The Adventure Blog

Video: Mixed Climbing With Sam Elias

2012-01-27T14:40:00.000-06:00

Looking for a little inspiration for your upcoming weekend? Then look no further than this video, which features climber, and North Face athlete, Sam Elias, working a mixed route of rock, snow, and ice in Vail Pass. The route, which goes by the name of "Red Bull and Vodka," rises 120 feet and finishes off on The Fang, one of the toughest ice climbs around.

SAM ELIAS/ MIXED CLIMBING/ RED BULL AND VODKA M11 from Cedar Wright on Vimeo.

Himalayan Stove Project Looks To Improve Environment and Health

2012-01-27T14:31:00.001-06:00

If you've ever traveled through the Himalaya and spent some time in the tiny mountain villages that dot the landscape, you've probably observed the simple lifestyle of the people that live there. Most of those towns have little in the way of modern conveniences and the villagers tend to make do with the same basic equipment that has been with them their entire lives. Take for example the stoves they use to heat their homes. Most are simple and inefficient, and often use yak dung for fuel. Those same stoves are awful for the health of those that use them, often giving off dangerous smoke and fumes that can cause all kinds of health issues.

The Himalayan Stove Project looks to address all of these concerns and then some. It is an ambitious venture that has been put together by adventurer and explorer George Basch, who calls himself the "Chief Cook" of the project. Over the next five years, George hopes to distribute 10,000 new, clean, cookstoves across the Himalaya, simultaneously improving the lives of those who live there, while consuming far less fuel.

The HSP accepts donations through their website, which do directly toward buying and distributing the stoves. The organization is designed to be very efficient, with low overhead, and all of the staff are volunteers who pay their own travel expenses. Additionally, I love that they have a concrete and attainable plan for improving the lives of the people they are trying to help. I'm told that the first 1500+ stoves are en route to Kathmandu at this very moment, and George and his crew will begin giving them out this spring.

Personally, I think this is a great project. The stoves that I saw while in the Khumbu last year were mostly outdated and were definitely inefficient. On top of that, anyone who has ever had the privilege of enjoying the smell of burning yak dung knows how useful these new stoves will be. The Himalayan Stove Project looks to be quite an undertaking, and I wish them the best of luck in reaching their goals.

Winter Climb Update: Denis and Simone In C3 On Nanga Parbat

2012-01-27T11:40:00.002-06:00

There hasn't been much in the way of updates from Pakistan the past few days. We can only assume that work is progressing as needed on K2 and Gasherbrum I, where teams are hoping to make the first winter ascent of those giants of the Karakoram. We did receive word from Simone Moro and Denis Urubko yesterday however, and things are progressing nicely for them on Nanga Parbat.

After spending a few days resting in Base Camp, Simone and Denis started up the mountain a few days back amidst high winds and blowing snow. But now, the weather has taken a turn for the better and they have continued to go higher to take advantage of the window that has come their way. Yesterday, the two men climbed to Camp 3 at 6600 meters (21,653 ft), where they spent the night as part of their regular acclimatization process. They also noted that if the weather held today they hoped to climb up to 7100 meters (23,293 ft), or higher, before proceeding back to BC to rest. If they hit that mark, they'll pretty much have completed the acclimatization phase and they may start to look for a weather window that will allow them to go to the summit.

If the men are feeling strong and rested, and the weather affords them the opportunity, they could conceivably start the summit push sometime next week. That seems ambitious, but possible at this point and it will all come down to how strong they feel after completing this rotation. They may decide to do one more acclimatization round first, but as we all know, winter weather windows in the Karakoram are few and far between, so as usual, the weather will likely dictate what happens.

Stay tuned. I'm sure we'll get further updates from K2 and GI next week.

Video: Patagonia Timelapse Is Simply Beautiful

2012-01-27T10:11:00.001-06:00

These timelapse videos just keep getting more and more beautiful. Earlier this week we had those amazing views of Yosemite and now we have this one, which was captured in Argentina's Patagonia region. This is simply one of the most stunning landscapes on the planet and it is captured very well here. Sit back and be mesmerized.

PATAGONIA - ARGENTINA - TIMELAPSES from Ignacio Leonardi on Vimeo.

Antarctica 2011: Waiting For The Last Plane Out

2012-01-27T09:54:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I posted the news that Cas and Jonesy had arrived back at Hercules Inlet, very tired and sore, but happy to have completed their long journey at last. There still hasn't been much news from Antarctica regarding what it was like for them to finish the expedition, but according to their Twitter feed, they are definitely eager to get a hot shower and a comfortable bed.

