Video: Training For One Of The Hardest Races In The World - The Iditarod Trail Invitational

The Iditarod Trail Invitational is quite possibly the hardest race in the world. It features athletes who run, ski, and mountain bike along the same 1000-mile (1600 km) long trail that the famous sled dog race follows on its way from Anchorage to Nome. The IDI takes place in the dead of winter as well, which adds just another challenge to this tough ultra-endurance event. Many try to complete it each year, few succeed.

Just how do you train for such an event? Check out the video below, which comes our way via EpicTV, and marks the start of a new series entitled Sport & Survival.

Gear Closet: STABILicer Maxx Ice Cleats

Winter may be coming to a rapid end, but that doesn't mean we won't have to deal with ice and snow before it releases us from its grip. There is nothing worse than an early spring blizzard or ice storm to really put a damper on our enthusiasm for the arrival of warmer weather. With that in mind, I've had the opportunity to test out a pair of STABILicers Maxx Ice Cleats from from 32North, and found them to be an excellent way to keep your footing in poor conditions.

If you're not familiar with the Stabilicers, they are – in a sense – a pair of lightweight crampons for use on just about any shoe. While they aren't meant for serious mountaineering, they can provide excellent traction for your favorite outdoor activities, such as hiking, backpacking, trail running, ice fishing and so on. The are designed to provide a good sense of security against slipping and falling in poor surface conditions, and they do that job quite well.

The first thing that struck me about he Stabilicers is how durable and rugged they are. They truly feel like they are meant to withstand the punishment that comes from being active in the winter months. They feature a tough, rubber sole that has 17 hardened cleats built right into the base. Those cleats easily bite into snow and ice, providing a surprising amount traction, even in very poor conditions. Putting these on a pair of hiking boots - or even winter boots for that matter - immediately improves traction on the slickest of surfaces.


I was also impressed with the Stabilicers integrated strap system. The belts are wide and accommodating for all manner of footwear. This allows them to quickly and easily slip on to your boot, tighten into place using velcro, and get you off and moving in a matter of moments. I appreciated the fact that it took virtually no time to get my boot seated into place, lock the cleats around it, and hit the trail. The last thing you want to do in cold weather is to waste time battling your gear.

Better yet, once the Stabilicers are connected to your shoes, they stay in place quite nicely. The velcro straps keep them from sliding around or coming off altogether, even when you're taking part in vigorous activities. I found that once I had my pair locked into place, they didn't move until I was ready to take them off at the end of the hike.

As I mentioned, the Stabilicer Maxx acts a bit like a pair of lightweight crampons, although you won't find yourself moving quite so awkwardly with these attached to your boots. While they don't exactly provide the stability of a crampon, most of us don't need that level of performance either. These cleats are akin to putting a pair of chains on your tires to help you get through snow and ice, and in that regard they perform even better than I expected.

A few months back I posted my thoughts on a pair of Yaktrax, which are designed to do something similar to the Stabilicers, albeit with a different design. At the time, I wrote positive thoughts on the Yaktrax, which deliver solid performance and ease of use. There is a night and day difference between these two products however, and it is hardly fair to compare them directly. The Stabilicer Maxx are built more durably and are simply more reliable in demanding situations. The Yaktrax are a lighter product however, and are probably a better option for trail runners looking to move fast in conditions that aren't so demanding. They're also more versatile in that they'll fit more easily on a variety of shoes, but if you're looking for stability in tough conditions or in more demanding environments, the Maxx are clearly the way to go. They are, quite simply put, more up to the challenge than their competition.

The Stabilicer Maxx come with an affordable price tag as well. They run just $49.95, which is a good price for a product that performs this well. If you're still fighting snow and ice where you're at, but you're eager to get out on the trail none the less, consider adding a pair of these to your own gear closet. They'll be one of the best investments you've made in winter gear in a long time.

