The Adventure Blog

Jon Bowermaster Reflects on Antarctica

2008-05-08T15:25:00.003-05:00

Paddling Life has posted a short, but really nice story in which Jon Bowermaster reflects on his time paddling Antarctica earlier this year. You might recall that Bowermaster, and his team, spent two weeks, and traveled more than 500 miles, as part of his Oceans 8 expedition.

The goal of the expedition was to get up close and personal with the Antarctic ice pack and to determine the impact of global warming on it's overall health. Bowermaster, who is an excellent paddler, thought that the best way to do that was by kayaking through the region, weaving in and out of the ice bergs, and exploring remote locations seldom visited by humans.

The Oceans 8 program was conceived as a way of gauging the overall health of the planet by paddling some of it's iconic waterways. The Antarctic leg of the journey was the final one, but Bowermaster and his crew also explored the Aleutian Island, the coasts of Vietnam, and remote areas of Tasmania, amongst other places.

In the article from Paddling Life, Bowermaster talks about what it was like to spend his days south of the Antarctic circle, with nothing but a thin kayak separating him from the ice cold water. He also mentions his favorite day, which involved a close encounter with a leopard seal. The story is a brief but interesting read.

You can also learn more about Jon and his team at JonBowermaster.com.

Backpack Buying Guide at Sierra Trading Post

2008-05-08T14:52:00.003-05:00

Remember when it use to be fairly easy to buy a backpack? You went into the store and essentially chose from external or internal frame, size, and brand that you liked. Now days it's gotten much more complicated, as there are about as many options on your backpack as there are on a new car. On top of that, nearly every outdoor gear company makes packs these days, which means the level of quality varies greatly. Walking into your local gear shop, you can find a dizzying array of packs to choose from, and it can be quite intimidating deciding which one is for you.

Never fear however, as Sierra Trading Post is here to save us all a lot of stress and anguish. They've put together an excellent Backpack Buyers Guide that will sure to come in handy for those looking to buy their first pack or add to their existing collection.

The guide goes into detail on all the things you should consider when buying your pack. They break it down quite nicely, and prioritize all the options that you'll need to think about. For instance, they say that "Capacity Comes First", which really is a great place to start. You'll need to pick a pack that is the right size for the adventure that you are going to use it for. They even have a great little chart to help you determine the size you'll need for the amount of time you'll be on the trail. They even factor in the season, as you'll obviously be carrying thicker, bulkier gear in the Winter.

Next they way the pros and cons of the age-old debate of "Internal vs. External Frame" packs, then move on to offer sizing tips, complete with a handy YouTube video. The section on personal adjustment to your pack will help to get it fitting just right on your back while carrying a load, while the section on the features of a backpack will break down and explain what all the different options on your new pack are for.

All in all, this a great resource and definitely one worth going through before you decide what pack you want to buy. Coming from a guy who REALLY likes his packs, the top thing that I'd recommend is find a pack that is comfortable. Usually I know if a pack is right for me as soon as I put it on. I can make some adjustments, get it to fit a bit better, but if it just doesn't feel right, I'm probably not ever going to be happy with it. Also, I'd never, under any circumstances, buy a pack ever again that isn't hydration ready. It's just too convenient to have your water within easy reach at all times. Fortunately, this generally isn't an issue any more, as nearly all packs come hydration ready these days, but still something you'll want to make sure of before you buy.

Video of the Torch at the Summit

2008-05-08T08:44:00.004-05:00

I came across this video a short time ago on the BBC News site accompanying their story on the Chinese Summit. If you want to see what conditions were like for the them as the reached the summit then click here. Unfortunately the BBC Media Player won't let me embed the video directly.

Update: Here's the video from Reuters showing the Torch as it is lit at the summit, and the team celebrating their victory.

Everest 2008: Restrictions Lifted On South Side!

2008-05-08T08:18:00.003-05:00

Great news this morning, as Nepal has already lifted the restrictions on the South Side allowing teams to climb up beyond C2 at long last, and reopening communications from the mountain.

Case in point, Alan Arnette has already sent a fresh dispatch from the mountain. This is the first direct news we've had from him since communications were cut off a few weeks back, and he reports that his team is doing well, everyone is healthy, and ready to go. Alan has been at 17,500 feet for more than 30 days, and says that he feels more than acclimatized and ready to move up.

