Off Again!

After being out of town last week for work, I'm ready for a little R&R, so I'm out of town again starting tomorrow and running through the weekend. I'm off to Disney World in Orlando, Florida for a nice long, fun weekend. Yes, you read that right. The Adventure Blogger is heading to Disney World. It may not be the most adventurous place on Earth, but it is the happiest! ;) I hope everyone enjoys their weekend as much as I do. Back to my regular schedule of blog posts next week. Promise! :)

Top Ten Tips For Budget Travelers

BootsnAll is a great website for independent travelers, with all kinds of articles, news, and trip reports to help you prepare for your next journey. The site is predominantly aimed at experienced travelers who are looking to get off the beaten path, and explore the world in their own unique ways, but it often has great advice and tips for newbies too.

Take this article for example. It's written for the first time budget traveler, and offers the Top 10 tips for those going abroad for the first time in an independent fashion and on the cheap. Many of the tips will seem like no-brainers for the more experienced amongst us, but they are also great reminders of things we may take for granted as we add more stamps to our passports.

Some of these tips include "Get Your Shots!" which is a reminder that we are often traveling in regions where there are immune system will encounter bugs we've never seen before. They can be hazardous to your health and ruin a perfectly good vacation. Spring for those immunizations before you embark on that trip. They may be pricey, but you'll be thankful in the long run.

Another great tip is to "Pack Light". We tend to think that we need to take everything when we go abroad, especially on those first few trips. But you'd be surprised what you can do away with when you start to think about it. Cut down on the amount of clothes that you take along and really, only one or two pairs of shoes will do, depending on the situation.

There are a lot more where that came from (8 more to be exact!). It's a good, simple list, with links to further articles, and more information that will certainly get you thinking. And be sure to check out the BootsnAll Travelers Toolkit for even more great stuff.

Visions of the HImalaya

Speaking of the Himalaya, PlanetFear has an amazing gallery of photos from the region that capture the stunning beauty of the mountains as well as the people there. Some of these images have to be seen to be believed, and the descriptive and wonderful captions help to put the pictures in perspective as well. Below is just one example of the photos in this gallery.

Great stuff. *Sigh* I need to work on my photography skills.

Himalaya Update: Alpine Style Summit Attempt on Makalu Begins!

More news from the Himalaya today, courtesy of ExWeb and other sources.

The biggest news is on Makalu where we're told that Steve House, Vince Anderson, and Marko Prezelj are acclimatized, rested, and ready to begin their alpine style assault on the summit. Weather conditions remained poor yesterday, but are expected to improve over the next few days, and the team scheduled to leave BC tomorrow, and begin their single-push attempt on the summit. They'll likely be ready to leave base camp behind, if their story about the amount of trash and refuse their is to be believed.

On Ama Dablam, teams are preparing for their own summit bids, with reports indicating that the trail up to C3 is in adequate condition. Above C2 there is more snow than usual, but the climb is manageable. IMG Sherpas are expected to repair lines up to C2 today, and begin fixing lines above C3 tomorrow. The latest updates indicate that avalanches at C3 have damaged the tents there, but it can be rebuilt fairly easily. The Alpenglow Expedition has joined IMG and the two teams will work jointly on fixing the lines, as they work together on a new route up the mountain.

The latest news from Fredrik Ericsson on Kangchenjunga isn't as promising however, as he reports that he and Jörgen Aamot have returned to BC when conditions on the mountain became too dangerous. It seems that the 50 cm (roughly 20 inches) of new snow made things quite unstable at altitude. The latest dispatch promises more news tomorrow, so hopefully that update will include plans on their next summit attempt. Fredrick and Jörgen are attempting to become the first men to make a complete ski descent of the Kangchenjunga, the third highest mountain on Earth.

Finally, a hearty congratulations to the Amical Team. On October 23rd, the team put nine climbers, including two Sherpas, on the summit of Baruntse in what has been described as "bitterly cold" conditions. The summitters included: Germans Rainer Picher, Thorsten Aurisch, Werner Göring and Eberhard Tenbusch; Austrians Andreas Gschwendtner and Christian Lutz; Ralf Wohlwend from Lichtenstein, and Nepalese Kharma Gelchen Sherpa and Mingma Tenjee Sherpa.

Exploring The Alaskan Interior By Kayak

Paddling Life has a great story up about a group of 13 friends who traveled to Alaska in August to explore it's remote interior region by kayak. The 12 day journey turned into quite an adventure.

The group paddled the Charley River, a major tributary of the Yukon, that runs about 108 miles in length. They took inflatable kayaks on their expedition, which allowed for some flexibility to their approach, and still withstood the Class III waters they encountered along the way.

Just getting to Three Fingers Creek, the site of their put in, and itself a tributary of the Charley, was an adventure in and of itself. It took nine bush flights to reach the start, which added a few more miles to the overall length of the trip, bringing it to a total of 114 miles. Generally the Three Fingers is not runnable, but heavy rains provided plenty of water, even in August.

Along the course of their journey, the kayakers encountered grizzly bears, big horn sheep, and countless other wildlife, and even had to dodge bullets flying over head on one of their last nights on the water. That wasn't the only dangers though, as they dubbed much of the Charley as "Rock Alley" thanks to the multitude or rock gardens they encountered along the way.

All in all, this sounds like a great paddling adventure, made all the more fun by the fact that it was done by a large group of friends. I'm sure the days were a blast on the river itself, and the nights around the campfire were even more so as they shared tall tales and stories of their epic adventures. What a great way to spend two weeks in the summer.

Get Your Adventure Funded By Polartec

The Wend Blog was kind enough to point out this link to the Polartec Challenge, in which the high tech fabric maker awards yearly prizes to adventurers, helping to enable their latest efforts.

On the page, you'll find information on how to apply, a brief introduction to the review board, as well as news on the most recent winners, as well as past challenges, which range from climbs on Gasherbrum IV, hitchhiking through Vietnam, and much much more.

Awhile back, I mentioned how to get a grant from Mountain Hardwear. Now if you combine your winnings from that grant and now this one from Polartec, you should be ready to head out on a pretty amazing adventure. Just remember to bring a blogger along to chronicle your deeds. I have just the person in mind...

Google Earth Hits The iPhone

I've made it no secret that Google Earth is one of my favorite computer programs. It's crammed with all kinds of information and data about a nearly every place on the planet, and is a great tool for travelers looking for information on their next big destination. On top of that, it shows topography, trail maps, campsites, and much much more, depending on your needs. All for the low, low price of FREE!!

Yesterday, while surfing my favorite websites and catching up on tech news that I'd missed recently, I noticed that Google released a version of Earth for the iPhone, which of course, made me even happier. I downloaded this version, which is also free, and began to play with it.

The first thing I'll say is that this is more like Google Earth Lite. It looks a lot like it's desktop counterpart, and operates in much the same fashion, but it doesn't even come close to having all the same features, nor is there as much data available at your fingertips. That said though, it does allow you to zoom in, pan about, and look at regions all over the world. You can even use the iPhone's accelerometer to tilt your views around. It's pretty cool having Earth with me in my pocket where ever I go, even if it's quite slow on the iPhone's EDGE network. It is, however, relatively speedy on WiFi, allowing you to navigate easily and look up information on a location through Wikipedia.