Winter Climbs 2014: It's Over On Nanga Parbat

The 2014 winter climbing season is now officially over. In the wake of the avalanche accident that occurred last weekend, the Polish climbing team on Nanga Parbat has elected to pull up stakes and head home. With just a few more days left in winter, and the weather remaining uncooperative, the team decided there simply wasn't going to be another opportunity to summit, and with two of their members recovering in a Pakistani hospital, they didn't have the man power to safely finish the expedition either.

The end of the climb, which has lasted more than three months, was officially announced on Jacek Teler's blog. He left Base Camp last week in order to ensure Pawel Dunaj and Michal Obrycki reached a hospital where they could be treated for their injuries suffered in the avalanche. While he was there, Tomek Mackiewicz stayed behind to help break down camp and organize the retrieval of all of their gear. By now, the men are starting to make their way home, where they will regroup, rest up, and consider possible future options.

The lack of success by several teams on Nanga Parbat this winter has left the mountain still waiting for its first ascent during that season. Amongst the 8000 meter peaks, only K2 still holds that distinction as well. Tomek has vowed to return to give it another go next year, but for now, Nanga has once again turned back all challengers. Fortunately, the mountain didn't claim any lives this year. It is a dangerous place to be in the winter, and while the avalanche put a scare into the Polish team, they were lucky to come away without worse injuries. The "Killer Mountain" is one of the toughest climbs in the world, particularly in the winter, but at least no one lost their lives trying to summit this year. Lets hope that trend continues.

Ultra-Runners Complete Winter Crossing Of Baffin Island

A few weeks back I told you about an attempt by a team of ultra-runners to cross Baffin Island on foot in the middle of winter. At the time, the team was still in the preparation stages for the expedition, but they were planning on leaving for Baffin in the first week of March, and launching their crossing a few days later.

Yesterday, we received word that the team, which consists of endurance athletes Ray Zahab, Ryan Grant, Stefano Gregoretti and Ferg Hawke,  had successfully completed the crossing of Baffin Island. They traveled through the Akshayuk Pass, and managed to complete the route in just 48 hours, covering a distance of approximately 100 km (62 miles) in the process.

The team has limited communications at the moment, so the details on the crossing are a bit light. They did travel light and fast however, carrying just 50 pounds of gear apiece, as they made their way through the remote and rugged wilderness on Baffin. The expeditions as completely unsupported, and from what I can tell, there was a great effort made to create a simple, grassroots approach to the entire project.

I'm sure we'll more about this effort in the days ahead. But for now, congratulations to Ray, Ryan, Stefano and Ferg on a job well done. Great effort all around!

Rider Sets New Speed Record For Iditarod Trail Invitational

While much of the attention on the Iditarod Trail has been focused on that rather popular dog sled race, another event has been running parallel to it along the same route. That is the annual Iditarod Trail Invitational, which pits mountain bikers and trail runners against each other on the 1000-mile long course from Anchorage to Nome. The race is known for being a grueling suffer-fest, that is incredibly demanding on the riders, who often take up to a month to complete the route. That certainly wasn't the case this year however, when a new speed record was set.

Mountain biker Jeff Oatley had planned on taking three weeks off from work to ride in the Invitational. He was even prepared to ask for additional time off if he needed it, just so he could complete the entire course. Instead, he managed to ride the entire trail in just 10 days, 2 hours, and 53 minutes, besting the old record by nearly 5 days.

If you followed the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race, you probably know that the mushers were lamenting the conditions out on the route. There hasn't been much snow in Alaska this year, and it has been warmer than normal there this winter, which did not make for good conditions for pulling a sled. But those same factors sure made for great mountain biking, as they presented Oatley with the best conditions that the race has seen in its 14-year history. It also cleared the way for the new record, although shattering it by that much time is still a shock.

No matter how you slice it, covering nearly 1000 miles in 10 days on a mountain bike in the winter, is impressive stuff. Congratulations to Jeff for winning the event and setting the new record. It is going to be tough to beat that one.

