The Adventure Blog

Video: Major Mountain Bike Descent In The Alps

2012-02-28T14:26:00.000-06:00

I came across this video over at the Adventure Journal earlier today, and thought that it was too good not to share. It follows four riders as they make an epic 10,800 foot (3292 meter) descent in the Alps. They started their ride on the Plaine Morte (Plains of Death) and ended in the Valais Alps near Mount Blanc. Along the way, they found plenty of great single-track and breathtaking views, which you can also enjoy. If this doesn't get you ready to ride this spring, nothing will!

The Seekers. from Filme von Draussen on Vimeo.

Nat Geo Announces 2012 People's Choice Adventurer of the Year

2012-02-28T10:30:00.000-06:00

Back in November, National Geographic Adventure announced their list of the Adventurers of the Year for 2012. The group featured 12 individuals from diverse backgrounds in mountaineering, snowboarding, surfing, and more. At the same time, Nat Geo also opened up voting to the general public to help pick the People's Choice winner for Adventurer of the Year as well. Today, that winner was announced, and it may come as a bit of a surprise.

Over the past three months, more than 72,000 of us have cast our votes in favor of our favorite adventurers and now that the votes have been tallied, the award goes to Sano Babu Sunuwar and Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa. The two men not only managed to climb to the summit of Everest, they also paraglided off the summit, flew to Namche Bazaar, and trekked to nearby river, and paddled all the way to the sea. They did all of that on a shoestring budget, without any corporate sponsors, and without much fanfare at all. That approach truly embodies the spirit of adventure and makes them more than deserving of this honor.

Sano and Lakpa beat out such other notable adventurers as Corey Richards, who was part of the team that made the first winter ascent of Gasherbrum II, Alastair Humphreys, who encouraged us all to take micro-adventures, and kayakers Jon Turk and Erik Boomer, who completed the first circumnavigation of Ellesmere Island in Canada. All in all, this was a really excellent group of adventurers, and they are all deserving of the recognition.

Congrats to Sano and Lakpa for taking the top honors. It is much deserved as well.

Sahara Challenge 2012 Update: Jukka Conquered The Desert!

2012-02-28T09:30:00.000-06:00

Way back at the beginning of January I wrote about the Sahara Challenge 2012 during which Finnish endurance athlete Jukka Vilijanen was attempting to become the first man to run solo across the Sahara Desert. At the time, Jukka had just set out on his run, which would eventually cover more than 1609km (1000 miles) through some of the harshest, hottest environments on the planet.

A few weeks back, on February 5th, Jukka completed the journey in just 31 days. The run started in the shadows of Morocco's Anti-Atlas mountains and proceeded south through the desert until he reached the Mauritania border, at which time Jukka had already entered the Sahel Desert. Averaging nearly 52km (32 miles) per day, the ultrarunner actually completed the challenge a few days ahead of schedule.

As I write this, Jukka is already back home in Finland, where I'm assured that he is resting and recuperating from this long run. But I'm also told that he is already planning his next endurance challenge for either 2013 or 2014, which will of course involve running across yet another desert. Can't wait to hear what's next!

Congratulations on completing the Sahara Challenge Jukka!

Expreso De Los Andes: Crossing The Andes

2012-02-28T08:07:00.000-06:00

As I mentioned last week, Ray Zahab, Kevin Vallely, and the rest of the impossible2Possible team have started their Expreso De Los Andes expedition. Over the next few weeks, they will be running west to east across the South American continent, covering more than 1700km (1056 miles), while also inspiring students and educators back home to adopt a more healthy and active lifestyle.

When last we checked in with Ray and Kevin, they had dipped their toes into the Pacific Ocean and were just getting underway. The plan was to ease into the run with a few days of shorter distances to get things started. In this case, "shorter distance" means about 45km (28 miles), which would eventually climb up to 70km (43.4 miles) per day once they felt acclimated. That didn't take very long however, as the runners have already started hitting those marks, and yesterday alone Ray ran more than 100km (62 miles).

The team has also now crossed the border between Chile and Argentina and are firmly into the Andes Mountains, which will of course be their biggest challenge. When they first got underway, the heat of the austral summer was taking its toll, but now that they are hitting the higher altitudes of the journey, cooler weather has set in. Those cooler temps bring a bit of relief of course, but now the team is dealing with thin air at altitude and long, steep climbs up the mountains.

