Snowboarder Plays Chicken With Snowcat, Gets Very Lucky!

Another wild video today, this time of a snowboarder narrowly jumping over a snowcat grooming the trails in some unknown ski resort. Lets just say that the 'boarder gets quite lucky, and that you shouldn't try this at home, and just leave it at that.



Thanks to The Goat Blog from BackCountry.com for this one.

Mount Redoubt Ready To Erupt?

There have been a variety of reports the past few days that the 10,197 foot Mt. Redoubt in Alaska is set to erupt soon. Some scientists believe that it could go at any moment actually, and that it could bring some disastrous consequences.

Over the past few days, the Alaskan Volcano Observatory have noticed that volcanic tremors in and around the mountain have increased in intensity, although they are not as powerful as they were last weekend. Still, as the frequency of these tremors continues to increase, experts believe that it is only a matter of time before it blows.

Fox News (Are they still around?) is reporting that residents in the area have been stocking up on supplies, including protective eye wear and masks, in preparation of the seismic event. Many have gone through this before, with the last major eruption taking place in 1992 when, when Mt. Spurr blew it's top.

Volcanologists warn that Alaska's volcanoes can be quite dangerous, spewing ash and rock into the air as high as 50,000 feet. At that altitude, the debris can hit the jet stream and carry for hundreds of miles, raining down on distant areas. The ash and soot can be especially harmful to those with respiratory issues as well.

For now, everyone sits and waits to see if Redoubt decides to erupt. Most scientists who are charting the event seem to think it's only a matter of time. But exactly how much time remains to be seen.

Antarctic Update: Closing Up Shop!

This will most likely be the last of the Antarctic Updates until the season begins the Fall. Fans of the Polar expeditions need not fear however, as the Arctic season will begin shortly.

The biggest news is that Patriot Hills has closed for the season. The last Ilyushin flight, conducted by ALE, was scheduled to take off at Midnight, January 28th, closing off that section of the ice for another season. By all accounts, that flight took place, and Patriot HIlls is now deserted.

There are a few expeditions still on going, but they are taking place mostly on the periphery of the continent. Everyone has completed their journey to the Pole itself, and are now off the ice and presumably home or in some tropical climate, enjoying the warm sun and a cold beverage.

Well, except for Mike Horn, who returns to his ship the Pangaea and will continue on his Pangaea Expedition that is expected to last for another three and a half years. Mike was one of the last men off the ice, after he made a mostly solo and unsupported trek to the Pole. He was attempting to kite back to Patriot Hills, but came up a bit short, no thanks to a broken ski binding, and a Twin Otter plane had to be dispatched to pick him up so that he could catch the last flight out to Punta Arenas. By now, he's probably back aboard his ship, and plotting his next destination.

And so, that about wraps it up for another season down at the bottom of the world. As cold as it is there now, it's going to get worse in the months ahead. But come November of this year, you can bet there will be some intrepid, daring souls heading back out to challenge the continent and themselves. I already know of a few are planning to do just that.

Aconcagua End of Season Report

The climbing season on Aconcagua, the highest peak in the world outside of the Himalaya, is winding down, and ExWeb has a solid report on some of the recent happenings on the mountain this year.

As the story notes, Aconcagua is a popular destination in the last few months or first few months of any given year. Many climbers use it as a training climb for the bigger peaks to come later in the spring, such as Everest. While the 6962m (22,841 feet) mountain doesn't offer the same altitude as the Himalaya, it does present a nice opportunity to gauge your physical conditioning and test gear. The fact that it is also one of the Seven Summits increases its attraction to climbers looking to bag all of the peaks on the different continents as well.

The end-of-the-season report indicates that traffic was quite heavy on the mountain this year, with more climbers than usual. Sadly, there were also more fatalities on Aconcagua too, with six people losing their lives, double the average number of deaths in any given year.

On the positive side though, four disabled military personnel from Columbia reached the summit this month, after overcoming a variety of injuries in the past few years. Also, ten year old Matthew Moniz, from the U.S., summitted as well, making him the youngest person to ever do so. Matthew is out to give Jordan Romero a run for his money, as he's also going after the Seven Summits, and now has Kilimanjaro and Elburus on his resume, in addition to Aconcagua.

The report wraps up with some interesting historical information about the ancient Incas going quite high on the mountain, and possibly to the summit.

Video of the World's Most Dangerous Hike

This one comes courtesy of the Best Hike Blog (who else?) and is a great video of Mount Hua in China, often called the "World's Most Dangerous Hike". The video was shot as part of a television show hosted by Robin Esrock. Check out more of Robin over at his website ModernGonzo.com.

Enjoy the video. Just don't look down!

Outside Interviews Jordan Romero

I'm not sure why Jordan Romero is suddenly getting a lot of press, but the kid seems to be everywhere in recent days. I first wrote about him way back in December of 2006 when he climbed Kilimanjaro, but now that he's got his sights firmly set on the Seven Summits, he seems to be on a press tour or something.

The latest blog to write on Jordan is over at Outside Online where they interview the 12-year old as he prepares to go for his final three mountains in his Seven Summits quest. Having already taken care of Denali, Elbrus, Aconcagua, and Kosciuszko, in addition to Kili, that leaves him with just Carstensz Pyramid, Vinson, and Everest.

The interview notes that Jordan still needs to raise about $180,000 to complete these last three climbs, the bulk of which will go to Everest and Vinson. In order to raise the money, Jordan sells t-shirts and was recently awarded a Polartec Grant to help him in his quest.

You've got to hand it to the kid, he's very dedicated to achieving his goal of becoming the youngest person to ever climb the Seven Summits, and he seems to really love being in the mountains. If he does indeed achieve his dream by the age of 14 as the interview suggests, how does he follow that up with an encore? More 8000m peaks? By the way, he has until he's 18 to actually break the current record, so six years to claim the three remaining mountains.

Mark Pollock Becomes First Blind Man To Reach South Pole

Mark Pollock, of Ireland, became the first blind man to reach the South Pole on Monday while competing in the Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race according to this story over at SleepMonsters.com.

Mark is part of Team SouthPoleFlag.com, who finished 5th overall in the race, after powering through a 47km straight trek to reach the Pole in 22 days, 12 hours, and 4 minutes. His teammates, Simon O’Donnell and Inge Solheim, worked together to guide him safely across the 700km course that made up the race.

Mark lost his sight in just two weeks back in 1998, but has not let that slow him down much at all. In addition to completing the South Pole race, he has also run a grueling marathon at the North Pole.

All told, six teams competed in the Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race, setting out for the Pole back on January 4th. Over the course of the past few days, the teams have been arriving at the Pole, with the winning team, Missing Link, reaching their destination in just 17 days.

Congrats to Mark on his amazing achievement, and on his even more amazing outlook on life. He's an inspiration to us all.

