Video: Gear Junkie Competes In A 30-Hour Adventure Race

Have you ever wondered what the sport of adventure racing is all about? If you're a regular reader of this blog you know that I cover the sport from time to time and that I'm a big fan of it. But if you're not too familiar with how a race works, then the following video will definitely be of interest. It features Stephen Regenold, the Gear Junkie himself, competing in a 30-hour race called the Stubborn Mule, which takes place annually in northern Wisconsin and mixes trail running, mountain biking and paddling in a 100-mile long course.

Stubborn Mule Adventure Race from Gear Junkie on Vimeo.

Video: Trailer For Where The Trail Ends

Where The Trail Ends is a mountain biking movie that looks like it'll be very different from what we're use to seeing. It follows a group of riders who decide to leave the familiar confines of Utah behind and head out into the wide world in search of interesting new places to explore. They visit the Gobi Desert of China for instance and are likely the first people to ever ride through the region. The scenery looks spectacular, the mountain biking looks tough and it seems the riders had a great time making the film. The movie looks fantastic and is due out in September.

Thanks to the Goat for sharing this today.

Video: Wild Love: Ultra Trail Runner Krissy Moehl

A month back we were treated to a fantastic video called Wild Love which featured Jake Norton and wife Wende Valentine. That video showed how the couple balanced a life filled with travel and adventure while still remaining close and connected. Now we have a new video in the Wild Love series, this time with ultra-runner Krissy Moehl as the subject.

Krissy is one of the top runners in the world but having success on the trail doesn't always mean things are so well balanced in the rest of her life. She talks about the importance of personal connections with friends and family and what it means to share the experiences of her life.


Wild Love: Krissy Moehl from Andy Maser on Vimeo.

Pakistan 2012: Summits On K2!!

The details are still a bit light but it appears congratulations are in order for Tunc Findik and his entire team for a successful summit of K2 earlier today. The group included Azim Gheichisaz, Fabrice Imparato, an unnamed Singaporean climber and three Chinese guides.

Yesterday we had news that the squad was in place on Camp 4 and were resting before making the final summit push. The weather, which has been an issue in the Karakoram all season long, seemed to finally be cooperating and the plan was to set out for the summit at 10:00PM local time last night. Apparently that went as expected and the team was able to reach the top of the second highest mountain on the planet at 8611 meters (28,251 ft). They are now back in C4 and resting once again before proceeding back down the mountain tomorrow.

Tunc and company might not be the only ones to top out on K2 this week. Peter Hamor's team is currently in Camp 4 and planning on making their summit bid starting in the evening today. Apparently the weather remains calm, spirits are high and everyone feels good for heading up the mountain. If all goes as planned, we'll have a report of more summits tomorrow.

Still no word out of Al Hancock as to the progress of his K2 attempt. Since he had already acclimatized on Broad Peak, it is possible he's on a summit push at the moment as well. Al only just arrived in Base Camp last week but if his high camps were established perhaps he has decided to take advantage of this good weather too. We'll just have to stay tuned to find out.

It seems strange that so many teams were turned back all season long on Broad Peak, the Gasherbrums and other big peaks in the region, yet we have successful summits on K2 already and it appears that there will be more to come. It just goes to show you how bad weather can really stifle any opportunities to climb these mountains, but when good weather does appear, talented and bold climbers can take advantage of it.

Congrats to Tun, Azim, Fabrice and the rest of the climbers on a job well done. Get down safe.

Circumnavigating Death Valley On Foot

There is no doubt that Death Valley is a place of extremes. It is the hottest, lowest and driest place in North America and during the months of July and August temperatures often exceed 125ºF/51ºC. It is the kind of place that will test the spirit of those that visit it and any living thing that survives there must be a hardy creature indeed.

If anyone knows the challenges that come along with Death Valley it is ultra-runner Marshall Ulrich. The endurance legend has run the Badwater Ultramarathon 18 times and has crossed DV 24. That's an awful lot of time spent in such a harsh and unforgiving landscape. Apparently Marshall enjoys being in that environment however as last week he and Dave Heckman set off to become the first people to circumnavigate the entirety of Death Valley on foot and in the month of July.

Marshall and Dave started their trek last Sunday, July 22nd and have made excellent progress ever since. The entire trip will cover approximately 450 miles (724km) and range from the low of the desert floor to the highs of the nearby mountain peaks, extending as much as 5000 feet (1524 meters) in altitude. The two men are traveling completely self supported as strategically placed supply caches are keeping them resupplied with food and water along the way. They're also carrying 3D video cameras to document their trek as well as capture the beauty of Death Valley National Park.

Updates are coming semi-regularly to Marshall's website (click here!) and you can follow progress on their SPOT page. Judging from that page it appears that they'll be finishing up the trek sometime this week.

Seems like a fantastic adventure and I love their approach. Marshall and Dave are essentially going as light as possible and using their supply caches to provided them with food and water at the appropriate times. I also like that they're doing this expedition to draw attention to a beautiful place that more people should be aware of. I personally can't wait to see some of the video footage that they are shooting.

Big thanks to Ray for sharing this great adventure with me.

Outdoor Retailer 2012 Summer Market Preview

The 2012 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market gets underway later this week and most of the gear manufacturers will be on hand showing off their latest creations. The bi-annual event is a busy and wild  affair featuring more backpacks, boots and jackets than you could ever possibly hope to see. But it is also an opportunity to mean some very interesting people, network and talk outdoor adventure for a few days. In preparation for the oncoming gear-pocolypse, several websites have begun posting previews of what we can expect in the way of new gear.

Over at Trailspace.com there are previews of new climbing equipment and backcountry camping gear. Amongst the items that will be enticing you to spend money when they hit stores is the new Black Diamond Vapor climbing helmet, which weighs in at just 6.6 oz (187 grams) and a new rope bag from Millet that keeps your gear nicely organized. Campers will be interested in new tent lines from both Eureka and Mountain Hardwear, not to mention a new sleeping bag from Therm-a-Rest who enters that market for the first time.

Trailspace always does a great job of reporting OR news directly from the show so be sure to keep an eye on their Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2012 Coverage page.

The Gear Junkie has also posted an early look at some of the gear that will be on display in Salt Lake City this week with some unique and interesting items catching his attention. For instance in his first preview we get a glimpse at Kelty's new air-pole tent that features an inflatable frame to keep it in place and a minimalist hydration pack from Platypus designed for cyclists. Gerber has a new flashlight powered by a crank, while a company called Biolite introduces a cook-stove that generates power to recharge your cell phone as well. GJ's second preview includes other intriguing gear such as  Mountainsmith's new lightweight, three-season tent that uses trekking poles to keep it suspended. We also get a look at new alpine boots from Scarpa – designed by Ueli Steck no less – that promise to shed bulk and weight while remaining comfortable. Granite Gear introduces a new backpack with a host of features that mountaineers are sure to love which will be available later in the year too.

I'll be headed out to Salt Lake City for the show on Wednesday and I'll be there when the doors open on Thursday morning. Like last year I intend to share as much stuff as I can directly from the show floor, so if you're interested in checking out the new gear as it's announced follow me on Twitter at @KungFuJedi. I promise to include photos of the gear as often as I can so you'll have an idea of what to expect when this stuff hits the market in a few months time.

North Country Endurance Challenge Comes To New Hampshire In September

Endurance athletes looking for a new challenge have an interesting new event to add to their calendar. On September 8th the team behind the Untamed New England adventure race will produce the North Country Endurance Challenge, a multi-sport race through the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont.

The race, which features two different courses to choose from, is essentially an adventure triathlon mixing paddling, mountain biking and trail running into a single day event for relay teams or solo competitors. Racers will kayak the Connecticut River, run narrow back woods trails and take on challenging and technical singletrack as they climb up mountain passes and bomb down the other side.