Winter Climbs 2014: Injured Climbers Evacuated From Nanga Parbat

We have news from Pakistan today on the condition of the two Polish climbers injured in the avalanche on Nanga Parbat this past weekend. According to the team's Facebook page, Pawel Dunaj and Michal Obrycki were carried on stretchers from Base Camp to the nearby village of Tarashing. From there, they were expected to be taken by jeep to a hospital in either Gilgit or Skardu last night. There is no confirmation yet on whether or not they have reached a hospital just yet.

According to various reports, Pawel suffered both a broken arm and broken ribs, while Michal is nursing an injured leg and broken nose. Both are likely in a lot of pain and could no longer wait for a helicopter evacuation. Poor weather has kept that helicopter grounded for the past several days, and it didn't appear that it would fly soon, thus the need to evacuated the men from BC as soon as possible.

There is still no word on whether or not the expedition is now officially over, but it seems highly unlikely that they'll have the strength to give it another go. Forecasts call for poor weather over the next few days, and the risk of further avalanches is high. With just ten days left in the winter season, it is likely that the Poles will gather up their gear and head home. But for now, they have not mentioned what their plans will be.

Fortunately, no one was killed in this avalanche and the winter season will end with no summit on Nanga, but also no deaths either. We should get word soon on the team's official decision, but it seems that decision was probably made for them last weekend.

Winter Climbs 2014: Avalanche Injures Polish Climbers On Nanga Parbat

The winter climbing season is quickly coming to an end on Nanga Parbat, where only the Polish Justice For All team remains to challenge the mountain. But those efforts took a nasty turn this past weekend, when an avalanche struck two members of the team, leaving them injured and awaiting extraction from Base Camp. The question is, will the rest of the team press on, or call it quits after more than 80 days on the mountain.

Following several unsuccessful summit bids earlier in the season, the Poles were hoping for one last attempt at the first winter ascent of Nanga Parbat before heading home. With that in mind, this past weekend they sent Pawel Dunaj and Michal Obrycki up the mountain to help to clear the route for their teammates, Tomek Mackiewicz and Jacek Teler, who would follow a day behind. The plan was for the two advance climbers to set the stage, giving Tomek and Jacek an opportunity to complete the climb at last.

Pawel and Michal managed to get above 5000 meters (16,404 ft) on Saturday, but were hit by the avalanche soon there after. The force of the snow impacting them sent them tumbling down the mountain, and while they survived, they came away with some injuries, including broken ribs. Their teammates immediately sprung into action and brought them down off the mountain, but they are still in the village of Latabo awaiting extraction. A helicopter is standing by to retrieve them, but due to bad weather in the region, it is unable to fly at this time.

What the loss of Pawel and Michal means to the future of the expedition remains to be seen. It seems likely that the team will not want to risk further avalanches high on the slopes of Nanga, but if they feel conditions are safe, they could still try to go for the summit. If I were to venture a guess however, I'd say that once their injured men are pulled off the mountain, the rest of the team will pack up and head home too. For now, we'll just have to wait to see how things go. Thankfully, no one was killed during this incident and everyone can still go home in one piece, even if they are a bit worse for wear.

I'll update more when the team's plans become more evident.

Winter Climbs 2014: Summit Push Unsuccessful On Nanga Parbat, Only Poles Remain

While I was away on my short hiatus, a summit push was underway on Nanga Parbat as two teams attempted to complete the first winter ascent of that mountain. But the weather never improved enough to really give them a legitimate chance at reaching the top. With the days of winter starting to slip away, two teams have called it quits and are heading home, while one remains with the hopes of another shot at the summit.

Last week the summit push began with the Polish Justice For All and the North Face teams heading up the mountain. The forecasts indicated that the winds would drop and the temperatures would rise, making for safe passage to the top. But the winds never diminished enough to allow for a legitimate push, which resulted in most of the climbers never getting above Camp 2. On the North Face squad, Simone Moro experienced stomach issues and was forced to turn back, while his partner David Göttler moved up to 7200 meters (23,622 ft), where he was joined by Tomek Mackiewicz from the Polish team. The rest of the climbers were never able to join them.