ShAFF 2009 Begins February 27th

The 4th Annual Sheffield Adventure Film Festival, also known as ShAFF will get underway in a months time, kicking off the festivities on Friday, February 27th and running through Sunday, March 1st. With an impressive slate of films on tap, the festival continues to improve and grow each year, and is now one of the premiere outdoor events.

You'll find all kinds of information on the activities that will be taking place at the end of the month in Sheffield, England on the ShAFF website. For instance, there is a complete schedule of events, a listing of the dozens of films and film makers who will be on hand, as well as info and maps on the The Showroom Cinema, the venue for this year's event. You can also find ticket information by clicking here.

Those attending ShAFF in 2009 can expect more than 50 adventure films, guest speakers such as Chris Sharma and Ron Fawcett, workshops, live music, and much more. It's going to be a great event, with lots to see and do in the days leading up to the festival, and of course during that weekend as well. Outdoor enthusiasts, especially in the UK, should make the effort to attend if at all possible.

The Rest of Everest Episode 96: The Road (At Least Currently) Less Traveled

I can't tell you how happy I am to have my regular Wednesday routine back. Not only has Lost returned to ABC, but I'm once again getting regular episodes of The Rest of Everest, my favorite video podcast. This week's episode continues following the Annapurna IV expedition that saw climbers Ben Clark, Josh Butson, and Tim Clarke set off to climb and ski a remote peak in Nepal.

Ben and Josh both join Rest of Everest creator Jon Miller once again this week, as they continue their trek to the mountain. That trek follows the Annapurna Circuit, widely considered to be one of the greatest treks in the world. The recent addition of a road to the area has changed that, and at the time of the filming of this video, the inhabitants were still preparing for those changes. While discussing the road with the locals, we get a glimpse of exactly how it's going to change things for the area, and not necessarily in a positive way.

As this episode progresses, the scene shifts to the road being built in a very slow, fashion, without the use of modern tools and technology. It's fascinating to watch the work being done, while some of the most stunning scenery in the world can be seen in the background, including thick jungles, incredible water falls, and of course, mountain peaks.

Part of the adventure on these big climbs is the trek to the mountain itself, and the approach to Annapurna IV continues this week and next. Enjoy the scenery along the trek and a glimpse into a new region of Nepal that we haven't seen on the show before.

Climbing Video of the Grandes Jorasses

Check out this excellent climbing video from the Hardwear Sessions YouTube Channel. It shows a trio of climbers on the Colton-MacIntyre Route of the Grandes Jorasses in the French Alps. That's the same mountain that Ulei Steck set a new speed record on a few weeks back, although he went up a different route.

The video has some beautiful shots of the snow covered mountain and the region around it, with spectacular views. There are also some good video and still photos of the climbers working the rock and ice as well.

More Gear From Winter OR

The Outdoor Retailer Winter Market has come and gone, but the gear reports continue, with some exceptional stuff coming our way over the next few months.

Popular Mechanics has listed their 7 Best Outdoor Gear Picks for 2009 with some great stuff shown off at OR. Some of the things making their list include the new Ardica Jacket from Mountain Hardwear that has gotten a lot of buzz thanks to the fact that it comes equipped with a battery pack that not only heats the jacket, but also recharges your electronic gear. A new minimalist camp stove from Snow Peak.

The Outside Blog has more picks from the Gear Junkie as his "best of show". Things that caught his eye include a new Expedition watch from Timex that includes the usual altimeter, barometer, and so on. The new Koven Plus jacket from Cloudveil also gets high marks.

The folks over at Trailspace.com continue to update their Outdoor Retailer blog, and today they have a nice look at some of the new electronic gadgets that we unveiled in Salt Lake City. They take a peek at the same Timex watch mentioned above, as well as new GPS devices from Lowrance and a roadside assistance service from SPOT that will be launched in the spring.

Finally, check out the Outside San Diego Blog for some more thoughts and insights into gear and the show itself. There are daily summary reports from three days on the show floor, as well as a wrap up of the overall event, and trends that we can expect in the months ahead. Good stuff!

NG's Adventure Blog Interviews James Hooper

The National Geographic Adventure Blog has posted an interview with James Hooper, who along with partner Rob Gauntlett, was named Adventurers of the Year by National Geographic Adventure Magazine after the pair made an epic journey from the North to the South Pole last year on foot, bike, and sailing ship. Unfortunately, Gauntlett recently died in a tragic climbing accident in the Alps. He was only 21 years old.

In the interview, Hooper talks about dealing with the loss of his friend, and how it has caused him to reassess their ideas for future adventures. He says that he is more determined now, then ever, to move forward with their plans to do a book and possibly a film on their journey. He sees those as an opportunity to continue Rob's legacy.

The brief interview shows a young man who is focused and determined to move forward, but is also obviously still dealing with the tragedy of losing his best friend. James says that he would like to set up a trust in Rob's name in order to allow others to pursue their own adventurous goals, and I can't think of a more fitting memorial to his friend.

Outdoorzy Gearzy Award Results

Way back in November I mentioned that Outdoorzy.com was conducting their first annual Gearzy Awards, after the outdoor social networking site put up an online poll giving us all the opportunity to weigh in with our thoughts on the best gear companies around in a variety of categories. A few days back, the results, and winners, were announced.

You can check out all the winners by clicking here, and see who the Outdoorzy Community picked as the best gear manufacturers in such categories as tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, and much more. They've also announced there overall winner for Gear Maker of the Year, with that honor going to Patagonia.

Hmm... looking at the list, I have to say that my choices don't match up very well with the rest of the community. Sure, I aligned with them well on a few things, like the best shoes coming from Merrell, and I can understand Patagonia taking home the big prize. But I was pretty far off on plenty of others. Not sure what that says about my gear tastes, but I was a bit surprised by some of the companies that won. Don't get me wrong, the all make (mostly) good gear, I was just a little surprised at some of the choices.

Congrats to the winners! Keep up the great work on the great gear!

Three First Ascents in the Antarctic

RockandIce.com is reporting that the Huber brothers, Alexander and Thomas, along with climbing partner Stephen Siegrist, have put up three first ascents in Antarctica. The climbs were on impressive big walls under grueling circumstances.

According to the story, the climbers set out late last year for Queen Maud Land, a remote region known for it's stunning rock formations that jut out of the ice, offering unique and challenging climbing opportunities. The three men took on Ulvetanna, a 2931m mountain considered amongst the most challenging in the world, and the West Face of Holtanna, a 2650m peak with a very challenging 750m wall to over come.

The men endured incredibly challenging weather conditions on their climbs, braving high winds and -50º C temperatures to claim their new routes. The expedition lasted six weeks, and yet they were able to claim two new routes on Holtanna, Eiszeit (meaning Ice Age) is rated a 5.10+, and Skywalk, rated a 7. On Ulvetanna the team put up a 5.11 route, named Sound of Silence, along the mountain's Northwest Buttress.

