Americans Prepare For North Pole Expedition

The South Pole season is still in full swing, but some are already turning their gaze north. The Gear Junkie has a great story today about Tyler Fish and John Huston who are training now to attempt to become the first American's to ski unsupported to the North Pole.

The article discusses that training and the obstacles that they'll face along the 475-mile course that is expected to take 55 days to complete. Aside from the the extreme cold, lows can reach -60º F, they'll also have to contend with polar bears, negative drift, and wide expanses of open water that will have to be navigated around or swum across.

The guys are hoping to raise $100,000 for the Caring Bridge Organization, which provides free websites for to connect friends and family during times of medical crisis. You can find out more about the expedition at the team's website at ForwardExpeditions.cOM.

The North Pole season for expeditions traditionally takes place each year in March and April, when the ice cap is still frozen, and there is still relatively solid ground for the explorers to cross. Unlike the Antarctic, there is no actual ground under the ice at the North Pole, which makes for a very different experience for the men and women who attempt to cross it. In addition, that ice shifts, making the conditions change dramatically from year to year, and even week to week. That shifting ice is also the cause of negative drift, which can have the explorers moving backwards, even while standing still.

2009 is already shaping up to be another great year in the world of adventure and exploration. This should be another great expedition to follow.

Now This Is Extreme!

Check out this hilarious video that was sent my way earlier. Anyone want to give this new activity a try? Or even a name? :)

Antarctic Update: New Years Eve in Antarctica

More news from the South Pole and Antarctica in general:

First up, Mark Langridge has indeed finished his journey to the South Pole, arriving yesterday after 49 days on the ice. He is now resting at the Pole and awaiting a pick-up flight to return him to Patriot Hills. Mark arrived at his destination with 10 days of food and fuel remaining, having consumed just 7 liters of fuel over the course of his entire journey.

The Shackleton Centenary Expedition spent their 48th day on the ice battling conditions on the Polar Plateau. They covered another 13.8 nautical miles in bitterly cold weather, and it was so bad in fact that team member Will Gow had to cut the balaclava off at the end of the day, as the cloth had stuck to his beard. The team is now projecting that they'll arrive at the Pole on the 9th of January.

The South Pole Quest Team continues their trek as well, having now crossed the 87th degree. Today they covered 18 nautical miles, but not without a few medical issues. One team member, Kevin Vallely, suffered altitude sickness throughout the day, but still pressed ahead with the other guys. Meanwhile, Ray Zahab had to perform emergency surgery, of a sort, on a nasty blister on his foot. The surgery was deemed a success, and it has improved Ray's outlook dramatically.

Mike Horn sends New Year's wishes back to the world from the 86th parallel. He reports that a massive storm is brewing, but that he thinks that the worst is probably behind him, and he's now looking forward to 2009 and continuing the Pangaea Expedition.

On a different note, ExWeb is reporting that Duncan Chessell, Jamie McGuiness and their team have put up a new route on Mt. Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica. Bad weather had confined the team to their tents for a week, but when a break came at last they made their move, climbing up to high camp, before going to the summit over the course of a couple of days. Summit day was reportedly non-technical, but very demanding, with the ascent taking nearly 9 hours. With Vinson out of the way, the team intends to turn their attention on a few other peaks in the area before they head home. Good luck guys!

Video From Broad Peak!

Check out the great video sent back from Broad Peak by Don Bowie, who, along with Artur Hajzer and Robert Szymczak, is trying to put up the first winter ascent on that mountain, or in the Karakorum in general. At the beginning of the video, Don gives a shout out to his friends at BackCountry.com, where I scored this video from, and then from there, we get some amazing shots of the mountain between C1 and C2, and in one shot, K2 looms in the background. Really great stuff.


Exclusive video for backcountry.com from Calpinist.com on Vimeo.

Lonely Planet's Top 20 Big Trips

Travel guide publisher Lonely Planet recently published a book entitled The Big Trip, which it purports to be the "ultimate guide" for overseas adventures. To celebrate, the Times Online has posted an article on LP's Top 20 Big Trips.

While no definition of "big trip" is offered, the choices on the list were hand picked by Lonely Planet authors, and have a wide range of activities and experiences. For example, climbing Kilimanjaro makes the list, offering travelers an opportunity to see the fabled snows of Kilimanjaro and taking in the sweeping views of Africa below. A pilgrimage to the Taj Mahal gets a nod for it's splendor, while hiking the Tiger Leaping Gorge in China earns it's way on the list for it's remote villages in the shadow of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

All told, the 20 "big trips" offer up something to do in nearly every corner of the globe, for both the active and laid back traveler. Some of these journeys could be accomplished on a busy weekend, while others could take weeks or even months to complete. The bad thing about these lists for me, is that they tend to make my "must-do" list that much longer. Great! Now it looks like I'll be buying a motorcycle and Che Guevara’s path through South America!

Adventure Travel: Last Degree To The South Pole

PlanetFear posted a cool article just before the holidays that recounts one woman's last degree journey to the South Pole. The story, accompanied by some great photos, offers some nice insight on what it's like on the wind-swept continent of Antarctica.

The article is written by Helen Turton, who recounts her personal tail of traveling from 89º South to the Pole itself. She began her journey in Punta Arenas, Chile, where she, along with everyone else headed to Antarctica, received a briefing from ALE (Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions) on what they could expect upon reaching the ice.

From there, it's off to Patriot Hills aboard the famed ALE Ilyushin 76 aircraft, where they had a brief layover, before proceeding further south to the 89th parallel. Once there, the journey begins in earnest, with her and the rest of the group, going the rest of the way on skis and pulling their sleds behind them.

Helen had already done a last degree trip to the North Pole, but found that this was a very different experience. She noted that the air was much dryer in Antarctica, which made for a more pleasant experience in general. She also noted that fuel consumption on the stoves was also less than at the North Pole, where explorers also have to contend with the polar bears and the dreaded negative drift.

This is a nice story with some great personal insights and information It makes me want to head to the South Pole even more, although that record low temperature of -79º C (-110º F) does make me stop to think a bit.

Beginner's Guide To Winter Camping

Now that winter is officially upon us, and we've all come to the sad realization that we're going to have to deal with it for the next three months (Except me! It's 70º in Austin today! Ha!), our minds start to turn towards all the fun things we can do out in the snow. Of course, we can always go skiing or snowboarding. Snowshoeing offers a great workout and a nice way to spend a winter day. Or better yet, how about going winter camping, which can be just as rewarding as during the warmer months, provided you have the right gear.

The fine folks over at Backpacker Magazine have put together a nice Beginners Guide to Winter Camping for their "The Pulse" Blog that's sure to have you ready to head out to experience the cold, but eerily quiet winter nights for yourself.

The guide is broken down into sections with easy to follow checklists on things that you should be aware of before you do any cold weather camping. For instance, the section on "Preparation" suggests that for your first destination you choose some place that's not too far off the beaten path in case you decide to make a hasty retreat in the night. Also, select a spot with plenty of readily available firewood as well.

