Adventure Racing World Championship is Underway!

The Adventure Racing World Championship got underway yesterday in Portugal, with nearly 60 of the top teams in the world taking part in the event. The first day featured all kinds of challenges, including a 2.5 km coastal run, a paddle in rough seas, and a tricky stretch on inline skates, a discipline I'm not especially fond of in an adventure race.

The format for this event has caused a bit of controversy, as teams are allowed to go after bonus checkpoints to gain points and time credits, which is a common approach in adventure races in Portugal. Some of the slower teams have elected to pass by these CP's however, and a number of international teams have been unsure of the best strategies to follow at this point. As a result, the leaderboard is likely to be all over the place for the next few days while teams sort out the beat approach between simply going fast, and working on getting the bonus points.

As of now, the race is being led by Team Lundhags Adventure, a talented and experienced team from Sweden. They're followed by two more Swedish teams in Team Explore and FJS. Defending world champs, and Primal Quest winners, Orion Health, are holding down the 7th spot.

With just one day down, there is still plenty of racing to go of course, and plenty of challenges ahead. The race will run through Friday, and the teams will cover more than 500 miles in the process. Don't expect the champs to do down easily. The Kiwi's are fast and have lots of experience as well, and they will likely put i a big push before it's all done.

Should be fun to follow!

Solo Sailing Update: Jessica's Making Good Time!

Australian Jessica Watson has been out on the Ocean for about three weeks at this point, as she attempts to become the youngest person to ever solo circumnavigate the globe. The 16-year old has been keeping us all very well updated with her blogs from the sea, and she seems in good spirits, despite her days alone out on the Pacific.

Jessica set out from Sydney back on October 18th, and has since zipped across the Tasman Sea, around Norfolk Island, and onward toward the equator. Her little boat, the Ella's Pink Lady, is performing well so far, catching the trade winds a few days back, and really making good time as she steams her way north, before turning across the Pacific towards South America. The journey is just getting started of course, but so far, life on the open sea has been good. You can track Jessica's progress on her website.

Reading her updates from the boat each day has been great so far, and I have to continually remind myself that she is just 16-years old. It is fun to follow her routine, and get her insights into life aboard the Pink Lady while she settles into this amazing adventure. She seems to be enjoying the voyage so far, and her youthful enthusiasm is definitely contagious.

Even as Jessica goes for her own "youngest to circumnavigate" record, another challenger has taken a step towards claiming that crown for herself. ExWeb is reporting that Abby Sunderland has purchased a boat of her own, and will soon be preparing to set out on her own solo circumnav attempt. Abby is the sister of Zac Suderland who completed his around-the-world sail this past summer, becoming the youngest to do so at the time at the age of 17.

Abby's new ride is an Open 40 named the Wild Eyes, and she, Zac, and their father, are taking it for a shake down cruise from Rhode Island, where the ship was purchased, to Fort Laurderdale, Florida. After that, if all goes as planned, Abby will set out on her journey in December. Perhaps she can meet up with Jessica along the way!

It's Wild America Day at Gadling!

Last week I mentioned that we were running a number of "theme days" at Gadling, the travel site that I contribute to, with GPS being the focus then. Today the theme is "Wild America" with a series of stories about wildlife in the U.S. and the best place to see animals in their natural environment.

One of the best posts of the day so far has come from writer Annie Scott, who has come up with a list of the Top Ten Most Badass Animals Native to the USA. Annie has some impressive creatures on the list, with things like the Brown Recluse Spider (shudder), Rattlesnakes, and Crocodiles making the lists, amongst others. Annie's top badass animal from the U.S.? Seems like a no brainer in the Polar Bear, which is big, mean, and almost always hungry. These giant beasts have been known to stalk man, sometimes just for the fun of it. Arctic explorers can tell you that it can be a scary experience having one of these guys follow you around for a few days.

I contributed a story for the theme day as well, with a focus on the wild animals of Texas, the state in which I currently live. Of course, everyone knows about the armadillos that inhabit the Lone Star State, not to mention all the deer and coyotes that live here too. But did you know that in Texas you can still spot black bears too? How about mountain lions and elk? Swing past the Gulf Coast, and you can catch dolphins, sea turtles, and even the occasional whale. Texas has diverse wildlife, and it is sometimes surprising how many unique species live in the state.

