The Rest of Everest Episodes 114 & 115: My favorite Podcast is Back!

I'm still catching up on all the things that happened while I was out of town last week, and that includes the return of The Rest of Everest video podcast, which has taken a bit of a break in recent weeks while show creator Jon Miller prepared to take us on yet another Himalayan adventure. That adventure began last week with a new episode, with this week's really kicking things into gear.

As many of you probably know, this past Spring, Jon and Chris Marquardt of Tips From The Top Floor fame, hosted a photography/videography workshop that took place while trekking to Everest Base Camp on the south side of the mountain. Episode 114, entitled The Highest Photography Workshop In The World, serves as an introduction to that trek, giving us an overview of what we can expect in future episodes of this new "season". The episode also serves as a bit of review of the past seasons as well, setting the stage for what has come before, and what is ahead, as we make the trek to EBC along with the lucky few that got to go on this trip back in April. If you've ever considered making that trek for yourself, as I have, you'll really want to jump into this show, as it'll no doubt really give us some insights on what to expect on that journey.

This week's new episode, number 115 of the series, is called "Kathmandu: Exactly The Same...But Different", and really kicks off the new trekking adventure in style. Regular viewers of the show know that Jon doesn't like to just chat by himself while he explains what's going on, and in this case, he's joined by several of the trekkers that were part of the team last spring. The episode opens gets rolling with the participants arriving in Kathmandu and preparing for their adventure. Throughout the show we see the arrival of the trekkers, with everyone eventually heading out to do some sightseeing in various parts of KTM. The video shows us all kinds of interesting elements to that city and Nepali culture, even for those of us who have made this trip two previous times before with the show.

These two episodes kick off the trekking adventure in fine fashion, and I can't wait to see where it goes from here. I'm actually strongly considering the trek to Everest Base Camp for next spring, so this should make for a great primer for what I can expect on that journey. As usual, the video is high quality and the subject matter is great. Jon serves as an excellent host, and the guests offer great insights. Can't wait for more!

Grab the videos directly from the Rest of Everest website or make life easier on yourself and just subscribe to the show via iTunes.

Adventure Travel: Riding The Silk Road

This was the subject of my story today over at Gadling as well, but thought I'd mention it here too. I've written about the Tour d'Afrique before, discussing how great of a cycling adventure I think it would be, riding from Cairo to Cape Town, and crossing through much of Africa in the process.

Now, the organizers of that cool event are preparing for another long distance ride, this time going from Istanbul, Turkey to Xi'an China, over a 6600+ mile course that will also cross through Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan as well. That may sound like a bit of a random ride, but it actually a very historic path, as participants will be covering the length of the Silk Road, an ancient and vital trade route that once connected East and West.

The event will get underway on May 22nd of next year, and will take roughly 16 weeks to complete. Those weeks are broken up with 92 days of riding and 22 rest days, with one travel day across the Caspian Sea thrown in for good measure. The trip will be highlighted by a ride up the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan, with cyclists climbing above 15,000 feet, only to later plummet to depths below sea level while camping in the western desert regions of China. The road will vary from well paved to cart paths, with just about everything in between, and the riders will average about 70 miles per day across the length of the ride.

Unfortunately, not all of us have 16 weeks to dedicate to such a ride, but that doesn't mean we'll be left out in the cold, as the road is broken down into seven separate legs that can be ridden singularly or in an combination should you decide to not go for the full on experience. The cost of the Silk Route ride is currently set at €8500, but there is currently a promotion in place that will cut €400 from the price if you book the trip before November 15th. The prices for the individual legs can be found at the bottom of this page as well.

This looks like an amazing experience, with an incredible mix of physical challenge, high adventure, history, and culture. I can't think of a better way to explore this unique part of the world than from the back of a bike, which will let you follow in the footsteps of some of history's most mesmerizing characters, like Alexander the Great, Marco Polo, and Genghis Khan. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go start training!

Judge Rules That Laura Dekker Should Stay in Port

Remember Laura Dekker? She is the 13-year old (now 14) girl who wanted sail solo around the world a few months back, but had the Dutch government step in to prevent her attempt. At the time, she was placed in temporary custody of child protective services while her case was reviewed further, and today, a judge further ruled on the affair.

According to this story over at the Guardian, Laura has been ordered to remain under the supervision of child protection authorities until next July, when her case will come up for review once again. It is quite possible that at that time, they'll rule that she is indeed ready to take on the high seas, and she will be allowed to go and make her bid for the youngest person to ever sail solo around the world.

There is no doubt that Laura is an accomplished sailor. Both of her parents have sailed for years, and she grew up on a boat while they sailed the globe. But her mother and father are currently separated, and while dad is happily encouraging her to go on this adventure, mom has raised fears about allowing the young girl to travel solo.

I've weighed in on this topic a few times already, and I've always said that she's too young for this journey, no matter what her skill level. I have no doubt that she is technically fit to make the trip, but there are other factors to consider as well. In an earlier post on the topic a commenter said that she clearly has the skills to circumnavigate the planet and should be allowed to go, but I still believe now what I wrote then. I know plenty of 14 year olds that can technically drive a car, but that doesn't mean I'd let them go on a cross country road trip by themselves. This would be potentially far more dangerous than that.

I applaud the court for stepping in and preventing her from going. Something has to be done about these extremely young people going after records for accomplishing a given task just so they can be the youngest to do so.

Himalaya Fall 2009: Summits!!

It appears as if the Fall Himalaya Season for 2009 is rapidly coming to an end, with teams reporting successful summits on a variety of mountains, while others prepare to go home empty handed.

Field Touring Alpine has an update on their blog stating that their team has reached the top of Island Peak yesterday, with six climbers topping out on the 6186 meter mountain. All of them have also successfully returned to base camp, where they got some much needed rest and celebrated their success. Today, they left the mountain, heading back to Dingboche. The team isn't done yet however, as they intend to head to Pumori next for a little more action.

The IMG blog has also been updated with news of their success, although they were climbing on Ama Dablam. Their summit also occurred yesterday, with the team setting out from C2 at 4 AM and proceeding up to the top by 10 AM. They then made the descent all the way back to BC, ending their day at 8:30 PM. Whew! What a long day. On a good note, the guides report that the route to the summit is in good shape and the stage is set for others to go up too.

The word is not so positive from Pumori, where the Peak Freaks are packing it in after an attempt on the summit that was halted when they came across a large ice shelf high on the mountain. After testing it for stability, they determined that it may or may not be safe, and the "may not" part was enough for them to call of their bid and head back to BC. The team is happy with what the accomplished this year, but weren't willing to go further and put themselves at risks, so as of today, they are preparing to pack up and go home.

They weren't the only team to call it a day, as the Climb With Us Team is also coming home. An audio update on their site says that despite great weather conditions over the past few weeks, the ice found on the upper peaks, formed from the melting of snow during the day, and the re-freezing at night, has caused them to also call off their expedition. They are also happy with what they accomplished, but a bit disappointed that they won't stand on top of the mountain. They'll be back in the Himalaya next spring however, with their eyes on Everest, and an even bigger prize.