Himalaya and Karakorum Winter Update: Teams Stuck in BC

Not much happening in the Himalaya and Karakorum these past few days. Bad weather has left the teams wondering when they'll get a chance to make their summit bids, or if they'll even get a chance at all.

On Makalu, Simone Moro and Denis Urubko are stuck in base camp after climbing as high as 7100m last week. They've built their camps and stocked supplies all the way up to that height, and have acclimatized well, thanks to their pre-climb trek, but now all they can do is sit and wait. They also continue to have issues with their communications equipment, according to ExWeb, with there Thuraya modem refusing to work. Another one is en route to the mountain, so hopefully regular dispatches will resume soon.

The story is much the same over on Broad Peak, where Don Bowie blogs about the extreme cold and how impossible it is to escape it. He also tells an amusing story of one of his first big, remote climbs in northern Canada, in which he called home to his then girlfriend, only to have his flakey satellite phone go out as he announced that polar bears had entered there camp. Needless to say, his now ex-girlfriend was not happy to have to wait for three weeks to get word on his condition.

With the extreme cold, the Broad Peak team is burning fuel more rapidly than anticipated, so last Saturday a couple of the boys hiked down the mountain to visit a military camp to see if they could buy some more. The trek took longer than expected, more than three hours one way, and they arrived to find the base empty, and no fuel to aid their cause. The seven hour round trip was for naught, but at least it gave them something to do for the day.

For now, the climbers on both mountains sit and wait. No word on when a weather window will open, but this is typical of the winter season on the big peaks. The weather is cold and nasty, and doesn't clear out anytime soon, and storms can dump a meter of snow on their camps without any problem. Hopefully both teams will get their shot at their respective summits before they run out of time and supplies and are forced to go home.

Everest 2009: Double Traverse Announced!

Alan Arnette continues to break all of the great news regarding the impending Everest 2009 season. Today he has updated his Everest 2009 page with the news that a climber is about to attempt the double traverse of the mountain once again.

Back in 2007 David Tait was set to become the first person to achieve the "Double Traverse", which entails a climber going up one side of the mountain, reaching the summit, then going down the other side. The climber would then rest and recuperate before turning around, heading back up the mountain, and descending down the other side once again, returning to where they originally started.

This year, two-time Everest summitteer David Liaño will be giving the double traverse a go. David will climb from the South Side, then descend and rest on the North, before going back over the hill, returning to Nepal, and the South Side, once again. In 2008, the young man summitted both Everest and Lhotse within five days of one another, which demonstrates the kind of stamina and dedication he has, and will need, when going for this epic climbing achievement. Of course, the only way he'll even get a crack at it is if the Chinese open up their side of the mountain. David seems confident that will happen.

After reading the interview that Alan has conducted with David, be sure to scroll down his page for plenty of other great information and stories. He also has a brief interview with climber Eugène Constant, who is climbing for Alzheimer's research. You'll also find a story that says the major Everest guide services are booked up for this spring, demonstrating that despite the economy, business on Everest is still brisk. Further down the page you'll also find a list of the prices for climbing permits this year during the various seasons. It helps to give some idea of why these expeditions cost so much.

Great work as always Alan!

The Adventurist Interviews Todd Carmichael, Again!

The Adventurist interviewed Todd Carmichael way back in July when he was still preparing for his attempt at the speed record to the South Pole. Now that Todd has broken that record and returned home, there is now a follow-up interview online.

In this latest interview, Todd talks a bit about what the expedition has come to mean to him (and his family) now that it is over and he's had time to reflect. He also discusses what it's like to walk much of the distance to the South Pole, in ski boots no less, and much much more.

The interview covers a lot of ground, and Todd has some interesting stories to tell. I suspect a book will be in the works at some point, because there seems to be more to Todd's story than we've heard so far. While out on the ice we had his short dispatches and updates, which helped for all of us following along at home, but the true story of his struggle, and ultimate triumph, is just starting to make it's way out in interviews like this one.

Kudos to The Adventurist for a fine job and again, major congratulations to Todd on his amazing accomplishment as well. Next up is his planned Namib Desert Trek scheduled for September. This guy sure likes to go to extremes. The arctic to the hot desert.

More From Winter OR

The Outdoor Retailer Winter Market came to an end yesterday with all sorts of new gear appearing for the first time. Most of the stuff won't end up on our store shelves for several months yet, but you can get a sneak peek at the latest and greatest online now.

The Gear Junkie's OR corespondent Pat Petschel filed a couple more reports over the weekend. You can find his third and fourth reports on the Daily Dose right now. Some of the gear that he spotlights includes a new jacket from GoLite, a new service from the creators of the SPOT Satellite Messenger, and a new first aid kit designed specifically for women from Adventure Medical Kits.

TrailSpace.com has also continued to post updates from the show in their OR Blog. Some of the gear that has caught their eye includes the Lippi Selk Bag, which I reviewed awhile back, and the Steripen FitsAll Water Filter, a 4 micron cup and funnel designed to filter out all the harmful elements in water found on the trail. There are a number of other nice gear items in their blog as well, so it's definitely worth surfing by if you're a gear head like me.

And finally, as I noted last week, the OR New Product Showcase has some cool new gear to show off as well, with everything from new snowboard bindings to boots, and more.

Virgin Global Row is Underway!

I've mentioned the Virgin Global Row a couple of times in the past month, as British adventurer Olly Hicks prepared to make his epic solo, unassisted row around Antarctica. Unfortunately, he ran into a snag a few weeks back when New Zealand refused to allow him to set out from their shores for fear of him running into trouble and requiring a rescue in the dangerous waters of the Southern Ocean. Olly made a quick change of plans and headed for Tasmania for his launch.

It seems that at long last, the Global Row is officially underway with, the 24-year Hicks setting out from Hobart, Tasmania last Friday at 3 PM local time to start his incredibly demanding journey. Ahead of him is more than 15,000 miles of open sea, 500 days of isolation, 50 foot waves, and untold hours of rowing his boat, dubbed The Flying Carrot.

The Virgin Global Row website is now fully active, and you can chart Olly's progress on the front page. There is also a blog, that for now is strangely silent. You'll also find information on the sponsors, and Olly himself.

I want to personally wish Olly all the luck in the world. He's setting out on a very unique adventure. Rowing across an ocean is never a small feat, and requires incredible dedication and stamina. Rowing around the globe, at the 50º South mark, requires a lot of courage and desire as well. The Southern Ocean is a dangerous place, and where he'll be, it may be impossible to conduct a rescue operation. Yet he chose to go anyway, carrying an adventurous spirit with him. Godspeed Olly!

The Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race has its Winners!

The Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race has come to an end with Team Missing Link taking the win after arriving at the South Pole in the fastest time over the weekend. The winning team covered the 770km (478 mile) course in 17 days, 11 hours, and capped their win by planting a the flag of their home country, Norway, at the Pole.

The race was kicked off back on January 4th when teams of three set out to cross the Antarctic Plateau to commemorate the historic race between Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott back in 1911. The teams were required to pull their own sleds, weighing as much as 70kg (155 pounds) each through -50º temperatures through some of the most inhospitable terrain anywhere on the planet.

The second place went to Team Qinetiq of the U.K. and third place was taken by Team Danske Bank, which consisted of members from both the U.K. and Norway.

As of this writing, several teams were still making their way to the finish line, while others are already there, relaxing and recuperating from their epic competition. It seems that all involved had a great time and enjoyed the journey in this first ever race. It has yet to be determined if the event will return in 2010.

Congrats to the winners on Team Missing Link, and to all the competitors involved in this very cool race.

South African Team Climbing Aconcagua via the Polish Glacier Direct Route

Two South African climbers are making final preparations to climb Aconcagaua, the tallest mountain in South America, via the technically challenging Polish Glacier Direct Route. If successful, they'll be the first mountaineers from their country to successfully top out on the mountain using this approach.

The two climbers, Andrew Raubenheimer and Dobek Pater, are already in Argentina, where according to the latest news on their website, the are attempting to get all the necessary permits they need to climb the mountain. With that little detail out of the way, they intend to set out for the mountain itself in the next few days, where they'll establish base camp and make their final preparations for the climb.

The Polish Glacier Direct Route was first opened back in 1934 and is known for it's hazardous, and technically difficult, ice climbs up the Polish Glacier. The route is rather gear intensive, requiring both traditional mountaineering equipment as well as a full compliment of ice climbing gear, which means that Andrew and Dobek will have heavy packs when the make their assault on the summit.

Standing 6962 meters (22,841 feet) in height, Aconcagua is the tallest peak in the Western Hemisphere and the tallest outside of the Himalaya. It is part of the Andes mountain range, and sits in the far western regions of Argentina, close to the border with Chile. As one of the Seven Summits, the mountain sees plenty of traffic, and is generally considered a non-technical climb along it's most popular route. Alternative routes like the Polish Glacier Direct offer a much more challenging climb for experienced mountaineers.

You can follow Andrew and Dobek as they make their attempt on Aconcagua on their website, where you'll find their planned itinerary, and their gear. Good luck guys!!

Thanks to Lisa from AR.co.za, an excellent site on adventure racing in South Africa specifically and the sport in general.

Announcing Expedition: Mongolia 2010

Here's another great expedition that is set for next year, in which former British solider Ripley Davis will set out on a solo, unsupported trek across Mongolia in an effort to raise funds and awareness of the Hope and Homes for Children project, and UNICEF.

The expedition is slated to get underway next April, with Ripley pulling all of his supplies behind him in a wheeled cart. He anticipates that he'll be towing more than 100kg (220 pounds) of gear over a 3000km (1865 miles) course between 47º and 50º north latitude. The journey is expected to take roughly 90 days.

Ripley has just launched his website for the expedition with plenty of news and information on his plans. On the site you'll find more details on the route he'll be taking, recent news on his preparations, as well as links to the charities he'll be working for and sponsorship opportunites for becoming part of the project. Youc an also learn more about Ripley himself and his previous adventures as well as read an FAQ on his latest endeavor.

This is going to be an amazing adventure to follow next year. A trek across Mongolia is no small feat, as the vast majority of that country is still very remote and rugged. Good luck Ripley! We'll be pulling for you all the way.

Tour Down Under is Over, Allan Davis Wins!

The fifth and sixth stages of the Tour Down Under were run yesterday and today respectively, with Australian rider Allan Davis finishing on top in a field full of great riders, that kicks off an interesting year on the pro cycling circuit, to say the least.

Today's stage win went to Francesco Chicchi of Italy, who edged out Australians Robbie McEwen and Graeme Brown, the second and third place finishers for the final leg. American Lance Armstrong finished 71st today, well back in the pack, but happy with his showing none the less.

For Davis, this was his first TDU win despite being competitive in all the previous events. He also won 3 of the stages, and had built up a 25 second lead over second place finisher Stuart O'Grady, also of Australia.

As for Armstrong, this was meant to be a shake down cruise to test his 37 year old legs. He hadn't raced competitively in more than three years, but returned to the sport with an eye on winning an eighth Tour de France this summer. Lance ended up finishing well off the lead for the race, in the process he learned that he can still ride with the top cyclists in the world, and that his training is coming along nicely. In fact, he told VeloNews that he may even be a bit ahead of schedule when it comes to his preparation.

All in all, in sounds like Lance greatly enjoyed his time Down Under and had a blast being back in the action. It also sounds like fans were happy to see him back out on the course as well. We'll get to seem again in a few weeks as he and Team Astana head to the Tour of California, which will also mark the return of Floyd Landis to the sport. Like I said, 2009 should be interesting.

Outdoor Retailer News

Today is the second day of Winter Outdoor Retailer, the big gear bash that descends on Salt Lake City twice a year. As usual, there is a host of exciting and interesting new gear on display, although reports are that the show is a bit less attended this year that in the past. Sign of the times with this economy I suppose, but still, the top gear companies are there, and showing off new stuff that will be draining our wallets in the months ahead. Here's a few notes that I've found from the show:

Steve Casimiro is on hand for National Geographic Adventure and has posted some thoughts on the show on their Adventure Blog. He seems especially excited about a new heated jacket from Mountain Hardwear and trail running shoes from Saucony.

Meanwhile, the Gear Junkie never disappoints when it comes to keeping us updated on the latest and greatest new gear. This time show corespondent Pat Petschel is on hand to give us the skinny on what to keep an eye on later in the year, including a nice looking cold-weather running jacket from Brooks and a cool new waist pack for runners with a light incorporated into for running trails at night from GoMotion.

Trailspace.com always does an excellent job of reporting from the show as well, and the Winter 2009 show is no exception. As usual they've set up a specific blog just for all the great gear on display, and they already have posts on the aforementioned waist pack from GoMotion and a nice look at the EtaPackLite Stove from Primus, which looks excellent as well.

And if that isn't enough gear for you, be sure to checkout the New Product Showcase over at the Winter OR official website for a lot more stuff.

I'm digging the new EtaPackLite. Looks like a great product, and Primus should probably send me one to test right away. ;) Hey! I'm not above begging for gear!! :) Look for more OR updates in the next few days.

Woman with MS Going For Everest, Seven Summits!

Here's an inspiring story from the Idaho Statesman for everyone who has ambitions of climbing big mountains all over the world. It's about 54 year old Wendy Booker, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, but has still managed to climb on six of the seven summits, topping out on three, and now has her sights squarely set on Everest in the spring.

