Garmin Colorado GPS Review

Tom from Two-Heel Drive pointed me towards this excellent review of the Garmin Colorado 400t GPS over at Calipidder.com.

The review is exceptionally well done, with lots of nice details, and an in depth look at this device, which comes with built in topographic maps of the entire United States, and a base map that covers the World. It also has a unique navigation system that uses a click wheel not unlike that of an iPod. I've been eyeing one of these for some time, but haven't had the chance to play with one yet, so this review was great at telling me what the Colorado does well and what it needs some work on.

Reviewer Rebecca puts the Colorado through it's paces on a trail run and geocaching, and after a short 24 hours of use, she's completely sold on the new device. From her report, the maps are good, the tracking is accurate, and it had more features then you can shake a stick at. She goes on to say that she intends to use the Colorado for backcountry navigation and more geocaching, which the unit does very well, but has capabilities that extend far beyond those uses as well.

Hmm... I just got my REI dividend as well, and I received several REI giftcards for Christmas that I still haven't used. Perhaps I should make a trip over to the store this weekend. That is, unless someone over at Garmin wants to send me one to play with! ;)

More on the Colorado 400t here.

YouTube Video: Hiking The Inca Trail

While checking out the Friday Matinee today over at OutdoorsMagic.com I came across this cool video of a couple hiking the Inca Trail in Peru. The video does a great job of showing what the conditions on the trail are like, and it doesn't hurt that the couple in question have great senses of humor and are fun to listen to.

Today's Friday Matinee has a Peruvian theme to it, as the other videos are also set in that country. There are a couple of nice mountaineering vids centered around the Cordillera Blanca area, with some really great footage. Definitely worth checking out.

Broad Peak Winter Update: Here We Go Again!

Simone and crew aren't ready to pack it in just yet. The Winter has been long and very cold on Broad Peak, but the men have suffered for far too long to come home now without making another attempt on the mountain. Today we have word from K2Climb.net that they are in the midst of another summit push at this very moment.

The weather forecasts are predicting that the lowest wind speeds of the season will occur this Sunday. In order to get themselves into position for the summit push, Simone, Shaheen Baig, and Qudrat Ali have set off for their high camps today, likely pushing on to C2 tonight, and then proceeding up to C3, the last camp before summit tomorrow. If the weather window opens as promised, they'll make their summit attempt on Sunday. With the lower wind speeds, clouds are expected to move in, and with the clouds comes snow.

In his latest report on the expedition website, Simone notes that this could possibly be their last crack at the summit. They have enough supplies for about ten more days, but energy levels are running low, and this attempt will likely take a lot out of them. They'll reassess in four days if they don't top out.

Lets keep our fingers crossed for these guys. They've worked long and hard for one chance at the summit, but once again, weather hasn't not been kind. I would like to see them at least have decent conditions to give it a go, but at this point we'll just have to wait and see how things unfold.

Washington Post Interviews Jon Bowermaster

A few weeks back the Washington Post published an interview with Jon Bowermaster as he continues his exploration of Antarctica via Kayak.

The Q&A Session is a good one with Jon talking about the inspirations for the trip, which continues his Oceans 8 Expeditions to explore the health of the World's seas. He decided to under take this journey following a 1999 seas kayak trip to the Aleutian Islands, and has been pursuing those goals since then. The trip to Antarctica is just the most recent of those voyages. He also talks about how up close and personal you can get to the natural surroundings by exploring in a kayak, noting that their boats were struck by sharks in French Polynesia, and that his team has swum with dolphins and whales while on the various expeditions.

Jon also says that through each of his journeys, he's seen three common themes no matter where he's gone. The evidence of climate change is undeniable, as is the fact that there is overfishing going on in all corners of the globe. Lastly, he remarks that they've seen a lot of plastic pollution as well, something that certainly isn't good for the health of the oceans.

All in all, an excellent interview and definitely one to read if you've been following Jon's exploits over the past few months either on the National Geographic Adventure page or at the Hardwear Sessions Blog where I came across this story today.

Around The World In Style!

Ever wanted to travel around the World? Take off from home and not return until you've circumnavigated the Earth in some fashion, visiting what ever countries you choose along the way, and taking in all kinds of wild adventures. Sounds like a dream come true to me, and now Forbes Traveler has put together a list of 10 once-in-a-lifetime ways to circle the glove.

The slideshow offers some really great suggestions, such as taking a world cruise with Seven Seas Cruises. That'll set you back $108,265 to $386,365 per person (w/ double occupancy of course). Cruise not your thing? (Not really mine either!) Then check out the Wonders of Civilization tour, which is 24 days in length and visits some very remote spots across the globe such as the Great Pyramids, Petra in Jordan, Xian in China, and Tikal in Guatemala. That one starts at a mere $65,000. Want something even more exotic? Then how about 7 Continents with National Geographic? This 25-day trip treats the World Traveler to unique adventures on ever continent, but will hit your wallet to the tune of $60k.

Personally, I'd love to be able to do this. The National Geographic trip sounds amazing. Of course, you could always do what my friend Ressie did. Quit her job, head out on a year long trip to explore the World, and blog about the whole adventure. Yeah Ress, I'm still a little jealous! ;)

Travel Sites: Argentina and New Zealand

I had a pair of websites e-mailed to me today that may be of interest to those planning a trip abroad.

First up, we have the trekking guide over at ArgentinaTravel.com. The main site is focused on providing in depth information for travelers to Argentina, including where to go, what to do, and a lot more. There is even an Argentina Travel Forum to interact with others planning a trip or who have already been there. The Trekking guide has some great information on the best locations to hike and backpack in the South American country, such as The Lake District and Tierra del Fuego, both of which are iconic destinations. So, if you're considering a trip to Argentina, which I hear is a hidden travel gem, then be sure to stop by ArgentinaTravel.com. I have no doubt you'll come away with some great ideas for your travel adventure.

On the other hand, if you're looking to head to what is widely considered the the Adventure Capital of the World, then check out the official New Zealand travel information site where you'll be able to completely plan your entire vacation. You'll find great information on New Zealand itself, including it's history, culture, and more. There are maps and info about the various regions of the country, and a page dedicated to all the outdoor adventures at your disposal. There is even a page dedicated to helping you get to New Zealand and then get around while you're there.

If all of that isn't enough to get you to go, to New Zealand, then check out the cool promo below. it does a great job of conveying all of the amazing outdoor adventures that you can take advantage of while you're there. It'll show you that NZ is more than just "that place where Lord of the Rings was filmed". I've always wanted to visit this amazing country, and watching this video just reminds me why.

National Geographic Launches Adventure Blog

Judging from the number of posts, I'm a little late on this one, but better late than never. Besides, I get to add another daily stop to my trip around the Interwebs.

National Geographic has decided to give this blogging thing a try and have launched the National Geographic Adventure Blog. Looking back through the archives, it seems that it's only been active since the first week of February, so I'm not incredibly late. They've already built a nice set of posts on a diverse number of topics, some of which support articles in the latest issue of Adventure.