The Premiere Course is 65 miles in length, and is estimated to take about 10-12 hours to complete. But if you're interesting in something a bit less daunting there is also an option to run the "Sprint" course, which is a mere 31 miles in length with a finish time of approximately 5-6 hours.

As mentioned, the race is open to solo racers who want to tackle the entire course themselves or relay teams consisting of anywhere from 2 to 10 racers. Relay teams are allowed to select which of their athletes do each individual leg of the race which means they can put their best paddlers on the water, runners on the trail sections and mountain bikers on the bike. It also helps to divvy up the work load on what could be a very long day.

Registration for the North Country Endurance Challenge is now open. Solo racers can sign up for the Premiere or Sprint courses for $175 and $100 respectively. Relay teams pay $100/racer for the Premiere course and $60/racer for the Sprint. Looks like it should be a fun day of racing in September. Find out more about the race at the official website.

Pakistan 2012: Summit Bids On K2?

It was a relatively quiet weekend in terms of updates from Pakistan as most teams are now abandoning Base Camps across the region and starting the trek for home. It has been a very difficult summer there as unusual weather weather patterns have kept most climbers from reaching their summits. But not everyone is finished yet and on K2 it seems that climbers are now moving into position to take a chance at topping out on the toughest mountain of all.

Tunc Findik and climbing mate Azim Gheychisaz have started their summit push. The team climbed up to C3 yesterday and then  up to Camp 4, located at the Shoulder today. According to their brief dispatches they'll rest at 7900 meters (25,918 ft) and proceed up to the summit starting at 10:00 PM local time tonight. The weather appears to be calm (for once!) and there is optimism in the group that they could top out sometime tomorrow. Lets keep our fingers crossed that this weather window remains open.

Similarly, Peter Hamor's team reached Camp 3 yesterday as well but there have been no updates yet on their progress today. Their last dispatch indicated that they would wait until this morning to decide what their next move would be but if we have to believe that if the weather window is open that they've proceeded up as well. K2 doesn't give the climbers many opportunities so they have to take them where they come. Hopefully we'll get update on their progress as well.

Al Hancock is also on K2 but he didn't update his blog over the weekend so his current whereabouts are unknown. Considering he only just arrived on the mountain late last week it is likely that his team is still shuttling gear to their camps. But Al and his crew shifted over from Broad Peak so they should be well acclimatized. It's hard to believe that they would be a part of this summit push, unless they're making an alpine style ascent, but at this point anything is possible. Until we get an update however, we'll just have to wait to see how things are progressing.

There were no updates from the Trango Air Wall team either. They should be arriving in BC on the towers in the next day or two however so hopefully we'll get a progress report from the team as well. The team had originally planned to scale Nameless Tower and make a BASE jump from the top, but they've actually shifted their focus to the Great Trango Tower, a 6286 meter (20,623 ft) granite spire that will test their technical climbing skills to the max. They'll use the opportunity to scout Nameless Tower however with the hopes of a possible climb and jump in the future.

Stay tuned for updates. We could have K2 summits as early as tomorrow.

Video: The Bearladder

I came across this video yesterday but thought it was an appropriate way to end the week. I won't give too much of it away, suffice as to say when you want to rescue dumpster-diving bear cups, you have to get a little creative at times.

Build A Triathlon Package For Under $1000

A lot of runners and cyclists toy with the idea of trying a triathlon but are often daunted not only be the training regimen but also the expense in putting together all the gear that they need. After all, buying a bike, wetsuit, running shoes and all of the other equipment can get a little costly. But tech website Gizmodo (of all places!) had launched a new feature called The Outfit in which they'll show us how to put together complete packages of gear without killing our wallets. Their first installment takes a look at the tri package.

Gizmodo recommends some very good, yet affordable, gear in their article. For example, they suggest the Pearl Izumi Tri Suit as your "base layer" for the race. The suit costs just $100, which is indeed reasonable for a high quality athletic garment like this one. If you go cut-rate with your clothes, you can live to regret it as no one wants to be uncomfortable in the middle of a race. They also go on to suggest a wetsuit, googles, bike helmet water bottles and more.

The area that they recommend saving the most cash on is the bike, but in order to do that Gizmodo suggests going the Craig's List route. They budgeted $400, which is the only way this list comes in under $1000 total. I'm not sure how much luck you'll have finding a quality bike on CL and this is one area where your mileage will certainly vary.

All in all though, this is a solid piece on how to get into triathlons without killing your budget. If you're just starting off in the sport, this gear will do you just fine.

Pakistan 2012: Change In Fortunes Ahead?

The climbing season in Pakistan had seen a definite shift this past week as teams on Gasherbrum I and II, as well as Broad Peak, have elected to head home without a single summit amongst them. They were defeated not by the mountains themselves but by the weather, which has been persistently bad all summer long. But there appears to be some hope on the horizon as long range forecasts say there could be a shift in the weather in the early days of August. That is good news for the teams on K2 and a few other peaks.

Lets start this update off with a success story for change. A team of Slovenian and American climbers successfully topped out on K7 last week along a new route. According to Rock and Ice, Hayden Kennedy, Kyle Dempster, and Urban Novak went up the 6935 meter (22,757 ft.) mountain along its East Face. The summit push began when a weather window opened on July 16 and included a night spent in an open bivy as they pushed through incredibly tough mixed terrain and deep snow. The trio managed to force there way through those conditions however and topped out on the 19th before returning to Base Camp on the 20th. Congrats the whole team on a great effort in tough conditions.

On Gasherbrum I another team has decided to pack it in for the year. The Hungarian squad that had hoped to scale the 8080 meter (26,509 ft) mountain was turned back on their summit bid due to heavy snow and avalanche dangers. They posted an update yesterday that said they would depart BC today and begin their journey home. They report that GI Base Camp isn't completely deserted yet, but few remain to try to climb the mountain again.

For the next few weeks our attention will shift to K2 where the teams are gearing up for the tough climb ahead. The weather remains dicey there as well and Tunc Findik reports that attempts to climb up to C2 were aborted due to continued high winds and heavy snows. He is holding out hope that things will change after August 1st however and he and his teammate can start climbing in ernest.



Peter Hamor reports similar conditions and although his latest dispatch today is short and sweet, its meaning is unmistakable. The weather dictates the action at this point and for now the team remains in Base Camp. The same place they've spent most of the week.

Al Hancock arrived in K2 BC on Wednesday and has started getting comfortable for the challenges ahead. He and his teammates have already carried some gear up to ABC, with Al falling into a covered crevasse up to his armpits along the way. Their porters hoped to begin shuttling gear up to the high camps today but as with all things right now, that plan was "weather permitting." Al, who just shuffled over to K2 from Broad Peak, says that Base Camp is colder and more lonely, but it is his "office" for the job ahead.

Finally, the Trango Air Wall Expedition team checked in from the Baltoro Glacier yesterday. After arriving in Islamabad on Sunday and making their way to Skardu on Tuesday, they started the trek to Nameless Tower from Askole and will now take a few days hiking before getting to Base Camp. Most of their gear arrived safe and sound but they are missing one bag that contained solar panels and a tent. That means they could be limited on communications while on the climb and they may all have to squeeze into one tent or dig snow caves along the way. They do however have all of their climbing and BASE jumping gear, which is most important for the success of the expedition. They should arrive in BC early next week and start the tough climb up the Tower.

That's all for now. Lets hope the weather changes next week so there is actually some climbing news to report.

Video: Earth From The International Space Station

The little blue marble we call home is a beautiful place. No where is that more apparent than in this amazing video which captures the Earth from board the International Space Station. Most certainly the best seat in our solar system.

Simply beautiful.


View from the ISS at Night from Knate Myers on Vimeo.

