Primal Quest Updates

While we still wait for an announcement on the location for the 2008 Primal Quest, they have made some updates to their website over the past week that will be of interest to fans of adventure racing and Primal Quest in general.

First off, the PQ Store has opened with an assortment of PQ items for purchase. You'll find books and DVD's, cool PQ apparel from Rail Riders, and even some PQ stickers and temporary tattoos. Soon they'll be adding Buffs, water bottles, hats, and other cool gear as well.

Next up, they've posted a cool "Blast From The Past" video with the opening and closing ceremony videos from the 2006 Primal Quest. In total, there are four videos, and they do a fine job of reminding us all what an amazing event PQ is and why it's a race that all fans of adventure racing should be excited to see return. You can view all four videos here.

Finally, the first Competitor Newsletter has been released on the Team Resources page. The PDF document contains a letter from from the "Competitor Relations" team, a preliminary schedule of events, team captain responsibilities, and much much more. I'm sure these newsletters will continue to have more specific details as we get closer to the race, which is still 265 days away as of this writing.

Alan Arnette Continues on Shisha Pangma

While I was away for a week, Alan Arnette continued his climb of Shisha Pangma, and released a number of dispatches from the mountain.

At this point in the climb, the team is in ABC, and waiting for a weather window to open to give them an opportunity to make their summit bid. Alan reports that the upper portions of the mountain are very snowy and dangerous at the moment. They're hoping that conditions will change in the days ahead, and the long term weather reports say that things should improve, but for now, it's a waiting game.

Alan and the team have completed their acclimatization climbs and have gone above 7000m. He reports that he is feeling great, climbing strong, and is ready to go up. Hopefully the weather will cooperate soon.

Good news came in today's dispatch. You'll recall that Alan is climbing to raise money and awareness for the Cure Alzheimer's Fund and today he reports that there has been a record number of donations over the past week, something that Alan is very thankful for. Mixed in that great news however, is the reports of yet more snow on Shisha, convincing some of the teams to call it quits for the season. The upper portions of the mountain are still dangerous thanks to the heavy, deep snow, and windy conditions. The team has been in ABC for a week, and for now, the wait will continue.

The Gear Junkie Wants To Give Us Gear!

In celebration of the first anniversary of the launching of his site, The Gear Junkie has launched a new weekly gear give away contest. You can sign up for it on the Gear Giveaway page and winners will be selected randomly each week.

Amongst the very cool gear that will be given away will be:

-Jetboil PCS Camp Stove
-GoPro Digital HERO 3
-Ahnu Footwear's SoMa travel shoe
-Kelty Lightyear 15 Sleeping Bag
-Gregory Z22 backpack
-Osprey Talon 11 pack
-OR Furio shell jacket
-Sole footbeds
. . . and more.

You only have to enter once, and you'll automatically be entered for each week. I'm hoping for that Jetboil system and one of those packs, but honestly, everything on the list looks like great stuff.

The Rest of Everest: Episode 61

I'm back from my week long vacation to the Ozarks, and have plenty of things to catch up on, but first things first. While I was away, Episode 61 of The Rest of Everest was released, and while I always look forward to new episodes, this one was extra special, and not just because Jon is once again joined by team leader Ben Clark.

The title for the episode says it all: The End of the Expedition. The climb is over, base camp has been packed-up, and the boys have returned to Kathmandu, where they are invited to join the 50th Anniversary celebration for the first ascent of Everest. While posing as members of the press, Jon and Ben score some great footage of the celebration, including some great shots of Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man, along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, to stand on the summit of Everest. As the celebration continues, you'll see some of the traditional dances and hear some of the music from the region. You'll also see more celebrities, such as the son of Tenzing Norgay and Reinhold Messner, who Ben calls the greatest climber to ever live.

The episode begins to wrap up with some final shots of Ben and Jon with some of their friends before departing from home. Jon promises a DVD is in the works for Everest: The Other Side the film that the podcast is based on, and that while this 2003 expedition is over, The Rest of Everest will continue, with new episodes based on other mountaineering projects, both to Everest and other mountains as well.

Along those lines, Ben announced that he's off to China, to continue the exploration of the area that he was climbing in earlier this year. He's also taking an HD camera along to get some great footage to share with us.

Jon made a few announcements of his own. First, he's taking a break from the podcast for a few weeks to regroup and recharge the batteries. He promises that it'll be a short break, and that we'll get new episodes again soon. The other announcement, which is even bigger, is that Jon and his wife Heidi are expecting their first child, and their son Sam will join the Rest of Everest family in just a few months time. Congratulations to Jon and Heidi on this awesome news, and congratulations on closing one chapter of The Rest of Everest, and opening another one. I can't wait to see what you have in store for us my friend.

Off To The Ozarks!

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I'm leaving for Arkansas tomorrow and won't return until next Saturday, which could possibly mean few or no posts over that period of time. I will be taking my laptop along for the ride, but I'm not sure what type of Internet access I'll have.

While I will be staying smack dab in the middle of the Ozarks, it'll be at a nice resort and hanging out with some old friends. I intended to get out on some trails, and hopefully get some good photos, but at the end of the day, I'll be returning to a nice cushy condo that hopefully will have WiFi. We shall see.

Back soon!

Into The Wild Reviews

I had intended to track down a few reviews for Into The Wild today, since the movie is now in limited release in New York and L.A. Fortunately for me, Tom over at Two-Heel Drive has already done it for me.

You'll find all kinds of reviews listed in this post from sources like Entertainment Weekly who gave the movie an "A-" rating, and to Rolling Stone who deemed it worthy of 3 1/2 out of 4 stars.

The film is mostly getting very positive reviews and there are enough of them listed here for you to get a good sense of the film. It shouldn't come as any shock that Penn has crafted a finely made film, as he is very talented, and has spoken out about how much Chris McCandless' story has touched him.

Anyone in New York or L.A. lucky enough to catch this, pass on your thoughts. The rest of us will have to wait for it's wider release coming October 5th.

Children of "The Belay"

The Adventurist pointed out this story over at MSNBC today. It's an article written by Karen Molenaar Terrell, the daughter of Dee Molenaar, one of the climbers on the famed 1953 American expedition to K2.

As you'll recall, the all-American team consisted of Molenaar, Charles Houston, Robert Bates, Art Gilkey, George Bell, Bob Craig, Tony Streather, and of course Pete Schoening. At the time, K2 hadn't been climbed yet, but it was one of the trophies of mountaineering that everyone was gunning for. Fate would have it that this team would not be the one to reach the summit, due to a number of circumstance, including Gilkey contracting blood clots in his lungs. The team turned back, giving up on their summit bid, realizing that discretion was the better part of valor.

On the descent, one of the men slipped and fell, and since they were all roped in, he pulled five others with him down the mountain. What happened next has become the stuff of legend. Shoening was anchored in above his teammates, and quickly performed a rope belay, arresting their fall by securing the rope to an ice axe, and preventing the five men, including Karen's father, from plummeting to their deaths. That event became known as "The Belay" amongst mountaineers the World over.

Three years later, Karen was born. She wouldn't have existed at all were it not for Pete Shoening's quick thinking, and because of that, she says she has always been grateful to him. She wondered for the longest time if the other "Children of the Belay" (COBs) as the came to call themselves, felt the same way, and over the years the urge to meet the children of the other climbers grew.