After waiting and watching the skies, David and Tomek were determined to go up to the summit together. But unfortunately they never got the opportunity and eventually they were forced to descend as well. For the North Face team, that meant that it was time to pack up and go home. After more than two months on the mountain, they were running out of supplies and had waited long enough. They are now en route back home to Italy and Germany.

For their part, the Poles have stayed on the mountain and look to be determined to give it another go before they go home. They have extended their visas and climbing permits once again, and they are now waiting for the weather to give them one final opportunity to summit. They have three weeks left in the season, and hope to take advantage of it.

Meanwhile, on the Diamir Face, Italian climber Daniele Nardi has also called it quits. After a close call with an avalanche last week, he was unsure of the stability of the mountain. That gave him reason to pause and consider whether or not it was wise to continue with his solo, alpine style attempt. In the end, he determined that it was not, and elected to go home instead.

This leaves just one team left on the mountain. Only the Poles remain to challenge Nanga Parbat this year. While things looked very promising early on, it now appears that the mountain will likely go unclimbed for yet another winter season. With three weeks to go, there is probably only a single summit push left on the schedule. Soon, the spring will bring heavy snows, making it very difficult to climb in Pakistan. But until then, they hope to get once more chance. We'll have to wait to see if that happens.

Winter Climbs 2014: Weather Window Opens At Last! Summit Push Begins On Nanga Parbat!

The weather has begun to clear on Nanga Parbat, where two teams have now launched their summit bids with the hopes of topping out this weekend. It has been a long and difficult winter so far on that mountain, but the forecast calls for a three day window during which winds will be relatively calm on the 8126 meter (26,660 ft) summit. This may be the best opportunity anyone has had for climbing Nanga in the winter, and if successful, it will be the first ascent of the mountain during that season. 

The Polish Justice For All team were the first to launch their summit bid, sending Tomek Mackiewicz up to Camp 2 a few days back. He has now moved higher and is at an intermediate camp between C2 and C3, where he'll wait for the weather to improve starting tomorrow. His teammates Pawel Dunaj and Jacek Teler are in Camp 1, waiting to move up as well. 

Also in C1 are the North Face team of Simone Moro and David Göttler. They report good weather and no wind at that point on the mountain, although conditions are still a bit dicey higher up. Those conditions are expected to improve over the next few days however, which has the climbers eying Saturday or Sunday as possible days to make their final push. 

If all goes as planned, I would expect them to move up to Camp 2 tomorrow, then C3 on Friday, with the final push coming soon there after. This being Nanga Parbat, and in winter no less, all plans are highly tentative of course. The weather can change rapidly there and weather windows are known to slam shut. This does look like a fairly stable weather pattern however, and the two teams are looking to take advantage of it while they can. 

On the Diamir Face, Daniele Nardi is struggling with his thoughts on whether or not he should make his own attempt on the summit. After a close call with an avalanche a few days back, he has since witnessed more instability on the mountain. That has made his route more treacherous than normal, and is giving him some pause while he weighs in options. 

A weather window is projected to open for him this weekend as well, but he still feels that conditions could shift quickly. Daniele says that it feels like spring is coming early on Nanga Parbat, which means that more avalanches will be a distinct possibility. His forecast says that heavy snow is predicted starting on March 2, so that means he would have until Sunday to get up and down the mountain. Since he hopes to make a solo, alpine style attempt, he'll have to plan his moves carefully. 

For now, we'll have to wait and see if the current weather patterns hold. If they do, we could see history being made on Nanga Parbat in jus a few days. 

Ultrarunners To Attempt Winter Baffin Island Crossing

The 2014 Arctic expedition season is about a week away from starting, and teams of explorers are now busily putting the final touches on their preparation work. Some of them will be attempting to reach the North Pole, while others will be exploring the Arctic in order to conduct research into climate change. But one expedition will travel to Baffin Island, where a group of endurance athletes will attempt a speed crossing through the harsh and demanding environments there.