Felix Baumgartner Completes Second Test Jump

Austrian BASE jumper Felix Baumgartner has successfully completed his second test-jump as he prepares for an attempt at the world record for the highest skydive. Yesterday Felix donned his specially designed pressure suit, boarded a balloon filled with helium and proceed to climb to an altitude of 96,640 feet (29,455 meters). At that point, he opened his tiny capsule, stepped out into the void and let gravity take its effect.

What followed was a 3 minute, 48 second freefall during which Baumgartner reached speeds in excess of 536mph/863kph. It took him 10 minutes, 36 seconds to complete the entire jump, which was all just a dress rehearsal for the big event which could come this fall. At that time, Felix will attempt to jump from 120,000 feet (36,576 meters).

The video below gives us a good glimpse at the balloon, Felix's suit and the huge effort that is going into this project. The images from the edge of space aren't bad either.

Video: The Best of the 2012 Tour de France

Now that the 2012 Tour de France is over are you going through cycling withdrawal? Do you want to relive some of the best moments from this year's race? Than this video is for you. It's a short 3 minute clip that pretty well wraps up the highlights of the event including the race for the White Jersey, tacks on the road and the emergence of young riders in the race.

Rower Sexually Assaulted While Attempting Lake Michigan Circumnavigation

The vast majority of the stories I post on this blog are ones that I find inspiring and fascinating. They tend to be stories that make me want to get out and explore the world and experience as much of it as I can. Unfortunately, this is not one of those stories, but it is an important one that needs to be heard.

Jenn Gibbons is a 27-year old woman who founded a rowing group called Recovery On Water which is dedicated to helping breast cancer survivors to regain their strength and fight back against that terrible disease. As a fund raiser for her group, Jenn recently set out on an attempt to become the first person to make a solo circumnavigation of Lake Michigan, a distance of 1500 miles (2414 km), all the while blogging about her adventure on Row4ROW.org. This past Sunday, a month into her expedition, she was sexually assaulted aboard her boat while docked in a small Michigan lakeside community. The man who raped her followed her progress on her blog and waited for her arrival.

You can read the details of the incident in this story from the Daily Mail. It is a chilling tale in which the attacker broke into the cabin of Jenn's rowboat, identified her by her full name and proceeded to assault her. He told her that he knew who she was and police believe that he traveled a "significant distance" to find her. Fortunately she was able to escape the boat and lock herself into an outhouse until the man left the premises.

Remarkably, Gibbons has resumed her journey although in a slightly altered fashion. Understandably she has given up the "solo" status of the expedition and now travels with a companion. She will also temporarily be traveling along the shores of Lake Michigan by bike while her boat is carried by trailer to a secure position where she can safely resume the row. It is a testament to her courage and strength that she is able to continue on considering the circumstances.

Hopefully they catch this guy and he gets what he deserves. This is some cold, calculating stuff and it a bit unnerving to think that someone would plot a sexual assault to this degree. I also hope the rest of Jenn's journey is a swift and safe one. Her cause is a good one and it is a shame that it should be sullied by this horrible act.

Thanks to Sgt. Curt for sharing this story. We both agree that it is an important one to be shared in the adventure community.

Gear Closet: AKU SL Trek GTX Hiking Boots

The hiking boot market is one of the most competitive and crowded in the entire outdoor industry. There are literally dozens of companies producing a wide variety of footwear designed to fit the specific needs of climbers, trekkers and backpackers everywhere.

Italian boot manufacturer AKU is one such company. For more than 30 years AKU has been designing and testing mountain footwear in the Alps, and over those three decades the company has grown from a small workshop to a large scale operation. The brand is well known in Europe and other parts of the world, but now AKU is coming to North America and their bringing their high quality boots with them.

I recently had my first experience with AKU boots when I put their SL Trek GTX to the test. Lightweight and durable, these shoes are built for hiking. Their design incorporates an intriguing blend of AKU's traditional mountaineering heritage with a mix of modern, high tech elements that make them a great choice for trekking trails in the backyard or the far side of the planet.

One of the first things that struck me when I started hiking in these boots was how comfortable and breathable they are, even in very warm conditions. Hiking Texas trails in the summer heat can be brutal on your feet, but the SL Trek GTX managed to keep my feet dry, happy and blister free. No boot is perfect in hot conditions of course, but these were some of the best I've encountered, especially considering some of the other features it brings to the table.



Performance isn't limited to simply venting heat off our feet either. The aggressive Vibram sole has an impressive grip that provides stability and traction on a wide variety of surfaces, both wet and dry. These boots are obviously well suited for the trail but I found they were equally adept at scrambling up a smooth rock face or across a field of loose scree too. This level of performance and versatility is obviously a cross over from AKU's line of mountaineering boots but considering how unpredictable trail conditions can be, it is nice to know you're wearing a pair of boots that are up to the task.

One of the more unique aspects of AKU's design is a polyurethane exoskeleton, which wraps around the exterior of the boot. That exoskeleton is meant to provide an extended level of stability without adding bulk or weight, and for the most part it works. This feature does give the Trek GTX a certain rigidness however, which made for an extended break-in time. As is generally the case with a pair of new boots, they did eventually loosen up and became more very comfortable but it took a bit longer than I expected.

Other features of the AKU SL Trek GTX include a Gore-Tex liner that helps keep moisture out, a memory foam footbed that molds to the foot the more you wear it and a sole that provides excellent cushioning from the rigors of the trail. All of these elements work well together to create a lightweight, comfortable boot that is durable enough to last for years.

AKU has a winner on their hands with these boots. They not only perform at an extremely high level but they also have their own unique look and feel as well. If you're in the market for a new pair of hiking boots for serious alpine trekking or backpacking, I highly recommend giving these boots a try. Just be prepared to give them ample time to loosen up and break in and you're likely to find you have a fantastic pair of boots that will accompany on far flung adventures for a long time.

(MSRP: $329)

Arctic Row Update: Slow Progress Across The Arctic Ocean

The Arctic Row 2012 expedition has now been underway for just over a week and the team continues to make slow, but steady progress – that is when the weather allows. After setting off last Tuesday, the four men aboard the small rowboat have had their ups and downs as they struggle to find their rhythm, but it seems they remain in good spirits and committed to achieving their goal of rowing across the Arctic Ocean.

As you no doubt recall, Paul Ridley, Collin West, Neal Mueller and Scott Mortensen are attempting to row from Inuvik, Canada to Provideniya, Russia, a distance of 2100km (1300 miles). They had planned for the entire journey to take approximately 30 days, as they are rowing 24-hours per day in two hour, two-man shifts. But already in the first week they've had to spend some time on anchor as rough seas and high winds have made progress impossible. Still, their home team reports that they are making the most out of the experience and have enjoyed the expedition thus far.

According to their latest blog update the boys are just now starting to encounter ice. They've come across absolutely massive icebergs that are easily spotted from a distance and they've only seen smaller ones that have broken off from the bigger ones so far. As they progress further along in the expedition they expect to encounter more ice in general, which could slow progress at times too, but for now things are good.

The team's SPOT device hasn't been providing accurate tracking of their progress, so it's difficult to tell how much ground they've covered. Reading through the reports, I'd guess that they aren't on their intended schedule however, so it is already starting to look like the could go past their 30 day window. Of course, they could make up time if the weather cooperates, but we'll just have to wait to see how things unfold.

Either way, they team is just getting started and there is still a lot of rowing to go.

Video: Nike Invites Us To Find Greatness

Just days before the 2012 London Olympic Games get under way, Nike has released this commercial. Yes, it may be an advertisement, but the message is a good one. There are great athletes everywhere and you don't have to be headed to the Olympics to find your greatness. Oh, and London may be closer than you think!

