The Rest of Everest Episode 140: Pillow Talk

Yesterday brought us yet another new episode of The Rest of Everest, as we continue our virtual journey with the 2009 trekking team that made the journey to Base Camp on the South Side of the mountain. This week's episode is entitled "Pillow Talk," and it deliver, in great detail, on that very topic.

The descent from Base Camp continues this week with the trekkers making their way back, slowly but surely to Lukla. The episode opens where we left off last week, with the group camped near Dingboche, one of the villages along the route that is a popular place to stay both going up and coming back down the Khumbu Valley.

Much of the first part of the episode is spent just chatting with a couple of the trekkers, and while we're not ogling the spectacular scenery, it is an insightful look into what to expect on a trek of this nature. They talk gear, sleeping bags and pads, and of course pillows. (Not to mention Mars Bars!)

Eventually we hit the trail once again, and the trek continues through the Khumbu with the trademark scenery in the background. We also get a free videography lesson from ROE producer Jon Miller as well, which gives us a glimpse of some of the things that you would learn on one of these treks that are a combination of adventure travel and photography/videography workshops.

Highlight of the episode? Jon working hard for a sponsorship from Therm-a-Rest, or just about any other gear company. Well worth watching this portion of the video just for the humor. Or perhaps advice on how to get a gear sponsorship.

New Speed Record Set On Kilimnajaro

Spanish mountaineer and endurance runner Kilian Jornet has set a new speed record for climbing and descending Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, reaching the summit of the 19,340 foot peak, and returning to the base, faster than the previous record, which was held by Tanzanian Simon Mtuy at 8 hours and 27 mintues.

According to this article, which is written in French, and had to be translated via Google, Kilian reached the summit of the Kili in just 5 hours, 23 minutes, and 50 seconds compared to Simon's 6 hours to that point. He then turned and raced back down the mountain, crossing through all five climate zones along the way, and finished with an overall time of approximately 7 hours and 14 minutes! An astounding time for sure.

Upon reaching the base of the mountain, Kilian was greeted and embraced by the former record holder.

Having been to Kilimanjaro and seen the conditions there, this is an astounding feat to me. The tallest mountain in Africa is no easy trek, and to complete it at this kind of speed is remarkable. To put this in perspective, many climbers on Kili make the journey to the summit and back in roughly six days, so Kilian was actually completing a days worth of climbing each hour. Amazing!

Thanks to Louis-Philipe Loncke for sending this my way.

How To Do 'Yosemite In A Day'

Climber Cedar Wright was recently invited to give a presentation during the Yosemite Facelift 2010 project, which is a massive effort to clean up the entire park. As has been his tradition, he arrived in Yosemite a day early and shot a short film to be included in his talk. The video below is that film, which captures some of the best elements of one of the most spectacular national parks in the U.S., which just so happens to turn 120 tomorrow.

Thanks to The Goat for sharing this video.




YOSEMITE IN A DAY from Cedar Wright on Vimeo.

Four Climbers Missing On Dhaulagiri

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that three Japanese climbers, along with their Nepalese guide, have gone missing this week on Dhaulagiri. Search and rescue operations are underway, although authorities fear that they may have been caught in an avalanche on the mountain.

The four climbers, who have been missing since Tuesday, include the following:  Osamu Tanabe, 49, Toshio Yamamoto, 36, and Daisuke Honda, 32, all from Tokyo. Their Sherpa guide is Pasang Gyelu. Two other members of the team have been found and rescued.

The 26,790-foot tall Dhaulagiri is located in north central Nepal and is the 7th tallest mountain in the world.  The mountain has a distinct profile, and it's name, which means "white mountain," seems fitting, as its slopes are often clad in deep snows.

Rescue efforts are on going at this time, and SAR teams are holding out hope that they may yet find survivors amongst the snow.

Gravity Always Wins At The Red Bull Rampage

Ahh... gravity. She's a harsh mistress in many of the active sports that we all enjoy. Take for example mountain biking and the Red Bull Rampage which is set to go down tomorrow. It's a free riding competition that takes place near Zion National Park, outside of Virgin, Utah, on some of the really great trails in that area. Many of those trails are not for the faint of heart however, as the video below shows. It's a collection of some of the more spectacular crashes from past events that will leave you cringing.

Thanks to The Adventure Life for another great video. Lots of fun. Mostly because I'm not one of these guys.

Death Valley Round II: Todd Headed Home, Death Valley Wins Again

Rough new from Todd Carmichael's home team this morning as the explorer has been forced to call it quits on his second attempt to trek solo across Death Valley. This time it was continued equipment failure that brought the expedition down.

According to the latest dispatch from his site, Todd has covered more than 80 miles on his journey, enduring 110ºF days, while dragging nearly 500 pounds worth of gear, water, and other supplies behind him in his specially designed cart. That cart, which he refers to a "the Pig," was suppose to be his lifeline for getting across the desert, but it was also his biggest cause for frustration. Apparently, Todd has exhausted his supply of spare tires, and all of the ones that he's been carrying with him are now beyond repair. Without good tires, the Pig goes nowhere.

This was Todd's second attempt to cross Death Vally solo and unassisted. Last year he was forced to abandon the expedition due to problems with the cart and the incredibly rugged conditions. This year, he returned with a renewed enthusiasm and a redesigned Pig that he hoped would endure the hardships of the journey better, unfortunately that wasn't the case.

This morning's dispatch says that Todd is disappointed that he once again won't be able to reach the finish line, but that he is already planning ahead for next year. It sounds like Death Valley hasn't heard the last of Todd Carmichael. We'll look forward to Round III next year.

Alberto Contador Fails Drug Test, Blames Bad Meat

The big story of the day today from the world of cycling is that three time Tour de France champ Alberto Contador has tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol and has been provisionally suspended from the sport, pending an investigation. The positive test came on July 21st, while riding in the Tour.

The positive test came about when a lab in Germany detected what they say is "very small concentration" of clenbuterol in Contador's urine. In fact, it was such a small amount that it was 400 times less than the anti-doping laboratories must be able to detect in their tests. However, the substance is banned outright, and any amount is grounds for immediate action.

For his part, Contador says that the failed test is the result of food contamination from meat that was brought into France from his home country of Spain at the request of the team chef. That chef apparently complained about the quality of the meat that was available in France for preparing meals, and had a friend deliver what he felt was a higher quality product to his kitchen. Contador claims that that meat caused food poisoning that caused the trace amounts of the banned substance to show up in his system. He also says that the UCI, the governing body over international cycling, admitted as much to him when he was informed of the failed test on August 24th.

According to the AP story that I linked to above, Contador's A and B samples both tested positive for clenbuterol. The article also says that the substance has been around for nearly 30 years, and that there are no indications that you can inadvertently take it. The drug is commonly used to help those who suffer with breathing disorders, such as asthma, and it is banned from cycling to prevent someone from using it to gain an advantage in oxygen intake.

