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

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

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

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

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

Everest and Himalaya Update: Dhaulagiri Summit Bids!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay tuned!

National Park Adventures

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

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

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

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

There and Back Again!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Everest 2008: Summit Push On The North Side?

Everest News has posted one of their famous "news flashes" with an update from the North Side of Everest. The word is that the Chinese/Tibetan team has reached 8300m, which would put them just 550m below the summit, and within striking distance if the weather holds out. This would seem to be about on the schedule we've been hearing for a few weeks that the first summit bid would begin around the 28th of April, and it's quite possible that the Olympic Torch could reach the top as early as tomorrow.

Everest News goes on to say that their weather forecasts show the 3rd and 6th of May as the best dates to attempt a summit in the near future, so we'll have to wait and see if the window opens long enough for the team to reach their goal. Should they summit ahead of the May 10th deadline, it will also be interesting to see how that effects things on the South Side as well.

Meanwhile, this report over at MountEverest.net corroborates the weather window opening up around the 3rd of May, saying that is when the Chinese have the best chance to summit in the next few days. The report also mentions a "Sniper in Everest south side camp 2" as part of it's headline, but it seems like more of a sensationalist title than anything else. The actual article says that while there is someone in C2 with a sniper rifle, the mood there is friendly and upbeat. The military presence is on hand to insure that no one goes above that point until after the May 10th deadline.

Finally, both Everest News and ExWeb are reporting that that the journalists are now in BC on the North Side, but it doesn't sound like they're enjoying their new digs. ExWeb describes it like this: "Reuters reports from Everest north side that journalists there are cold, altitude sick and miserable, hanging out somewhere near BC." Welcome to Base Camp guys! Enjoy your stay! ;)

Hiking the Caminito del Rey in Spain

Here's a video that I came across a week or so back and forgot about, but Carl was kind enough to remind me of it earlier today. It's a first person perspective of a couple of hikers exploring the El Caminito del Rey in Spain. The name means "The King's Pathway", and the trail offers access to a popular climbing location, but just getting there is part of the adventure, as you'll see.

Outside's Gear of the Year 2008

Outside Online has posted it's Gear of the Year for 2008 bringing us the latest in lust-worthy equipment for our next outdoor adventure.

As usual, they've broken the gear down into categories, highlighting some of the best new gear available, but in a new spin, instead of just reading a quick paragraph of impressions, Outside has leveraged the power of the Interwebs to deliver video reviews on Shells, Tents, Trail Runners, and Road Bikes. Click here to launch their video and podcast player.

For each category there are three videos available, so if you're in the market for a new shell or a tent, they're definitely worth checking out. Each video is hosted by Gear Editor Sam Moulton, who does a great job of explaining what's good and what can be improved with the various items, as well as giving some nice tips on finding some good values as well.

On a side note, what do you think your gear closet looks like when your job title is "Gear Editor". I think I'd need to buy a bigger place. :)

Himalayan Summits!

As a reminder that not everything happening in the Himalaya revolves around Everest and the fiasco that is the 2008 season, we have word on a couple of summits in the region.

First, the Hardwear Sessions Blog has posted an update on Ueli Stick who, along with is his climbing partner Simon Anthamatten, have completed the first ascent of the North Face of Tengkampoche, a 6500m peak located in the Khumbu Valley. The pair topped out last Thursday, and did so in alpine style. Ueli says that they didn't use any bolts or fixed ropes on their climb and reached the summit in just four days.

Their season isn't over yet however, as now Simon and Ueli will head back to Kathmandu for a bit of rest before hopping a flight out to Pokhara, where they'll begin their "real" climb. Tengkampoche was just an acclimatization run before they turn their sites on Annapurna, one of the most challenging mountains in the world.

Meanwhile, Everest News has word of the first 8000m summit of the season, which was accomplished by Martin Minarik who went up Dhaulagiri solo last week. Martin topped out, in unsupported fashion no less, on Wednesday the 23rd, and safely descend back to BC the next day.

Congrats to Martin, Ueli, and Simon. Well done boys. Now go take care of Annapurna while you're at it.

Ultrarunner Goes For Speed Record on the AT

I saw this while reading the Backcountry Blog earlier. It seems that ultrarunner Karl Meltzer isn't content to just run an occasional long distance event. The 40 year old endurance athlete has won 49 ultramarathons in his career, the majority of them off road and in the mountains, but now he's setting his sites on a new challenge.

On August 5th of this year, Karl will attempt to set a new speed record on The Appalachian Trail. He hopes to complete the 2,174 mile course in 47 days, averaging more than 46 miles per day. Running that kind of distance on a smooth, paved road would be challenging enough for any endurance athlete, but running it on the AT, which has some extremely challenging and difficult terrain, would be enough to send anyone home in tears.

We'll be able to follow Karl's progress at WheresKarl.com , which will also begin to take shape over the summer. The promise to add realtime GPS tracking, a blog of his training and days on the course, a forum, videos, photos, podcasts, and more.

Obviously the start of this event is still several months off, but it should be fun to follow. Karl will spend the summer preparing for his epic journey which is described as: "Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Self, Man vs. Clock". Stay tuned for more on this one. It's going to be an amazing run. In the mean time, checkout this video of Karl doing his thing.

Summer Hiking In The Alps

The Times Online Travel Section has a nice article today on the best summer hiking in the Alps with some good advice on where to take the family or to have a bigger adventure depending on your tastes.

The article is written by five time Olympic skier Sean Newsome, who admits that he didn't even realize that you there were other things to do in the Alps, besides skiing, until after his career as a downhiller was over. Now he takes full advantage of Europe's iconic mountain chain in both the summer and the winter, by hiking some of it's highest peaks and exploring it's many trails.

He even hops on a bike to punish himself on some of the bigger climbs in France as well. His description of the self-induced agony is both humorous and awe inspiring. You'll come away with a new found admiration for those amazing climbers in the Tour de France, even as your legs cry out in sympathy pains at just the thought of it.

But the focus of the article his hiking, and he has some great suggestions for places to visit. Newsome claims that the trails are mostly empty in the summer, but that it's the perfect time to trek the region, enjoying quaint villages, wonderful inns, and a taste of mountain culture.

If you're taking the family, he recommends heading to Saas-Fee, Switzerland, where you'll find amazing scenery, a plethora of trails for all skill levels, and daycare right at the resort should you need it. Looking for something a little more action packed? Then try hiking from Vitznau to Zermatt which not only offers spectacular views and challenging high altitude trails, but you can choose to do it on your feet or the back of a mountain bike.