Other sections include "On Your Hike", which offers tips on what to expect while you hike to your destination, while the one labled "At Camp" has great ideas on stay warm once you reach your campsite. Of course, the one we're all most interested in is the "Gear" section, which has plenty of ideas on what kind of stuff you should be bringing with you. If nothing else, you'll have good excuses to go to REI to pick up some new gear with all those gift cards you got for Christmas right?

All in all, this blog post is very informative and helpful for anyone who is considering taking up winter camping, and might even offer some helpful tips for the more experienced campers as well. Definitely worth a read.

The awesome photo that accompanies this post is from Jack Brauer (That's Brauer!!) and you can see more of his shots by clicking here.

Himalaya and Karakorum Winter Update: Over On Nanga Parbat

The winter climbing season in the Karakorum and Himalaya has only just begun, but we already have our first expedition called off. According to ExWeb, who posted this story earlier in the day, the Polish Team on Nanga Parbat have called it quits after facing excessive amounts of snow, bitterly cold temperatures, and dangerous ice on the mountain. Their most recent dispatch also hints at logistical issues, but it seems that the winter conditions on Nanga were just too much to over come, even this early into the season. The teams says that they'll clean up C1 tomorrow and return to BC before heading home.

The news is much better on Broad Peak, where Don Bowie, Artur Hajzer, and Robert Szymczak have already established C1 at 5500 meters, and are now making their way up to C2. If the weather holds out, they hope to have the ropes fixed to C2 over the next few days, and may be at that higher camp in time for New Years. Their latest dispatch reports little snow, but lots of ice and rock to contend with.

Meanwhile, Simone Moro reports that he and climbing partner Denis Urubko will arrive in Kathmandu just in time for the New Year's celebration there, before heading out to Makalu. They are hoping to become the first men to summit that peak in winter.

Finally, the only other winter climb ongoing is on Manaslu, where the Czech team has been working on fixing a route to Camp 2. There have been no updates to their website for the past ten days however, so it's impossible to know what their progress has been and where they are currently at on the mountain. Hopefully they have just been extremely busy and haven't had time to send dispatches, and we'll hear more from the soon.

Antarctic Update: Others At The Pole!

With one holiday behind us, an the New Year looming, it's time to get updated on everything happening down in Antarctica, where most of the teams celebrated the Christmas (or Hanukkah, or Boxing Day) like every other day, with the skis on, their head down, and the compass pointed South.

Well, not everyone spent the holidays like that. Todd Carmichael was a Pole a few days before Christmas, and actually flew back to Patriot Hills on Christmas Day. His journey is now over, and new speed record holder to the South Pole, is back in Philadelphia, where he's likely to sleep for week, before booking a much deserved vacation to some place tropical. Welcome home Todd!

The Shackleton Centenary Team has suffered through a couple of horrific days on the ice, with whiteout conditions marking their first days on Polar Plateau. Combine that with a fine snow, and it has made the going tough for boys, as their sleds are harder to pull through those conditions. As of yesterday, the team was five days behind the schedule set by Shackleton 100 years ago, but they're hoping to make up the ground in the days ahead.

Mark Langridge is having a better go of it, and is expected to reach the Pole today, his 46th day on the ice. He has also been struggling in high winds, cold temperatures and whiteout conditions, but this morning it was sunny and clear. A fitting way to reach the bottom of the world. Congrats on the completion of your journey as well Mark! Job well done!

Speaking of reaching the Pole, the Finnish Team did just that back on Christmas Eve, and they celebrated and rested on Christmas Day, before jetting off to Patriot Hills on the 26th, and then turing their attention home, where they are now, presumably, resting comfortably. I'd like to send my congratulations to Kari Poppis Suomela and Pasi Ikonen, the first team from Finland to ever reach the South Pole. You're an inspiration to us all!

The South Pole Quest Team continues to make good time, knocking off large chunks of mileage each day, but the hallmark of the their expedition, at least for those of us following along at home, is how they continue to educate us about the logistics of a South Pole expedition. I've alluded to them answering questions in the past, but their most recent dispatches discuss the distribution of the gear as well. I look forward to reading their site each day, as they always have some good answer to lot of obvious and not so obvious questions.

Finally, Mike Horn reports that conditions have not been great for him either, as he has had to contend with whiteout conditions and the same fine snow that has made it tough going for others. He also reports coming across the tracks of two others making their way to the Pole. They seem to be about two days ahead of him, and it's a bit unnerving for Mike, who is use to traveling solo most of the time. He has passed the halfway point now, however, and is on course to reach the South Pole on schedule in a few weeks time.

Quick Hits From Gadling

I've got a couple of quick hit stories that I posted over on Gadling, but I thought they may be of interest here as well.

First up, a few days back I put up this story with suggestions for new travel destinations and trips for 2009 courtesy of The Guardian. They put together their list of the top destinations for next year with some really interesting suggestions, such as kayaking in Brazil, hiking in Greenland, and even exploring war-ravaged Angola. I wrote that I expected there to be some great travel deals after the first of the year, as many people will put off taking a trip this year thanks to the economy, so if you're in a position to take advantage of those deals, you just might end up with a heck of bargain, and visit some great, far off places.

The other story of note is one that I posted earlier today about two men who were skiing out of bounds at the Swiss ski resort of Savognin, where they got lost. They managed to call for help, but their cell phone died before they could give directions to their location. Facing a night out in the cold, with temps dropping to -15 C, they were saved when a rescue helicopter spotted the faint glow of their iPod screen. The lesson here? You can save weight in your pack by bringing your iPod and leaving the rescue flares at home. ;) I kid!! But seriously, who needs all of that extra safety gear when you've got an iPod!

Happy Holidays From The Adventure Blog!

Just wanted to take the opportunity to wish everyone Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year. Hopefully we'll all find plenty of adventure in 2009!!

World Hum Names Matt Harding Traveler of the Year

Travel site World Hum has named Matt Harding it's 2008 Traveler of the Year. Who the hell is Matt Harding you ask?? He's that guy who danced his way around the world and became a hit on YouTube with the video he released. Still not ringing any bells?? Then check out the video below for a reminder.

Antarctic Update: Bye Bye Beardmore!

A couple of quick updates from the Antarctic today.

First up, The Shackleton Centenary Team has put the Beardmore Glacier behind them and are now back on their skis and steaming towards the South Pole. They have climbed more than 1500 feet today, covering 13.3nm and now stand atop the Shackleton Ice Falls. The team struggled across the glacier thanks to their aluminum crampons now being up to the task on the ice, but that struggle helped them to appreciate what their namesake expedition experienced a century ago. They are also the first team to enter and exit the Beardmore along this route in 100 years as well.

The South Pole Quest Team are still making good time, despite the fact that team member Ray Zahab somehow managed to contract food poisoning a few days back. Despite that, they still covered more than 18 nautical miles, and have now passed 85 degrees south, and have the Thiel Mountains to the west. Todays question for the team comes from a teacher, who asks: "How and where are you going to the bathroom?" The delicate audio answer is here.

The Team from Finland is making it's final push today, having ended yesterday with just 50km to go before they reached the Pole. Their intention is to be at their goal before the end of Christmas Eve, and they are very much looking forward to celebrating the holiday with others. They note that at this point of the journey, the lack of sleep is the biggest challenge. The snow and winds make it difficult to sleep at night, and after weeks on the trail they are quite exhausted. They'll get rest soon however.