At this time there is no indication that Contador will be stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title. He finished just ahead of Andy Schleck in the race, but there will be an in depth investigation of the events before any decision is made in regards to taking away the title or suspending him from the sport.

Just what cycling needed. A drug controversy surrounding it's biggest star.

Adventure Racing World Championships Begin This Weekend!

The Adventure Racing World Championships are set to get underway this weekend at the Bimbache Extrem in Spain. The race officially gets underway on Sunday, Oct. 3rd and will run until next Friday, October 8th. 53 of the best teams in the world, including the newly renamed Team Nike, who now race under the Team Blackwater moniker, will be competing to be crowned world champs.

The international teams are expected to begin arriving tomorrow, and over the next two days they'll have some free time and mandatory gear and skills checks to contend with. Then on Sunday, the race gets underway at 8AM from the Avila city center, where the teams will begin their trekking, biking, paddling and navigating adventure.

With just days to go, I caught this interesting article posted at both Adventure World Magazine and on the Untamed Adventure website. The article asks where the tops American teams are in this year's race, as there seems to be very few actually competing in the ARWC. The article postulates some reasons as to why this is the case, with some excellent insights as to where all the American teams have gone and why they aren't competing well on an international level. Really interesting stuff, and it's a shame that we don't see more American teams taking part in this great event.

Of course, it's not like American's haven't done well in the sport. For years Nike was the dominant team in the world, but for a variety of reasons that hasn't been the case the past two or three years. It'll be interesting to see how well they do in this event though, as they really haven't taken on big international competition in awhile. And lets face it, the sport has been growing more abroad than here in the States, also for a variety of reasons. I think it's safe to say that the best teams in the world now reside in Europe and Oceania.

Regardless, it should be a fun event to watch. Let's hope they provide us with good updates and tracking so fans can follow along with the race.

Alaska-Yukon Expedition: How The Journey Changed The Man

It's been several weeks since Andrew Skurka finished up his Alaska-Yukon Expedition that saw him covering more than 4700 miles of remote backcountry over the course of six months in the field. The trek was just another major adventure for a guy who has become the poster child for long distance hiking, but that doesn't mean that Andrew didn't learn a few things along the way.

Andrew has continued his debrief of the expedition over at the National Geographic Adventure Blog, posting a story yesterday on just how the journey changed him. Specifically, he names three ways that he feels that he has changed, both as a long distance hiker and as a person, because of this hike. Those include  learning to use finesse over force when traveling through the backcountry, applying environmental knowledge to help make his journey easier and safer, and perhaps most importantly, he learned about humility.

Skurka goes into more detail of each point in his article, giving more insights and examples, as to how those three changes impacted the journey and how they'll aid him in his future endeavors as well. It's quite an interesting read, especially coming from a guy who has spent a lot of time in the wilderness.

If James Bond Rode A Bike, It Would Look Like This...

Yesterday I wrote a post about a bike that weighed just six pounds and cost $45,000. This is NOT that bike. Today we have a video of a bike that you would probably find in James Bond's garage, as it comes complete with an ejector seat and flame thrower, and is capable of pedaling through nearly any terrain.

In fact, the bike is actually called the BOND Bike, with BOND standing for Built of Notorious Deterrents. According to the Daily Mail, it was actually put together by an insurance company in the U.K. who surveyed their customers to find out what they least liked about cycling. Their responses, which included potholes, traffic, and thieves, helped to inspire the design, which is at least good for a laugh.

Gear Box: First Ascent Hangfire Hoodie

When Eddie Bauer launched their First Ascent line a year and a half ago, their intention was to get back to their roots and offer well designed, and technically advanced, equipment for the hardcore outdoor crowd. By most accounts, the new gear, which was designed with the help of some top climbers and mountain guides, has been very well received, earning high marks for being comfortable, warm, and well made.

Up until recently however, I hadn't had a chance to test out any of the First Ascent gear for myself. The local Eddie Bauer stores don't stock the line at all, and it has been a challenge to actually see the gear first hand. That changed a few weeks back when I finally got my hands on a Hangfire Hoodie, which serves as insulation in First Ascent layering system.

The first thing that struck me about the Hangfire was the quality of the design and construction. Before I even put the jacket on, I could tell that it was well made, with two-way stretch fleece that is soft to the touch and comfortable to wear. The inclusion of three zip pockets, two for your hands and one on the breast, was a nice touch too.

Eyeballing the Hangfire I thought that it looked like it was a bit on the small size, but when I pulled it on, I found it comfortable to wear, while still being quite form fitting. That's an excellent quality in an insulation layer, which will slip over a base layer for warmth, but can remain useful under a shell as well. The form fitting design takes away bulk and doesn't restrict motion either, with the stretchy fleece allowing for plenty of latitude when climbing, hiking, or even paddling.

As you might expect on a hoodie, the hood is an integral and important part of the overall package, and First Ascent has done a good job of integrating it in the Hangfire. The hood has a soft lining that fits snugly against your head when pulled into place, and zippered up, helping to protect from the elements, but it is also made of the same stretch fleece, which means it can also easily stretch over a helmet when the need arises. The hood is also warm and breathable, which makes it very functional as well.

The Hangfire is another piece of gear that is very functional in the backcountry, with all the touches you'd expect from First Ascent. It works well as an insulating layer or as a stand alone jacket, and can even repel light rain if the need arises. But the look and design of the hoodie is great too, which means it will look good kicking around town too. You might even get a compliment or two about how nice it looks.

At an MSRP of $99, the Hangfire represents a nice value to. It's an excellent jacket that I would have  expected to pay more for, offering high quality, a nice fit, and good integration into a layering system. The Hangfire is a great introduction to the First Ascent line and it has definitely made a good first impression on their gear. Can't wait to try out some more!

(Of note, the Hangfire is also currently on sale in the First Ascent store for just $79, so it is an even bigger bargain. Definitely worth grabbing at that price!)

Kiwi Yachtsman Crosses Northwest Passage In Record Time

Kiwi solo sailor Graeme Kendall, sailing the Astral Express, recently completed a crossing of the Northwest Passage, setting a new speed record in the process. It took Kendall just 12 days to complete the crossing, which came as sweet redemption after he was turned back in 2005 due to heavy ice.

Traveling east to west, Kendall entered the Passage at Lancaster Sound on August 27th and sailed clear at Barrow Point on September 9th. That 12 day voyage sets the new standard for a solo sail through the treacherous waters north of Canada, and it is also believed to be faster than any of the fully crewed ships that have made that journey as well, although that isn't confirmed for sure. The journey also marks the completion of the first stage of a circumnavigation attempt that will not only cover 18,000 miles, but pass through 32 of the world's major ocean ways as well.

ExWeb recently posted a brief interview with Graeme, in which he discusses the hardest part of the journey, how he dealt with fatigue, and his plans for future adventures. You can read that interview by clicking here.