A couple of posts that caught my eye include this one on a recent gathering of the Emerging Explorers and today's post on Jon Bowermaster's Antarctic expedition.

Definitely another blog to keep an eye on. I expect we'll see a lot of interesting posts in the near future. Welcome to the blogosphere NG!

Primal Quest Sprint Series Gears Up For 2009 and Beyond!

Yesterday I mentioned that the Primal Quest Sprint Series had announced the date and location of the second race for 2008 and the names the management team who would be running the events. We now know that the series will kick off at Pocahontas State Park in Virginia on May 10th and that a second race will take place at U.S. National Whitewater Center near Charlotte, North Carolina on Oct 4th.

Not content to rest on their laurels however, the team is forging ahead with a greatly expanded schedule for 2009. The list of potential locations now includes Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Michigan, and British Columbia. The team is still taking suggestions however, so if you'd like to see the PQSS come to your area, drop them a note and make a suggestion.

The series will award points for placement in the individual races and keep season standings as well, eventually crowning an over all champion who will win an automatic entry into the 2010 Primal Quest. Teams looking to get a jump on their competition will still want to race in the 2008 events however, as all points accumulated will be carried over to the 2009 series.

Fans of adventure racing are in for a real treat. Last year at this time there were articles in magazines and posts on websites decrying the death of the sport. But now, a year later, the outlook is very different. There are more races then ever and AR has evolved to the point where there are events for every skill level and length, allowing more people then ever before to get in on the fun. The PQSS will broaden the appeal of the sport and bring the considerably valuablePrimal Quest brand along with it. In 2008, I'd say the sport is as healthy as it's ever been.

Iditarod 2008: The "Last Great Race" Begins Saturday!

This Saturday, March 1st, the 2008 Iditarod gets underway with the Prologue launching the event, and the race proper following on Sunday. As always, it should be another intense, amazing race with all manner of adventure and drama.

The Official Site has some great content up, including a number of good videos. The "2008 Preview" video is especially good for getting us up to speed and ready for this event. You'll be able to follow along with a lot of the action over at IditarodBlogs.com where they've already begun updating on the event. You'll also find Dog Profiles (and lets face it they're the real stars of the Iditarod!), links to other sites covering the race, and much more.

The early word is that the trail is in good shape with a typical amount of snow out on the course. Last year, there were sections that were more ice and frozen dirty than snow, which made it tough going at times, but for the 96 men and women preparing to get underway on Sunday, it loks like they can expect good conditions for their pups to run in.

As for predictions on who will take the event this year, it's always difficult to say. Obviously 2006 winner Jeff King will likely be in the mix again, and with Doug Swingley retired the door is open for someone new to step up. But it's difficult to bet against Lance Mackey who not only won last year's Iditarod, but is coming off his fourth straight win at the Yukon Quest. An impressive feat to be sure.

As always, I'll try to provide updates on the race as it's being run. It truly is one of the best adventures to follow. 1100+ miles of trail across Alaskan wilderness in the dead of Winter. You know these guys are just slightly off their rocker, and we love them for it! ;)

Broad Peak Update: Summit Push Off!

A late update today from K2Climb.net on the ongoing Winter climb on Broad Peak. Yesterday we heard that the team was making their summit push despite high winds and -40 degree temperatures. What a difference a day can make however, as the latest word is that the summit push is over and Simone Moro, Shaheen Baig, and Qudrat Ali have returned to base camp.

The weather report predicted that the winds would exceed 120km/hour over the next few days, making an already dangerous climb that much more challenging. Simone called the weather "strange" in his latest dispatch, but he also promises "we will try again", indicating that he and his team are not ready to give up just yet. They climbed as high as 6000m before turning back for BC.

For now, Broad Peak remains unclimbed in the Winter. Simone has certainly given it his all over the past two years, and he's not ready to give up just yet. He, Shaheen and Qudrat are hoping to claim the first Winter ascent anywhere in the Karakorum, but it doesn't look like it's going to come easy. They'll wait a few more days to see what the weather does before scheduling their next attempt.

Who Are These Guys??

Who are these guys?? That's the question over at the Primal Quest Website today, where the photo was first posted.

Here are a couple of hints. They're both World Class Climbers and they're both on the Primal Quest: Montana team helping scout out challenging climbs for the upcoming race. Both are also VERY well known in the climbing community and universally respected. Having them on the PQ climbing team can only mean good things for the event, and possibly bad things for the teams competing.

Give up? That's Conrad Anker and Jay Smith!

Alan Arnette's Everest FAQ Updated For 2008

The very interesting and informative Everest FAQ over at AlanArnette.com has been updated for 2008 answering many questions on the mountain itself and on Alan's upcoming Road Back To Everest.

This FAQ should be required reading for anyone who is a fan of Everest and would like to know more. It addresses such issues as the differences between climbing on the North and South Side, costs of a climb, the role of a Sherpa in the expedition, training for Everest, and a whole lot more. Alan also discusses his two previous attempts on Everest and how he is approaching his 2008 climb and the reasons why he is going back. (Hint: He's raising awareness and fund for The Cure Alzheimer's Fund.

With the start of the Spring Season a bit more than a month away, it's never to early to start studying up in preparation. So whether you're an armchair mountaineer, an Everest fan, or a climber yourself, you'll probably still learn something from the FAQ. It's definitely worth a read, and you'll likely have a healthier appreciation of what goes into a climb after finishing it.

Nice work Alan!

ExWeb Posts 2008 Everest and Himalaya Climbing List!

In what has become a yearly tradition, the good folks over at Explorers Web have posted the 2008 Himalaya Spring Expedition List, which includes the teams headed for Everest.

In their summary article ExWeb notes that as of this moment, there are 31 teams scheduled to go up the South Side of Everest, up from 29 last season, and 22 teams aiming for the North Face, down from 31 teams last year. While it is early yet, and those numbers are sure to change, it's interesting to note the sharp decrease in the number of teams on the North Side. If I were to venture a guess, I'd say that a number of climbers would rather avoid the media circus there that's sure to come along with the Olympic Torch run up the mountain. The Chinese will be taking charge in Tibet for sure, and every other team will have to take a backseat to them until after the Torch has topped out.

As far as the rest of the Himalaya are concerned, there are currently 16 expeditions announced, down from 22 last year. Teams will be gunning for Manaslu, Makala, Dhaulagiri, Shisha Pangma, and of course Annapurna. Conspicuously absent from the list, at least for the time being, is Cho Oyu. I'm sure we'll be seeing some teams headed that direction as well.

The list will be evolving with new teams being added, and probably a few coming off, as we approach the Spring Season. A few expeditions that I'll be keeping a close eye will include David Tait's attempt at a traverse sans oxygen. He'll be climbing alongside the Marie Curie Team. The various climbers looking to set an "age record" on Everest should be interesting considering how many of them there are, and of course I'll be cheering hard for Alan Arnette as he stands on top for the first time. All the usual suspects are back like Adventure Consultants, Alpine Ascents, and of course everyone's favorite Russell Brice and his Himex Team.