To get a sense of what the conditions are like, check out the video below. It was shot a few days back when the team covered approximately 65km in a single day, of which 35km was climbing. The views are spectacular of course, but when you're running at altitude, I'm not sure you feel much like taking it all in. Still, it looks like they're having a great time on this adventure.

Expreso de los Andes Day 7 - 65km from GOi2P on Vimeo.

Winter Climb Update: Summit Bid Off For Now

2012-02-27T13:36:00.003-06:00

It isn't often that I publish two updates on the same expedition in the same day, but I feel that it it warranted in this case. Earlier I posted a story about the on going efforts of climbers to make the first successful winter climb on Gasherbrum I and how both the Polish team and Alex Txikon and Carlos Suarez were in the midst of a summit bid. Now, according to this story from ExWeb, both teams have retreated and are safely back in Base Camp, where they will decide on what to do next.

As I mentioned in the earlier post, a weather window was expected to arrive on GI starting tomorrow, and the climbers hoped to take advantage of it and move up to the summit. But apparently the winds didn't die down as expected, and the teams were caught out in a maelstrom. The Poles were on their way up to Camp 3 when they decided it was too dangerous, while the other climbers were headed towards C2 at the time.

The question now is, what happens next. According to ExWeb, the teams will decide their respective fates tomorrow, and I suspect the weather forecast will be a major contributing factor. If another window is on the horizon, they may give it one more go. But if the weather is expected to remain bad, I'm guessing you'll see them coming home. After two months on the mountain, they are surely exhausted and out of patience.

I'll post an update on their decision when we get one, but for now it seems they're huddling up in BC and attempting to figure out if they have any strength, or desire, for another round with the mountain.

Video: VIMFF Photo Contest Winners

2012-02-27T13:14:00.000-06:00

Way back in December I posted a story about the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival photo competition that was being sponsored by Climb For Change. At the time, organizers for the contest were looking for submissions, but now the competition has wrapped up, and they've released a great video showing off the best entries. The video, which can be seen below, features some great photos and is a salute to not only the photographers who took them, but also adventurers across the planet as well. Enjoy!

Outside Investigates Explorers Club Flap

2012-02-27T11:56:00.003-06:00

For several months now I've posted regular articles about the ongoing internal struggles at the Explorers Club – a venerable institution that seems to be facing a leadership crisis at the moment. I won't rehash the entire story again here, but essentially there are several factions vying for control of the Club, with President Lorie Karnath, and her supporters in one corner and a host of detractors who claim she is running the organization for her own ends, in the other.

Earlier today, Outside magazine published a detailed account of the whole affair on their website. The article does a great job of looking at the issues and grievances from multiple perspectives, and offers what I feel is a balanced, objective look at the feud. Damon Tabor, the writer of the piece, spoke to multiple members of the Club, on both sides of the row, and has put together an article that covers the story thus far, about as well as you could expect.

Outside had access to Karnath herself, who gives her account of the current situation while repeatedly denying any wrong doing. She, and her supporters, say that she is acting in the best interest of the EC, while detractors say that she is alienating members and sponsors, while rewarding those who are loyal to her cause.

I can tell you that much of what is reported in the story is the same as I've heard before, and the author has even spoken to some of the same people that I have. Outside puts the entire power-struggle into perspective however, and gets "on the record" comments from more members. The result is an overall clearer image of what is happening inside the Club right now.

The next election for Explorers Club leadership is scheduled to take place in just a few weeks. On March 18th, members will have the opportunity to decide which direction the Club goes, and it should be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Winter Climb Update: Gasherbrum Summit Bids Have Begun!

2012-02-27T10:26:00.000-06:00

After weeks of preparation and hard work in the Himalaya, the teams on Gasherbrum I may finally be ready for the big payoff. The weather remains a bit difficult, and high winds are currently buffeting the higher camps on the mountain, but a window to the summit is expected to open starting tomorrow, and the climbers have now moved into position to take advantage of it.

The Polish squad started their ascent on Saturday and made it to Camp 1 by early afternoon. Presumably they climbed higher yesterday and today, and although there are no updated since they set out, we have to assume that they are positioned in Camp 3, where they are hoping for the winds to die down long enough to make their summit bid tomorrow. If all goes as planned, we could see history made with the first winter ascent of Gasherbrum I.