If you don't already owning an iPhone, the apps like this one keeps making it more enticing. It's incredibly fun to play with, and you can check it out in action in the video below.

Mountain Gorillas Threatened by Rebel Guerillas

National Geographic is reporting that rebels in the Congo have taken over Virunga National Park, home to most of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world, putting the already endangered species into even bigger jeopardy.

On Sunday, the rebels, led by general Laurent Nkunda, stormed into the park, forcing more than 50 rangers to flee into the jungle, even as the Congolese military moved into engage the guerilla forces. The rangers are said to be dispersed throughout the park, and making their way on foot without food, water, or shelter, through an active battlefield, towards Goma, the regional capital.

Meanwhile, the fighting in the area has made it impossible for the government to monitor the fragile mountain gorilla population, and even other non-profit organizations are pulling out in the wake of the current wave of violence. Roughly 72 gorillas are believed to be in this area, of the 200 known apes that exist in the park area. The rebels have been known to kill the apes in the past, which doesn't bode well for their safety now.

The official website of the Virunga National Park has a blog where updates are being posted. Right now, the main concern is for the rangers, many of whom are still trying to reach safety, but in the long term, it's about the population of the gorillas. If the rebels hold the region for very long, it's feared that it could cause severe damages to the ape population there.

Intelligent Travel Launches New Blog

Intelligent Travel or "The IT, has been one of my favorite travel blogs for some time, and not just because it comes from the fine folks over at National Geographic. The site has long been a great source of news on general travel, industry trends, and destinations around the globe.

Last week the blog was incorporated more fully into the mothership, and is now part of the National Geographic Traveler site, and in the process it received a fresh coat of paint that more closely associates it with the NG brand, while still providing the same great content.

Typically speaking, I wouldn't say that the posts on the IT Blog are particularly adventurous in nature, although from time to time they do have some good adventure travel stories. Instead, I read the blog for it's tips on how to be a smarter traveler and for it's recommendations for places to visit that may be a bit lesser known. It also has a great focus on sustainable travel, something I've talked about a lot recently, as well as the cultures of the places they visit.

For those already reading Intelligent Travel, be sure to update your bookmarks. And if you're new to the blog, add it to your list of travel sites. It's one you'll want to keep.

Beginning Mountaineering Videos

Cotsworld, an outdoor retail headquartered in the U.K., has put together an excellent set of videos for beginning mountaineers. The three videos, which can be found here, focus on your "First Steps on Snow and Ice", "Your First Alpine Ascent", and "Climbing Essentials". The videos are actually quite informative, helpful, and well done, and you can see an example of one below.



Thanks to The GoBlog for this one.

Richard Branson Attempts Record Atlantic Crossing, Fails

While I was off the grid last week, it seems that Richard Branson set off from New York in an attempt to break the trans-Atlantic crossing record in a 99-foot yacht named the Virgin Money. He had hoped to challenge the current record of 6 days, 17 hours, 39 minutes, 52 seconds. Unfortunately, his hopes were dashed thanks to foul weather.

The attempt was two years in the planning, and the crew of experience sailors snuck out of New York ahead of schedule, in an attempt to beat an incoming storm. But just two days and four hours into the run, the attempt was scrubbed, thanks to 40 foot waves and gale force winds, which damaged the main sale and left the ship floundering in the Atlantic.

On the official Virgin Money website, the latest update reports that the crew was excited about the possibilities of the ships performance, but frustrated with the conditions they were forced to race through. Starting late in the season, they expected it to be a challenging go, but it was even worse than expected. The ship limped into a harbor in Bermuda for repairs last Friday.

No word yet on if they'll give it another shot, but my guess is that they'll regroup and try again next year. After all, what else would Branson do with a big boat like that? I mean, I'm sure it set him back a lot of money, and lord knows he doesn't have enough to spare.

The New Natural Wonders

Forbes Traveler has compiled a list of the New Natural Wonders and How to Visit Them that highlights the must see places around the planet that are amongst the top locations in the world to get back to nature.

The list is made up of a number of very cool places to visit, some well known, and others not so much. For example, Sanqingshan National Park in China makes the list, as does the Swiss Tectonic Area Sardona. Both of which are lesser known, but quite accessible, and offer some stunning views and opportunities to adventurous travelers.

Other cool locations making the list include Socotra Archipelago, known as the "Galapagos of the Indian Ocean" and the Monarch Butterfly Reserve in Mexico City, which offers visitors a chance to frolic amongst hundreds of thousands of monarch butterflies.

Another list for adventure travelers to expand their options with.

New Options For Antarctica

For many adventure travelers the goal is to reach all seven continents. Obviously six of them are quite easy, given time and money to get there and, increasingly, you can add Antarctica to that same list, as there are new options that are making the frozen continent more accessible than ever.

Men's Journal has posted a new article that gives the details for top new trips and options for heading south. Granted, these adventures are still a bit on the expensive side for the average traveler, but they do offer options that weren't even this "affordable" until recently.

The options they spotlight include a last degree expedition from Abercrombie & Kent, which will set you back $42,000, but drops you on the Antarctic ice and allows you to complete the last degree of the journey to 90º S. Alternatively, there is a trip from Adventure Associates that is 18-days in length and follows in the footsteps of great explorers such as Scott and Shackleton.

Of course there are other ways of seeing Antarctica these days as well, including cruises in the Southern Ocean, climbing expeditions to Vinson, and kayaking journey's through the ice filled waters surrounding the continent. Now more than ever, it's easier for us to find our own adventures on the bottom of the world.

Himalaya Update: Big Adventures Still Underway

ExWeb has a good update today on the situation in the Himalaya, with news from all over the region. While the Fall season is now winding down, there are still some big climbs ongoing.

On Kangchenjunga, Fredrik Eriksson is on his final summit push as he attempts to make the first full ski descent of the mountain. He and his climbing partner Jörgen Aamot are currently stuck in Camp 2 however, as they wait out a storm. They are reporting heavy snowfall and whiteout conditions are preventing them from going any higher for now.

Over on Annapurna, only the American Dare to Dream Team remains on the mountain, still hoping for a crack at the summit. Over the weekend, the team made up of Czechs Martin Minarik and Petr Masek, along with Slovak Dodo Kopold gave up their attempt after getting as high as 7500m on the peak. Reports from Annapurna indicate that the weather is sketchy there as well, and that the upper portions of the mountain remain unstable.

Unstable is the word that comes to mind on Ama Dablam as well, where teams are hoping to scout higher on the mountain before proceeding up. According to IMG, they are hoping to get reports from experienced climbers who have been on the mountain before, to more accurately assess the risks near the summit. Avalanches continue to be the biggest source of concern, as the higher faces of the mountain, which are now mostly clean of snow, and showing exposed blue ice instead.

Meanwhile, on Everest and Makalu teams are hoping to put up new routes. The Korean team is still toiling away on the Southwest Face of Everest, working that new route, while Steve House's Team is in a holding pattern, waiting to continue their attempt on Makalu's new route as well.

The season will begin to wrap up in the next week or two, and the weather windows are closing rapidly. For most of the teams still in the Himalaya, there is probably only one opportunity left for them to bag their respective peaks. If the conditions cooperate, there should be some exciting reports from Nepal soon.