Why Wasn't My Dorm Like This?

Another cool photo from the Wend Blog today, this time showing us a dorm building at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. From the front, it looks like any other dorm, for the most part, with some slightly interesting architecture. But move to the side, and you'll find an impressive climbing wall that is nine stories tall and features more than 2500 hand and foot grips.

Now, I'm not sure what your dorm was like, but mine certainly didn't have a climbing wall. It barely had plumbing! Granted, it was a low rise building that was getting on in years, and mostly lacked any defining characteristics that would actually make it cool, but it was home, sweet, home for a couple of years. If it had a wall like this one though, I might have stayed in school longer. Maybe gone for that Masters or PhD. Anyway, check below for a shot of the wall itself. Very cool stuff!

The 7-in-7 Challenge: Hiking New Zealand's Great Walks in a Week!

National Geographic Adventure tipped me off to this story earlier today when they posted it to their Adventure Blog. It seems that New Zealander Malcolm Law, an adventurer and ultrarunner, will attempt to complete seven of the country's "Great Walks" in just seven days, in an effort to raise money for Leukemia research. If all goes as planned, he'll cover 223 miles over the course of a very busy week.

Law covers the basics of his plan on his 7-in-7 website, which begins with the very apt tag line "It's going to hurt!". The challenge will get underway on November 29th, when he'll take on the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk, a 26.5 mile trail that typically takes 3-4 days to complete. From there, it is on to the Tongariro Northern Circuit, which is 25.4 miles of mountain trail, before moving on to the Abel Tasman Coast Track (32.2 miles), the Heaphy Track (48.7 miles), Routeburn Track (20 miles), the Milford Track (33.2 miles), and finally ending at the 37.3 mile Kepler Challenge, a mountain run that is a yearly competition in Kiwi-land.

In order to accomplish his goal, Malcolm will be assisted by a team of support crew, that will help arrange rides to and from each of the daily routes, as they are spread out in different parts of New Zealand. Each day he'll also be joined by a fresh group of support runners that will help pace him as he goes. If successful, Law's website says that this will be the equivalent of running 9 off road marathons, while climbing Mt. Cook twice, in just seven days time.

In all, New Zealand has nine great walks, and the seven that Malcolm will attempt all fall on the mainland. The other two include the Rakiura Track, a 22.3 mile trek through Stewart Island, and the Whanganui Journey, which is a 90 mile kayaking route, and not a "great walk" at all.

For more information on the 7-in-7 Challenge, head over to the official website, where you'll find a bio of Malcolm, who is 49 by the way. You'll also find info on his support runners and ground crew, as well as ways that you can get involved with the challenge too by either joining him on the trail or donating to the cause.

Good luck Malcolm!

Couple Sailing Around The World Possibly Captured By Pirates

British couple Paul and Rachel Chandler have been on an around the world cruise aboard their ship the Lynn Rival for some time now, and they've even been blogging about their adventures on this website. But last Friday, the couple went missing, and their online tracking system failed to send any new updates, while the ship was off the coast of Somalia, an area that has become infamous for its pirate activity. The last known message from the couple was an ominous sounding blog update that simply says: "PLEASE RING SARAH".

Since that update there has been no trace of the Chandlers, and little news at all. A few days back, a Somali pirate leader named Farah Abdi released a statement saying that they had captured the pair, but there has yet to be any kind of confirmation that they are indeed in the pirates hands.

Today, the New York Times is reporting that seven pirates believed to have been involved with the adduction have been taken into custody by European Union ships operating in the area. The pirates were making a raid on a fishing vessel at the time, and were said to have the Chandler's 38-foot yacht in tow, as they were making their way back to pirate town of Xarardheere.

Capturing these pirates is a good start of course, but we still don't know where the Chandlers are or what their current condition is. Lets hope that we get confirmation of their good health soon, and that they'll also be released soon as well. One can't help but wonder though if the blog updates and real time satellite tracking played into their capture at all. Anyone know if Somali Pirates have the Internet?

2009 Sahara Race is Underway!

I know this is a few days old, but I'm still trying to catch-up form my down time last week. Last Sunday, this year's edition of the Sahara Race got underway, with 130 competitors from 30 countries setting out across 250 km (155 miles) of some of the harshest conditions on the planet. The Sahara is the largest non-Polar desert on Earth, and it will test these racers, who will cross through three to four checkpoints each day, as they cover stages varying in length from 10-50 miles.

As of today, the race, we're through three stages of the six stage event. The overall leader at this point is 40 year old Tobias Frenz of Germany, who is followed by Christian Schiester of Austria, and Paolo Barghini of Italy in second and third respectively. The top female competitor is Erica Terblanche of South Africa, who is currently running in 12th place over all.

Over the next three days, the racers will face several more tough stages, including a grueling 87.6 km (54.4 mile) trek dubbed the Black Desert March, tomorrow. That one will likely run into Friday for a number of the competitors, but thankfully things get better on Saturday, when they'll finish up with a short run that completes the event by arriving at the finish line in the shadows of the Great Pyramids of Giza. What a way to end a race!

Having been to the Sahara and seen those Pyramids first hand, I can tell you that this has to be an incredible event for these runners. The desert is demanding on many levels, with an oppressive heat that I've never felt anywhere else on the planet. And if that wasn't challenging enough, think about all that sand getting into every part of your body. Yes, I said every part!!

As always, this is a great event, and is just one pillar of the 4 Deserts series. Good luck to all the competitors. Be safe out there!

Tips For Long Distance Hikers

Trailspace.com, which has always been an excellent resource for backpackers and hikers everywhere, has begun a great new series of articles designed to help long distance thru-hikers to tackle any of the long distance hikes in the U.S., such as the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide trails. But even if you don't intend to tackle one of those 1000+ mile long monsters, the information is helpful for shorter treks too.

The planned four part series begins with this article which focuses on planning your hike. Author Barbara Egbert starts with some details on the Triple Crown of thru-hiking, laying out what you can expect on the three major trails linked to above, and how they all differ from one another.

The article then goes on to examine the gear that you'll need, with an emphasis on lightweight but durable equipment. Tents, sleeping bags, and packs are all important considerations on any trip, but especially on one that will go for hundreds of miles. Choosing the right clothing and shoes are also very important as well of course.

From there, it's on to some suggested training methods to get in shape for the miles ahead. Several thru-hikers give tips on their approaches to preparing for the trails, with strong recommendations of being in great shape before you go. The story also recommends that if you're going to hike alone you should train alone in order to get use to the conditions you'll experience while traveling miles on end by yourself.

Finally, the article concludes with a list of great books that cover each of the major trails, offering up resources that will be invaluable for long distance thru-hikers as they prepare for one of these major hikes. The suggestion being that if you're considering one of these hikes, you'll want to pick up the guide now, read it in the winter months, and begin collecting your gear and training for a 2010 epic hike.

This look like it's going to be a great series, and a must read for anyone wanting to backpack anything longer than a weekend escape. Good stuff so far.

Conquering Manaslu on Skis!