Meanwhile, Alex Txikon and Carlos Suarez also moved up to Camp 1 yesterday and have plans to climb to C2 today. They are also getting themselves into position to make a summit bid, although it does seem like they are a bit behind the Poles on the ascent. Depending on how the weather patterns play out, they could be making their ascent at the same time however.

I'll be keeping an eye on the proceeds over the next 24 hours and looking for updates. It seems that it is now or never on GI, as the winter season has been a long one and the days starting to run short. The climbers still have a few weeks until the official end of winter, but they may not have the strength to continue battling the elements at altitude. For now, we'll just have to sit, wait, and watch how it all plays out.

If you've ever wondered what it is like during these high winds and winter storms, check out the video below. It was shot by the Polish team and gives you a good sense of what they've been dealing with. Yikes!

Brits Win 2012 Patagonian Expedition Race

2012-02-27T09:25:00.001-06:00

While I was away playing in the snows of Michigan's Upper Peninsula last week, a lot of things went down in the world of outdoor adventure. One of those was the completion of the 2012 Patagonian Expedition Race, which once again proved to be an amazingly challenging start to the adventure racing season.

As expected, the team of Adidas TERREX - Prunesco took first place for the fourth year in a row, completing the 375-mile course in 147 hours, 39 minutes. That gave them a comfortable win over second place winners Team EastWind, who finished nearly 12 hours behind at 159 hours, 25 minutes. Third place went to Team GearJunkie/YogaSlackers, who crossed the finish line 162 hours and 31 minutes after starting.

At the closing ceremonies, race organizers announced that they had come up with a new way for endurance athletes to suffer in the beautiful Patagonian landscapes. On September 30th of this year, the first ever Patagonian International Marathon will take place in Torres del Paine National Park, one of the most spectacularly beautiful settings on the planet. More details are sure to follow, but this sounds like a marathon that a lot of outdoor-adventure athletes are going to want to take part in. Stay tuned for more.

Congratulations to all the teams that raced in this year's Patagonian Expedition Race. But especially to the winners, who have now thoroughly dominated this race for the past four years. Considering how challenging the event is, that is one impressive feat.

Explorer Announces Great African Expedition

2012-02-22T10:00:00.000-06:00

Explorer and adventurer Julian Monroe Fisher has announced his next expedition, and it is an ambitious one to say the least. Last year we followed Julian as he walked across Africa, and now he has plans to return to that continent, where he'll undertake a multi-year, multi-expedition adventure that will take him to the deepest heart of the African wilderness.

Julian has dubbed his new project the Great African Expedition, and the plan is for him to spend the next five years following in the footsteps of some of the greatest explorers in history, while studying how the Ethnographic make-up of the continent has changed since the 19th century. During the Victorian Age, much of Africa was mapped and explored for the first time. Since then, the ethnic landscape has undergone dramatic transformations, and it should be fascinating to find out what has changed, and what has remained the same.

The first phase of the journey is set to get underway next month, when Fisher will travel overland from Cairo, Egypt to Khartoum, Sudan, along the Nile River. On that expedition, he will be tracing the path taken by British explorer Samuel White Baker back in 1861. When Baker took that route, there were a number of unique and distinct tribes living throughout that region, and Julian will be exploring what has happened to those tribes and the state of the ethnic make-up along the Nile in the 21st century.

The second phase of the expedition will take place later this year, and will begin in Khartoum, and will continue to follow the Nile southward into the new nation of South Sudan. From there, he'll attempt to circumnavigate Lake Albert, before following the Lamia River into the Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda. Along the way, he'll continue his study of the changing, and evolving, Ethnographic landscape of Africa.

Fisher outlines the rest of the expedition on his website, where you'll find information on each of the seven phases that he has planned. This will be a difficult and demanding project, as he intends to travel on foot, in dugout canoes, by camel, horse, and other non-motorized modes of transportation. But the Great African Expedition won't just be a grand adventure, it should also be an important study of the current status of the ethnic make-up of that continent.

Upper Peninsula Bound!