Relationships began to be forged following meetings at a 2005 memorial service for Shoening, who passed away in 2004. Through e-mail and phone conversations and soon it became apparent that the others felt similarly, and soon a meeting was arranged with all of the COBs joining in. There were even "grand-COBs" in attendance, like one big extended family. And in the end, they all shared a common bond, forged by their fathers on K2.

The story is really a good one, and it's a nice read. Especially considering that earlier this week we received word that Bob Bates had also passed. I'm sure that at this time, Bates' family is finding some solace and comfort from the Children of the Belay.

If you want to know more about this 1953 expedition, I'd highly recommend K2: The Savage Mountain written by Bates and Houston, the two leaders of the climb.

Paddling The Amazon - ALL of It!

Making a 107 foot drop is so yesterday. After all, the guy only wen 107 feet! Today it's all about distance, not height, which is why the Expedition Amazonas Team has decided to paddle the length of the Amazon River, starting at it's source waters in Peru and ending at it's mouth as it empties out into the Atlantic Ocean in Brazil. Did I mention that they're going to do it unsupported?

The Team set off on their 7 month long journey to run the 4,350+ mile river by first climbing to the summit of Mt. Mismi, in Peru. The mountain is the source of the Amazon, and at 18,535 feet it can be quite a challenge with gear that includes 14 foot inflatable rafts. Once they reached the summit, they followed the water back down until they could find a suitable place to put in, and from there, it would be Class V rapids for miles and days ahead. Once the rapids subside, it'll be thousands of more miles of the big, wide, and powerful Amazon River, with an impenetrable jungle wall on it's banks.

Be sure to check out the expedition's website where you'll find profiles on the Team, the route they're taking, and the gear they use.

As of now, the expedition has been going for 3 days, so they have plenty of paddling to do just yet. It should be a fun expedition to follow.

Adventure On Mount Kenya

Mt. Kenya is often overshadowed by it's big brother, Kilimanjaro, which attracts many climbers each year, but at 17,058 feet, it is the second tallest mountain in Africa, and an iconic climb in it's own right. The mountain, like most, has a history, and plenty of tales to tell, not the least of which is detailed in this story over at National Geographic Adventure.

Back in 1943, a British POW camp was created in Kenya to house the many Italian soldiers who had been taken prisoner during the East African Campaign. Thousands of them were sent to Camp 354 to wait out the war, and while they were treated well, life in the camp was quite dull. After months in confinement, three of those Italians hatched a crazy plan. They would break out of the camp, trek to Mount Kenya, climb it, then return, sneaking back in. One of the men, Felice Benuzzi, had spotted the mountain from afar, and it recalled days of climbing in the Italian alps in his youth, before the War. He later recruited Giuàn Balleto, a doctor and climber himself, as well as Enzo Barsotti, who came along because he was "mad as a hatter".

The trio spent weeks planning. The made makeshift backpacks and crampons. They collected food, and even got their hands on a key to the gate, so they could make good their escape, all with their eyes on reaching the top of Mount Kenya. They knew that the nearest safe country for them was over 1000 miles away, in what is now called Mozambique, and reaching it would be nearly impossible. They were looking to escape alright. They were looking to escape boredom. As they knew that they would eventually have to return to Camp 354, but the risks would be worth it if they could just stand on top of that mountain.

The adventure that followed is detailed in Benuzzi's book No Picnic On Mount Kenya. A classic of 20th century mountain climbing literature. In the article I linked to above, author Matthew Power attempts to retrace their footsteps, and stand on the summit of Mount Kenya himself.

I always enjoy hearing about this story. Talk about someone who is compelled to climb a mountain. The three POW's were willing to risk their lives just escaping from the camp just to have the chance to risk them again on the mountain, fully knowing that when it was all said and done, they'd still have to go back to the camp. That's risking all for adventure. And I think it's an amazing story.

And if you would like to plan your own Mount Kenya adventure, be sure to check out their guide by clicking here.

Himalayan Update: Summits Bids On Manaslu and Cho Oyu

MountEverest.net brings us more news from the Himalaya this morning with reports that summit bids are about to get underway, as Fall officially arrives.

On Manaslu, the mixed Canadian/International Team have now gone up to 6900m, well past C2. They've been fixing ropes and acclimatizing as they go, but report that the weather has been unstable, with plenty of snowfall on the mountain in recent days. If everything goes as planned, and the weather cooperates, the team will begin their summit bid sometime in the next five days.

Edurne Pasaban has arrived at ABC and is making preparations for her third major summit of the year, and her tenth overall 8000m peak. She reports that while things are good in camp, she is feeling a bit tired and has had a rough go of it lately. I imagine three expeditions in one year will do that to you however. Hey Edurne! Once you get settled in, be sure to say hell to our friend Alan while you're in the neighborhood. ;)

Things are heating up on Cho Oyu as not only are the Singapore Girls making their summit bid, but they'll soon be joined by The Alpine Ascents Team who hope to set off by Sunday. Meanwhile, The Seven Summits Club reports that the weather is warm on the mountain, but unstable, with the climbers experiencing all kinds of weather throughout the day. They are currently en route from Base Camp to ABC.

Autumn In Arches National Park

Now that Fall is nearly upon us (Just one day left folks!), it's time for those of us who live in the warmer states to start thinking about heading back outside on a more regular basis. If you're looking for a little outdoor adventure as Autumn descends upon us, take a little advice from National Parks Traveler and head to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks for a less crowded and more temperate experiencing.

Their article has some great little tips about enjoying each park. Like getting out of your car in Arches, and actually out on a trail to truly enjoy the scenery. They offer several suggestions on the best hikes to take to experiencing some of the stunning scenery and vast vistas. And if Arches isn't enough for you, plan on heading to Canyonlands while you're in the neighborhood as well, as there is plenty to see and do in that park too, and even though the two area are quite close geographically, they are both unique enough to make it worth your while.

This article covers some of the best sites in both parks and should make you want to dig out those hiking boots, dust of the trekking poles, and don the backpack for a little adventure of your own. Go on! You know you want to!

Kayaker Sets New World Record Drop

Remember that dude that I posted on awhile back who dropped nearly 100 feet over Upper Johnson Falls in Canada? Well, don't look now, but we've found someone even crazier.

According to the article, that appears in The Denver Post, Kayaker Tyler Bradt dropped 107 feet over Alexandra Falls, located along the Hay River in Canada's Northwest Territories, and in the process setting a new World's record. His paddling partner, Rush Sturges, followed soon after, and actually added more drama to the whole affair when the water imploded his spray skirt, and pushed him out of his boat, and into a cave behind the waterfall. It took for attempts for him to actually swim out from under it.

In case you're wondering, that 107 foot drop is the equivalent of 10 1/2 stories. The office I work in is on the 9th floor of my building, and looking out of the window tells me that I don't want anything to do with a drop of that size. I think Runout, over at The GoBlog said it best when he labeled this a "Big balls and shit for brains" story. ;)

Landis Gets Two Year Ban

ESPN.com is reporting that disgraced Tour de France Champion Floyd Landis has received a two year ban from competitive cycling, according to a report from the Associated Press.