The team includes ultrarunner Ray Zahab, whose long distance running exploits we've followed on more than one occasion on this blog. Those expeditions have included runs across the Atacama and Gobi Deserts, as well as a journey to the South Pole and a crossing of Lake Baikal in the middle of winter, amongst others.

Ray will be joined on his adventure by Ryan Grant, Stefano Gregoretti and Ferg Hawke. The four men intend to make the journey completely unsupported, choosing to pull all of their gear and supplies behind them on sleds weighing no more than 50 pounds. They will begin the expedition in Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut, where they'll first film interviews with friends before hitting the trail. Once underway, they hope to cross through Akshayuk Pass in under 48 hours, before continuing on to Pangnirtung.They'll cover approximately 100 km (62 miles) in the pass, and another 40 km (24 miles) beyond that out on the open ice.

For Ray, this will be the fourth time that he has made this crossing, but his previous three Baffin traverses were done in the summer or fall. The winter will present new challenges with extreme cold and unpredictable weather.

The team will set out from Ottawa on March 6 and plan on launching their run a few days later. Watch for updates on Ray's Facebook page.

Winter Climbs 2014: Weather Window Opening On Nanga Parbat

It has been a long, difficult week on Nanga Parbat, where teams have been anxiously watching the skies and hoping for improved weather. There is little to do in Base Camp during this time, so they read, write and wait for conditions to improve. Now, a new forecast say that a good weather window is about to open, which means they climbers could be on the move again as early as tomorrow.

While the Polish Justice For All team still hasn't updated their own website with any information, word out of the North Face camp indicates that things are about to improve dramatically. Their forecasts now say that clear skies, low winds and warmer temperatures (relatively speaking!) will arrive by next weekend. If that forecast proves to be accurate, the climbers are looking at a weather window that is believed to be three days in length, which is the perfect opportunity to get up and down the mountain safely.

With that in mind, they intend to hold tight today and get a more accurate forecast by tomorrow. If all of the weather patterns are taking shape as expected, they'll set off on Tuesday or Wednesday for what will likely be their final summit push. March is nearly upon us, and both of these teams have been on the mountain for more than two months. Supplies are starting to run low and their patience is nearly at an end. This will likely be their last chance to bag the first winter summit of Nanga Parbat, although they haven't completely ruled out stay longer if conditions are right.

Meanwhile, on the Diamir Face, Daniele Nardi has been facing some challenges of his own. Late last week he set off to scout the route he intends to use on his solo, alpine style attempt on the mountain. The plan was to evaluate the route above Camp 1 to ensure it was safe to make a summit bid. After reading his report, it is unclear if he still hopes to proceed with the climb.


The first indication that things were not going his way was that upon arrival in C1, he discovered that his rations had been raided by a fox wandering at altitude. The animal had been able to gain access to Daniele's tent and proceeded to eat some of his energy bars. While the fox did little else in the way of harm, it was disheartening to find some of his food had been eaten.

But things got much worse after he went higher on the slope. While proceeding along the Mummery Ridge, the Italian climber heard a rumble above and caught sight of a collapsing serac as it tumbled down the side of the mountain. While the larger chunks of ice missed him completely, the collapse did set off an avalanche which he had to run out of the way to avoid. He managed to do so, but still managed to get caught in some of the debris and residue.

With that close call behind him, he decided to ski back down Nanga Parbat to return to Base Camp, where his Pakistani camp manager was relieved to see him in one piece. The avalanche has clearly unnerved him however, so it'll be interesting to see if he'll still continue his climb or take this as a warning sign and head home.

That's all from Nanga for today. Stay tuned for more updates. Summit pushes seem to be on tap starting in the next few days. We'll see how things proceed from here.

Winter Climbs 2014: Bad Weather Keeps Teams In BC On Nanga Parbat

It is a new week on Nanga Parbat, but the news largely remains the same. Bad weather is keeping the teams in Base Camp while they await the next weather window. In these anxious times, they find ways to stay busy, while keeping fit and well acclimatized to the altitude. It can be very frustrating, but this is what it is like to climb in the Himalaya in the winter, and these veteran mountaineers are accustomed to it.