2012-02-22T09:00:00.000-06:00

I'm off on a short adventure of my own over the next few days. I'm headed to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for a little fun in the snow. While there, I'm going to be snowshoeing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and attending the World Ice and Snow Sailing Association's Championship. The WISSA competition involves wind powered sleds flying across the ice at breakneck speeds, which of course, sounds like great fun.

For those unfamiliar with the Upper Peninsula, it is a fantastic wilderness destination that offers a lot to the outdoor enthusiast all year round. In the summer, it is great place to hike and camp, and since it falls on Lake Superior, paddlers will find plenty to do as well. The UP is one of those remote places that few people visit and many don't even know exists, but it is truly one of the great outdoor locations in the entire U.S.

Of course, I'll share more about the trip when I get back, and updates will likely be sporadic the rest of the week. Hope everyone is having their own adventures while I'm away.

Ultrarunners Set To Run The Planet

2012-02-21T13:29:00.001-06:00

Two ultrarunners, one a legend in the sport, the other a neophyte, are set to launch an ambitious new television show entitled Run the Planet, which will send them to a variety of locations across the globe, where they will take part in a series of long distance running challenges.

Starting February 25th, New Zealander Lisa Tamati and Australian Chris Ord, will start the first of those challenges by attempting to run 126km (78.2 miles) between Hermannsburg and Alice Springs, in Australia. Along the way, they'll cross that country's famous Red Centre, where temperatures will routinely approach 40ºC/104ºF.

Lisa and Chris' run will follow a famous route that was taken back in 1922, when an indigenous stockman named Hezekiel Malbunka covered the same distance in order to save the life of a missionary by the name of Carl Strehlow. At the time, Strehlow was in desperate need of medical attention, and someone needed to go to the telegraph station to request assistance. It was agreed that Malbunka could get there faster on foot than by horse, and he did so – in just a day and a half. Once he had completed his mission, the runner then turned around, and ran back to where he started, besting his old time by completing it in just a day. Fortunately, Tamati and Ord won't have to make the return trip.

Their new show, Run the Planet, will put Tamati at center stage. As an ultrarunner, she has already completed some impressive runs, including traverses of most of the major deserts of the world. It is estimated that Lisa's runs have covered enough distance to send her around the globe four times. Her partner, Ord, on the other hand, is new to the sport of ultrarunning, and over the episodes of the series, you'll see him learn from Tamati, while building his own skills and level of endurance. In any given episode, the duo will be attempting runs of anywhere from 80km (49.7 miles) to 350km (217.4 miles), across a wide variety of terrain and under a host of conditions.

Exactly when the new show will begin airing is still up in the air, but my friends in Australia and New Zealand should definitely keep their eyes peeled. No word on whether or not it'll cross the ocean to North America yet, but I'd certainly tune in.

Expreso De Los Andes 2012: They're Off

2012-02-21T12:06:00.000-06:00

Last week I mentioned that Ray Zahab, Kevin Vallely, and the impossible2Possible crew were getting ready to launch their Expreso De Los Andes expedition, during which they'll be spending the next few weeks running west to east across South America. The run did get underway as expected, and the athletes began by dipping their hand in the Pacific Ocean and then starting to head east. They'll finish when they reach the Atlantic Ocean near Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The video below gives us glimpse of what their first day was like. They managed to cover 45km (28 miles), but after the find their rhythm, they hope to amp that up to closer to 70km (43.4 miles) per day. That isn't going to be easy however, as the terrain will be very demanding, including a traverse over the Andes Mountains, and it is also incredibly warm where they are at right now. Still, Ray and Kevin are two very experienced endurance athletes, and if anyone can complete this run, it will be these two. It should be fun to follow their progress.

Expreso de los Andes Day 1 - 45km from GOi2P on Vimeo.

Afghanistan's Secret Peaks 2012 Expedition Announced

2012-02-21T11:30:00.000-06:00

A small team of climbers has announced an interesting expedition that is set to take place this summer in the Wakhan region of Afghanistan. Dubbed the Afghanistan's Secret Peaks Expedition, the team hopes to trek the length of the remote Wakhan Corridor, visiting two unexplored valleys and attempting several first ascents along the way. Once summited, they also plan to paraglide from the top, giving them unique views of the unexplored territory below. Finally, they hope to document the entire journey on film as well.