There is more as well, so if you're thinking about a European getaway this summer, and want to try something a bit different, then perhaps this will fit your needs. After all, there are worse ways to spend your vacation than wandering amazing trails in some of the most beautiful mountains in the world while spending your nights in quaint and comfortable inns. Sign me up!

Viesturs and Stetson Are Off!

Ed Viesturs and John Stetson arrived on Baffin Island last Friday, right on schedule, and have begun their arctic trek. In their first dispatch, posted exclusively to GreatOutdoors.com, Ed reports that they had "good travel karma" with all of their bags arriving as expected, and they were in the final stages of preparing to get the expedition underway.

Yesterday we got another update, this time from John, that said the two men were still in Pond Inlet and were awaiting their permit to enter Sirmilik National Park. They had all their supplies bought, the sleds were packed, and they were ready to go, but just had to finish up the paperwork.

Today's dispatch tells us that they're finally ready to go and are preparing to ski out of Pond Inlet amidst sunny skies and cold temperatures. They hope to use today as a day to shakedown their sleds, adjust their loads, and still make decent time, but they were also still working on a permit and had to meet and talk to some rangers to get an idea of what they can expect in Sirmilik National Park.

Viesturs, who is the first American to top out on all 8000m peaks, without oxygen no less, and Stetson, who is an accomplished polar explorer and dog musher, have teamed up to spend 20 days trekking through some of the most remote regions on Baffin Island. They hope to chronicle the impact of climate change on the region by visiting Inuit villages and speaking directly with the people that live there, while also testing out their gear for a future South Pole expedition.

Over the course of the next three weeks we should get some excellent reports and dispatches directly from Ed and John as they go about their journey. Stay tuned for more.

Everest 2008: Updates From The Weekend

It was another interesting and eventful weekend on Everest, despite the fact that the communications blackout is in effect. Perhaps the biggest story is the report from both EverestNews.com and The Adventurist that the Olympic Torch has reached Everest BC on the North Side. Rumor has it that the expedition to take it to the summit could begin as early as today, although recent high winds and bad weather have reportedly put a damper on fixing lines at the higher sections of the mountain. At this point though, we're going purely on conjecture, as there is no news coming from the North Side at all for the most part. You can rest assured however, that as soon as the Torch reaches the top, the entire world will know about it.

In a more troubling story, it seems that David Tait has had to leave Everest following a series of health issues. The Adventurist has more on the story here, and you can read David's own dispatch here. You may recall that I posted some time back about David having to return to Kathmanu thanks to a severe toothache. After having a dentist remove the tooth, he made the long trek back to Base Camp, in an accelerated fashion no less, only to discover that another tooth was causing him pain. He elected to use pain killers to get it all under control, but those pain killers ate away the lining of his stomach and caused severe pain, discomfort, and bleeding. For his own safety, he decided to give up on his Everest climb, which was to be sans-oxygen this year. Last year, Tait completed a traverse of the mountain, starting from the North Side and ending on the South as part of the Himex team and he was featured on Discovery Channel's Everest: Beyond The Limit.

Over at the Everest Is Ours Blog we can learn a bit more about William Brant Holland, the American climber who was booted off the mountain last week when it was discovered that he was carrying a Tibetan flag and a "Free Tibet" sign in his gear. According to the rules of Everest this season, such paraphernalia is banned. Apparently, Brant Holland was hoping to unfurl the flag on the higher portions of the mountain to get some pictures for to "show I was there" and that it was not his intention to try to embarrass the Chinese Torch Team. Some reports suggest that he was actually seen between C1 and C2 unfurling the flag for pictures, but this is unconfirmed at this point. Perhaps he was trying to score points with ExWeb? Regardless of his reasons, he put his the climbing permit under which he was climbing in jeopardy by his actions, and I think there are smarter ways to "show you were there" this season.

Speaking of ExWeb they're reporting today that a BBC journalist has also been banned from the mountain, also on the South Side, as the Nepali government seems determined to keep any real news from getting out. There are also reports that the use of radios on the mountain are strictly forbidden at the moment, which seems like it could cause some issues with safety. On the North Side, reporters are said to be nearing BC to cover the Torch at long last. There are 11 international and 19 Chinese journalists bound for BC to get the scoop on the Torch run which has caused all the chaos this season.

Personally, I can't wait for the silence to break. I'm very much looking forward to not only getting regular and real reports from the mountain, but also finally hearing from some direct sources about what has been going on there. Once the season is completely over, we should certainly be hearing some interesting tales.

Annapurna IV Expedition: What Goes Up, Must Come Down!

You know the old adage "What goes up, must come down"? Well, that applies to mountaineering as much as anything. However, I don't think they considered someone stepping into a pair of skis at 24,688 feet, then dropping off the top of a perfectly good summit with nothing but 9000 feet of vert to contend with when they coined the phrase.

A few days back I posted a link to a special edition of the Rest of Everest podcast in which producer Jon Miller chatted with climbers Ben Clark, Josh Butson, and Tim Clarke. At the time, the three men were preparing to leave for Kathmandu where they were embarking on their Annapurna IV Expedition.

Annapurna IV is 24,688 feet in height, and falls in the Annapuran Range in Western Nepal, squarely inside the Annapuran Sanctuary. The team hopes to summit, in alpine style no less, before attempting the first ski descent of the mountain. Between the rocky faces that they'll face at some of the lower levels, and the summit itself, is some 9000 feet of nearly vertical mountainside that the team hopes to ski down. Well, at least as much of it as they can. If everything goes according to plan, Ben, Josh, and Tim hope to complete their expedition sometime in late May.

The team has set up an excellent website, and you can read their dispatches from the entire expedition right on the front page. They've already arrived in Nepal, and their first dispatch is from Kathmanu a few days ago, and their second dispatch has them already working on getting out of the city, and closer to their goal. They plan to make regular updates throughout the journey, sending photos, video, and audio back home for us. The team seems to want to take full advantage of the newest technology to stay in contact with the rest of the world while they are on the mountain.

Aside from the dispatches, you'll also find good information on the mountain itself, a further explanation on the expedition, including the route, and bios on the team too. And of couse, don't miss the photo gallery for some amazing shots of the region as well.

I'll post updates as they come in, on what should be an exciting and interesting expedition. When these guys go up, they'll be coming down in impressive style.

Are You An "Everyday Explorer"?