Mountain Hardwear has an excellent story on their Hardwear Sessions blog about Guy Willett, a high altitude climbing and skiing guide, who made what could be the first descent of Manaslu on skis back in September.

The 8156 meter (26,758 feet) Manaslu is located in Nepal, roughly 40 miles east of Annapurna. It is the eighth highest peak in the world, and was first climbed back in 1956. It was later skied, at least to some degree, back in 1981, although a complete descent has never been verified, hence the reason Guy's recent drop may be the first.

The story from Mountain Hardwear is written by Guy himself, who offers details on both the climb and the descent. There is good information on the various stages of the climb, and approach to the top, followed by some personal insights on the harrowing descent, which included him avoiding a crevasse in white out conditions. That sounds scary on a rope, and even more so on skis!

It should be noted that Guy was joined by Emma Jack for all but 350 vertical meters of the descent. The team reached the summit of the mountain at 9 AM on Sept. 28th, and were back in BC by 4 PM. If there is one thing to be said for these ski descents, its that they do indeed get you back to base camp in a hurry.

Rare White Lion Cubs!

The West Midlands Safari Park in Worcestershire, UK gave us our first sneak peek at the latest additions to their lion pride today by letting three rare while lion cubs out in public for the first time. The 12-week old cubs frolicked and played with their new pride, and seem to be fitting in very well. There are believed to be just 30 of the rare species in existence, and zoos are actively working on breeding more of the rare cats.

Thanks to the Outside Blog for this one, and they picked it up from TreeHugger.

Lunar Spelunking!

Spelunkers across the globe have to be a little excited by the news that Japanese scientists have discovered what is believed to be an open lava tube on the surface of the moon, which could potentially offer access to what is believed to be a vast cave system under the lunar crust.

According to this story from National Geographic, this "skylight" could eventually be used as a safe haven for a permanently manned lunar base, providing shelter from the hostile environment above. The cave found underneath would also allow for a cheaper, larger, and more stable living and working environment for explorers sent to the moon.

Finding a hole, such as this one, on the surface of the moon has not been easy, and scientists have searched for a long time. It is the result of a lava tube that was created roughly 3 billion years ago, during a period of violent volcanic activity, on the small planetoid. The opening was discovered after scientists painstakingly examined a number of high resolution images of the moon's surface, sent back to Earth by the Japanese spacecraft Kaguya.

Of course, before a permanent base could be built on the moon, the cave system would have to be explored more fully, which could mean that NASA will soon be in the market for some experienced spelunkers who have yearning to be the first to go underground on the Earth's natural satellite. Sure, they can use space probes and robots to do some of that exploration, but where is the fun in that? Anyone want to visit the moon and go for a little adventure underground?

Himalaya Fall 2009: Summit Bids Begin on Ama Dablam

I'm jumping back into my blogging duties, as I get back to my normal schedule at last, and I'll start things off by getting caught up on the ongoing events in the Himalaya, where teams are setting the stage for summit bids on Ama Dablam, Pumori, and more.

The IMG Team has updated their blog this morning with news that the climbers have reached Camp 2, and are now in a position to make the push to the summit tomorrow, skipping their stay in C3 altogether. They say the weather remains good, and the conditions on the mountain are excellent as well, but they are making one final alpine style push because of falling ice at Camp 3 in the past. Stay tuned for updates tomorrow, as it looks like they'll be topping out.

Field Touring Alpine has updated their blog as well, reporting that their team arrived on Ama Dablam Base Camp late last week, with the team heading over to Island Peak to make an acclimatization climb. Everyone is reportedly in good spirits, although they have suffered a few bouts of GI, as has been known to happen when traveling in a foreign country, especially at altitude. Look for more updates from FTA soon with news on their progress as well.

The Adventure Consultants are also on Island Peak, and today's dispatch says that they are continuing their trek through the Khumbu, which helps serve as an acclimatization exercise as well. A number of the members of the team are planning on heading up to Everest BC today, which makes for a scenic trek, but they'll find it deserted when they arrive, as it has been a quiet place this Fall.

Switching mountains, we'll jump over to Pumori next, where the Peak Freaks are reporting that lead climber Tim Rippel was hit by a large chunk of ice last night while sleeping in his tent. The ice managed to break several of Tim's ribs, and while the team has elected to carry on, he won't be joining them as they go up the mountain. He has instead been replaced by Norwegian climber Lars Haugen, who will lead the team up to C2 today. They are currently looking to reach the summit as early as tomorrow. Check out the Peak Freaks video below for more information on the mountain and the climb. Good stuff.

Finally, The Peak Freaks aren't the only team on Pumori of course, as the Climb With Us Team continues their efforts as well. The latest news from that bunch includes a blog post by Rock Climber Girl Sara Lingafelter, who gives a personal account of her own issues with dealing with altitude. Unfortunately for her, the altitude caused her to have to back down the mountain and recover from some AMS symptoms. She has since rejoined her team, which is currently in in ABC, and will be heading up to C1 tomorrow. From there, they'll wait to see what the weather conditions look like before beginning their own assault on the summit.

Brief Hiatus, Off to Houston

Just a quick note to let everyone know there will be limited or no updates the rest of the week as my day job has me headed out of town for an annual convention. I'll be putting in some very long days and likely will have some limited Internet access, so won't be doing much posting.

I do have a few travel stories queued up over at Gadling.com for while I'm away, and of course you can always get good adventure news from Outside Online, Nat. Geo's Adventure Blog, ExWeb, and the rest of the usual suspects. With any luck, regular updates will resume on Monday of next week.

I hope everyone has a great week. Back soon!

Adventure Travel On A Budget

I'm happy to report that I was a featured guest blogger today over at NileGuide, an excellent travel site with plenty of great resources for any traveler, including a very unique trip planning service, and one of the best travel blogs around.

My post actually appears on that blog today, and it is a piece I wrote on budget adventure travel, which I note in the article are three words that you don't generally see next to one another. Lets face it, adventure travel can be very expensive, so using the term "budget" means that you have to qualify exactly what you mean by that. Still, that doesn't mean that there aren't deals to be had in the adventure travel space, and I give some tips on how to save some cash when planning a trip. I also happen to believe that you'll be able to get some really great deals throughout the rest of this year and into next. The economy may finally be starting to turn around, but the majority of us aren't starting to travel just quiet yet. That means good deals for those of us that are!

I'd like to thank NileGuide for inviting me to contribute to their great site. I had fun writing the piece and I am honored that they would invite me. If you're not familiar with NileGuide, I highly recommend you go take a look. If you're planning a trip soon, you definitely need to check out their system for creating your own travel guide, which allows you to customize it to your own liking, and for your personal itinerary, rather than buying a guide book from one of the big travel publishers, that is packed with pages on places you'll never visit. NileGuide's system is intuitive, easy to use, and provides lots of great info. As an example, check out their guide to Cusco, Peru for an idea of the service.

I hope everyone enjoys the article and finds something interesting and useful in it. :)

Jessica Watson Begins Solo Circumnavigation Attempt!