The expedition, which is expected to begin in June of this year, is taking a "leave no trace" approach to exploring the rugged and beautiful Wakhan region. The team plans to travel in a carbon neutral fashion and hopes to minimize their impact on the environments that they are passing through. The use of the paragliders is part of that approach, as they'll be used to take arial photographs and video footage along the way.

The Wakhan Corridor is located in the north-east corner of Afghanistan, and stretches between that country and China. It serves as boundary between Tajikistan to the north, and Pakistan to the south, and was once a popular trade route for merchant caravans traveling from the Far East to Europe. The area has a reputation for having unpredictable weather, matched with very rugged terrain, and there are parts of the area that have remained mostly inaccessible for centuries. With plenty of snowcapped mountain peaks, it is also a huge draw for climbers looking to bag virgin peaks.

For me personally, the Wakhan region remains on my list of "must visit" places. I've heard that it is breathtakingly beautiful and that the people that live there are friendly and accommodating. It has started to become a popular trekking destination, although visitors to the area still remain low. Obviously Afghanistan still has security issues in parts of the country, but adventure travelers with the means will have a fantastic time there. I really need to go!

Find out more about the Afghanistan's Secret Peaks Expedition, and follow the team's progress in a few months, on their official website.

Video: Climbing The Nit de Bruixes Route

2012-02-20T13:24:00.000-06:00

Climber Iker Pou recently became the first to complete the Nit de Bruixes (Witch's Night) route on Margalef Mountain in Spain, and one look at the video below, and you'll see why. Early on, it becomes quite clear that Iker is a talented and skilled climber, but as the video progresses, he becomes something else. Something superhuman. At one point he is holding his entire body in place with a single finger, and it is an impressive sight to see. My hands hurt just watching this video, which is quite a display of grace, power, and agility.

Patagonian Expedition Race Update: Closing In On The Finish

2012-02-20T12:49:00.000-06:00

One of the toughest adventure race on the planet, the Patagonian Expedition Race, continues in Chile today, where 12 of the 20 teams remain in the competition and are heading towards the finish line. As usual with this event, the weather has been unpredictable at times, the course has been unforgiving, and things haven't gone exactly as planned. Still, the athletes are battling the environment, the elements, and each other, to take home the top prize.

As of this writing, there is a familiar name atop the leader board. Team Adidas TERREX-Prunesco has passed through the final checkpoint and are now headed for home. They seem like a lock to once again claim the championship, although Team EastWind and the GearJunkie/YogaSlackers are still in pursuit. At this point however, it appears that those two teams are dueling it out for podium positions behind he defending champs. Team Kauri and Cyanosis are currently further back in fourth and fifth place, but not completely out of striking distance should someone ahead of them falter or make a navigational error.

I'm told that paddling conditions early on in the race were extremely challenging, with a few boats taking on quite a bit of water on the heavy seas of the Magellan Strait. One team was also forced to withdraw after they went off course on one of the early kayaking stages. Returning to dry ground didn't necessarily help maters either, as high winds and occasional rain have made the course a challenge in general. Of course, this is all typical for this race, so no one competing there should be too surprised.

Barring some strange turn of events, look for Adidas to wrap up another title by tomorrow, with most the remaining teams staggering in by the next day. The race is scheduled to end on the 22nd, so teams will likely be short coursed to make it home by the end of that day.

Winter Climb Update: Holding Tight On Gasherbrum I

2012-02-20T10:35:00.001-06:00

The last two teams in Pakistan this winter are on Gasherbrum I (8080m/26,509 ft), where they are currently huddled in Base Camp and preparing for a major storm to hit. By all accounts, the Polish Squad and Alex Txikon and Carlos Suarez, are prepared to go to the summit, but the weather will now dictate if and when that will happen.

In his most recent dispatch, Alex says that it was a relatively quiet weekend in BC, where the teams spent the past few days preparing for the weather ahead. The forecast says that winds could be in excess of 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph), and as a result, they've been tying down the tents, and making sure all of their gear is properly secured. Those high winds are expected to last at least a couple of days as well, which means that there will be no attempt on the summit until things have died down.

In an earlier dispatch, the Polish team said that they didn't expect the weather to improve dramatically until the end of the month, which isn't until the middle of next week. If thats the case, the climbers will need to continue to be patient, while they look for a possible window ahead. They are looking to become the first to summit GI in winter, and they'll have until March 20th to actually complete that task. Ultimately, it will be the conditions at altitude that will decide whether or not they can achieve that goal.

