Activists To Launch 15,000 Mile, 5-Month Road Trip To Promote Clean Drinking Water In Americas

Two adventurers are preparing to launch what promises to be an epic road trip adventure across the Americas in an effort to promote clean drinking water initiatives in that part of the world. Later his week, American Paul Cebul and German Steffen Mueller will embark on a five-month long journey that will cross 15 countries and culminate in Rio de Janeiro in time for the World Cup in July.

Cebul and Mueller will set out from Boston on Saturday and begin heading south. Their trip will take them across the U.S., into Mexico and then on into Central America. Eventually, they'll cross over the Panama Canal and move into South America, before eventually reaching Rio around July 13. Along the way, they'll pass through 70 different cities and visit an estimated 65 colleges and universities as they spread their message about the importance of clean drinking water, particularly in developing countries.

The two men are calling their expedition Water for the Americas, and while they have a website set up to support their initiatives, the site doesn't offer a lot of information at this time. Hopefully they'll update it before they hit the road, allowing us to follow their progress and adventures as they go.

Clean drinking water is one of the hot button topics across the globe right now. While most developed nations don't struggle with having water to drink, poorer nations have a difficult time, especially as climate change begins to take its toll on the environment. Cebul and Mueller hope to educate people about this issue, particularly in nations that are being most hard hit.

While I applaud their efforts, this sounds like just an excuse to make a months long road trip to the World Cup. I kid! I kid!

Update: Long Rider Completes Ride Across Americas

Last month I posted the story of Guenter Wamser, a German long rider who was nearing the end of a journey that spanned two continents and has taken nearly 20 years to complete. Wamser began  his journey back in 1994 at the southernmost tip of South America and he has been slowly making his way northward ever since. We I wrote that original piece he was deep in the Alaskan wilderness and was approaching the end of the trail. Now, a few short weeks later he has completed his ride at last, bringing an end to his Transhumanic expedition.

I received an email from Guenter yesterday informing me that he and his traveling companion Sonja Endweber, had wrapped up their journey a few days ago. Their travels came to an end when they reached the northernmost shores of North America, having covered more than 25,000 km (15,535 miles) in the process. In true long rider fashion, the first thought they had when wrapping up their ride was for their horses. Guenter told me that they had located a large pasture where they were going to let their mounts rest for a few days before they continue south to Canada where they'll spend the winter on a friends ranch.

That's about all I know about how they wrapped up their adventure, at least so far. Hopefully Guenter will post updates to his blog once he gets a chance. Even though the official ride is over, remember that he and Sonja are still deep in the Alaskan backcountry. It'll take them some time before they get back to civilization. When they do, hopefully we'll learn a lot more about the final days of this amazing journey.

Congratulations to Guenter and Sonja for wrapping up this impressive ride. It is a testament to Guneter's determination and spirit of adventure that he never lost site of his goal, even as his focus became more about the journey and less about the destination. We could all learn a little something from that.

Long Rider Nears End Of Epic Journey Across The Americas

German equestrian explorer Guenter Wamser is nearing the end of an epic journey on horseback that has covered more than 25,000 km (15,535 miles) and nearly two decades of his life. Back in 1994, Guenter set out from Patagonia on horseback with the intention or riding north to the very top of Alaska. Now, he is deep in the Alaskan backcountry and nearing the end of his expedition, which has become not just an adventure but a way of life.

Guenter has dubbed his wandering journey the Transhumanica expedition and over they years it has taken him to some wild and remote places. His path began in Argentina and wandered into Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador, carrying him to the top of South America, which he reached in 1999 after five years in the saddle. But the ride didn't end there. In 2001 the German set off once again, passing through Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and eventually Mexico which he reached in 2005.

The journey across Mexico was a long and rewarding one and reading Guenter's journal it is clear that he enjoyed his time there. But when he reached the border with the U.S. he ran into a bit of trouble. He seems that his horses had contracted a tropical disease on their journey and they were not allowed to enter the States. The horses were found a good home however and Guenter found new mounts in the form of four mustangs that he adoptedf rom the Bureau of Land Management. Those horses have been his companions through the final phase of his journey, a ride along the Continental Divide Trail.