Intelligent Travel the official blog of National Geographic Traveler Magazine has tipped us off to a cool new project in the works from the Mother Ship.

It seem that in May, National Geographic intends to launch their own video site with user generated content much like YouTube. The site will be called Everyday Explorers and is designed to let us share our persona videos focused on four different categories. Those categories are: Wildlife and Pets, Weather, Favorite Places, and Greet Tips.

Since the launch is just a short time away now, they're looking for some content to include when it opens to the public. If you've got something you would like to share, head over to this page to submit your masterpiece for all the world to see.

It looks like we'll have a new source of adventure videos in the near future. I recently purchased a video camera of my own, and while I've played with it some, I have yet to do anything serious with it. Perhaps now is the time to put it to good use and submit some content to the site.

I'll let you know when I hear about the official launch.

Himalaya Update:

As the week comes to and end, there has been a lot of action in the Himalaya over the past few days to get caught up on.

Obviously Everest continues to be at the center of attention, with a climber getting sent home this week, we were keenly reminded that it is not business as usual on either side of the mountain this year. Today we have this report from MountEverest.net that says that Chinese military have taken up residence at Camp 2 on the South side of the mountain to ensure that no one breaks the ban on going higher than that point before May 10th. If that wasn't surprising enough however, the report goes on to say that Chinese police, in plain clothes, are patrolling Everest BC on the South Side as well. Crazy stories if true.

Meanwhile, the Peak Freaks team was allowed to make a sat phone call from Base Camp earlier this week and they report that things are progressing nicely for them. Everyone is in good spirits, healthy, and working away at the acclimatization process. They also report that ropes are fixed up to Camp 2, and that they would be making their way up to that altitude this weekend.

Moving away from Everest, but not too far, the latest, and likely last update, at least for awhile, from Brian Oestrike, came a few days ago. Brian is climbing Lhotse this Spring, which of course shares a number of camps with the Everest teams. The latest dispatch indicates that Brian made it to BC just fine, but is now under the communications blackout until May 10th. Brian is climbing solo on Lhotse, working closely with his sponsor Hypoxico to test out some new high altitude training gear.

As you've probably heard already, there was a rather scary scene at Makalu BC earlier this week when an MI-8 helicopter carrying climbers crash landed. No one was hurt in the incident, but it has taken out the only helicopter in the area and there are several climbers suffering from altitude sickness that could possibly need evacuation. Aside from that, work on the mountain progresses, and the way has been cleared all the way up to C2.

On Dhaulagiri there were some early attempts at the summit this week, but bad weather forced the teams back down. They were attempting an alpine style ascent, but the high winds, coupled with snow and rain at altitude, have made that nearly impossible at this point, so a new approach may be necessary.

Things are beginning to heat up on Annapurna as well, with Camps 1 and 2 established, and teams waiting for their weather window. When that comes, they are ready to make their first summit bids. Don Bowie reports that there is already a team higher on the mountain, already on the wall along Tomaz Humar's route. Bowie's team will make their assault, carrying their Camp 3 on their backs, and going alpine style above Camp 2. Summit bids should begin very soon.

Finally, Maxut is on Manaslu, where he probably has already begun his summit bid as well. The latest news says that ropes are fixed up to C2 here as well, but the Kazakh climbing ace isn't going to wait for the route to be cleared. Instead, he'll go alpine style, possibly solo, as well.

Seems like we could begin hearing of summits in the Himalaya as soon as this weekend, depending on weather. It should be an interesting week next week for sure.

Steph Davis Climbs Concepcion in Moab

Rock goddess Steph Davis has recently added another impressive bullet point to her resume, as according to this story over at Alpinist.com she managed to complete Concepcion, an ungraded 220 foot route in Day Canyon near Moab. It is the first female ascent of the route, and the third overall.

Davis says that Concepcion was her most technically demanding project to date, calling the it "one of the most striking splitter cracks" she'd ever seen. The climb starts out as a challenging boulder problem and increases in difficult from there as it slowly beings to widen from a relatively narrow seam to an offwidth full blown crack. Still, she attacked the route strongly, and says that she only put up two cams in the final 70 or 80 feet.

After a rough winter in which she suffered some challenging injuries, Steph says that it was a relief to get back out on the rock and challenge herself on this route. She also notes that her recent BASE jumping adventures have helped her climbing in ways she hadn't expected. You can read more in her personal blog entitled High Infatuation.

The Five Best Things About Returning To Civilization

Another really great entry over at the NG Adventure Blog today, with top adventurers listing their five favorite things about returning to civilization.

Amongst the "celebrity" adventurers who weigh in on this topic are long distance paddlers Julie and Colin Angus, big wall climber Mike Libecki, and super hiker Andrew Skurka. Some of the answers are quite predictable, like hot showers and an actual toilet, while others are a bit more surprising. Libecki apparently is always really happy to be with his daughter, and Skurka is ready to hit the bars. Most honest answer? Well, that would have to come from ice climber Will Gadd, who happily adds "sex" to his list. :)

So what do you miss most when you're out in the backcountry or away to some exotic distant land? Honestly, I'd have to say one of the top things on my list is cold drinks. You don't realize how much you take them for granted until you've had warm water for several days. Or better yet, visit a country where ice is not an option, and really, lets face it, in most countries it really isn't. You'll begin to see what a luxury it is to have a nice cold drink. Hot shower ranks up there for me as well and a wider variety of food. The luxuries in life are what makes coming home worth while, and reminds us how good we really have it.

Adventure Has Q&A with David Breashears

Yesterday I mentioned that David Breashear's Storm Over Everest would be hitting PBS on May 13th (9-11 PM EDT, check your listings, set your DVR's, etc. etc.). In the movie, Breashears returns to Everest to tell the tale of the 1996 tragedy, revealing more of what happened, and speaking with the survivors 12 years after the fact.

Now, National Geographic Adventure has taken the opportunity to sit down with the famed filmmaker and mountaineer to discuss his latest project in a very nice Q&A Session in which he discusses why he went back to revisit the story now, his thoughts on what caused the disaster, and whether or not he thinks it could happen again. Breashears ends the interview by saying "I think it's the first real film I've ever made." Adventure also posted the same preview clip of the show that I linked to yesterday. It's a nice glimpse of what we can expect.