I suspect that there won't be much to report from Gasherbrum I this week unless the weather does indeed take a turn for the better. Lets keep our fingers crossed for these men. I'd love to see them get a legitimate chance at the summit, but most of all, lets hope they all come home safely.

Video: Snowboarding In An LED Suit

2012-02-20T09:09:00.000-06:00

This video was making the rounds late last week, and I had a few people send it my way again over the weekend, so I thought I'd share it today. It shows a snowboarder riding down the mountain, at night, in a suit lit up with LED lights. That description really sounds strange in and of itself, but when you see it in motion, it truly is something to behold. The video is oddly tranquil to watch, and the slow-motion effect, coupled with the music, it has an odd, other-worldly effect.

Glowing Man HD from Jacob Sutton on Vimeo.

Book Review: The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide by Andrew Skurka

2012-02-20T08:30:00.000-06:00

Andrew Skurka is, without a doubt, the ultimate hiker. Over the years, he has trekked more than 30,000 miles, going end-to-end on the Pacific Crest and Appalachian Trails, coast-to-coast across North America, and through some of the most remote and rugged regions in Alaska. This former National Geographic Adventurer of the Year has figuratively, and now literally, written the book on long distance hiking, as his new book, The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide, hits stores this week.

Whether you're taking a day hike through a local park or making an epic trek through the Himalaya, you can learn something from Andrew's book. Despite the title seemingly indicating that it is strictly a tome on the best gear for hiking and camping, there is plenty of wisdom and philosophy to be gained as well. For instance, you'll learn how to not only trek faster, but smarter too, and you'll also gain valuable insights into judging what to bring with you, what to leave at home, and how to prepare for a backpacking trip in a variety of conditions and locations. Skurka even touches on how a good hiking trip can be beneficial to the health of a relationship as well.

But the bulk of the book is focused on one of my favorite topics – gear. Andrew shares the benefits of his considerable experience in the field to tell us what items have performed the best for him on his adventures, and exactly how they can help us too. He doesn't spend much time endorsing specific products from gear companies however, preferring to instead educate us on the benefits of a good layering system, for example, or why using a tarp-shelter is a better option than a tent. Skurka even tells us how to construct a cheap, lightweight, and efficient stove from common items found around the house.

The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide is packed full of practical information that isn't what you would always necessarily expect. For instance, Skurka does share his thoughts on what clothing items work best in different environments, which can be a huge benefit for someone who is trying to sort through all the options in base layers, fleeces, shells, and son on. But he also discusses, in great detail, the differences between "water-resistant" fabrics vs. "waterproof-breathable" ones, and even explains how they work and why they are valuable. This can be beneficial when deciding what to spend our money on and what options work best for our own personal trips as well.

The Guide extends well beyond clothing however, with Andrew offering valuable insights into footwear, headwear, hand wear, and even eyewear. He discusses sleeping bags and sleeping pads, shelters, maps and GPS, trekking poles, and much more. In short, everything you could possibly need for a hike lasting a few hours to a few months, and everything in between. Along the way, Skurka shares wisdom on how to find a proper campsite, how to prep food for a prolonged journey, and how to stay well hydrated while on the trail.

The book wraps up with a series of sample gear kits that are broken down nicely be geographical locations in the U.S. For instance, there are unique lists for tackling the Eastern Forests of the country, as opposed to the western mountain states or dry deserts of the southwest. Accompanying each kit is an introduction to the region, which helps hikers familiarize themselves with what to expect while traveling there. Some of the factors that are touched upon include environmental conditions, precipitation, wildlife and insects, and the availability of water along the way.

All in all, this is an extremely comprehensive guide for planning, preparing, and equipping for just about any kind of backpacking trip. Andrew will show you how to do it efficiently and enjoyably, while a minimal amount of the best gear possible. The kind of wisdom that you find between the covers of this book can only come from someone like Skurka, who has more experience in the field than any of us mere mortals could ever hope to attain on our own. The guide is easy to ready, informative, and helpful on many levels, and I think hikers of any level and experience will find plenty to like here.