In 2007 Guenter and his traveling companion Sonja Endlweber, began traveling north on the CDT, passing through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana before eventually passing into Canada. As of last fall, they were in the Yukon territory, where they settled in for the winter. Earlier this year they returned to the trail with an end in sight and while the two riders are currently out of contact somewhere in the Alaskan wilderness, they will soon reach the northern most point of that state, thus bringing an end to the ride at last.


In his journal, Guenter says that his journey started simply as an adventure with his focus on riding across the Americas. But along the way it became less about getting to a destination and more about exploring the landscapes he was passing through and interacting with the people and cultures that he connected with along the way. He adopted a nomadic life that was its own reward. What he'll do after this trail comes to an end remains to be seen, but after so many years traveling on horseback, I have to imagine it'll be a challenge to return to a "normal" life.

Guenter is one of the founding members of the Long Rider's Guild and as such his journey by horseback has been an exemplary one in terms of distance and time on the trail, but also for how he has treated the animals that have helped him along the way. His horses have been cared for very well and not treated simply as beasts of burden but as companions and partners who came along on this adventure like any other teammate. It is admirable that this incredible journey is soon coming to and end, but even more so that Guenter will complete it in such an ethical manner.

Thanks to my friend CuChullaine for sharing this wonderful and amazing story.

20 Famous Hikers Pick Their Favorite Trails

Looking for a new backpacking or hiking challenge? Want to experience some of the best trails in the world? Then you'll definitely want to check out the list of 20 top trails as picked by 20 famous hikers that was put together by the team over at National Geographic Adventure. They poled some well known figures from the world of exploration and adventure and shared their selections for their ultimate dream hikes. The results are a list of hikes that range from legendary to those you may not even have heard of.

Some of the walking routes that earn a place on the list include the Sierra High Route in California, which was selected by über-hiker Andrew Skurka and the Pacific Crest Trail, which is a favorite of ultrarunning phenom Scott Jurek. Unsurprisingly, American mountaineer Jim Whittaker names the trek to Everest Base Camp as his favorite hike, while Sally McCoy, the CEO of CamelBak loves the 200-mile (321 km) Snowman Trek in Bhutan.

As you can tell, there are some very diverse and interesting hikes on the list that were selected by a very diverse and interesting group of people. But one of the hikes isn't even officially open yet, although it continues to evolve into a true world-class trekking route that will draw backpackers from around the globe. That is the Sir Samuel and Lady Florence Baker Historical Trail that runs through South Sudan and Uganda. This route, which I first told you about several months back, is 360 miles (580 km) in length and runs from Gondokora near Juba, in South Sudan, to Baker’s View, which overlooks Lake Albert in Uganda. This particular trail was suggested for the Nat Geo list by explorer Julian Monroe Fisher, who has been instrumental in its creation. It is set to open in 2014 with the first trekkers walking its length shortly there after. The photo above is actually a shot of an existing plaque commemorating the Bakers in one of the villages along the trail. Official trail markers will be added alongside it soon.

If you're planning a new treking adventure in the near future then you'll certainly want to check-out the trails that made Nat Geo's list. There are some excellent options for sure and whether you want to hike a well known classic route or take on a complete new one, there is a little something for everyone.

Untamed New England Announces 2014 Dates And Location

One of the premiere adventure races in North America has announced its dates and locations for 2014, giving teams a full year to prepare for the event. A few days ago, race organizers for the Untamed New England Expedition Adventure Race announced that the 4+ day race will take place from June 17-22 and will be held in the 100-Mile Wilderness in Maine. This is one of the most remote and beautiful places in the eastern U.S. and a perfect place to hold a race. It is surrounded by dense forests, features miles of trail and has some of the most wild terrain imaginable.

The race will feature teams of 2, 3 and 4 competitors with the coed teams of 4 being the predominant category. They'll be trekking, mountain biking, paddling, white water rafting,  orienteering and climbing their way across a course that should be amongst the best ever offered by this popular and well known race. The top prize for the event has gotten more impressive as well. The winning team will take home $10,000 in prize money, double what the winners in 2012 won. Better yet, the race is part of the AR World Series and serves as a qualifier for the AR World Championships, which will be held in Ecuador next year.

Registration for Untamed New England 2014 will open on June 1.

Winter Climbs 2013: January Denali Ascent Begins

For three straight years polar explorer Lonnie Dupre has had his sights set on making the first solo summit of Denali in January, the coldest and harshest time of the year on North America's tallest mountain. The start of this year's attempt had been delayed due to bad weather and as a result Dupre was stuck in Talkeetna, Alaska waiting for the skies to clear so he could catch a flight out to his starting point. A few days ago the weather cooperated at last and the explorer/mountaineer has finally begun his ambitious winter climb.