Last night while watching the show Strange Days On Planet Earth on PBS, I caught a preview for Storm and I have to say it looks amazing. I was really impressive with amazing visual of the Himalaya and some interesting interviews with survivors such as Beck Weathers. I was already anticipating the movie, but after seeing the preview, I was really excited. Looks like it should be something special for Everest fans and mountaineers of the armchair variety or otherwise.

Walking The World

A few days ago I posted about Gary Haus, who is walking around the world in stages. Today I'm posting about Harry Lee McGinnis, who goes by the name "Hawk", who has also been walking around the world. However, in Hawk's case, he's not doing it in stages, but in stead he's been out on the trail for 16 years in his quest to circumnavigate the globe on foot.

The journey actually begins back in 1983, when McGinnis set out from Arlington, Texas to walk through all 50 of the United States. He wandered for four years, taking time off here and there to enjoy the places that he visited. Along the way, he managed to hit every state in the union, not to mention parts of Canada as well.

When he finished that, he went home for awhile, married, and settled down for a few years. But it wasn't long before his feet once again heard the call of the road, so in 1992 he flew off to Dublin, Ireland to walk in the St. Patrick's Day parade. From there, he started his journey, and now, nearly 16 years, with 66 countries visited, and countless miles later, he's still going. He plans to finish up back in Texas sometime in 2010. He is currently in Panama City with the intention of heading North soon.

Hawk, who is 80 years old, carries everything with him in a backpack that is said to weigh 100 pounds. He has a steel tipped walking staff to assist in his trekking, but it has also served as a weapon to defend himself from time to time as well. He also carries a couple of throwing knives and a bullwhip too. The story of his walk has some interesting tales about some of the encounters he's had along the way.

Also on his website you'll find biographies, both short and long, some thoughts on the places he's been, and even a few photos.

When he returns home, he hopes to write a book about his journey, detailing the places he's been and the people he's met. Sounds like it might be quite a read.

The Rest of Everest: Bonus Podcast - Ben Aims For Annapurna

I'm not really sure how I missed this one over the weekend, but a Bonus Episode of The Rest of Everest was released over the weekend in which Jon Miller talks with Ben Clark, Josh Butson and Tim Clarke who were preparing to leave for Kathmandu that very day on their next adventure.

Ben, who is well known to fans of the Rest of Everst, and his climbing partners are hoping to climb Annapurna IV and then complete the first ski descent of that mountain. They'll be chronicling their expedition at AnnapurnaIV.com, where the first dispatch has been posted today announcing the team's arrival in Kathmandu.

After climbing this very challenging 24,688 foot peak, the team hopes to step into their skis and face 9000' of vertical descent, screaming down the side of the mountain. They give more details of their plans in the podcast and discuss their experience in the mountains and much more.

Sounds like a great expedition, and I can't wait to follow it on the website and through future updates from The Rest of Everest as well. The team promises regular updates with video and photos, so perhaps soon we'll know what it's like first hand to drop 9000 feet down the side of a Himalayan peak.

The Rest of Everest: Episode 80

The latest episode of The Rest of Everest has hit the Interwebs, allowing us to continue on our virtual journey through Tibet with podcast producer Jon Miller and his friend Scott Jacobs.

Episode 80 opens with Jon once again giving us an update on the fundraising efforts for Lobsang, who served as his and Scott's guide last year while they visited the Himalayan country. With the current Chinese crackdown in the region, no tourists are getting in and out of the country, which means Lobsang has no way to earn a living. Jon passed the virtual collection plate for his friend, and to date we've donated $647 for him and his family. That's money that will go a long way in Tibet. If you haven't donated yet, you can still do so by clicking here.

From there we return to the town of Shigatse and the Tashilunpo Monastery where we are treated to scenes of the young monks preparing to serve tea to the older, more senior monks. First they we see them cleaning the large metal containers, then actually making the tea itself.

As usual, there is also plenty of great footage of the amazing buildings and architecture as well, but this weeks highlights include Jon and Scott playing matchmaker for Lobsang so that he could use Jon's sat phone to call his girlfriend the Ukraine. Scott fighting off pint-sized pickpockets is also quite humorous.

Storm Over Everest To Air May 13th on PBS

Set your DVR's folks. David Breashears' much heralded film Storm Over Everest is set to air on May 13th from 9 to 11 PM EDT. The film takes a look back at the events that transpired on the mountain during the Spring Season of 1996 in which a fast moving, and massive storm, moved in on the mountain, leaving three teams stranded on the mountain, and eventually lead to the death of five climbers on the South Col.

By now, the story is well known, and legendary. But during this film, Breashears, who was there on the mountain that day and took part in the rescue attempts, looks back, along with other survivors, including climbers and sherpas alike, some of whom have never spoken of those events before. The film will go in depth into the events of that fateful day back in May 12 years ago.

Below is a preview clip of the film, which is sure to be well made and likely provide a glimpse into this story that we haven't seen before. I can't wait to catch it. You can learn more about Breashears here and check out some bonus web clips from survivors here.

Another Cool Snowboarind/Skiing Video

Even though Spring is in the air, and most of us are looking forward to the Summer ahead, there are always those amongst us who would rather spend their time carving through the white stuff. For them, I present this very cool video that I found over ath the GoBlog earlier.

The video won top honors at the Nissan Outdoor Games by Columbia (How's that for pandering to your sponsors?) and it deserves the kudos. The images are crisp, high quality, and the music is the perfect tempo to go along with some great boarding and skiing footage. Fun stuff. Watch it, say goodbye to WInter, and go break out your surfboard already.

EXTREME - RIDE THE PLANETS
by tv8montblanc

American Climber Banned From Everest

MSNBC is reporting that American Climber William Brant Holland has been dismissed from Everest after Nepali officials found a "Free Tibet" flag in his bags in Base Camp. Holland is reportedly on his way back to Kathmandu where his fate will be decided more fully. It's quite possible he'll receive a ban from climbing in Nepal for a number of years.

Obviously this is the first crackdown, that we've heard of anyway, with Nepal enforcing the rules on the South Side of Everest this season. We've speculated on more than one occasion here as to what would happen if someone violated the policies that were clearly set fourth by the Nepal Ministry of Tourism at the start of the season, and now we know.

For Holland, this has to be a painful and expensive lesson. He was climbing with Himalayan Guides Treks and Expeditions out of Kathmandu, and they generally charge in the neighborhood of about $20k USD, and up, for an Everest climb. You can bet that Holland won't see one dime of that money back, nor do I think he should either. He possibly put the whole team in jeopardy with his actions, as the Ministry could have decided that if they can't keep tabs on their clients, they shouldn't be on the mountain at all.