Finally, Mike Horn posts holiday greetings on his dispatch today. He is spending Christmas alone on the ice, but wants to send his seasons greetings and best wishes for a "joyous and adventurous New Year". We should all be so lucky!

HImalaya and Karakorum Updates: Christmas Eve In BC

All the teams are in place, save one, to begin their winter climbs in the Himalaya and Karakorum. According to ExWeb, Simone Moro and Denis Urubko will celebrate Christmas in Italy, at Simone's home, before heading off to Makalu in the next few days. At least they'll have one more good meal and a warm bed.

That won't be the case for Don Bowie, Artur Hajzer, and Robert Szymczak, who have now arrived in base camp on Broad Peak. Apparently the team was shuttled to BC yesterday and have already established their home for the next few weeks while they acclimatize and scout the mountain.

We're getting similar stories from the Polish Team on Nanga Parbat and the Czech Team on Manaslu as well. Both of them are in their respective base camps as well. The Polish Team is dealing with bitterly cold temperatures, not uncommon on these high altitude winter climbs, while the Czechs have been forced back to BC thanks to bad weather conditions. They've already established their C1 and are in the process of fixing lines to C2.

Stay warm boys. Merry Christmas!!

The Southernmost CIty in the World Gets More Southern

I posted a pretty cool travel story over on Gadling earlier today about a tiny town called Puerto Williams, located on a small island off the coast of Chile. The place is rapidly becoming a tourist destination thanks to the fact that it is the southernmost city on the planet.

Ushuaia in Argentina has long been recognized as holding that distinction, but adventure travelers are now headed to Puerto Williams thanks to the fact that it is less crowded and off the tourist track. It's hard to label the place as a "city" however, as it's much smaller than Ushuaia (which is in turn much smaller than Punta Arenas), and until recently the only way to get to Chilean island was on a once-a-week ferry. Now there are daily flights, albeit on small 20-seat planes, that shuttle backpackers and adventure seekers to Puerto Williams, which didn't even have a paved street until this year.

The original story can be found here and was published by the Times Online. Adventure travelers will no doubt have Puerto Williams on their radar soon enough, and will probably be fleeing Mongolia (the adventure destination of choice the past few years is seems) for this wild wilderness.

"Race With Robyn" at Adventure Week 2009

Another week, another cool announcement for Adventure Week 2009, the big event scheduled for next June in Idaho that is quickly shaping up to be one of the biggest stories in adventure racing and endurance sports for next year.

The big announcement for this week is that adventure racing goddess Robyn Benincasa will be in attendance for the event. Robyn is one of the most experienced adventure racers in the world and the most successful female adventure racer ever. She currently races with Team Merrell Zanfel, who finished second at Primal Quest Montana this past June. Robyn joins fellow AR legend Ian Adamson in attending Adventure Week.

As if that wasn't cool enough, in early January a sweepstakes will be launched on the Adventure Week 2009 website that will give aspiring racers the opportunity to "Race with Robyn". One or two lucky winners will get the opportunity to compete in the Crux and the Crucible adventure races with Robyn as their teammate.

Getting underway on June 5th and running through the 14th, Adventure Week 2009 will host a series of adventure races, trail runs, mountain bike competitions, and a whole lot more. The event will take place at Farragut State Park, near beautiful Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho. Amongst the numerous events will be the Xterra Farragut Off-road Triathlon, which will offer up 34 qualifying spots to competing in the Ironman in Maui.

On a personal note, I had the opportunity to meet Robyn in Montana last year and work with her on a few things since then. I can tell you that she is one of the nicest, most down to Earth people that you could ever hope to meet, and it would be a great opportunity for anyone to get the chance to race with her in Idaho next June.

Antarctic Update: New Speed Record!!

Lots of updates from the Antarctic today including news of a new speed record to the Pole!

We'll start, once again, with Todd Carmichael, whose latest dispatch confirms that he has indeed set a new speed record for going solo and unsupported to the South Pole. The previous record, held by Hannah McKeand was 39 days, 10 hours, 33 minutes, and Todd manage to sneak in under the wire at 39 days, 7 hours, 49 minutes. When put into perspective, that is the slimmest of margins. ExWeb put it into perspective by saying: "if the same difference was applied to the 100 meter dash, it would equal less than 0.02 seconds."

Reportedly, Todd is well on his way to recovery at the South Pole station, where he is awaiting a pick-up for the return flight to Punta Arenas. He's in good spirits and still assessing his accomplishment, and looking forward to being home with friends and family soon. Congratulations again Todd! Amazing job!

Today is Day 40 for the Shackleton Centenary Team as well, who have struggled over the past week on the Beardmore Glacier. Once off the Ross Ice Shelf, the team switched from skis to crampons to make headway, but soon found that the lightweight aluminum crampons they brought along were not up to the task. As a result, the slowed down to a crawl for a few days, spending more time repairing their broken equipment. That all changed today though, as they at long last made their way past the Shackleton Ice Falls, and onto the Polar Plateau, where they could once again don their skis. The results were 15.4nm of distance gained, and improved spirits all around.

Mark Langridge reached another milestone on his journey to the South Pole over the weekend, passing the 88th degree. It wasn't easy however, as much of it was uphill, and over massive sastrugi, that gave him fits for a time. He still managed to put up 15.3nm however, and reports that he has now found Todd Carmichael's tracks heading for the Pole.

The South Pole Quest Team continue to make good time, knocking off large chunks of mileage each day averaging around 20nm over the weekend and into the holiday week. The weather has been great, and their spirits are high, making for great days on the ice. The picture included with this post shows Richard Weber eating a stick of butter, which is a common stable for polar explorers who need all the calories they can get. (I prefer mine melted over popcorn by the way)

Mike Horn reports that the sastrugi that he is encountering are massive, and continue to grow in size, but despite all of that, he's still making great time as well. His latest dispatch says that he's had his best day yesterday, covering 29.5km or roughly 16nm. He's also encountered some very windy conditions, which have resulted in whiteout conditions at times, but this is nothing he hasn't encountered before, and won't slow the veteran polar explorer down in the least.

Finally, the Finnish Team looks to be the next to arrive at the Pole. Their most recent dispatch, from yesterday, had them still 85km out from their destination, but closing rapidly. They report a faster pace now, despite the weather and ground conditions varying more than ever, and with a little luck, they should arrive at the South Pole in time for Christmas. (They do know that Santa lives at the North Pole though, right?)

Himalaya and Karakorum Winter Update: Winter is Here!

The season officially changed to winter yesterday, which meant that the handful of teams preparing to make winter climbs in the Himalaya and Karakorum could at last get underway. Many of the climbers involved in these expeditions were already in place and ready to go, but just wanted to be sure that everything was official before starting up their respective mountains.

Amongst the expeditions to watch in the coming weeks are Simone Moro and Denis Urubko's assault on Makalu, the last of the 8000 m peaks in the HImalaya to go unclimbed in winter. They'll attempt it in alpine style, and by most accounts should be in BC now, and acclimatizing and preparing to get started.