On Tuesday of this week, Lonnie finally got the word that it was safe to fly. So he gathered his gear, met his pilot at the airport around noon, and by 1:30 PM he was dropped off on the Kahiltna Glacier where he had stashed a supply cache at 7200 feet (2194 meters). From there he began the march to his first camp on the mountain, located at 7800 feet (2377 meters), which he should arrive at today just in time for lunch. From there, he'll press on for another few hours as he starts to acclimatize and build higher camps up the slopes.

According to his first dispatches, Lonnie is finding a lot of snow on and around Denali. That has made travel slow and difficult, but fortunately the winds have remained calm so far, which has helped to keep temperatures relatively stable. The mercury has been hovering around -5ºF/-20ºC so far, but it will plunge dramatically as he moves to higher altitudes. This being Denali in January, the calm winds aren't likely to last long either.

After waiting for nearly two weeks, it seems Lonnie's January climb is officially underway at last. Remember, he'll be climbing completely alone and unsupported. He'll even be going with out a tent as he builds a series of snow caves up the mountain to serve as his shelter as he goes. He hopes to complete the climb by the end of the month, weather permitting, which means he has exactly three weeks to acclimatize, stash his gear and then make the final push. Stay tuned to see if he can pull it off.


20130108.lonniedupre.interview from Lonnie Dupre on Vimeo.

Whitewater Raft The World With Mountain Travel Sobek

Well heeled travelers looking for an amazing adventure next year need look no further than the new whitewater rafting excursion from Mountain Travel Sobek. Their new Six Continent Whitewater Adventure, which was announced yesterday, promises to take travelers to the ends of the Earth to quench their thirst for adrenaline.

The 25-day, round-the-world expedition runs from May 9 through June 2 of 2013 and begins in California. The 8-12 participants on the trip will get their feet wet, literally and figuratively, with three days of rafting in the Sierra Mountains. From there they'll jet off to Ecuador for two days of rafting before proceed on to Spain to take on the Noguera Pallaresa in the high Pyrenees. Nairobi, Kenya is the next stop on the journey for three days of rafting on the Athi River, which mixes in great wildlife viewing along with Class II and III whitewater. The Tons River in India is the next stop as the lucky travelers take to the water in the Himalaya, not far from the spectacular peak Nanda Devi. Finally, the trip will wrap up on North Johnston river in Australia, one of the more remote and challenging whitewater runs on that continent.

Whew! Sounds like quite a trip and after reading the press release on it yesterday I immediately wished I were going. At $8695 (without airfare!) this is a bit pricey for my blood, but it was too good of an adventure travel opportunity to not share. And if the itinerary wasn't enticing enough on its own, co-founder of Mountain Travel Sobek John Yost, who has led plenty of river expeditions, will be the personal guide on this adventure. Sounds absolutely fantastic and I'm very jealous of those who get to go on this trip.

World Run II Update: Jesper Passes 35,000km Mark!

I haven't posted an update on Jesper Olson and his World Run II expedition since January, which was when he was starting the North American leg of the journey. Now he's nearing the end of that leg and has passed a major milestone along the way.

For those who aren't familiar with Jesper's epic undertaking, back in 2005 he completed the first fully documented run around the world, which for most of us would be enough of a challenge for a single lifetime. But in 2008 he decided to hit the road once again, this time running north to south and back again. He dubbed this second challenge the World Run II and starting from the northernmost point in Finland Jesper started running south. The route took him all the way across Europe, through the Middle East and down down Africa, before reaching the tip of that continent. From there he hopped a flight across the Atlantic and resumed running again, this time heading north through South America and eventually North America as well.

Currently Jesper is running through Maine and quickly approaching the U.S.-Canadian border, where he'll soon cross over and start the final leg of his journey, which will eventually end on Prince Edward Island. He still has a few more weeks of running before he reaches that point, but he is most definitely closing in on the finish line at long last.

A few days ago Jesper crossed a major milestone on World Run II. On May 15 he crossed passed the 35,000km (21,748 mile) mark. Thats an impressive distance to have run and eclipses World Run I by a considerable margin. On his original run around the world, Olson managed to cover 26232km (16,300 miles), but he passed that mark a long time ago and has passed into uncharted territory.