The Rules of Everest this year suck. There are no two ways about it. However, if you want to climb, you have to play by the rules, and clearly Holland had plans to circumvent them. I would have applauded his audacity for unfurling the flag at the summit, I would have chided him at the same time for putting the rest of the team at risk of not being able to go up. While I think it's a shame that Nepal has taken such stringent measures to silence and control the climbers on the South Side, I think Holland should have respected those rules and abided by them if he had hoped to climb the mountain.

The question now is, was this the last such incident we'll see? My guess is that this will send a ripple through the BC and others will probably take things a bit more seriously now. They've seen the consequences first hand, and I doubt any of them want to come home.

You can read more on the topic over at ExWeb and The Adventurist.

Thanks to Carl for sending me this link. Much appreciated.

Ed Viesturs and John Stetson Going Back To The Arctic

Famed mountaineer Ed Viesturs and renowned polar explorer and dog musher John Steston will be heading back into the Arctic this Friday, April 25th. The two men will be heading to Baffin Island, where they'll pull their sledges for 150 miles, over the course of 20 days, as they explore some of the most remote, and untouched regions of the Canadian Arctic, in an effort to raise awareness about global climate change.

In what's being called the "Healthy Planet = Healthy People" expedition, Viesturs and Stetson intend to document the effects of global warming on Baffin Island by visiting remote Inuit villages and interviewing the people that live there, much the way that Will Steger did last year with his Global Warming 101 expedition.

That's not the only reason the two men are heading out to Baffin however. It seems a bigger expedition is in the works for further down the line. Ed and John intend to use the Healthy Planet = Healthy People expedition as a shakedown cruise for a future unsupported expedition to the South Pole. They'll test out their gear and use the 20 days as a training session for the 600 mile journey they could experience Antarctica, possibly as soon as this Winter.

Ed and John expect to check in daily by satellite phone, and you'll be able to read their dispatches from the field at EdViesturs.com and exclusively at GreatOutdoors.com. I guess once you've finished knocking off all of the 8000m peaks, there's nothing left to do but go to the Poles huh?

Outside Travel Suggestions

Outside Magazine is often a great source of new and suggestions for outdoor adventures of all kinds, but I especially like their suggestions on adventure travel, often coming up with some new ideas on places to do and things to do. Their annual guide to the best trips is usually very interesting and often adds new items to my Life List.

This year's edition is no exception and their Best Trips of 2008 are now available online. This year you'll find such suggestions as heading to the Basque region of France and Spain for an active getaway that includes plenty of cycling, along with great food and wine as well. Is surfing more your thing? Then checkout El Salvador for amazing beaches and killer waves. Or for something a little different, head to Algeria to go camel trekking. It's a bit unfortunate that they chose this year to recommend Tibet though. Maybe after the Olympics.

Once you're done scoping out the great new trips, check out this article which includes "52 ways to make you wander better". The story if filled with some great tips for where to find the Best Beach Bar, what the Best Sleeping Bag (Osprey Slipstream 20"/40L) is, as well as the Best Airline. (Virgin!) There are a lot more tips and ideas as well, and who knows what you'll find. For instance, I discovered Wegolo, a nice new addition to my bookmarks for finding cheap airfare. You can never have enough of those sites.

Great stuff for the seasoned or beginner traveler alike. Both articles are definitely worth a read.

Everest 2008: No Foreign Journalists Allowed Either?

ExWeb posted an interesting update earlier today that says that Everest's North Side BC may now be off limits to foreign journalists as well. According to the story, the Olympic Torch was set to leave Beijing today and make it's way to Base Camp where it would wait until the route up the mountain was secure, and the weather permitted a summit attempt. All told, from Beijing to summit to completion, the coverage was expected to last about three weeks.

However, today, shortly before the entire entourage was set to depart, the journalists were told that the start was delayed until Saturday, and that they were not longer allowed in Base Camp when the torch makes it's way up the mountain. The whole junket is now down to just ten days, with "bad weather" given as the reasoning, although that doesn't seem to be a reason to kick them all out of BC once they are actually there. It's also not like the journey to Base Camp is all that treacherous either, now that the road has been paced all the way up.

It should also be noted that China bowed under pressure to allow these foreign journalists in at all, and now it looks like they've found away to dump them when they go the chance. Does this mean we won't see coverage of the Torch on the summit? Quite the contrary, I still believe you'll see it all over the place, but the footage and stories will all be delivered via the Chinese, who will be able to control what video is released and tell the story exactly the way they want to.

In other news, some teams have managed to get a few messages out of the South Side Base Camp on Monday. Silvio Mondinelli, for instance, arrived in BC yesterday and was able to call out to friends and family. It is unknown though if the simply was able to make a call before his equipment was confiscated or not.

Away from Everest, teams on other Himalayan peaks continue to work away. On Annapurna for instance, the lines have been fixed up to C1, and work has begun on the route to C2 as well, which is expected to be the most challenging part of the climb. If the weather holds, we could start to see summit attempts as early as next week, although that seems a bit optimistic to me.

On Manaslu more teams are beginning to arrive in BC after having to make a long trek into the mountain. The word is that conditions on the mountain are less than stellar with lots of snow in the higher regions. Over on Makalu, the story remains the same, as teams have had no luck in getting the Nepalese Government to green-light the use of a helicopter to airlift them in. Climbers on that mountain now face a long trek of their own.

Finally, summit pushes are underway on Dhaulagiri, and we could have our first summit of the season as early as tomorrow. Most teams have stocked their camps up to C2 and are preparing to make their own push soon.

Frederick Cook: 100 Years Later

One hundred years ago today American explorer Frederick Cook claimed to be the first man to reach the North Pole. He set off from Annoatok in Greenland early in 1908, and continued North, foraging for food as he went, until he allegedly reached the top of the world. He took with him just two inuit men to serve has his support team, and all three wandered back south to Devon Island, where they spent the winter before returning to Greenland in 1909. Upon their return, they told tales of bitter cold, extreme hardships, and accomplished goals.

But, you'll notice that I used the words "claimed" and "allegedly" when describing Cook's adventures. A year after Cook claimed to have reached the North Pole, in April of 1909, another American explorer, and rival of Cooks, Robert Peary went to the North Pole, and upon his return started a campaign to smear and discredit Cook. Peary claimed that upon reaching his polar destination, he found no signs of Cook having been there, and he claimed the title of "First to the Pole" for himself.