Wendy is currently training with Brooke Barnes of the Mountain Link guide services in preparation for heading to Nepal in the a few months time. She is learning to walk on ladders, with crampons in place, in order to handle the dangerous Khumbu Ice Falls region, and if all goes as planned, she'll be standing on the summit in late May of this year.

Booker set a goal for herself to climb the seven summits, and she has done so on six of those mountains, successfully topping out on three of them according to this story. She's managed to reach the top of Mount Vinson in Antarctica, Aconcagua in Argentina, and Mount Kosciuszko in Australia. Presumably she didn't summit on Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Elbrus in Russia, and Denali in the United States.

If successful, Wendy will be the first person with multiple sclerosis to summit Everest. Good luck Wendy! We'll be sending positive thoughts your way this spring!

Himalaya and Karakorum Winter Update: Makalu Team Heading to 7000 meters

Good updates from ExWeb today on the ongoing expeditions in the Himalaya and Karakorum.

Simone Moro and Denis Urubko are toiling away on Makalu, and making great time so far. After just arriving on the mountain last week following an expensive, but necessary, airlift into base camp, they have now moved up the mountain, establishing both ABC and C1. Yesterday they reached 6910 meters in just two and a half hours of climbing, and today they expected to go above 7000 meters before returning to base camp. So far, they say that their acclimatization trek in the Khumbu Valley has served them well.

Meanwhile, over on Broad Peak, where the other major winter climb is taking place, it has been a few days since we received an update. Don Bowie updated his site three days ago to let us know that they had a break in the storm and used that opportunity to move up to Camp 1 with the intention of shuttling supplies up to C2 to be in a better position to make a summit bid when the weather window finally opens. The climb was tougher than expected, as Don and teammate Qadrat spent much of the day digging ropes out from under three feet of snow. And when they finally arrived at Camp 1, they discovered that their tent has been destroyed by high winds. The rest of their gear was fine, but the tent was shredded, so instead of spending the night at C1 and then proceeding up to C2, the boys elected to go back down the mountain. The next day a team went to C2 where they discovered that all was well, and the tent was still standing.

Don ends his post by saying that their eyes are now turned to next week, where they're hoping for a weather window. If the window opens, they'll have a go at the summit and potentially the first successful climb of Broad Peak in winter.

Father-Son Team Reach the South Pole!

The Telegraph has an interesting story about a father and son team that made history by becoming the first such duo to reach the South Pole together, unsupported.

The two Brits, 50-year old Kevin Gaskell, and his 18-year old son Matt, made the journey as part of a group of seven. They hope to raise funds for the the North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre. Kevin's younger sister Jayne passed away in 2004 from leukaemia. They hope to raise roughly £40,000 or $54,000.

Reading the story though, I can't help but think that we're not being told everything. For starters, its says that they scheduled themselves to make the journey from Patriot Hills to the South Pole in a months time. Pretty ambitious considering the two recent speed records, solo and as a team, were no where near that quick.

The article goes on to say that they made the journey in just nine days, covering 200 miles in the process, which leads me to believe that this was a "last degree" expedition, which may have started at 88º or 89º South, which also puts a bit of a different spin on their "unsupported" claim.

Don't get me wrong, it's still a very cool adventure for father and son to do together, but the mainstream media shouldn't hype up these "firsts" with so much gusto without giving the whole story. Still, the journey was made for a good cause, and it is an adventure that I'd love to do as well. They should be proud of themselves. They just might want a different publicity shot that shows them in full snow gear out on the front lawn. ;)

Thanks to Vagabondish for the heads up on this via Twitter no less.

Tour Down Under: Stage 4 - Aussie Davis in Control

The fourth stage of the Tour Down Under was mostly uneventful, with the top riders holding their ground across a relatively easy, and fast course today. At the end, it was Australian Allan Davis who took the stage win, and picked up 10 bonus seconds, to give him a four second lead over fellow Aussie Graeme Brown. José Joaquin Rojas Gil of Spain took third place.

Tomorrow's stage will be much tougher, with two long climbs pushing the riders over the course of the 148km (92 mile) course. The climb known locally as Willunga is 2.5 miles in length, and will be a great test in the early season for the climbers and all-around riders looking to gauge their current conditioning. Mix in the heat and gusting winds that have been a hallmark of the TDU this week, and it should make for an interesting stage.

For his part, Lance Armstrong is now 39 seconds off the pace, but doesn't feel that he is within striking distance of the lead, after finishing 47th, back in the pack, today. He says that his conditioning is good, and his legs feel strong, but his recovery is not where it should be yet. That said, I won't be surprised at all to see Lance riding with the lead cyclists tomorrow as they struggle up Willunga. I don't think he'll be making a move to win, but he'll be using it as a test to see where he stands in his comeback.

Lance also weighed in on the return of Floyd Landis to cycling as well, saying that Floyd has "paid his penalty" and it's time to put the doping scandals behind them, and get back on the bike and ride. Seems like reasonable advice!

To read more about todays TDU events, check out this race report at VeloNews and this one over at ESPN.com. The Tour Down Under comes to an end on Sunday.

Landis Set To Return To Cycling Next Week

While the eyes of the cycling world are mostly turned Down Under for the first major race of the year, not to mention the return of Lance Armstrong to competitive cycling, Floyd Landis is quietly preparing to return to the sport as well. You'll recall that Floyd received a two year ban from competition after testing positive for synthetic testosterone following the 2006 Tour de France, an event that he won, but later had the title taken from him.

Floyd ended up fighting the positive test in court rooms around the world in what turned out to be a soap opera drama with strange accusations, a lot of hurt feelings, and a nasty confrontation with three-time Tour champ Greg Lemond. In the end, all of the legal wrangling was to no avail, and Landis ended up with a two year ban that will end next week.

For his part, Floyd is happy to have everything behind him, and he's ready to get back on the bike. He'll join the appropriately named Team OUCH at their training camp next week and being preparation for the Tour of California, which takes place from February 14th through the 22nd. Lance Armstrong and his Team Astana also intend to compete in this race.

Personally, I'm glad to see Floyd back, and having his attention focused on cycling. I look forward to seeing him on the bike and riding with the best the world. The sport is experiencing a bit of a resurgence, especially here in the States, with the return of these stars, lets just hope cycling doesn't shoot itself in the foot again, and suffer another round of doping scandals.

Baffin Babes Prepare for Arctic Adventure!

The Baffin Babes are a team of four women who will be setting out on an 80 day ski expedition through Baffin Island beginning in March. The plan is to ski over 1400km (870 miles) as they survey the impact of climate change on the fragile environments on the island, while visiting three remote Inuit villages along the way.

The team consists of Vera and Emma Simonsson of Sweden and Ingebjoerg Tollefsen, and Kristin Folsland Olsen of Norway. The ladies are all experienced outdoor athletes with a lot of drive and ambition, and they've each been preparing for this journey for months. You can check out their complete profiles by clicking here.