The season will begin before we know it, and as always there will be plenty of stories to come from the mountain. Lets hope that this year we'll have more stories of triumph and few, if any of tragedy.

More On The Primal Quest Sprint Series

A couple of weeks back the news broke that the team behind Primal Quest was launching the Primal Quest Sprint Series, which will be a set of shorter and faster races held at various locations throughout the country, with the first race being held at Pocahontas State Park in Virginia on May 10th of this year.

Since the initial announcement, more information on the PQSS has begun to leak out including news on the second race in the series. In a recent press release, it was announced that the location of the second race will be at U.S. National Whitewater Center near Charlotte, North Carolina on Oct 4th. It was also announced that Michael and Jennifer Staton would serve as the PQSS Race Managers while Joe Moerschbaecher would be the Race Director and Course Designer. All three have extensive backgrounds with the sport of adventure racing and event management.

Racing in the PQSS will not require any type of certification and the events will be designed to offer a challenge to experienced racers, but also allow those new to the sport of AR a chance to get their feet wet as well. The Sprint Series events should run between 4-6 hours, covering the traditional adventure racing disciplines of trail running, paddling, and mountain biking, with a few special events and surprise challenges mixed in as well. The teams of two will be able to enter the race in one of three categories: co-ed, female, and male, and everyone who finishes the race will receive awards, race t-shirts or caps, and a post race meal, and a taste of what adventure racing is all about.

And lest we forget, the Primal Quest Expedition Race is scheduled to run from June 21st through July 2nd. That race will cover more than 450 miles in the backcountry of Montana as teams of four compete non-stop in the "The World’s Most Challenging Human Endurance Competition.”

Four Time Iditarod Champ Swingley Retires

With the 2008 Iditarod just days away, IdtarodBlogs.com is reporting that Mushing Legend Doug Swingley has retired from "The Last Great Race". The Lincoln, Montana native hasn't given up the sport altogether however, he has just chosen to focus on stage races rather than the grueling, non-stop events like the Yukon Quest or the Iditarod. He says he'll also continue to breed and raise dogs for the iconic Alaskan event.

Swingley is indeed one of the giants of the sport. After taking up mushing back in 1988, he won his first Iditarod in 1995. Winning one race is enough to cement your place in Iditarod history, but Swingley wasn't content with just adding his name to the list of winners. To be a Legend you need to go beyond that, and from 1999 to 2001, that exactly what he did. Swingley completed the hat trick and won three straight Iditarods, considered by many to be the toughest race on Earth.

Aside from his four wins, Swingley further entered Iditarod lore with his reputation as one of the fiercest competitors on the course and his ability to perceiver through the pain and suffering that is part of the event. Last year he broke his ribs on the way through Rainy Pass, but continued to race on, as he had suffered a similar injury during one of this victorious runs. Back in 2004 he was forced to abandon the race when the severe cold frosted his corneas, threatening his eye site.

Swingley was one of my favorite competitors in the Iditarod. His style was to go out fast and take command of the race, and his hard charging style was abrasive to some of the other racers, but he also earned their respect. This years Iditarod will not be the same without him, and he will be missed.

Chris Sharma On Dreamcatcher

Check out this great video that I came across today over at AllClimbing.com. It's the always impressive and amazing Chris Sharma putting up the first ascent of "Dreamcatcher". Warning: This may make mere mortal climbers cry a little.

Endurance Events Updates!

There were a couple of very cool endurance events that came to a close over the weekend with winners being crowned after days of racing in amazing, exotic locations.

First up, the inaugural Racing The Planet: Vietnam edition finished up after six days of stage racing across 250kn in a remote region of that country. Yesterday an awards ceremony was held in the Hanoi Hilton to crown Spaniard Salvador Calvo as the overall winner. Canadian Stephanie Case claimed the award for the top female competitor and Robyn Benincasa, Melissa Cleary, and Louise Cooper took home the team prize for Project Athena, the new philanthropic endeavor. You can check out the complete results, including stage winners by clicking here.

From the sounds of things, this was a very challenging event. The cool weather and rainy/muddy conditions took their toll on the racers, most of who had not competed in an environment like this one before. But on a good note, it also sounds like it was a pretty successful event, so expect to see more Racing The Planet races outside of their legendary 4 Desert series.

Speaking of challenging events, the first ever Trans-Mexicana mountain bike race also came to a conclusion yesterday, following seven days of racing from Mexico's Gulf Coast Westward to the Pacific Coast. In all, racers completed 700km of racing over rugged terrain with challenging climbs and massive drops, only to have the race decided on the final day and by less than a minute separating the top two finishers.

When the dust settled Lupillo Cruz took home the trophy, racing on his home turf, but not before he was pressed to the limit by Canaidan Cory Wallace, who stormed through a harrowing final ride that include him running into the side of a pick-up truck. You can read race reports from each staged, filed by Travis Macy of Team Merrell/Zanfel Adventure, who finished third by the way, over at SleepMonsters.com.

Two very cool events with some amazing athletes. Hopefully they'll both become annual races.

Broad Peak Winter Update: Summit Push Is On!

ExWeb has posted an update this morning from the Karakorum with news that Simone Moro and Shaheen Baig have begun their summit push on Broad Peak despite -41 degree temperatures and fierce winds.

For Moro, who is spending his second Winter on the mountain, it's come down to it's now or never. The weather has remained consistently bad since he arrived on the mountain, and although the skies are expected to remain clear over the next few days, that also means extremely cold temps and a continuation of those jet-like winds. Forecasts predict 110km/hour (68mph/hour) winds on Wednesday, when the team would be making their final summit bid.

At this point, the team has been on the mountain for nearly two months. Supplies are starting to run low and it's likely they won't get another chance at the summit. I'd imagine they're also getting close to physical and mental exhaustion after setting the fixed lines up to C3 last week and waiting for the weather to turn their way. Simone ends his latest dispatch with "Please cross your fingers for us, it might help..." If they succeed, it'll not only be the first Winter ascent on Broad Peak, but the first on any 8000m peak in the Karakorum.

Good luck guys! Climb safe! I've got my fingers crossed for you!

Iditarod Trail Invitational Begins Sunday

While the Big Daddy may still be a week away, the Iditarod Trail Invitatoinal long distance bike race gets underway this Sunday from Knik, Alaska.

The "short" course runs a mere 350 miles, but the full course, which makes up the "World's Longest Human Powered Winter Race" is 1100 miles in length and runs the entire course of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, hence the reason this event was once known as the Iditabike. While there are other long distance, endurance cycling events in the World, few if any take place in the dead of Winter, and we all know that those Alaskan Winters can be legendary for their brutality.