The 2008 Sahara Race is Underway

The 2008 Sahara Race, part of the 4 Deserts series of ultramarathons, got underway over the weekend, with two stages already in the books. More than 150 racers from 30 countries, have descended on Cairo, where they will spend seven grueling days in the desert, racing through one of the hottest environments on Earth.

You can find results from the first two stages by clicking here. Stage 1 was 35 km (22 miles) in length, and wound it's way through giant rock formations, forcing the runners to use careful navigation throughout the day. Stage 2 took place in the beautiful White Desert and covered a distance of 41.8 km (26 miles). After these two stages, runner Ryan Sandes of South Africa leads the way, with Paolo Barghini of Italy in second, and ultramarathon man Dean Karnazes of the U.S. in third. Karnazes is attempting to become the first man to complete the 4 Deserts and the Badwater in the same year. German Nina Breith is the top female competitor, currently in 4th place overall.

The race will continue over the the next few days with the fifth stage, dubbed The Black Desert March, covering 92.6 km (57.5 miles) on Friday. Saturday will see the racers running home, with a short 10 km (6 mile) run to the finish line. Amongst the competitors this year, for the first time, is a team from Egypt, who are proudly carrying the flag for the host country.

Good luck to all the runners. Be safe in the Sahara heat.

Site News: Out of Town

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I'm out of town through Sunday for a convention related to my day job. They tell me I'll have WiFi at the hotel, but posts may be a bit light or non-existent over the next few days while I attend to business. Back soon!

72-Pitch First Ascent In China!

Climbing.com has an interesting report from China written by Dylan Johnson that tells the story of he and his climbing partner Chad Kellogg, putting up the first ascent of the Southwest Ridge of Siguniang, a 6250 meter peak located in China's Changping Valley.

Along the route, the two climbers experienced about everything you can imagine, including thick rain forests, a 2000 foot granite wall, and alpine ridges leading upward to the snowy summit. They also experienced a variety of weather conditions from mild and calm, to foggy and snowy, with a particularly sketchy night in the elements that offered up a sleet storm interlaced with lightning.

The climb lasted from September 21st through the 30th, with the guys going at it in alpine style. In fact, they had to bivy two nights on the granite face while tackling that 2000 foot wall, and a high camp on a glacial shelf at 18,300 feet.

The report, which can also be found over at The Alpinist, gives an excellent day by day account of the action. Congrats Dylan and Chad. Awesome work!

Off The Beaten Path In Cairo

The Guardian's Travel section offers another great article today, this time it's all about exploring Islamic Cairo, far from the tourist destinations that garner most of the attention in that ancient city.

Typically, when visiting the bustling city of more than 20 million, most foreigners opt for the Egyptian Museum, a stroll through the Khan El-Khalili bizaar, and of course the pyramids and the sphinx. These amazing sites are of course wonderful, but they are also often packed with tourists, and offer very little in the way of modern cultural experiences in Egypt.

For a different experience, the article recommends visiting some of the many beautiful mosques, souks and minarets that put the countries Islamic heritage on display. While not quite as old as the ancient wonders you'll find elsewhere, some of these attractions date back to the 9th century, reflecting an entirely different side to Egypt's history. One that is often overlooked by visitors.

When I was in Cairo, we took a city tour, that showed us slices of the amazing history there. We of course took in the pyramids and other ancient attractions, but we also visited Coptic Cairo for a view of the Christian influence there, as well as a beautiful mosque that was breathtaking to behold. While traveling through various parts of the city, we also saw Roman aqueducts, crumbling city walls, hundreds of years old, and remnants of a civilization that has existed in the same place for more than 5000 years. For history buffs, it's simply amazing.

Combine this article with the one I posted a few weeks back on Egypt's "other treasures" and you'll have a well rounded experience in one of the most fascinating countries on Earth.

Offroading The Lions Back

Ever wonder what it must be like to go down the Lion's Back, a legendary offroad trail in Moab, Utah? (Pictured here) To take this ride, first you have to go up the sandstone cliff, then make a tight turn at the top, before returning the way you came. The slope is said to vary between 25 and 65 degrees, and has been known to destroy the breaks on more than one vehicle.

Apparently, the Lions Back falls on private property and is now closed to the general public, but it looks like quite a ride, as youc an see from the video below.



First Person Perspective Going Down The Lions Back Moab UT. - video powered by Metacafe


Thanks to Team Geared Up!

Which Way To The Put-In? Just Down The Stairs!

Here's a crazy little video of someone doing unspeakable things to their kayak. The guy begins his day on the water with a wild run down some stairs first. The actual clip isn't that long, but the video shows it in real time speeds (twice) and no only in slow-mo, but super-slow-mo as well. At least he manages to find the water at the end, and in relatively one piece.


http://view.break.com/588762 - Watch more free videos

This comes courtesy of The Piton.

Yeti Footprints??

Way back in August, I mentioned a Japanese team that was headed for Dhaulagiri to search for the mythical Yeti, or abominable snowman, an ape like creature that is said to live in the remote and high regions of the HImalaya. At the time, I noted that they were taking all kinds of high tech gear to find their prey, in hopes of proving to the world, once and for all, that the creature actually exists.

Well, it seems they may have found something. According to this story at the Daily Mail, team leader Yoshiteru Takahashi claims that they have found footprints of the Yeti in the snows near Dhaulagiri IV, where the team spent 42 days hoping to have the snowman trigger one of their motion activated cameras. Failing to catch the big guy on film however, they settled for the next best thing, amongst cryptozoologists it seems, in tracks in the snow.

Well, I suppose that looks a bit like a track. Maybe if you squint real hard. It certainly does look like snow in any event, with some kind of depression in it that could have been made by nearly anything. Takahashi has vowed to return to Dhaula, where he claims to have seen the Yeti back in 2003, until he finds proof of it's existence. Maybe he's just hoping to cash in on e-bay, like those other famous monster hunters.

Thanks to BackPacker.com for this one.

Thoughts on Stranded

A few weeks back I posted about a movie called Stranded from Zeitgeist Films that is due to be released on October 22nd. The film is a documentary that tells the story of the 1972 Uruguayan rugby team that crashed in the Andes and were given up for dead. 16 members of the team not only survived the crash, but also lived for 72 days in the mountains, before two of them managed to walk out to civilization and find help.

Last week I was sent a screener DVD of the film and earlier tonight I had a chance to watch it. The movie follows the survivors of the incident as they return, for the first time, to the site of the crash and their 2+ month long ordeal. Many of them went back with their own children, sharing with them the pain and joy of survival. Five minutes into the film I was riveted, and if I had to use one word to describe it, it would be mesmerizing.

The film is in Spanish with subtitles, and it is shot in a stark manner. Their aren't a lot of colors in the film, but we're not watching for the beautiful scenery. This is a story about survival, and the muted, sometimes bleak, colors help to convey the sense of complete hopelessness that the survivors faced at times.

Stranded opens up by introducing some of the Uruguayans who were on that plane back in October of 1972. They talk about how excited they were to travel to Chile for a long weekend and a rugby match. Most of them were a mere 19 or 20 years old, going on their first plane trip, and excited about the possibilities.

As the movie proceeds, more of the 16 survivors are introduced, and each of them adds their own personal insights to the story. They talk about the storm that caused the crash, what it was like in the hours and days afterwards, and their feelings as the realization sunk in that no one was coming for them. There were actually 24 survivors in those early days, but over the course of time, other succumbed to injuries, starvation, and the elements.