Yeah... so about that Congo POV Kayaking Video...

Remember yesterday when I linked out to a cool video of kayaking on the Congo river? At the time, I said that I couldn't post it because it wasn't on YouTube. Well, a day later, here it is in all of its glory. Great stuff! And I still want to be there today as much as I did yesterday. :)

Thanks to The Goat for hooking me up with the embedded version!

Aron Ralston's Story Coming To The Big Screen

According to Backpacker Magazine, the next project for Academy Award winning director Danny Boyle is a film called 127 Hours, which will detail the ordeal of Aron Ralson, the hiker who had his arm trapped beneath a boulder a few years back, and was ultimately forced to cut it off using a pocket knife.

Boyle, who won critical acclaim with last year's Slumdog Millionaire, is already in production on the film, and it is scheduled for release sometime late next year. There are no actors attached to the project yet, but Backpacker says that Ryan Gosling is rumored to be interested in the role.

Ralson was hiking in Blue John Canyon in Utah back in 2003 when he was scrambling up one of the hills, and a boulder became dislodged, crushing his arm, and pinning him against the canyon wall. He was there for five days, waiting for help, but when eh was out of water, and no rescue came, he took matters into his own hands, performing an amputation of his own arm.

The story captured national attention at the time, and Ralston has remained a bit of a celebrity in outside circles. He is a frequent quest lecturer, and continues to hike, climb, and explore the outdoors. His story seems like a natural one for the big screen and it should be handled well by Boyle. Can't wait to see it.

The Kamchatka Project To Explore The Wilds of Russia

Next summer, seven kayakers will be setting out to explore one of the most remote and untouched regions of the world when they begin a paddling expedition of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, located in the far east of that country. There aim is to raise public awareness of the region, which they call one of the last truly wild places on the planet.

The expedition is called the Kamchatka Project and it will focus on making the first descents of at least three rivers on the peninsula, which remains mostly unexplored, and with one of the lowest population densities on the planet, with fewer than one person per square kilometer.

The rivers that the team intends to run are wild waterways that flow unhindered by a single dam. They are also the spawning ground for nearly a quarter of the world's salmon population, while offering up some of the gnarliest whitewater on the planet. If that wasn't enough, the dense forests surrounding the rivers are teeming with brown bears and a variety of other wild creatures.

The aim of the expedition is to explore the impact of caviar poaching on the salmon population in the region, and how that effects the indigenous people living there as well. The team will use kayaks to gain access to never before explored regions, allowing them to get up close to the species they feel are most threatened.

As if making a couple of first descents on unexplored rivers through some of the roughest terrain on the planet wasn't enough of a challenge, their website has this to say about some of the other challenges they expect to face:

The team’s adventure will go well beyond salmon and class 5 whitewater: the Russian government, mafia, enormous grizzly bears, sketchy Soviet-era helicopters, miles of hiking, and cultural barriers will all test the team’s ability to complete the project.

Seriously? The Russian Mafia? This has all the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster movie. Crazy!

Thanks to Anna over at Wend for dropping me a note on this one. Looks like a great expedition!

Snows of Kilimanjaro to Vanish Within 20 Years?

We've been hearing dire predictions about the snow capped peak of Kilimanjaro for sometime now, as the snows atop its summit, made famous by Ernest Hemingway, continue to recede at an alarming rate. But a new study, published just this week, now predicts that those snows could be gone completely in as little as twenty years.

According to the study, the glacier atop the mountain, the tallest in Africa, have shrunk by as much as 85% since 1912, with more than a quarter of that shrinking coming since 2000. The scientists publishing the report say this is the first time that the actual amount of ice lost has been accurately measured. The cause for this dramatic change is, as you can imagine, global warming, although changes in cloud cover and precipitation are not ruled out in playing a role either. Examinations of ice core samples, which date back more then 11,000 years, indicate that there has not been a similar period of melting in Kili's recent geological past.