The race has nearly 50 competitors, from all over the World, many of whom will be blogging the event. You'll be able to track the leaders online throughout the race and the official blog has the latest news leading up to and through the entire race. You can read more about the event, including links to racer's sites and other informative sites, by clicking here.

Good luck to all the competitors. Stay warm and peddle hard!

Trekking The Annapurna Circuit

The Sierra Blogging Post has been receiving regular updates from "Drew & Erin" a young couple who has set out to travel around the World. Their past updates have involved the intrepid couple departing for their journey, reporting in from St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and then later from Hawaii.

Today's update is far more interesting to me, someone who's not a big fan of the beach. The World travelers have just completed a 12-day trek in the Annapurna Sanctuary and returned to report on it.

The blog post will be of interest to anyone interested in hiking the region. Erin comments on the spectacular views and amazing sunrises in the Himalaya and talks about the flora and fauna that you'll find along the trail. She also notes that this isn't really wilderness backcountry, as their are villages along the trail every few hours, and plenty of trekkers and Nepalese people as well.

Still, it sounds like an amazing trek, which manages to come in at #8 on the Ten Best Hikes in the World list over at BestHike.com. (Wow! I managed to get two plugs in for Best Hike in one day! I'll expect a check shortly Rick! ;) )

Epic New Traverse In Patagonia

Climbing.com has the scoop on an amazing new traverse completed over a span of three days recently in Patagonia. The traverse itself actually capped an amazing string of climbs for two men who traveled to the remote region to challenge some of it's ionic peaks.

Dana Drummond and Freddie Wilkinson completed a three-day traverse of Aguja Guillaumet, Aguja Mermoz, and Fitz Roy by its North Pillar in late January. To warm up for the traverse, the two New Englanders put up a new route on Guillaumet, a new variation on Fitz Roy, and capped it with a free ascent of the Red Pillar of Mermoz. After that, the linked up all three summits on a three day traverse that was all made possible due to a prolonged weather window that opened up at just the right time.

Amazing work guys. That's a very impressive string of climbs you put together even before you completed the traverse. Looks like you had a pretty amazing January in Patagonia. Shame about those Patriots though huh? ;)

Thanks to All Climbing for bringing this to my attention.

2XTM Kiteskiing North Dakota Update

The 2XTM Team continues their expedition across North Dakota via wind power, although they've certainly had their hardships along the way. Reading their blog offers some insights into what they've been experiencing since they set out back on February 11th.

The first thing you'll gather from their blog posts is that it's been cold. Damn cold in fact! Some of their first nights out they experienced -25 wind chill temperatures, which of course can make for dangerous conditions when you're exposed. It's a bit ironic that they are on this mission to promote the use of wind energy, and yet the wind is the very thing that is making them the most miserable.

As if that weren't enough, one of the team members, Sam Salwei manage to dislocate his shoulder, prompting the support crew to come find him and take him to the emergency room where a doctor popped the shoulder back into place. Ouch! And if the frigid temperatures and injuries weren't enough to make things miserable, a lack of snow is also not helping the cause. Apparently they've had to hike quite regularly, rather than kiteski, thanks to the fact that there has been more mud, than snow in some of the areas. Because they want to promote the use of wind power however, they are searching for kite buggies to take the place of their snow boards to help them continue along their path.

Judging from their Spotfind map, they appear to be roughly a third of the way through their expedition as of this writing. Reading through the blog posts however, it seems that at times they may feel that they got into more than they bargained for with this trip. Hopefully the weather will improve and they can continue to make progress. Their expedition is proof that you don't have to go to the North or South Pole to have an arctic adventure.

Amazing Photos From The Tour du Mount Blanc

Checkout this Flickr set filled with nothing but amazing photos from the Tour du Mount Blanc hiking circuit. The shots are stunningly beautiful and will certainly make you want to plan a trip to the region, not to mention envious that your pictures don't look as nice.

A big thanks to Rick over at The Best Hike Blog for sharing these photos. Best Hike also has a great page up with all the info you'll need for the Tour Mount Blanc trek, including the best time to go, the best routes, what to expect on the trail and much much more. The Tour du Mount Blanc is is rated as one of Best Hike's Top Ten Hikes in the World clocking in at Number 9 on the list.

Gear Junkie Giveaway Returns!

The Gear Junkie has so much stuff, he just feels compelled to give it away. I guess it's tough to have all that extra gear laying around after you get done playing with ... er ... reviewing it. Anyway, in today's Daily Dose he has announced the return of the Outdoor Gear Giveaway.

Starting today, and running through August, GJ will be giving away gear of some type each and every week. There is a catch though, you have to return each week and sign up again for which ever item is being given away. This means you can pick and choose which items are of interest to you when you sign up, so for instance if you have no interest in a six month supply of Clif Bars (this weeks prize), you don't need to sign up, but can instead come back next week try to win those socks from TECKO.

Glancing ahead the weeks to come, there is a lot of great gear on the horizon, including tents, packs, clothing, sleeping bags, and much much more. So while the Gear Junkie makes a blatant grab for more web hits, it means we get the chance to win some great gear. Besides, I already drop by his site on a daily basis anyway!

The Adventurist Returns!

Just a quick note to welcome back The Adventurist. The site has been on a bit of a hiatus since last Fall, but is once again being updated with new stories and is gearing up for the 2008 Spring Season on Everest, which is sure to be a busy one.

I'd like to welcome Jason back to the Interwebs and let him know that he has been missed. I look forward to reading his latest stories and reports, and I know that we share a number of regular readers who will be happy to see him back as well.

Climbing For Kids

Steve Sergeant from The Wildebeat posted about Climbing For Kids in the comments section on the Summit For Someone post I made last week, and I've been meaning to follow up on it ever since.

Much like Summit For Someone this is another organization that organizes climbs to raise money for at-risk youth. Sponsored by Bay Area Wilderness Training the Climbing For Kids Organization will send you out some impressive climbs including Rainier, Whitney, Hood, Shasta, and even Mt. Orizaba in Mexico.

The amount of fundraising you'll have to do to join the climbs varies by each mountain, but generally falls into the $3200-$3800 range, with the exception of Orizaba, which clocks in at $7500. For your efforts, you'll get to join one heck of a great adventure and get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped raise money for underprivileged at-risk youth. Oh, and did I mention you'll also get to go home with $1500 worth of gear?

This is another great cause, and one that is well worth your time. If you were already considering one of these climbs in the near future, why not join the group? The gear alone is well worth it.

Special Thanks to Steve for sending this my way. And be sure to check out his WildeBeat Podcast. It's excellent stuff with great tips for backcountry exploration and timely topics ranging from the environment, changing policies in our national parks, and a host of others. I highly recommend it.

Ruggedized Tablet PC For Blogging From The Backcountry

Roper Mobile Technology, the same folks that brought us the Switchback UMPC, now comes the Duros ruggedized Tablet PC.