The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide is available now from National Geographic books for $19.95.

Hugh Neff Wins 2012 Yukon Quest

2012-02-17T10:59:00.001-06:00

The 1000 mile long Yukon Quest sled dog race was won by veteran musher Hugh Neff earlier this week, when he crossed the finish line just 26 seconds ahead of second place finisher Allen Moore. It took Neff just 9 days, 16 hours, and 5 minutes to cover the course, which is run annually between Fairbanks and White Horse. Neff managed to make up 42 minutes of time over his rival in the final 100 miles, to nip him at the finish line.

Third place in the race went to Lance Mackey, who has won the YQ on four occasions. He was about 5 hours and 20 minutes off the pace, but says he felt like he actually won, since his dogs were on all three of the top teams. Jake Berkowitz and Brent Sass rounded out the top five at the event.

The Yukon Quest is always in interesting preview of what to expect at the Iditarod, which gets underway in about two weeks time. That race will actually be shorter than the YQ this year, dropping to 975 miles in length, due to changes in the course and the ceremonial start in Anchorage. Still, it remains one an amazing event, and should be fun to follow once again this year.

Winter Climb Update: Stuck In BC On GI

2012-02-17T10:31:00.002-06:00

Now that most of the teams have left Pakistan for the season, all of the action is focused squarely on Gasherbrum I, where both the Polish squad and Alex and Carlos are hoping to make the first winter ascent of that 8080 meter (26,509 ft) mountain. The two teams have been working together over the past few weeks to fix lines and establish camps, but now they seem to be taking a different approach on how to proceed.

According to the latest dispatch from the Poles, they have now established Camp 3, finished acclimatizing, and have all of their gear in place to make a proper summit bid. There is just one problem however, and that is the weather. Conditions are not good on the mountain today, and the forecast says that it could be another seven days before things improve. Winds are predicted to top 100 km/h (62 mph) above 7000 meters (22,965 ft), which makes it impossible to climb above that height. The team is prepared to wait it out, but they now feel it could be the end of February before they can make a true attempt on the summit. Patience is most definitely the name of the game at the moment.

Meanwhile, Alex and Carlos indicated yesterday that they planned to climb up to Camp 1 today. That would take them up to 6200 meters (20,341 ft), well below the maelstrom of wind, where they'll apparently shuttle more gear in preparation for their own eventual summit bid. It appears they won't go any higher than C1 however, and my guess is that they'll be back in BC by tomorrow, and waiting along with their companions.

The reports from the winter climbs start to sound a bit like a broken record after awhile. It is all about the weather, which is always bad. There just seems to be widely varying degrees of bad.

Expreso De Los Andes 2012 Expedition Begins Tomorrow

2012-02-17T09:25:00.001-06:00

A month ago I posted the announcement from the impossible2Possible team that they would be setting off on a new expedition, this time to run west to east across South America. This new adventure was dubbed the Expreso De Los Andes 2012, and it is set to officially get underway tomorrow.

The plan is for ultra-runners Ray Zahab and Kevin Vallely to being their journey in the Chilean city of Concón, which sits along that country's Pacific coast. From there, they start running east, with the intention of covering roughly 1700km (1056 miles), before eventually ending at the Atlantic Oceain in Buenos Aires, Argentina. To get there, they'll first have to traverse the Andes Mountain Range, and deal with running long distances at higher altitudes.

In the early stages of the run, Ray and Kevin intend to average about 70km (43.4 miles) per day. Once they clear the Andes however, they hope to amp those distance up to as much as 100km (62.1 miles) per day. They'll be aided along in the journey by a support crew, who will drop water and supply caches for them ever 20-30km as well.

As usual with any of the i2P expeditions, this run has an educational and inspirational component to it as well. On the Expreso De Los Andes expedition, the team is hoping to inspire young people to become more physically active, and to do that, the've enlisted a number of teachers and school administrators in a physical challenge program. One of those administrators is George Singfield, who is preparing to run a half-marathon in May. "Principal George," as he is known, happens to be diabetic, so he is learning the importance to taking care of his health, while improving his physical conditioning for the run. He, and a number of others, are hoping to inspire the children in their classrooms and schools by leading by example.