The plan now is for the team to move up to C3, having already spent time at both Camps 1 and 2. If all goes according to plan, and everyone is feeling healthy, they'll continue on to the summit from there. Alan's dispatch describes the location of each camp and what the conditions are like there. He also estimates that there are about 500 climbers on the mountain's South Side. 41 teams spread out over 31 permits. Hopefully the weather will hold and there will be plenty of time for each and every one of them to make their way up the mountain.

Remember, Alan is climbing to raise awareness and money for the Cure Alzheimer's Fund. If you haven't donated yet, it's a great cause, and one that is important to a lot of people. A number of climbers were hoping to use Everest to raise awareness for their charities this year, but the Chinese have made that very difficult as well. It's not too late to help them out however, and every little bit counts.

I imagine we'll see quite a few new dispatches today, including some from climbers like Alan who we haven't heard from in a few weeks. I'd guess that there are many who are eager to tell their tales of this strange year on Everest, but the real story probably won't come out for weeks yet.

Hold on to your hats everyone. I think we're in for a very busy week ahead, as these climbers are finally let off the leash and allowed to do what they came to Everest to do. Good luck everyone! Climb safe!

Everest 2008: Torch On Top!

2008-05-07T21:07:00.003-05:00

All the speculation and waiting is over. According to this article from Reuters, the Chinese summit team have topped out on Everest, and the Olympic Torch has shown it's light at the top of the world. According to the article, the summit team consisted of 31 people, including 22 Tibetans, 8 Han Chinese, and 1 from the Tujia minority.

The story confirms what we heard earlier. Heavy snows and high winds delayed earlier attempts, and damaged routes to the top over this past weekend. The team had to spend time repairing the route before they went up today. Technically, the Torch reached the summit on Thursday local time.

Having reached the top at long last, I think we could all hear a collective sigh of relief coming from the South Side where the other teams waited for their opportunity to climb the mountain. We'll have to wait and see if the ban on teams going past C2 will be lifted tomorrow, a couple of days ahead of the May 10th deadline. Hopefully it'll also open communications from Base Camp where we can finally get more news and information from teams waiting there.

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if the ban stays in effect until May 10th as scheduled. I'm guessing that there are some members of the Chinese Team that didn't have the opportunity to go up to the summit today, and over the next few days they'll have their chance to top out as well before the floodgates open on the South, and the teams there begin their assault.

I'll post more on the Chinese climb as it becomes known.

The Rest of Everest: Episode 81

2008-05-07T16:11:00.004-05:00

This week's episode of The Rest of Everest is a return to the normal format following last week's special episode that announced the Everest 2009 Base Camp Trek. In Episode 81: Shegar (New Tingri) we rejoin Jon and Scott as they continue the Tibetan leg of their Himalayan journey.

This week the guys get more off the beaten path as they travel to the small town of Tingri. A quick shot of Jon's altimeter watch shows us that we're now close to 17,000 feet and continuing upward. The scenes along the road are of wide open spaces along the Tibetan Plateau, with stunning mountains off in the distance.

Upon reaching Shegar, we once again get an interesting glimpse into the daily lives of Tibetans, and what it's like to live in one of these small villages. Jon takes us inside his hotel room, which is a typical teahouse room, small, and quaint. The scenes on the street continue to intrigue me, as one of the things I love about travel is seeing what life is like away from the typical tourist centers where you can truly experience a new culture.

Each episode is bringing us closer to Everest Base Camp, and in a few weeks time, we'll get to experience that along with Jon and Scott. Of course, this is a journey that you should follow from the beginning, so if you're new to The Rest of Everest, go ahead and subscribe to the show in iTunes. You'll be happy you did, and you'll appreciate these later episodes that much more.

Annapurna IV Expedition Update: Ascent Begins Tomorrow!

2008-05-07T15:44:00.002-05:00

Annapurna isn't the only mountain by that name that could see a summit bid in the days ahead. The latest dispatches from the Annapurna IV Team reveals that they hope to begin their ascent tomorrow, May 8th. The plan is to go light, and fast, alpine style to the summit, and hopefully reach the top in as little as 4 days.

Of course, in the case of this expedition, reaching the top is just part of the story. Once they stand on the 24.688' summit, they'll stop, take some photos, admire the view, and pat each other on the back for a job well done, just like on any other mountaineering team. Then they'll strap their skis to their feet, drop off the summit and face 9000 feet of vertical fun as they make the first ski descent of the mountain.

The team consists of Ben Clark (of The Rest of Everest fame), Josh Butson, and Tim Clarke. Each of them are experienced climbers with considerable time on big mountains, and obviously great skiers as well, as this is not the kind of hill you want to learn on. The trio has spent their time in BC preparing their gear, watching the snowfall, and climbing near by peaks to acclimatize and enjoy the skiing. After all, how often can you go skiing in the Himalaya right?