The ruling came today, nearly four months following the strange court case that had drama, intrigue, witnesses being threatened. The arbitrators in the case felt that there was enough evidence from Landis' test results to show that he used synthetic testosterone to win the 2006 Tour de France. Allegations that Landis has repeatedly denied.

The cyclist can appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and is likely to do so, but aside from that, his options are starting to run out. The ban is retroactive to Jan. 30th, 2007, meaning that Landis has already served several months of his suspension, no matter what the outcome of the appeal.

If the suspension holds, Landis will become the first winner of the Tour to ever have his title stripped from him. A dubious distinction to be sure. And while this is a dark day for the sport, there are likely to be many ahead, as this story seem to only be the tip of the iceberg.

Into The Wild With National Geographic Adventure

It's National Geographic Adventure's turn to take a look at the new Sean Penn film Into The Wild based on the classic book of the same name by Jon Krakauer. There has been a steady stream of publicity for the film in the outdoor and adventure magazines of late, and this is just the latest look at the film.

Adventure interviews Penn himself about why he wanted to make this film, and covers the long process of bringing the story of Chris McCandless to the big screen. A process that has taken 11 years, and has seen a number of incarnations. The article notes that Krakauer and McCandless' family decided that they would not share the rights to the story with any filmmaker unless all of them agreed it was the right person for the job. Obviously they all felt that Penn was the right man.

Into the Wild tells Chris' story as a wanderer who hitchhiked across the country, after giving up his money and most of his other material possession. Along the way, he met a number of unique and interesting characters who had an impact on his life. Eventually, the young man made his way to Alaska, where he intended to wander "into the wild" to live of the land and become more in touch with the World. He ended up dying, alone, in the wilderness. Later, his body was discovered, along with a diary that he kept, which formed the basis of Krakauer's book.

The film is set to be released tomorrow, Sept. 21st, but it seems to be in a very limited release. I do not see it scheduled to come to my city (Austin, TX) at the moment. I was hoping to get a chance to see the film soon, and post my thoughts on it, but I guess I'll just have to be patient. I will say that the IMDB post for the movie has about 230 votes right now, and it's averaging a score of 8.9, which is VERY HIGH for that site. So, if it is playing in your town this weekend, and you get a chance to see it, post your thoughts in the comments section. I'm eager to here what the general consensus is.

Update: Regular reader Azzfan from The Caffeinated Blog has posted a comment saying that she saw Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch (He's playing Chris McCandless) and Jon Krakauer on Oprah. Penn revealed that the movie would go into wide release on Oct. 5th.

Alan Arnette: Audio Dispatch From C1 On Shisha Pangma

Alan Arnette has released an audio dispatch this morning from Shisha Pangma, updating us on his progress. It seems that things are going according to schedule this week, as Tuesday the team arrived at the "Depot Camp" which is a place between ABC and C1 where teams can stop for a rest and stash supplies to be carried up the mountain later.

Yesterday, Alan and the rest of the climbers made their way up to Camp 1 where they'll spend the day today resting and acclimatizing. Tomorrow they'll climb even higher, before turning back to ABC for a rest before starting the process again to shuttle supplies up to Camp 2, and eventually higher.

Alan remarked that it was quite cold on the mountain last night, with sunset coming around 4:30 PM and temperatures dropping to -10 F during the night. This followed a hot day, exposed on the sun on the side of the mountain, and laboring hard to reach C1.

As you probably already know, Alan is on Shisha Pangma as a training climb for his return to Everest in the Spring. His goal is to raise $100,000 for the Cure Alzheimer's Fund. His written and audio dispatches can be found by clicking here and I would encourage everyone to sign up for e-mail alerts to his latest posts. It's been interesting to follow his climb so far, and it should continue to be fascinating as we follow Alan along his Road Back To Everest.

The Rest of Everest: Episode 60

To start our Thursday morning off right, we've got a new episode of The Rest of Everest. This one is entitled Packing Up & Shipping Out, and that title couldn't be more fitting.

The expedition is nearly over and it's time, at long last, to leave Everest Base Camp. Jon is once again joined by lead climber Ben Clark, as they look back on their final day on the mountain. The climb is over, but the work is not done, as the team has to pack up all their gear and prepare for their return to Kathmandu. The episode demonstrates another element of an Everest climb that you never see in any other films on the mountain. Generally, you see the climbers standing on the summit, and possibly returning to BC at the end to receive congratulations from the other climbers, and the show ends there, but the Rest of Everest really does show us the whole "expedition experience", as there is still a lot of tasks to be done, like taking down the tents, and packing away all the extra supplies and gear.

Jon and Ben talk about how, at this point, everyone was excited to leave base camp. After 2+ months on the mountain, and with the climb successful, and over, thoughts turn to home and reuniting with friends and family. It's hard to believe that we started with Episode 0, following these guys as they went to Walmart to buy the last of their supplies before heading out to Nepal. Now, we have one Episode left for the 2003 expedition, and everything has come full circle. Over the course of the podcast, I know that I've personally come to see elements of an Everest expedition that I never knew anything about and I've learned a lot about the climb along the way as well. I'll be sad to see this expedition come to an end, however, Jon assures us all that The Rest of Everest is not done, and that there will be plenty more to come in the future. So while this chapter closes, stay tuned for more.

And as a personal note, I'd like to thank Jon for taking us along on this expedition. You do an amazing job week in and week out, and I'm looking forward to seeing what you have in store for us next.

Kayaking Tasmania

Canoe & Kayak Magazine has an excellent article up about sea kayaking around Tasmania, a remote Australian state which happens to be an island unto itself.

National Geographic explorer Jon Bowermaster set off with British whitewater kayaker and videographer Alex Nicks, Keith Fialcowitz, a photographer from America, Canadian Travis Holmes and French/Tasmanian Lelia Meffre, both of whom are NOLS instructors, to explore the Tasmanian coastline. Their intention was to take their sea kayaks from the South West corner to it's most North Easterly point, covering half the islands coastline along the way.

The trip was part of Bowermaster's Oceans 8 expeditions, in which he sets out to explore various oceans around the World by sea kayak. In this case, it's the remote and mysterious sections of Tasmania, which is UNESCO World Heritage Site, with some dramatic, and stunning scenery, that changed quite a bit across their four week long journey.

The Oceans 8 project sounds like a pretty cool adventure in and of itself. One of these long distance kayak expeditions seem like they would be a lot of fun, and quite rewarding. There are fewer things more enjoyable than exploring a remote area by kayak. Perhaps on Jon's next expedition he could use a good blogger to come along or the ride. Er... paddle.

And Now Something From The "Toot My Own Horn" Department...

Wade over at Outdoorzy.com has posted his Top 10 Outdoor Blogs and look who made the list!

• The Piton - Keeping the industry honest
• Kent’s Bike Blog - Kent knows bikes
• The Jaw - Fun contests for all the girls and boys
• The Mountain World - The guy wrote a book about Longs Peak, nuff said
• Best Hike - The name says it all
• The Gear Junkie - We all secretly want to kill him and take his job
• The Adventure Blog - Everest news and cool links
• Two Heel Drive - Tom’s got the bay all wrapped up
• The Gadling - Travel Travel Travel
• Outdoorzy Blog - Well it’s my list, right

Wade posted his comments following each blog, and I have to say, I'm honored to be listed up there with such other great blogs. Thanks Wade! And yes, your blog does deserve to be on the list! :)

Oh, and if you haven't checked out Outdoorzy yet, you're missing out on a great, and growing, community of people who share a common love for everything outside. The forums are a great place to discuss all kinds of topics, and gear reviews and trip reports are also interesting, informative, and fun to read. Come on over and join us!