The effects of the loss of the glacier will be far reaching, as most of the people living around the mountain rely on glacial runoff to provide them with the water that they need to survive. If the snows do indeed disappear forever, climatologists are predicting droughts and major suffering.

While it is clear that the glaciers are indeed retreating, it is a tricky business to put an expiration date on them. There have been reports for several years predicting that they would be gone by 2015 or even 2020, but this study gives them more time than that. Regardless of how much time they do have left however, it is likely that they'll be gone in our lifetime, and I'm not sure if there is anything we can do about it.

Climbing Mt. Ararat in Turkey

Mountain Hardwear athlete Eric Weihenmayer recently made the journey to Eastern Turkey to climb the mystical Mt. Ararat, a 16,854 foot peak formed from a long dormant volcano. The mountain sits on the border of Turkey, Iran, and Armenia, and has played a role in the region's history.

Weihenmayer shares the story of his trek over at the Hardweare Sessions Blog, where he describes reaching a huge glacier at 14,000 feet that covers more than 17 square miles in size and his over 350 feet deep.

The climb isn't especially technical, but still presents its own challenges, and there are always issues when dealing with this kind of altitude. Still, the team made a successful summit, and Eric was able to add another peak to his growing list of amazing accomplishments. Considering the fact that he is blind, he has still done far more than most people with perfect vision, including a summit of Everest.

Part of the mythology that surrounds Ararat is the belief by some that it is the final resting place for Noah's Ark. The mythology explained in the Bible names the mountain specifically, and the rumors were increased when a spy plane flew over the area and spotted a large object on the slopes that was believed to be made out of wood. The object has yet to be identified, and there are many who believe that it is indeed the Ark. It has been an enduring myth for some time, and definitely adds to the allure of the mountain.

Antarctica 2009: Pre-Departure Interviews From ExWeb

As I've mentioned a couple of times this week, the Antarctic season is really starting to ramp up as explorers and climbers begin making their way to various staging areas in the Southern Hemisphere. They're combing through their gear, making last minute adjustments to their plans, and preparing to hit the ice at long last. It is a busy time for these expeditions, who are hoping they brought everything they'll need and that they have their plans in place for a successful journey ahead.

Explorers Web is always a great source of info on adventures that take place around the globe, and they do a great job of covering the Antarctic expeditions, amongst many other things. Over the past couple of days they've posted two good interviews with two different women who are heading to Antarctica for their own expeditions.

First up, we have this interview with Felicity Aston, who will be leading the Kaspersky Commonwealth Expedition that I mentioned a few days back. The team will consist of seven women from Commonwealth countries from around the globe, who will be skiing to the South Pole together. Felicity touches on why she decided to put this expedition together, how she selected the team she did, and a whole lot more. The girls are already in Chile, and have already made arrangements with ALE for getting their gear together and read for the expedition.

The second interview from ExWeb is with Canadian Meagan McGrath, who is making the 700+ mile journey from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, solo and unassisted. For Meagan, this is just another adventure in a pretty exciting life, as she has already summitted Everest and four other 8000 meter peaks. As part of her interview, Meagan talks about the physical and psychological preparation she has done for the Antarctic expedition, who some of her "polar mentors" have been, and what the biggest challenges will be for her as she spends 40+ days out on the ice.

For Meagan, this is just the beginning of a year long adventure. She quit her job last week, and will be setting off to Chile next week to take on the Antarctic. But that's just the start. She'll also be leading a trek to Everest Base Camp, and attempting to summit Lhotse, K2, Broad Peak, Cho Oyu and Shishapangma as well. Sounds like an amazing year ahead, and I applaud her for having the courage to go after these HUGE adventures. We're going to be lucky enough to come along for the ride. :)

Point-of-View Kayaking Video From The Congo

Check out this amazing video that Andrew Maser of Rivers in Demand shot awhile back while kayaking on the Congo for National Geographic. Unfortunately, I can't embed the video itself here on the blog, as I often do, but trust me, it's worth clicking over and watching.

The 2 minute, 6 second video shows off some impressive waves on one of the biggest rivers in the world, and at times, it almost looks like they're ocean kayaking. I had to keep reminding myself that this was on a river, as the water is really rolling at several points. Of course, that makes it look a lot more fun too.