As you can imagine, crossing the Northwest Passage is quite a challenge for any ship, but going solo is especially tough considering you have to watch for ice yourself, and have a much more difficult time making progress while also getting your needed rest. For Graeme it seems like it was 12 days of tension, but it's pretty impressive that he was able to complete it in this short of a time.

New Photo Exhibit To Offer "Extreme Exposure" For Adventure Photographers

A new group photography exhibit is set to open in October at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles. The exhibit entitled, "Extreme Exposure," will feature amazing photographs captured in some of the most remote and demanding places on the planet, by five of the most talented artists working in the field today.

The photographers who will have a number of their works on display include Clyde Butcher, whose "Swamplands" images make for an interesting study in light and shadow, while Michael "Nick" Nichols will present his "Lush Jungle" series of photos that focus on wildlife captured in their natural environments.  They're joined by Paul Nicklen, who will show stunning images from the Earth's polar regions, and Donna and Stephen James O'Meara who specialize in shooting active volcanos and lava flows.

Additionally, the Annenberg Space will also feature a digital film presentation that will enhance the experience for visitors. The digital portion of the exhibit will offer hundreds more images, detailed profiles of the photographers, and insights on how they captured the images on display. In some cases they risked life and limb while dangling from a helicopter, battled the elements, or came face-to-face with some of the most dangerous animals on the planet, just to capture the perfect shot.

The exhibit is set to open on October 23, 2010 and will run through April 24, 2011, and for budding photographers or those who appreciate the art, it looks to be a fantastic display.

Himalaya Fall 2010: Avalanche May End Season On Cho Oyu

Just yesterday I posted a story about the projected schedule for climbing Cho Oyu, which included a predicted Summit Day of this Thursday. But what a difference a day can make, as according to ExWeb, an avalanche high on the mountain has halted work on the route, and will likely spell the end of the Fall Season on that mountain.

According to this story, a team of Sherpas was working the route on Cho Oyu earlier today, hoping to finish fixing the lines to the summit so that the climbers could complete their attempt on the mountain in a few days time. That work was interrupted however when they men were struck by an avalanche while installing ropes above the second rock band. While no one was hurt in that avalanche, one of the Sherpas was reportedly very shaken up, and the entire team has elected to come down the mountain due to the unsafe conditions at altitude.

Apparently those conditions don't look to improve any time soon, and the reports are that there is still way too much snow high on the mountain for it to be safe to go up. As a result, the IMG team has pulled the plug on their Cho Oyu expedition for the fall, and it seems like the other big teams will likely now follow suit. According to ExWeb, the Adventure Consultants have recalled their team from C2 to ABC, and are currently weighing their options, while the Field Touring Alpine squad is hoping to gain more information on the stability of the snow near the summit before they make their decision.

The poor conditions are a bit of a bitter pill to swallow for the climbers hoping to summit Cho Oyu this fall. They waited for weather conditions to improve, and it seems that it finally has, only to present another difficult challenge. It seems that things are likely over on the mountain for the fall, lets hope that climbers on other mountains in the region have a bit more luck.

World's Lightest Bike, 6-Pounds, $45,000!

Cyclists, like most other outdoor enthusiasts, love their fancy gear, and quite often their willing to pay top dollar for it. If you're an avid road cyclists for instance, you've probably visited your local bike shop and drooled over those $10,000 bikes that are lightweight, fast, and sexy, then gone for a ride, wishing you could afford one of those babies.

But just how much would you be willing to pay to trim some weight off your bike? If you've got $45,000 burning in a hole in your pocket, that you might want to consider the new bike from Fairwheel Bikes, located in Tucson, Arizona. It made it's debut this past weekend at Interbike, and is being billed as the "World's Lightest Bike," weighing in at a mere six pounds. This ten speed beauty has been built from the ground up to shave ounces and sports a carbon fiber frame and titanium spokes, along with the usual assortment of equipment.

Fairwheel claims to have tested the prototypes on more than 20,000 miles of road as they strive to test it out and refine the manufacturing process. At the moment, it isn't available for sale, but could hit the market in the future, hopefully at a more affordable price tag. 

The road bike that I ride weighs in the neighborhood of about 18 pounds, and I personally feel it's pretty light and offers good performance. I can't imagine something that weighs just a third of that. I'd love to know how this rides. 

Gear Box: Gerber Crucial Multi-tool

When it comes designing and manufacturing knives and multi-tools, it's tough to beat Gerber, a company with a long history in the trade and catalog filled with a dizzying array of products. No matter what you need in a knife or multi-tool, chances are Gerber has you covered.

Earlier in the year I had the opportunity to test out a couple of Gerber products for myself, and came away quite impressed. The quality of both the Mini-Remix 2 knife and especially the Strata multi-tool were excellent, and both have proved themselves more than useful on the trail since that time. Recently I added a third Gerber product to my backpack in the form of the Crucial multi-tool, a lightweight, yet durable, tool that has quickly become an indispensable piece of gear that doesn't leave my side when I'm heading out for a hike.

As you would expect, the Crucial, puts a wide variety of tools right at your fingertips. It includes a wire clippers, a bottle opener, a knife blade, and both a flat head as well as a Phillips screw driver. There is also an integrated belt clip and a carabiner, which helps to keep the tool close at hand at all times.

Gerber went the extra distance when designing the Crucial, and the entire unit is built from high quality metals that don't feel flimsy or cheap in any way. The design of the tool is clever as well, folding up to a smaller size than you would have thought possible. Add in the stylish green casing, and you have a product that exudes quality at every turn. Best of all, the entire thing weighs just 5 ounces, which is next to nothing for a tool of this type.

If you're in the market for a new multi-tool, and you're looking for something that gives you everything you need without going overboard with the included options, then the Crucial may just be what you're looking for. Personally, I'd give up a few unneeded tools to shave some weight from the tool, and that's exactly what you get here. MSRP: $58.70

Check out all the Gerber tools, and excellent prices, in the Outdoor Pros Gerber Tools Store.

The Gear Junkie Sends An Open Letter To Adventure Race Directors

Nationally syndicated columnist Stephen Regenold, better known by his pseudonym The Gear Junkie, wrote an interesting piece today entitled An Open Letter To: Adventure Race Directors, in which he offers up some advice to the organizers of the sport. The article is filled with a number of suggestions on how to improve adventure racing and make it more accessible to both athletes and the general public, something the sport has struggled with for some time.

Stephen has quite of bit of experience both covering and competing in adventurer races, and he begins the article sharing some insights that he has garnered while at those events. He notes that he loves the sport immensely, but also sees flaws in what he describes as "a sport that has the potential to be the greatest endurance game in the world!" So, with that in mind, he offers up 15 suggestions for race directors who want to improve the adventure racing as a whole. 

Amongst his suggestions is a move away from calling it "adventure racing" and simply going with the acronym "AR" instead. He feels it conveys the same meaning, without the "horrible and dorky name" that he seems embarrassed to tell people about. Which of course begs the question, what would you tell people when they ask "What does 'AR' stand for?"