Video of "4WheelBob" on White Mountain

I'm sure by now most of you have heard about 4WheelBob, the man who summitted White Mountain in his wheel chair. It took him several days, and a ton of determination, but he finally topped out. His story has been well told at both The Best Hikes Blog and at Tom Mangan's Two-Heel Drive bog as well.

Rick McCharles over at Best Hike went along for the climb, and documented Bob's amazing feat. He has since edited together some of the video and posted it online for everyone to see. It makes the event even more inspiring, and I think we can all learn something from Bob. Great work Bob and Rick!

Enjoy the video!

Himalayan Update: Singapore Girls Begin Summit Bid!

MountEverest.net has all the latest news from the Himalaya, including reports on the NMA Awards from last weeks "Yak and Yeti" event, at which Meagan McGrath took home a Golden Ice Axe award for her efforts in helping to save Nepali climber Usha Bista last Spring when she fell ill, and was abandoned by her team, on Everest.

In other news, Sergey Kofanov and Valery Babanov have announced that they will be climbing the North Face of Jannu, a 7710m peak in the Sikkim region near Kangchenjunga. The mountain has a notoriously long, and challenging summit climb up a sheer faced pyramid on all sides. Both climbers are currently in Tibet, but will soon set out on a bus trip of several days length to arrive at their destination. The two men met with Elizabeth Hawley this week to discuss their climb, with Babanov declaring her "a very nice woman".

Notable women climbers in the region this Fall are also on the move, with Edurne Pasaban finally arriving in BC on Shisha Pangma, which will be her 10th 8000m summit should she top out. Arrival in Base Camp was a bit bittersweet though, as she received word that her only brother had just become a father for the first time, and Edurne wasn't home to greet her new nephew.

Over on Cho Oyu, meanwhile, The Singapore Girls have announced that they are a go for the summit, hoping to launch their bid tomorrow, and topping out on Sunday. They've had three days of rest in Nyalam, and are now back in ABC with an eye on the weather. Reports say that it should be calm, and stable for the next week, giving them a wide open window. At the moment, it's looking like they may be the first team to summit the mountain his fall, and giving me the opportunity to break out the sensationalist headline of "Women On Top!" Dare to dream! ;)

NG Hosts The Best Mountain Photos of 2007

NationalGeographic.com has posted the Best Mountain Photos of 2007 as selected last weeks at the Banff Mountain Centre, in Canada.

Overall, there were 18 photos selected, with National Geographic showing off 7 on their site. The ones that are already on display are each amazing in their own way. Great shots of mountain life, with vivid, sometimes striking colors. Looking at these makes me want to be a better photographer, which says something in itself. Great stuff.

My personal favorite is the grand prize winner, shown here. It almost doesn't look real.

Thanks to the GoBlog for the link to all the winners. Even more amazing.

Update: I just realized, as I was making another post, that this one marks my 1500th blog post. Thanks to everyone who keeps reading. It's very much appreciated!

Mountaineering Legend Bob Bates Has Passed

More sad news to the world of mountaineering today, as Jake Norton has posted that mountaineering legend Bob Bates has passed at the age of 96.

Bates was truly one of the great, early American mountaineers, making early expeditions to Denali, Ojos del Salado in Chile, and of course two famous climbs on K2. It was during the 1953 K2 climb that Pete Schoening made his heroic self arrest that ended up saving the entire team, although Art Gilke eventually succumbed to other injuries. That daring self arrest became known in climbing circles simply as "The Belay".

As Jake notes in his blog post, Bates wasn't just a mountaineer however. He was also an author, professor and the first director of the Peace Corps in Nepal. Some of his books are amongst the seminal works on mountaineering in the 20th Century, including Five Miles High and K2: The Savage Mountain.

You can read his full obituary here.

So passes a true legend. Although it is a sad time for his friends and family, we must also remember that at the age of 96, this man could go to the great beyond, having lived a true life of adventure.

Self Charging Backpack Powers Your Gear

Lets face it, we all have more and more gear that requires batteries these days. Our GPS units need to be recharged, we have headlamps that require juice, and who the heck leaves home without their iPod these days? The problem with taking all that gear into the backcountry is that you either need to carry extra batteries, or find a way to charge your items that have their own batteries built in. Your GPS doesn't do much good when you're out on the trail and it dies on you, and lets not even go into that same situation with our iPods. *shudder*

Well, where there's a problem, a solution is soon to follow. In this case, it comes in the form of a backpack with "piezoelectric shoulder straps". Now, I know what you're thinking, "isn't the Piezoelectric Era when all the t-rex's died out?" Well, in this case, piezoelectric is a process in which otherwise wasted ambient energy is converted into electric energy which can then be used to power our devices. In this case, the rubbing of the shoulder straps from a backpack as we hike is enough to generate power for all those wonderful gadgets we need to take along with us these days.

The system has been demonstrated by engineers from Michigan Technological University and Arizona State University, who say that the straps would work like any other backpack strap, but they would also harvest energy as we move. Furthermore, they hope to create similar energy from other gear, such as shoes, that could be used to power our electronics.

Of course, this is mostly a theory at the moment, and there are no working prototypes just yet. But even now, I'm sure someone is working on a pack to take advantage of this technology. Someone over at The North Face most likely. After all, they did come up with the heated hydration system.

This story comes via The Gear Junkie who picked it up from PhysOrg.com. Yes, a physics site, so you know I couldn't have found this one on my own. ;)

Survival of the Fittest! (Or at Least the Most Prepared)

Popular Mechanics has posted a rather large "How To Survive Anything" section on their website, with a ton of information on how to survive most major natural disasters.

Some of the topics you'll find covered here include five steps to prepare for disaster, a video on how to install a generator, emergency rations that are also tasty, and my personal favorite, the survival gear checklist, which is broken down into categories by "car", "home", and "backpack". There is even a quiz to check your survival skills.

There really is a wealth of information on the site to wade through. You'll find all kinds of helpful tips that may just save your life someday. That is, if you ever find the time to read all this stuff.

Nepalese Government In Turmoil!

We have breaking news from the Times Online that the Maoist faction has withdrawn from the provisional government in Nepal in a protest over the impending November elections.

Last year, the Maoist Rebels gave up their 10 year struggle, which was at times bloody, in order to take part in the process of forming a new government. They were one of eight factions that were trying to create a new system that moved away from the monarchy that has long been a part of Nepal's history. Apparently, the discussions broke down when the Maoists accused King Gyanendra of attempting to influence and sabotage the elections, scheduled for November, in his favor.

At this point, it's difficult to know what the next move is. The reports are that several thousand supporters of the rebels have taken to the streets of Kathmandu to express their support for the Maoists, and to demonstrate against the interim government. These kinds of protest were quite common during the decade of unrest in Nepal that saw over 13,000 people killed.

