Video: Mountain Biking Adventure in Argentina

Looking for another great mountain biking destination in South America? Then check out this video of Hans Rey and Tibor Simai, who spend three days traversing the wild backcountry of Argentina on their mountain bikes. They being in the town of Tilcara and ride to Calilegua National Park, with a whole lot of climbing in-between. It looks like beautiful country to go for a ride. Or do just about anything else for that matter.

Video: Rediscover Your Inner Explorer

Here's a beautiful little video shot in the Dominica that is meant to inspire us to explore and seek adventures. It features some excellent shots of the wonderful settings there, with narration that reminds us to go out to seek new experiences, new places, and new adventures. That seems like a fitting message to share.

Dominica - The New from Trent Hilborn on Vimeo.

Video: TravelSmith Travel Tip #20 - How and Why to Pack Light

Adventure travel legend Richard Bangs is back once again with yet more helpful tips for travelers. This time out, Richard gives us some advice on how to travel lighter, and why it is good for us to do so. He learned this lesson on an expedition to Ethiopia, where he lost his pack containing all of his gear, but still managed to have one of the best journeys ever. As someone who takes pride in traveling light, this particular video especially hit home.

Video: 80 Years Old and Still Cycling!

Here's a great little personal documentary about an 80 year old cyclists who fell in love with bikes as a child, and continues to ride to this day. It is an inspiring short film that is very well put together. I hope I'm still riding when I get to his age. As we head into the weekend, lets all get out and go for a ride!

Portrait of my grandfather : 80 and still cycling from Florent Piovesan on Vimeo.

Video: Surviving the Iditarod Trail Invitational (Part 4)

Our friends at EpicTV have brought us the next installment of the Sport & Survival series, in which host Patrick Sweeney is attempting to complete the incredibly difficult Iditarod Trail Invitational, an endurance event that follows the same route as the famous Iditarod sled dog race. This time out, our intrepid host races the most dangerous section of the trail, which includes a wild climb and descent of the treacherous Rainy Pass at night. Good stuff as always, and a great look at this amazing event.

Video: Grand Canyon and Monument Valley Timelapse

Our friend Gavin Heffernan from Sunchaser Pictures have released yet another spectacular timelapse, this time with breathtaking images from the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley in Arizona. As usual, this video is mesmerizing to watch. Words can't really describe it, so just watch and enjoy.

YIKÁÍSDÁHÁ from Sunchaser Pictures on Vimeo.

DRAWN: The Climbing Adventures of an Artist

In 2009, climber and artist Jeremy Collins found himself stuck in a cave under Fitz Roy in Patagonia, waiting for the weather to clear enough to give him a shot at the climbing to the summit. While there, he came up with the inspiration to travel in four directions from his home, and climb new routes that had never been done before. He was looking for a new challenge, something to inspire him. Over the next four years, that vision took him to the jungles of Venezuela, the border of China and Mongolia, into Northern Canada, and the Yosemite Valley.  As he went, he collected very personal stories from those journeys, and he filled five sketchbooks with art inspired by those adventures.

Now, Jeremy has published the art from those sketchbooks in a wonderful new tome that is available from Mountaineers Books. He is also about to close a Kickstarter campaign that has earned him enough funds to produce a film of this adventures as well. The campaign still has three days to go until it is done, and while the minimum goal has been met, extra funds will go to improving production.

The story is a very inspiring one, showing us how we can pursue our dreams and go after our goals. Life is an adventure, and this little book, and film, are a testament to how to pursue those adventures. The video below offers a glimpse of what Jeremy has in mind. Looks great!

Video: New Speed Descent Record Set on Mont Blanc

Last fall, a pair of climbers attempted to set a new speed record for the fastest descent of Mont Blanc back to the church square in Chamonix, by speed flying and mountain biking. After reaching the summit, Nicolas Blanchard and David Bozon set off at a breakneck pace to return to the base of the mountain, hoping to best the 32 minute record that was currently in place. They were able to complete that quest, reaching the square in just over 15 minutes. The video below shows how they did it. Hold on to your seats. It's quite a ride.

Video: Machu Picchu in 4K!

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

Announcing the Outer Edge Polar Challenge

The North Pole season is only just ended, and the Antarctic season is still months away, but it is never too early to start looking ahead. Outer Edge magazine, an Australian publication that I once wrote for, has released the teaser video below announcing the Outer Edge Polar Challenge, which will be taking place this November. While not a whole lot of details are shared, it appears that participants in the challenge will be attempting to break the current world ice sailing speed and distance record in unsupported fashion.

The plan is to cross more than 4000 km (2485 miles) of frozen expanse, starting at the ALCI Airbase in East Antarctica and proceeding towards the South Pole, and back, via a fuel depot and the Pole of Inaccessibility. Along the way, they hope to also set a record for furthest distance traveled in a 24-hour period.

I'm sure we'll hear much more about this is the weeks ahead. It'll be interesting to see how things unfold, and of course I'll be following their progress closely in November.