The next suggestion is to allow the use of a GPS device, something that is typically a no-no in the sport that puts so much value on good navigation. Stephen dismisses that rule with a casual "who cares?" but clearly he wasn't on the receiving end of the outraged e-mails that came my way when Primal Quest announced that a GPS would be mandatory gear for the race in Montana back in 2008. That event was held in June, but late snows covered many of the trails and passes, so we made the decision to require each team to carry a GPS for emergency purposes. Within minutes of sending an e-mail alerting the teams of the rules change we were inundated with responses urging us to reconsider, or condemning us to eternal damnation for even suggesting the use of a GPS. The point is, a lot of hardcore adventure racers do indeed care about this topic. 

Other recommendations include making the sport simpler (something that it has long struggled with), doing away with UTM point mapping, and including true whitewater sections to make the paddling easier. That one came up in Montana as well, as all of that snow that set of the GPS controversy actually ended up melting, causing Class III rapids to swell to Class V+ in just a few days time. A lot of the teams were quickly overwhelmed, and at one point, our SAR teams were conducting no less than five water rescues at one time. Balancing safety and challenge is a tough issue for race directors to deal with.

All in all, I think this open letter makes some good suggestions, but some of those ideas will be tough to implement. In this economic climate, adventure racing is suffering mightily as the sport is having a challenging time picking up sponsors, which has caused a number of races, including PQ, to take some time off. Perhaps this is as good a time as any to implement these ideas and make the sport easier to understand and to get into. AR is still an amazingly fun and dramatic sport to compete in and follow, but it is still continuing to evolve as well. 

Death Valley Round II: Todd's Working Hard In The Desert

Ten days ago Explorer and adventurer Todd Carmichael returned to Death Valley where he is once again attempting to make a solo, unassisted trek across that brutal desert. Carmichael, who once set a speed record for traveling to the South Pole on foot, made a similar attempt last year, but was turned back by large rock fields, has vowed to beat the desert this year no matter what, and while it has been tough going so far, he does continue to make progress.

Todd has been sending regular dispatches back from the field, including audio files, that have kept us up to date on his progress, and judging from his reports thus far, Death Vally: Round II hasn't been much easier than his first attempt. That said however, he remains focused and determined, despite the fact that he is a bit off his schedule and has struggled with covering the miles. On an expedition like this however, small victories go a long way, and over the weekend Todd was happy to find that the tires on his cart, lovingly dubbed "the Pig," had survived the night without going flat.

That may sound like a minor thing, but the Pig is Todd's lifeline on this expedition, as the specially designed and built cart, carries his food, water, and gear for the entire journey. When fully packed, it weighs in excess of 400 pounds, but allows for carrying the all important water that keeps Carmichael alive and moving forward in the hottest, driest, and lowest place in North America.

In his most recent dispatch, sent this morning, Todd reports that he had a brutal night last night. He has been traveling in the dark when he can to help avoid the hot sun, and he had set a goal for himself to cross out of an extremely rocky zone and onto a flatter, easier area. It was a major bump in his road, but one he managed to conquer along the way, even in the dark.

There is still a considerable distance to go at this point, but Todd seems in great spirits, despite his hardships, and I have little doubt that barring some unforeseen circumstances, he'll finish up the expedition in a successful fashion.

Video Dispatches From Tawoche in the Khumbu Valley

Located in the Khumbu Valley, not far from the villages of Pheriche and Dingboche, Tawoche is a 21,463 foot peak that stands in the shadow of Ama Dablam. This past January, Renan Ozturk and Corey Richards traveled to Nepal to tackle this formidable mountain, and along the way they sent back live video dispatches of their expedition. Now, months later, they've combined those videos into a short film that is very well made. Check it out below.




As It Happens from renan ozturk on Vimeo.

Himalaya Fall 2010: Summit Push Begins On Cho Oyu and Manaslu

The Fall Season is well underway in the Himalaya, with teams preparing to make summit bids this week on both Choy Oyu and Manaslu. Meanwhile, over on Everest, one team calls it quits, while another moves up the mountain.

The big news today, according to ExWeb is that the Adventure Consultants, IMG, Jagged Globe, and Field Touring Alpine teams have all begun their summit push on Cho Oyu. If everything stays according to schedule, they all hope to top out on Thursday of this week. Sherpas from IMG are still fixing the ropes however, so the route is not quite complete, but they are already above C2 and should have everything secure in time for the mass push late this week. If the weather holds, there will be plenty of summits on Thursday or Friday.

Similar plans are in place on Manaslu, where teams have finished their last acclimatization cycle and are now watching the weather as well. A window is expected to open late this week on that mountain as well, allowing climbers to make their bids now with an eye on a Thursday summit too. The forecasts warn that there could be high winds on those days, which could hamper the efforts, but never the less, the Sherpas are working the mountain and finishing the fixing of lines there too.

On Everest, heavy snow has made things very challenging, at least on the North Side. Avalanches there have caused Alberto Zerain's squad to call it quits on the Hornbein Couloir, deeming the route unsafe for climbing. They've made the decision to abandon the mountain and head home for the season. Discretion is the better part of valor it seems on the Tibetan side of the mountain this fall.

Finally, Eric Larsen doesn't seem to be having too many issues on the South Side of Everest, where he has now moved up to Camp 2 and is acclimatizing at the moment. The weather was good on that side of the mountain this past weekend, but Eric has been dealing with the usual host of high altitude issues, including fatigue, upset stomach, and so on. He seems to be in good spirits however, and hopefully he'll catch up on some rest when he heads back down to BC tomorrow.

Everest summit bids are still a bit up in the air at this point, but they could possibly begin sometime next week. If he's successful, Eric will become the first person to reach the North and South Pole, plus the summit of Everest, all in the same calendar year. That's a pretty impressive few months.

New Ultramarathon Announced For 2011 In Louisiana

A new ultramarathon, dubbed the Rouge-Orleans, is scheduled to take place in March of 2011, with ultrarunners and relay teams running a 126.2 mile course from Baton Rouge to Audubon Park in New Orleans. Best of all, the event takes place during the Mardi Gras weekend, earning it the slogan of "Come to run, stay to party!"

The entire route of the race, which takes place from March 4-6, 2011, will be run along the Mississippi River levee, which means it will meander along side the waterway, passing by sugarcane plantations, old farms, and swamps in the process. During the 100+ mile run, the course barely touches any roads at all, which means the runners won't have to deal with traffic on their epic footrace down the river.

Registration information can be found by clicking here with options to run the ultra as a single athlete or as part of a relay team of 2 or 3 people. The race will begin in a wave start format, with the faster runners to the front. There will also be a mandatory 40 hour cut-off time for the finish of the race. That cut-off will be strictly enforced, after all, you wouldn't want to miss out.