After a few false starts, 16-year old Jessica Watson has finally begun her attempt at a solo circumnavigation of the globe by sail boat, setting out from Sydney, Australia on Sunday. If all goes as planned, the trip will take ten months to complete, and she'll become the youngest person to make that journey, besting Zac Sunderland and Mike Perham, two young men who completed the same trip this past summer at the age of 17.

Jessica set sail in her 33 foot yacht, the Ella's Pink Lady, and began heading northeast, towards New Zealand. She'll pass by Fiji and Samoa, while heading out into the Pacific, where she'll eventually turn south, to round Cape Horn. From there, it is on to the Falkland Islands, and the Cape of Good Hope, at the southern end of Africa, crossing the Southern Atlantic in the process. Finally, she'll turn for home, crossing the Southern Ocean in the process. You can read more details of her route on her website.

The Aussie girl has also started posting to her blog already, and two days out she is reporting good winds, hitting 13 knots, and fine weather. Jessica reports that she is settling into a routine sleeping on deck for brief periods while she doges shipping traffic, which she'll leave behind soon enough.

Good luck and Godspeed Jessica!

Nat Geo's 25 Best New Adventure Trips for 2010

2009 is nearly behind us already. Can you believe it? Where did this year go? With a little over two months left, it is time to start looking ahead to 2010, and planning your adventures for next year. Fortunately National Geographic Adventure is here to help, offering up their picks for the 25 Best New Adventure Tours for next year.

The list is pulled from the latest issue of the magazine, which is hitting newsstands today. But you'll find the entire list of destinations and the recommended tour operator on this page, with links to articles with more specific information on each trip when you click on the name of the company.

For instance, if you're thinking of traveling to Botswana (which I am!), Adventure recommends Explore, Inc. as your guide. Clicking on the company's name on the webpage will take you to a new page, like this one, that gives details on the specific tour. The Botswana trip includes a visit to the Okavango Delta, where you can get up close and personal with lions, leopards, elephants, and more.

Adventure lists some amazing adventures from around the globe. They have paddling trips in Bhutan, trekking tours in Nepal, and scuba trips to Tonga. A little something for everyone's taste.

So? Where would you like to go in 2010? Should we start organizing that Adventure Blog Expedition to some place amazing?

Paddle To Seattle - The Official Trailer

Last week I posted about an excellent looking paddling documentary that is making the festival rounds called Paddle To Seattle. It;s the story of two adventurers, J.J. Kelley and Josh Thomas, who paddled from Alaska to Seattle in hand carved Pygmy kayaks, a journey of more than 1300 miles that took three months to complete.

When I posted that story I linked to a video clip that gave us a brief glimpse of what the film is about, but today we have the official trailer. Check it out below and keep your eyes peeled for this film. The buzz on it is incredibly high, and I can't wait to see it for myself.

Paddle to Seattle Trailer from Ben Gottfried on Vimeo.

Himalaya Fall 2009: Koreans Call It Quits On Annapurna

More news from the HImalaya, where it appears that we will continue to wait for the first woman to join the ranks of men who have topped out on all of the 8000 meter peaks, as the Korean team on Annapurna, which includes Oh Eun-Sun, have called off their summit bid, and are now preparing to go home.

ExWeb is reporting that the team got as high as Camp 3 over the weekend, but high winds prevented them from going any higher. They have now returned to Base Camp, and are preparing to depart for the season. They will have another go at the mountain in the Spring of 2010, when Miss Oh will try once again to become the first woman to nab all 14 eight-thousanders. Due to it's high level of danger due to avalanches, Annapurna is not a mountain to attempt during the winter.

Now, the expeditions to the big peaks seem to be over for the season, and the action will heat up on some of the other challenging, but lesser mountains. The Field Touring Alpine Team reached Namche Bazaar over the weekend where they took the usual break and spent some time acclimatizing. They'll now continue on to Ama Dablam this week.

Meanwhile, the Climb With Us team is now in Pumori Base Camp, and according to their latest updates, they will begin shuttling gear up to ABC tomorrow, where they'll begin carving their tent platforms and start the early stages of acclimatization. The team had its Puja Ceremony earlier today and now have the blessings of Lama Tashi Stundu to begin their climb.

Watch for more updates later this week as more teams arrive on Pumori and Ama Dablam and begin their climbs as well.

More Twitter Love

For a guy who was pretty reluctant to try this Twitter thing, I sure find a way to keep showing up on these lists. This time it's a list of 26 "Outdoor Twinfluencers to Follow" courtesy of Base Camp Communications.

You'll find your usual suspects on the list, like Outside Magazine, The Gear Junkie, and yours truly. There are also some good ones that I hadn't come across before as well, like National Outdoor, Explore_It, and The Cleanest Line, the official Twitter feed of Patagonia. (The gear company, not the place!) All in all, it's a great list of outdoor related feeds, and I'm sure you'll find one or two more to add to your list.

Base Camp Communications is a public relations company that is staffed by outdoor enthusiasts just like ourselves, and they get to work with some cool gear companies and adventurers. I appreciate that they added me to this list, and I'm mixed in with some very good company. :)

Death Valley Solo: A Post Expedition Update

Todd Carmichael has written a new dispatch today that gives us a bit of insight into the struggles that he faced while attempting his solo trek across Death Valley. Of course, the post is well written and informative, which is the norm for Todd, but in this case, the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words is all too true. The image posted her is what Todd was facing while out there in the desert, pulling a cart that had 30+ gallons of water on it, as well as the rest of his gear.

Todd talks about how the first few miles were deceptively easy, almost daring him to drop supplies so that he could go faster, but it wasn't long before the true challenges began, including soft sand and silt that made pulling the cart very difficult, seemingly endless, challenging ruts, caused by rushing water carving the surface of the Earth, and large rocks like those in the photo. Oh yeah, and of course the dry, desert heat too.

Reading the description of his experience, it is easy to understand why Todd elected to abandon the expedition and come home. But, he shows his adventurers spirit when he says that he isn't through with Death Valley quite yet. It seems that Todd sees this little patch of land as a personal challenge, and he vows to solve the puzzle and conquer the desert once and for all. This experience seems to have strengthened his resolve to complete this trek after taking a step back and considering the unexpected issues that have arisen. Knowing Todd, he'll probably be back to work on these issues by the end of the weekend.

Himalaya Fall 2009: Death on Shisha

It has been a tumultuous fall season in the Himalaya with some great climbs and disappointing results, mostly due to the wildly unpredictable weather that is common in the region this time of year. That weather has forced many teams to go home, but a few intrepid expeditions are still there, and trekking to some of the lesser known peaks as we speak.

There was tragic news a few days back from Shisha Pangma, where Italian climber Roby Piantoni fell while on a particularly tricky section of the climb. His team descended to find his body, and then buried on the mountain, but his family has requested that it be sent home, so today, a ceremony was held for him on the mountain, and operations are underway to recover his remains. Several climbers, include Edurne Pasaban, and her Sherpas, are helping in the recovery, which will entail taking his body back to Nepal via Yak due to a ban on helicopter use in the area. With this sad news, I send my condolences to Roby's friends and family in their time of grief.