The days that followed the crash became a life or death struggle, with the team waiting to be discovered. At one point, an avalanche swept down the mountain, burying them and the remains of the fuselage of the plane. The survivors dug their way out, but it left them weak and beaten, and keenly aware of the dangers of where they were.

Eventually, the 16 remaining survivors realize that they're going to die on the mountain unless they make an attempt to get down. So, they chose three of their strongest and sent them off to find help. One eventually returned, but two others proceeded out, and after a week and a half of walking, finally found a sheepherder who alerted the authorities. Before too long, they returned with a rescue helicopter, and after 72 days on the mountain, they were rescued at last.

Of course, the controversial part of the story is exactly how they survived. With little food, the young men were forced to resort to cannibalism, a fact that made an already amazing story, all the more sensationalistic following their rescue. They immediately became international heroes, but the cloud of cannibalism hung over them one the less, and the topic is dealt with in the film in a delicate, but straight forward manner. They did what they had to do to survive. They didn't like it, and it left a lasting impression on all of them, but given the gravity of the situation, there was little else that could be done. The film doesn't an excellent job of conveying this aspect of the story.

All in all, I'd highly recommend Stranded. Sure, we've heard the story before in other films and books, but this is told directly from the mouths of the survivors, and I guarantee that you've never heard it told like this before. It's very personal, and at times the emotions are still very raw. But their is also a joyful aspect to the story, and it's a testament to the human spirit that anyone got off that mountain alive.

The film opens on Wednesday. Click here to find out where it's playing near you.

Raiding The Lost Ark

Another interesting article from the Times Online today, this time sending their intrepid reporter Patrick Richardson off to Ethiopia in search of the Lost Ark of the Covenant, an artifact that has spawned dozens of myths, eluded treasure seekers for millennia, and sent Indiana Jones on his first adventure.

Ethiopia is quickly becoming an amazing destination for trekkers and climbers who are looking to get away from the crowds on more well known trails. The country has plenty of beautiful scenery to take in, and remains unspoiled and a bit of a hidden gem. My friend Colm visited the place back in the spring, and had nothing but great things to say about his experiences there.

The country is deeply religious and unlike much of Northern Africa, it is a Christian nation. The rumors have circulated for years that the Ark of the Covenant was hidden away in a small, unassuming, building, guarded by a priest, in a compound a few hundred miles north of Addis Ababa. It is these rumors that sent Richardson off to the remote region to see if he could catch a glimpse of the golden container of the remnants of the Ten Commandments.

According to legend, the Queen of Sheba returned to Ethiopia in 1000 BC with the Ark, and it has rested there ever since. This followed a bit of biblical backstabbing the likes of which can only be found on a soap opera of course, but none the less, she reported made off with the holiest of artifacts, stealing it from King Solomon himself.

Now the mystique of the final resting place of the Ark remains part of the allure of Ethiopia, which seems like an unlikely resting place. Of course, Richardson doesn't set eyes on it in his journey, but that's not really the point is it? The mere fact that it could be there is the draw, both in this mystery and many of the others that cause us to visit some far off land. The article even provides links to travel providers, should you want to go searching for yourself.

Missing Hiker Found After Five Days!

Derek Mamoyac of Philomath, Oregon has been found alive after spending five days lost on Mt. Adams in Washington State, the mountain he was attempting to climb when he set out last Sunday.

While making his way to the top of the 12,277 foot Mt. Adams, Mamoyac reached as high as Piker's Peak at 11,657 feet before turning back. He says on the way down he stepped on to some snow that he thought was solid, but it gave way under neath him, causing him to fall. Tumbling down the side of the mountain, he broke his ankle. That's when his real ordeal begain.

In what sounds a bit like Joe Simpson's Touching the Void, Mamoyac then proceeded to drag himself down the mountain, over the course of five days, surviving on spring water and eating centipedes. On Saturday he was discovered by a search party when one of the S&R dogs came across him still in, all things considered, relatively good health.

The hiker was dressed in warm clothing including insulated pants and jacket, although he was said to still be quite cold when he was discovered. I think the story is a testament to what having the right gear can do for you however, as he spent five nights exposed to cold conditions before he was found. Most of the time these stories end badly, and often it's because the person set out without the right gear, and then later died of exposure.

It's good to have a happy ending for once. Glad to see they found him safe and sound.

Planet Ice Project Goes To Peru

The Planet Ice Project is the brainchild of writer and photographer James Martin, who has been traveling the planet on a two year journey to chronicle the health of the planet's ice at a variety of locations ranging from the North to South Pole, with stops on Kilimanjaro, the Mountains of the Moon, and more along the way. When the journey is done, Martin will publish a book with thoughts and photographs on his travels.

The next stop on this globe trotting planetary check-up was the Cordillera Blanca mountain range of Peru, where he hoped to capture images of ice above a tropical setting on the Equator. Martin visited the Huascaran National Park near Huaraz back in June, and filed his latest report on his finding over at GreatOutdoors.com.

Spending four days in the region, hiking from the Cashapampa up to 15,600 feet at the Punta Union Pass, he discovered what he was looking for. Ice could be seen on a number of peaks that surrounded his location, giving him a breathtaking view, while still basking in the relatively warm, equatorial sun.

When the Project is complete, it should make for a great coffee table book with stunning photos and interesting stories from around the planet. Martin has visited some remote and legendary places on his journey, and he isn't done yet. If I had one complaint about the Planet Ice Project though, it's that the reports from the field are often too short and too far between.

Himalaya Update: News From Annapurna

Monday brings a post weekend update from the Himalaya, courtesy of ExWeb with most of the news coming from Annapurna, with a few notes from elsewhere as well.

First, the unfortunate news that Jean Troillet's Annapurna Team has called it a day, and will now head home. The weather conditions never allowed for a proper attempt at the summit, as it continues to be incredibly unstable at high altitude thanks to all of the snow that has hit the mountain in recent weeks. Troillet says they may not be done with the mountain just yet though, but I can only assume that he means to return sometime in 2009.

Meanwhile, Dodo Kopold is climbing with Peter Masek and Martin Minarik on Annapurna's north side, where they have climbed up to 6300 meters and established Camp 2, but not without great effort. The team reports that seracs above 5200 meters has made it very tough going. So tough in fact, that fixing lines has been impossible, and they've had to climb up and over most of the seracs they have encountered so far. Worse yet, they say that there are still more to come before they can make their attempt on the summit itself, and high winds have made the climb a challenge.

A similar story is told from the Croatian team on Annapurna, who have managed to work their way as high as 7200 meters en route to Annapurna II, but before the could proceed on to Annapurna IV, they were turned back by high winds as well. They are now waiting for a weather window to open to allow them to go for that summit, after establishing C4 at 7200 meters as well. They report that things are quite unstable though, with many avalanches and blowing snow.

A couple of other quick notes from the region. ExWeb notes that the Peak Freaks Team has established Camp 2 on Pumori, the 7161 meter peak they are climbing in lieu of Shisha Pangma. Also, Adrian Ballinger is reporting from Ama Dablam, where he is climbing with AlpenGlow Expeditions, that conditions on the mountain are quite nasty. In fact, there hasn't been a single summit on Ama Dablam this season, with no one going above C2. Sounds like they have their work cut out for them!