The Czech Team on Manaslu has wasted no time in getting underway, and are currently searching for a route between C1 and C2. Since the last climbing season on the mountain, apparently the seracs along that route have collapsed and covered the trail, making it incredibly challenging for the team to make their way up. They're also reporting clouds and snow adding an interesting challenge to the mix.

On Broad Peak, the team of Don Bowie, Artur Hajzer, and Robert Szymczak are still waiting for their airlift out to BC. In the mean time, they are acclimatizing in the Sadpara Valley and hoping the weather will lift soon. They're all in good spirits and getting along well as they make their preparations to go after the first 8000m winter climb in the Karakorum.

Finally, there is the Polish Team on Nanga Parbat, where they have now established base camp, but not in the traditional location. With more than 1.5 meters of snow on the ground, the team has had to shift their location 5km away from the Diamir Face, which could make for some logistical issues down the line, although mostly it'll be a longer walk up to C1.

Expect more updates this week and the days ahead as the climbs finally get underway.

Google Earth Helps Scientists Discovery Unexplored Forest

Here's a great story in the Telegraph today about how Google Earth was used to discover a hidden forest that had remained unexplored and untouched by man, until the first exploration party visited the region recently.

It seems scientists were using Google's amazing satellite imaging software to examine remote regions of Mozambique when they discovered small region, about 7000 hectares in size, that had yet to be explored thanks to difficult terrain and on-going conflicts in the area.

Naturally, they dispatched a team to explore the area, and discovered a region of rich biodiversity that included several new species of plants and animals. So far, the team has confirmed three new species of butterflies and a deadly new breed of snakes, and are expected to confirm two new species of plants, and possibly insects as well.

An amazing story. It's still surprises me that we have these little pockets of untouched Earth that are still waiting for us to explore them and discover new things there. The fact that you can use Google Earth to find them is just another level of cool. I think I'll go fire up my copy right now and see if I can find my own little piece of unexplored land. Perhaps I can plant a flag there and declare myself Emperor or something.

Rowing Around The Globe

British Adventurer Oliver Hicks will set out this week to undertake one of the last big adventures in the water or on land for that matter. Hicks intends to circumnavigate the globe by rowing his way around the southern hemisphere along the 55th parallel, something that has never been done before.

Hicks' intention is to row for nine hours a day, covering an average of 30 miles per day, over the course of 500 days. In all, he'll cover more than 15,000 miles, setting off from New Zealand. From there, he'll cross the Pacific Ocean, navigate the perilous Drake Passage into the Southern Ocean, and continuing along, if everything goes according to plan, back to New Zealand, a year and a half after he started. He'll make one stop along his journey, wintering in South Georgia, a small island in the south Atlantic, where he'll resupply before continuing his journey.

The 27-year old explorer is no stranger to adventure. At the age of 17 he began making long distance cycling trips, and four years later he ran the famed Marathon des Sables. He's also paddled the Yukon River Quest, and back in 2005 he became the youngest person to ever paddle across the Atlantic Ocean, completing that long distance paddle in 124 days.

The plan is, whether permitting, to get underway this week in a specially designed boat made of carbon fiber. He'll take with him 10 pairs of oars, a year's supply of food, 50 liters of water, an emergency sail, and a life raft. Unfortunately, along his intended route, there really won't be anyone to come rescue him should he get into trouble, so Hicks is going out on quite a limb. This article over at the Times Online, does a good job of explaining the dangers, but the line in their opening paragraph, which reads: "Below 40 degrees latitude there is no law; below 50 degrees there is no God" pretty much sums it up well.

Once he's under way, you'll be able to chart his progress on the expedition's official website. For now, you can check out some videos of the preparation by clicking here. And thanks to Roz for bring this to my attention!

Gear Box: Polartec Gear

I recently got my hands on some really great items from several gear manufacturers that incorporate Polartec fabrics to enhance performance and keep us warm. Thanks to a couple of recent cold snaps in Austin, Texas, I've also had the opportunity to put the gear through it's paces and see how it performs.

L.L. Bean Mountain Sports Fleece: I have to admit, that I've mostly dismissed L.L. Bean products as "yuppy gear" in recent years. Most of their stuff hasn't done much to impress me, and I've generally seen the brand being worn by people around town who haven't seen a trail n years, if ever. But after wearing the Mountain Sport Fleece Jacket, my opinion has changed.

From the moment I first put on this jacket, I was immediately impressed with it's quality and design. It's easily comparable to other, more expensive brands, and offers a great fit that is snug, without being restrictive. It's also warm and wind resistant, yet remains breathable, thank to the Polartec Thermal Pro fabric. This jacket is designed for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking on cooler days, and it performs perfectly in those functions, but is also stylish enough that you can wear it around town as well. The jacket has a list price of $89, and I can tell you I've payed more, for less, from other name brand manufacturers. This is a great fleece jacket that I highly recommend. Very nice!

Kokatat OuterCore Long Sleeve Top: This mid-weight fleece layer shirt is designed for surfing or paddling. I'm not a surfer, as there are few opportunities in Austin, but I am a paddler, and there are plenty of places to kayak in the area. Usually, it's sunny and warm here, and there is no need for something like this, but adding the OuterCore shirt from Kokatat to my gear closet meant not having to wait out the cold snaps before getting back out on the water.

This shirt uses a new fabric from Polartec called Power Dry, which is made up of 65% recycled fabrics, and is designed for use as a base layer. The OuterCore is incredibly comfortable to wear, even with a PFD or drysuit on over top, and doesn't restrict your movement in the least, making it easy to paddle in. I was impressed with how warm the shirt kept me while paddling in cool temperatures, even when it became wet. The quick drying outer portion kept the soft, interior velour free from moisture, which translated into a more comfortable day on the water in colder conditions. I'd definitely recommend the OuterCore for anyone who needs cool or cold wether paddling gear. It's one of those pieces of gear you didn't know you needed until you've added it to your closet. (MSRP: $72)

The North Face El Cap Shirt: Probably my favorite piece of gear that I had the chance to test out was the El Cap Delta base layer shirt from The North Face. This shirt also uses the Power Dry fabric from Polartec, but in this case the entire material is 100% recycled, an indicator of North Face's commitment to being more "green" in their approach. Designed to be a base layer in colder weather or a stand alone item on warmer days.

I put the El Cap Delta through it's paces on a series of runs, both on and off road, during some cool evenings, and each time I wore it, I was more impressed. The shirt did an amazing job of keeping me warm and dry, something that is very important when the temperature begins to drop. Comfortable and light, the El Cap is superior to any other article of clothing that I've used at wicking away moisture. It hasn't been cold enough to pair this with a jacket, but I'd imagine it would work wonderful under those conditions as well. I have little doubt that this performance shirt/base layer will become one of the most used items in my gear closet. It's versatile enough for just about any type of activity, and is of such high quality that it'll last a long time. It's hard not to be impressed with the El Cap. (MSRP: $65)

Polartec fabrics have a great reputation and these three very different gear items show just how amazing it is. Great gear for a variety of uses in cool and cold temperatures. Big thanks to Ian over at Backbone Media for sending me all this great stuff.