Australian Andrew Lock finished up his climb on Shisha awhiel back, and in the process, claimed his final 8000 meter peak. That story has been picked up by the mainstream audience back in his homeland, with the media reporting on the expedition and the challenges to his climb. Andrew has already shared his thoughts on his accomplishment, but if you want to read a different account, check out this story over at the Australian Broadcasting Company's website.

Turning away from that sad news, it appears that the Korean team on Annapurna is getting ready to have a second go at the mountain. Reports seem to indicate that they are on the move and will be heading up over the weekend with an eye on reaching the summit on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. If successful, Oh Eun-Sun will become the first woman to summit all 14 of the 8000 meter peaks, so stay tuned for updates on that.

The Climb With Us Team, led by Jaime Clarke continues their trek to Pumori. I've been reminded that you can get updates on the expedition not on from the Climb With Us website but also the Live Out There page too. The expedition is an opportunity for the team to field test some new outdoor gear courtesy of Hanesbrands, before they head to Everest in the spring. It'll be a few more days before they reach BC yet, and then things will get really interesting.

Expect further updates from teams in the region in the days ahead, as Field Touring Alpine, Adventure Consultants, Peak Freaks, IMG, and others all have climbers en route to Pumori, Ama Dablam, and more.

Paddle To Seattle - From Alaska to Seattle by Kayak

There is a great looking new adventure film making the rounds called Paddle to Seattle that chronicles the adventures of two men as they paddled their way from Alaska to Seattle in wooden handmade Pygmy kayaks. Along the way, they covered more than 1300 miles, over a three month period, passing through the famed Inside Passage and surrounded by some of the most remote terrain in all of North America.

The two men who made this epic journey, J.J. Kelley and Josh Thomas, met purely by accident back in 2003 when they were both thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. They ended up spending three months together, and when they reached the end of that adventure, they vowed to share more expeditions in the future. They have kept that vow, and Paddle to Seattle is a result of another one of their adventures.

The movie, which has been called "the best feature film about paddling produced in a decade" by Paddler Magazine, is starting to hit the festival circuit. It is currently scheduled to screen at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival on Nov. 7th and the Minneapolis Underground Film Festival on Dec. 6th, although I'm told that it has been submitted to a number of others as well. Checkout the Screenings page on the film's website for more information and future announcements on where will be able to catch it for yourself.

Checkout a clip of the film below in which J.J. talks about some of the high tech gear they used to capture their adventure so they could make the film. The clip also gives you a good idea of what conditions were like for the two men as they spent days out on the water in all kinds of different conditions.

The film looks great, and I can't wait to see it!

Climbing Fees to Increase on Denali?

This story has been making the rounds the past few days and it seems there is some truth to rumors that climbing fees are going to be going up on Denali, possibly substantially. The National Park Service is considering raising the cost of a climbing permit from their current rate of $200 up to $500 by the 2012 season. That's an increase of 150%

In recent years, traffic has begun to increase on Denali, and that has led to increased expenses for the Park Service. There have been more search and rescue operations conducted, and the funds necessary to maintain resources on the mountain and remove waste, have gone up dramatically as well. As a result, there the budget for services on the mountain is reportedly $1.2 million below what is needed. Raising the climbing fees is one way to try to ease this situation.

The fee increase is far from a sure thing at this point, and local businesses are saying that it could hurt the economy there, forcing climbers to go elsewhere. The Park Service is expected to have an 18-month long period for public comment, hoping to hear multiple sides of the situation and exploring all options before deciding on the fees increase.

Personally, while I'm seldom in favor of these kinds of increases, I have to say that $200 for a climbing permit is pretty damn cheap for a mountain of the stature of Denali. It is the highest peak in North America, and a substantial challenge for climbers, especially those that want to test themselves on a big mountain, with unpredictable weather, before they go to the Himalaya. While I appreciate that a $300 increase is a hefty one, a $500 fee still seems affordable and reasonable for this mountain. Especially if it makes a difference in how safe and clean the Park Service can make it.

Blog Action Day: Take 2!

Earlier I posted some thoughts on Environmental change as part of Blog Action Day, and as some of you know, I also contribute to the travel blog Gadling. All day long today Gadling has focused on environmental issues, sustainable travel, and so on, with all of the writers there doing their part for Blog Action Day as well.

I wrote a completely different piece for my daily post there called The Catch-22 of Adventure Travel and the Environment, which you may find interesting as well. In that story, I talked about how the strong the lure of adventure travel is, but how we are also contributing to the downfall of the environments we visit in the process. Adventure travel is an industry that is still growing and adapting, and it is one that is on the forefront of eco-friendly travel, using the Leave No Trace principles. But sometimes, the lure of those adventures is so strong that we rush off to places that are remote, with fragile environments, possibly doing more harm than good.

Case in point. In the article I mention Kilimanjaro, a place that I have visited myself. We've been told that the glaciers at the top of the mountain are disappearing, and we should see them before they are gone. Because of that, many of us have flocked to the mountain in recent years, which has created very different ecological issues to deal with. In our haste to see the famous Snows of Kilimanjaro, we may be killing the mountain in other ways.

The whole crew at Gadling has some similar, interesting posts today that link the environment and travel. If this is a topic of interest to you, I highly recommend that you take a look at the stories. They are all well written, informative, and interesting and I'm proud to be a part of one of the best travel related websites on the Internet.

Summer Polar Ice Caps To Be Gone In 20 Years?

Remember the Catlin Arctic Survey that we followed so closely earlier this year? That was the team of Pen Hadow, Ann Daniels, and Martin Hartley, who explored the Arctic, taking core ice samples and measuring the thickness of the ice as they went. Well, the preliminary findings from their research is in, and it doesn't look good.

According to this story from National Geographic's Adventure Blog, the team's measurements show that the ice caps for "first year ice", which is ice that is most recently formed, was less than 1.6 meters in thickness. This is also the ice that is mostly likely to melt away when temperatures increase during the summer months.

With the data on how the current thickness has changed in recent years, and projections going forward, scientists now believe that the ice will be completely gone during the summer months by 2029, although it will continue to form in the colder winter months of course.

I remember how we all marveled when the news spread last year about the opening of the Northwest Passage and how it had become navigable for the first time. Now it appears that in our lifetime, we'll see the polar ice caps disappear completely, creating a completely different environment at the top of the world. Crazy!

Blog Action Day: Global Climate Change

Today is Blog Action Day 2009, an event that has grown in popularity over the past few years as a number of bloggers from around the Internet join together to discuss a common cause. The topic for this year's Blog Action Day is Climate Change, something that we've all heard a lot about over the past few years. This is definitely a subject that we should all take an interest in, as protecting the environment and our natural resources has a direct effect on all of us. But considering the nature of this blog, and our obvious love for the outdoors, I think that this is a topic of particular interest to me.

When I started to think about what I would write about in regards to climate change, I started to think about a story I read a few days back about how global warming is effecting Everest. In the story, climbers report that for the first time ever, insects have begun to appear in base camp, which sits at 5360 meters, or roughly 17,585 feet on the mountain. Specifically, the mountaineers found common house flies in their tents during the spring climbing season, at an altitude where it was previously thought that bugs couldn't survive.