The Congo is the eight longest river in the world, stretching 2914 miles in length through the depths of Central Africa. It has the second largest flow of any river in the world, surpassed only by the Amazon, and at points it reaches a depth of 750 feet, making it the deepest river on the planet as well. Looking at this video, you'll begin to see just how massive and powerful the Congo really is. Which, of course, makes me want to go that much more! :)

Once again, here is a direct link to the video. Great stuff!

Paddling the White Nile

Paddling LIfe has posted a great story written by Jessie Stone, a doctor who has worked in Uganda on malaria projects, on why she loves the White Nile and why it is amongst her favorite paddling destinations anywhere in the world.

The Nile is the longest river in the world and flows from its source, Lake Victoria, for more than 4130 miles. The river is fed by two tributaries, the White and Blue Nile, that flow across a number of countries. The White has its origins in Rwanda, but really picks up power in Uganda, which is where Stone has spent much of her time exploring it.

The good doctor's article reads more like a love letter to her favorite paddling spots, with her sharing some of the best places to drop your kayak in the water. She describes some amazing white water, with all kinds of challenges, with intermittent slow sections that are highlighted by the locals bathing and doing laundry along the shores of a river that helped to give birth to civilizations on this planet.

Sadly however, much of what Stone loves about this section of the White Nile will soon change. The Ugandan government is in the process of building a dam, which is set for completion in March of 2010. That dam will actually flood several of the best paddling spots in the region, and change the flow of the river below it forever. Much of the "Wild Nile" will be gone, another great river tamed by man.

This is a good story that makes me want to head to Uganda and paddle this portion of the river before it is altered forever. I know this is done in the name of progress, and the dam will likely provide power to a developing nation, but tat doesn't mean it isn't a sad loss none the less.

Adventure Racing World Championship Begins This Weekend!

The Adventure Racing World Championship gets underway on Sunday in Portugal, with the top teams from around the globe preparing to race across a challenging course that could stretch 500 miles in length. The co-ed teams of four will be trekking, mountain biking, and paddling non-stop through some of the most challenging terrain in Europe.

Defending champions Orion Health will be on hand, coming off a huge win at Primal Quest earlier this year. They'll be pushed to the limits however, as the field is deep, with contenders from around the globe, such as nuun-FeedTheMachine and Quechua of France.

The teams have begun to arrive at the start location on the Estoril Coast in Portugal, and will be going through mandatory gear checks and skills testing over the next few days. They'll also be introduced to the media, and have plenty of fun activities to keep them occupied until Sunday, when the race officially gets underway with a 10 AM local time start. It will then run through Friday, with six incredibly challenging days of racing.

I'll post updates on this event as it unfolds next week. Looks like it should be a great race. Wish I were there! :)

Adventure World Interviews Eric Larsen

Yesterday I mentioned that we are on the very edge of the kickoff to the Antarctic season, with explorers heading south in preparation for their long, challenging march to the Pole, and in some cases beyond. One of those explorers is American Eric Larsen, who is the subject of an interview by Adventure World Magazine on the eve of his own departure.

Eric is launching the first stage of his Save The Poles Expedition, which will entail him traveling to the "Three Poles", which in adventure circles includes the North and South Pole of course, but also the summit of Everest. Those three points have been achieved by others of course, but this is the first time that someone is attempting them within a 365 day period. Ambitious to say the least.

In the interview with AWM, Larsen talks about his favorite expedition thus far, what fires his passion for adventure, and the biggest challenges that have arisen from his travels. He also talks about the journey ahead, discussing how he'll spend down time at the end of the day and what is top five gear items that are necessary on any expedition.

Expect to hear a lot more about Eric in the days ahead. He plans to depart for Chile tomorrow, and will soon be hopping a flight to Hercules Inlet, with a big pile of gear in tow. From there, it's on to the Pole, a journey that he expects will take 52-days to complete.

First Space Hotel To Open Doors in 2012!

I wrote about this yesterday at Gadling as well, but thought some would find it interested here too. The company behind the Galactic Suite Space Resort says that the orbiting hotel is set to begin operations in 2012 after receiving some much needed venture capital in the form of a $3 billion investment from an anonymous billionaire who is described as a "space enthusiast".