Cook, for his part, could never muster the support he needed to prove his claims. He said that his detailed journals were left in Annoatok, and that they would provide his navigational data. But when the boxes were given to Peary to bring back with him, he refused to allow them on his ship, and they were sent back into storage, never to be seen again.

Soon, the entire nation, indeed the world, bought into Peary's claims, and Cook was discredited, despite numerous attempts to clear his name and prove that he had completed the journey. He had supporters. The Inuit guides believed that they had reached the Pole, and there were others that thought that what little data he could provide was compelling evidence, but it was too little and too late for Cook.

The story of Peary and Cook's rivalry has become an enduring controversy in the world of polar exploration. This week, ThePoles.com will explore the story in depth and provide some insight into it. They haven't published anything more than a teaser yet, but look for their coverage of the Polar Controversy over the next few days. It should be an interesting and fun look back.

Preview an issue of Adventure World Magazine

Adventure World Magazine is a relatively new periodical focusing on all the outdoor activities we love so much. Whether it's paddling, mountain biking, hiking, adventure racing or what ever, they're looking to cover it and become the "voice for this ever growing population of adventure seeking individuals".

You can get a sample of what the magazine has to offer by taking a peek at their online edition which comes in a PDF format, is full of high quality photos, and writing from a host of outdoor athletes with good tips on training, building skills, and competing. There also sections on gear and adventure destinations as well. if you like what you see, you can even subscribe online for only 17 clams a year, or if you want to include membership in the USARA it's only $37.

While the magazine is relatively new, it's getting off to a good start. AWM is a "Greenzine" meaning that it is completely published electronically, saving trees and lowering it's impact on the environment dramatically. Most periodicals still don't use recycled paper, let alone come in an electronic format.

We'll have to keep an eye on AWM as it grows and begins to branch out into a wide variety of topics. It's always nice to have alternative sources for news and info in the adventure world, and I welcome the crew over at AWM wholeheartedly.

Stage Walking Around The World

Gary Haus is known as the Walkingman and for good reason. He's spent the better part of the past 12 years walking around the world in stages. Gary spends winters in Florida, where he works as a waiter in a restaurant, before he heads out on his next adventure and continues walking around the globe in stages.

To date Gary has covered some 17,220 miles crossing the United States, Europe, the U.K., Mexico, Central and South America and New Zealand. On May 15th of this year he'll depart for Australia where he'll begin his next leg of the journey. The crazy thing is, he's not even half-way done yet, as he says he has another 20,000 miles or so to go before beating the World Record held by Arthur Blessit, which currently stands at 37,000 miles. Besides Australia, Asia and Africa still await his restless feet.

Gary's website is a good source of information to keep up with his travels. Not only does he blog when he can, but he also has a break down of each stage of the expedition by year, he also lists all of his gear and equipment, which he pushes in a three wheeled cart. His online gallery also has some really great photos as well.

The website keeps a running total of his cumulative miles to date, but it also lists more than 26,000 miles on bike as well. Obviously Gary got bored with the bike after that first 25,000 miles and decided to abandon it for a slower paced way of travel. Perhaps he, like many travelers, felt like everything was just rushing by him, so he had to slow down and take it all in at his own pace. Or maybe the piece of crap bike broke down somewhere in the middle of the Gobi Desert so elected to just leave it behind and continue on foot. That'll teach him to buy a Huffy.

Thanks to Tom over at Two-Heel Drive for this one.

Himalaya Update: Time To Go Camping!

The weekend was another active one when it came to news from the Himalaya, even if Everest itself was, for the most part, still silent. The big story that made the most headlines was CNN, amongst others, reporting that Nepal has authorized the use of deadly force against pro-Tibet demonstrators during the Chinese Torch summit. What that means, in a nutshell, is that security forces on the South Side of Everest can shoot anyone attempting to go up the mountain to disrupt the Chinese proceedings at the top.

Furthermore, the security forces have claimed the right to search climbers gear, and if they find any type of anti-Chinese material, teams can be expelled from the mountain, with their climbing permits yanked. Both of these announcements underscore how serious Nepal is about ensuring that no one interferes with China. Hopefully everyone on the mountain will heed the warnings and there are no unfortunate incidences to report.

In other Everest news over the weekend, Jason over at The Adventurist quoted from a story at Summit Climb that a Sherpa had to be rescued from Everest after suffering what appeared to be a stroke at the time. Gyelzen Sherpa was making his way through the Icefall on his way to Camp 1 when the incident occurred and he had to be airlifted from the mountain. A group of Sherpas helped to carry him down to Pheriche hospital where he was later medivaced. Preliminary updates from the doctors say that Gyelzen is just fine, and just needs some rest. He is walking and talking normally, and the early diagnosis of a stroke seems to be off the mark, thankfully.

Meanwhile, ExWeb had a few updates of their own with the news that the Everest is now clear all the way up to C2, but not above. Teams have begun shuttling their gear up to C1 and 2, but of course they are strictly forbidden to go any higher until after May 10th.

The action away from Everest is starting to pick up as well, with the word that Valery and Nikolay have begun their assault on the West Ridge of Dhaulagiri. The two climbers are putting up a new route on the 8000m peak, that is described as long and challenging. Over on Annapurna teams are currently working on establishing Advanced Base Camp as work progresses on schedule. On Makalu teams have begun reaching Hillary Base Camp while on Manaslu teams are just beginning to trickle into BC. The region has been designated a "no fly zone" thanks to the proximity to the Tibetan boarder and the instability there, so climbers are forced to trek into BC rather than hop a flight on a helicopter. This has, of course, made for a challenging start to the climbing season on that mountain.

It should prove to be an interesting week in the Himalaya. I'm sure we'll have few, if any, reports from Everest and Lhotse, while news will start to trickle in from the other mountains. An update from the North Side would be nice, as there are a lot of rumors floating around right now that suggest that the Chinese are working hard, but struggling a bit with high winds. Hopefully the weather will hold out so that the May 10th deadline will be met.

It's good to see the teams establishing their camps on all the mountains. That means it's business as usual, and they're proceeding as best as they can with the schedules they've set out for themselves. Teams on Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and others have to be a bit thankful they avoided the circus on Everest this year. Everest is a circus every year it seems these days, but this year its the three ring variety. Under the Big Top. With more clowns.