The arrival of insects isn't the only indication of climate change in the region. The spectacular glaciers of the Khumbu Valley have been receding for years, and it is estimated that they lose between 10-20 meters in length each year. The loss of those glaciers has caused a shortage of water in the area as well, and many villages now find that they have to trek substantial distances just to get a daily supply of drinking water.

If that wasn't bad enough, mountain guide Dawa Sherpa is quoted in the story above as saying that the summit of Everest has begun to shrink too. In years past, as many as 50 people could stand on the summit at the same time, but now fewer than 18 are able to occupy that because of the reduction in size of cornice at the top of the worlds tallest mountain.

Clearly climate change is taking place all around us, and it is difficult to explain exactly why it is happening. Experts are split on the causes, with some blaming it on man's abuses of the environment, while others say that it is a natural process that we have little impact on at all. Perhaps most frustrating of all is how political the topic has become, with debate raging about who is to blame and what the economic impact of making changes could be.

No matter what you personally believe about global climate change, and what is the cause of it, one thing we can all probably agree on is that it has raised the awareness of the health of the environment and our impact on it to a new level. Personally, I think that is a very good thing. Even if the human race is not causing these changes, it is still important for us to do what we can to protect the planet.

Many people will tell you that we are destroying the planet with our short sighted approach to the use of natural resources and reckless disregard for the amount of trash that we produce. I'm here to tell you, however, that we are not killing the planet. We are instead killing ourselves. The planet will be just fine. It has survived far worse things than what man can do to it, and eventually it will heal itself. But if we stay on our current path, it is doubtful that man will be around to see it.

Mountain Hardwear 2010 Expedition Sponsorship Deadline

Looking to get your 2010 expedition sponsored? You're in luck, because Mountain Hardwear is feeling generous! But the deadline for applying is quickly approaching, so you'll want to head over to the website, grab this application form, fill it out, and get it submitted by November 15th.

In the instructions for filling out the form, Mountain Hardwear clearly defines what they are looking for when sponsoring your big adventure. Be sure to keep these things in mind when submitting your application:

• Appropriateness of activity for using Mountain Hardwear gear
• Originality/uniqueness of project
• Demonstrated achievement in previous expeditions, including leadership skills, physical accomplishments,
special recognitions/awards, and published works
• Level of safety versus level of risk involved (ability of leader to recognize dangers and prevent mishaps)
• Level of physical challenge
• Environmental and social responsibility

Perfectly acceptable criteria if you ask me! I like that they are looking for unique, physically challenging expeditions to support, and the fact that they are looking for environmentally and socially responsible adventures is great too.

Good luck to everyone who submits their ideas!

Himalaya Fall 2009: Over For Edurne, Miss Oh Ready To Go!

More updates from the Himalaya today with some news on the two ladies who have been vying for their place in history on the 8000 meter peaks.

We'll start on Shisha Pangma, where Edurne Pasaban has announced that her expedition is over and that the team is heading home. She reports that weather forecasts are not good, and that they don't look to improve any time soon, so rather than extend the climbing permit, she'll leave the mountain without a summit for the fourth time. Edurne is one of the top female mountaineers who has been working very hard the past few years to become the first woman to summit all 14 8000 meter peaks. She currently stands at 12, with Shisha frustrating her once again.

Meanwhile, over on Annapurna, Korean climber Oh Eun-Sun is about to take another crack at that mountain. Miss Oh has 13 of the eight-thousanders down, and is hoping to claim the title as first woman to summit them all. The only thing that stands in her way is Annapurna and all of it's very substantial challenges. She hopes to begin another push in the next few days, as a weather window seems imminent.

Pumori continues to be a busy mountain, with teams arriving late in the season to give the 23,494 foot mountain a go. The Peak Freaks have announced that they arrived in BC safely yesterday, and are enjoying a rest today, while they organize camp and take a look at the challenges in front of them.

The Climb With Us team is en route to Pumori as well, and have arrived in Namche where they will spend a day acclimatizing. You can read about their progress and the expedition so far on the latest dispatch from team leader Jamie Clarke, which can be found here.

Other teams are closing in on Ama Dablam, with the IMG team having crossed through Namche a few days back and continuing their trek to BC, while the Field Touring Alpine squad has gathered in Kathmandu and are preparing to depart for the Khumbu region in the next few days.

More to come soon I'm sure. Keep an eye on Annapurna for word on the Korean team and Miss Oh's chance to make history.

How To Pack A Backpack

Rick McCharles over at Best Hike has put together a great little tutorial video on how to pack a backpack, and with all of his experience trekking, he ought to know. Rick has some excellent tips that can be of benefit to just about anyone, no matter if you're traveling with a backpack for the first time or you're an old pro.

I'm also happy that I had a small contribution to Rick's packing process. Some time back, in a passing conversation, I mentioned that he could create a "frame" of sorts for his backpack of choice, the Granite Gear Virga, by using his Therm-A-Rest pad to give the pack some structure. The Virga is an ultralight pack that doesn't use a frame of any kind, which has its benefits in weight gains, but can have some drawbacks in other areas. I was happy to see that my suggestion was paying off.

Thanks for the tips Rick! Good stuff as always! :)

The Perils of Kite-Boarding

Earlier this week I posted a photo that made me say "Whoa!". The video below may illicit a similar response, as you watch someone leisurely being pulled around by a kite while on his snowboard. Then, about halfway into the video, the wind grabs that kite, and pulls the snowboard, rider and all, way up into the air. It's hard to judge exactly how high he gets, but it is definitely a scary sight. This does look like crazy fun though! :)

Death Valley Solo: Todd Pulls The Plug For Good

Yesterday we had reports from Death Valley that Todd Carmichael was calling off his solo expedition across that desolate place, only to be told later that he wasn't quite finished yet. Today we get another update, this time confirming that the expedition is indeed finished.

Todays update comes courtesy of Todd's home team once again, with Brian Hart telling us that after a long night of soul searching in the desert, Todd has decided that his quest for the self supported long distance trekking record would be nearly impossible, as would be his double traverse of Death Valley along his intended route. With that realization in mind, he has decided to circle back to where he started, where his long time friend and partner will pick him up. He is expected to be retrieved from the desert around noon local time on Thursday.

Brian promises that Todd will update us with more details in the near future, and I'm sure that the long distance trekker is disappointed that he won't be continuing on. Knowing what kind of heart Todd has, I'm sure it is safe to say that he gave it his best, and he definitely knows when it is time to call it a day and head home. You can bet there will be a root beer float waiting for him when does head back to civilization.

Himalaya Fall 2009: Weather Halts Many Climbs

The season appears to be over on a number of big peaks in the Himalaya after high winds and bad weather put an end to a number of climbs over the weekend, sending teams home without reaching the summits of their target mountains.

ExWeb reported yesterday that the Basque Team on Everest have abandoned their attempt on the Hornbein Couloir and are now headed home. The team only had one real shot at the summit along that route, but dangerous avalanches denied them on that occasion, and while they waited for another weather window, it became apparent that it wasn't going to happen.