Antarctic Update: Todd Is At The Pole!!

Word has just come in tonight that Todd Carmichael has reached the South Pole, becoming the first American to make the journey solo and unsupported. The latest dispatch from his home team can be found by clicking here.

Todd has been going all out to try to reach the Pole in record time, and it's been a couple of days since there has been any concrete updates. It turns out that both of his satellite phones failed in the last two days, preventing him from sending detailed updates back to the world.

At this point, we don't have any word on whether or not he set a new speed record when he reached his goal. What we do know is that he made it on his 39th day, with the last 30 of those days on foot. The bindings of skis broke early on, and were beyond repair, and yet Todd still persevered to the end in an amazing display of endurance.

The dispatch notes that there is a storm raging at Patriot Hills so Todd will remain at the Pole for a few days until the weather clears and a plane can be dispatched to pick him up. There are a few others closing in on 90º S, so perhaps he'll have company soon. More details on the past few days will follow.

Congratulations Todd! Thanks for taking us all along for the ride with you. Now rest up, you've earned it.

Site News

A couple of quick end of the week news items:

First, I've succumbed to the siren call of Twitter. Not sure what I think of it yet, nor am I completely sold, but I'm giving it a try. To that end, I've been tweeting my blog posts through Twitter, and those that would like to subscribe to my feed, and get blog updates that way, as well as other general musings, my feed is: kungfujedi

Secondly, I'm proud to announce that I am now part of the team over at Gadling, one of my favorite travel sites, and a blog that I've read for several years. Late last week they asked me to come on board and provide some of the same content that I do here for them instead, and I was incredibly flattered that they would want me. Of course I said, yes, and I've made my first post there today on the 20th Anniversary of Michael Palin's epic Around The World In 80 Days. The show was amazing, and I can't believe it's been 20 years. Michael and his adventures have inspired me to travel many times.

This blog is not going away, by the way. I'll still be writing here as well. Some of my stories will likely shift over to Gadling however, and I'll be linking to them here from time to time as well. I'm very excited about this opportunity, as it gives me the chance to tell the stories of these adventures and the adventurers behind them, to a much bigger audience.

That's all for now! Enjoy the weekend!

Chris Sharma Puts Up Another 5.15b?

Seems like Chris Sharma just can't avoid going after the tough problems. Earlier this year he put up a new route on The Monastery on Clark Mountain in California called Jumbo Love that was rated at a 5.15b difficulty, and has been called the toughest climb in the world by some. Earlier this week, he may have done an even tougher one!

Climbing in Siurana, Spain, Sharma added a "brutal" approach to Estado Critico, an existing 5.14c/d, making a first ascent on the route that adds more length and challenge. Sharma calls the new route Golpe de Estado and has been a bit reluctant to grade it so far, but others have estimated it to be another 5.15b difficulty.

You can read more about it over at the Big UP blog, where they also have a video of Chris working the route earlier this year. Good stuff.

Thanks to Rock and Ice and ClimbingNarc.

Final Episode of Survivorman Airs Tonight

Heads up for all you fans of the Discovery Channel's Survivorman television show. The last episode will air tonight at 9 PM EST/8 CST and will drop host Les Stroud into the jungles of Papua New Guinea.

The show became very popular, in no small part thanks to it's host, Stroud, who sets off alone in remote places, and demonstrates how to survive in those environments. Les goes completely alone and does his own camerawork, doing his best to give an accurate indication of the challenges he faces while living off the land.

A few months back it was announced that Les was hanging up his survival gear after three seasons. He admitted that the grind of filming took it's toll on his body, and that he was ready to move on to other projects. It's a shame to see him go, as I always liked his approach, but it's also quite understandable. How many of us would want to starve ourselves for a week, while trying to escape from a remote place, only to reach civilization, and then go do it again the following week?

We'll see Les again. He has reportedly already pitched a new show, and I'm sure Discovery is happy to have him in any capacity that they can. Of course, this being Discovery, Survivorman will continue to live in re-runs for a long while yet as well. Good luck Les, can't wait to see your next adventure!

Antarctic Update: End of the Week Round-Up

Some end of the week news from (way) down under:

Not much of an update on Todd Carmichael since I made the post on his progress yesterday. His latest dispatch hints that the long days, altitude, and frenetic pace may be finally catching up with him at long last, as he heads into his final days. The deep snow has slowed his progress and zapped his energy, but he's still hoping to reach the Pole tomorrow and set a new record in the process.

Meanwhile, the Shackleton Centenary Expedition is having problems of their own. They moved off the Ross Ice Shelf a few days back and onto the continent itself by way of the Beardmore Glacier, which turned out to be one giant blue slab of ice. On the one hand, that has made it easier to spot the crevasses, but it has made their skis all but useless. The team has donned crampons in an effort to gain traction, but when packing for the expedition they elected to bring aluminum crampons rather than steel. As a result, the minor savings they gained in weight has proven negligible, while the steel crampons would have withstood the wear and tear better, and gripped the ice more effectively. Today, the team managed just 10.1 nautical miles, and have spent a lot of time repairing the damaged spikes on their footwear.

The South Pole Quest 2008 team, on the other hand, has had one of it's best days yet, notching up over 20nm on a clear, sunny day, with only sastrugi and snow drifts to impede their progress. Everyone seems in great spirits, and are enjoying the expedition, as well as their opportunities to interact with the students following along at home. Question of the day: "Have you seen any polar bears or penguins?" and the audio answer. (Thankfully, they haven't seen any polar bears, as they would be REALLY lost.)

Thomas Davenport has sent another dispatch to report that both the equipment and the explorers are beginning to get a bit ragged after more than a month out on the ice. Thomas and his team have now crossed the 87th degree, and he says that his feet have been bothering him for more than a week. It got so bad at one point that he actually tried to walk, rather than ski, but abandoned the attempt after just 15 minutes. To remedy the situation, he is now wearing his right ski on his left foot, and vice versa. He also reports that others are having their bindings break, and other equipment issues. On the bright side, the weather remains good!

Mike Horn has now crossed the 83rd degree, and continues to make great progress now that the ground has leveled out. He is now a mere 787km (489 miles) from the Pole. He is also experiencing great weather, although the soft snow has made pulling the sled quite difficult at times.

Finally, the Fins took a "lie-in" day yesterday, allowing themselves to get some extra rest as they prepare for their last push to the Pole. They spent the entire day in the tent, sleeping and eating, making it only their second day of rest since they set out more than 40 days ago. They are now just passed 88º S and stand just 219km (136 miles) from the Pole.

Adventure Racing Legend Ian Adamson Coming To Adventure Week 2009!

Big news today in the world of adventure racing, as the organizers of Adventure Week 2009 have announced that legendary endurance athlete Ian Adamson will not only be on hand for the festivities, but will also come out of retirement to race The Crux and The Crucible, two of the races scheduled to take place next June during the week look event.