This sweet little piece of technology sports some interesting specs including 8.4 inch active matrix touch screen, choice of two mobile processors, up to 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM and all the usual ports you'd expect to find on any laptop. However, it's the extra special features not found on most laptops, that really make this stand out. For starters, the Duros can operate in a temperature range of 122 degrees F down to -4 degrees. It's also wind and dust proof, resists 95% humidity, and has been drop tested from four feet onto a concrete floor. Roper claims that the device is built to military specifications for vibration and functional shock as well.

But I know what you're thinking, what good is a PC these days if you can't access the Internet. Well, Roper has you covered in that category as well. The Duros is can be configured with standard Wi-FI, Bluetooth, GSM, EDGE, GPRS, and UMTS. It also comes standard with GPS capabilities as well. All of those great acronyms basically mean you should have no problems getting connected from virtually any country in the World.

Of course, there is no price listed for the tablet, but it's probably one of those "If you have to ask, you can't afford it" deals. Still, this looks like it would be a great device for blogging from Everest Base Camp or while hiking in Patagonia. If anyone over at Roper wants to send one of these my way, I'm happy to put it through it's paces for you! Now I wonder if I can play World of Warcraft on that thing...

Exploring South America By Bike

I've recently posted an article on exploring Madagascar by train, and I mentioned in that story how I thought that would be a wonderful way to travel and see a new country. Similarly, traveling by bicycle would also be an amazing way to explore some place new, and that's just what Elicia Càrdenas and Andy McKerrow have been doing in South America.

The pair of avid bikers set out in January to ride from Northern Patagonia to Lake Titicaca (hehe!) in Bolivia. Along the way they've been blogging their adventures over at the Wend Magazine site.

Today's post is a good one detailing all the gear they have brought along on their trip. The list is actually fairly long and extensive, and is really great for giving some insight into what long distance bicyclists carry along with them when they set out on the trail. After reading about all that gear, go to the beginning of their blog and get caught up on the rest of their adventure, including some great photos as well.

Thanks Gadling!

Racing The Planet: Vietnam - Stage 3 Update

More updates today from the Racing The Planet: Vietnam stage race ultra this is currently going on in a remote region of that country. The conditions have been wet and cool up until this point, whic has made racing treacherous at times. In fact, yesterdays top finishers completed the stage in far more time than expected, leading the race directors to chop 18km off today's route which is down from 48km to 30km.

Spanish runner Salvador Calvo continues to lead the pack with Felix Yiu Fai Shum of Hong Kong and Stephanie Case of Canada coming in at two and three respectively. Obviously Stephanie leads the female runners as well, and is really making an excellent showing for herself. In all, there are still 46 runners competing in the event, with five having dropped out for various injuries, none of which were too serious.

Tomorrow's Stage 4 will see the racers running past rice paddies and through forests along what is deemed "small trails". I'm interpreting that to mean narrow paths carved out of the jungle. The course will continue to wind through remote villages and will even cross an old suspension bridge before throwing some hills in at the end just to make the runners suffer a little along the way. The course is roughly 33km in length.

This is the first event sponsored by Racing The Planet which isn't part of their 4 Deserts series. So far it sounds like it's been a very challenging race, with cool and wet weather, making for tough going at times. Hopefully the event proves to be a big success for everyone involved, as it would be great to have more events like this one in unique areas of the World each year.

The Rest of Everest: Episode 72

The Rest of Everest Tibetan adventure continues this week with Episode 72: Lhasa.

Last week the show ended with Jon and his friend Scott leaving Nepal behind and at last making their way to Tibet, but not before having a bit of an adventure at the airport just getting through customs. This week we get our first glimpse of the country itself, as the guys begin to explore Lhasa. The city is located at 12,000 feet, and the altitude quickly as an effect on the new visitors.

Watching the video from the streets of Lhasa and you'll see that it is in some ways like Kathmandu, and in many ways it's completely different. It has it's own look and feel with vibrant colors and lots of energy and life on the streets. Jon mentions that the Chinese influence is becoming more and more evident however, and it's pushing the Tibetan culture aside. His advice, if you want to see Tibet, is go soon, before it's gone.

Reaching Lhasa is one step closer to Everest, but this journey has been interesting at every step of the way with such an in depth look at Himalayan culture in both Nepal and Tibet. Can't wait for more.

New Packs and an Icelandic Adventure from Kelty!

A few days back The Gear Junkie posted a preview of upcoming packs from Kelty that were unveiled at Winter OR and should be hitting the store shelves later this year. In total, there are five new packs on display, each with their own unique design, and sized for the right adventure.

From the small Radii 27 (1650 cubic inches) all the way up to the expedition sized Beam 82 (5000 cubic inches) each of the new packs share the same level of quality that you've come to expect from Kelty. GJ says the new packs will also share "a blend of new materials, innovative ventilation, and unique suspension systems". Of late, it seems that new suspension systems and better ventilation are the buzzwords amongst pack makers, but considering that the two often go hand in hand, that makes perfect sense actually. I'm still looking for an overnight or weekend pack, so the new Span 60 or Slider 65 might do the trick.

After you're done checking out the new packs, be sure to head over to this page to check out all the details on how you can win a trip for two to Iceland courtesy of Kelty. If you're lucky enough to win, you'll receive 2 of those Span 60 packs, 2 Axle rolling packs, 2 Light Year 0 degree sleeping bags, 2 Ouray 2 tents, and footwear from Vasque. Oh, and "deluxe accommodations" and expert guiding from Alaska Mountain Guides while in Iceland. Sounds like a good deal to me. Remember though, if you win, I get to come along! ;)

North Pole Winter Update: Dawn!

Another update on the North Pole Winter expedition today from ThePoles.com. It seems that some of the suffering may be coming to an end soon for Russians Matvey Shparo and Boris Smolin, as the horizon has begun to glow with the coming of the Sun.

On February 16th, the intrepid polar explorers reported seeing "a narrow strip of the approaching sunrise" to the South of their position, which heralds the beginning of the end of the long, cold, and very dark polar Winters. The two men have been traveling i complete darkness since they set out for the North Pole back in late December. They are attempting to become the first team to reach the Pole completely in Winter, and have remarked a number of times in their dispatches on how difficult the expedition as been in no small part because of the surround darkness.

As of their last report, the team is now at 86° 57' N, 72° 57' E and continuing to make slow progress to their goal. Obviously they still have a lot of time out on the ice ahead of them as they work towards that last degree and finally 90° N. They have to be heartened by the fact that the long nights may soon be drawing to an end however, and even a brief amount of daylight will lift their mood.

This continues to be an amazing expedition. I'd probably go a little cuckoo without seeing the Sun after so many days. And lets not forget that a lot of expeditions provide for a few creature comforts, such as iPods, through the use of solar panels and chargers. Matvey and Boris have had no such luck on this trip, as there has been no Sun to help them charge those gadgets. This is another team I'm pulling for, and hoping that they reach their destination in one piece. I have a great deal of admiration for the two Russians.