The Annapurna IV website has been an excellent resource for following the team's journey. The regular dispatches have painted an excellent picture or what the expedition has been like since hitting the ground in Kathmandu, and there have been some cool photos and one or two excellent audio dispatches as well.

With any luck, we'll have word on a successful weekend summit from this team too. Good luck guys! Climb safe and enjoy the ride down! :)

Himalaya Update: Go Time On Annapurna!

2008-05-07T15:21:00.003-05:00

While everyone waits and watches Everest, hoping to hear word of a successful summit with the (preferably lit) Olympic Torch, activity on the other Himalayan peaks continues oblivious to what the Chinese are doing. ExWeb provides us with an update from around the region.

Probably the biggest news is that it looks like summit bids are currently underway on Annapurna. Inaki Ochoa and Horia Colibasanu are making their push, and reached C2 today amidst heavy snowfall. They plan to continue upwards tomorrow and hope to reach C3. On Friday they'll continue to climb up onto the summit ridge, where they'll camp overnight, and hopefully top out on Friday.

On Makalu the teams are simply waiting for the next weather window for an opportunity to begin their own assault on the summit. The mountain has seen heavy snow in recent days as well, with some climbers finding their high camps buried under the white stuff. There are still areas above C4 that need to have fixed ropes set down, but a Korean team is said to be moving up to do just that. From there, the teams will work together to blaze a path to the summit. The next weather window may not open until the weekend however, so we could see a number of summits on both Makalu and Annapurna on Saturday and Sunday.

Of course Saturday is also the 10th of May, which is the deadline for the Chinese Everest team, so it's certainly going to be an interesting weekend for a lot of different reasons.

Everest 2008: Torch At Camp 5

2008-05-07T10:24:00.003-05:00

ESPN.com has a story on the Olympic Torch on Everest today with an update on what is happening on the North Side, as we all wait patiently for news of a successful summit.

According to the article, the team, along with the Torch, are at 25,5j60 feet, which would be the traditional place for Camp 5 on the North Side, and would fall just a few hundred feet below the "Death Zone". Apparently heavy winds and snow destroyed the high camp last week, and it had to be rebuilt and restocked before the team could finish their final preparations for the summit bids.

Of the 36 team members, 24 are Tibetan, and three are female. The team is led by Chinese mountaineer Wang Yongfeng, and the team spokesperson Zhang Zhijian says that if the weather holds "I think I will bring you good news as soon as possible."

If the team truly is in place at Camp 5, and the winds and weather cooperate, they still have a chance of beating the May 10th deadline. I know there are a lot of anxious climbers on the South Side who are waiting patiently for their crack at the mountain, and if May 10 comes and goes without a Chinese summit, things are going to get really interesting. Three days to go and counting...

Iran By Rail

2008-05-06T11:58:00.002-05:00

Over the past few months I've highlighted a number of articles on travel by rail through exotic locals throughout the world. Today we have another such article from The Guardian, which describes a trip through Iran by train.

The Iranian rail lines had an impressive era of expansion during the 1920's and 30's, during which time the trains spread out throughout the country. More recently, the train system has continued to modernize and grow, and later this year a new line will be completed from Kerman in the south-east to Quetta across the Pakistani border, linking up rail travel all the way from Europe to India.

Soon, it will be possible to take an epic train journey that includes this scenic and culturally unique area of Iran, which is a country that is not high on the list of places to visit by most westerners. However, politics aside, the country has a rich and diverse history, and a culture that spans back for millennia. Exploring it by train seems like an excellent way to see the countryside and interact with it's people. From the sound of things in the article, the journey harkens back to a day when train travel was the norm, and travelers enjoyed the slow, but scenic approach to reaching their destination. After all, isn't that the point? Enjoying the journey as much as the destination itself?

Top 10 Mountaineering Books

2008-05-06T11:25:00.003-05:00

The Guardianhad mountaineer Andy Cave compile is list of his Top 10 books on Alpinism. Cave, who is an author himself, defines what makes a great mountaineering book by saying that they should have "genuinely pushed the boundaries of what is possible." and those books should also "inspire us to seek new challenges in our own lives."

The books on his list meet those criteria quite nicely. The list if full of classics of the genre, from top to bottom, such as No Picnic On Mt. Kenya by Felice Benuzzi, which clocks in at number 10 on the list. John Krakauer's classic Into Thin Air shows up at number 8, and Bonatti's The Mountains of My Life is number 4 on Cave's list.