The company says that it has already had more than 200 inquiries for potential guests, and that they already have 43 reservations in place. That's no small number when you consider that the cost for a three-night stay is currently set at $4.4 million. That includes an eight week training program on a South Pacific Island and transportation to and from the hotel.

When it first begins operations, the Galactic Suite Space Resort will have just one pod in place. That will allow up to four people, and two pilots, to live comfortably for the duration of the stay. In the future, new pods can be added to expand capacity as needed. The pods have velcro lined walls to keep passengers in place, and will complete a revolution around the Earth once every 80 minutes, offering 15 sunrises each day. Of course, the view out the window won't be half bad either.

Obviously the price tag on this trip is still far beyond what a normal person can pay, but it is interesting to watch a new travel industry beginning to take shape right before our eyes. With Virgin Galactic set to begin operations soon, it isn't too much of stretch to think that we may see space tourism become a viable option within our lifetime.

That said, the 2012 time frame for this project seems a bit ambitious. Even with $3 billion in cash they still have to launch their first pod, get it fully operational, and have some kind of delivery system for taking passengers up to it on a regular, consistent basis. I'm just not sure how they can do that in the short time frame they're looking to work with. And while $3 billion sounds like a lot of money, when it comes to dealing with high tech space gear, it really doesn't go as far as you'd think. Still, you can sign me up for a couple of night's stay, once it becomes a tad bit more affordable!

Expedition Updates!

With a relatively slow day on the adventure front, I wanted to post a few updates on three of my favorite expeditions that I've been following in recent months.

First up, the Around The Americas Expedition continues, with the news that the Ocean Watch has now reached Puerto Rico. You may recall that this is the crew that attempting the first ever circumnavigation of the North and South American continents, and after successfully navigating the Northwest Passage earlier this summer, they have been enjoying a mostly leisurely cruise down the East Coast of the United States. The warm sun of the Caribbean is no doubt a welcome respite from the cold they endure while sailing above Alaska and Canada, but they have a long way to go yet before they reach the safety of home in Seattle, and the perilous waters of the Beagle Channel and the treacherous navigation of Cape Horn still lie ahead.

Moving on to a completely different kind of long distance expedition, it's good to see Mark Beaumont is making good progress on his Cycling The Americas journey. The British cyclist is riding his bike from Anchorage, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina, stopping off long enough to climb both Denali and Aconcagua, the tallest mountain on North and South America respectively. Mark reached a milestone of sorts within the past few days as well, having ridden all the way to Panama, he now prepares to leave North America behind, and cross the Canal into South America, where he'll continue is epic ride. He expects to complete his journey sometime in the spring of next year.

Finally, Ed Stafford and his partner Cho, have now spent 580 days Walking the Amazon. The two have suffered mightily in their expedition in recent days, as they struggle with the challenges of continuing to make progress, lowered energy levels, and failing equipment. But they do continue to move ahead, and have now left Peru behind and are trekking through Brazil, as they strive to become the first men to walk the length of the Amazon River. If everything goes according to plan, they'll finish off their expedition next spring as well, although they still have a long way to go and lots of hardships to overcome.

These are just a taste of the expeditions that like to follow. Each of them exhibits a spirit of adventure and exploration that is inspiring to say the least. I'm glad to see that they are each continuing to make progress with their goals in site, even if they are still a ways off in the distance.

Antarctic 2009: Teams Preparing To Hit The Ice

The 2009 Antarctic Season is just about to get underway, and teams are already traveling south to their staging areas, where they are busily getting all of their gear organized and arranging for transportation to the frozen continent. In fact, that is exactly what the Kaspersky Commonwealth Team has been dealing with as they have arrived in Punta Arenas, Chile and are now sorting through all of the vital equipment that will be accompanying them on their journey. This team consists of 7 women who will be making the journey together to the South Pole, skiing nearly 600 miles in the process. They are expecting to take roughly 40 days to complete the trip, with each of them representing a Commonwealth country, including Cyprus, India, Singapore, Brunei, New Zealand, Jamaica and the United Kingdom. One of the women, who was from Ghana, was forced to drop out at the last minute due to illness. Upon their return home, they hope to be role models for other women to show what is possible.