Meanwhile, the story was a bit different on Shisha Pangama, where on the North Side, Nicholas Rice reported in that they climbed up to C1 on Saturday, only to find that their tents and other equipment they had stashed there. They suspect that it was a Sherpa team with a Chinese squad who have already left the mountain, but aren't positive of that fact. They also suspect that Camps 2 and 3 have been raided, and are disheartened by the fact that they not only had to give up on their summit bid, but have lost thousands of dollars of gear in the process. Two months worth of toil down the drain thanks to another selfish team.

On the South Side of Shisha, Edurne Pasaban and her crew attempted a summit bid over the weekend, but found their camps were missing as well, but for a completely different reason. The high winds swept them off the mountain completely, leaving them with little gear to proceed up. The team is back in BC and looking to borrow gear from some of the teams that are preparing to go home.

Over on Cho Oyu, a similar story is told by the Adventure Consultants, who wanted to make their bid starting on Sunday, but were also turned back due to high winds. With their weather window closed, they're also headed home.

No word from Annapurna as of yet. The Korean team was hoping to wait out the weather and make another go at the summit, hoping to put Miss Oh on top and get her the coveted spot of the first woman to climb all 8000 meter peaks. At this time we don't know if that is still a reality or if the window is closed there as well.

Skiing Cascadia: Climbing and Skiing Volcanoes in the Cascades

It is never too early to start thinking about your 2010 New Year's resolution, and clearly Matt Bedrin. of SkiingCascadia.com has already made his. Matt has announced that starting on January 1 of next year, he will begin his quest to climb and ski the 40 volcanoes in the Cascade Mountain Range.

On his website, Matt explains that the Cascade Volcano Arc cover an area roughly 800 miles in length, starting in California and running north through Oregon, Washington, and into British Columbia. The plan is for Matt and a revolving group of friends, to take advantage of the perpetual ski season in the Cascades, to climb to the summit of each of the volcanoes and then make ski descents back down. He also intends to document the entire experience, sharing it with the rest of us, and hopefully inspiring others to have some adventures of their own.

The website that supports the expedition is up and running, with some information and updates already in place. Once Matt gets started on his climbs, the site will become the hub for keeping us informed of his progress and sharing his climbing and skiing experiences. It should be fun to follow along as he goes after each of these peaks.

Hmm... climbing and skiing 40 volcanoes in the Cascades huh? That's better than my planned New Year's Resolution, which was to give up gummi bears. Who am I kidding though. I'd never be able to accomplish that.

Good luck Matt!

Book Review: K2: Life and Death on the World's Most Dangerous Mountain

It is known as the "mountaineer's mountain", and unlike the taller, but technically less challenging Everest, it remains off limits for all but the most talented and dedicated of climbers. It is K2, the second highest mountain on Earth, but arguably the most deadly. It also happens to be the subject of a new book by Ed Viesturs which hits bookstores today, entitled K2: Life and Death on the World's Most Dangerous Mountain.

While the general public remains fixated on Everest, K2 seems to epitomizes the dangers of high altitude climbing unlike any other mountain. For the mountaineering community, both armchair and actual, it is a mountain of mythical proportions, both literally and figuratively. Located in the Karakorum range of Pakistan, K2 stands 28,251 feet in height, some 778 feet shorter than Everest. Despite this difference in height however, K2 remains orders of magnitude more challenging to climb than the Himalayan giant.

Few people know this better than Viesturs, who has climbed both mountains. In fact, Ed is the only American to have reached the summit of all 14 of the 8000 meter peaks, accomplishing this feat without the use of supplemental oxygen. Ed's quest to complete that task was chronicled in his earlier book No Shortcuts To The Top, in which he gave insights into his climb on K2, which was quite possibly the most dangerous climb ever.

Despite the fact that K2 played a prominent role in his first book, Ed still had more to share about his experience on that mountain, and that is at the core of this new book, although it isn't the sole focus. Viesturs says that he learned the most important lesson of his career on K2 when he pressed on to the summit despite terrible weather, when every instinct was telling him to turn back. With conditions worsening, he reached his goal, and turned back down the mountain, knowing full well that many climbers have died on K2 while descending the mountain, and although he lived to climb another day, he promised himself that he would never ignore his instincts again. That lesson would serve him well on future climbs, including several on Annapurna.

As I said earlier, Viestur's K2 climb isn't the only focus of this new book however. He also takes a look at some of the most important historical expeditions to the mountain as well, recounting a number of the legendary tales from the legendary mountain. Some of the other expeditions that Ed shares with readers include the 1938 team, led by Charlie Houston, that paved the way for eventual summit success in 1954. Houston's ill fated 1953 expedition also receives plenty of attention as well, as it gave us one of the most enduring mountain stories in "The Belay", and of course the 2008 season is also examined as one of the most tragic climbs in the history of mountaineering.

Anyone who has read No Shortcuts knows what to expect out of Veistur's writing style. Ed is once again assisted by co-author David Roberts, and their collaboration once again results in a book that is easy and fun to read. At times, it is almost as if you're sitting around the fire with Ed himself, sharing tales of high adventure in the Karakorum, which turns K2 into quite the page turner, especially when reading about the historical expeditions, where you know the gear and apparel were not up to the standards of today, and climbers suffered mightily while high on the mountain.

For fans of Ed or mountaineering in general, picking up this book is a no brainer. It is a very quick read that serves as a perfect introduction to K2 and the lore that surround the mountain. If you've read a lot of other books on the subject, there isn't a ton new here, although it is interesting to get Viesturs' insights on the history of the peak. Personally, I'd still recommend the classic Savage Mountain as the preeminent book on K2, but this book is a worthy heir to that throne, and an excellent read in its own right.

Death Valley Solo: Not Over Yet!

Okay, despite the fact that earlier today Todd Carmichael called in to tell us all that he was heading out of Death Valley, it seems he has indeed had a change of heart, and will now continue the expedition after all. Check out the latest post on his blog, in which we are told by Brian Hart, part of Todd's home team, that Todd gave him a call and has put off going for that root beer float. Apparently, the way ahead looks clearer, and that has embolden him to carry on. Brian says we can expect an audio update from Todd soon, where I'm sure he'll fill us all in on his progress and status.

Great news! Glad to hear that Todd has decided to continue. Like I said in my earlier post, he showed incredible tenacity in Antarctic expedition, and he is showing that once again here. Lets wish him good luck and godspeed on the rest of the expedition.

Whoa!

Check out this amazing photo courtesy of the Wend Blog. You see that little black speck? Yep, that's someone going off the top of that mountain. Presumably he or she is wearing a parachute and is doing a little BASE jumping. If not, I don't want to hear about it.

Death Valley Solo: The Expedition is Over

If you've been following Todd Carmichael's progress on his Death Valley Solo Expedition, you no doubt have already been wondering how he was going to make it across the 430 mile course that he had planned for himself. Today we got our answer, as his latest dispatch indicates that he is headed home, defeated not by the oppressive heat or the length of the course, but by impassable terrain made all the worse by an endless series of bad washes.