It looks like this is going to be a great event for next year, mixing a challenging ultra with a fun weekend in the Big Easy. The weather in March is expected to be comfortable and in the 70's temperature wise, and with the schedule of the race, it should make for a great tune up for the Western States or the Badwater. If you ever needed motivation to keep training during the winter months, here it is!

More Video From The Red Bull 5000 Down Mountain Bike Race

Last week I posted a crazy video from the Whistler 5000 Down Mountain Bike Race and this week we have even more footage from that event. I caught this video over at Adventure World Magazine earlier and they used the term "carnage" to describe the action. I couldn't think of a better word, so I'm going to borrow it as well. This is wild definitely wild stuff and you wouldn't catch me trying this, but I don't mind watching someone else do it!

First Man To Climb El Cap With Cerebral Palsy Interviewed By Outside

Back on September 12th, Steven Wampler became the first person with Cerebral Palsy to climb El Cap in Yosemite National Park. It took him six days to scale that epic rock face, pulling himself up an estimated 20,000 times in the process. The climb was made possible thanks to a custom designed chair, a special system of ropes and the help of two friends who secured the route and accompanied him to the top of the 3000 foot wall.

A few days ago, Outside magazine had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Steven, who has had a few weeks to reflect on his accomplishment. The interview was posted on the Outside Blog earlier today, with Wampler sharing his insights on the scariest parts of the climb (He's afraid of heights!), why he chose El Cap for his first real climb, and what's next for him.

Pretty incredible story if you ask me. El Cap is a challenge for anyone to climb, and to do it while afflicted by Cerebral Palsy is just astounding. Quite an impressive feat to say the least.

You can find out more about Steven and the climb in the video below, which comes our way courtesy of ABC News.

The 737 Challenge: Seven Summits, Three Poles, Seven Months

I write about a host of ambitious expeditions and projects here on The Adventure Blog, but here's one that is on a completely different level.

Welsh adventurer Richard Parks has set quite a goal for himself. He plans to reach the top of all of the Seven Summits, as well as both the North and South Pole, in just seven months time. He's calling his expedition the 737 Challenge, which stands for 7 Summits, 3 Poles, 7 Months. Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world, is sometimes called the "third pole."

The expedition is set to begin in December, with a trip to the South Pole and a climb of Mt. Vinson. From there he'll move on to Aconcagua in South America, followed by Kilimanjaro in Africa, and Carstensz Pyramid in Oceania. Then it's on to the North Pole before tackling Everest and Denali. He'll finish up on Elbrus in Europe sometime next summer. Parks hopes to use the expedition as a platform to raise funds for the Marie Curie Cancer Care organization, certainly a noble cause.

When I first started to read about this Richard's adventure, I thought this will be a logistical nightmare and nearly impossible to complete in just seven months time. After all, we've been following Eric Larsen on his Save The Poles journey for nearly a year now, and Eric "only" went to the North and South Pole and is in the process of attempting Everest. But it turns out that Richard will be covering the last two degrees to the South Pole and the final degree to the North Pole. Both of those journeys will take considerably less time than Eric's expedition, and change the logistics significantly.

Don't get me wrong, this is still a very ambitious project, but those shorter polar expeditions will make it possible to cover the Seven Summits too. This should be a great seven month journey for him and an amazing feat for anyone to accomplish.

Good luck Richard!

National Geographic Launches 2010 Photo Contest

National Geographic has always been filled with amazing photos. In fact, it is one of the hallmarks of the magazine and one of the reasons we love it so much. To highlight some of the best photographs taken each year, Nat Geo hosts a photography contest, and the 2010 edition is now underway, allowing photographers to submit their images in a digital format directly from the website.

The entry process couldn't be more easy, you simply need to create (or using an existing) NatGeo website account to login to the submissions page. From there, you can upload your photographs directly, filling in the necessary information as you go. There are three category areas, People, Places, and Nature, and there is a $15 entry fee applied per photograph. The deadline for entry is November 30th of this year, so you'll want to start sifting through your images now to find the best ones for submission.

The winner of this year's contest will be rewarded handsomely. First place winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize and a trip to Washington DC in January to attend the 2011 National Geographic Photography Seminar. The winning photo will also be published in an upcoming issue of the magazine, which is reward enough for many amateur and professional photographers.

To give you an idea of what the judges like, take a look at last year's winners in this gallery and check out some of the other entries in this gallery. Beautiful stuff. I really need to work more on my photos.

The Rest of Everest Episode 139: It's Just A Phase

Another new episode of the Rest of Everest was released yesterday, continuing the story of the Everest Base Camp trek that took place in 2009, with the team members now on their way back down the Khumbu Valley on their return trip to Kathmandu, and eventually home.

This episode is number 139 in the series and is entitled "It's Just A Phase." The video begins right where we left off last week, with the hikers moving down a very misty and foggy section of the trail, which is a common sight late in the day in the Himalaya. The mornings tend to be bright, clear, and cool, the perfect time for pictures. As the day goes on, it tends to get more cloudy, with a thick fog moving in. The day turns a bit cooler and more damp as well, as the sun gets obscured, often making the late day hikes the coolest of the day.

As the episode rolls on, the trekkers reach their destination for the day, one of the many tea houses that are common throughout the Himalaya. Once there, they enjoy warm drinks (tea, hot chocolate, etc.) and break out the card games. On this trek Phase 10 was a popular choice, and my trekking group played it as well this past spring.

Once again, the episode gives great insights for anyone planning a trek to the South Side of Everest in the near future. With lots of footage of the area, and great commentary from the crew, watching these episodes from the 2009 trek may be the best way to prepare for the hike. For me though, it's a wonderful to see some of the places I explored just a few months ago.

North Pole Circumnavigation Update: Russians First Through The Northwest Passage

ExWeb posted an update on the race around the North Pole that is currently being conducted by the Russian crew aboard the Peter 1 and Norwegian explorer Børge Ousland. Both ships have been attempting to become the first to sail completely around the North Pole via the Northeast and Northwest Passages. According to the update, the Russians are the first to clear the Northwest Passage, and while that is an important milestone, the race isn't over yet.

Peter 1 arrived in Pond Inlet on the Northern coast of Baffin Island a few days back, marking the end of the journey through the Northwest Passage, and with the Northeast Passage already complete, it's just a matter of which ship reaches their home port first, completing the entire voyage.

Ousland and his boat, the Northern Passage, are said to be not far behind the Russians and have also reached Pond Inlet. That has to be a big relief for him and his partner, Thorleif Thorleifsson, as their ship is much smaller and lighter than the Russian yacht, and had the potential to suffer more damage from the ice. On the other hand, the ship is also much faster and more nimble on the water, giving them the possibility of overtaking the heavier hulled ship of their rivals.

It should be noted that "rivals" is a bit of a relative term, as the two crews are obviously seeking the same goal, but have also become friendly during this "race." Apparently they are now not very far apart either, as ExWeb says that the Northern Passage crossed the 74th Parallel just hours behind the Peter 1. Perhaps they'll end up reaching the finish line, which is in Grimstad, Norway, together. That seems like a fitting end.