50 Top Eco-Lodges From Adventure

National Geographic Adventure has come up with a great way to present their list of the Top 50 Ecolodges from around the World. This interactive map shows lodges on six continents (sorry, no eco-lodges in Antarctica yet), and clicking on one of the tiny dots presents a pop-up box with the name of the country, and a link to reviews on the particular lodge that made the list form that location. There is also a link to a photo gallery to give you an even better idea of what to expect at this amazing locations.

The article defines an "ecolodge" as being an "Earth-Friendly Retreats in the World’s Most Spectacular Wilds", and from what I can tell, the lodges selected to the list easily fit that description. For example, clicking on the yellow dot in Brazil reveals the Caiman Ecological Refuge, which is an ecologically sound cattle ranch in the Pantanal region. Click on the dot in Jordan, and you'll learn about the Wadi Feynan Ecolodge, a 116 square mile preserve protecting rare wildlife such as the sand cat and Syrian wolf.

If the global view on the interactive map offers you too m any choices, perhaps narrowing your scope will make things easier. Across the top you can select from the different continents, and the map will zoom in give you a more close up view, and making it easier to click on the individual dots. This also helps in trip planning if you were thinking of visiting a specific region, and wanted to check your options for that place.

This is another great resource for travelers thinking about their next adventure. The brief reviews and photos are just enough to entice you to find out more, and Google is just a few clicks away to help you find even more. So many places, so little time...

Responsible Travel: Charity Begins!

Last week I posted my thoughts on responsible travel and sustainable tourism as part of Blog Action Day 2008. After I wrote the post, I received an e-mail from Jennifer Mahran, one of the co-founders of Charity Begins, a non-profit organization whose sole purpose it so promote responsible and sustainable travel through charitable acts.

The premise behind Charity Begins is to have socially-conscious travelers benefit countries that they visit by delivering important items to the places they travel to. So, for instance, if I were traveling to Nepal, and an organization had a box of books to deliver to a library there, Charity Begins would match us up, and I would deliver the books for them. This saves the charity time and money shipping the item, and allows me to be a more responsible and informed traveler.

According to their website, Charity Begins launched back in 2006, and since then has shipped "school supplies, shoes, and clothing to orphanages, schools, refugee camps, and women’s shelters throughout the world." They also note that "By making these deliveries via vacationers, business travelers, backpackers, and other independent travelers, the cost of shipping is eliminated and 100% of every dollar goes to helping people living in poverty."

On the Charity Begins website you'll find a number of resources should you choose to help out on your next adventure abroad. Their Travelers page, for instance, provides the basic information for those wanting to take part, and provides a list of developing countries that may have items to be delivered. There is also information on how to donate to the cause, as well as how to nominate a charity that could benefit from the service.

When I wrote that piece last week, this is exactly the kind of thing I had in mind, and it's great to see organizations like this one exist. The next time you're heading out on a new adventure, consider doing something like this to give a little back to that place that is providing you with amazing and memorable experiences. You'll be glad you did, and the world will be a little better place for your efforts.

Book Review: Descending The Dragon

My bookshelf has been over flowing recently with all kinds of great adventure books to review, but unfortunately time has also been a bit of a commodity lately as well, which has left me far behind on the books that I want to share with everyone. I have started to catch-up at long last, and the first book I wanted to talk about is Descending the Dragon: My Journey Down the Coast of Vietnam by Jon Bowermaster.

I've posted on Jon and his Ocean's 8 Project a number of times in the past. He's a National Geographic sponsored explorer who has explored the world in the cockpit of a kayak. Jon has visited some very remote places, including Tasmania, the Aleutian Islands, and Antarctica, in order to gauge the healthy of the world's oceans and the impact of global climate change on the environments there.

Back in 2001, Bowermaster and a group of five adventurers, along with their government assigned "monitors", set out to explore 800 miles of Vietnamese coastline. Their experiences there form the the basis of Descending The Dragon, which is rich with tales about the people that inhabit more than 800 miles of coastline in a country that remains largely a mystery to the West.

The book is broken into chapters that correspond to geographic regions. The early chapters begin in the northern region and as you advance through the book, the chapters proceed south along with Jon and his crew. In the Introduction, Bowermaster discusses how he wanted to visit Vietnam to shatter the images he had of the country, mostly shaped by pre-1975 images of the American war there. Following that war, the nation was closed off to the west for years, and those old images continued to pervade popular culture and collective thought.

Next, the book proceeds to the Prologue that details some of the many bureaucratic hoops the team had to leap through in order to get the approval for the journey. The first response to their inquiries was that it would be "quite impossible". But perseverance payed off and eventually they had all the permits and documents they would need to proceed, including a visa for Ngan Nguyen, a Vietnamese national who left the country when she was three, but has returned many times. She speaks the language very well, and served as a guide and translator for the expedition.

From there, the book proceeds into the meat of the story, with the chapters based on the various regions taking center stage. The journey beings in Hanoi, a chaotic and lively city that hasn't yet succumbed to the upward growth of many of the modern Asian cities. From there, the team dropped their kayaks in the water at Ha Long Bay, and proceed south, eventually reaching China Beach and Hoi An. Along the way, they had an up close, and very personal, experience with the people who inhabit those coastlines.

The book notes that roughly 85 million people live along Vietnam's coastlines. That's about one third of their total population. During their two month journey, John and his team met literally thousands of those people from all walks of life. Some of the places they visited weren't reachable by land, and seldom saw outsiders at all, and often Jon and the team saw themselves as ambassadors to those remote places, seldom seen by westerners.

As I continued to read the book, I began to see that this wasn't just about a kayaking adventure to remote places, as I had anticipated before I cracked the cover, nor was it just a travelogue about journeying through Vietnam. Make no mistake, those are crucial elements to this book, but even more so, it's about the people of Vietnam. The incredibly diverse, fascinating, and complex people of Vietnam.

Descending the Dragon is an incredibly fast read once you delve in. Bowermaster is a descriptive writer, who is as adept with a pen as he is with a paddle, and his writing really sets a scene. Whether it's describing the crowded and hectic streets of Hanoi or the more sedate settings of a remote village, his words conjure vivid imagery that will have you turning the pages in rapid fashion. The stories of the places he encountered are compelling and the people that he found there even more so. At just 144 pages in length, the book is over far too fast, and leaves you wanting more.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention two other great aspects of the book. First, is the photography, shot by Rob Howard. The book is filled with amazing photos from Vietnam, with stunning shots of the coastline and many of the places the team visited. Many of those shots are "slices of life", capturing a moment in time that gives us a glimpse of what it's like to live and work on those waterways. But even more impressive are the portraits peppered throughout the book of some of the people they met along the way. These portraits are brimming with life and are a perfect accompaniment to the text.

The other element I'd like to point out, is the wonderful quality of the book in general. While it is a trade paperback, it has all the other elements of a great coffee table book. The pages are thick and of a very high quality, which makes the already impressive photos jump off the page even more. Even the cover is not the standard paperback fair, with a slick, textured cover, that will remind you of a leather bound notebook. The kind you might use on your own travels to chronicle your personal adventures.

Descending The Dragon is a wonderful book that manages to not only inspire travel and adventure, but also gives a personal, human element to the journey. Bowermaster manages to deftly weave all of those elements together into a personal tale of discovery, that is both fascinating and enlightening at the same time. Perhaps the greatest compliment that I can give the book, is that it inspires me to want to visit these places and experience them for myself. Should you choose to read the book, I'd be willing to bet that you'd want to join me as well.