Overall, this is an excellent list, and if you're looking for some summer reading, you could do worse than starting here. The number one book was a bit predictable, but it's also very deserving. I wont spoil the top spot, but I'm sure that many of you can guess what it is. Especially since The Guardian is a British newspaper. Each of these books deserves a spot in your alpinism library, so hit up Amazon and fill in anything you've got missing.

Thanks to Outdoor Ed for this one.

Everest and Himalaya Update: Everest An Armed Camp

2008-05-05T10:55:00.002-05:00

ExWeb has an update of all the happenings in the HImalaya over the past few days, including news of a summit on Makalu.

First, we'll start on Everest however, as that's where most of the attention is now while we wait for the Chinese to summit with the Torch. ExWeb says that the South Side Teams are either in BC or scattered throughout the villages in the Khumbu Valley, while they wait for news. The earliest opportunity the Torch Team has will be tomorrow, but at this point we don't even know if there is even a team in position to go to the summit at the moment.

The reports also say that the mountain and Khumbu Valley, are crawling with soldiers and checkpoints to make sure that no one is attempting to communicate without authorization. Cameras and video equipment remain off limits, as do flags and banners that mention Tibet as well. The mood is said to be disgruntled, as the teams wait their opportunity. On the South Side, the weather has been good, and there are fears that when it becomes their turn, they may not have the same opportunities that they currently do.

Either way, the speculation is that the Nepal side of the mountain may remain closed until May 10th, even if the Chinese do summit tomorrow. You can bet, however, that when the word is given that it's time to go, there are going to be an awful lot of climbers scrambling up the mountain. Lets just hope that doesn't cause any unforeseen issues as well.

Moving away from the big hill, and over to Makalu, this past weekend British Airman Jonathon Percival, along with his Sherpa guide Dawa, reached the summit of the mountain. They are on their way down now, and are expected back in BC soon. Other summits are expected in the next few days as climbers such as Denis Urubko, are in BC resting before making their final bid. Denis and his climbing partner Boris have already been as high as 7500m, and are now feeling ready for the final push.

Sad news on Dhaulagiri over the weekend, as the news that Spanish climber Rafael Guillén has fallen to his death. It seems that Rafael had turned back on a summit bid last week, but his partner Jesús Morales continued to the top. On his way down, Jesús experienced the symptoms of frostbite, so Rafael decided to climb up to assist him, only to have an accident in the process. My condolences to Rafael's friends, family, and teammates.

On Annapuran, the third push for the summit has begun for the Russians. Inaki and Horia are back in BC resting before making their next climb up the mountain, but snow has hit the area, which is making things a bit treacherous at the moment. They hope a weather window will open in the next few days, and they'll finally be able to make their summit bid.

Finally, for a little taste of what it's like on the summit of Dhaulagiri, check out this video below. It's from Spanish climber Carlos Pauner, so much of it is in Spanish, but you can still appreciate the conditions, even if you don't speak the language.

Everest 2008: China Refutes Summit Claims

2008-05-04T08:20:00.003-05:00

Earlier this week I reported on a story that I picked up from the Everest Is Ours Blog, which has since gone on hiatus it seems, who in turn grabbed it from the Peak Freaks Everest Dispatches. The story speculated that the Chinese may have reached the summit of Everest with the Olympic Torch, but that they couldn't keep the flame lit due to the high winds that have been plaguing the area.

Yesterday, Everest News is reporting that the Chinese deny the story, and in fact may be a bit upset with the Peak Freaks team over the entire story. Everest News says that their "sources" tell them that the Torch Team never went to the summit at all, and that they climbers were still fixing ropes on the upper portions of the mountain.

The Adventurist has weighed in on the subject with a very well written editorial on the whole affair. He not only reviews the whole situation, he speculates on what is to come, with some indications that the Chinese could take retribution on Peak Freaks, and possibly all the South Side climbers. The story is a good one, and I highly recommend you read it.

At this point, the May 10th deadline is clearly looming. Reports have the route to the summit finally prepared, but high winds, and bad weather over the next few days could prevent a summit bid until mid-week or so. If that's true, the Chinese team will have just a few days to successfully reach the top, Torch in hand, or the deadline will pass, and there will be an even bigger fiasco on their hands.

As I've said before, I'm looking forward to the communcations ban being lifted. We probably won't hear the full story until much later however, after everything is finalized, and the climbers have returned home. I'm sure there is a lot of stuff going on in Base Camp that we're not aware of, and eventually it'll all come out.