Presently, the boys are still sitting at Hercules, waiting for the last plane to arrive. Bad weather, particularly high winds, are keeping that flight grounded for now and there is no word on when it might arrive to pick them up. That means another potential night in the tent, which after three months out on the ice, has to be getting old. I imagine at this point they are ready for their adventure to be done and get back to some of the comforts of life for awhile.

Judging from their tweets, the two Aussies are in good spirits, although extremely tired and sore. They've just spent 89 days traveling to and from the South Pole, covering 2270km (1410 miles) in the process. They've also become the first people, along with Norwegian Aleksander Gamme, to go from Hercules to the South Pole and back, completely unsupported. That is an impressive accomplishment to say the least, and they are deserving of some R and R in their near future. Hopefully the weather will cooperate soon, and they can begin their journey home.

Antarctica 2011: Cas, Jonesy, and Aleks Are Done!

2012-01-26T15:57:00.000-06:00

Just a very brief update on the story I posted earlier today, in which I noted that Cas and Jonesy were on the home stretch of their expedition to the South Pole and back from Hercules Inlet. A short time ago, the support team for the two Aussies tweeted out the message: "@casandjonesy have completed their world first rek across the ice! What aussie heros!"

Other than that, there aren't a lot of details yet. We do know that Aleksander Gamme was waiting for them about 1km from the finish, so presumably the three men arrived at Hercules together. I'm sure we'll get a lot more information tomorrow or in the days ahead, but know that they are safe and sound at the finish line and that they made it with time to spare. The last plane out of Antarctica is scheduled for tomorrow, which means they weren't even rushed!

A huge congratulations to Cas, Jonesy and Aleksander on an amazing job. You three are very inspirational, and I know that you had to over come some major hurdles and challenges to accomplish your goals. It has been a real pleasure to follow along with you on this adventure. Now get some food and rest and start dreaming about warm beaches. I'm sure you're more than ready.

Video: The World Is Where We Live

2012-01-26T13:50:00.000-06:00

I'm going to let this beautiful video speak for itself. It says a lot without saying much at all.

The world is where we live from WWF on Vimeo.

Explorers Club Member Blogs On Controversy Once Again

2012-01-26T11:33:00.001-06:00

A few days ago I shared a link to Greg Bledsoe's blog, in which he wrote about the on going controversy at the Explorers Club. Greg happens to be a member of the EC, and in that post he wrote about his concerns with the way the leadership of the organization was handling some internal disputes amongst members.

Today, Greg follows up that story with another post, this time sharing more details of what is happening inside the EC, including some memos that were sent internally regarding the situation. This second post, which you can read here, offers some insights into why ten members of the prestigious Flag and Honors Committee resigned last month in a dispute that started when President Lorie Karnath, and some of her close confidants, nominated certain people for awards from the EC. The committee didn't find some of those nominees met their standards, and rejected them as award winners, which set off a whole string of events that questioned the integrity of some of the people at the very top of the organization.

If you've been following this controversy, you'll definitely want to read Greg's post. There isn't anything in it that I hadn't already been told, but I was reluctant to post some of the details because I'm not a member of the club. He spells out exactly what caused the friction with the Flag & Honors Committee, and why those ten people took a stand against Karnath, and were then summarily dismissed without having an opportunity to express their grievances to the Board of Directors.

I know some readers have wondered why this is a big story and deserves on going coverage and to that I would say that the Explorers Club is a venerable and honorable organization whose history dates back more than a century. It has had some very impressive members over the years and has long held an important place in the annuals of exploration and adventure. On top of that, a number of members of the club read this blog and I've heard from many of them that they are happy that this story is getting told. There is a crisis of leadership with in the EC at the moment, and some of the members are fighting to maintain the reputation and history of the organization, which they feel is in jeopardy because of how the club is currently being run. Because of that, I think this is a story of note to the broader adventure community as well.

Antarctica 2011: Cas and Jonesy On The Home Stretch!

2012-01-26T10:31:00.002-06:00

It has been one very long, and grueling, Antarctic season for James Castrission and Justin Jones, aka Cas and Jonesy. The lads have been out on the ice for three straight months in their attempt to ski unsupported from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole and back – something that has never been done before. But today they are in the home stretch, and if everything goes as planned, they should arrive back at the start sometime tonight.