Animal Planet Presents Living with the Wolfman

Animal Planet is launching a new television show next week called Living with the Wolfman famed wolf expert Shaun Ellis and his fiancee Helen Jeffs, as Shaun attempts to integrate the woman he loves into the wolf pack he has become a part of.

Ellis is well known for his ground breaking studies on the behavior of wolves, even though his tactics for collecting his research are a bit unorthodox. The "Wolfman" has joined a protected pack in the Combe Martin Wildlife Park in Devon, England, and has successfully managed to integrate into the group, where he has lived, eaten, and slept for years.

Now however, Shaun has fallen in love and will try to introduce Helen to his pack mates. Over the course of the show, we'll see how the other wolves react to this newcomer to their group, and while she learns what it's like to live with the pack as well. The story begins next Tuesday, Oct. 21st, at 10 PM Eastern/9 Central.

For a preview, check out this clip below:

Alpinist Is No More

Sad news from the publishing world today, as it seems that Alpinist is gone. At statement published on their homepage reads in part:

Alpinist LLC, which publishes the climbing magazine Alpinist, runs the website www.alpinist.com and produces The Alpinist Film Festival, announced today that the October 2008 financial crisis has forced them to suspend operations.

The magazine had been around since 2002, and was really the standard to which all mountaineering magazines were compared in my mind. The stories were always well written, and the photography was top notch in ever sense of the word. I often read their website as well, and linked to their great posts on top climbs taking place all over the world.

Alpinist was a top notch, high quality production in every sense of the word, and it's sad to see it go. I suspect they won't be the only casualty of this "economic crisis", but they certainly will be missed. I wish the entire staff all the best, and I hope that they all land on their feet soon.

Himalaya Update: Chinese Crack Down On Cho Oyu!

More news from the Himalaya today courtesy of Explorer's Web.

First up, there is a report that a Portuguese team on Cho Oyu was kicked off the mountain without any explanation, despite the fact that they had a signed and officially stamped permit to climb. The team arrived in BC on October 6th, and were heading up to ABC a few days later when they were informed that base camp was closed to them. They are reportedly en route back home, where they'll likely shed more light on what happened, but at the moment, all we know as that the Chinese expelled them from the mountain. Whether they had good reason to do or if it was just the Chinese exercising their authority remains to be seen.

Over on Annapurna, the Jean Troillet expedition began their summit bid a few days back, amidst fine weather and great spirits. They managed to reach as high as 6300 meters before turning back, with Jean exclaiming "the mountain is not ready". Heavy snow has made Annapurna's notoriously treacherous upper slopes live up to their reputation. The climbers were expected back in BC today.

Vince Anderson's team on Makalu continues the acclimatization process, having reached 24,000 feet to the Makalu-La pass. The team seems to be doing well, despite one of the members having a nasty cough. You can read about some of their previous adventures in their excellent blog entitled Alpine Style!, and hopefully they'll update it with news on this climb in the future as well.

Finally, ExWeb is reporting the same thing I did a few days back in regards to Edurne Pasaban. The cold and harsh weather has forced her to leave the mountain, giving up on her attempt to claim her 12th 8000m peak (and third this year alone!). She'll head home now for a much deserved, and needed, rest, before continuing her assault on the big mountains, and the record book next year.

Father, Son Team Go For Cho Oyu!

The Orange County Register has a series of really great articles about John and Ryan Dahlem, a father and son climbing duo who recently traveled to Tibet to climb Cho Oyu together. John is 65, and Ryan is 38, and the pair have a great deal of experience on some big mountains, including Denali and Vinson, but this was their first trip to the Himalaya together.

For a mainstream article, it does an excellent job of laying out the dangers of climbing one of the 8000 meter peaks, and doesn't go overboard with the hyperbole on how dangerous it is. The stories are actually broken down into three parts, with Part 1 serving as an introduction tot he climb and the climbers. The author is a climber himself, with a great deal of experience as well, and I think that really helps to tell the story.

Part 2 gets more into the meat of the climb itself, discussing the logistics of the climb, including a bit on the trek to the mountain itself, and what it's like on the upper portions of the mountain. We're also treated to detailed accounts of what the storms that rocked Cho Oyu this fall were like.

Finally, the Part 3 is a tale of sadness and success. Sadness, because it notes that two climbers died on the mountain (Guy Leveille and Miha Valic), even as the father and son reached the summit. This article talks about them standing on the summit together, and then making the grueling descent together.

All in all, an excellent set of stories that give a nice, personal look at climbing the sixth tallest mountain on Earth. The fact that it was a father and son team, climbing with Summit Climb, makes it an even better story. Good stuff!

Climbing The World's Toughest Big Wall

When one thinks about the top climbing meccas around the world, Madagascar doesn't readily spring to mind. The small, island country is better known for it's vast amounts of plant and animal life, and tropical conditions. But, it also happens to the home of the Tsaranoro Massif, the site of some incredibly challenging rock climbing routes, and quite possibly the toughest big wall in the world.

PlanetFear has a great article about a team of top French climbers who managed to successfully climb every pitch on Tough Enough, spread out over two different expeditions this past summer.

Tough Enough was first completed by two Germans, Daniel Gebel and Ari Steinel, who finished the route with the use of aids. In 2007, the first attempts at free climbing the face were conducted by several European climbers, but the daunting wall turned back all challengers. Since then, there have been others, but they all went home in defeat. Until now.

In June of this year, Stephanie Bodet, Sylvain Millet, Laurent Triay, and Arnaud Petit went to Madagascar to give the route a go, and managed to successfully free climb all but one pitch. That one pitch left a glaring hole in their accomplishments, so in September, Petit and Bodet went back with a new group of climbers, and finished what they had started.

The article I linked to above has more details, including the ratings for the different pitches, and details on the climb itself. The face is certainly a daunting one, and I have a feeling it'll be seeing more traffic soon.

Pakistan Has It's Own Economic Stimulus Package! Cuts Climbing Rates!

Clearly this recent down-turn in the economy is effecting us all. The markets across the globe have been on a roller coaster ride for the past few weeks, there is a credit crunch hitting the U.S. and Europe, banks are failing around the world, and I'm afraid to open my 401k statements these days.

But never fear, Pakistan has come up with a way to stimulate the economy, and keep climbers coming back in 2009. According to this report at Everest News, the Ministry of Tourism has announced that climbing fees have been reduced by 50% for 2009. Clearly they are planning ahead to try to keep business brisk and stave off their own economic problems by keeping the mountains accessible for everyone.

Next year, teams heading to K2, for instance, will be charged a mere $6000 for a seven member crew. Each additional climber will be charged $1000. All other mountains are priced according to height, ranging all the way down to $750 for a team of seven, and just $100 more/climber on mountains that range in height from 6501-7000 meters. Mountains less than that have no fees associated with them at all.

For mountaineers thinking of climbing in Pakistan next year, this is great news. It'll keep the region affordable, even in times when sponsorship dollars may be tough to come by. I also think it's a great move by Pakistan to announce these cuts now, as it give the teams time to prepare and start planning, when they may have ruled out an expedition next year due to economic issues. Hopefully this will open up the doors for more climbers to head to the Karakorum next year.