Paddling Afghanistan

2008-05-02T15:17:00.003-05:00

Here's a really cool article over at CanoeKayak.com the home of Canoe & Kayak Magazine on the web. It's the story of Jason Straziuso and his fiancé Katie, who decided to canoe two remote rivers in Afghanistan.

Jason happens to be an Associated Press reporter who works in the war torn country, and Katie came to join him on his adventure. The pair took along a 15-foot Pakboat canoe, which has the ability to break down, and be stored, in a canvas sack for easy transport. When you reach your destination, you re-assemble the boat, and off you go. Perfect for exploring this rugged and remote region that likely hadn't seen a canoe in decades, if ever at all.

While on their adventure, they find themselves the center of attention by curios villagers, towering statues of Buddha, and ancient tea houses. Their canoe expedition is as much of a cultural endeavor as an adventurous one, but they see parts of afghanistan that few westerners ever venture into, and have the chance to explore a couple of rivers that may not be paddled again for years.

Afghanistan has the potential to be one of the really big adventure centers of the world. There are amazingly remote areas with stunning mountains, impressive Class V rapids, and regions that have not been explored by westerners in centuries. Places like the Wakhan Corridor that were, until recently, last visited by non-Afghanis around the time of Marco Polo. Sadly, the country has been in a nearly constant state of war for decades, and it doesn't look like that is going to end any time soon. It's not safe to travel in many areas of the country, and while it has opened up to some adventure travel, it's far from reaching it's potential as an adventure destination. Perhaps the future will allow more of us to venture to this amazing place and take it in for ourselves.

Ueli and Simon's Tengkangpoche Photos!

2008-05-02T15:04:00.004-05:00

The Hardwear Sessions Blog has posted a link to Ueli Steck and Simon Anthamatten's photos from their recent climb on Tengkangpoche, a 6500m peak in the Khumbu Valley of Nepal.

Ueli and Simon used the ascent of Tengkangpoche's North Face as an acclimatization climb before heading to Annapurna, where they should currently be starting work. You can check out their Flickr gallery by clicking here, where you'll get a good idea of what the mountain was like. There are some very cool shots. Enjoy!

Himalaya Update: More Dhaulagiri Summits, Progress on Annapurna

2008-05-02T14:08:00.003-05:00

ExWeb has their usual well rounded update on what's happening around the Himalaya today, starting with a recap on the Dhaulagiri summits from yesterday.

As suspected, Gerlinde Kalenbrunner did indeed claim her 11th 8000m peak yesterday, putting her currently in the lead for the race to be the the first woman to claim all 14 mountains. She now has Everest, Lhotse, and the dreaded K2 yet to summit. They also report that Valery Babanov and Nickolay Totmjanin reached the summit yesterday as well, via the North East Ridge. More details on that climb are expected soon.

On Makalu, Denis Urubko and his team are believed to be ready for their summit push, as they have now climbed as high as 6700m and returned to BC. With acclimatization out of the way, they're expected to go back up the mountain, with a summit bid coming as early as Monday.

The news out Annapurna BC is that Camp 4 has now been established at 6800m, with teams at a variety of locations on the mountain. Many are in BC, resting before going back up, but Inaki Ochoa and Horia Colibasanu are at C3 with a possible summit attempt coming soon. But Piotr Morawski reports that the Polish team was turned back just 150m below the summit due to gale force winds. They had spent 12 hours climbing it what has been described as tough conditions before descending the mountain. Everyone waits for the weather window at this point.

Finally, Maxut reports in from Manaslu that conditions have been challenging there as well. Several teams intended to climb up to C3 as part of their acclimatization process, but turned back thanks to poor conditions. There is reportedly quite a bit of snow and challenging technical ice above C2, which is making it very tough going for everyone involved.

NG Adventure Blog Interviews Everest Deportee

2008-05-02T13:32:00.001-05:00

National Geographic's Adventure Blog has scored the first interview with William Brant Holland, the man banished from Everest a few weeks back, and we finally get a bit of clarity on what went down at Base Camp.

Holland says that he had been in Nepal for about a month, after cycling around the U.S. and Asia, and then trekked up to BC as part of the Asia Trekking team, whose permit is was climbing on, but he was doing the climb on a mostly independent basis. While in Kathmandu, he purchased a small, 2'x2' "Free Tibet" banner, and carried it with him to Everest, where he showed it to Willie Benegas,a guide for Mountain Madness, someone that Holland had met while climbing in the past.