Any Teachers Want To Explore The Arctic In 2011/2012?

PolarTREC, an organization that works to give K12 teachers an opportunity to conduct research in the field while helping to distribute curriculum to classrooms, is looking for a few adventurous educators to join them in conducting arctic research in the next couple of years.  

The organization is currently looking for 12 individuals who are interested in going to the Arctic in 2011 or the Antarctic in 2011-2012. If selected, those teachers will assist in the research process on varying levels and will be asked to share their experience with others on their return. More details, including the application form, can be found by clicking here. If you're interested, you won't want to wait to apply. The deadline for submittal is October 1st!

Thanks to Richard Byrne for sharing this information with me and writing about it here in his own blog. Well, I'm being polite when I say thanks for sharing, because not being a teacher myself, I suspect Richard was actually just taunting me. ;) (Just kidding! Good luck Richard, I hope you get picked!)

I knew I should have gotten that education degree!

Find Your Next Adventure At AvidTrips.com

Adventure travelers are always looking for new ideas and new ways to book their next escape, and a new website called AvidTrips.com has been designed from the ground up to assist in that process. The site allows you to search by a variety of categories, including destinations, activities, price, level of difficulty and so on. With that criteria set, AvidTrips will present a list of tour operators that can provide you the experience you are looking for in some of the best locations on the planet.

The interface on the site is slick and easy to use, offering up quite a bit of customization at your fingertips. There are also quite a few tour operators in the system already too, which means you'l have some good options when you decide on your next destination. The database that the site draws from is still being populated with more options and countries however, so if you have your heart set on a specific place, there is a chance it might not be available just yet.

AvidTrips has also launched a nice blog as well, with some great stories on exotic destinations from around the globe, each of which they offer access to. The editors of the site have also asked me to contribute some gear reviews and you'll find some of my own writing appearing there as well. The team behind the site is dedicated to improving it and providing more information for readers, and it looks like AvidTrips will be a great all-around tool for adventure travelers both now and into the future. I'm happy to play a small role in adding some content to the site.

National Geographic Reports On Gulf Oil Spill

The Gulf oil spill may be closed, and for many people forgotten, but the impact that it will have on that region is likely to be felt for years to come. With that in mind, National Geographic has turned its considerable attentions on the Gulf, with a host of reports on the topic ranging across a variety of media.

For instance, the oil spill will be the cover story for the October edition of National Geographic magazine and will feature "photos you haven't seen; stories you haven't heard." The issue will also include a special two-sided map, with one side devoted to showing the deeply entrenched, and massive, Gulf oil infrastructure. The other side of the map will have a graphical representation of the Gulf's delicate eco-system with an explanation of how everything is interrelated, and the impact of the oil on life in and around those waters. Both sides of the map can be viewed online right now. Click here to see the Gulf oil infrastructure, and here for the Gulf eco-system.

That's not all however, as NG plans to air three television shows on the topic. Flagship program Explorer will get things started by airing a special entitled "Can the Gulf Survive?" which will take an in depth look at the damage that has been done and the likelihood that the eco-system can bounce back from this ecological disaster. That show is set to be broadcast on Tuesday, Sept. 28th at 10PM ET/PT.

As if that wasn't enough, the Society is offering up some resources for K12 educators to share in their classrooms as well. Those resources can be found by clicking here and include activities designed for all grade levels to help them understand the breadth of the disaster and the long term effects it could have on the environments in the Gulf.

Nat Geo Cameramen Caught In Giant Sand Storm

The World is an amazing place, and sometimes we need to be reminded of just how powerful and impressive it really is. Take this video for example. It was shot by a couple of cameramen from National Geographic who were in Africa filming some footage for the upcoming special Great Migrations, which airs this November. The filmmakers were simply hoping to catch a glimpse of a herd of elephants crossing the desert, and instead they became first hand witnesses of how powerful nature really can be. In this case, they were hit with a massive stand storm but fortunately for us, they just kept on shooting. Wow!

10 Best Secret Scuba Destinations

I'm not a scuba diver, at least not yet, but I know a number of readers who really enjoy it. For those who enjoy their adventures beneath the ocean, Wide World Magazine has a great article just for you, offering up their selection for the ten best undiscovered scuba spots.

The gist of the article is a simple one. We all know what the best dive spots in the world, such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Blue Hole, and so on. But this list gives us a look at some of the best dive spots in the world that hardly anyone knows about. The list contains something for everyone, offering dives in a variety of types of water and mixing in reefs, wrecks, and more.

Some of the locations that make the cut include Spitsbergen in Norway, where divers have the opportunity to encounter whales and walruses, and Pemba, Tanzania, in which offers everything from reef diving on one side to challenge drift diving on the other. One site, Port Sudan out of the Sudan, can only be reached by a single flight a week, but offers amazing wreck diving, including a ship that went down with a load of Toyota vehicles onboard. Wild!

Reading about these amazing sites makes me only want to get certified all the more. If you've already gone through certification however, you better start booking your tickets. With Wide World sharing these secrets, it won't be long until the word is out.

New Backpack Charges Gadgets On The Go

Engadget had an interesting article up this morning about a new backpack that incorporates a battery right into the design that allows you to keep your gadgets charged while on the go. The pack, which comes from a company called Trek Support, includes a removable gadget dock that can be charged up through standard power, and then reinserted into the bag to charge three other USB devices while away from home. The design also includes a laptop sleeve and quite a few storage pockets. Best of all, it has a TSA friendly design, which should make it a hit with travelers, and costs just $130.

Now obviously this isn't a pack designed for outdoor enthusiasts, as it packs in extra weight that we don't generally need on the trail, and I do at least leave my laptop home when I go for a hike. But for travelers, this presents an interesting possibility for keeping all of our gadgets charged while on the road. It's often a struggle to do just that, as we end up carrying lots of cables and chargers and so on. I'm not sure that this is the solution, but as someone who travels regularly, it is an intriguing option for trips that aren't headed more remote places.

Outside Interviews Amazon Walker Ed Stafford

The Outside Blog has an interview with Ed Stafford today. He's the man who recently finished walking the length of the Amazon, an epic journey that took 859 days to complete, covering more than 4000 miles in the process. Ed's back home in the U.K. now, and taking some much needed rest before his next adventure. He's also working on a book about the Amazon walk that should make for very interesting reading.

In this interview, Stafford talks about how he came up with the idea for the journey (He Googled it!), his inspirations for becoming an explorer, and his toughest moment in the jungle. He also touches on his more exciting moments, what he missed from home while on the trek, and his favorite piece of gear on the expedition, amongst other things.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I've got a gigantic amount of respect for Ed, and his companion Cho Sanchez who accompanied him most of the way. Traveling the length of the Amazon on foot was one of the last great feats to be accomplished, and it is an amazing testament of his stamina and determination that he was able to finish the walk from source to sea. It's also good to hear that he's planning another adventure, but we'll have to wait a year to find out what he's got planned. I guess he'll stay home just long enough to finish that book, and then hit the road again. I can't wait!