Recently Jesper lost part of his support crew so now he's also being forced to run while carrying a backpack. That added weight has changed his approach some, but he continues moving forward at a surprising pace. On the day that he crossed the 35,000km mark he covered 51km (31 miles), which is very impressive considering he's been running long distance nearly every day for four years.

As always, thanks to Darrell for keeping me updated wit Jesper's progress. It is such an amazing accomplishment that he is closing in on, although it sure makes my nightly five mile runs seem pretty insignificant.

Ride To Rio: A 10,000-mile Cycling Adventure

I'm always a sucker for a good long-distance cycling adventure and it seems riders Dom Smith and Andy Robinson are prepping for one of their own. The two men plan to set out in September on a 10,000 mile (16,093km) bike ride from Los Angeles to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Naturally they've called their little expedition the Ride To Rio.

Dom and Andy's journey will take them through 12 countries, including the U.S.; Mexico; Guatemala; Honduras; Nicaragua; Costa Rica; Panama; Colombia; Ecuador; Peru; Bolivia and of course Brazil. They expect it will take roughly six months to complete the ride, which they'll be filming for a documentary that they'll make upon their return.

The duo have just launched their new website, which is a great place to learn about their plans, and they'll be posting updates to Facebook and Twitter in the weeks leading up to their departure and of course on a regular basis while they're actually on their ride. As of today, they're still 133 days from departure, but once they get underway, it should be fun to follow along with their adventures.

Oh, and by the way, neither of the guys speaks much Spanish, which should make for some interesting experiences considering that is the primary language in almost all of the countries they'll be visiting along the way.

Video: Inspired To Climb - Denali

This video may be a month old, but I only just came across this morning. It is a 20 minute short film on climbing Denali, the highest peak in North America at 6194 meters (20,320 ft). It is a physically demanding mountain to climb and due to its extreme northern latitude, the weather is fickle and unpredictable even under the best of conditions. The film demonstrates all of that and more and is a fantastic look at what it takes to climb this impressive mountain.

Video: The New Northwest Passage

Back in 2009, explorer Cameron Dueck successfully sailed through the Northwest Passage where he witnessed first hand the impact of global climate change on the Inuit people that live there. The four-month long voyage was an adventure in and of itself as Dueck and his three-person crew contended with massive storms, icy waters and the challenges of navigating through unknown waters. On April 10 a book entitled The New Northwest Passage: A Voyage to the Front Line of Climate Change will be released. That book will chronicle the 15,000km (8100 nautical mile) journey that was both an amazing adventure and a revealing look at the impact of global warming on a group of people who are witnessing its effects first hand. The promo video below gives us a tiny glimpse into what that voyage was all about.


Book Promo -- New Northwest Passage: A Voyage to the Front Line of Climate Change from Cameron Dueck on Vimeo.

Blind Adventure Athletes Plan To Cycle The Americas

Here's an interesting cycling adventure that was sent my way by a reader. Christi Bruchok and Tauru Chaw have embarked on an epic journey by bike. Over the next year or so they'll be riding from the southernmost tip of South America all the way to Alaska – tandem no less. And while we have seen others make this ride on more than one occasion, what sets Christi and Tauru apart is that they are both legally blind.

Calling their little expedition Two Blind to Ride, the duo set out back in January and have been making steady progress ever since. As of now, they have already covered more than 1887km (1172 miles) and are near Coihaique, Chile. Along the way they've already had their fair share of adventure, but seem to be thoroughly enjoying the ride thus far. Regular updates to their blog help keep us well informed of their progress and the photos they are posting will definitely inspire you to want to embark on a similar ride of your own.

Their website also explains their "blindness" as both of them can see to a degree. In Christi's case her vision is severely blurred, while Tauru suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic condition that will eventually lead to complete blindness, but currently leaves him with severe tunnel vision.

This isn't the first adventure for these two. In 2009 they made a tandem journey across the U.S. by bike as well, which has given them the confidence that they can make this ride as well. It should definitely be fun to follow their progress over the months ahead.

Iditarod 2012: Dallas Seavey Wins!

The 2012 Iditarod crowned a new champion yesterday when 25-year old Dallas Seavey crossed the finish line in Nome at approximately 7:30PM local time. He is the youngest person to ever win the event which is dubbed the "Last Great Race."