On the Rupal Face, both the Polish team and the North Face squad have settled back into BC while they wait. The two teams attempted a summit push late last week, but the window was slammed shut when high winds and cold temperatures enveloped the summit. Those conditions have not dissipated yet, as temperatures on top of Nanaga are said to be in the -70ºC/-94ºF range. That is far too cold for anyone to attempt a summit push, hence the reason they are all waiting for the next opportunity. It is tough to say when that opportunity will come however, as the forecast says that it will get worse before it gets better.

While they are in Base Camp, the climbers have been finding ways to occupy their time. The TNF team has been editing photos and videos, and making back-up copies of their work, while also trekking nearby. They have also been reading, sending emails, and resting too. The Poles have brought a drone to Nanga this winter, and it has provided some diversion during the day. The batteries only last about 20 minutes however, and they are slow to recharge using the generator or solar cells. The little aircraft also crashed hard last week, requiring extensive repairs. Fortunately, a little tape and ingenuity had it back in the air in no time.

Jumping over to the Diamir Face, Daniele Nardi has wrapped up his acclimatizatiton process and is waiting for a summit attempt too. He shared some details of his recent summit of Ganalo Peak, which was a good warm-up for the main event – his solo, alpine style attempt on Nanga. Once he is fully rested from that climb, he'll watch the forecasts and prepare for his push as well.

With nasty weather arriving on the mountain over the next few days, it looks like it will be the weekend, at the earliest, before another summit push can get underway. Stay tuned for updates. I'll post them as they come in.

Winter Climbs 2014: Second Summit Push Over

Yesterday, I wrote an update from Nanga Parbat that was filled with hope and promise for the climbers attempting to achieve the first winter ascents ever on that mountain. The teams on the Rupal Face were in motion, as they moved upward to get into position to take advantage of a possible weather window. But now, just 24 hours later, those hopes are dashed, with all climbers back in Base Camp.

The first time to go up the mountain was the Polish Justice For All squad. The Poles have a long history of winter climbing and they seemed poised to at least make an attempt at extending that legacy. When I last posted an update, they were in an intermediate camp between C1 and C2, with plans to go higher today and hopefully push to the summit tomorrow. Unfortunately, one of the members of the team has taken ill, and they were forced to abandon this push.

The North Face team was on the same trajectory, even though they left BC a bit behind the Poles. Simone Moro and David Göttler were sharing the same campsite yesterday and remained there, even while their companions elected to descend. But it seems that the weather window that they had originally hoped for has failed to open, and they too have now gone back to Base Camp. For now, there will be no summits.

It should be noted that while Nanga gets less technical on the upper slopes, mainly above C3, it is also far more exposed. With the high winds still in place, it would have made the final push to the summit very difficult. Temperatures are also extremely cold, and the risk was far higher than any of these climber were willing to take. This window was never a sure thing to begin with, so they'll chalk it up to more acclimatization and now they'll rest, remain patient and wait for better opportunity in the days ahead.

Over on the Diamir Face, we have received word today that Italian climber Daniele Nardi has completed his acclimatization with a successful summit of Ganalo Peak. He has now returned to BC as well, where we're told he is comfortable and calm before the start of his ascent. He will also rest and watch the skies, waiting for an opportunity to launch his solo, alpine style attempt on the summit too.

Stay tuned for more soon. The winter is far from over and the climbers may yet get the chance they are looking for.

Winter Climbs 2014: Summit Push Round 2 On Nanga Parbat

The weather continues to be dicey on Nanga Parbat, where the teams have been in Base Camp for most of the week, waiting for a shift in conditions. It seems there may be an opportunity to make a summit bid coming this weekend, so with that in mind, two of the squads are on the move ahead of a potential weather window. If that window opens, we could see the first winter ascents of Nanga on Saturday.