 Excellent video.

Pakistan 2012: Moving On

Not a whole lot has changed since our last update from Pakistan a few days ago. The teams are mostly in a holding pattern at the moment as they wait to see what the weather will give them. Some have called it quits for the season and started the long journey home, while others are simply trading one Base Camp for another.

One of those climbers who is switching peaks is Al Hancock who left Broad Peak yesterday and is now en route to K2 where he'll hope to have better luck. Al was climbing as part of the Field Touring Alpine team, who made a summit bid on BP last weekend but were turned back due to heavy snow and avalanche dangers above 7000 meters (22,965 ft). It'll take a few days for him to reach BC on K2 where he'll no doubt continue sharing his excellent dispatches once he's had the opportunity to get settled.

Speaking of the FTA team, they posted an update on their status yesterday and their weather forecasts say that there will not be another window in the near future. With that in mind and as they recover from their previous efforts, the rest of the squad will now return to Skardu and start to head home. They gave the expedition all they could but Mother Nature simply had other plans for the mountain this year.

While one expedition comes to a close another is just getting under way. I mentioned the Trango Air Wall project awhile back and it seems the team is now in Pakistan and making its way from Islamabad to Skardu. For those who don't remember, this is the group of four climbers who intend to scale Nameless Tower and BASE jump from the top. The Tower stands 6240 meters (20,472 ft) in height and features a massive 800 meter (2524 ft) wall that is amongst the most difficult high altitude climbs in the world. If successful in their bid, Liv Sansoz, Jérôme Blanc-Gras and Manu Guy, all of France, as well as Brit Tim Emmett, will be the first to BASE jump from the massive rock spire that is part of the Trango Towers.

Finally, there has been no news on K2 from either Peter Hamor or Tunc Findik. That can only lead us to believe that the weather remains bad and that the climbers are still biding their time in BC while they wait for an opportunity to shuttle more gear up the mountain. The next few weeks will be very telling on that mountain, the most difficult in the region if not the world.

Video: The Gift - A Short Film On Mountaineering History and Community

Author Chic Scott has written the definitive book on Canadian mountaineering. That book, entitled Pushing the Limits, examines 200 years of climbing history, introducing readers to the men and women who have been at the forefront of Canada's climbing community. In the short film below, which was made by Andre Querner, he takes a thoughtful, introspective look at mountaineering in general and what makes it such a unique, and at time enigmatic, sport.


The Gift from Andrew Querner on Vimeo.

Video: Explorer Julian Monroe Fisher At TED Talks

Explorer and adventurer Julian Monroe Fisher is a member of both the Royal Geographical Society and the Explorers Club. His expeditions have carried him across the globe and he has spent much of his career exploring the wilds of Africa. At this very moment he is preparing to set out on the next phase of his Great African Expedition which is a five year journey in the footsteps of some of the greatest explorers in history. In short, Julian knows how to dream big and dare to fail.

That is the theme of his recent TED Talk from TEDxInssbruck which took place at the beginning of June. In the video below you'll hear Julian talk about the sometimes crazy world of exploration and adventure, how he got started with his own expeditions and what inspires him to visit remote corners of the planet. It is an inspiring and interesting video that  challenges all of us to dream big and dare to fail as well. Something that we should all keep in mind as we pursue the passions in our life.

Himalayan Stove Project Progress Report

A few months back I wrote a piece about the Himalayan Stove Project, a fantastic non-proft organization that is dedicated to providing clean cookstoves to the people living in the Himalaya. At that time the organization was still ramping up their efforts for the first round of distribution, but this past spring they made their first visit to Nepal, where they gave out over 1500 stoves, dramatically changing lives in the process.

Traditional Himalayan cook stoves are incredibly inefficient and require a lot of fuel just to prepare a simple meal. That fuel, which typically consists of wood and yak dung, can be quite scarce in many areas of the Trans-Himalayan region where the gathering of kindling has led to deforestation. Additionally, the new stoves are far healthier for the people using them as they vent noxious smoke and fumes outside of the living space. In the past it wasn't even possible for families to eat their meals together indoors as their homes were too filled with smoke to make the experience an enjoyable one. Thanks to these new stoves however, that is already changing.

The team behind the project has set an ambitious goal of distributing 10,000 stoves in five years. Their efforts this past spring served as a pilot for the program and by all accounts it was a smashing success. They now believe that it is possible to distribute as many as 3000-4000 stoves each year and with the proper support and backing, the realization of their goal is more than within reach. I'm told that the organization has secured some high profile backers that will assist moving forward, but this is a great project that can still use more help.

The video below, which was shot in Nepal this past spring, clearly shows how the project is having an immediate impact on the lives of those that it touches. It is evident that this grass-roots effort is both good for the environment and the health of those living in the Himalaya, and it's not often that you see an organization make such a profound change on people's lives in such a short amount of time.

For more information on the Himalayan Stove Project, be sure to visit their website.

Adventure Tech: Canon EOS M Mirrorless Camera

As someone who is fortunate enough to travel on a regular basis I'm always looking for new ways to cut excess weight from my pack and go lighter. Over the years I've actually gotten quite good at packing the minimum amount of gear and taking just the bare essentials that I need on the road. But one area that I continually struggle with is my camera equipment. Obviously I want to document my travels and capture good photos of the places that I visit, but carrying my DSLR and an extra lens or two adds a lot of weight. Sure, you can travel with a good point and shoot, and I usually bring one of them along as well, but there are a lot of circumstances where they just don't perform at the level you need. For that reason I've been considering investing in one of the new mirrorless camera options such as the Nikon 1 series or a Panasonic Lumix G3. These types of cameras fall in between an SLR and a point and shoot, offering you the best elements of both, namely interchangeable lenses in a compact, lightweight form factor.

Up until yesterday there was one big name in the camera industry that was conspicuously absent from the mirrorless market. That was Canon, a company that makes some of the most popular and high quality SLR's on the market. That changed with the announcement of the new EOS M system however, which is the company's first entry in the growing mirrorless arena.

On paper the EOS M brings a lot to the table. The new camera features an 18 megapixel CMOS sensor that is on par with Canon's excellent Rebel T4i and comes with a very nice 3-inch touch screen LCD monitor. It'll shoot 1080p video, is compatible with Canon's EF and EF-S line of lenses (with an optional adapter) and promises fast performance in a variety of lighting conditions. The new camera has it's own specifically designed lens system as well and will ship with a 22mm kit-lens with the option to add a 18-55mm zoom. The body doesn't include a built-in flash, although an optional Speedlite will be available when it hits the market in October. The kit is expected to retail for $800.



In a lot of ways this new offering from Canon is a fantastic entry into the mirrorless market and in others the company is still playing catch-up with competitors. I have no doubt that EOS M will deliver Canon's trademark image quality and performance in a compact package, after all the camera weighs just 9.2 ounces (262 grams). But similar offerings from competitors include many of the same features for less money and have a built-in flash as well. Panasonic, Sony and Olympus are all now several generations into their mirrorless systems and over that past few years they've refined them quite nicely and delivered great performance at a reasonable price.

That said, consumers now have some excellent compact, interchangeable lens systems to choose from and if you're already a Canon user, the fact that you can attach your lenses to the EOS M is a nice selling point. Canon's entry into the market should make for good competition as well, forcing competitors to step up their game further and hopefully bringing prices down.

Why should  you care about the EOS M or any other mirrorless camera? Because they are now getting to the point where they offer DSLR performance in a much smaller body. For those of us who like to travel light that is a very important feature to consider. These systems are a fraction of the weight of their big brothers, but offer image quality that is superior to a point and shoot. We all know how limited weight and space can be on an extended expedition and this type of camera, which can also shoot excellent video, can be a real game changer.