The girls have also set up a blog to post dispatches on their big adventure. There are plenty of posts already regarding their training, gear, preparation, and so on, and hopefully we'll get regular updates from the once the expedition is underway. They've also created an expedition page with more information on their plans as well, as they intend to break the journey down into several stages as they make their way across Baffin Island.

The Baffin Babes are also still looking for supporters, and if you would like to help their cause you'll receive a personally autographed Baffin Babes card like the one pictured with this post. To contribute simply send an e-mail to baffinbabes@baffinbabes.com.

Thanks to Belgian Adventurer Louis-Philippe Loncke for sending this story my way. Louis-Philippe is planning his own adventure for this spring in the Himalaya with his Project: Chocolate Sherpa expedition. You can read about it here.

Tour Down Under: Stage 3 - Breaking Away!

From the sound of things from this report over at VeloNews, it was another crazy, competitive, and tough day at the Tour Down Under in Australia. The race was marred by an early crash that put the defending champ, Andre Greipel, out of the race with a dislocated shoulder, and howling winds made it a challenging day for all the riders.

At one point in today's stage, an early breakaway took off with some of the top riders in the world, including Lance Armstrong, Michael Rogers and Stuart O’Grady. It was a fast and furious break, but eventually the riders were reeled back in, and the day ended with a 47-man sprint to the finish line, that saw Graeme Brown of Australia take the stage win, and tying for the overall lead with countryman Allan Davis, who finished second. O'Grady, also Australian, took third. American George Hincapie took fourth today and is quietly having a very good race in the shadow of the hometown heroes.

As for Lance, he finished 32nd on the day, but had the exact same time as the leader, so overall he had a solid day back in the saddle. His twitter feed, which continues to be a great source of info on his thoughts and feelings, indicates that his legs feel great, but the race is harder than he, or just about anyone else for that matter, had suspected. The combination of heat, high winds, and world class riders, is making for an early season challenge.

Stage 4 is scheduled for tomorrow with another challenging day on the course. It's set for a 143km (89 miles) and is accented with a couple of tough climbs and a fast sprint to the finish once again. Should be good!

A Unique Sailing Adventure Opportunity

This one is for those that love the open waters and high seas. It seems that Canadian Derek Hatfield was recently competing in the Vendee Globe 2008, an around the world race that pits solo skippers against one another with no stopovers along the way. The race was going well for Derek, but on the 28th of December his ship, IMOCA 60 Algimouss Spirit of Canada, was hit by a large breaking wave that rolled his ship, breaking two of the masts, and forcing Derek to retire from the event.

Now, he's docked in Hobart, Tasmania, undergoing repairs, and preparing to get back underway in February. The ship now needs to be delivered to France where it can take part in the 2009 IMOCA racing season, which brings us to the unique opportunity now open to sailors everywhere.

Derek and the Spirit of Canada crew are now auctioning off sailing positions for the delivery run back to France. This would give experienced sailors an opportunity to sail the famed Southern Seas and round the legendary Cape Horn, before sailing north, across the equator and back to Europe. Interested parties can sail the entire journey or elect to be dropped off at a number of ports along the way.

You can find out more by clicking here or contact Derek directly at: derek@spiritofcanada.net.

I'm not a sailor myself, but would love to be on a sailing ship rounding the Horn like great explorers of old. Sounds amazing! Major thanks to David Leach for sending this my way.

The Rest of Everest Episode 95: Beyond Everest

The Rest of Everest kicks of a whole new era with the episode released earlier today, as the show returns to it's mountaineering roots, shifting it's focus away from Everest and toward Annapurna IV, a 24,688 foot mountain located in western Nepal.

The show reunites podcast creator Jon Miller with climber Ben Clark, who were together on Everest back in 2004 on the expedition that was the genesis of the podcast to begin with. Jon and Ben are joined by Josh Butson, who along with Ben and a third climber named Tim Clarke, attempted to climb Annapurna IV last year.

In this first episode, we see the climbers' approach to the remote mountain, with video footage starting in the Hong Kong airport, than quickly switching to scenes in Nepal, a country that has become very familiar to fans of the show that have seen all the episodes. There are some great shots from the countryside that catch the culture of the region quite nicely.

At one point in the video you also see workers building a new road through the Annapurna area. This road is changing the face of the region, and altering one of the greatest treks in the world forever. Ben mentions that if you want to do the Annapurna Circuit, you should do it soon, as it will be a different experience from here forward. This is something I wrote about recently over at Gadling as well.

You can download the first episode in the Annapurna IV series directly by clicking here or you can find it iTunes by clicking here.

It's great to have my favorite podcast back! Thanks Jon! :)

Polartec Announces 2009 Grant Winners

Polartec has announced the winners of it's 2009 Polartec Challenge Grant, which awards $14,000 to worth adventure expeditions for the year ahead.

This years winners are:

Majka Burhardt: Later this spring Majka will lead a team of climbers to make a first ascent on Van Zyl, a 2000 foot big wall located in Namibia. The expedition has a cultural side to it as well, as the team will visit and interact with Himba tribe, whose way of life is being encroached upon by outside influences.

Bernice Notenboom: Bernice leads the Himalaya Alert expedition, who will be traveling to the Himalaya to survey the impact of global climate change on the Sherpa people who live in the mountains.

Jordan Romero: The 12-year old climbing sensation that I've mentioned here before has earned part of the grant money to focus on his continued pursuit of the Seven Summits. Jordan hopes to become the youngest climber to bag each peak, and will be headed to Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia later this year. If successful, he'll have just Antarctica's Mt. Vinson and Mt. Everest left to do.

Congrats to the winners! These each sound like great expeditions and I hope they are successful for everyone involved.

The 50 Best Adventure Books of All Time!

NileGuide, the same great online personal trip planning service I mentioned last week, have posted an awesome list of the Top 50 Adventure Books of All Time to their excellent NileGuidance Blog.

Their list consists of some amazing books, and they definitely seem to have hit all the classics. There are even a few honorable mentions that just missed the cut. This is a perfect list to use to expand your library and they even made it simple by adding links to the Amazon.com page to order your own copy of any book you don't already own.

The list runs the gamut of true life adventure, travel books, adventure novels, and more. I don't want to spoil the entire list, as part of the fun is the discovery of where your favorite fell, but the top five look like this:

1. The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen

2. Wind, Sand, and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

3. The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz

4. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

5. No Picnic on Mount Kenya by Felice Benuzzi

Many more great books on the list. Be sure to check it out!

Winter Outdoor Retailer Starts Tomorrow

The 2009 edition of the Winter Outdoor Retailer show officially gets underway tomorrow, although technically there are a few product demos going on already today at "Base Camp" in SnowBasin. The biannual convention is a showcase for all the new products and gear that we can expect to hit our favorite outdoor stores later this year.