The Polish Justice For All team has sent Tomek Mackiewicz and Pawel Dunaj up the mountain and after safely reaching Camp 1 yesterday, they are now halfway between C1 and C2 today. The same duo were part of the summit push last week, but were turned back due to high winds and extremely cold temperatures. They report that the summit is still shrouded in clouds, but elsewhere around the mountain it is calm. On Saturday, winds on the summit are expected to drop to 30 km/h (18 mph), which is about as quiet as Nanga will get in the winter.

Meanwhile, the North Face team is also on the move and looking to take advantage of this potential weather window. Simone Moro and David Göttler also reached Camp 1 yesterday and are with the Poles at their intermediate camp today. Their reports indicate it took them just 2.5 hours to move from BC to C1, which is a sign that conditions are far better than they were last week and the boys are more acclimatized as well. That bodes well as they continue their push upwards over the next few days, although it should be noted that no one has been above 7100 meters (23,293 ft) yet, so there could be difficult conditions above that point that have yet to be discovered.

Jumping over to the Diamir Face, Italian climber Daniele Nardi is close to wrapping up his acclimatization work on Genalo Peak. If the weather holds out for him, he should complete that process in the next day or two, then return to Base Camp before launching his alpine style summit attempt when the weather permits.

The forecasts indicate that this new weather window will be a narrow one. It will probably only last for two days tops, which is why the climbers are moving into position now. They'll have to make a dash for the summit and get back down as quickly as possible, or risk getting caught in poor conditions on the more exposed portions of the climb. I suspect that if there is a chance at reaching the summit, the Poles and the North Face team will work together on that final go. For now, we'll just have to wait to see what happens. Keep your fingers crossed that these men get back down safely, summit or no.

Family Dedicates Website To Climber Lost On Nanga Parbat

Much like this winter climbing season, last year at this time I was posting frequent updates on the teams who were attempting to summit 8000 meter peaks in the coldest, harshest months of the year. One of the climbers that I followed closely was a Joël Wischnewski, a French climber and snowboarder who was attempting a solo summit on Nanga Parbat. Reading his posts from the mountain were both a joy and a challenge. It was clear that he loved being in the mountains, but it was evident that he was struggling physically and emotionally. Eventually those updates from Nanga stopped, and we all feared the worst. For days the mountaineering community held out hope that Joël would appear safe and sound, having lost power to his satellite phone or some other issue. But as time went by, we all acknowledged that the mountain had claimed the life of another climber.

This past fall, Joël's body was discovered on Nanga Parbat by a group of climbers. Eventually, it was brought down the mountain and laid to rest in the Herrligkoffer climber's cemetery, closing the last chapter on his life and hopefully providing some closure for his family too. I'm sure not knowing his ultimate fate was a challenge.

Now, his family has posted a note on Joël's website, dedicating it in his honor. They have also shared a link to the photos that he had taken while climbing on Nanga Parbat. Those images were found on Joël's camera when his body was discovered. The photos are beautiful and serve as a lasting legacy of a young man who loved to climb and was taken from his loved ones at too early an age.

Joël's family asked me to share these links with readers, many of whom no doubt followed his expedition last year. I am happy to do so now, so that we can choose to remember him as the talented and ambitious climber that he was. He perished doing what he loved most, and I continue to offer condolences to his family.

Winter Climbs 2014: Weather Thwarts Summit Attempt On Nanga Parbat

The summit of Nanga Parbat continues to be an elusive target. A slight weather window opened on the mountain this past weekend, giving teams there a chance to make their push. But that window slammed shut quickly and all the climbers are now back in Base Camp. The week ahead doesn't look all that much better, so once again they play the waiting the game.

The Polish Justice For All team launched the summit bids last Thursday, hoping to make a dash up to the top if conditions cooperated. Tomek Mackiewicz and Pawel Dunaj were the two men who started the attempt, but by Friday, Dunaj was on his way back down due to the extreme temepratures. Mackiewicz pushed higher in an attempt to reach the snow cave they had dug at Camp 2, but by Saturday, he was in retreat as well.