With the Fall climbing season upon us, any unrest now could be disastrous. In years past, trekkers and climbers were often beset by the rebels in remote areas and shook down for cash. With the signing of the peace accords last Fall, it looked like Nepal was finally going to have stability, allowing for safe travel once more. It also meant a likely end to the general strikes that plagued the country each year as the tourists and climbers arrived. Thankfully, most of the climbers have already left Kathmandu and are either on their respective mountains or at least en route.

It should be interesting to see how all of this plays out.

Climber Dies En Route To Shisha Pangma

Sad news by way of MountEverest.net this morning. It seems that climber Ray Yeritsian has died on his way to Shisha Pangma. It is reported that he suffered a ruptured artery while in Nyalam.

Ray was an Armenian climber who had moved to the United States back in 1991. He was in Tibet preparing to climb with the Asian Trekking Team when he was struck down last Friday. In accordance to his families wishes, Ray's body has been sent back to the United States.

ExWeb reports that Ray preferred to climb solo, or in small groups. He was formerly trained in Russian mountaineering schools, but had also adopted a more Western style to his climbs as well. His resume includes climbs on Elbrus, Yosemite, Aconcagua, Denali, Everest, and Lhotse.

My thoughts and prayers are with Ray's family at this time. My sincere condolences.

Adventure Travel From... Disney?

Ok, so I finally figured a way to get my kid sister to join me on my next adventure travel experience. I'll just book it through the Disney Adventures site. It seems the House the Mouse Built has decided that it's time to jump into the adventure travel game, and they're now booking guided excursions to such places as Coast Rica, Peru, Australia, and many more, including some right here in the States.

Some of the options for their adventure vacations include visiting the ruins of Machu Picchu (by train of course, no Inca Trail here), cultural excursions to China and Shanghai, or spending the night in an actual castle in the Irish countryside. Closer to home, you can raft the Colorado River in Moab, Utah, visit the Grand Canyon, or take a trip to the Grand Tetons of Wyoming, Disney style. Which is to say, you'll probably be paying way too much money and be obligated to wear Mickey Ears where ever you go.

The Adventures By Disney website has all the info you need, including an Ask The Adventure Guide section for all of your questions, an explanation of the Disney Difference, and of course it wouldn't be Disney without the Disney Adventure Store.

All joking aside, I have to admit that I love visiting Disney World. The place is a complete blast and really is a lot of fun for kids of all ages. However, when I think of my next "adventure", Disney is not the company that comes to mind. Still, I'm sure they'll find a willing audience, and I have no doubt that their trips will have a certain magic to them. As for the rest of us, that overland bus trip from London to Sydney that I mentioned earlier is still more our speed. Oh, and if you want to get in on the group discount, you'd better get to the comments section quick! The bus is filling up! ;)

Thanks GoBlog!

Want To Get Away From It All?

Many of us really enjoy our time out in the backcountry. We love the solitude, the peace and quiet, and the chance to get back in touch with nature. But have you ever wondered where the most secluded places in the U.S. actually are? If so, then the U.S. Geological Survey is here to help, in the form of their Road Indicator Project.

The project has generated a map that indicates the average distance to a road from any where in the United States. Obviously the further away from a road you are, the more remote and secluded the area is. You can take a closer look at the study, and the map itself in this PDF document.

When looking at the map, the darker the green areas, the further away from any roads that area is. A quick glance at the map shows you that the overwhelming vast majority of those areas are in the Western part of the U.S., and most of that land is in State or National Parks and Forests.

So, the next time you're really looking to get away from it all, take a quick look at the map before heading out. Then plot your course to the nearest dark green area to get even further off the beaten path.

Thanks goes out to The Trailspace Blog for this one.

Himalayan Update: Teams On The Move!

It's Monday, so time for a Himalayan Update courtesy of MountEverest.net. It seems like their has been activity all over the mountain range this past weekend.

The Dutch Team on Dhaulagiri reports that they moved up the mountain, and found the Japanese intermediate camp before proceeding further, but unable to reach C1 in one push, the elected to turn around and return to ABC, but slow going on the glacier had them returning in the dark, but still happy with the days progress. They also report that two members of the Austrian team didn't even make it to the mountain. The climbers succumbed to flu like symptoms on the trek in and have returned to Kathmandu. The Japanese team, meanwhile, has done a good job of setting down fixed lines, and have already cleared the ice falls. Extreme skier Fredrik Eriksson has also made it into BC after a long trek, with a team of donkeys packing in his gear, He'll be attempting to ski down the mountain in a month's time.

On Shisha Pangma, Alan Arnette wasn't the only one undergoing the Puja Ceremony, as the Project Himalaya Team also performed the ceremony yesterday, having their gear blessed to as forgiveness of the mountain for the wounds it will inflict. With the Puja out of the way, the teams can now get down to climbing.

The girls from Singapore who are climbing Cho Oyu are making steady progress. They reached C2 and spent the night last week, before continuing up the next day towards C3, but satisfied with their acclimatization process, they turned back and returned to ABC for a rest. A number of other teams, including Adventure Consultants, The 7 Summits Club, and Alpine Ascents are in BC and prepping for their climbs as well.

Finally, last week I noted that Russian tennis star Marat Safin had arrived in Nepal with the intention of climbing Cho Oyu himself. At the time I wondered what his climbing background was, and it seems he's fairly new to mountaineering. The article reports that his team did an acclimatization climb on the 4100m peak Murat this past weekend, with Safin claiming his first summit!! Congrats Marat! Good show!

ExWeb Posts 2007 Antarctic Expedition List

Summer isn't quite over yet here in the Northern Hemisphere, but already thoughts are turning towards the South Pole and the looming 2007 Antarctic Season. ThePoles.com has posted their first list of 2007 expeditions with a number of interesting entries already on the list.

The Irish team from Beyond Endurance has announced that they'll be attempting a full crossing of the continent, as long as they get the funding they need. Led by Pat Falvey, an Everest climber, they're still beating the bushes for some cash, but are prepared to go to the Pole itself, even if they don't make the full crossing.

Brit Alex Hibbert hopes to become the youngest person from the U.K. to ski to the South Pole unsupported. He'll be 21 at the time of the expedition, and will be joined on his journey by Richard Smith, 36, Adam Griffiths, 24 and Andy Wilkinson, 31. Wilkinson is coming off a Spring summit on Everest himself.

Showing us what adventure really means, Evelyne Binsack from Switzerland, has set out on a 16 month journey that will culminate with an attempt at an unsupported trip to the Pole. The former Everest climber set off from her home country, bicycled across Europe, Africa, and the length of the Americas before arriving in Chile, where she is currently finishing her preparations for the South Pole. It's unclear at this time if she intends to go solo on her expedition as well.

As I've mentioned before, Adrian Hayes, also of the U.K. but living in Dubai, will be going for his "Third Pole". Adrian went to the North Pole by way of Canada this past Spring, and topped out on Everest last year, and now he'll attempt the hat trick, making an unsupported attempt at the South Pole. Also on this team will be Norwegian cross-country skier Hans Foss and Lebanese Everest summitteer Max Chaya. (Anyone else see a pattern with these Everest climbers?)

We should expect to hear more expeditions confirmed soon, with a number of solo and unsupported attempts and scientific expeditions reported to be in the works. More as they become available.

Epic Bus Adventure: London To Sydney Overland

I came across this story while browsing Gadling earlier. If you're into epic travel by land, this may just be the trip for you!