Seavey's victory comes after ten days of intense racing across a trail that is nearly a thousand miles in length. He finished exactly one hour ahead of his closest competior – Aliy Zirkle – who claimed second place. Late charging Ramey Smyth was third with Aaron Burmeister and Peter Kaiser finishing fourth and fifth respectively. Four other mushers have also made it to Nome including Dallas' father Mitch who finished the race in seventh place. Last year's champ John Baker ended in ninth.

At the moment there are still 44 other teams still out on the trail and several of those are expected to finish today. In that group are fan favorite DeeDee Jonrowe, currently running in 10th place, as well as Brent Sass and Yukon Quest champ Hugh Neff.

With the win, Dallas joins his dad as an Iditarod champ. Mitch won the race back in 2004. But more than that, the younger Seavey fulfills the promise that he has been showing over the last couple of years. Not only did he race very well in the Junior Iditarod a few years back, he also became the youngest person to win the Yukon Quest last year. Since first entering the Last Great Race at the age of 18 he has continued to improve his position every year. Following a fourth place finish last year, he was amongst the contenders heading into the 2012 edition of the race.

Congrats to Dallas, Aliy and Ramey on a great race to the finish and good luck to the remaining competitors who will continue to come in over the next few days.

Iditarod 2012: And Then There Were Three

The 2012 Iditarod will be decided today, we just don't know who will claim victory in Nome just yet. The frontrunners have arrived in White Mountain, which is just two checkpoints away from the finish and at the moment they are serving out a final mandatory 8 hour rest before they begin the final run to the end.

As I write this, Dallas Seavey is in first place with a one hour and 11 minute lead over Aliy Zirkle. Racing in third place is Ramey Smyth who is another 52 minutes back. Aaron Burmeister is the only other musher to reach White Mountain at this point and Peter Kaiser is currently holding down the fifth position on his way into the CP.

Once they have completed their mandatory rest, the teams will head back out onto the trail. That means Dallas will maintain his lead as they resume the race, but what happens after that is what will ultimately decide the outcome. The leg from White Mountain to Safety, the penultimate checkpoint, will be a challenging 55 miles in length and from there it will be just 22 miles to Nome.

The wildcard in the top three is Ramey, who struggled at the mid-point of this race but has come back very strong now. Smyth has bolted past a number of very good teams and is now in position to contend for the win, something that seemed unthinkable just a few days ago.

Now it all comes down to who has the fresher dogs and sets the right pace. Nome is close but there are still many miles to go until these teams are done. Trail tactics can still play a role in who will come out on top. No matter who wins however, it is going to be an exciting finish.

The winner should arrive in Nome sometime early evening today.

For more Iditarod coverage be sure to check-out the Iditablog.

Iditarod 2012: Father and Son Lead the Way!

The 2012 Iditarod is shaping up to be one of the best races in recent memory. With the teams now past the halfway point, the mushers are beginning to think about the best strategies for the stretch run to Nome. That has led to some tactical moves out on the course that could have an impact on the outcome of the race in the days ahead.

Earlier today the first racers arrived at the checkpoint in Ruby, which falls at the 545 mile mark along the trail. Father-son duo Mitch and Dallas Seavey were the first to arrive and both have elected to take their mandatory 8-hour rest at that point. That has allowed Aliy Zirkle to retake the lead out on the course as she blasted through Ruby, stopping just long enough to check in and out.

The current leaderboard has Zirkle out in front as the only musher through Ruby. Behind her are the two Seaveys, followed by defending champ John Baker and Aaron Burmeister, who are holding down the fourth and fifth spots respectively. The only other musher who has reached the Ruby checkpoint is Jeff King, who now sits in the sixth position.

While it appears that the other racers have elected to rest in Ruby, Zirkle is making a bold move to try to put enough distance between herself and the pack so that she can take her 8-hour rest period down the line without surrendering back too much ground. The hope is that she can run faster over the next few legs of the race so that she can be on even footing when the final run to Nome begins. We'll just have to wait to see if that strategy will pay off.

Other names of note include four-time champ Lance Mackey, who is currently running in 18th place and Yukon Quest champ Hugh Neff who is holding down the 23rd position. Fan favorite DeeDee Jonrowe is making a great account of herself running in eighth place at the moment as well.

For more Iditarod coverage be sure to checkout the Iditablog.