Broad Peak Winter Update: Wait Begins

While the Winter climbs on Makalu may be over, the struggle to claim the first Winter ascent in the Karakorum continues on Broad Peak, the 12th highest peak in the World at 8047 meters. ( 26,400 feet.)

The latest update from K2Climb.net reports that Simone Moro and crew have been working hard at fixing the lines up to C3 and have nearly completed the task. The team moved up to C2 on Sunday to begin their efforts to establish Camp 3, and have been working hard since then. Once fortified, C3 will be the last camp before the summit attempt.

Simone notes that all previous 8000m Winer ascents were completed between December 31st and February 17th, so he knows that time is running short, but still says that Spring isn't anywhere in sight. The weather has not been cooperative thus far, and in the evenings the temperatures are dropping to -35 C. Fortunately, they've had a brief respite, with the final day of laying fixed line turning out to be quite nice.

The team stopped just an hour or two below where C3 will be. The remaining section is non-technical, so the elected to conserve their energy and head back down the mountain. For now, they'll rest, and bide their time in BC waiting a weather window. Once they receive word that a window is opening, they'll head up the mountain and make their final summit push.

Hopefully that window will come soon. They men have been on the mountain for quite some time, and the cold Winter is taking it's toll. Anyone who has climbed in the Himalaya and Karakorum during the Winter will tell you that you can work hard, do everything right, be strong on the mountain, and still not get a chance at the summit due to the inclement weather. For Simone's sake, considering what he's gone through the past two years, I hope that summit attempt comes.

Exploring Patagonia

ExWeb has posted a very cool article today about the Incognito Patagonia Team who are currently in the fifth month of their Trans-Patagonia expedition.

The team, which is led by Cristian Donoso, set off last October in an attempt to record the effects of climate change on Western Patagonia in Chile. They traveled much of the way by kayak, paddling rivers and Chilean coastline, and expected to "reach unexplored places of highly difficult access" along the way. Patagonia is one of the most remote, and at times inhospitable regions on Earth, but it is also one of the most starkly beautiful places as well.

The ExWeb article lists the many "firsts" that the expedition has already manage to accomplish. Just a few include first explorations and crossings of a number of regions inside Patagonia, first explorations and navigations of several lakes and rivers in the area including some that have yet to be name, and the first exploration of several of the Patagonian glaciers that are a hallmark of the region as well. As if that wasn't enough, they've also claimed first ascents on several peaks, and have explored a series of underground rivers as well.

This expedition seems to have captured the true spirit of exploration. They're truly visiting places where few, if any, people have gone before. The do have the over all "cause" of recording the effects of climate change, which seems to be the reason everyone is heading to these remote regions these days. But with all the things they are seeing and doing, couldn't they just have gone for the spirit of exploration and adventure alone? Seems like there is plenty of that to be had as well.

Racing The Planet: Vietnam Off To Cold, Wet Start!

As I noted last week, the Racing The Planet series kicked off a new race yesterday in Vietnam. The first of their events to not be a part of the 4 Deserts Series of ultramarathons.

The new race maintains the same format, which is to say a stage race through remote, and rugged countryside. There are 51 competitors, from 22 countries, in the race and as of now they are through 2 stages, with Spaniard Salvador Calvo currently holding the top spot.

SleepMonsters.com is receivingrace reports from girls over at Project Athena and the word is that the first stage was long and grueling, and made all the worse by a constant rainy-drizzle that created a very long and muddy mess for the first climb of the day. Running in those conditions is hard enough, having to do it for an extended period, on rugged trails makes it that much worse.

Hopefully conditions improve as the week goes along, and we'll get more details on the race. Seems like a great event so far, but then again, I'd expect nothing less from the Racing The Planet group.

Exploring Madagascar By Train

I've always thought that traveling by train was a great way to see the countryside of any place you're visiting. There is a certain romantic nature to traveling by rail, especially in a unique, exotic location such as Madagascar. That's exactly where Simon Reeve was recently while filming for an upcoming BBC travel special when he discovered one of the great train rides in the World, and wrote about it for The Guardian.

This particular train ride is just 101 miles in length, stretching from Fianarantsoa in the central highlands to Manakara on the Madagascar's East Coast. But along that route, the train passes through lush jungles , crosses over more than 60 bridges, and rumbles down the third steepest railway incline like a roller coaster at Disney World.

Madagascar itself is an island teeming with adventure. The country has been geographically cut off from Africa for thousands of years, and as a result, it has become home to unique and diverse wildlife. The article notes that 95% of the creatures living there exist only on the island itself and no where else in the World. The dense jungles and remote nature of the country have made it difficult to explore but give it a strong appeal to adventure travelers intrigued by it's mysterious nature.

The article links to Rainbow Tours who can help set up a trip to Madagascar and put you on this amazing train ride across the country. After all, if you're going to explore a mysterious country, you might as well do it by train.

Circumnavigation Cycling Record Smashed!

A 25-year old Scottish man has smashed the World's Record for cycling around the globe, according to the BBC.

Mark Beaumont set out on August 5th of last year, and rolled across the finish line under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris 195 days later, on February 15th. Over the course of his journey he passed through 20 countries, including The U.S., New Zealand, Australia, and Pakistan, covering more than 18,000 miles along the way. The previous record of 276 days was smashed by more than 80 days as Beaumont averaged more than 92 miles per day.

Along the way, the young Scot endured long days on the road, raging storms, and an errant driver. While passing through the U.S. he was knocked from his bike in Louisiana when a driver blitzed through a red light. Fortunately there was no serious damage done. And now that he's home, and the journey is over, he says he's most looking forward to seeing friends and family and getting some sleep.

Thanks to the Geared Up Blog for this story and the video of Beaumont below.

Kilimanjaro & Safari Trip Report and Gallery

I'm sure everyone is probably sick and tired of hearing about Kilimanjaro and Safari considering how much I've already discussed my own adventure there last year. But seeing as how it's a relatively quiet day on the adventure front, I thought I'd share trip report and gallery posted over at TrilSpace.com.

The article and photos are from a man named Bill Straka. He went to Tanzania last year with his wife and enjoyed a Safari first before she returned home and he continued on to climb Kili. This is the reverse order from what is typically done, as generally you climb the mountain first, then relax some on Safari. If the locals have their way, they'll ship you off to Zanzibar for some beach time as well before you come home. While I skipped the beach, as did Bill, I did the climb first and Safari afterwards.

The article is an excellent account of a climb along the Machame Route with some nice details on what to expect. That's the same route that I took, and reading the text of the article brought back some great memories. The accompanying pictures are very well done as well and really do a nice job of setting the location and tone of the climb.

Likewise, the text and photos from the Safari are great as well, especially the larger ones with captions at the bottom. If you've ever had an interest in doing Kili, a Safari, or both, then there is nothing here that will change your mind. It's still a great adventure and a wonderful experience that I highly recommend, and judging from this article, I think Bill would agree with me.