I'm hoping to take a trip abroad sometime in the spring myself, and haven't decided where yet. I'm just hoping I can find some good deals when I do decide to go.

Outside and the Travel Channel Present Gone Missing

Outside Magazine and the Travel Channel have co-produced an interesting looking television program called Gone Missing: Vanished in Papua New Guinea which documents the disappearance of Michael Rockefeller in New Guinea back in 1961.

Michael was the son of New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, and one of the heirs to the famous Rockefeller fortune. But at the age of 23, he set out to escape that legacy, and to carve a name for himself as an anthropologist, studying the indigenous tribes of the islands that make up New Guinea. On November 18th he set out on a small boat to collect some wood carvings for a New York museum when his boat lost power. The young man dove into the water and attempted to swim to shore, but was never seen again. At the time, he was in one of the more remote areas of the region.

Now, Outside investigative journalist Tim Sohn has gone to New Guinea to see if he can close the book on this mystery. He'll look at a number of possibilities that include Michael drowning before he reached the shore, getting eaten by sharks or crocs, surviving long enough to be killed by cannibals, or even living out the remainder of his days on the island.

The show, which serves as a pilot for a possible new series, will air on Sunday, November 2nd, at 10 PM Eastern/9 Central. Should be interesting.

24-Hours of Moab Race Report

This past weekend the 24-hours of Moab mountain bike race went down in, where else, Moab, Utah. Known as one of the toughest races around the event draws several hundred riders, from around the world, who compete against one another in a 24 hour long race that becomes a duel of both skill and endurance.

World famous endurance athlete Rebecca Rusch was on hand, and competed with the Specialized Designs for Women team. She has since written a great post-race report for MountainBike.com in which she shares her experience at the event. As a professional rider, she has some great insights into what goes down at a race like this one, and now she's off to IronBiker, the biggest mountain bike race in Brazil.

The results of the 24-hours of Moab looked like this: The Monavie/Cannondale Pro team took first place over all, with the Pro Cycling Team and the Kuhl and Scott Bikes Team taking second and third respectively. Josh Tostado took home first place honors in the Men's Solo category, and Jari Kirkland won the Solo Women's bracket. Further results can be found here as there are a number of categories and specialization in the race.

Completing Moab as part of a team is a challenging experience. The race keeps going day or night. But racing solo has to be a total grind, and I'm impressed with the riders who manage to finish, let alone place at the top. This was the 14th annual race, and for a grand total, the riders managed to complete 4578 laps, for a total distance of nearly 68,258 miles, with an elevation gain of 6,226,080 feet! Pretty impressive numbers.

LazyMan, for the Adventurer's Day Off

Last week, when the Gear Junkie launched his awesome Choose Your Adventure Sweepstakes, I noticed that it was sponsored by a company called LazyMan, which I had never heard of before. Of course, my interest was piqued, as I never considered the Gear Junkie, or the people that read his column, to be especially lazy. Upon further investigation, I found the LazyMan website, which had some very interesting elements to it.

First, and foremost, I noticed their store, mainly because I'm always looking to check out new gear. There isn't a lot for sale their, but they do have some cool t-shirts with interesting designs, and a few hats as well. Being a bit of a "gear junkie" myself, I was a bit disappointed to not find a cool backpack, tents, or ice axes.

But as I explored the site a bit further, I began to notice plenty of other cool things. For instance, the company has launched it's own social network extolling the virtues of the LazyMan Life. Much like other social networks like Facebook, this one has members who share videos and photos, as well as discuss topics in the forum.

But the element that really caught my eye was a page entitled The Manual, which contains some cool article on a variety of adventures. For instance, there is a nice article on preparing for your first adventure race and there is a Journal Entry on racing in the Block Island regatta.

The mantra for LazyMan is "Redefining Lazy - One Adventure at a Time", with the idea that you earn the right to be lazy after a big adventure. A good philosophy in my mind. After a day on the trail, who doesn't want to just put their feat up, enjoy a great meal and a cold beverage, and just be lazy?

Himalaya Update: Summit Pushes Begin on Annapurna

Explorers Web has posted a mid-week update from the Himalaya today with news from all over the region, including Shisha Pangma, Annapurna, and Everest!

The biggest news comes from Annapurna, where we're told that Jean Troillet's Team on the South Side has begun their summit push. The weather is reportedly very good with clear skies, and a bright full moon, making conditions just about right to begin the assault. The latest reports have the team setting of from BC today. Meanwhile, on the North Side, the American Dare To Dream Expedition reached BC a few days back, but no updates since then has us all waiting to see when they'll begin their climb.

Over on Shisha, Edurne Pasaban reported that the mountain was all but deserted upon their arrival in base camp, with a large Chinese team and a group of four Italians already come and gone. But her latest update says that she, along with her climbing partner Asier, have also given up their hopes of claiming another 8000m peak after spending a week on the mountain in very poor conditions. Edurne bagged Manaslu a week and a half ago, running her total to 11 8-thousanders, and she was hoping to make Shisha her 12th. Sadly, it looks like it'll have to wait for another time.

The Peak Freaks Team reported in from Pumori, where they are reportedly "bloody knackered" following their first climb up to ABC. They've gone back down to BC now, but their updates marveled about the views of Everest and Lhotse from higher on the mountain. Their latest blog post today indicates that all of their gear bags have arrived now, and the climb can begin in earnest.

Speaking of Everest, ExWeb notes that there are two teams on the mountain, with a large Korean team working the Southwest Face, led by Park Young-seok, who was there last year when two of his friends perished in an avalanche. The team is reportedly led by Francois Bon, who will be attempting a speed descent on Everest. Hopefully he'll provide video if true.

Finally, Adrian Ballinge, who recently knocked off Manaslu as part of the HiMex team, has now joined the Alpen Glow Expedition. en route to Ama Dablam. According to their latest updates, the team has reached Namche Bazaar, where they are acclimatizing and feeling strong. Good luck on completing your "Double Header" Adrian!

Adventure's Top 25 New Trips For 2009

A few days back I linked to a story on the the top destinations for 2009, and now it seems that National Geographic Adventure is getting in on the action with a preview of their Best New Adventure Travel Trips for 2009.

The online version is a preview of what we can expect from the print version, which hits newsstands next Tuesday, Oct. 21st. The list is made up of 25 great new adventures that can be found all over the globe. Broken down by region, you'll find some really great suggestions for Africa, Latin America, Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East, and Points South and beyond.

Some of the trips that caught my eye include a walking safari on the Serengeti, trekking in Venezuela and Guyana, kayaking in Jordan, and a month long adventure to New Zealand. There are plenty of other options of course, and I'm sure you'll find completely different trips that speak to you. The list also has a recommend travel company with it, but few other details however. Guess we'll have to wait for the print version to really get the low down.

Oh! And before you go, think about that "responsible travel" ethos I mentioned in the post below.

2008 Blog Action Day: Poverty

Today is the second annual Blog Action Day, in which nearly 11,000 blogs across the Internet will join forces to bring attention and awareness to a single issue. That topic for the day is Poverty,

When considering how I would address this issue in a blog that is generally about outdoor adventures, travel, and expeditions to the far flung corners of the Earth, I wasn't exactly sure what I would write about at first. But then I began to think about many of the places where the adventures that I write about take place, and I began to see a common theme. Those places are often remote, Third World nations, where poverty is an issue that people deal with on a daily basis.