As of this writing, the boys have just 14km (8.6 miles) to go until they reach Hercules, where they'll find Aleksander Gamme waiting for them. Aleksander is making the same journey, although he was going solo, and as he neared the finish line, the Norwegian elected to hold up and wait for his Australian counterparts to join him. The three men will then ski the final kilometer to the Inlet together, effectively becoming the first to accomplish this epic journey at the same time.

This morning, before they set out, the two Aussies tweeted out "We are just now stepping off for hopefully the final time! Bring on the finish line!" I'm sure they are are more than ready to be done, as they have had to endure horrible weather, nagging injuries, illness, and more. But now they're about to accomplish something that will make all of those memories fade and make them feel a whole lot better.

Stay tuned for the news of their arrival.

Video: Snow Day In Seattle!

2012-01-26T09:02:00.000-06:00

Winter has been a long time coming in the western U.S., but when it did finally arrive, it came in with a vengeance. Heavy snow has now fallen across that part of the country, much to the delight of skiers and snowboarders everywhere.

One of the best things about a big snow storm is that it often brings an unexpected snow day with it. And when the city of Seattle didn't get around to plowing some of the streets, the local kids (big and small) took advantage of the situation and broke out the sleds. The result is the video below, which is just full of good old fashioned fun and evokes memories of snow days long past in my youth.

I absolutely love the kid in the red sled who is wearing a bike helmet and ski goggles. Something tells me we'll see him again in the future.

Video: Mountain Biking Nepal's Mustang Valley

2012-01-25T13:37:00.001-06:00

So you say you've already trekked the Himalaya but still find that you can't resist the siren call of those beautiful mountains? Then how about mountain biking through Nepal with adventure travel company Sacred Rides. They offer what looks like an amazing trip through the less-visited Mustang region that may be the excuse you need to return to the Himalaya (or go there for the first time!). Check out some highlights in the video below.

When do we go?!?

Mountain Biking the Mustang Valley in Nepal with Sacred Rides from Sacred Rides on Vimeo.

Dave Cornthwaite Announces 2012 Expedition Schedule

2012-01-25T12:30:00.002-06:00

British adventurer Dave Cornthwaite, whom we all followed down the Mississippi River on a stand-up paddleboard last summer, has announced his plans for 2012. In the months ahead, Dave will expand on his Expedition 1000 theme by undertaking three new, non-motorized, adventures over both land and water.

Expedition 1000 is a project that Dave started back in 2006. The plan is to make 25 separate journeys, each at least 1000 miles in length, without using any kind of motor. The first of those journeys was a 3621 mile crossing of Australia on a skateboard. Cornthwaite followed that up with 1540 mile paddle down the Murray River, also in Australia. The third leg of Expedition 1000 featured a tandem bicycle ride from Vancouver to Las Vegas, covering 1396 miles, while the fourth was the aforementioned source-to-seas SUP journey on the Mississippi.

This March, Dave will sail from Cabo, Mexico to Honolulu, Hawaii – a distance of 3000 miles – with a group of strangers. The ship will have a crew of 12 and as of this writing there are still three open slots if anyone would like to join the crew. The voyage, which Dave describes as being a TED Talk on the open seas, will feature a series of workshops and lectures on the importance of our planet's oceans. The trip is expected to take about 15 days to complete.

After that, Dave plans on taking a little dip in the Missouri River, swimming 1000 miles along that waterway and culminating in St. Louis. Starting in August, that challenge is expected to take roughly 50 days to complete, and as usual, others are encouraged to join in on the journey as well.

Finally, Dave will join Sarah Outen as she makes her crossing of Canada on a bike. As many of you probably already know, Sarah is in the midst of her London2London expedition, in which she is circling the globe completely under her own power. In November of this year, Dave will join her on a cycling adventure that begins in Vancouver and ends in New York. For this leg of Expedition 1000, Dave will be breaking out his Whike, a specially designed recumbent bike that incorporates a sail as well.

Seems like a pretty solid year of adventure for Cornthwaite and those of us who will be following his journeys. Thats an ambitious list of expeditions, but if anyone can manage, it'll be Dave. Of course, it is all being done for charity, with proceeds going to the CoppaFeel organization to fight breast cancer.

Good luck!

Antarctica 2011: Johan Ernst Nilson Reaches Second Pole

2012-01-25T10:53:00.001-06:00

One of the bigger adventures of the past year came to an end last week when Swedish adventurer Johan Ernst Nilson reached the South Pole. That point marked the final destination of his Pole2Pole expedition, which began last spring when he set out from the North Pole and began traveling south.