I haven't decided which system I'll personally purchase yet, but I do know it's only a matter of time before I do. I have a feeling I'll enjoy having a DSLR at my disposal for when the demands of trip require it, but on other occasions the lightweight mirrorless option is likely to be next travel companion.

Pakistan 2012: Summer Climbs At Crossroads

The summer climbing season in Pakistan is starting to grind toward the finish line as the weather continues to take its toll on the teams across the region. It seems that all the reports are the same as climbers cite an unusually high level of snowfall, strong winds and dangerous avalanche conditions. This past weekend several teams hoped to top out on their respective peaks, but unfortunately Mother Nature had other plans. Now, many of those teams are left to ponder whether or not its time to go home or give it another go.

Teams on Broad Peak were set to make summit bids this weekend but were stymied by heavy snow above Camp 3. As a result, they've all retreated back to Base Camp where the Field Touring Alpine squad reports that their group is starting to break up. Two of the members of the team, including Al Hancock, will now move on to K2, where they'll face even more formidable challenges. Others on the team are waiting to see if they'll get another crack at the summit, while the majority of them have decided it is time to go home. They reached an altitude of 7000 meters (22,965 ft) but had no chance to go higher. Perhaps those who are persistent and patient, and are lucky enough to have more time to stay, may yet stand on the summit.

A Dutch Team on BP is essentially having the same experience. They managed to climb up to Camp 3 as well, but turned back when they found the snow above that point to be too difficult to climb through. As of their last dispatch they are all back in BC as well and watching the forecast. There are some indications that things could improve near the end of this week, but for now everyone waits to see how things develop.



On K2 there has been no change in the past few days and at the moment both Peter Hamor and Tunc Findik are in Base Camp awaiting an opportunity to go back up the mountain. Having established Camp 2 and spent a few nights there, the two squads, which are climbing independently of one another, are off to a good start on the world's most challenging mountain, but they've only just begun to work and there is a lot of difficult climbing ahead. They'll have some new neighbors soon however as more teams will join them in BC.

Things are no better on Gasherbrum I where a German team has been relegated to Base Camp where they await their fate as well. They had hoped to be in Camp 2 now on an acclimatization rotation, but like everyone else they've been left watching the weather. They report that no teams have reached Camp 3 on the mountain this year and that ropes are only fixed  halfway between C2 and 3. They also indicate that avalanches have been a persistent problem as well, which is making it even more of a challenge to go up. They hope to gain access to the higher sections of the mountain in the next day or two as they attempt to fix lines and establish their next camp, but the chances of that happening seem quite slim.

Finally, Louis Rousseau has announced that he is done with GI after being denied a summit bid last week. He isn't just done for the season however. The experienced climber says he'll never return to the mountain that claimed the lives of his friends this past winter. Louis has topped out on 13 of the 14 8000-meter peaks, but he'll leave this one off his resume as he no longer thinks the rewards outweigh the risks. He says the mountain is too dangerous and has too much snow this year, creating avalanches and hidden crevasses. As a result, he leaves Base Camp tomorrow and begins his long journey home. Gasherbrum I has brought him nothing be heartbreak.

The next few days should prove interesting as the hold-outs wait for good news from the weatherman. I'm not expecting much to change however and now time is no longer on their side. The weather will change for the worse soon and it won't let up for some time. The season is rapidly coming to a halt and it appears that there will be very few, if any, summits in Pakistan this summer.

Adventure Tech: Google Nexus 7 Tablet

Tablets are all the rage these days, although most of them haven't been able to come close to performing nearly as well as the iPad. That could change down the line as Microsoft introduces its Surface tablet  in a few months, but for now the only thing that comes close is the new Nexus 7 from Google. It runs the latest version of Android (code named: Ice Cream Sandwich), is lightweight, durable, provides great performance and is priced right. It seems like a fantastic device for travel, even if you're headed to the most remote places.

Yesterday Google released their first commercial for the Nexus 7 and I felt it was just too fun not to share. It shows a father and son who go on a camping trip and take their shiny new tablet along for the trip with them. It does a great job of showing off everything that this technology can bring to the table for travelers and adventurers alike.

Video: #iamyou By Dave Cornthwaite Encourages Us All To Pursue Our Adventures

Dave Cornthwaite is an adventurer. He travels the planet, mostly under his own power, as part of his Expedition 1000 project. But it wasn't all that long ago that he led a very normal, mundane life like you and me. Back in 2005 Dave was a humble graphic designer, but since then he has learned that true happiness and fulfillment comes from chasing your passions and today his life is very different.

In the video below Dave shares his story and encourages us all to get off the sofa, chase our dreams and live the life we all want. His message is that he is just a normal guy who gets to do some extraordinary things. And that we all have it in us to pursue those same extraordinary adventures.

Thanks for the reminder Dave!

Tour 2012: A Glimpse Of The Future

The 2012 Tour de France came to and end over the weekend, much to the dismay of cycling fans everywhere. We now begin the very long wait until next year's race, which should be quite the celebration considering it'll be the 100th Tour.

As expected, Bradley Wiggins rode into Paris in the Yellow Jersey and claimed his first Tour win. His dominance in the individual time trials, and the dominance of Team Sky out on the road made this year's race a bit less dramatic than prior years, but it was a great win for an excellent cyclists. He was joined on the podium by teammate Chris Froome and Italian rider Vincenzo Nibali, who finished second and third respectively.

All of the other jerseys were wrapped up heading into Paris as well. Peter Sagan dominated the Green Jersey competition as the race's top sprinter, finishing 141 points ahead of his nearest rival. Thomas Voeckler earned the Polka Dot Jersey of the King of the Mountains which was much deserved following his performance in the Pyrenees, and American Tejay Van Garderen won the White Jersey as the Tour's best rider under the age of 25. Team Radioshack took home the top honors in the team competition as well.

For me, the best part of this year's Tour was seeing all of the great young talent start to emerge. Van Garderen finished fifth overall and looks like he could be a real contender down the line. He's just 23 years of age but looks to be the next great American rider. Froome is 27 and rode very strong throughout the three weeks. His second place finish definitely served notice that he'll be a force to contend with in the future as well.

But these two GC contenders weren't the only impressive young riders. Sagan looked fantastic throughout the race and seems to have the skills to become a possible contender as well. He is currently focused on sprinting but could easily develop into an all-around threat should he decide to go that route.  This was his first Tour ever and he is just 22 years of age.

The French have a lot to look forward to as well as they appear to have a lot of young talent which could possibly deliver a long awaited win for them too. 25-year old Pierre Roland finished 8th in the GC and picked up a stage win. He looks like a strong rider for the future as does Thibaut Pinot who flashed his speed on more than one occasion. Pinot, who is just 22 years old, finished tenth overall.

These young riders are definitely the faces of the future and I expect at least one or two of them will win the Tour or most certainly be in contention. The future of the race looks like a good one and I think the changing of the guard could come sooner than expected.

Only 342 more days until the Tour de France 2013. Vive Le Tour!

Final Winner In Grape-Nuts/USA Cycling Gear Giveaway

Last Friday I randomly selected the third and final winner in the cycling gear giveaway that I've been running over the past few weeks. Congratulations to Bethany Aquilina of Washington, D.C. for winning the package. We'll get the gear out to you as soon as possible Bethany.

I want to thank everyone for entering the contest. Reading everyone's answers to the various questions I asked were quite interesting, particularly the list of all time favorite cyclists. Lance Armstrong had a loyal following of course, but there were plenty of other great choices as well.

Also, one final word of thanks to Grape-Nuts and USA Cycling for sponsoring the contest. Without their support I wouldn't have had all of the great gear to share with the winners. Let them know that you appreciate their support as well by dropping by the Grape-Nuts Facebook page and hitting the "Like" button.