Upon seeing the banner, Benegas advised him that it could bring a lot of trouble, and asked Holland if he had read the permit that he was climbing under. Obviously he hadn't, and he claims to have had no idea that he wasn't suppose to be carrying any kind of flags or banners that mentioned Tibet. Benegas advised him to "get rid of it, burn it, throw it in crevasse", but instead Holland gave it to Sherpa Lapka, who then gave the flag to Holland's climbing leader, who in turn passed it on to the authorities. From there, it was all a blur. They yanked him off the mountain and sent him home as soon as they could.

For Holland, it was the end of his attempt on Everest, which he says he spent upwards of $40k preparing for. It would have potentially been his sixth of the seven summits (leaving Vinson for last), but instead it was deportation, becoming the talk of the mountaineering community, and one pricey lesson.

The interview is the first chance we've had to hear the whole story directly from Holland, although rumors have been circulating about the events that led to his dismissal for some time. While this does clarify things, and I do have a bit more sympathy for him now, I still find it quite hard to believe that he had no idea that "Free Tibet" or other anti-China signs/flags were barred from the mountain. Perhaps it was an epic case of miscommunication, and it's too bad that it came down to that. Perhaps they'll allow him to come back and finish up his climb in the future, but for now, he's back in the U.S. and his wallet is a lot lighter.

Annapurna IV Expedition Update: Base Camp at 15,500 feet!

2008-05-01T15:22:00.003-05:00

Last week I posted on the Annapurna IV Expedition in which climbers Ben Clark, Josh Butson, and TIm Clarke hope to scale Annapuran IV, a 24,688 foot peak in the Annapurna Sanctuary of Nepal. Not content to just stand on the summit however, they will then attempt the first ski descent of the mountain, which involves roughly 9000 feet of vert.

Today I have a few updates from the team, as they have arrived in base camp at 15,500 feet, where they have promptly begun to make friends with their neighbors. Thus far it has been a bit wet in the region, with thunderstorms keeping things interesting the past few days. The team was able to find a dry spot to set up camp however, despite the aforementioned neighbors setting up a shower tent in close proximity.

Despite the weather however, preparations continue. Josh reports that they've been scouting the route while hiking up and down the moraine, and waiting for their chance to start to climb higher. They've been occupying their time by sorting their gear, resting and acclimatizing, but expect to being the actual climb in the next few days.

In the meantime, the guys want to hear from you. They have decent internet access despite their remote location and plenty of technology with them, so if you have a question about their expedition, would like to know more, or just want to wish them well, drop them a note at clark@explorersweb.com.

I'll post more updates as they become available and the team starts their ascent.

Traveler's Tours of A Lifetime

2008-05-01T14:59:00.002-05:00

It must be getting close to travel season here in the United States, and the Northern Hemisphere in general. We've had a number of travel lists lately, each with some great suggestions for your next adventure, great or small.

Now it's National Geographic Traveler's turn to weigh in, as the bring us their 50 Tours of a Lifetime for 2008. It's the third year that they've compiled such a list, and each year seems to bring new and interesting places to go along with some of the all time iconic trips as well.

As usual, the list is broken down nicely by country, so it's quite easy to find their recommendation for a place you might be interested in. From there they provide a trip name and link to a guide service or travel company that can deliver one of these tours of a lifetime for you. For instance, say you wanted to visit Russia and Mongolia. You'd simply go to the Dragoman website and look for the Russia and Mongolia Overland trip, which is the one Traveler recommends. Or, if you were looking for something a bit more tropical, perhaps Palau: Ocean Odyssey from Boundless Journeys is more to your liking.

The list is, of course, quite extensive, and offers everything from luxury travel to adventures to remote regions. There is a little for everyone on this list, and if you can't find something to entice you, you're either a homebody or don't have a pulse.

Everest 2008: Torch Reaches Top, Flame Stays In BC!

2008-05-01T14:10:00.004-05:00

In today's episode of "As Everest Turns", we get more interesting news and speculation from the mountain. And I thought last year's season of Everest: Beyond The Limit was a soap opera...

It was is probably the most interesting news of the day, The Peak Freaks are reporting that the Olympic Torch did indeed reach the summit yesterday, but the damn thing wouldn't stay lit in high winds. So, while the Torch was there, the flame remained safely in Base Camp. It probably doesn't want to be there any more than the foreign journalists, who are reported to be cold, sick, and uncomfortable. Perhaps the flame is staging it's own "Free Tibet" protest.