The initial plan was for Nilson to make the journey completely without the use of motorized vehicles, going on skis from the North Pole to Greenland for instance, then employing dogsleds to reach the coast and sailing the northern Atlantic to Canada. He ended up skiing directly to Canada instead, and once there, he began riding his bike towards South America, where he had hoped to arriving in Punta Arenas in time for the Antarctic season. With the cycling leg behind him, he would then sail across the Southern Ocean, to Antarctica, and kite-ski to the Pole.

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to travel as fast as he would like and that plan didn't come together completely. The bike ride took longer than Nilson expected, and as a result, he had to abandon his two-wheeled transportation and fly to the Antarctic in order to take advantage of the weather window that comes with the austral summer. Once on the ice, he did kite to the Pole, but it was a tough go that left him injured with a couple of broken ribs that must have been incredibly painful

Now, Nilson will return to South America and after a brief rest, get back on his bike and continue his ride to Punta Arenas. Once there, he still intends to sail to Antarctica, which would allow him to finish the expedition in the manner that he had started, just with a slight detour along the way. He hopes to accomplish this goal by early April, which would mean that he truly has gone from Pole2Pole in a single year.

Winter Climb Update: Evacuation On K2, C2 On Nanga Parbat

2012-01-25T09:31:00.001-06:00

It has been a busy couple of days in Pakistan for the teams making winter ascents on the big peaks there. As is always the case, it is the weather that decides how much progress they can make and how much they'll suffer while doing it. For the teams on K2 and Nanga Parbat, it has now been a month since they arrived on the mountain, while over on Gasherbrum I, the teams are just starting to settle in.

The Russians on K2 were forced to evacuate a teammate yesterday when a helicopter dropped by BC to pick up Vladimir Belous, who was suffering from frostbite on several fingers. The team had hoped to send Belous out sooner, but bad weather prevented the helicopter from landing for a number of days, and as a result, Vladimir's fingers had to be treated on site. He has now been flown back to Skardu and will make his way to Islamabad, and then home to Moscow.

Meanwhile, the rest of his teammates have continued to work the route. Several climbers were above Camp 2 yesterday fixing ropes, but high winds forced them to retreat all the way back down to Base Camp. The skies have cleared there however, which brought some sun at last, but the high winds and cold temperatures are expected to continue. The mercury has been hovering around -37ºC/-34ºF for the past few days.

On Nanga Parbat, Denis Urubko and Simone Moro have resumed climbing and went up to Camp 2, located at 5000 meters (16,404 ft) yesterday. After taking three days of rest, the two men are feeling re-engergized and ready to climb, and while they were accompanied by three others on their way up to C1, they are now in Camp 2 all by themselves. No word yet if they'll go any higher or if this is just the next round of their acclimatization process.

The Polish Team on Gasherbrum I is getting settled in and preparing to move up the mountain. They arrived in BC over the weekend, and have been busy getting their camp established ever since. They did find time to post an excellent image gallery online, which you can check out here. The photos give you a good sense of what life is like in Base Camp on one of these big mountains. Look for the team to start working their way up to Camp 1 in the next day or two.

Finally, Alex Txikon and Carlos Suarez are also in BC on GI and have reportedly started working the route themselves. The two men took their turn fixing the lines yesterday, so progress has started towards C1, and it appears that there is a good sense of cooperation between them and the Poles. Alex and Carlos are also working hard to establish their Internet connection from the mountain as well, as they have plenty of photos, and hopefully video, to share with the rest of us following along back home.

Good luck to all of the climbers as they continue to challenge these monsters of the Karakoram in the days and weeks ahead.

All-Woman Rowing Team Finishes Atlantic Crossing

2012-01-24T14:30:00.000-06:00

Way back in October of last year I told you about an all-woman rowing team that was set to take part in the Woodvale Challenge, an annual race across the Atlantic Ocean in row boats. At the time, the ladies who made up the Row For Freedom team were hoping to not only complete the crossing, but nab a few records in the process. This past weekend, they reached the finish line, and accomplished some major milestones as well.

The team, which consists of Julia Immonen, Debbie Beadle, Helen Leigh, Kate Richardson, and Katie Pattison-Hart, started their adventure in the Canary Islands on December 7th. The team rowed in shifts, 24-hours per day, covering 4205km (2613 miles) in just 45 days, 15 hours, and 26 minutes, before arriving in Barbados in the Caribbean Sea. Their time marked a record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic by an all female team and they became the first 5-woman squad to row any ocean at all.

