amazon truly is, they still have many days and weeks to go until they reach the end.

Amazon Express Update: Out Of The Red Zone And Making Progress

It has been nearly a month since I last posted an update on the progress of the Amazon Express team and as you can imagine, over that time a lot has changed. For those who haven't seen previous updates on this expedition it is being led by kayaker West Hansen who is attempting to paddle source-to-sea on the world's biggest river in record time. The journey began high in the Peruvian Andes and the early stages consisted of low water flow that gave way to raging whitewater. Now, West and his crew have passed some major milestones and are making good progress down the Ucayali River, one of the Amazon's primary tributaries.

Since we last checked in, the team has managed to put the wild whitewater sections behind them and pass through an area of the river known as the "Red Zone." This particular section of water is dangerous but for reasons that have nothing to do with the river itself. Do to its remote location, the region through which they were paddling is controlled by local gangs and thugs and not so much the government of Peru. It's a bit lawless on the Amazon in general, but that section is particularly notorious. Fortunately they made it through without any major incidences, although they did have locals pull guns on them on no less than three separate occasions.

The team isn't completely out of the woods just yet however, as according to their most recent update, they believe that they are now approaching the location on the river where South African adventurer Davey du Plessis was shot back in late August. So, while they've passed beyond the most dangerous section of the river, there are still threats for them to be aware of as the proceed.



The pace of the journey has certainly picked up as well. Yesterday they knocked off nearly 63 miles, although much of that was spent winding through the twists and turns of the Ucayali. They've also had to be careful with their navigation, as there are many offshoots of the river that don't lead to where they want to go and in order to avoid backtracking regularly, they've been keeping a keen eye on their maps at all times.

As they've moved further away from the mountains, they've encountered other obstacles as well. Traffic on the river has begun to pick-up and they now frequently see larger boats and barges moving up and down the waterway. The days remain warm and humid, and the evenings are cool. The humidity makes it difficult for any of their gear to dry, which is to be expected on any expedition to the rainforest. While I was there a few years back I had certain items that simply didn't dry until I came home. Additionally, they're starting to run into more insects as well, which can annoying and frustrating on an entirely different level.

While this expedition has been underway for more than six weeks now, they also haven't reached the Amazon proper just yet. That means they have many more weeks to go until they're finished. When it is all said and done, they'll have paddled more than 4000 miles (6440 km) from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean. It remains to be seen if they can do it in record time, but regardless of the speed, this is a fantastic adventure.