Anyway, the story from the Peak Freaks dispatch is that yesterday a plane was circling the summit and it was believed that the plane was attempting to film the team on top with the torch in hand, but the high winds we reported on yesterday didn't allow for it to blaze brightly as the Chinese would have wanted. So for now, the climbing ban on the South Side remains intact, and teams there will wait for their opportunity. If forecasts hold true, the next attempt could come this Saturday.

Peak Freaks are also reporting that a Chinese official appeared via helicopter in the South BC a few days back as well. The word is that he was there to insist a complete shutdown of the mountain between May 1st (today) and May 10th. The Nepali Major in charge at BC reportedly tried to negotiate on behalf of the climbers, but to no avail. So for the next ten days, each team is allowed only two Sherpas at C2 and they can only remain there for two days before they must rotate with another pair. (For what reason, I'm not sure). It's also reported that anyone in BC who is not on a climbing permit has to leave until at least May 3rd. This means any trekkers in the region, but also some team leaders, who are not there to climb, but to handle logistics, and don't put their name on the climbing permit so that they don't take up a slot.

More craziness. A part of me wants to see the Chinese struggle until after May 10th, just to have this whole thing blow up in their face even more, as the fiasco that is the 2008 Everest Season would then be complete. But then again, another part of me wants to see every climber on the South Side get a fair shake at the summit. For them, the best thing would be for the Chinese to reach the top, smile for the camera, film the event, pat themselves on the back and parade around for the Wold, then get the hell out of everyone else's way.

The next week or so is going to be very interesting. Thanks to Everest Is Ours for the tips.

Himalaya Update: Dhaulagiri Summits Amidst Storms!

2008-05-01T13:55:00.003-05:00

Both MountEverest.net and The Adventurist are reporting on a rash of successful summits today on Dhaulagiri, despite stormy conditions on the mountain. Teams are reporting that it has been very windy and cold near the summit, and late today a lightning storm moved into the area, which I'm sure had to make for a harrowing climb to the top.

ExWeb says they're unsure of who has summitted thus far, but The Adventurist is reporting that the following climbers have confirmed to have topped out:

Ivan Vallejo (Ecuador)
Ferran Latorre (Spain)
Nacho Orviz (Spain)
Edurne Pasaban
Asier Izaguirre
Alex Txicon
Muptu Sherpa
Carlos Pauner
Marta Alejandre
Kinga Baranowska

Of particular interest on this list is that Edurne Pasaban has topped out, earning her 10th 8000m peak. She, Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, and Nives Meroi are in a mortal struggle to be the first woman to top out on all 14 of the 8-thousanders. The bad news for Edurne is that Gerlinde is also on Dhaulagiri, and may have reached the top today as well. It would be her 11th 8000m peak, but we're still waiting on confirmation on that.

I'm sure we'll get a complete list of summitteers soon, and a few stories of what it's like at the top with lightning crashing around you. For now, lets hope everyone gets down safe, and congrats to everyone who stood on top.

Everest Trek and Workshop in 2009 with The Rest of Everest!!

2008-04-30T15:05:00.003-05:00

This weeks episode of The Rest of Everest is a break from the recent video tour of Tibet that we've all been enjoying in favor of an audio only episode that contains a very special announcement for all of us fans of the show.

Jon Miller, the producer of The Rest of Everest, and his good friend Chris Marquardt of the Tips From The Top Floor podcast, have joined forces to announce a Everest Trek and photography/videography workshop for 2009. Chris specializes in photography and Jon obviously has his roots in videography, and the two have put together their considerable talents to to offer the rest of us an adventure of a lifetime. Next Spring, a group of fortunate individuals will get to go on an adventure that will lead them to Everest Base Camp on the South Side, while these two talented men show them how to use their video and digital cameras along the way.

They have already set up a great website at EverestTrek2009.com that can provide some preliminary information, as much of it is still in flux, with details falling into line over the course of the months ahead. You will find brief bios of both Chris and Jon, information on Nepal, an overview of The Trek, and an earlyFAQ with some good info.

I'm sure we'll be hearing more about this in the weeks ahead, and I know I can't wait to learn more. I'd love to join the trek, and could certainly use some tips on how to use my DSLR and new video camera as well. I can't think of two guys I'd rather learn from. Where do I sign up?!?!

Everest and Himalaya Update: Dhaulagiri Summit Bids!

2008-04-30T14:41:00.003-05:00

We're getting various reports from around the Interwebs today on events taking place on Everest and in the Himalaya as a whole. Early word is that the Chinese team left BC for the summit, but may have called off their summit attempt, but first news from Dhaulagiri.