Stay tuned for some more great gear giveaways in the near future.

Video: Singletrack High Trailer

A company called Pedal Born Pictures is working on a new documentary about the NorCal High School Cycling League which consists of a group of young riders who compete with one another in a series of races each spring while wearing their school colors. It looks like the film, which is set to come out in early 2013, has a lot of promise and it is great to see young people embracing an outdoor activity.

Thanks to the Nat Geo Adventure Blog for the tip! This looks great!


Singletrack High Teaser from Pedal Born Pictures on Vimeo.

Pakistan 2012: Weather Halts Summit Bids

Just a brief update today on the climbing expeditions currently under way in Pakistan. All week long we've heard from various sources that teams were moving up the slopes to get into position to take advantage of a possible weather window, but now that they are there it doesn't appear that the window has opened. At least not yet.

Al Hanock hasn't updated on his progress since setting out on his Broad Peak summit bid but the Field Touring Alpine team has posted several dispatches. There latest came yesterday when they reported that their squad was holding tight in Camp 3 amidst steady snow fall. The update says that as much as 20-30cm (7-11 inches) of fresh powder had fallen on the mountain, although steady winds were blowing most of it off as quickly as it came down. There are now some concerns about avalanches higher up however, so the climbers are hoping to assess the challenges and make a decision from there.

If the weather improved today they hoped to move up to C4 and make an attempt on the top tomorrow. If not, several of the climbers still have time before they need to head home, so it is possible that they'll descend, wait out the weather and have another go next week.

Snow is making progress on K2 a difficult proposition at the moment as well. As a result, both Peter Hamor and Tunc Findik are back in Base Camp where they wait for the next opportunity to go up. Both squads have been making solid progress so far, having established Camp 2 and spent a few nights there to acclimatize. For now, all they can do is wait for the weather and the mountain to give them an opportunity to proceed.

Finally, we did receive official word from the Mazeno Ridge team that after reaching the summit of Nanga Parbat on July 15 all members of the group have now safely descended and are back in BC. Communication had been a bit spotty, so it's good to know that everyone got up and down in one piece.

Update: Reader Kristian posted this link in the comments below, but I thought it was most definitely worth adding here as well. Climber Fredrik Strang posted this update to his Facebook page that says a lot about the conditions on Broad Peak and the Karakoram as a whole this season. Fredrik says the weather is horrible and has been all summer long. He has pulled the plug on his BP expedition and says that the other team leaders feel this is the worst season on the mountain that they can remember. His comments are especially interesting to read as he says that it isn't worth climbing in the unsafe conditions and that the forces of nature are just too strong, even for the best, most experienced climbers this year.

Fredrik does say that he saw the FTA team on C3 and was set to meet up with them at Camp 4 today, but there was no way for them to go higher. He returned to BC on his own, but arrived to find out that the FTA squad was aborting their attempt as well. Whether or not it is over for them remains to be seen, but it sounds like BP is about to shut down for the season as well.

It is beginning to look like there may not be a single 8000 meter summit in Pakistan this year. We all know how difficult K2 is, even under the best of conditions.

Tour 2012: Team Sky Fires The Manx Missile

Coming off the final big mountain stages and heading into the individual time trial tomorrow, today's Stage 18 of the Tour de France was not expected to provide much in the way of fireworks. It was an opportunity for the sprinters to take center stage once again and it provided a chance for someone to capture a stage victory, but in the grad scheme of things it would have zero impact on the General Classification.

The 215km (133.58 mile) route ran from Blagnac to Brive-la-Gaillarde along a road that featured a few rolling hills but no significant climbs. That allowed for an early break away to escape the peloton but that break couldn't survive and the main group of riders swept them up just as everyone approached the finish line.

Team Sky used the day to show why they are once again the strongest team in the race by providing a perfect lead out for sprinter, World Champion Mark Cavendish. Cavendish has been relegated to water bottle duty for much of the Tour, providing support for the efforts to get Sky captain Bradley Wiggins to Paris in the Yellow Jersey. But today was the day for his mates to pay him back for his patience and perseverance by setting him up for the stage win on the final stretch run of the day. Even Wiggins helped with the lead out, which propelled Cav to the win just ahead of Matthew Goss and Peter Sagan.

It has been a relatively quiet Tour for Cavendish, who has won numerous stage wins over the past few years. Today's victory was just his second of the race, although he has been fairly open about saving his strength for the Olympics. Still, todays burst of speed near the finish line was a thing of beauty and served notice to the other riders in the field. He's the World Champion until further notice and the odds on favorite heading into the London Games. He may not be done in this year's Tour either, as he'll certainly be in the mix on Sunday in the wild sprint on the Champs Elysees, a stage that Cav has won on three occasions in the past.



There as absolutely no change in the overall standings in any other way today. Wiggins still holds the Yellow Jersey and his 2:05" lead over teammate Chris Froome should be unassailable in tomorrow's time trial. Vincenzo Nibali is in third, 2:41" back and while he is a great rider, he'll never catch Wiggins in the ITT, barring some strange mechanical breakdown or crash. That means that Wiggins will triumphantly ride into Paris on Sunday with the Maillot Jaune on his shoulders as the first ever British Tour winner.

Likewise, the Green and Polka Dot Jersey's are sewn up as well. Peter Sagan is the top sprinter in the 2012 Tour and has looked very impressive in his first outing. French rider Thomas Voeckler is the King of the Mountains, which should make the home crowds very happy when he climbs on to the podium on Sunday. Tejay Van Garderen seems to be a lock for the White Jersey as the Tour's best young rider. His closest competition is Thibaut Pinot, who sits 3:16" behind the American. Pinot isn't likely to close that gap on the time trial either.

As mentioned several times already, tomorrow's stage is a 52km (32.31 mile) individual time trial from Bonneval to Chartres. That's a fairly long route for these riders to tackle in solo fashion, particularly at the end of a three week long race. Pacing and bike handling will come into play, but there is zero reason to believe that Wiggins will somehow lose his lead out on the road. The question will be where everyone else behind him ends up in the standings.

Personally, I tend to love the individual time trial on the final stage before Paris. But the drama is gone from this one and Wiggins is clearly the winner. I'll watch tomorrow just to marvel at the individual performances and ogle the time trial bikes, which are beautiful machines to behold. It is veritable bike porn for fans of the sport.

Sunday's final stage is 130km (80.77 miles) in length and stretches from Rambouillet to Paris. It is simply a ceremonial victory lap for the race leaders, who enjoy champaign and a relaxing ride along the way. The sprinters will get themselves to the front for the wild scene on the Champs Elysees which simply has to be seen to be believed.

And with that, the 2012 Tour will come to an end and we'll start counting the days until next year, when we'll hope to see a revitalized Cadel Evans, a healthy Andy Schleck and focused Alberto Contador return to the field.

Video: 25 Years Of Arctic Exploration With Lonnie Dupree

Arctic explorer Lonnie Dupree has an impressive resume. Not only has he crossed the Northwest Passage by dogsled in winter, he has also circumnavigated Greenland, visited the North Pole and attempted Denali solo in the heart of winter – twice! In the video below, Lonnie shares footage from his various cold weather adventures, giving us a glimpse of his life on the ice and the expeditions he has taken to the remote places of the world.



25 Years of Arctic Exploration from Lonnie Dupre on Vimeo.

Video: Aurora Polaris Official Trailer

The Revelation Mountains are a sub-range of the Alaska Range and for the most part they are largely unexplored. Rugged and remote, the region is known for its unpredictable weather which can bring abundant snow. Those mountains are the subject of a new Slovenian documentary film entitled Aurora Polaris which was made when a small team of adventurers visited the Revelations for some climbing and skiing. The trailer for the film can be viewed below and the full documentary is scheduled for release in November. Looks like an amazing place!