While rowing the Atlantic Ocean is a great achievement and an impressive adventure in and of itself, the girls had bigger aspirations in mind when they set out. The team partnered with two charities, ECPAT UK and The A21 Campaign, both of which are working hard to stamp out human trafficking. The Row For Freedom effort was designed to raise awareness of this issue, which continues to be a very real and scary activity in many parts of our planet.

Congratulations to the entire team on a job well done. Amazing work!

Explorers Club Member Blogs On Club's Internal Conflict

2012-01-24T12:35:00.001-06:00

It has been a few weeks since I last posted anything in regards to the reportedly on going internal disputes at the Explorers Club. The last time I wrote anything about the situation, it was to note that explorer and club member Mikael Strandberg had posted a letter of support for EC President Lorie Karnath on his website. That post has since been removed, although I don't have any insights into why that would be the case.

Over the course of the past few weeks, I've heard from a couple of club members who continued to say that there are all kinds of issues with the leadership and management of the club. Those members wished to remain anonymous, and really didn't want me to say much about what they told me, but the message that I received was clear – I don't even know the half of what is going on, and the things that I've wrote about over the past few months are just the tip of the iceberg.

Apparently, I'm not the only one taking notice of the conflict that is playing out inside the EC, as another club member has stepped forward with some thoughts on the situation. Earlier today, Greg Bledsoe, who is a doctor of expeditionary medicine and one of the founders of ExpedMed, posted this article on his website offering some more insights into the affair. Greg has a lot to say about this story, and makes a public request to Karnath to provide answers to a variety of questions.

Bledsoe says that he first became aware of the situation from the New York Post article from a few weeks back. That story, which I wrote about as well, featured some rather significant quotes from EC members Ken Kamler and Jim Clash, who called out the President for disciplining television personalty Josh Bernstein in what was seen as a vindictive move against a potential threat to her office. Kamler in particular had some harsh things to say on the matter.

What was interesting about this is that in his blog post Bledsoe says that he has gotten to know Kamler very well over the years and that he had never heard him so upset. From his writing, it is clear that Greg holds Kamler in very high regard and says that "He (Kamler) has a long list of accomplishments, but carries himself with sincere humility and dignity. He is one of the most genuine people I know, and one of the easiest to get along with."

That doesn't sound like someone who would fly off the handle for no particular reason. Especially when you couple it with the fact that Greg goes on to say that Ken "absolutely loves The Explorers Club."

While he was disturbed by the story in the Post and my own writings on the situation, Greg says that he didn't think or do much about the emerging story until Karnath sent an internal e-mail to the membership that caused him to take pause and consider the big picture of what was happening. That e-mail is posted on his blog and does nothing to address the concerns of members, who continue to wonder the exact nature of the disciplinary action against Bernstein, or why 10 of the 12 Flag and Honors Committee members resigned in protest.

As a long time member of the Explorers Club, and someone who respects the institution greatly, Bledsoe attempted to reach out to the leadership of the organization and get some answers. As of the time of the publishing of his story, he has received no response at all.

If you've been following his ongoing story and want to get yet another perspective of the situation, than I urge you to read Greg's blog post. Remember, this is coming from a member of the Explorers Club, who was actually willing to go on record and publicly call out the EC's leadership. I think it shows that not only is this internal conflict still raging on, but that it also seems that the club is in disarray over the whole affair. Why else would leadership of the organization not respond to a member's needs?

I think my source from a few weeks back was right. This is only the tip of the iceberg and there is A LOT more to the story than any of us really know.

Antarctica 2011: Aleksander Waits For Cas and Jonesy

2012-01-24T10:30:00.000-06:00

With just a few days left in the current Antarctic season, and most of the explorers already off the ice or preparing to depart, we get news today of quite a show of camaraderie and respect by Norwegian skier Aleksander Gamme, who has elected to halt his expedition and wait for Aussies Cas and Jonesy.

If you've been following the action in the Antarctic this year, you know that there have been two teams vying to become the first to travel unsupported from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole and back. Aleksander was one of them and Cas and Jonesy was the other. The men had a good natured rivalry, as they each wanted to make history, but they also wished one another well and encouraged each other along the way too. Aleksander has been making his journey solo, and for the most part has faired very well, while Cas and Jonesy have gone together and at times have suffered mightily.

Both expeditions began at the same time, and they are now 87 days into their quest to complete this epic trek, and with the end now firmly in sight, all three are ready to put the experience behind them. Three months out on the ice is a long time for anyone, and I'm sure they are more than ready to feel some warm temperatures once again.