According to the i2P Twitter feed, the crew arrived in Santiago, Chile yesterday and, they should be making their way to Concón today, with the intention of setting out on schedule tomorrow. Throughout the run, we'll be able to track Ray and Kevin's progress on the expedition's official website, where they'll regularly be posting updates and videos.

Round-The-World Cycling Race: Change In Name, Still Underway Tomorrow!

2012-02-17T08:00:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I posted a story about the Global Bicycle Race, which was suppose to get underway tomorrow from Greenwich Park in London. It turns out there is a lot of history and backstory to that event which has led to it actually being cancelled. But, the World Cycling Racing - Grand Tour has risen from the ashes, of the GBR, and that race will actually launch tomorrow as expected, with many of the same goals as the original event.

This new race will feature 10 riders covering a minimum of 18,000 miles as they ride around the world. They still hope to complete their circumnavigation of the planet, and return to London, in time for the opening of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, but if they want to set a new speed record in the process, they'll have to go considerably faster than what I posted yesterday. In that story, I wrote that Vin Cox was the current world record holder, having circled the globe in 163 days. Turns out, British cyclist Alan Bate actually holds the record, which stands at 96 days, 10 hours, and 33 minutes. That means that for a rider to break the record, he'll need to average 190 miles per day.

The Grand Tour website notes that this event will be five times longer than the Tour de France, but that's really only half the story. Sure, the length is considerably greater, but riders in the peloton of the TdF have teammates and other riders to lean on when things get tough. The cyclists in this Grand Tour will mostly have to go it alone, which can really take its toll on a daily grind of riding that will stretch on for months.

Much like the GBR, the riders in the Grand Tour will be allowed to travel a route of their own choosing. They will still have to pass through antipodal points on the globe and they must continue riding in the same general direction the whole time, i.e. east to west or vice versa. Each of the bikes will be equipped with a GPS tracking device which will broadcast their position every ten miles or so, allowing us to follow their progress online and to ensure that all of the cyclists cover the required distance before they finish back in London.

So while the name of the race has changed, and a few of the details are different, the first round-the-world cycling race is still scheduled to get underway tomorrow. It should be an interesting event to follow.

Want To Race Around The World On A Bike?

2012-02-16T14:36:00.001-06:00

This Saturday, one of the most amazing and difficult races I've ever heard of will get underway, when 20 riders set off on the first ever Global Bicycle Race. As the name implies, this competition will send the cyclists competing in it on a round-the-world ride that will be unlike any other.

The race will begin on Saturday at Greenwich Park in London and the riders will then attempt circle the globe, and return to the park, in less than 160 days, which will coincide with the opening of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games that begin in London on the 27th of July. If they do manage to arrive back at the start in under 160 days, it will also represent a new world record for circumnavigating the globe on a bike. That current record is 163 days and is held by race organizer Vin Cox.

There are several possible routes that the riders can take, which you'll find posted on the race's website here. Each route covers approximately 29,000km (18,000 miles) and touches four or five continents, depending on which way a rider decides to go. They can also choose to travel either East to West, or vice-versa, with both options providing interesting strategic gambles.

Throughout the race, each rider will carry a GPS device which will not only broadcast their current position, allowing us to follow along at home, but also keep track of the milage that they've covered. Riders will also be required to send a text message to update their status at least once a week, and take photos and video of their journey, and visit anti-podal points on the Earth, which is a fancy way of saying they must be opposites sides of the planet. They're also required to ride the same bike the entire way, although replacement parts are obviously permitted.

Other than that, the riders are allowed to devise their own routes, have their own sponsors, and even elect to have a support team with them. This freedom of approach is an interesting aspect of the competition, and opens up the door for some true adventures along the way.

To find out more about this event, which I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more about over the next few months, go to the Global Bicycle Race's official website.

Good luck to all the competitors.

Video: World's Largest Rope Swing!

2012-02-16T11:43:00.001-06:00

Remember the video I posted a few months back that featured a human slingshot? Well the same creative (and crazy!) folks that were behind that clip are back with another scary, yet fun, video. This time, they've rigged up the world's largest rope swing, and it quite a ride.

Essentially, they've rigged up the "swing" to the top of a large stone arch. They then fling themselves off the top of the arch and hang on for dear life while they fly through the air – with helmet-cams capturing all the fun of course. You can check it out below.

So? Would you take this swing for a ride?