Adamson is the must successful adventure racer in history, having won more than 20 world championship race and numerous other events. Over his illustrious career he has won the Eco-Challenge (3 times), Primal Quest (3 times), the AR World Championship and Raid World Championship (2 times each), and the Southern Traverse, amongst others. He is also a three time record holder for endurance kayaking, and holds the current record of 262 miles in 24 hours.

Adventure Week 2009 is scheduled to take place from June 5 to June 14 in Farragut State Park, near Coeur d’Alene, ID. Over the course of the event, more than 20 races and other competitions will take place, including the Xterra Farragut, a qualifier for the Xterra Nationals, the Deepwater Ultra, which will serve as a qualifier for the Western States, and the newly added Beaches to Boulders trail runs.

It seems that Ian won't be the only big name AR personality to appear at Adventure Week either. The latest press release hints at "huge announcements on other guests and cool stuff within the next two weeks", so expect more good things following the holidays. This event is really shaping up nicely and looks like it's going to be a blast!

Looking For A Last Minute Gift?

The holidays are nearly upon us, with just a few short shopping days left. Are you still looking for a great gift for the adventurer on your list?? Then check out this great deal over at Amazon.com.

Fans of the television show Long Way Round and Long Way Down are going to love this DVD set, which includes not only both of those series, but also Charley Boorman's Race To Dakar. In all, it's 8 DVD's full of amazing travel video, totaling up to more than 10 hours of adventure.

For those that aren't familiar with the show, Long Way Round had Charley and his best friend Ewan McGregor setting off from London to ride their motorcycles around the world, while Long Way Down has the the same duo riding from the northernmost region of Scotland to the tip of South Africa. Before they ever set out however, Charley was already an experienced off road motorcyclist, and he took those skills to the desert to race the Dakar Rally.

At just $37.49, it's hard to pass up on a deal like this, and judging from the fact that it won't ship for 1-3 weeks, it looks like plenty of other people are grabbing it as well. As a big fan of both shows, I can tell you that this is a steal, and getting the Dakar footage is just icing on the cake.

Thanks to regular reader Carl for sending this tip my way.

The 10 Best Ski Hostels in the World

Another good travel article from the Times Online today, this time it's the Worlds 10 Best Ski Hostels, which aims to give us some great places to go, on the cheap, for a ski holiday this year.

The list was compiled by the budget conscious website HostelBookers.com, who rated the locations on a host of categories, with affordability being the dominant criteria. These hostels range in price from £8-£48 a night, which works out to about $12-$72. Credit crunch or not, that's a great deal for some outstanding places to hit the slopes.

Some of the places to make the cut include Cube Savognin in Switzerland, which comes highly recommended for it's location (just 50 meters from the cable car), and it's bar that serves up drinks and snacks 24 hours a day. Prices start at £36 ($54) and include a one day lift pass for Savognin per booked night.

The rest of list is populated with similar deals from hostels dotting the world. There are recommendations for Poland, Austria, Japan, and more. They even found a budget recommendation in Breckenridge here in the States, giving the nod to the Fireside Innfor it's proximity to stores and restaurants, 10 minute walk to the slopes, and £20 ($30) per night price tag.

This list is proof positive you can still have a good time without spending too much money, so don't put off those travel plans just because the global economy is in the dumper. Think of the poor snow bunnies!

New York Times Profiles Fred Beckey

The New York Times has an amazing article on legendary climber Fred Beckey today, introducing the now 85-year-old climber to it's readers.

Beckey has been climbing for more than 70 years, and to this day, he remains as agile and determined as ever to continue bagging peaks. He has put up more first ascents than any other man, taking on rock faces in United States, Canada, China, the Himalaya, and more. He even has an 8500 foot mountain named after him in a remote region of Alaska.

The article recounts his long career on the rock, and touches on his controversial personality that, at times, alienated other climbers. But as he has gotten older, his dedication to the sport, and thirst for adventure, continue to thrive. Beckey often recruits younger climbers to this day to join him on his latest excursions all over the world. For example, the word went out this fall that Beckey was headed to Spain to climb, and that he was looking for others to join him. And many climbers planned to join him, just for the opportunity to get to know one of the legends of climbing.

Despite his advancing age, Beckey continues to be in great shape, and tackle challenging walls. The article says that he intends to climb Mount Monarch in the Coast Range, Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park and Mount Assiniboine in the Canadian Rockies, before he heads to Europe for the Spanish climbs that he has on the agenda.

I can only hope to be half as spry and adventuresome when I hit 85. Great story. Thanks to the Backpacker Blogs for this one.

Antarctic Update: Todd Crosses 89º, On Record Pace!

Just a quick update from the Antarctic today, and not the usual rounds of all the teams. I thought that it was fitting to update the progress of American Todd Carmichael, who has now passed the 89th degree and has passed the record setting pace of Hannah McKeand back in 2006.

According to ExWeb, Todd is now 2.9 nautical miles ahead of Hannah's pace, but continues to struggle in the soft snow. He is now just 60 nautical miles from the Pole after pulling his sled for 15 long hours today to reach his goal of 17nm. The next few days promise longer mileage, and it's going to be a tough going all the way.

Back in 2006, Hannah beat the old record by more than two days, taking just 39 days, 10 hours, 33 minutes to reach the South Pole, going solo and unsupported the entire way. Todd has set goal a of reaching that same point, also solo and unsupported, on Saturday, December 20th, but to do so, he'll need to cover 19 nm and 21 nm over the next two days.

Todd's home team reports that although his load continues to dwindle in size, his sled feels heavier than ever, thanks to the soft snow. His supplies have also dwindled to the point that he can't afford to remain out on the ice for much past his deadline. HIs longer days and more challenging schedule have caused him to burn more calories, and his food supply is getting quite low. While his life is not in danger, his "unsupported" status could be lost if he has to call in a supply drop.

Watch for more updates. The record is in jeopardy, but it's going to be close.

Dispatches From Antarctica and an Update on the Ushuaia

If you haven't been reading Jon Bowermaster's wonderful updates from the Antarctic, you really should be. The explorer/writer is back in Antarctica for a two month expedition to once again assess the health of the ice pack and the impact of global climate change on the region.

The dispatches are coming nearly daily, and are usually accompanied with some great photos. The topics vary nicely, some days we get insights on different regions of the Antarctic Peninsula, such as this one on Sharp Peak, and this one on an area called The Lemaire, a narrow strait bordered by sharp, snow capped peaks. Other dispatches are educational and philosophical in nature, with discussions on "Who Owns Antarctica?" or the impact of fishing on the waters surrounding the continent. I especially found this entry interesting as it talks about Jon's experience in the Antarctic over the past 20 years.

Two days ago, the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators released another update on the MV Ushuaia, the cruise ship that ran aground back on December 4th, striking some rocks, and damaging it's hull in the process. According to the latest report, the ship struck out across the Drake Passage, making it's way under it's own power, and should now be in dry dock in Punta Arenas, where it'll undergo repairs. While sailing for home, there was no observation of fuel leaks, and it is now believed that the ship will be back in service as early as Dec. 28th and no later than Jan. 7th.

Antarctic Update: Mid-Week News

More updates from Antarctica, where the explorers continue to pass milestones.