But after skiing 2270km (1410 miles) completely alone, Gamme has now stopped and his waiting for his compatriots to join him. They'll ski in the last few miles to Hercules together, earning them all the distinction of completing this journey first. It is quite a show of sportsmanship and the complete lack of ego on the part of Aleksander, who could easily finish up today and claim the distinction for himself. Major props to the Norwegian for such a show of class.

For their part, Cas and Jonesy are limping to the finish line, and with just under 100km to go, it now appears that they'll make it time for the last flight out on Friday. The two men have been battling injuries and bad weather almost from the start, and it is a testament to their strength and determination that they are now on the home stretch as well. There will be a major sense of relief and satisfaction when they finally hang up their skis and finally head home.

Well done all around for these three amazing men. And thanks to ExWeb for sharing the story.

Video: Circumnavigating Ireland By Kayak

2012-01-24T09:26:00.000-06:00

In the spring of 2011, British sea kayakers Jeff Allen and Harry Whelan spent 25-days paddling around Ireland. Their adventure is now being made into a documentary by photographer/filmmaker Vaughan Roberts, who has entitled his project Into The Wind. You can get a sneak peek at that film below, which features some amazing shots of Allen and Whelan out on the water in BIG swells. After you're done watching the video, check out this interview with Vaughan over at Canoe & Kayak too.

Winter Climb Update: Teams Reach Gasherbrum BC

2012-01-23T11:54:00.000-06:00

The weekend was a busy one for the major winter climbs in the Karakoram, with two teams reaching Base Camp on their mountain, while two others continued to work the routes on their peaks.

We'll start on K2, where the Russians now say that they have completely repaired the damage to their Camps 1 and 2. You may recall that last week the mountain was hit with hurricane force winds, which tore up BC and the higher camps. C1 was hit the worst, but the entire mountain felt the wrath of that storm. As a result, it took a few days to get everything back to they way that they wanted it, but now they seem to be back on track and returning to fixing the ropes up to Camp 3.

The weather hasn't been great since their arrival, and yesterday the team saw the sun for the first time in ten days. It didn't last however, and after just 30 minutes, the clouds returned and conditions took a turn for the worse. Despite the cold, high winds, and snow, the team diligently goes about its work however, knowing they have no chance of success unless they simply get on with it.

Over on Nanga Parbat, Denis Urubko and Simone Moro elected to take a few days of rest after learning about the death of their friend Mario Merelli, who perished while climbing in the Dolomites last week. They haven't posted any updates to their status since last week, which should lead us to believe that they are still in BC and planning their next move. They are joined on that mountain by a Polish squad, who had also been working the route and had completed their first round of acclimatization by building Camp 1 as well.

The other mountain receiving plenty of attention is Gasherbrum I, where two teams arrived in Base Camp over the weekend. The first was a Polish Team who reported that there is about a half-meter of snow in BC when they arrived on Saturday. They noted that they would spend the first few days establishing their camp, which is located at 5030 meters (16,502 ft), before they start heading up the mountain, and they reiterated that they will be on GI for the next two months.

Also reaching Base Camp on Gasherbrum I was Alex Txikon and Carlos Suarez. Reportedly conditions on the final trek to BC were good, and the weather was actually cooperative, but temperatures are extremely cold and there is plenty of snow higher up the mountain. Much like their Polish counterparts, Alex and Carlos will spend a few days getting organized and making their camp comfortable before they being their ascent.

Solo Sailing Update: Laura is Done!

2012-01-23T10:08:00.001-06:00

As I mentioned last Friday, over the weekend 16-year old Laura Dekker completed her quest to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world by arriving back at the Caribbean island of St. Maarten on Saturday. In completing her circumnavigation attempt, she has beaten the previous record, set by Australian Jessica Watson back in 2010, by eight months.

Happy to be reunited with her family, and enjoy the comforts of being back on land, Laura says she'll spend the next few days clean up her 30-foot yacht named Guppy. Then, she'll return to school and the average, daily life of a teenager – something she has missed out on while sailing the high seas over the past year and a half.

Upon arriving on St. Maarten, Laura was greeted by a crowd of supporters and media, who were there to witness her accomplishment. It was a whirlwind finish to something that Dekker says she has dreamed about since she was ten years old. The teenager was actually born on a boat off the coast of New Zeland, and has spent her entire life in and around the water.