ExWeb is reporting that conditions on Dhaulagiri are good and that more than 25 climbers are approaching C3 today as they move into position to make a mass attempt on the summit by the end of the week. Camp 3 is just 850m from the summit, but not all the lines above that point are fixed yet, so there is still some work to be done.

Over on Annapurna they're playing the waiting game as Inaki Ochoa has posted in his latest dispatches. The weather has not been favorable in the past few days, but everyone is hopeful that things will changes soon. Inaki's team is climbing the massive South Face, which he claims to have found a safe route up.

The big news of the day is the continuing reports on what's happening on Everest. Yesterday I reported that Everest News had spread the word that the Chinese summit push had begun and that they may already have been high on the mountain. But today they are saying that they have only just left Base Camp, which would put the summit a few days off yet at best, but on the schedule of May 3rd, which has been forecasted to be the start of a weather window.

However, the ExWeb article indicates that Reuters journalist Nick Mulvenney has indicated to them that the summit bid has been postponed due to high winds and that "It's certainly not possible in the next three days because there is wind above 30 m/s (108 km/h) ". If true, that means they won't start up the mountain until after May 2nd, making a May 3rd summit out of the question. Furthermore, if there are any delays beyond that, the May 10th deadline begins to look less and less likely of being reached as well. The Adventurist put it best when he said: "May 10th lingers on the horizon".

May 10th doesn't indeed begin to loom large. There is no reason to panic just yet, as it is still ten days away, and a lot can happen in that time. But if the May 3rd and 6th weather windows fail to materialize, than things are going to get really hairy. South Side climbers try to wait (not-so?) patiently for their turn, but how long can they be expected to bide their time? This whole thing is a fiasco waiting to happen, just so the Chinese can get some P.R. from standing on top of Everest with and overblown Bic lighter.

Stay tuned!

National Park Adventures

2008-04-30T14:28:00.003-05:00

Outside Online has another cool article up today with a list of nine adventures in U.S. National Parks. The parks that are mentioned are amongst the most iconic, and each is highlighted with some great daytime adventures, followed with suggestions for great places to stay at night for those that would rather not pitch a tent.

For example, one of the parks listed is Acadia where they recommend that you hit the trail on a mountain bike where you can take in amazing ocean views while rolling along the 11-mile "Around Mountain" Loop. When you're done peddling for the day, Peregrine Lodge and eat at a restaurant called Havana where you'll be treated to fine dining and excellent wines.

Heading to the Grand Tetons or Yellowstone instead? Then be sure to check out the custom llama packing trips (I can't make this stuff up folks!) that will have you hiking up Big Horn Peak. Later you can can stay in one of the recommended inns and dine on gourmet food that is unique to each area.

They also offer up suggestions for Canyonlands, Mesa Verde, Everglades and more. So before planning your Summer vacation, be sure to read the article over. It may suggest some great places to stay and eat while you enjoy your outdoor adventure in one of these stunning parks.

There and Back Again!

2008-04-29T15:27:00.000-05:00

John Wilton-Davies has announced his intentions to go solo, and unsupported, to the South Pole later this year. Of course there always a number of explorers each year that make that expedition, and a few even go solo and unsupported as well. However, once John reaches the South Pole, he's only halfway to his destination!

That's right, he's not only going to the Pole, but he'll also turn around and return to Hercules Inlet where he began. Solo and unsupported the whole way. It what is being called the Last Great Challenge, John hopes to become the first man to ever accomplish this amazing feat. He predicts that it will take approximately 77 days to make the historic round trip journey on skis, pulling his sledge behind him.

On his website you'll find more information about the Last Great Challenge, including a bio of John, a list of Frequently Asked Questions, a general overview of the expedition, a photo gallery, and much much more.

Of course, my personal favorite section is his gear list which has a complete run down of all the equipment he plans on taking with him. When looking this over, keep in mind that he'll be pulling it all behind him on a sledge that will be 2 1/2 times his own body weight. He'll also need to average roughly 20 miles per day, through some of the most in hospitable terrain on the planet, in order to stick to his schedule. Piece of cake!

You may remember John from his solo and unsupported 2006 expedition to the South Pole. Back then he reached 88.5º S before running out supplies and time. He truly gave it everything he could, and came up just a bit short, but clearly he learned a lot, and feels he has unfinished business at the bottom of the world, and he's going back with a vengeance.

Good luck John! We'll be following your adventure and rooting for you come November.