Reminder: K2 On NBC Re-airs This Sunday!

Just a quick programming note for the coming weekend. NBC will be re-airing the Shared Summits K2 Special that was first shown back in November. The hour long program will give you an up close look at what a big mountain climb is all about on one of the harshest, most difficult, and most remote mountains in the World.

Standing 28,253 feet in height, K2 is the second tallest mountain on the planet, behind only Everest. But it is also a far more dangerous and challenging climb than that mountain. This show follows a team to a remote region of the Karakorum where they attempt to summit what is known as "The Savage Mountain".

When the show first aired it was part of a two hour program of the Jeep World of Adventure Sports. This weekend it will be a stand alone, one hour long show, that is set to be broadcast at 2:30 PM ET/1:30 PM CT. Check your listings to be sure however. I know that a lot of people missed the show last Fall, and this is your chance to catch it. The first time around, I thought it was very well done, with some stunning scenery, captured in HD no less. It was great to see a mountain other than Everest being covered by a big network, and while I thought the show was a little short, it did a decent job of following the climb. I still think it could benefit from another hour, but then again, I'm a bit biased. ;)

Video of the Khumbu Icefalls

Outdoors Magic has posted another one of their famous Friday Matinees which usually consists of some very cool outdoor adventure videos, often involving climbing or mountaineering.

One of today's videos is an excellent little clip of the Khumbu Icefalls region of Mount Everest. This area is found just above Base Camp on Everest, and is generally considered the most dangerous place on the mountain. At least on the South side. Yes, even more dangerous than the summit itself. To see why, just checkout the video below.

More Tour de France Nonsense

I caught this story while reading the Outside Blog earlier. A while back I posted a story that said 2007 Tour winner Alberto Contador could be banned from this year's race. Well now that that looks like a reality, Contador has vowed to win the race, just not this year.

The defending champ told VeloNews that he is more determined than ever to win the Tour, following a ruling on Wednesday that his Astana team would not be allowed to compete in any Amaury Sports Organization event this year. ASO is the Tour organizer. The team was banned from all ASO events due to a variety of doping scandals that have rocked the entire sport over the past two years.

There was some speculation that Contador might switch teams in order to compete in this years Tour, but he has elected to stay with Astana, and will adjust his racing schedule to take part in other big European cycling events that ASO doesn't have a hand in. An angry and stunned Contador says he'll be back in 2009 to re-claim his Yellow Jersey however.

ASO was quick to respond to that claim, saying that while the team is banned in 2008, they will need to have a "scandal- and suspicion-free" season in order to be reinstated next year.

Is anyone surprised any more when cycling continues to shoot itself in the foot? This year's Tour will be interesting to watch if for no other reason than that we won't know who the hell any of the riders are.

PQ Sprint Series Gets Official!

We've been hearing rumors about it for some time, but today it's official. The Primal Quest Sprint Series has been officially announced and the first race is already set to take place on May 10, 2008 in Pocahontas State Park, Virginia.

Described as a series of "shorter, faster, high energy, adrenaline-fueled" races, the PQ Sprint Series will be 4-6 hours in length and pit teams of two against one another in the traditional disciplines of trail running, mountain biking, and paddling. Each event will have a special discipline or two as well, such as cargo net climbs, rope bridges, low crawls, and more.

Furthermore, points will be tallied from race to race throughout the series, with top twenty men and women each race garnering points. At the end of the season the top athletes and teams will receive additional prizes. The season point system is spelled out in more detail here.

The Official Website is already up and running, and you'll find plenty of into already in place. For instance, the gear list is already spelled out, and the official rules are available as well. And if you'd like to host a PQ Sprint Race in your backyard, be sure to fill out this form.

No word yet on how many sprint races we can expect this year, but this is great news for the sport of adventure racing. PQ CEO Don Mann has been saying all along that he hopes to expand the Primal Quest brand with more races and events, and it looks like that vision is moving forward. Expect more big things from the PQ Crew in the near future.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, there are 126 days until Primal Quest Montana!

North Pole Winter Update: Navigating By Stars

It's been awhile since I posted an update on the North Pole Winter team, but today we have news via ThePoles.com. Russians Matvey Shparo and Boris Smolin continue their expedition in an attempt to reach the North Pole entirely in Winter, which also means they're traveling in complete darkness at all times.

From the latest report it's clear that the men are exhausted both mentally and physically. The discuss their routine of getting up in the morning and continuing to ski towards their goal, but that time has mostly lost all meaning for them as they never see the Sun and rarely know what day of the week it is. They also mention that they have, at times, dispensed with their GPS systems and have oriented themselves by using the stars overhead, a method that harkens back to explorers of old.

The pair mention other things that have begun to wear on them on their journey as well. Due to the extreme cold, they are forced to wear protective glasses most of the time, but in the perpetual darkness, the glasses bother them even more, tricking them into thinking that there is something in the night, just out of sight, that they can't quite make out. They both are longing for really good food from home (Boris his mother's pancakes, Matvey craves good bread and cheese), and they dream of things far away from the barren ice wastes they now explore. The cold has invaded their sleeping bags, and although they remain warm, their outer shells are covered in a layer of ice. Like wise, their down jackets have have "become lumpy" as certain areas are frozen, lessening their ability to keep the men warm.

Still, they continue to make progress. As of this latest report, they have traveled 350km from their starting point at Cape Arktichesky. Their position, as of Feb. 11th, was 85° 47' N, 84° 38' E, which means they still have a ways to go, and the negative drift doesn't help that situation, but each day still brings them a little closer to their goal, which also means that they are one day closer to those pancakes.

Sheffield Adventure Film Festival Feb. 29th - Mar. 2nd

Here's a heads up for U.K. readers and flim buffs everywhere. The Sheffield Adventure Film Festival, affectionately known as ShAFF kicks off in just a few short weeks, running from February 29th through March 2nd.

This is the third iteration of the festival which aims to bring the best movies from all the other outdoor film festivals together at one event, allowing adventure and outdoor film fans to catch them all in one weekend. You can check out a complete list of the films here. Notable titles on the list include 20 Seconds of Joy, Dying For Everest, segments from King Lines, and many many more. The films focus on climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking, endurance sports, skiing/snowboarding, and much much more.

On the Official ShAFF Website you'll find not only information on each film, but also how to get tickets, as well as where to stay while at the show. There is even a Google Map to the venue so you won't lose your way when the batteries in your GPS die.

As if all of this wasn't enough to draw you in, the Patron for the even is none other than Joe Simpson of Touching The Void and The Beckoning Silence fame. Joe will be on hand Saturday night, March 1st, to give a live interview with Gordon Stainforth.

This sounds like a great event. I'd love to attend if I were in the area. The Simpson interview alone sounds like it would be worth the trip, and the variety of films that will be on display is amazing. If you're anywhere in the area, you really should take the time to go catch a few of these incredible movies and hangout with fellow adventurers, both armchair or otherwise.