Now that she has completed the journey, Laura says that she isn't sure she wants to return to her home country, the Netherlands. When she announced that she was planning to sail around the world at the age of 13, the government there moved to block her from leaving and even threatened to take her away from her father, who has custody of the girl after he and her mother divorced a decade ago. Laura says she feels that she was thrust into the spotlight on a world stage because of the what the Dutch government did, and because of that she doesn't know if she wants to return home. She says she'll discuss it with her parents first and make up her mind on what she wants to do next.

I hope that Laura chooses to let the actions of the Dutch government go and decides to go home. They were doing what they thought was right at the time and were trying to keep her best interests in mind. I'm sure some things could have been handled differently, but in the end, she did get to sail and she accomplished her goal in a very convincing fashion.

I imagine the transition back to "normal" life will be a rough one. For more than a year, she has been completely on her own, making her own decisions, and taking complete responsibility for herself and her boat. That isn't an easy thing to put behind you at any age, but especially as a teenager. Still, something tells me she'll do just fine, and after spending a suitable amount of time at home, she'll probably be back out on the water again before we know it.

Antarctica 2011: Felicity Completes Antarctic Traverse!

2012-01-23T09:01:00.003-06:00

We enter the final week of the Antarctic season with a few adventurers still out on the ice and some desperately working to reach their finish line. This Friday is the deadline for the last plane out, and while most of the explorers have already left for home, there are still some lingering on the frozen continent, as the clock ticks down to the end of another busy season.

The big news of the past few days is that Felicity Aston has finished her journey and is now in Hercules Inlet. You may recall that she started at the Ross Ice Shelf, traveled to the South Pole, and then made her way to the Hercules finish. In completing this journey, which covered 1744km (1083 miles) in 59 days, she has now become the first woman to make a solo traverse of Antarctica. As of this writing, she is waiting for ALE to send a plane to pick her up, but high winds are keeping her in place for now. She hopes to be off the ice, and on her way home, soon though. Congrats on a job well done Felicity!

One man who should be closing in on his finish is Aleksander Gamme. The Norwegian explorer has been attempting to become the first person to travel from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, and back, solo and unassisted. In his most recent update, posted yesterday, Gamme says that he is already starting to feel a bit sad about leaving the Antarctic, even though he has been out on the ice for more than 85 days now. He should arrive back at Hercules today or tomorrow, which will bring an end to an epic journey that is simply an amazing feat to say the least.

Also hoping to go from Hercules to the Pole and back are Aussie lads Cas and Jonesy. The boys are on their own stretch run but still have some work ahead of them before they can rest. Low on supplies, nursing a number injuries, they are slowly but surely limping their way back to where their journey started, and as of this writing they still have 152km (94.4 miles) to go before they are done. That translates to about 38km (23 miles) per day over the next four days to be at Hercules in time to catch that plane. Considering how dedicated they are to reaching their goal, and how hard they've been working on their return trip, I wouldn't bet against these two men making it to the end. It's just going to be one tough slog to get there.

I'll post updates as these final expeditions come to an end and the explorers catch that plane back to Punta Arenas. It has been one exciting year in the Antarctic, and it looks like its going to end on a couple of high notes.

Video: Yosemite In Timelapse

2012-01-23T08:32:00.000-06:00

There is nothing like starting out a new day (and week!) with a great video to remind us why we love the outdoors so much. This one was shot in Yosemite National Park and is incredibly serene and beautiful. It also happens to give you a nice glimpse of why that park is considered one of the best climbing and hiking spots in North America. Enjoy!

Yosemite HD from Project Yosemite on Vimeo.

Winter Climb Updates: COLD!

2012-01-20T10:43:00.000-06:00

It has been another trying week in the Karakoram, where the winter weather continues to test the strength and patience of the climbers there. Cold temperatures, high winds, and snow are the norm this time of year, and unending days with those conditions can take their toll on anyone. Still, the teams that have traveled to those remote mountains knew this would be the case ahead of time, and so they go about their work as best they can.

On K2, the Russians have rebuilt their Camp 1 after it was demolished by hurricane force winds earlier in the week. They've also spent the past few days shuttling gear back up the mountain, and now have supplies in both C1 and C2. They report that their Camp 2 didn't suffer nearly as much damage as they feared, and as a result, they've already gone back to work fixing lines when they can.

The weather report for the next few days doesn't look very promising, particularly at altitude. Summit winds on K2 are predicted to exceed 100 kph/62 mph, but fortunately none of the team will be coming anywhere close to the summit anytime soon. Instead, they'll take the weather windows where they can get them, and methodically go about the work of fixing lines to Camp 3.