Mt. Kailash Trek and Photo Workshop For 2011

For the past couple of years, Jon Miller of The Rest of Everest fame and Chris Marquardt from Tips From The Top Floor have hosted high altitude treks that have combined visits to Mt. Everest with photo workshops. Participants on the trek had the opportunity to visit both the North and South sides of the mountain while gaining valuable insights into shooting photography and videography in one of the best locations on the planet.

Now, the pair have spun off those very successful excursions into a new venture, launching the website HimalayanWorkshops.com today to support their future expeditions into the region. With that launch they've also announced that the 2011 workshop will take place on Mt. Kailash, a 21,778-foot peak located in western Tibet, that is a spiritual crossroads for Buddhists and Hindus alike.

The trek will begin on Sunday, April 17th, 2011 in Kathmandu and run to May 3rd. In between, the team will hike and drive their way through the Mt. Kailash region, exploring this beautiful area, while conducting the "highest photography workshops in the world." Cost for the three week trip is $5999 with registration opening on Sunday, Oct. 17th.

To find out more about the trek, the trip leaders, the setting, and more, click here.

Himalaya Fall 2010: Climbers Injured In Avalanche On Cho Oyu

The fall Himalaya season is in full swing, with teams working both sides of Everest, Manaslu, Cho Oyu, and others. Most of the climbers are in the early stages of the acclimatization process and are taking advantage of the slower fall season to really enjoy the uncrowded base camps. But last Friday was a scary day for some of those climbers, who almost had disaster strike.

According to ExWeb, six members of the Chinese-Tibetan Mountaineering Association were caught in an avalanche while fixing lines just below 8000 meters on Cho Oyu, and were buried beneath the snow. Rescuers were dispatched quickly, and helped to dig the men out, and later assisted them down the mountain to ABC in bad weather. On Saturday, the avalanche victims were taken the rest of the way back down the mountain to Base Camp, where they were loaded up in vehicles and driven away for medical attention.

The ExWeb story quotes Jagged Globe team member Robert Anderson, who reports that the injuries for the CTMA climbers ranged from a few bumps and bruises to mild concussions and snow blindness. He also said that they were assisted down in blizzard conditions, with several hours between the first and last men arriving in ABC. He says that they now hope to get some more CTMA climbers on the mountain to help finish the fixing of lines above C3 once the recently deposited snow settles some. If all goes according to plan, they hope to make a summit bid sometime this week.

There is no update on the condition of the climbers caught in the avalanche, but from the sounds of things they should all be in good condition, although a bit battered. Apparently the avalanche was big enough that it knocked the men from the mountain and drove them down for some distance, and while they all suffered injuries of varying degrees, they are also fortunate to be alive.

English Channel Swimmer Sets Sights On Strait of Gibraltar

Yesterday I posted a story about quadruple amputee Philippe Crozon, who swam across the English Channel this past weekend in 13.5 hours with the help of specially designed prosthetic legs with built in flippers. Now, according to the Washington Post, the Frenchman has even bigger plans for a future swim.

After completing the 21 mile crossing of the Channel, Crozon announced that he next hopes to conquer the Strait of Gibraltar, a narrow strip of water that separates Europe from Africa near the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strait is just 9 miles wide, but offers a different challenge from the Channel in that the waters are much rougher and there can be a lot of shipping traffic moving through the area as well. No date has been set for this attempt just yet, but he hopes to make it in a year or so after completing more training.  (Thanks to the Outside Blog for the tip!)

Checkout the video below about Crozon's Channel swim which comes our way courtesy of Newsy.com.

Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

Travel Like A Pirate!

This past weekend was the International Talk Like A Pirate Day, a "holiday," and I use the term loosely,  that I just can't seem to quite comprehend. And while I generally ignore that special day, mostly because I don't know a single soul who actually cares about it, this year we have a different reason to salute those salty buccaneers of the high seas.

Our friends over at the travel site NileGuide have put together a great contest in which the winners will get to travel like a pirate to Aruba. To enter, all you have to do is click here and fill out the very simple entry form which requires just your first and last name and your e-mail address. It doesn't come any easier than that. You can also opt to receive information sent your way form the participating partners, but if you get plenty of spam in your e-mail already, you can choose to ignore that option.

If you win, you'll be swept off to lovely Aruba aboard a JetBlue flight. Once there, you'll have accommodations for 4 nights at the Hyatt Regency Aruba and get the opportunity to hit the high seas with the Jolly Pirates for some sailing and snorkeling in the beautiful waters off the island. Later you can grab some grub at the Pirate's Nest restaurant and drink some pirate swill at the Balashi Brewery.

Sounds like a fun escape and between this and the Teva House contest I mentioned yesterday, you have two chances to win a tropical adventure at the moment.

Gear Burger Serves Up Piping Hot Deals

If you're like me, you're probably always on the lookout for a great deal on new gear to add to your collection. Sometimes waiting for just the perfect sale can take forever and if you miss your opportunity, you could be completely out of luck.

That's where the new site GearBurger.com comes in. The site monitors 25 different online retailers, including sites like REI.com and Backcountry.com, and tracks over 2000 different brands, in order to find the best deals for you. Not only that, you can customize your search to look for the gear you are specifically looking for and have alerts sent directly to your e-mail so you'll never miss a sale. It's like having your own personal supper always standing by to find exactly what you need.

It is super easy to get started on the site, and you can even login using just your Facebook account, which means you'll be getting deals on outdoor gear in just a few minutes. After that, you're on your own, as I can't be held responsible for the damage that this site could do to your bank account.

Quadruple Amputee Swims English Channel

Philippe Crozon, a 42-year old Frenchman who had his arms and legs amputated more than 15 years ago, swam across the English Channel this past weekend with the aid of special prosthetics.  The challenging swim was expected to take as much as 24-hours to complete, but he managed to finish up in just 13 1/2 hours instead.

Philippe began his journey on Saturday at the British town of Folkerstone  and ended at Wissant on the French side of the Channel. He covered 21 miles of open water in between, and was joined for a time by three dolphins who helped to keep pace.

The Frenchman lost his limbs back in 1994 when he climbed a ladder to adjust his television antenna. The antenna was touching electrical wires and the resulting shock did severe damage to his limbs. That hasn't stopped him from living his life to the fullest, and back in 2007 he made similar headlines when he went skydiving.

For this swim he used specially designed prosthetics that include flippers built into the legs, while his arms go through the typical motions of a swimming crawl. Crozon breathes through a snorkel and manages to propel himself along and surprisingly good speeds.

So? What did you do this weekend? I know I didn't do anything close to this!

Thanks to Clay Abney from Adventure World Magazine for passing this my way over the weekend.