The past few years have been all about the "green" movement in outdoor gear, with companies focused on making their products safer for the environment and more easily recyclable. I don't expect that to change very much this time out either, as the commitment to the environment has only gotten stronger in recent months. I also think there may be fewer new products on display as the global economic meltdown has made things look grim for retailers and manufacturers across all industries. A smaller, simpler product line makes a lot of sense in times like these, but then again, retail hasn't always made a lot of sense.

Over the next few days we'll probably see some nice reports from the show with details on all the new gear and trends in outdoor adventure. I'll try to post some good links to anything I find, but be sure to check out the Outdoor Retailer Blog for news, as well as the Winter Market Homepage.

And for everyone headed to the show, have a blast! I can't wait to hear all about it. Wish I were joining you, but perhaps I can try to make it to the OR Summer show instead. Oh! And if you are going, be sure to bring your old water bottle and exchange it for a new eCycle (there's that green thing again!) from Stanley. You can read all the details here.

Tour Down Under: Stage 2 Has Lance Moving Up

The heat in Australia dissipated a bit today as the second stage of the Tour Down Under went off without a hitch. It was a relatively fast stage, but more difficult than yesterday and considered to be the second most difficult leg of this year's event.

In the end, the stage was won by Australian rider Allan Davis, who also moved into the overall lead with his break away performance with about 500 meters to go. He was followed closely by fellow countryman Graeme Brown and Swiss rider Martin Elmiger. Lance Armstrong finished 45th on the day amongst a group of riders 13 seconds off the pace.

Lance did show flashes of his earlier form however, participating in two breakaways, one with Australian rider Jack Bobridge, who is half his age. Yesterday, Lance posted a tweet to his twitter feed saying that Bobridge was a young rider we should all keep an eye on in the future.

The seven-time Tour de France winner told ESPN that he was having a great time riding in the race, and that he felt good, with strong legs. He also said that he knew it would take some time before he would be ready to leading an event like this one, but that it felt great racing at the front of the Peloton as he did for parts of Stage 2.

You can read more about today's events over at Velo News.

Alan Arnette Interviews David Tait

Continuing his already great coverage on the impending Everest season, Alan Arnette has once again updated his Everest 2009 page with a brief, but informative, interview with David Tait, who has announced his return to Everest to climb the South Side with Himex once again.

Back in 2007, Tait set off to make a double-traverse on Everest. His intention was to climb on the North Side, descend on the South, then rest up, and make the return trip. He completed the first leg of that traverse successfully, but elected to not go for the second part of the traverse. He's now returning to Everest once again to scale the Nepali side, this time without oxygen, so that he can "tick all the boxes" as he says.

David is climbing to raise money for NSPCC, a charity he founded to put an end to child abuse. His previous climbs on Everest were for the same charity, and he feels the lure to return once again, saying that while he's in London he wants to be on Everest, and when he's on Everest, he can't wait to return home.

The interview also seems to confirm that the Discovery Channel will indeed by filming another season of Everest: Beyond The Limit, as David talks about working with that crew and having them with him on the mountain once again.

Great stuff Alan. Your coverage is off to a superb start already this year.

Thank You!

Just a quick note of thanks to everyone who reads this blog. I meant to post this note a few days back, but better late than never. This past Sunday marked the third anniversary of me starting this little project and it has been a labor of love ever since. I appreciate everyone who stops by and reads my posts and leaves comments. I'm glad that I have found others who share my interests and love of adventure. So... on that note, THANK YOU all very much and I look forward to many more years to come! :)

Tour d'Afrique Hits The Sudan

The Tour d'Afrique got underway a week or so back, with adventurous mountain bikers setting off from Cairo, Egypt to peddle the length of Africa with the eventual goal of reaching Cape Town, South Africa. Along the way they'll pass through ten different countries, including the Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia.

All told, the race/expedition will take 120 days, 96 of which will be spent on the bike, with another 22 built-in rest days, and 2 travel days. The racers, who are expected to reach their final destination in early May, are broken up into three groups. The first group to leave the starting line each morning are the serious contenders for winning the event. The second group are those that want to experience every mile of the race, but probably aren't out for the win, while the "Back Pack" are made up of riders who have come along for the fun of it, and hope to have a great adventure and experience the cultures of the places they visit each day.

This year there is a running blog with daily updates from the course on how things are transpiring. The latest post notes that the race has safely arrived in the Sudan, after crossing Lake Nasser on a ferry yesterday. The race will get back underway tomorrow, with the competitors speeding off into the Sudanese countryside.

The race is an annual event, and it covers more than 7320 miles from the northern Africa to southern. It costs in excess of $10,000 to do the entire ride, although you do have the option of just doing a few legs as well. Overall though, it seems like an amazing adventure, and a great way to see Africa. Anyone want to join me as a future member of the "Back Pack"? :)

More Notes From Sea Level by Jon Bowermaster

He may have left the Antarctic for another season, but that hasn't stopped Jon Bowermaster from continuing to reflect on his recent visit there. Jon continues to post daily updates tho is Notes from the Sea Level blog, that include amazing photos and great insights into the health of our oceans, the Antarctic, and many other places he visits on his journeys.

A few days back Jon wrote some "random notes" on the Antarctic with some updates on a number of incidences that have gone down on the Ice since he left, including the crash landing of a small supply plane and the South Pole Quest Team reaching the Pole in record time. He also note that birds are at threat to planes the world over, including on Antarctica.

On a more somber note, yesterday's dispatch takes a look at the amazing amount of trash that washes up on the shores of Barren Island, part of the Falklands. Prevailing ocean currents drag all the junk there, presumably from boats, as Jon notes that Argentina is hundreds of miles away. After departing Barren, the team is off to Carcass Island, also part of the Falklands, which is home to just a couple of families, but does have a bed & breakfast in case you're looking for someplace to get away for the weekend.

Finally, today's post, just in time for the inauguration of a new President, comes from the aptly named New Island, where Jon encounters plenty of penguins. The island is soon to be made into one large nature reserve, and it is considered the most remote, but still inhabited, island in the Falklands. The team spent their last day of the expedition there before heading back to Argentina, and then on to home.

Woman Missing For 12 Years, Found Ultralight Camping

Here's a story, from the AP, that will leaving you shaking your head. It seems that a German woman, who went missing 12 years ago, has been found, alive and well, living in the woods in Switzerland.

The woman, whose name has not been discloses, is now 52 years old, and was discovered near the town of Bolligen, where she has been living for the past year. She was said to have been using nothing more than an umbrella and tarpaulin for her shelter, proving that people can, and do, go to great lengths to go "ultralight" in the back woods. No word if she had cut off the handle on her tooth brush, or stripped out the frame on her backpack.