Just how bad is the weather on K2? Check out a video the team posted yesterday by clicking here. About a minute it you'll get a glimpse of what it was like in Base Camp when the high winds hit a few days back.

On Nanga Parbat, Denis Urubko and Simone Moro are also reporting very cold temperatures, but despite those conditions, they know they still have to move up the mountain. With that in mind, they carried gear up to 5800m (19,028 ft) and worked on acclimatizing a few days back, but were stunned to learn of the loss of their friend and climbing partner Mario Merelli, who fell while climbing back in Italy. With that news hitting them hard, the duo elected to descend back to BC and rest for a few days while mourning their friend.

Finally, the Polish Team making its way to Gasherbrum I is still on the trekking route, as is Alex Txikon who is headed to the same mountain. Both squads are about halfway through the trek and expect to reach Base Camp next week, where they'll organize their gear, get established, and start acclimatizing to the peak. Expect more news on their progress once they start fixing lines and moving up.

Winter Outdoor Retailer Underway!

2012-01-20T10:14:00.000-06:00

The 2012 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market is underway in Salt Lake City, Utah, where all the gear companies, great and small, are now showing off their new products. It is an event that is amazing to behold, as aisle after aisle of drool-inducing gear is put on display. We're talking more packs, boots, and apparel than you could ever hope to see, all in one place.

Having attended the summer version of the show last August, I'm lamenting the fact that I'm not there at the moment. Fortunately, there are several great websites that are helping to keep us all in the know and sharing some sneak peeks at what we can expect to be hitting store shelves in the months ahead.

First, the Gear Junkie is always a great resource for any kind of news related to outdoor equipment and he has posted some images and descriptions of a host of new products in his Winter OR article. Some of the items that the GJ spotlights include new boots from Salewa, an amazing looking jacket from Outdoor Research, and a new GPS training watch from Magellan.

Also doing their usual bang-up job of reporting from the show are the team over at TrailSpace.com. You can find their continually updated OR page by clicking here. They've already posted a first-look at new shelters from Brooks-Range and Snow Peak, as well as a second article that looks and a number of new items, including a nice looking climbing helmet from Mammut.

Outside magazine is also posting their picks for the best gear of the show as well. You can take a gander at their selections by clicking here. Some of the items that make their exclusive list include a new vest from North Face and a jacket from Sierra Designs.

I have every intention of being back at OR this coming August, but for now, I'm just going to have to settle for reading this articles as well. Looks like plenty of good stuff on the horizon.

An African Adventure With Canadian RMC Cadets

2012-01-20T09:53:00.000-06:00

In late December, a team of young cadets from the Royal Military College in Canada traveled to Africa, where they had quite an experience. The team went there to climb Kilimanjaro, with the hopes of raising $20,000 for a new "Summit Scholarship" that would allow a former child solider from Africa to attend university in Canada. While any Kili climb is an adventure in and of itself, that was just the tip of the iceberg for what they found on their journey through the continent.

You can read the long and detailed, yet very interesting, trip report by clicking here. It has some great insights into climbing Kili, which will definitely be appreciated by anyone considering a climb of their own, but also discusses the other aspects of the cadets' journey through Africa as well. For instance, upon their arrival to Nairobi, Kenya they spent the first couple of days visiting local hospitals and slums and getting an education on what life in Africa is truly like. It was an eye-opening experience for the young men and women on the trip. They also had an opportunity to interact with African wildlife, visiting rehabilitation centers for elephants, giraffes, and other creatures.

After getting their legs back under them, and acclimatizing to the sights and sounds of Africa, it was time to move on to Tanzania and Kilimanjaro, which they climbed along the Umbwe route. As I mentioned above, they go into good detail on their climb, sharing all kinds of experience from the trail, which was a focal point of their visit. Their African adventure wasn't over after a successful summit however, as they then moved on to Rwanda, where they spent a week learning about the culture and history there, including the horrible genocide that went down in the 1994. Some of the team even ventured into Volcanoes National Park, where they had the opportunity to interact with the famed mountain gorillas that live there.

The story is such a good one, as I can tell from reading about the cadets' experiences that they fell in love with Africa as much as I have. It is a complex, wonderful place, that once it gets into your heart, it is hard to shake. Their experiences were not the norm for many travelers, which makes it all the more interesting to read. It seems pretty clear that this group of young people didn't come home unchanged by their travels. This sounds like it was an amazing journey and one that I would have loved to have been a part of.

Thanks to John Matlock for sending me this story a few days back.