Expect to hear more updates from teams over the next week or so, as they arrive on the scene and begin the process of preparing for the flight to Patriot Hills, where their adventures will begin in earnest. The next two months will be a busy time at the bottom of the world, with plenty of explorers making the journey to the Pole and beyond, and plenty of climbers making their way to Vinson and other Antarctic peaks.

In the meantime, check out the video below, and see how I'd like to go zooming around Antarctica. Looks like fun!

Help Nat Geo Pick A Young Explorer To Fund

As if getting funding for an expedition isn't hard enough, National Geographic is making two young explorers compete against one another for the cash, and they're asking us to help decide who should get the dough.

The two contenders include former professional kayaker Trip Jennings and adventurer Ben Horton. Jennings is planning on going to the Republic of Congo to help combat the illegal poaching of Elephants for ivory, while Horton hopes to create an expanded marine preserve off the coast of Costa Rica, by tagging and tracking two bull sharks, and watching their travel patterns.

Both of these expeditions are worthy of funding, but only one can win, and to that end, Nat Geo has set up a page allowing us to vote on who we think is most deserving. To read more about both expeditions and the two men involved, and of course, to cast your vote, click here.

At the moment, Trip and his elephant expedition are holding a fairly substantial lead, 68% to 32%. I can't help but wonder if that isn't, at least in some part, due to the fact that we look on elephants, and their familial structure, with a lot more sympathy than we do with sharks, which can't help but conjure images of Jaws. Maybe Ben should have substituted sharks for cute sea otters or something.

The contest is actually part of Expedition Week, on the National Geographic Channel, which kicks off on Sunday, Nov. 15th, and ushers in a week of exploration and adventure.

Everett Ruess Remains Lost After All

Remember the story that made the rounds way back in the spring about how a team from National Geographic Adventure found the remains of Everett Ruess, a writer and artist that had gone missing in the American Southwest back in 1934? At the time it was heralded as a major find, signifying the end of one of the most enduring mysteries of the 20th Century. Turns out that skeleton found in a shallow grave in Utah may not be Ruess after all, begging the question of just what did happen to the young man.

According to this story from the New York Times, Ruess' family sought a second DNA test to confirm that the remains that were discovered last year, were indeed from their relative. That DNA test came up false, indicating that the body was not that of Ruess after all, despite indications during the initial testing phase that described the results as 'irrefutable'' in favor of it actually being the missing explorer.

Kevin Jones, Utah's state archaeologist, was amongst the first to raise questions about the findings in the initial investigation. He noticed that the jaw bone that was found at the grave site was more in keeping with a Native American than a European man, and he was the one that urged the Ruess family to investigate further. The result was a second DNA test by an Armed Forces lab that conclusively determined that the skeletal remains were not Ruess at all. It is now believed that the original test was contaminated with positive DNA on accident.

So, I guess the mystery of what happened to the writer will persist for now. The myth of Everett Ruess remains as strong as ever.

Thanks to the Goat for the heads up on this one.

Trans World Expedition: The Really Long Way Around!

In a few short weeks time, Nicolas Rapp will be setting out on quite an adventure, and thanks to his blog, we'll all get to go along for the ride. And what a ride it is going to be.

On November 15th, the former art director for the Associated Press, will set out on his Trans World Expedition, in which he'll be driving around the world. Nick recently quit his job and is now focused on his preparations for the road, which includes getting his 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser prepared for the challenges ahead. The versatile and ubiquitous off road vehicle is the perfect choice for this journey, since parts are cheap and easy to find all over the world, and it can cross a variety of terrains easily and comfortably. This LC has seen its suspension and bumpers reinforced, a storage system added, and a roof top tent installed, which will give Nick a place to live in the weeks ahead, without having to find a hotel or hostel along the way.