Nalgene Bottles Deemed Unsafe

There has been some recent discussion about the safety of water bottles made by Nalgene that contain polycarbonate. Now the National Geographic Adventure Blog has posted a Special Report on the topic to let us all know how to tell of our water bottles are safe, and what to look for in the future when buying new ones.

Bottles made with polycarbonate have been linked to breast and prostate cancer, as well as brain disease and disruption of the endocrine system. The man made chemical of bisphenol A, also known as BPA, is contained in polycarbonate and seems to be the major cause of the health concerns. Nalgene as announced that they will stop making bottles that contain the substance, and will begin using a new, safer substance known as Tritan in their future bottles. We are all encouraged to replace our current bottles with ones made with Tritan or stainless steel.

The post over at NG's Adventure blog contains more information on the topic, including how to tell if your current bottle is safe or not, and what to replace it with. You should pitch out any older bottles and head to REI or one of your local outdoor stores to pick up new, safer bottles in the very near future. The link between the use of BPA and the health concerns listed above is pretty clear cut. Besides, you know you've been wanting to buy a some new gear anyway. ;)

Reinhold Messner Video Interview

Reinhold Messner is perhaps the great mountaineer to ever live. His resume is practically unmatched. He was the first man to climb Everest without oxygen, the first to top out on all 8000m peaks, and he's put up new routes on some of the most challenging peaks all over the world. If that wasn't enough, he's also crossed the Antarctic, and more than 2000 miles of the Gobi Desert.

In their Friday Matinee today, Outdoors Magic has posted a nice interview with Messner, who talks about his approach to climbing, young climbers that he respects, and more. Definitely a cool video of a true living legend.

Check it out here:

Backpacker Puts Gear Guide Online

This morning while catching up on the latest adventure news, I dropped by The Adventurist where I learned that Backpacker Magazine has published their latest issue on their recently revamped website. Ah, but this isn't just any issue, it's the much anticipated Gear Guide with the latest and greatest gear for every outdoor pursuit.

As you would expect, Backpacker has picked their favorite packs, their top tents, boots, sleeping bags and much, much more. And when you're done drooling over all the cool stuff you can't afford, be sure to check out their trail tips from the experts. That article has guys like Ed Viesturs and Andrew Skurka telling you how they do things. Not that they know anything.

For "gearheads" like me, this issue is like that Christmas Wish Book we paged through as kids. I pretty much want one of everything, even if I really don't need it. I've got a big gear closet at home, and it isn't full yet. I'll keep going until it is! :)

Andrew Skurka's Top 10 Hikes

National Geographic Adventure had uber-hiker Andrew Skurka, their Adventurer of the Year, come up with his top ten favorite hikes, and you can check out the results here.

The hikes are broken down into three categories, short hikes (1-2 days in length), Medium, deemed a "long weekend", and Long, which are a week or more in length. From there, Skurka picked hikes that were ranked as "easy", "intermediate", and "hard" in difficulty.

Amongst his favorites are The Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota, which is his easiest trek. The trail is described as mostly flat, with occasional climbs and descents. It's more than 245 miles in length, but is perfect for short 1-2 days of hiking. For medium length, intermediate hiking, he recommends spending some time on the Appalachian Trail. Everyone knows that it can be an epic trek, but for shorter, ultralight hikes, it can be very rewarding as well.

As for his long and most challenging hike, he selected the Continental Trail. He recommends doing the entire 2700 mile length (big surprise from him!), but says that the 210 mile San Juan section in Colorado is best for us mere mortals. Beware however, this trail comes with a lot of altitude, and is rugged and remote, with lots of alpine style ridge hiking mixed in.

Great list from a guy who certainly knows his trails.

Inca Trail Alternatives

The Guardian is reporting today that the Inca Trail is sold out into September, and that the iconic South American hike will not be open to reservations until after that time. The Peruvian Government has instituted some new restrictions on the Trail in order to protect it and the environments through which it runs. In recent years the trail has continued to grow in popularity, and at times has become quite crowded, prompting the action.

Fear not though, as there are some excellent alternative hikes in the Andes that allow you to capture the same spirit of the Inca Trail, albeit with fewer crowds. The article recommends some of these lesser known trails and offers up advice on guide services for the alternative routes as well.

For example, they suggest the Salkantay Trail, which is best known as the "Back Door to Machu Picchu" as it ends at the same lost city as the Inca Trail. The Salkantay weaves it's way in and out of high passes and jungle valleys over the course of its 4 day journey. This trail is the most likely to get crowded next though, as it's the main alternative to the Inca.

Lesser known Andes treks are also provided, such as the Choquequirao, which is a longer trek matching scenery with cultural immersion, or the Cordillera Huayhuash which is located near the city of Huaraz and offers solitude and breath taking scenery as you march one of two routes near the Cordillera Blanca range.

Peru is considered one of the adventure capitals of South America, with it's proximity to the Andes and ancient ruins. Definitely a place worth exploring for a combination of trekking and culture. However, if you have your heart set on the Inca Trail, it sounds like you had better book it further ahead, or plan on going during the off season.

Scott and Shackleton's Antarctic Huts

This blog post over at Fogonazos has some amazing photos of the long lost Antarctic huts of Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott, two explorers who were caught up in the Race to the South Pole in the early 20th Century.

Believe it or not, nearly a century later, both of their huts are still standing, and are still stocked with canned goods and other items from their original expeditions. The one above is from Shackleton's attempt at the Pole, and the one below is all that remains from Scott's ill fated expedition. Inside they are still much the way they were when the explorers left them for the last time. The huts are antarctic time capsules harkening back to a different era when explorers were still seen as heroes and their exploits made front page news.

There are a lot more photos at the link above and they shouldn't be missed. Thanks to Team Geared Up for the link. Great stuff.

Mountain Biking Scotland

The International Mountain Biking Association recently named Scotland the top mountain biking destination in the world, usurping the throne from Canada. The Scottish Highlands offer their own brand of challenging rides and scenic mountains that'll make your legs ache on the way up, and your heard pound on the way down.

Today, The Times Online takes a look at mountain biking in Scotland in their Travel Section, allowing us a first hand peek at what the country has to offer.

The story notes that many people looking to escape the urban sprawl of London for a weekend getaway have often hopped a train to Scotland, usually to play some golf or hit one of the many lakes for some fishing. But increasingly there are many mountain bikers hopping the train as well, hoping to turn that weekend getaway into an adventurous outing.