Not far behind them were Simone Moro and David Göttler of the North Face Team. They began their summit push on Friday, hoping that the worst of the weather would have passed before as they went higher. They managed to reach 5700 meters (18,700 ft) before they decided discretion was the better part of valor and turned back as well. The temperatures were bitterly cold and the winds were far too dangerous to proceed further up.

These two teams are climbing on the Rupal Face, where the weather forecast says it will be very challenging for the rest of this week. High winds are expected on the summit, perhaps approaching 100 km/h (62 mph), which will make temperatures impossible to bear. That means that all these two teams can do at the moment is rest, wait, and hope for a chance to go higher. There are still five weeks of winter left for one of these squads to complete the first ascent of Nanga during that season, but the Poles have already had to extend their climbing permit once, so it is unclear if they can or will get a second extension. When the weather is that bad, the days disappear rather quickly, and while a true summit push is never a guarantee at any time of the year, that is especially true during the winter.


Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain, Daniele Nardi is continuing his planned solo, alpine style summit attempt. He continues to make acclimatization hikes to let his body get use to the altitude, but unlike his friends on the Rupal Face, Daniele says that the Diamir is quiet and has little wind at the moment. Temperatures still quite frigid however, as he had hoped to go up to 5000 meters (16,404 ft), but his feet were so cold that he could do little to warm them. The Italian says that the weather is a bit confounding. The skies are often clear, and there hasn't been as much snow as he expected, but temperatures remain brutally cold. Ultimately, that could mean that it will be impossible to go to the summit, simply because it will just be too cold. He'll have to wait to see how things progress. As a late comer to the mountain, Daniele's climbing permit should be adequate to get him through what remains of the season.

Stay tuned for more updates soon. It seems there won't be much to report for a few days as these teams wait for more opportunities to come.

Winter Climbs 2014: Acclimatizing And Waiting On Nanga Parbat

It has been about a week since I posted my last update on the winter expeditions to Nanga Parbat. During that time, very little has changed as the climbers watch the sky and hope for a weather window to open. The days are spend reading forecasts and hoping for a glimpse of the summit, but at the moment it is shrouded in clouds and more elusive than ever.

On the Rupal face, the teams went as high as 7000 meters before powerful winds and unpredictable weather forced them back to Base Camp. That's where they are now, waiting for their opportunity to come. Last week there was some thought that the weather might clear early in the week, giving the teams a shot at going for the summit. The Polish Justice For All team even talked about moving up to be in position to make a possible summit bid. At the moment, it doesn't seem that that weather has relented at all, so they remain in BC. It looks like it could be the weekend before there is any chance of things breaking up, so once again patience is proving to be their strongest quality.

Also in BC, is the North Face squad led by Simone Moro. Their latest updates indicate they've been resting and trying hard not to obsess over weather report, while visiting with their friendly neighbors. The two groups swap stories, share experiences, and offer insights to this formidable mountain that they have all come to conquer. Whether or not they'll actually get a chance to stand on the summit remains to be seen.

Over on the Diamir route, Italian climber Daniele Nardi hasn't been resting on his laurels in Base Camp. He arrived there just last week and immediately went to work on his acclimatization process. He's been climbing and skiing on nearby Ganalo Peak, and he seems happy with his progress thus far. Once he finishes the process of getting his body ready for the higher altitudes, he will launch his attempt at a solo summit in alpine style. That is probably still a week or two away from starting, but he seems to be making good progress, despite surprisingly steep glaciers and more crevasses on the mountain this year.

That's about all there is to report at the moment. The teams are mostly waiting for the weather to improve, and in the meantime they are resting, eating and preparing to go back up the mountain. Hopefully things will clear soon and they resume the climb.

Winter Climbs 2014: Daniele Nardi In Nanga Base Camp

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

Winter Climbs 2014: Patience and Perseverence On Nanga Parbat

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

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

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


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

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

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

Stay tuned for more updates soon.

Adventurers Reach The Pole Of Cold

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

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

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

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

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