Nick gives good details on his intended route on his website. He'll begin in New York City and head south through the U.S., down into Mexico, and eventually Central and South America. From there, he'll ship his vehicle across the Atlantic to South Africa, where he'll then proceed to drive up the Western Coast of Africa and into Europe, where he'll make a right hand turn and continue heading east until he hits the Pacific Ocean, where he'll once again ship the Land Cruiser back to the States. Once home in the U.S., he'll complete the drive cross country, ending up where he started, back in New York City.

Rapp expects that the journey will take roughly one year, and he has budgeted $46,000 for the adventure. That money has covered the vehicle and its upgrades, as well as the costs for shipping it across the oceans. He's also had to pay for travel visas, vaccinations, and maps, putting the remaining funds into his emergency kitty for the road.

This looks like a cool way to see the world. Makes me want to buy a Land Cruiser and hit the open road myself. Anyone up for a road trip?

Primal Quest Badlands Web Episodes

Adventure World Magazine is always a great source of info on adventure racing, endurance sports, and just about anything else adventure related. The site is hosting the two videos from Primal Quest Badlands, which went down in South Dakota way back in August. I was lucky enough to be a part of the proceedings, but for those who weren't, these first two episodes will give you an idea of what long distance adventure racing is all about.

In the first video, the teams are at the starting line just before dawn. The PQ got underway when two cowboys, on horseback no less, shot off their guns in the air, signaling the start of the 600 mile long, 10 day race. First up for the teams, was a 26 mile marathon across the open range.




The second video shows the teams discussing strategy and navigation methods, and gives us a glimpse of the amazing cave system that all of the teams had the opportunity to explore in the early part of the race. The large, underground caverns were the site of an orienteering course that at times confounded and confused teams.

It Is GPS Day At Gadling

In recent weeks we've had a string of "theme days" over at Gadling.com, the travel blog that I write for in addition to this one. Today's theme is GPS+Travel, which seems like a natural fit. These days, many of us have GPS devices in our cars, and they help us to safely and efficiently navigate our way around our home towns as well as our destinations when we travel.

But as many of you know, there is a huge difference between the GPS systems we keep in our cars and the ones that we put in our backpacks when we head out onto a trail. That is essentially the topic of my contribution today at Gadling, where I share some thoughts on the limitations of hand held GPS devices in the backcountry, where there is no such thing as "turn-by-turn" navigation and strict adherence to the GPS unit can get you into very big trouble.

In the article, I tried to stress the importance of learning how to use a map and compass to navigate, and not becoming too reliant on your GPS device. While the high tech navigational units can be very accurate and extremely helpful, the fact that it needs fresh batteries on a regular basis or may not be able to pick up a signal with the overhead satellites, can limit its functionality in the field at times.

Many people are also surprised to learn that when they get out on the trail, their hand held device doesn't give them precise, "turn-by-turn" directions to their intended campsite or that scenic overlook they want to hike to. They still need some essential back country navigational skills to get from Point A to Point B, and far too many people are lacking in those skills are are too trusting of the GPS, which can lead to problems.

You can read more of my thoughts on the subject by clicking here.

The Rest of Everest Episodes 114 & 115: My favorite Podcast is Back!

I'm still catching up on all the things that happened while I was out of town last week, and that includes the return of The Rest of Everest video podcast, which has taken a bit of a break in recent weeks while show creator Jon Miller prepared to take us on yet another Himalayan adventure. That adventure began last week with a new episode, with this week's really kicking things into gear.

As many of you probably know, this past Spring, Jon and Chris Marquardt of Tips From The Top Floor fame, hosted a photography/videography workshop that took place while trekking to Everest Base Camp on the south side of the mountain. Episode 114, entitled The Highest Photography Workshop In The World, serves as an introduction to that trek, giving us an overview of what we can expect in future episodes of this new "season". The episode also serves as a bit of review of the past seasons as well, setting the stage for what has come before, and what is ahead, as we make the trek to EBC along with the lucky few that got to go on this trip back in April. If you've ever considered making that trek for yourself, as I have, you'll really want to jump into this show, as it'll no doubt really give us some insights on what to expect on that journey.