For those planning to go, the article recommends going to the Cairngorms National Park, near Kingussie, for a good ride for beginners. The region has a number of trails, and guide services to help you out, and if you don't bring your own bike, it's easy to rent one there. There are also plenty of good inns and places to eat in the area as well, and once you're comfortable in the saddle, you can head out to one of the more remote, and challenging trails.

From the sound of things, it seems like this is a great place to jump on your bike and ride. The challenge level, while suited for beginners, also offers up something for others as well, and you can enjoy the Scottish countryside all day long, and then stay in a warm inn, with a fine meal and a pint or two at the end of the day. Where do I sign up?

Outside Excerpts Dark Summit

In a few weeks time a book entiled Dark Summit: The True Story of Everest's Most Controversial Season by Nick Heil will be released. The book takes a look at the controversial 2006 Spring Season on Everest, in which David Sharp died on the mountain, and a lot of fingers were pointed at who exactly was to blame. One of the looming figures at the center of the maelstrom was the controversial and infamous Russell Brice, whose Himex Team lords over the North Face of the mountain.

Outside Online has published an excerpt from the book, both in their latest issue, and now online. The excerpt takes a look at Brice and his approach to guiding and climbing on the big peaks. The story offers some insight into the man that has been both vilified and deified by various people, depending on their encounter with him.

After reading this brief portion of the Dark Summit I came away with two thoughts. One, Brice is a complex guy. Not easy to figure out, and not easy to place blame, or absolve from blame. The second thought was that I had to read the rest of the book to find out more. Which is, of course, what Outside wants since they're publishing it. Mission accomplished guys! ;) I have a feeling if you're reading this blog, you'll probably want to read this book as well. If I can get my hands on a copy, I'll write a review soon.

Also, the author did a Q&A session with the Outside Blog where he continues to answer questions in the "comments" section. Definitely worth a look as well. Interesting stuff.

The Rest of Everest: Episode 79

Wednesday means a new episode of The Rest of Everest, and just in time it seems. As communications from the mountain are shut down, and Tibet remains locked off to the rest of the world, we get to continue our virtual tour of the country with our guides Jon Miller and Scott Jacobs.

The episode begins with an update on the fund raising efforts that started last week for Jon and Scott's Tibetan guide Lobsang. As you may recall, last week Jon asked for donations of $1 to $2 from his listeners to help out Lobsang who has lost the ability to make a living while the Chinese keep the country off limits from foreigners. Well, it seems there have been a lot of generous donations, ranging from $1 to $100, and to date Jon has raised $392 for Lobsang, who is actually on the phone to give a message of thanks as the episode begins. If you still haven't donated, but would like to head over to this page and click the "Donate" button. This is the chance to have a direct impact on someone in Tibet's life, and even small donations go a long way in Tibet.

This week's episode follows the guys as they head out to Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet. The now familiar looking architecture and streets continue to amaze when Jon and Scott visit the Tashilunpo Monastery, one of the largest such structures in the country.

One of the highlights of this episode are some images of a huge statue dedicated to the future Dalai Lama. The huge statue is roughly ten stories tall when sitting down, giving you an idea of how massive it is. It's also completely enclosed inside one of the buildings, and it quite amazing to see. Jon wasn't able to film it or take pictures, but Matt over at www.picotrip.com had some great shots that he shared, allowing us to get a look at the statue in context. Thanks Matt! :)

Another cool moment is watching, and listening, to the monks being called in for prayer. It's an amazing scene watching them enter the monastery and go about their tasks. Along the way, some of the young men took time to mug for the camera, and swipe Scott's digi cam to snap their own pictures. The scene reminds us that young men are playful and friendly in any culture.

Next week we get a closer look at the monks and what it is they have to do at the monastery. Namely, they serve tea. A lot of tea.

Himalaya Update: Chomolungma Who?

With the lockdown now squarely in place, we can expect little word from Everest BC for the next few week, although there are some teams considering ways to circumvent the system.

No matter. There is plenty of action elsewhere in the Himalaya to keep us busy while we wait for the Big Hill to open up once again. For instance, Brian Oestrike continues his trek up the Khumbu Valley, and has already reached Namche Bazaare according to his second dispatch. Brian's on his way to Lhotse however, which means that once he reaches BC he'll fall under the communications blackout as well. He hopes to make one more dispatch before then, but will likely be in Base Camp by Friday.

Brian is not the only climber in Namche however, as the latest update from Ueli Steck posted to the Hardwear Sessions Blog indicates that he and his climbing partner Simon Anthamatten have also returned to the village following an unsuccessful attempt on Tengkamopche. Ueli claims the pair are exhausted after expending a lot of energy on the 6500m peak after they were turned back due to bad weather. The pair were using the mountain as an acclimatization climb before heading over to Annapurna in a few weeks time.

On Makalu, the British Royal Airforce Team continue their acclimatization efforts as well. They made the climb to Advanced Base Camp today as their slow, but steady progress continues.

Other teams are now in place on Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Lhotse. Most are either busy establishing their base camps or working on acclimatization efforts. All of these are 8000m peaks and each has their own unique challenges that will keep them busy and I'm sure provide plenty of stories in the days ahead. We might even forget about Everest until communications are restored.

Lauren Lee On Captain Fantastic

In what can best be described as a harrowing dance of strength, stamina, and agility, this video shows rock diva Lauren Lee climbing the Captain Fantastic route in the Virgin River Gorge. The route is rated as a 5.13C, but Lauren says it's harder than other routes of that difficulty that she's done in the past.

Excellent video. Thanks to the All Climbing Blog for this one.

Backpacking For Beginners

Tom over at Two Heel Drive has some really great advice today for the beginning backpacker. His comments were inspired by this thread over at TrailSpace.com and he offers up advice on how to get started.

The original poster in the thread says that he has become an avid day hiker, but would like to get into camping as well, and isn't sure where to begin. He's a part of several groups that do over-nighters and treks of several days length, and now he'd like to join in the fun. There is some good advice in the thread as well, but Tom, and his infinite wisdom, boils it down quite nicely.

Amongst his tips are some really great advice such as taking a course at the Sierra Club, renting equipment at first while you decide what you do and don't like, and learning to sleep on the ground by spending a night or two on the patio first. My favorite of his suggestions though is to "Be very picky about your pack", and I couldn't agree more. Nothing can spoil a day on the trail more quickly than an ill fitting pack that doesn't carry a load easily. Well, that and crappy boots, so be picky there as well.

He closes the post with this really great nugget as well: "And never forget it involves going places where there are no toilets." So true Tom. So true!