More On The Great Bear Rainforest Expedition

Last week I posted a couple of stories about an expedition of photographers who were exploring Canada's Great Bear Rainforest in an effort to capture the beauty of that place while studying the effects of a proposed oil pipeline through the region. The team returned with some stunning photos of wildlife that lives there and the environments which they inhabit, as well as a message of warning about the potentially devastating effects of development by oil companies.

Now, we have a YouTube video that captures even more of the photos, as well as some video footage, and the photographers themselves talking about the experience. The expedition was sponsored by the International League of Conservation Photographers, who are working hard to protect Great Bear Rainforest from possibly catastrophic disaster.

Thanks to Rick McCharles of BestHike for sharing this video about this important issue.

Artifacts From Robert Falcon Scott Expedition To Be Auctioned

Christie's Auction House has announced that it will put relics left over from the doomed Robert Falcon Scott Antarctic expedition on the block this week, with skis, photos, scientific equipment, and other items all up for bid.

According to this story, the artifacts actually belong to Canadian team member Charles Seymour Wright, who is the man who discovered Scott's frozen remains in a tent after the explorer and his four companions perished on the return trip from the South Pole. Scott and his team were in a desperate race to be the first to reach that point, but were beaten by just a few weeks by Norwegian Roald Amundsen. Wright discovered the remains 8 months after the team disappeared.

The tragic story of Scott and his men is one of those epic tales of a long lost age of exploration. In 1910, he set out from England to attempt once again to become the first man to reach the South Pole. He arrived in January of 1912, but found the Norwegian flag of his rival waiting there. Beaten and dejected, Scott and his men began the long, cold, and grueling trek back to the point of origin, but bad weather and deteriorating health slowed their progress, and eventually they ended up stranded in the tent, where Scott and two of his companions would die just 11 miles away from a food and fuel depot that would have almost assuredly saved their lives.

The relics up for auction belong to Wright's grandson and are believed to be worth between $235,000 and $390,000.

Teva Wants To Send You On A South Pacific Adventure

Adventurous travelers looking for an escape in 2011 may have their wishes granted thanks to a new contest from Teva. The footwear manufacturer is looking to send one lucky winner, from the U.S., the U.K., the Netherlands, Korea, and Australia to Fiji for a bit of tropical adventure that is sure to be a once in a lifetime trip.

To enter the contest, simply head over to TevaHouse.com and click on the flag of your country of origin. From there, fill out the online form, and you'll automatically be entered to win a trip for two to Fiji, where you, along with your guest, and the winners from the other countries, will live aboard a 140' luxury sailing ship for ten days while exploring some of the remote areas of islands. You'll spend your days hiking through jungles, snorkeling reefs that are 100 miles from the closest resort, and whitewater rafting through the stunning landscapes of the Upper Navua Gorge, a place that has been called "a river of Eden."

The Teva Houseboat that the winners will live aboard is the logical extension of the Teva House that first appeared in Vail, Colorado during the Teva Mountain Games. That house served as home base for Teva sponsored athletes, guests, employees, and other VIP's at the games, and now the company wants to take the concept to an international level. The plan is for the Teva House to move around to different locations each year, and we'll all have the opportunity to win a chance to stay in one, while exploring the environments that will play host to the adventure. This year, that location is Fiji.

Looks like a fun adventure and I'd love to win a trip to Fiji. I'll tell you what. If I win, I'll take you, and if you win, you take me as your guest. Deal?

Scenes From Yellowstone

Over the weekend I had a chance to edit some video together from my recent trip to Yellowstone National Park, an amazing outdoor playground that everyone should visit at some point. The scenery is unbelievable and there is plenty of wildlife to spot as well. The video below is just a hint of what you'll find there, with some shots of elk and bison, but also the Lower Falls on the Yellowstone River and the parks most famous attraction, Old Faithful. I hope you enjoy.

Time Lapse Images From Orbit

It's been a fairly quiet day on the adventure news front, and since we're closing out the week, and preparing to head out for some weekend fun, I thought I'd post yet one more great video courtesy of The Adventure Life, who have shared great videos all week long. This one was shot from the International Space Station and while it isn't the longest clip you'll watch this week, it is an amazing time lapse of the Earth, caught from orbit. Enjoy!

National Park Service Considers Raising Climbing Fees on Denali, Rainier

The National Park Service is considering raising the fees for climbing both Denali and Mt. Rainier, two of the most iconic, and popular, peaks in North America. These discussions have caused several climbing advocacy groups to speak out against the proposals, which would institute steep increases in costs for climbers.

The proposal would see the cost of climbing Rainer rise from $30 to $50, while Denali would go from $200 up to $500, an increase of 250%. The proposal says that the increase in costs will go directly to training more climbing rangers and other ways of keeping people safe on the mountain. It also hints that future price increases could be linked to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

The Access Fund, American Alpine Club and American Alpine Guides Association call the rate increases "unnecessary and unfair" and joined forces to draft a letter to protest the move which they think will limit the ability of many climbers to actually scale those mountains. They also accuse officials of planning to put the fee hikes into effect without allowing the public to comment, something the Park Service denies. 

While these fees are not a foregone conclusion at this point, it does look like they are most likely coming sooner than later. I'm a bit torn on my thoughts on these fee hikes. On the one hand, in the greater scheme of things, these aren't big jumps. A $20 increase for going up Rainier probably won't make or break it for most climbers, although $300 more on Denali is a bit of a hit. But considering the expense of that climb, and the challenges involved, it isn't likely to be a deal breaker for those mountaineers either. Also, the fees seem to be intended for a good use as well, as making the climbs safer is always a good plan. 

On the other hand, fee increases in this economic climate seem like a bad move. Politically it sends a bad message, and when people are struggling to make ends meet, any rise in cost can be seen as bad. 

So, what are your thoughts? Is this an acceptable move or bad timing?

Talking Speed Climbs With Alex Honnold

Earlier this summer Alex Honnold left us all shaking our heads in awe as he first set a new speed record for a continuous climb up Half Dome and El Cap in Yosemite and then followed it up by linking three routes, the Nose, Salathé Wall, and Lurking Fear, a few weeks later. Now, the talented climber has come down from the rock long enough to share some thoughts with Outside Online, who have posted the interview to their blog this morning.

In the interview, Alex talks about training with Ueli Steck for a speed run on The Nose, but when that fell apart, mostly out of lack of interest, he found himself in good shape and ready to take on some big challenges, hence the series of climbs he made in Yosemite back in June and July. He also talks about the challenges of climbing El Capitan, which he spent a lot of time on this summer, as well as his love for climbing in Yosemite in general.

It's a brief, but excellent interview, with good insights from a guy who is one of the top climbers in the world. As for what he's got planned for the future, he doesn't give too much away, but Alex does say that climbing a big wall like the Nose has him interested and inspired to possibly go to the Himalaya or Patagonia and tackle some of the massive rock faces there in solo fashion.

Reading this, Alex comes across as a very humble guy who just enjoys doing what he is doing.