Tour 2012: Team Sky Puts Final Nail In Coffin

It was a misty, foggy day in the Pyrenees, where the cyclists in the 2012 Tour de France were battling it out on the final mountain stage of this year's event. Heading into the day we knew that if anyone was going to challenge Bradley Wiggins for the Yellow Jersey they would have to attack today and that knowledge added a bit of intrigue to the race, which has been decidedly without drama this year.

As it turns out, there were actually three ongoing battles today. In addition to the fight for the Maillot Jaune, there were several racers hoping for a stage win and there was unfinished business between Thomas Voeckler and Fredrik Kessiakoff in the battle for the Polka Dot Jersey.

In the end, Stage 17 lived up to the hype as Wiggins' Team Sky put an exclamation point behind their victory. The race leader and his chief lieutenant Chris Froome pulled away from the challengers on the final climb, gaining time on everyone including Italian rider Vincenzo Nibali who is currently in third. As Wiggins and Froome appraoched the summit of that final climb they looked especially dominant as all the other contenders fell away. Froome appeared to be the strong of the two, but like a good teammate, he stayed close to his leader and escorted him safely all the way to the finish line.

Despite those fantastic efforts by Froome and Wiggins, the duo finished second and third behind Alejandro Valverde of Team Movistar. Valverde was part of an early break away that saw a number of riders battling for King of the Mountain points, but the Spaniard was the only rider to survive that break and finished the 144km (89.47 miles) stage 18 seconds ahead of the pursuit.



Throughout the stage Kessiakoff and Voeckler jousted one another for King of the Mountain points, with the Frenchman staying just ahead of his rival throughout the day. That allowed Voeckler to extend his points lead to 11, keeping him in the Polka Dot Jersey for another day and most likely sewing up that competition for this year. There are a few minor climbs tomorrow, but Kessiakoff isn't likely to be able to accumulate enough of those points to reclaim the jersey.

Today was a day for the sprinters to simply survive and get over the big climbs, so as a result Peter Sagan remains 102 points ahead of André Greipel in the battle for Green Jersey. There are sprint points up for grabs tomorrow and of course on the Champs Elysees on Sunday, but that gap should be impossible for Greipel to close. Sagan, provided he stays safe on the road, should ride into Paris with the Green Jersey already won.

American Tejay Van Garderen gave up some time to Thibaut Pinot on the final climb today but still keeps the the White Jersey as the Tour's best young rider. Riding for Team BMC, Van Garderen has been tasked with watching after Cadel Evans throughout the race, but now that Evans has tumbled in the rankings, and has no hope of winning, Tejay has been freed up to pursue his own race. As a result, he managed to climb into fifth place in the rankings while Evans now sits in sixth place nearly a minute and a half behind his teammate.

For his part, Evans has struggled most of the Tour and never seemed to have the legs he needed to hang with Wiggins, Froome or Nibali. Yesterday he lost time on the final big climb and it was later released that he had picked up a virus right before he started the ride. We're told that he was better today, but he still couldn't hang onto the wheel of the top riders. Clearly he was still struggling to regain his strength and I can't imagine how tough it must have been to take on those tough climbs while sick.

With the mountains now behind us the Tour now returns to the rolling plains tomorrow with a 215km (133.58 mile) ride from Blagnac to Brive-la-Gaillarde. The route is far from flat but it doesn't feature the punishing climbs we've seen the past few days, which will give the sprinters an opportunity to stretch their legs once again. It should be a wide open day and look for a break away with a few riders looking to get one last shot at glory before the race ends this weekend.

Personally I have to say that the 2012 Tour has been a bit underwhelming. Wiggins and Sky have been so dominant from the start that there hasn't been a lot of drama. The other contenders haven't been able to compete with such a strong team and only Froome has appeared to be a challenger to Wiggins. It'll be interesting to see how the team dynamics evolve following the season as it seems that Froome has his own designs on wearing the Yellow Jersey one day.

Barring any strange accidents out on the road, we already know this year's winner and we have for nearly two weeks.

Video: The Dream Factory From Teton Gravity Research

What's a ski bum suppose to do in the middle of a sweltering July and there isn't a snowflake in sight? Why, enjoy the latest trailer from Teton Gravity Research for their next ski movie The Dream Factory. The full film doesn't come out until September but the video below will get you in the mood for hitting the slopes now.



The Dream Factory Official Trailer - TGR Teton Gravity Research 2012 Ski Movie from Teton Gravity Research on Vimeo.

Book Review: How to get to The North Pole... and Other Iconic Adventures

Have you ever read this blog one of the many other great outdoor websites and wondered how you could undertake some of those adventures yourself? If so, I have just the book for you. Its entitled How to get to The North Pole... and other iconic adventures and as you can probably tell from the title, it was written to be a resource for adventure travelers and explorers alike.

Written by Tim Moss, the book could have easily been called Expeditions For Dummies. Moss has taken his considerable experience in organizing more than 100 expeditions to the more remote and wild places on the planet and condensed it down into a 300 page tome on how to get to just about anywhere.  That includes choosing the right gear, honing the proper skills, learning how to deal with weather and other natural phenomena and much more.

No matter what adventure you're planning this book has chapter for you. Moss has written chapters on how to cross a desert, reach the North or South Pole, row an ocean or even make the first ascent of a mountain. Each of those chapters comes with advice specialized for the particular topic. For example, in the chapter on desert trekking he offers advice on dealing with sand storms and traveling with camels while in the section dedicated to getting to the North Pole, Moss discusses how to navigate around or across open leads of water and dealing with polar bears.

Moss shares his experience in a practical, straightforward manner that not only makes it easy to understand but also retain. The chapters are well organized, easy to read and packed with all kinds of information. Not only does the author provide tips on what to eat and drink while on the various expeditions, but he also where you should sleep and even where to go to the loo.



The book can also be seen as Adventure 101 as it provides a fantastic base layer of information on a variety of expeditions that are common topics around these parts. For instance, in the chapter on the South Pole Moss explains the difference between the Magnetic and Geographical South Pole, as well as the South Pole of Inaccessibility. He also lays out the various options for getting to your destination and offers ideas on the best starting points. This is a wealth of information that will be appreciated by both active and armchair adventurers alike.

How to get to The North Pole also features a number of basic, but informative maps and illustrations. The maps show routes for rowing an ocean or pedaling a bike around the world as well as various other important geographic information. The illustrations will show you how to pick a good touring bike, tent or even sailing vessel. Heck! Even the book's glossary provides a lot of information, giving definitions to dozens of terms from the mountaineering and exploration world.

I found the book to be written in an easy to understand manner that complete beginners to the adventure world can understand, without boring the more seasoned traveler in the process. There are helpful hints and tips no matter what your level of experience and if you have an epic adventure you've always dreamed of launching, but weren't sure how to proceed, this is a must read book for sure. Moss has a wealth of knowledge to share and he gets a lot of it down in this one book. Sure, there is more that goes into an expedition than a book can teach you, but this is certainly a good place to start.

The book costs just $17.99 on Amazon, which seems like a steal with all the things you can learn inside.

Last Call: Win A Cycling Gear Package From Grape-Nuts and USA Cycling!

Just one more reminder that I have another cycling gear package to giveaway this week courtesy of Grape-Nuts and USA Cycling. The package includes two USAC t-shirts, a very nice cycling jersey, a hat, USAC ID and a box of Grape-Nuts. Everything you need for a day out on your favorite bike!

On Friday I'll be randomly drawing a winner from all the entries over the past few weeks and that person will win the third and final package. To enter, simply send me an email at kungfujedi@gmail.com with a subject line of "Grape-Nuts." In the body of the email tell me who your favorite cyclist is, either past or present. Nothing more to it!