This week's new episode, number 115 of the series, is called "Kathmandu: Exactly The Same...But Different", and really kicks off the new trekking adventure in style. Regular viewers of the show know that Jon doesn't like to just chat by himself while he explains what's going on, and in this case, he's joined by several of the trekkers that were part of the team last spring. The episode opens gets rolling with the participants arriving in Kathmandu and preparing for their adventure. Throughout the show we see the arrival of the trekkers, with everyone eventually heading out to do some sightseeing in various parts of KTM. The video shows us all kinds of interesting elements to that city and Nepali culture, even for those of us who have made this trip two previous times before with the show.

These two episodes kick off the trekking adventure in fine fashion, and I can't wait to see where it goes from here. I'm actually strongly considering the trek to Everest Base Camp for next spring, so this should make for a great primer for what I can expect on that journey. As usual, the video is high quality and the subject matter is great. Jon serves as an excellent host, and the guests offer great insights. Can't wait for more!

Grab the videos directly from the Rest of Everest website or make life easier on yourself and just subscribe to the show via iTunes.

Adventure Travel: Riding The Silk Road

This was the subject of my story today over at Gadling as well, but thought I'd mention it here too. I've written about the Tour d'Afrique before, discussing how great of a cycling adventure I think it would be, riding from Cairo to Cape Town, and crossing through much of Africa in the process.

Now, the organizers of that cool event are preparing for another long distance ride, this time going from Istanbul, Turkey to Xi'an China, over a 6600+ mile course that will also cross through Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan as well. That may sound like a bit of a random ride, but it actually a very historic path, as participants will be covering the length of the Silk Road, an ancient and vital trade route that once connected East and West.

The event will get underway on May 22nd of next year, and will take roughly 16 weeks to complete. Those weeks are broken up with 92 days of riding and 22 rest days, with one travel day across the Caspian Sea thrown in for good measure. The trip will be highlighted by a ride up the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan, with cyclists climbing above 15,000 feet, only to later plummet to depths below sea level while camping in the western desert regions of China. The road will vary from well paved to cart paths, with just about everything in between, and the riders will average about 70 miles per day across the length of the ride.

Unfortunately, not all of us have 16 weeks to dedicate to such a ride, but that doesn't mean we'll be left out in the cold, as the road is broken down into seven separate legs that can be ridden singularly or in an combination should you decide to not go for the full on experience. The cost of the Silk Route ride is currently set at €8500, but there is currently a promotion in place that will cut €400 from the price if you book the trip before November 15th. The prices for the individual legs can be found at the bottom of this page as well.

This looks like an amazing experience, with an incredible mix of physical challenge, high adventure, history, and culture. I can't think of a better way to explore this unique part of the world than from the back of a bike, which will let you follow in the footsteps of some of history's most mesmerizing characters, like Alexander the Great, Marco Polo, and Genghis Khan. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go start training!

Judge Rules That Laura Dekker Should Stay in Port

Remember Laura Dekker? She is the 13-year old (now 14) girl who wanted sail solo around the world a few months back, but had the Dutch government step in to prevent her attempt. At the time, she was placed in temporary custody of child protective services while her case was reviewed further, and today, a judge further ruled on the affair.

According to this story over at the Guardian, Laura has been ordered to remain under the supervision of child protection authorities until next July, when her case will come up for review once again. It is quite possible that at that time, they'll rule that she is indeed ready to take on the high seas, and she will be allowed to go and make her bid for the youngest person to ever sail solo around the world.

There is no doubt that Laura is an accomplished sailor. Both of her parents have sailed for years, and she grew up on a boat while they sailed the globe. But her mother and father are currently separated, and while dad is happily encouraging her to go on this adventure, mom has raised fears about allowing the young girl to travel solo.

I've weighed in on this topic a few times already, and I've always said that she's too young for this journey, no matter what her skill level. I have no doubt that she is technically fit to make the trip, but there are other factors to consider as well. In an earlier post on the topic a commenter said that she clearly has the skills to circumnavigate the planet and should be allowed to go, but I still believe now what I wrote then. I know plenty of 14 year olds that can technically drive a car, but that doesn't mean I'd let them go on a cross country road trip by themselves. This would be potentially far more dangerous than that.

I applaud the court for stepping in and preventing her from going. Something has to be done about these extremely young people going after records for accomplishing a given task just so they can be the youngest to do so.