Oz Bus has created a unique travel experience that's sure to pique the interest of adventure travelers the World over. They have just started an overland bus route that runs from London, England to Sydney, Australia. The 12 week long excursion passes through 20 countries, and over 10,000 miles of road, along the way. The trip begins in either London or Sydney depending on when you want to travel, and passengers will be staying in a combination of tents and hostels while on the trip.

The trip will set you back about $7500, but you'll be visiting such places as England, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, East Timor, and of course Australia. If you want to know what it's like on the "Oz Bus", check out the Oz Bus Diaries, a blog being written by someone who just began the trip. As of now, they're haven't been any updates since they departed, but hopefully we'll get something soon.

The bus is said to be able to seat 36 people comfortably. Do you think we could get a group discount if we organized an Adventure Blog outing? ;)

Alan Updates Us From Shisha ABC

Alan Arnette has posted a pair of dispatches from Shisha Pangma to update us on his progress and give us even more of his unique insights into life on the mountain.

The first dispatch is entitled Advanced Base Camp, which is obviously his location on the mountain when he made the post. The team made the 10 mile hike from BC to ABC, gaining more than 2000 feet in the process, and taking the expedition from a trek to an actual climb. As has been the case so far, the dispatch is accompanied by a number of nice photos, and Alan does a great job of describing the landscape at ABC.

The second dispatch is also a fascinating read with Alan going into detail about their Puja Ceremony, which truly does mark the end of their hike and the beginning of their climb. The Sherpas believe that you can't go up the mountain without receiving a blessing from the mountain itself, and the ceremony asks for safe passage while climbing. I found it interesting that the team's ice axes and crampons had their sharp edges coated in Yak butter to ask forgiveness for the holes they would inflict on Shisha.

After the Puja, Alan and his team begin the long process of hauling gear to the higher camps. They'll be establishing C1 and 2 over the next few days, acclimatizing at the same time. Alan reports that he is feeling good, is moving well, and has now gone above 19,000 feet. Progress has been steady and sure so far.

From here on out, dispatches will be made via a PDA and satellite uplink, which means fewer photos, but continued insights throughout the climb. I like Alan's posts as they are very different from the dispatches we see from most teams. He injects some life into his notes from the mountain, sometimes describing things more like a poet then a climber. It helps to set the stage and make us understand what it's like there, while also making us feel like part of the expedition itself.

Great stuff. Can't wait for more!

Where is the Best Climbing In The U.S.?

Climbing Magazing recently published a story in their print magazine outlining what they call the "Climbing Livability Index" which is a set of parameters designed to find the best geographic areas in the United States for climbing.

Using a clearly defined methodology they created a set of maps that outline the best areas to find good climbs all over the country. You can find out more about how the maps were crated in Tom Dilt's Mountaineering Blog.

They also used the data to create a top ten list of cities that are great for climbing, and are bad. Here's the lists:

Top Ten Best Climbing Cities

Denver, CO
Las Vegas, NV
Colorado Springs, CO
Tucson, AZ
Chattanooga, TN
Reno, NV
Las Angeles, CA
Salt Lake City, UT
Albuquerque, NM
Phoenix, AZ

Top Ten Worst Climbing Cities

Laredo, TX
Corpus Christi, TX
Tampa, FL
Houston, TX
New Orleans, LA
Beaumont, TX
Jacksonville, FL
Baton Rouge, LA
Mobile, AL
Savannah, GA

This comes via The GoBlog

Top 5 Bungee Jumping Accidents

Those chaps over at the Team Geared Up Blog are at it again, this time it's the Top 5 Bungee Jumping Accidents, which actually sounds worse than it really is. The videos, as usual, are pretty good, and I promise you won't see anyone splattered out across the pavement or anything. Several them are quite funny actually, although the one I posted below is kind of painful to watch. I'll just say thank goodness for safety cushions.

A Study In Determination: Man Takes 17 Years To Hike The AT!

For many hikers in the United States, The Appalachian Trail is a lofty goal they set for themselves, with the thought of thru-hiking all of it's 2,174 miles. For the dedicated few who have the time and resources, it can generally be hiked in 4 to 5 months. For speed hikers it can be done in as little as 50 to 55 days. But for most of us, it's difficult find that kind of time to dedicate to completing the route in one go.

In fact, most of us are like Ken Grant, whose story is published at GreenVilleOnline.com. Ken is a 58 year old school teacher who has, at long last, managed to hike the entire length of the trail. It took him 17 years of hiking small sections at a time, but he managed to complete his quest this past August.

Ken started his adventure, along with three of his close friends, with the plan to hike the AT over a 20 year period. He note that two of his friends dropped out fairly early on, and his third friend hung tough until he relocated for a new job. But Ken remained focused, continuing on his way, averaging a little more than 125 miles a year, he kept chipping away at the trail, finally achieving his goal.

The English teacher from Liberty, NC admits to being a bit sad about reaching the end. He also said that while he was finishing off those last few miles, he couldn't help but think of all the things that have changed over the past 17 years. He became reflective in the end. But, he also demonstrated his determination. While many would have stopped after a few years, or given up when their friends dropped by the way side. Ken may not be the fastest guy to complete the AT, but it's still impressive that he managed to hike the whole thing, and the fact that it took 17 years says a whole lot about him as a person.

Thanks to TrailSpace.com for this one.

K2 Update: Lessons From The Mountain and A Summit Bid Still On!

We've got two interesting updates from K2Climb.net today.

First up, there is news that Serguey Samoilov and Denis Urubko have resumed their efforts to open a new route on the North Side of K2. The last we heard was that the expedition was in jeopardy because Serguey had come down with a bad case of bronchitis, and they weren't sure if they would be able to continue. But some rest in BC and time to heal up, has done him some good, and they reported in from Camp 2 today, saying they are feeling strong, and continuing their efforts to acclimatize. Even thought most of the other teams have gone home, these two Kazakhs haven't given up yet.

Meanwhile, we get a climb debrief from the other Kazakh team on the North West Ridge. You'll recall that climbing aces Maxut and Vassily were turned back from the summit after spending five days in the Death Zone trying to find an alternate route to the top by free climbing a rock face. The typical route up was blocked with dangerous snows and prone to avalanche. One of the team members, Serguey Bogomolov, noted that they did everything they could, but it just wasn't their time. The article looks at the lessons you learn in mountaineering, and knowing when to be safe and turn back.

Even though the focus is now shifting back to the Himalaya, and the Karakorum is growing quiet, it's good to see that we still have some news from K2. We'll keep a close eye on Serguey and Denis' climb, and hopefully they'll pull of that new route before the season closes completely.

Want To Race PQ But Don't Have A Team?

The Primal Quest website has announced that the "comments" section is now open on their Team Page and are inviting teams looking for racers, or vice versa, to post a comment indicating that they are in need. They also note that it may be a good place to recruit someone for the support crew if teams still have those rolls to fill as well.

At the time of this posting, there aren't any comments yet, but if you're an adventure racer who is hoping to run PQ next year, but are in need of a team, I'd certainly encourage you to post. There are always teams out there that are in need of a good athlete to join their squad, and it may be an amazing opportunity for you to take part in one of the top races anywhere on the planet. Also, if you would like to participate in a capacity other than racing, teams can always use a good support crew, so lend a hand in that department as well.