Reminder: Winners must be from the U.S. to be eligible to win. I promise I'll hook up international readers on the next giveaway!

As always, big thanks to the good folks over at Grape-Nuts and USA Cycling for supplying the gear and shipping the packages out to the two previous winners. It is very much appreciated!

Pakistan 2012: Confirmed Mazeno Ridge Summit, FTA In C3 On Broad Peak

The news out of Pakistan continues unabated today with the confirmation of the successful summit of Nanga Parbat along the Mazeno Ridge route and updates on the progress of other teams in the region.

For nearly a week now we've had conflicting reports on the status of the Mazeno Ridge team. First they summited, then they didn't and now they have once again. This time for real. Although one of the team members, Cathy O'Dowd, elected to descend back to Base Camp, her companions, Sandy Allan and Rick Allen, stayed on the mountain and persisted to the summit despite bad weather and awful snow conditions. The duo topped out at 6:12 PM local time this past Saturday, becoming the first to complete the incredibly long and tough Mazeno approach which includes eight sub-summits in excess of 7000 meters (22,965 ft) in height. At the time they were running low on both food and fuel but refused to give up their one chance at success while the weather was still tolerable enough to allow access to the top.

This news puts an end to the speculation about the team's whereabout and safety. Glad to hear that everyone is okay and that success was achieved on this very difficult climb. Congratulations to Sandy and Rick for such an outstanding effort.

Elsewhere, the Field Touring Alpine team is in the midst of their summit push on Broad Peak where they've reached Camp 3 today. They're currently camping at 7000 meters in high winds and snow, and tomorrow they'll actually dismantle their camp and move it higher before making an attempt at the summit. The team will likely establish Camp 4 at 7400 meters (24,278 ft) where they'll keep an eye on the forecasts and wait for a window to open this weekend.

Over on Gasherbrum I, Louis Rousseau and the rest of his team are safely back in BC and sharing the details of their failed summit bid. From the sounds of things, the mountain wasn't exactly kind to the climbers who saw five of the six teammates knocked over by an avalanche just below Camp 3. After evaluating the conditions and seeing an increase in winds and snows, the group decided to turn back, but it still took two days for them to safely descend back to Base Camp. Several of the climbers now see their departure dates looming and are currently weighing their options. They're keeping a close eye on a summit push that is currently underway on Gasherbrum II, which has yet to see a summit this year as well. If the 15-man squad that is attempting that peak is successful, then Rousseau and the rest of his teammates may shift their plans to make a quick summit bid on GII instead.

Finally, over on K2 the teams are moving again. Tunc Findik and his climbing mate Azim Gheychisaz are currently in Camp 2, while Peter Hamor and his mates have gone up to C1 today. Everyone appears to be doing well as they continue their acclimatization rounds. The real challenge is ahead.

Video: Mountain Biking The Lost Coast Trail With Sacred Rides

The Lost Coast Trail in California is a remote and beautiful trail along the Pacific Ocean. It is a popular one for backpackers who enjoy the quiet solitude of the place. Turns out you can also mountain bike the trail and Sacred Rides, an adventure travel company that specializes in cycling excursions to some of the best places on the planet, offers a seven day Lost Coast Adventure. If you can't join them to do the ride yourself, you can at least enjoy the three minute video they've produced which will certainly get you into the spirit. Looks like some great singletrack.


The Great Lost Coast Adventure from Mark Baeder on Vimeo.

Tour 2012: Pyrenees Have Little Impact On Standings

Following yesterday's rest day, the riders in the 2012 Tour de France returned to the road today knowing that it would be a difficult stage. But thanks to a doping scandal, GC leader Bradley Wiggins had one less challenger to his Yellow Jersey to worry about.

The big news yesterday was that Frank Schleck of Team Radioshack-Nissan tested positive for Xipamide, a banned diuretic that can sometimes be used as a masking agent for other performance enhancing drugs. The positive test has forced the rider from Luxembourg to pull out of the race, although he is obviously denying any use of the substance. Schleck, who finished third in the Tour last year, has already called for a test of his "B" sample and says that if it comes up positive as well, he'll file a formal complaint on the grounds that he was poisoned. The contention would be that someone slipped the Xipamide into a water bottle or some other food in order to implicate the rider. This wouldn't be unheard of, as in the past cyclists would actually take water bottles from fans along side the road, although that practice has obviously been stopped due to fear of someone slipping something into the drink.

The testing on the B sample should be very telling and we'll have to wait to see how the results turn out. But I've heard from other sources that testing positive for Xipamide is seen as a bit of an amateur mistake and that anyone who is truly doping would probably not be using the substance. That said, it is banned by the World Anti-Doping Code and any amount of it in the system should be seen as suspect in the same way that Alberto Contador's positive test for very small amounts of clenbuterol in the 2010 race.

It has been a relatively quiet year for failed tests and doping allegations and that is a good thing. I believe the sport is getting tougher on the use of performance enhancing drugs, but there will still be a few who will try to use them no matter the circumstances. We'll just have to wait to see how this one plays out.

As for today's stage, it was indeed a punishing ride in the Pyrenees. The route took the peloton from Pau to Bagnéres-de-Luchon along a very mountainous route that included two Beyond Category and two Category 1 climbs. One of those was the dreaded Tourmalet, which is always a monster for the riders, but because it fell in the middle of the route it had less impact that in the past. All told, the entire stage was 197km (122.4 miles) in length that ended on a fast downhill descent to the finish line.



Those kinds of finishes always seem to take the drama out of the race as the big contenders have a difficult time attacking or escaping. Such was the case today, although we did see last year's champion, Cadel Evans, lose ground to the leaders, falling from 4th to 7th overall, some 8:06" off the pace. The top of the leader board remained the same however with Wiggins staying in Yellow, his teammate Chris Froome in second and Vincenzo Nibali in third. For his part, Nibali did attempt to gain ground on the men in front of him, but they were both strong enough to keep pace on the final climb.

The day belonged to the French once again as the scrappy Thomas Voeckler took another stage win. Voeckler was part of an early break away that included the likes of Chris Anker Sorensen, Alexander Vinokurov, Jens Voight and Daniel Martin. But by the slopes of the final climb of the day, Voeckler was riding alone and held on to the solo stage victory. His amazing efforts in the mountains also earned him the Polka Dot Jersey of the top climber, putting him just 4 points ahead of Fredrik Kessiakoff heading into the final mountain stage tomorrow. We'll have to wait to see if Voeckler has any strength left in his legs to earn more climbing points on another tough stage.

Today was definitely not a day for the sprinters, but Peter Sagan still managed to pick up some points early on to help build a massive cushion between him and André Greipel in the battle for the Green Jersey. Sagan, riding in his first Tour, now has a 102 point lead over Greipel and seems a lock to arrive in Paris with the Green Jersey. Similarly, Tejay Van Garderen looked very strong once again today and actually picked up time on his closest rival for the White Jersey which goes to the best rider under the age of 25. It would take a major change in the standings for Van Garderen to not go home with that honor this year as well.

As mentioned, tomorrow is another big mountain stage this time covering 144km (89.47 miles) between Bagnéres-de-Luchon and Peyragudes. The peloton will face another set of tough climbs, including a Cat. 2, two Cat. 1's and a Beyond Category. Unlike today however, we'll have a mountain top finish that could potentially give someone a chance to attack the Yellow Jersey. Wiggins looked very strong today however, even out pacing Froome at times. It's going to take a herculean effort to wrest the Maillot Jaune from his shoulder.

Looking ahead, Friday will be another mostly flat stage for the sprinters to enjoy and Saturday will bring the final individual time trial. As usual, Sunday will be the ceremonial ride into Paris for the Yellow Jersey, although the sprinters will still battle for points on the Champs Elysee.