Take for instance Nepal, where hundreds of climbers go each Spring and Fall to tackle the big Himalayan peaks, including Mt. Everest. In the rural areas of that nation, 40% of the people live below the poverty line, making less than $12/month. Basic needs like access to good health care, clean drinking water, and sanitation services are often non-existent, exasperating the issues even further.

The situation is not uncommon in other countries as well, with Pakistan and India dealing with abject poverty to their populations as well, and even Tanzania, a country I visited last year, still has 38% of it's population considered poor, despite making huge gains in improving the lives of it's citizens over the past two decades.

Poverty is obviously not a new issue. It's been with mankind pretty much since we banded together as a civilization, and it's not going to go away anytime soon, even though there are a number of incredible organizations that are working tirelessly toward that goal. As long as their is a cultural or class divide between people, there will be the "haves" and the "have nots". It's unfortunate, but it's true.

So what can we, as travelers and adventurers, do to help combat the problem? The answers lie with the concepts of sustainable travel, in which we think about our impact on the places we visit, and take steps to protect not only the environments we travel through, but the people that inhabit them. The money we spend in our travels can do a lot of good for the economies in those countries, but in order to do so, it has to go directly into the pockets of the people who live there. While in Africa last year, I used a guide service that was small, but completely owned and operated by people living in Tanzania. My money didn't go to some large travel company that took their share off the top, and then gave what was left over to their employees. Everything I spent went directly into the local economy, which was an important concept for me, and will continue to be important in all of my future travels.

Responsible travel is just now becoming one of the industry buzzwords, and it has been mainly used in reference to our environmental impact, but it's reach has begun to widen and encompass all aspects of our influence on a place that we visit, including our interactions with the indigenous people there. While it is still incredibly important to be respectful of the environment, shouldn't the people that live in that environment be given at least the same level of respect and consideration?

American's Claim Unclimbed Peak In India

Four Americans have bagged an unclimbed peak in the remote Himachal Pradesh region of India. The team, consisting of Freddie Wilkinson, Janet Bergman, Ben Ditto, and Pat Goodman, set out to climb new routes in the Manikaran Spires, inspired by photos of the mountains that they spied in a shop.

According to this article over at Climbing.com the foursome set out with a team of porters in traditional siege climbing style, but ran into bad weather two days into the trek to the mountains. After five days of nasty conditions, the local porters decided they weren't being paid enough and abandoned the expedition for home. The Americans joined them two days later.

But the weather forecast improved and the decided to give it another go, this time carrying their own gear and going at it in alpine style. They shed as much gear and weight as they could, and set out for base camp. located at 12,500 feet. Before long, they were climbing in two groups of two, taking on snow, ice, and rock on their way to the summit, believed to be the first ever on the unnamed mountain.

You can read more about the adventure in this post over at the Backcountry Blog and there is additional coverage at the Hardwear Sessions Blog as well.

Cool Boat Design Concept

I spotted this cool new boat, called the Kahuna, while browsing the Wend Blog earlier. It's the brain child of industrial designer Mario Weiss and it combines your mode of transportation with your place to stay for the night.

Weiss says that his concept gets some of it's inspiration from the outrigger canoes that you find in the Polynesian islands, and that he thinks his design will be a hit with rental companies and outdoor enthusiast. The boat is powered by a pedal/crank drive, and a standard paddle is used to help maneuver the thing.

When it comes time to camp for the night, a durable cloth is strung between the two outriggers to create a base, and the tent is then erected over it. Add a camping bed, and you're all set for a good night's sleep.

Personally, I think this looks really cool. What a great way to explore certain areas of the world, and I think Mario might be onto something with his design.

Enjoy The Fall Colors By Train

GORP.com has posted a nice little article that will be of interest to anyone who is looking to take in the Fall colors. They list the Top 10 Rail-Trails for Fall Foliage. With the crisp air moving in, and the fall colors taking center stage, I can't think of a better way to spend the day than a long leisurely train ride with brilliant scenery.

Amongst their suggestions are Galloping Goose Trail, Colorado, which is a 20 mile long trail through the Rocky Mountains, accented with aspen trees. The Carrabassett River Trail in Maine gets high marks for it's mix of aspens and maples set along a 6.6 mile trail near Sugarloaf. For the Midwesterners, they recommend the Paul Bunyan State Trail in Minnesota, which features wondrous fall colors along the banks of 21 lakes spread out across the 110 mile trail.

Friends of mine back in the Midwest tell me that the leaves have already begun to change this year, and that there won't be many more days of these fiery reds and golden yellows to take in. There was a train ride like one of these near where I lived in Iowa, and it was always a nice way to take in the sites on a warm fall day. The ride was quite relaxed, with snacks and drinks and lovely sites everywhere. It's not quite the same as actually hiking a trail, but still a great way to experience the season.

The Man Who Beat Lance

The New York Times has a great story today on Dave Wiens, the man who beat Lance Armstrong head-to-head in the Leadville 100 back in August.

The race received a good deal of attention, at least in mountain biking circles, because it would be Armstrong's first organized competition since he retired from cycling three years ago. Granted, the Leadville, with it 100 miles long trail and dramatic elevations gains, was unlike any race that Lance had done before, but people had become so use to him dominating on the bike, that many took it as a foregone conclusion that he'd win. They couldn't have been more wrong.

Wiens is a bit of a cycling legends himself, having won the Leadville six straight times, and holding the course record no less. He and Lance battled it out for much of the course, each taking their turn in front, but as they neared the end of the race, Lance told Dave to "Go" and that "he was done", and Wiens rode on to claim the win and a a new course record. Lance rolled in about two minutes back, with the next competitor far behind.

Since that day, Lance has announced his return to competitive cycling and is said to be preparing for upcoming races, that will include the Giro this time, an amazing race that he's never competed in before. Of course, this has put the spotlight squarely on Wiens as the man who beat the legend.

In the article he seems to take it all in stride. He comes across as very mild mannered, but also focused and very athletic. It's a good read and a fine example of an "everyday athlete" who is amazingly talented but still has a full life in other areas as well.

Thanks to the Outside Blog for the tip on this one.

New Speed Record On The Nose, Again!

Hans Florine and Yuji Hiriyama, who already held the speed record on The Nose route of El Capitan in Yosemite, have broken their own record according to various reports on the web, including this one over at About.com.

According to the article, the dynamic duo of rock climbing took just 2 hours 37 minutes and 5 seconds. That's six minutes faster than their old record set back in July. Yuji lead all the pitches once again, with Hans following along, taking care of the gear, and simul-climbing with his partner.

The 2900 foot face of The Nose is one of the most iconic climbs in the entire sport. It was first completed back in 1958, by a team that spent 47 days on the face. They approached it much the way that big mountain climbers in the Himalaya would, establishing camps along the face and laying siege to the mountain. In 1960, the second ascent was put up, and took just 7 days, as the team, led by Royal Robbins, completed the first non-stop climb. It took until 1975 before the first single day climb of The Nose was completed, and even now, it traditionally takes most climbers a couple of days to complete.

I wonder what those first climbers would think about a pair doing it in under three hours. Obviously equipment has improved, and new techniques haven't been developed, but that's some serious time to shave off in just 50 years. Impressive work, and once again, congrats to Hans and Yuji.