The Team Page also lists all the currently registered teams for the 2008 Primal Quest. There are currently 81 teams listed, mostly from the U.S. and Canada, but coming from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, and Norway. It already looks like a very strong field, with all the top teams in place. They'll all be gunning for Team Nike, who are the four time reigning Primal Quest Champions. Whether or not anyone can knock them off has yet to be seen.

Still no word on the location of next year's event, but as indicated yesterday, the announcement is expected to come very soon. We do know that it will take place in the Western United States, with Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Arizona all making the rumor mill rounds.

The Rest of Everest: Episode 59

Good things come to those who wait, and our patience in waiting for a new episode of The Rest of Everest has paid off with the release of Episode 59: Bartertown.

Rest of Everest producer Jon Miller is once again joined by lead climber Ben Clark. This weeks footage is of the last afternoon in Base Camp, as Jon and Ben set off to visit some of their friends still in BC, including the Project Himalaya Team The second half of the episode is a set of still photos, some of the stunning views of Everest from BC, but also a number of them of Jon and the various characters that he met on his Everest adventure. The photos are of friends saying goodbye as the end of their journey nears. One of the last photos in the group, is of Jon and Ben, with Everest behind them in the background, which they remark is the only shot of the two of them together on Everest.

We also get a glimpse, early on in the episode, of a place called Bartertown. A small collection of ramshackle hut and tents, that are temporarily erected in BC to offer up goods for the tourists making their way to camp. They sell craft items, Coca Cola, beer, fresh meat, and so on. The area also offers places to sleep for the trekkers making their way to camp, and several pubs have sprung up as well. Ahh... free enterprise is a beautiful thing!

The whole episode gives you a sense that things are coming to an end. For most of the people in Base Camp, the climb is over, and everyone is packing up and getting ready to back to Kathmandu. The season on Everest is coming to a close, and it's time for everyone to head home. Jon assures us that there are at least two or three more episodes from the 2003 climb yet to come, and while this adventure is drawing to a close, there is still plenty more to come from The Rest of Everest. There are other climbs and plenty more stories to tell, and we can expect more episodes in the future.

Life At Shisha BC With Alan Arnette

I mentioned a few days ago that Alan Arnette has reached base camp on Shisha Pangma and was preparing to begin the challenging task of reaching the summit. His latest dispatch comes from BC and gives us a glimpse at what it's like there.

After four days on Shisha, Alan has gotten to know the Tibetans that live there, quite well already, and his stories about them and what life is like at BC are quite touching. It's clear that Alan enjoys meeting these people and that part of the reason he climbs is for the opportunity to experience that rich Himalayan culture. This recent post doesn't mention much about climbing or the summit, or any of those other things that we're so uses to talking about, and yet it's still it captures the essence of being on one of these expeditions in a totally different way. I highly recommend you read it, the rest of Alan's dispatches while you're at it.

I would also be remiss if I didn't mention Alan's excellent photography work. Each of his dispatches have been accompanied by some really great images, this latest one included. It's like he's weaving together an impressive travelogue to go along with his climb reports, and his shots are really helping to frame the story. They are definitely worth taking a look at.

Soon, Alan will get back to work, and the climb will finally begin. The plan is to head out to ABC tonight, and he'll once again be back on his Road Back To Everest. As many of you know, Shisha is a training climb for Alan, who will be going up Everest in the Spring to raise money and awareness for the Cure Alzheimer's Fund. So while you're over at his site, enjoying those great dispatches and amazing photographs, think about clicking on that banner for the Fund, and donating for the cause. It's quick, easy, and every little bit helps.

Himalaya Update: The Monsoon Isn't Done Yet!

The latest update from MountEverest.net on the impending Fall season in the Himalaya brings news that the Monsoon Season isn't quite over yet. The word is that heavy rains and strong winds are buffeting Kathmandu, causing flights to be canceled and roads being flooded all over the city and into the countryside.

The weather is so bad that it's stranded Nives Meroi in Kathmandu, making her overdue to head to Makalu, her goal for the Fall season. Nives is going for her 11th 8000m peak, but due to the incessant rains, her flight to Tumlingtar has been delayed, and thus her trek to the mountain.

Meanwhile, another top woman climber, Edurne Pasaban, has left Madrid, Spain and has made her way to Kathmandu. Edurne will be going for her 10th 8000m peak as well, with her sights set squarely on Shisha Pangma. Alex Txikon is also making his way to Shisha Pangma, but by a different route. He and his crew actually DROVE from Spain to Pakistan, experiencing all kinds of crazy adventures along the way, including having their van confiscated by the Pakistani military. At the moment they're stranded there and trying to figure out a way to complete their trip to Tibet. One thing is for certain, it's been one helluva roadtrip already, and they're not even to the mountain yet. Someone needs to make a movie of this. National Lampoon's Pakistani Vacation

Finally, on Cho Oyu, the Adventure Consultants Team has had their traditional Puja Ceremony today, and are now free to climb the mountain. Tomorrow, they will move up to Camp 1 and begin that process

Outside Interviews the cast and crew of Into The Wild

We're just a week away from the release of the film version of Jon Krakauer's Into The WIld and while I can't really say that there has been a media blitz for the film, there has been some online buzz building for it.

Take for example this article over at Outside Online which is a rather in-depth look behind the scenes of the making of the film. The author went on set to talk to the producers, director, and stars. At ten pages in length, it's about as detailed as you can get.

They've also reprinted Krakauer's original story that spawned the book and now the movie.

I have to say, I expected a bit more of a push for this film, but I don't think I've seen one commercial for it yet. In fact, if it weren't for online articles and information, I'd probably not even know the film was coming out. While I don't expect it to break any box office records, but I do expect a good film. I think Director Sean Penn will handle the material with proper perspective and should do a great job in all aspects. I'm just a little surprised that there hasn't been more publicity over it. I guess we'll know a lot more next Friday though.

Primal Quest Close To Announcing Race Location

The race is still a mere 282 days away, but the build-up for next year's Primal Quest continues a pace, with a nice teaser post appearing on the official site's news section last night.

The post reminds us that past races have been held in Telluride, CO (2002), Lake Tahoe, CA (2003), the San Juan Islands of Washington State (2004), and most recently Moab, Utah (2006). Each of the locations offered a unique, and interesting race environment, very different from one another, and each showcasing a different part of the Western United States. The real tease comes when the post ends like this:

Where will teams race next summer? Stay tuned to this site as the location of the 5th Edition of Primal Quest is soon to be announced.

Speculation has been running rampant that the location of the 2008 edition of Primal Quest would be announced around the middle of September, with a number of theories as to where the final destination will land. There are some indications that it might be Colorado, and yet others that point to Montana. Other states that have made the way through the grapevine included Idaho, Wyoming, and recently Arizona as well.

At this point, it's anyone's guess as to wear the race will end up. From what we've heard, PQ CEO Don Mann has had course designers draw up plans in EACH of the states, so that they would be ready to go no matter which venue was selected. One thing that we do know is that the course will be long, challenging, and most likely surround by some of the most amazing scenery in North America.

Stay tuned! It seems will have the location very soon...

Keen Footwear Presents Hybrid.Pedal

Check out this preview of a documentary about Hybrid.Pedal, a 14 day, 900 mile bike ride that took place from July 25th to August 7th of this year. The event was sponsored by number of outdoor focused companies, including Keen Footwear to raise awareness of conservation issues.