As usual, we'll start with Todd Carmichael who has had a tough day on the trail the past two days. The softer snow has made it difficult for him to continue at the blistering pace that he'd set over the past few weeks, and though he is still making good time, it's requiring more effort. Todd knocked off 17nm and 15.2nm over the course of yesterday and today, but says that his sled feels like it weighs more now than it did when he set out, despite the fact that he has far fewer supplies on it than he did 35 days ago. Never the less, the American has set a goal of reaching the Pole on December 20th (this Saturday), and to do so, he'll have to cover an average of more than 19 nautical miles each of the next few days. His home team also reports that it's "all or nothing" at this point, as his supplies are dwindling quickly, and injury, adverse weather, or damaged equipment could put his "unsupported" status in jeopardy. It should be fun to watch how this unfolds over the next few days. Good luck Todd!

The Shackleton Centenary Team may be off the Ross Ice Shelf, but that doesn't mean they're off the ice. Their latest dispatch has them hitting an ice field, and has left them looking like "Bambi on ice skates" while they struggled to make time. Tomorrow they'll don the crampons to aid in their progression however, as they are now squarely onto the Beardmore Glacier and trudging through the Trans-Antarctic Mountains.

Mark Langridge continues his journey to the Pole, and is now 36 days out from Patriot Hills. He has reached another milestone, passing the 87th parallel, while continuing to climb uphill, battling sastrugi all the way. He is reportedly in great spirits however, and having a great time. The home team reports that he stops each day to take photographs along his journey, which gives me the impression that he's out for a leisurely stroll.

The South Pole Quest Team began the day in whiteout conditions which made for tough navigation and slowed progress in general. Eventually, however, the sky cleared, and visibility increased, allowing them to make better time. When it was all said and done, the team finished the day with it's best mileage ever, and wound up 19.2nm closer to the Pole. Todays question from a high school student is a good one: "If you run into trouble, how many days of food do you have until you run out?" Listen to their audio answer here.

Mike Horn also reports whiteout conditions have hampered his progress the past two days, and with navigation all but impossible, he decided to just continue heading due south. That philosophy worked great for him until he ran smack into a crevasse field. They turned out to not be especially large, but it was alarming none the less, because Mike stumbled into them without even knowing they were there. The veteran of polar exploration has a reunion planned for the South Pole, as he now hopes to reach that spot at the same time as his old companion Borge Ousland, who he went to the North Pole with awhile back. Borge is on a last degree expedition to the South Pole.

A few other quick updates today. The Fins send holiday greetings back home, and the South Pole 2008 Team reports that they have now passed the 86th degree after four weeks on the ice, meanwhile Tom Davenport posts about what brought him to Antarctica and his complete pleasure at being there.

Adventure Edge Radio Interviews Will Steger

Adventure Edge Radio, a podcast focused on interviewing adventurers across a wide range of activities, has an impressive back catalog of episodes that includes interviews with mountaineer Pete Athens, speed-climber Hans Florentine, and many more. This week's episode adds another impressive name to that list in polar explorer Will Steger.

Will has years of experience in exploring the arctic regions of the planet. He's spent more than 40 years leading teams in the polar regions, including the first expedition to the North Pole without resupply by dog sled and the first successful traverse of Antarctica by dog sled as well. He is also the first National Geographic Explorer in Residence and an tireless educator on the effects of global climate change.

In this interview, hosted by Jimmy Buff, we get plenty of background on Will, and you'll hear him talk about his experiences first hand, touching on the Ellesmere Island expedition from earlier this year, his work with schools and young people, and his first hand experience with how our warming planet is effecting the ice caps.

The Adventure Edge Radio shows are sponsored by Sierra Trading Post and are highlighted regular in the Sierra Blogging Post, the official blog for that gear store.

Actor Emile Hirsch Visits The Congo

Men's Journal has another interesting article up on their website. This time it's the Diary of Emile Hirsch, who recently visited the Congo in Africa, along with four young activists, only to have his eyes opened to the plight of people living in that part of the world.

Hirsch joined the team after becoming associated with Oxfam. He admits that he'd never heard of the charitable organization before playing Christopher McCandless in last year's film adaptation of Into The Wild. McCandless donated his entire life's savings, a sum of $24,500.68 to Oxfam before embarking on his own journey that ultimately ended with his death in Alaska.

Reading these diaries you can see Hirsch's progression from someone who knows nothing about the Congo, who then reads briefings on the topic, to eventually witnessing the place first hand. The 23 year old actor visits a remote village in the jungle at one point of his journey, and meets men, women, and children who have all suffered as a result of the conditions in the country that include open warfare, poverty, and disease.

The article is an excellent read, and demonstrates well what it can be like to visit remote places in distant countries and interact with the people there. It's nearly impossible to come away unchanged by what you see there, even in relatively stable countries. Visiting a place like the Congo would be life altering. For Hirsch, it seems that that is the case.

Putin Names Peak After Russian Spies

Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister of Russia, has named a mountain in North West Ossetia after the KGB, the infamous Soviet intelligence agency.

The peak, which stands 3269 meters (10,725 feet), was previously unnamed, but now goes by the moniker of the "Peak of Russian Counterintelligence Agents". (Catchy huh?)

The mountain is part of the Caucus range, and sits near the border of Georgia, where I'm sure they are now overjoyed to have a landmark so close by to remind them of their day as a Soviet satellite. Earlier this year Georgia and Russia went to war with one another over the ability for South Ossetia to breakaway from Georgia. Tensions in the region have been quite high since.

The above photo is reportedly an actual shot of the mountain in question.

Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge Day 6 - Desert Islands Wins!

The Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge came to a conclusion today with a fast final stage that saw the teams biking, running, anc climbing through the desert in an all out dash to the finish line.

The sixth stage of the race was separated into three sections. A short mountain bike leg, followed by desert mountain run and ropes course, and then one more mountain bike leg. In the end, the strong kiwi team of Desert Islands was just too much for the field, and they finished first on the day, and took home the top prize overall as well.

Team NZ, also of New Zealand, finished in second place, more than seven minutes behind the champions. Third place went to the French team of Sport2000 Vibram Outdry who were an additional six minutes back, and just seconds ahead of their countrymen on Team Wilsa Helly Hansen. American team Nike crossed the finish line in fifth place overall.

By all accounts, the Adventure Challenge was another great event this year. I've been told by people in Abu Dhabi that the organizers of the event went all out to make the teams, fans, and media feel welcome. I think it's safe to say that there will be another race next year.

From the stand point of a fan of the sport, it's also great to see so many very good teams competing at the event. That bodes well for adventure racing in general. I'd love to see some of these teams come to Primal Quest Badlands next year and competing in that race as well. The experience of PQ is very different from what they've encountered in Abu Dhabi however, and it would be interesting to see how they would deal with navigation and a non-stop race style. With any luck, we may get the chance to find out!

Congratulations to Team Desert Islands on a well deserved win.

More K2 Stories Emerging

It's been more than five months since the tragedy on K2 unfolded while we watched from home, waiting for news on the situation. As time has passed, we've continued to get a clearer picture of what went down on the mountain that fateful day at the beginning of August, and while we may never know the whole story, details continue to emerge that paint a more full picture.