Todd set out, on schedule, last Friday, and immediately was beset with troubles. In his first dispatch, he noted that that it was slow going thanks to the terrain and the heat. He encountered soft ground which made pulling his cart, nicknamed the Pig, very difficult. Todd was forced to offload some of his gear and water, shuttling between two points, effectively covering the same ground twice, in order to make progress.

The sand and silt hampered progress, as did the 115º F temperatures, which caused Todd to fall behind his schedule early. But anyone who followed his Antarctic expedition knows that he is not one to give up easily, and he continued to soldier on through the desert, battling the elements and pesky horse flies that swarmed in when tried to take shelter in the 100º F shade, and wait out the heat of the day.

Finally, today, Todd made the decision to go home. In his most recent update he had this to say:

There is only one way to know if something is possible - and that is to try it. Since crossing Anatarctica I've wondered if "man hauling" Death Valley was possible. Today I found my answer. Not for the furnace like heat or the distance or the snakes and such, but for the endless maze of washes blocking the path. Hundreds of them every mile, feathering from the main wash, all lined with melon sized stones and cliffs on either side.

Unwilling to accept the obvious, I continued to cross wash after wash, unloading, crossing, reloading - like an ant. Now I find myself walled on all sides - ahead an amazing dry fall, either side 25 foot walls and behind me the ugliest terrain I have ever crossed. Stuck, I scaled the wash and found the surface outside to be impassable - a bed of large stones as far as the eye can see, broken every 35' with wash after wash.

Manhauling this desert? along the road yes, but not open land.

It is not always easy to ask these sorts of questions, for they require pressing the limits - and all too often the limit is this side of accomplishment.


For now , it is time to go home, back track through that fierce terrain, onto the road, and some 40 miles to Baker California - with my answer.

They have an A&W there - I fancy a root beer float.

Rock on!

Todd

Enjoy the root beer float Todd! You've earned it. We'll look forward to your next adventure!

Incredible Story of Surviving Hypothermia

CNN.com has an amazing story today about a skier who fell into frigid waters, spending an extended time beneath the surface, only to be pulled out, and eventually revived, and in the process redefining the effects of hypothermia on the human body.

The accident took place back in 1999 in the city of Narvik, Norway. Narvik is a mountain town known for its spectacular views and amazing skiing, which is exactly why Anna Bågenholm chose it as the location to do her medical residency. Back on that fateful day ten years ago, Anna and her friends were skiing off trail when she took a tumble down an ice gully and ended up going head first through a hole in the ice, into the water. Anna's friends immediately went to her aid, but were unable to pull her from the rushing waters. Calling for help, a rescue helicopter was dispatched to retrieve the trapped skier, but by the time it arrived, Anna had been under the ice for more than 80 minutes.

After being airlifted off the ice, the helicopter sped towards the nearest hospital, but Anna showed almost no signs of life. Her body temperature had dropped to just 56º F and her pulse was non-existent. For all intents and purposes, she was dead, and all attempts at CPR proved fruitless.

But the doctors wouldn't give up, and they decided to not declare her dead until her body had completely warmed up. So, they hooked her up to a machine that slowly warmed her blood, and began to raise her body temp. After three hours, her heart began to beat once again, and Anna returned from the dead.

The story is an amazing one that reminds us that we don't know as much about the human body as we'd like to believe some times. It is an incredible machine that is strong and resilient, even beyond or own expectations. Obviously Anna survived this incident, and now leads a completely normal life that includes skiing and being a radiologist at the hospital that saved her life.

Thanks to Jon from The Rest of Everest for sending this my way. Great story!

Skiing K2

Another great story today from Stephen Regenold, better known as the Gear Junkie, who takes a look at extreme skiing in the Karakorum range, and on K2 in particular, a mountain that he calls a "pyramid of ice and stone".

In August of this year, Dave Watson, a ski guide and climber, went up K2 in the traditional fashion, using ropes and ice axes. It was going back down that was unusual. Like every other team on the mountain this year, he and his partners would not reach the summit, abandoning their attempt 500 feet below the top. Watson had his skis with him however, and elected to make his descent on the gear that he had worked so hard to bring up the mountain.

What follows in the story is an amazing tale of a guy who skied the face of K2, and even successfully navigated his way through the Bottleneck, which is considered one of the most challenging technical feats in high altitude mountaineering and skiing. The author describes the epic proportions of this descent in ways that will give you vertigo just reading about them, and you can't help but wonder how scary this was for Watson himself.

This is a well written story that shouldn't be missed. Great stuff!

Himalaya Fall 2009: Gearing Up On Pumori and Ama Dablam

There was lots of activity in the Himalaya again this weekend, as weather forecasts are predicting better weather ahead. A number of teams have seized the opportunity to rest up and to move into position to make summit bids in the next few days. Meanwhile, back in Kathmandu, some climbers prepare to go home, while others are just now arriving.

First up, we have news from Apa Sherpa, who I wrote about a few weeks back when it was announced that he would be climbing an unnamed, previously unclimbed peak in Nepal. Fall is an unusual time for Apa to be in the Himalaya, as he makes his home in Salt Lake City these days, but the 19-time Everest summitteer has joined Swiss climber Stephane Schaffter, as well as Pakistani mountaineer Adbul Karim, on this expedition none the less. The latest update from the team says that they have experienced heavy snow fall, like everyone else in the region lately, but they are expecting to launch their summit bid sometime in the next ten days. Stay tuned for more updates soon.

Meanwhile, Andrew Lock has once again updated his blog with the news that he is back in Kathmandu and preparing to go home to Australia. Andrew, who successfully climbed Shisha Pangma, claiming his final 8000 meter peak, discusses the return to the "real world", and says that he is still quite exhausted, but happy to be getting regular warm meals again. He also touches on the end of his quest to climb the world's biggest peaks and thanks his sponsors for helping achieve his goals. What's next for Andrew? He says he has his next climb planned for the spring, but for now we'll have to wait for details.

Things are starting to heat up on Pumori, where the Peak Freaks Team has now had their first blessing from Lama Geshi, which clears the way for the Sherpas to go to work on the mountain. They'll have their Puja Ceremony in BC soon as well, and the climbers will also be allowed to begin their acclimatization process. Follow along with the team through their SPOT Messenger tracking system as they go all the way to the summit.

The Climb With Us Team is also making their way to Pumori and Sara Lingafelter, AKA Rock Climber Girl, is along for the journey and helping report back from the Himalaya. In her latest dispatch, she reports that the team has left Kathmandu and are presently trekking in the Khumbu region, which has definitely left an impression on her, thanks in no small part to the stunning beauty of the mountains.

Finally, the Field Touring Alpine Team began to gather in Kathmandu yesterday, and will be proceeding out to Ama Dablam soon. Several of the climbers are already in the Himalaya and are on one of the numerous trekking routes, already working on their acclimatization no doubt. The rest should depart Kathmandu in the next few days.

That's it for now. We should be hearing more about summit bids in the next few days, with the weather likely being the deciding factor for many teams. Some have been out on their respective mountains for weeks now, and will be forced to give up their climbs should the poor conditions continue.