Video: World Traveler on Three Year Journey Creates Epic Selfie

Looking for a little inspiration to travel today? This video ought to do the trick. It was shot by Alex Chacon, who spent the last three years traveling the globe, crossing through 36 countries, and covering more than 200,000 km (125,000 miles) in the process. Along the way, he used his GoPro camera to capture some selfies, and the results are the 3 minute video below, which gives us a glimpse of his adventures. This makes me want to hit the road again soon!

Video: Adorable 5-Year Old is a Better Bike Rider Than You

Prepare to have your ego crushed by a five-year old. Felix, the boy in this video, is quite the rider for his age, or just about any other for that matter. The video starts off with shots of him simply riding his bike, but things get serious around the 50-second mark when he starts to pull off some impressive tricks that I wouldn't try. The kid is absolutely fearless. In a few more years, he's going to be tearing up the track. Fun stuff to put a smile on your face today.

Felix Biking from howie.tv on Vimeo.

Video: Amplitude - A New Zealand Timelapse in 4K

We'll finish out the first day of a new week with this great video, which is another timelapse shot in New Zealand and in 4K. As usual, the country never fails to disappoint, offering up breathtaking landscapes that will look even more impressive if you happen to have a 4K display. If you are fortunate enough to have a monitor that can handle it, check out the full-resolution file by clicking here. No matter what resolution you see it in though, New Zealand simply looks beautiful.

AMPLITUDE | NEW ZEALAND 4K from Martin Heck | Timestorm Films on Vimeo.

Video: Climbing in the Alps with the Alpine Mentors

Wonder what its like to spend two weeks climbing in the Alps? Then check out this excellent short film that chronicles just such an expedition under the tutelage of the Alpine Mentors. The trip was led by climber Steve House, who took a team of climbers into the European mountains to work on their skills and bag some peaks. The results look quite spectacular. The video contains lots amazing shots of those amazing mountains.

Alpine Mentors in the Alps from Buster Jesik on Vimeo.

Video: Kayaking a Lost World in Patagonia

We all know that Patagonia is one of the most remote and beautiful places on the planet, but even it still holds wonders to be revealed. That's what the kayakers in this video discovered when they made a descent of the amazing looking Pucón River there. The waterway is marked with impressive waterfalls, deep canyons, and wild whitewater. Everything you want to see in a good paddling movie.

Video: Adventures In Puerto Rico

When we normally think about visiting Puerto Rico, it usually conjures images of relaxing on the beach, with a cold beverage in your hand, and enjoying plenty of warm sunshine. Obviously, the island nation has all of that to offer, but for adventure travelers, it has plenty to share as well. The video below, brought to us by our friend Richard Bangs, shows off a few of those options, and may just have you rethinking the destination for your next trip.

Video: As the Crow Flies - A Cycling Adventure through Wales

Here's an excellent little film about a pair of cyclists, who built two "adventure bikes" designed for riding on and off road, to take on a 53-mile ride that goes "as the crow flies" from a mid-point in Wales, to the coast. It looks like a wonderful little ride, and a great way to explore the countryside. Truly wonderful stuff. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

As The Crow Flies from howies on Vimeo.

Video: Escaping the Light Dome - Getting a Better View of the Night Sky

Light pollution has become a major deterrent for us to fully see the night sky overhead. In large metropolitan areas, the sky is so saturated by light, that sometimes only the brightest stars can be seen. But move out into the wilderness and glance up, and you'll see the Universe completely displayed in front of you. It can be an awe-inspiring, and incredibly humbling sight for sure. The video below gives us a glimpse of that, while also taking a look at how our vision of the heavens can become obscured by the "light dome." While I'm not necessarily a big fan of the delivery of the narration, the images contained on this clip are absolutely stunning.

Escaping the Light Dome from donald jensen on Vimeo.

Video: TravelSmith Travel Tips #19 - How to Take a Great Photo in the Field

In what has become a regular Wednesday feature here on the Adventure Blog, we have another excellent travel tip from Richard Bangs. This time out, Richard shares some tips that all of us can appreciate: how to take great photos in the field. As usual, our intrepid guide has a story to share with how he gained these bits of wisdom. In this case, it was knowledge he picked up while watching a photographer for National Geographic go about his business while on an expedition through Sumatra.

Gear Closet: Garmin Virb Elite Action Camera

These days, everyone seems to be looking to get a piece of the "action camera" pie, that has been pioneered – and mostly dominated by – GoPro. To get any kind of attention in this competitive market, a camera needs to deliver more than just great image quality these days. It needs to be truly unique in style and features, offering up everything that competition does, and then some. I'd say that is the approach that Garmin took with their Virb Elite, a device that throws in everything you could ask for – and then some.

As you would expect with any action cam, the Virb is capable of shooting video at 30 fps with a resolution of 1080p, thanks to its 16 megapixel CMOS sensor. Dropping the resolution down to 720p allows you to increase that frame rate up to 60 fps, with a couple of intermediate resolutions and frame rates available as well. It can also take still photographs of course, and its rechargeable battery is rated for 3 hours of operation, which puts it on par, or ahead of most other cameras in the category.  The device is also rugged, and built to withstand punishment, which is a must for any action cam. It has an IPX7 water resistance rating, which means that it is capable of surviving immersion for up to 30 minutes in one meter of water.