The ride began in Portland, Oregon, and ended in Salt Lake City, with the entire thing filmed along the way. Judging form the preview it looks like it was a fun ride that combined cycling in some amazing outdoor areas with meeting interesting people along the way and capturing slices of everyday life.

The film, which will appear online soon, is meant to promote The Conservation Alliance, a non-profit group of outdoor businesses dedicated to protecting wild places for their habitat and recreation value. You know, all the places we love to explore and play in. The list of members in the Conservation Alliance is actually quite impressive, with likes of the American Alpine Institute, Camelbak, Mountain Hardwear and many many more, including of course Keen.

It looks like the film should be a enjoyable, and the Conservation Alliance has a great mission. It looks like a cause that we can all get behind.

Behind The Scenes with Les Stroud

There is no denying that The Discovery Channel's hit show Survivorman has struck a chord with viewers. The show is popular with outdoors enthusiasts and couch potatoes alike, as we all tune in each week to see what kind of trouble host Les Stroud can get himself into this time.

Digital Video Magazine has posted an excellent look from behind the scenes at the show. The article does a great job of explaining Survivorman and how Les got started, including pitching the show for the first time, but since the focus of DV is on Digital Video much of the article looks at Les as a filmmaker as well. They discuss his equipment, techniques he uses to get his shots, and some of the technical issues he has to deal with, both while shooting, and in post-production.

I personally found the article quite fascinating to read, because there have been times while I've been watching the show that I wondered what he had to go through to get a proper shot. We all love watching Les go about his work, and he's so good at it, that we often forget that he's also filming the show, even while performing in it. This article gives us a nice glimpse at an aspect that is at times is transparent to us as viewers, but so important in pulling off a believable experience. The article is highly recommended to fans of Survivorman but also anyone who is interested in filming out in the backcountry. Lots of great information in there.

Thanks to Jon over at The Rest of Everest for sharing this article. He swears we're going to get a new episode tonight too. I'm going to go hit "refresh" on my browser now until it actually appears online. ;)

Pack Your Sh*t Out! - Literally!

This next story follows in the wake of my Leave No Trace post from a few days back. The New York Times is reporting that the highest outhouse in the U.S. has been removed from Mt. Whitney.

Citing increasing dangers, and expenses, for managing wastes, the Forest Service made the move to remove the high altitude latrine from Whitney, and a number of other mountains as well. In the past, a helicopter had to be used to fly to the site to pick up the waste, which was then returned to be disposed of by workers wearing hazmat suits. Flying the helicopter through the canyons and that close to the mountain, was inherently dangerous, and expensive.

Now, hikers and climbers will be issued WAG (Waste Alleviation and Gelling) bags to use instead. The bags, which are already being used in the John Muir Wilderness area and the Grand Canyon, offer a means for us to "leave no trace" by packing out our waste products. As many of you know, other methods such as burying the waste are ineffective on mountains like Whitney do to heavy traffic and not a lot of soil. The wagbags are designed to biodegrade over six to nine months, and are a safe way to keep the environment clean.

While the proposition of carrying around a bag of waste doesn't seem that appealing, I think it's for the best. We want our natural resources to remain as pristine as possible, and since the old outhouses have become a difficult thing to maintain these seems like a good alternative. Plus, it makes us more responsible people, which can only be a good thing. Obvioiusly this is a touchy subject, but a very important one.

By the way. Should I be concerned that we have a local chain of convenience stores here in Austin, Texas called Wag-a-Bags? Hmm... I may decide to shop elsewhere the next time I need my Mountain Dew fix.

Update: The WildeBeat outdoor podcast did two episodes on this very topic last year with more informaiton. You can find Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

Climb With A Legend - For A Cause!

Want to climb with the legendary Royal Robbins? How about doing so for a cause? TrailSpace.com has all the details

Robbins will be climbing Colorado's The Third Flatiron in a fund raising event for the Continental Divide Trail on the 5th of October. Five people will be allowed to join Robbins on the climb, by donating $1000 to the CDT Alliance, who over sees the management of the 3100+ mile long trail.

During the climb, spectators are invited to come watch the event, where several vendors will be on hand with food, drinks, and other items for sale. Following the climb, Robbins will be on hand to briefly sign books. He'll also be on hand at the Grand Re-opening of the Boulder REI Store, which has recently undergone a remodel.

If you're in the area, don't miss your opportunity to meet a true rock climbing legend.

Russian Tennis Star Marat Safin to Climb Cho Oyu

MountEverest.net has reported, in another one of it's Himalaya Updates that Russian tennis ace Marat Safin will be climbing Cho Oyu this Fall with Alex Abramov's Seven Summits Club.

Safin, who was once briefly the number one player in the World, has won two Grand Slam events as a professional player, claiming the 2000 U.S. Open and the 2005 Australian Open. He's also played on the Russian Davis Cup team, helping them claim a win in 2003. On the tennis circuit he's known as a big, powerful, and rangy player, but he'll need all that strength if he's going to get up the 6th highest mountain in the World in Cho Oyu. I have absolutely no idea what his mountaineering experience is however, but I'm sure we'll learn a lot more about his abilities in the weeks ahead. He, and the rest of the team, have just arrived in Kathmandu.

Also on Cho Oyu, the Adventure Consultants Team went up to C1 yesterday, and reported massive ice towers along the route to camp. Everyone arrived safely, if a bit exhausted, and they are expecting to have their Puja ceremony today. The Field Touring Team has arrived in Tingri at last, and now have Cho Oyu in it's sights as well. They intend to take a rest day today, before proceeding to BC tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Canadian/Mixed International team on Manaslu made their way up to C2 yesterday, but have not returned to BC as part of their normal acclimatization and camp building routine. Much of yesterday was also spent ice climbing and setting down lines as the team prepares for the long siege to claim the summit.

That's it for today. I'll keep you posted on Marat Safin's Cho Oyu bid as we learn more about it. Pretty cool stuff.

Visiting Alaska in the Fall

Summer is the peak season for tourism in Alaska, because most of us in the lower 48 states think that once Labor Day hits, the place turns into Hoth, the snow planet from The Empire Strikes Back. But National Geographic Adventure is here to dispel that myth by telling us about Alaska's Secret Season.

The article gives us a number of reasons to visit in the Fall, including the fact that the cruise ships and mosquitos are gone for the year. You'll find a list of suggestions for things to do, such as visiting Denali at a time when you can actually get a campsite. In the Fall, is also when the Moose rut, so there are plenty of them to be seen roaming about the park, and just like many other places in the country, the Fall colors go into full bloom.

Other suggestions included watching the Aurora Borealis, better known as the Northern Lights. Best time is in September and October in Fairbanks. From there, take a road trip on the Dalton Highway, which runs 500 miles from Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle. Along the way you'll see thousands of caribou moving through the area as they make their annual pilgrimage. Other suggestions include sailing the Inside Passage, booking a light aircraft to fly over the Stikine Ice Field, or exploring Tongass National Forest.

Of course, it's cooler in the Fall than it is in Summer, so you'll want to bring some warmer clothes and be a bit more prepared. But if you enjoy the wilderness when you have it to yourself, you may find the solitude of Alaska in the Fall much to your liking.