All kidding aside, it's a remarkable story that someone who has been missing for this long has been found alive and well. Supposedly the wants no contact with her family, and has told authorities that she is on some kind of mission. (Okaaay!) Apparently she'll be evicted from the land she is currently camping on however, and it's uncertain as to what will happen to her going forward.

An interesting and sad story. Thanks to the Daily Dirt Blog over at Backpacker.com for this one.

Tour Down Under: Stage 1 Complete, Lance Deals with Heat

The first stage of the Tour Down Under is complete, and Lance Armstrong survived the first day, which is expected to be the easiest, despite the 103º F temperatures. You can read all about Lance's first real day of tough competition, as well as catch a video, in his comeback over at ESPN.com.

At the end of the day, Lance was ranked 120th of 133 riders. The race is currently led by German Andre Greipel, who won last year's TDU. Greipel has an 11-second lead over a group of competitors nipping at his heels, that include three Aussies in Baden Cooke, Stuart O'Grady and Robbie McEwen. Tomorrow's stage is only slightly longer at 145km (90 miles), but will probably offer more challenging climbs, and if the heat continues, it'll begin to take it's toll on the racers as well.

Judging from Lance's approach so far, I'm guessing he's content to just ride with the Peloton on this one and get his competitive legs back under him. Climbing out of a 120th place to become competitive in his first race back seems like a stretch, and he'll be looking for bigger events down the line when he's better prepared and feeling more comfortable.

Reading his twitter feed has been great today though. He notes that at one point in the race they were screaming down hill at 102 km/hour or 63 mph. Pretty scary on a bike. Lance also wants us all to know that he is not the oldest racer in the field at 37. Jens Voigt is actually one day older. :)

Antarctic Update: Expeditions Ending

More news from the South Pole today as more Antarctic expeditions come to an end.

First up, there is an update from Thomas Davenport that indicates his "End-2-End" expedition is now complete, as he and his guide Sarah McNair-Landry are back at Patriot Hills after skiing to the Pole and kiting back again. Overall it took them 70 days to cover the 1500 mile round trip, but it didn't quite end the way they wanted it to. They kited back from the Pole in roughly 12 days time, but lost the wind just a mile from camp, and had to break out their cross country gear for one last pull into Patriot HIlls. He and Sarah are waiting for pick-up by ALE this morning.

The South Pole had a very special visitor in the past few days as Monaco's Prince Albert II dropped by. The AP article says that he arrived with Mike Horn, but the latest updates from his site indicated that he didn't expect to arrive at the Pole until sometime today. The 50-year old Prince is expected to visit a number of Antarctic bases while on the frozen continent.

Also expected to arrive today is the Shackleton Centenary "97-Mile" Team. In their last dispatch they had roughly 9.2 nautical miles to go today and should arrive sometime this afternoon. The team is made up of Tim Fright, David Cornell, and Andrew Ledger and they are making their way to the Pole from the exact location Shackleton turned back from 100 years ago. The rest of the team, the "Ice Team" have already arrived at the Pole and are expected back in Patriot Hills shortly.

Update: As expected, the Shackleton 97 Mile Team has reached the Pole! You can read all about it right here. Congrats guys! :)

Paddlers Have A Bad Day!

I found this video over at the Paddling Life earlier, and it elicited a chuckle. It begins with two mensa candidates in a tandem kayak trying to launch it into the water by sliding down some steps, which really doesn't go all that well, and things don't really improve once they're actually in the water.

How Much Does It Cost To Climb Everest?

Ever wondered how much it costs to climb Everest? Well, Alan Arnette has once again updated his Everest 2009 page answering that very question.

Alan has taken a survey of the list prices for all the top guide services on Everest this year, and put them down in an easy to read chart. Prices range from the "low-end" of an estimated $26,000 from Asian Trekking all the way up to $65,000 from several of the bigger companies such as Adventure Consultants and Mountain Madness. Of course, those prices don't include the fact that you'll need to have roughly two months of free time to devote to climbing the mountain either.

If you have more questions about climbing Everest, you'll definitely want to bookmark Alan's page dedicated to the mountain. He's been there three times and follows the Everest scene very closely. He's also posted links to some of the top guide services, as well as some frequently asked questions when it comes to guides as well.

We're still a few months away from the start of the Everest 2009 season, but the planning and preparation is already in full swing. Should be another interesting year.

Himalaya and Karakorum Winter Update: Makalu Team In Base Camp

The winter climbs in the Himalaya and Karakorum are continuing as best they can, despite the inclement weather and usual hardships that come along with being in the big mountains this time of year.

Explorer's Web is reporting that Simone and Denis reached base camp on Makalu late last week. Previously we had heard that heavy snow had prevented the team from reaching BC because the porters refused to carry their supplies to the mountain, but money overcomes all obstacles, and a military helicopter was sent to shuttle up their gear, the two climbers, and four porters, who will assist them in setting up ABC as well. There is also word that the team's sat phone is not working, but a new one would be arriving from Kathmandu this week, so no new updates are expected for a few more days.

Meanwhile, over on Broad Peak, the entire team sits and waits for a weather window to open. A window that may not come until Spring. So that begs the question, what do these guys do while they sit in base camp waiting for their chance at the summit? Funny you should ask, because the video below appeared on Don Bowie's website to answer that question. Pretty funny stuff! :)


Basecamp Boredom 1.1 from Calpinist.com on Vimeo.

Tour Down Under: Lance In The Middle of the Pack

The Tour Down Under got underway yesterday with a fast 30-mile jaunt through Adelaide, Australia that served as a prelude to the race getting properly underway tomorrow. More than 138,000 fans lined the streets to watch hometown favorite Robbie McEwen claim first place of course, but plenty were there to see Lance Armstrong make his return to professional cycling as well.

Lance finished in the middle of the pack, coming in 64th out of 133 riders, as he played it safe and made ready for the real race to get underway tomorrow. His team told him to not put himself into any kind of danger, and stay out of the way of the sprinters, who were jostling for the top spot. McEwen is amongst the best sprinters in the sport, and the short and fast course suited his style perfectly.

For his part, Lance was content to just be back in the peloton, and riding with the others. I doubt that he will press too much in this race, as he's just getting back into the groove of professional cycling after a three year hiatus. The Tour Down Under will serve as a shake down cruise for bigger and better things to come, such as a run at an 8th Tour de France title. Still, Lance is a very competitive guy, and he didn't return to cycling to "race for second place". I wouldn't be surprised if at the end of the week he's near the top of the leaderboard, serving notice to the sport that he's back and ready to roll.

Tomorrow's first real stage of the TDU is 140 km (86 miles) in length and will have a little something for the sprinters and the climbers. Since this race is only a week long, I'd guess that we'll see the top competitors begin to make their moves in the early stages as they won't have too many days to make up ground as they would in the The Tour. Should be a fun event to watch as Lance gets back to work!