Take the latest post by Freddie Wilkinson over at the Hardwear Sessions blog. The story entitled "The Abandonment of Gerard McDonnell" brings to light a new story about how the Irish climber may have perished on K2 while trying to revive other downed climbers. Up until now, the story has been that Gerard seemed confused and disoriented, most likely from altitude sickness. But when speaking directly to Pemba Gyalje, Wilkinson now believes that this is a distortion of the truth and that Gerard may have been working hard to save others, all the way up to the end.

Wilkinson has written about and investigated the K2 tragedy quite extensively. He wrote piece for the Huffington Post a few months back that told the story about the unsung heroes of the day called Heros in Fine Print that gave the details on Pempa's and Chhiring Dorje's efforts to save other mountaineers on K2. That story helped to shed more light on the entire situation, and this new ones does the same.

The author ends his story by saying that there are still many unanswered questions about the events that occurred on K2, and that while Marco Confortola has given his detailed account, fellow survivor Wilco van Roojen has yet to do the same. I guess we may never know at this point, everything that happened on the Bottleneck over the course of those two days.

Trailer for Blindsight

The Wend Blog, official blog of Wend Magazine, posted the video of the trailer for a film called Blindsight which follows six blind Tibetan teenagers who set off to climb Everest, led by Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to ever climb that mountain.

Judging from the trailer, this movie looks to be beautifully shot, and seems to capture the spirit of mountaineering along with the culture of Tibet, while giving us an inspiring look at these young people. You can learn more about the film at the official website, where you'll find information about the climbers, how the film was produced, and when you can expect it to come to your neighborhood. It looks like the film has been out for awhile now in most territories, but played in limited release. Hopefully I can track down a DVD or catch it on TV. Anyone seen it?

Update: One quick correction to this story. As Clyde astutely points out in the comments to this story, they did not climb Everest, but instead went up Lhakpa Ri near the north side of Everest. That peak tops out at just over 23,000 feet. Thanks Clyde!

36 Great Travel Ideas for 2009

Speaking of planning for trips in 2009, the Times Online has put together an article to get you thinking of where you should be going next year with their 36 Best Travel Ideas for the year ahead.

The article breaks down it's suggestions by month, which is convenient for those who know when they would like to take a trip, but are unsure if where they would like to go. (Like me!) A quick glance at January for instance, shows such suggestions as attending a music festival in the deserts of Mali or celebrating the Chinese New Year in Hong Kong. February offers up the butterfly migration in Mexico or attending Carnival in Salvador.

The rest of the months have similar great travel ideas that range all over the globe with a wide variety of travel experiences. You'll find festivals, concerts, stage shows, wildlife escapes, outdoor adventures, and a whole lot more. These excursions range from being relaxed and tame to quite adventurous and challenging, depending on your needs, and often times links to websites for booking the trip are also provided.

All in all, a good list of travel ideas for 2009. There is a little something for everyone here. So, load up your iPod with that newly created "travel playlist" from the post below, hit the road, and enjoy a year of travel opportunities.

The 40 Greatest Travel Songs of All Time

Travel site World Hum has put together a great list of the Top 40 Travel Songs of All Time, and has even gone so far as to track down videos for each of them as well. They also give a little fun fact about each tune, and explain what makes it, in their opinion, a great travel song.

Some of the selections will seem obvious, such as Ramblin' Man by The Allman Brothers, which kicks the list off at number 40, or Toto's Africa which lands at number 27. Others might make for a bit more of a surprise, like When I Paint My Masterpiece by Bob Dylan or Roam by the B-52's. Then or course there are some that I've never even heard of. (Travelin' Prayer by Billy Joel?)

I won't spoil any of the Top 10, but needless to say, you could make a great playlist for your iPod by choosing songs from this list alone. Some of the song are a bit too "road trip" oriented, but still make for great fun, and the entire list would make a great soundtrack to your next journey.

Is the Bad Economy Good for Travelers?

While browsing the Lonely Planet website earlier I came across this discussion regarding the impact of the bad economy on travel plans in the near future. The person who launched the discussion was planning on quitting their job and taking off to explore the world for a year, and is now rethinking that plan, wondering if it would be irresponsible to leave a job at this time.

The original post sparked lots of good comments, with some people weighing in on both sides of the discussion. Some say "go for it", while others say it's best to wait, while another group simply offers empathetic support. Most say it's a tough call, and considering the average forum dweller on Lonely Planet is likely to be an experienced traveler, you know that many of them are in the same predicament.

My thought on the subject is this. If I were in the same boat as the person who posed the question, I'd likely not be taking a year off work at this time. Things are probably going to get worse, economically speaking, before they get better, and I'd hate to get caught without a job down the line just because I wanted to travel now.

On the other hand, if you're not looking to take a trip of that length and magnitude, this may be a great time to get a deal. Many people are watching their money closely right now while they wait for things to turn around. That means fewer people traveling, and more opportunities to find a deal. After the first of the year, I expect there to be some outstanding travel opportunities available for not a lot of money. This is quickly turning into a global economic meltdown, and few places will remain untouched, allowing your money to go a lot further, provided you have the cash to travel to begin with.

I'm planning my next trip to take place sometime in the spring, but I haven't decided where to yet. I have a few places in mind, but I'm waiting to see if I can get an excellent deal. Anyone have any suggestion on where I should go? I have one strict criteria. The trip needs to be only about 8-10 days in length, as I need to save some vacation days for a possible future project. But other than that, I'm for just about anything and anywhere. Suggestions? Send 'em my way!

Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge Day 5

It's Day 5 of the Abhu Dhabi Adventure Challenge and the teams have now completed the 107km (66 mile) desert trek. From all account, it sounds like it was a blisteringly fast pace through the sand dunes, that saw Wilsa Helly Hansen claiming the fast time for the stage and putting them in contention heading into the final stage tomorrow.

As of now, the leaderboard now has Desert Islands back on top with a lead of just over one minute on their fellow Kiwi's of Team NZ. Third place is now held down by Wilsa Helly Hansen of France who are in a virtual dead heat with their countrymen from Team Sport2000 Vibram Outdry. The fifth spot is occupied by Team Nike, who are currently about 45 minutes off the pace.

According to this race report, the top teams blazed through the desert stage yesterday without any of the top five really gaining an advantage on one another. When night feel, Nike moved to the front of the pack, with ace navigator Chris Forne showing the way, as the other teams followed their lead through the darkness. Apparently Chris was driving the pack so hard at one point that other teams asked Nike to slow down so they wouldn't get lost.

The battle for the podium spots will really heat up tomorrow, with the top four teams relatively close to one another. Personally, I expect the two teams from New Zealand to battle for first with the two teams from France left to fight it out for third. Nike dug themselves a hole early in the race thanks to issues with their kayaks, and have struggled to get back into contention every since. These stage races make it very difficult for a team to dramatically change their position late in the event, unlike a non-stop expedition race, where they can continue to push forward at all times.

Tomorrow, Stage 6 will have the teams on their mountain bikes early on before going back on foot, and over a ropes course. Once they are through that section, they'll return to their bikes for one last dash to the finish line.