But most of those stats are pretty common place with competitors, many of which come in at a much lower price tag. Where Garmin has really separated itself from the pack, is with all of the extras that it has built into the Virb, not the least of which is a 1.4" Chroma display that adds a level of versatility that many action cams simply don't possess. Obviously, the screen allows you to see exactly what you're shooting, which is always nice. The placement of the display is on the topside of the Virb, which comes in handy both when you're holding it, or when you have it mounted on the handlebars of your bike, or the top of your kayak for instance. The screen also lets you access the device settings for the camera, allowing you to quickly and easily adjust all of them. Many of the competitors only let you access those settings using your computer prior to heading into the field.


The addition of the screen is just the beginning however. Considering this camera comes from a company that is the leader in consumer GPS technology, it should come as no surprise that they have managed to include a GPS chip in the Virb Elite as well. This allows the device to geo-tag photos and videos, recording the exact location where they were taken. It also allows for some other unique features, which employ the GPS technology as well. This includes the awesome "Skiing Mode," which automatically starts recording when you start down the slopes, and is smart enough to stop when you get to the bottom. The GPS also includes altimeter functions to keep track of changes in altitude too.

Not content with just offering GPS, Garmin also included Wi-Fi on the Virb as well. This allows users to connect to the camera using a smartphone, laptop, or other device that has wireless capabilities. Once connected, is is possible to change settings, snap still photos remotely, and start and stop video recording. Your smartphone or tablet screen can also be used as a monitor for the camera, giving you a preview of what is being recorded. This is an extremely useful feature to have for aspiring filmmakers, and a great option for when you have the Virb mounted on your helmet, or some other place that makes it inconvenient to check routinely.

As if that wasn't enough, Garmin has also baked in support for ANT+, a protocol for connecting to other devices such as heart rate monitors or cadence sensors on bikes. While those applications of this option are intriguing, where it'll really come in handy is for those who own the fantastic Garmin fēnix watch, which can connected to the Virb via Ant+ and control it as a remote control. The camera can also connect to remote sensors to track weather information such as temperature and barometric pressure.

So, how does the Virb perform with all of that high tech gadgetry crammed into its tiny 6.26 oz (177.4 gram) form? Quite well actually! The camera shoots very high quality video and takes surprisingly good still shots, at the same time.The built-in screen makes it a breeze to use, and the large record on-off switch makes it clear when you are capturing video at all times. Garmin wisely included image stabilization options, which certainly helps to get cleaner imagery on action shots, which is after all, the whole point of these cameras.

For a device that offers so much functionality, the Virb is incredibly easy to use. The screen makes it easy to tap into all of the camera's potential, and using Wi-Fi to connect to a smartphone or other device, opens up the possibilities even further. I actually like to use my iPod Touch with the Virb, as it keeps my smartphone free for other things, and the Garmin app runs just fine on the latest iPod devices.

Battery life is solid, although I wasn't able to reach the 3 hour mark that Garmin claims. To be fair though, I had Wi-Fi and GPS activated, and was still able to get a solid 2 hour, 40 minutes of record time. Those kinds of extra features will always eat into battery life on any device. Unlike many other action cams however, the battery is user replaceable on the Virb, and Garmin sells extras for $29.95. If you're planning a project that requires a lot of video capture in the field, a spare or two will certainly come in handy.

As with most action cams, the Virb also has a wide variety of mounts available. It ships with a versatile flat surface mount, and a handy adapter that can be used with other industry mounts, such as those from rival GoPro, as well. Garmin also offers standard options such as bike and helmet mounts of course, but it also has dash mounts for your car, wrist strap mounts, and even a shoulder harness. I tested the tripod mount, which is self explanatory, and super-useful, as well as the headstrap mount, which I expected to be a bit unwieldily. Surprisingly enough though, it worked well, capturing good quality video thanks to the built-in image stabilization system. There is also an excellent Dive Case available for the Virb, which protects it down to 50 meters, and is very affordable at $39.95.

Personally, taken as a whole, I think that this is the best action camera available on the market today, and the first serious competition for the GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition. The Virb packs a lot of technology and options into a small package, that is easy to use and comfortable in the hand. It is solidly built to withstand punishment, comes with a lot of nice features and accessories right out of the box, and shoots video that is excellent in quality. Considering all that it has packed into its shell, it should come as no surprise that it has a price tag that rivals the GoPro models as well. Garmin has priced the Virb Elite, their top-end model I'll point out, at $399.99 – exactly the same as the GoPro model they're gunning for. Savvy shoppers will be happy to know that Amazon offers it for a $50 discount however, which makes the Virb a bit more affordable.

This is a camera that offers everything that aspiring outdoor filmmakers could want. It is versatile, functional, and feature-rich. Garmin has given you all the tools to start filming your masterpiece, all you need to do is get out there and start creating it.