Ueli Steck Sets New Speed Record On The Eiger!!

The Hardwear Sessions Blog is reporting that climber Ueli Steck has set a new speed record on the Eiger, climbing the Heckmair Route in 2 hours, 47 minutes, 33 seconds. This beats the old record, also held by Steck, and set just last year, by nearly 67 minutes.

Steck, a Swiss mountaineer, has been climbing the Eiger since he was teenager, and has quite a bit of experience on what is probably Europe's most iconic big wall. In the post on the Hardwear Sessions, Ueli notes that his gear is 3 kg (6.6 pounds) lighter than it was last year, which helped him to climb faster. He also says his strategy changed from last year, when he had to belay himself three times, but this year he didn't have to belay himself at all. He also reports that he was slowed at the base of the mountain, due to heavy snow in the area, which also cost him energy, but found the upper sections of the mountain, the areas that are more technical in nature, to be dry and easy to climb.

Congrats to Ueli! Another amazing climb. I can't even begin to imagine how someone goes up a challenging face like the Eiger, a climb of more than 4000m, in less than 3 hours. Simply amazing.

Trans-Mexicana Mountain Bike Race

On Sunday, Feb. 17th, the Trans-Mexicana mountain bike race gets underway, departing from Veracruz, Mexico, on the Gulf coast. The seven day event is a stage race that will cover a 700km course ending in Huatulco, Oaxaca on the Pacific coast, passing through some very remote and challenging regions in the process.

The course will vary greatly, starting off with a mostly flat, fast track over approximately 100km. But the following stages will move up into the hills, increasing the challenge and distances. Course designer and race director Luis Canseco has designed a route that will accentuate the culture and natural beauty of Mexico, highlighting the local flora and fauna that will be on display as the riders pass through.

SleepMonsters.com will be posting updates from the event, and they already have two pre-race reports posted. You can also see a preview video posted on YouTube by clicking here.

It looks like it will be a really great race and hopefully will become an annual event. I like the concept and more races like this one with a mix of an endurance event and cultural immersion, would be fantastic. Mexico is a perfect venue with a diverse culture, unique terrane, and very remote regions. It should be fun to read the reports on this one.

Project Athena: Amazing Women Helping Amazing Women

What do you get when you put together five of the most intense and competitive female endurance athletes on the Planet to help other women combat breast cancer and other medical ailments? Why Project Athena of course!

The Project Athena Foundation is was put together by Robyn Benincasa, Melissa Cleary, Louise Cooper, Danelle Ballengee, and Florence Debout. Together, they are five of the most talented athletes in the world, having finished off countless marathons, won dozens of adventure races (including EcoChallenge and Primal Quest), and summitted more than their fair share of mountains as well.

These amazing women, some of whom are legends in the endurance sports world, have teamed up to aid other women as they fight breast cancer and other medical afflictions. Each quarter they will select worth recipients to receive a scholarship and "Athenaship". Those funds, which will come completely from public donations, will be used to encourage these women to not just survive their ailment, but to overcome it and go on to strive to do great things, such as competing in an adventure race, climbing a mountain, or taking part in a local 5k race. They want to encourage these women to chase their dreams and to aspire to be more like Athena, the Greek goddess of Wisdom and War, something that these five women clearly epitomize.

I really like the goals and philosophy of Project Athena. The fact that they are encouraging women to not just be survivors but to grab life by the horns and fully embrace an adventure, is very appealing. I hope that this endeavor is wildly successful for the Team. But then again, when you consider who these women are, that seems like a foregone conclusion.

The Rest of Everest: Episode 70 and 71

Last weeks hiatus has me still playing catch-up a little bit, including catching up on the latest episodes of The Rest of Everest where Producer Jon Miller and his friend Scott Jacobs continue their adventures in Nepal.

Episode 70 is aptly titled "Kathmandu... Again" as our intrepid travelers depart from Pokhara and return to the Nepalese capital. The episode has plenty of great shots of the Nepal countryside that have become the hallmark of these recent shows. In this episode we get some really interesting footage of the agricultural process, as the people in the countryside do what the can to raise crops on the terraced hillsides. Other highlights include footage of the narrow roads that make-up the main highway of the country, a glimpse of the Kathmandu nightlife, and a meet-up with the LUNGevity Team, who would go on to climb Everest last Spring.

Episode 71 is entitled "Welcome To Tibet" as at long last Jon and Scott leave Nepal and Kathmandu behind them, and take a step closer to Everest. The flight to Lhasa is short and uneventful, but the guys are already starting to feel the effects of travel, as the Himalayan version of Montezuma's Revenge threatens to make an appearance. Some of the great video we get in this episode includes shots of the mountains from the plane, as well as the first stunning images of the Tibetan Plateau. We're also treated to shots of going through customs and entering Tibet, which they mention is not possible unless you have a guide waiting to pick you up. After a brief bit of excitement over who had the entry visa, we're off once more, getting closer to Everest itself.

Two very good episodes as always. The adventure continues and I can't wait to see what Tibet has in store for us.

North Dakota Kiteskiing Expedition Underway!

Back around the first of the year I posted about three men who were planning to kiteski across North Dakota in an effort to promote awareness of wind power and it's potential for use as an energy source. According to the Daily Dose today over at GearJunkie.com the team got underway on Monday.

Sam Salwei, Jason Magness, and Paul Cassedy, the three men who make up the 2XTM Team, expect their journey to last roughly three weeks, as they begin in the Northwest corner of North Dakota, then make their way along the Missouri River, eventually ending in the Southeast region of the state. The men will carry all their gear with them on their backs, and intend to kiteski roughly 6 to 8 hours per day.

You can follow their progress online with their SPOT generated Google Map and their online blog. Expect a lot of entries about how damn cold it is outside, as temperatures in the Midwest are expected to plummet again as an arctic blast hits the region this weekend. Stay warm boys and happy skiing.

Winter Climb Updates: Italians Evacuated From Makalu

Another update on the Makalu Italian team today from MountEverest.net. The last update said that the team was preparing to flee the mountain following a harrowing night in Base Camp that saw hurricane force winds sweep two tents and all of their contents from the mountain.

Today we get word that the team, consisting of Nives Meroi, Romano Benet and Luca Vuerich have been airlifted from Makalu after Nives broke her leg on the trek down to lower camp. The original plan was for the trio to wait until Thursday when porters would arrive to shuttle out their gear, but an a rescue mission was mounted when word got out that Nives suffered the injury.

As of this writing, all three climbers are safe and sound back in Kathmandu. They were plucked from the mountain this morning, despite incredible, and persistent, winds by a helicopter. While the boys are fine, Nives has been admitted to a hospital where she'll spend a few days receiving treatment for her injuries.

And so, Makalu will remain unclimbed for another Winter. The last of the Himalayan peaks that can make that claim. I guess we'll have to wait to see if anyone comes back next year to challenge this mountain during the cold season.