The Life Antarctic: Crossing the Continent

Jon Bowermaster continues his journey through Antarctica, sending back dispatches to his blog, sharing his thoughts on the place that has become quite important to him on a personal level.

A few days back, Jon posted a story about his first journey to Antarctica, 20 years ago as part of an assignment for National Geographic. Jon joined Polar legend Will Steger and Jean-Louis Etienne, as they completed an epic 3741 mile journey across the frozen continent by dog sled. It would become the first successful journey of its kind and the last by dog sled.

Of great interest are a couple of journal entries from Will from the last week of 1989, exactly 20 years ago, in which he discusses some day-to-day issues with the expedition, including his flagging dog team and thoughts on acclimatizing to the conditions. His December 25th entry marked the team's 152nd day out on the ice, a true testament to the endurance necessary to complete such an amazing journey.

Jon notes that they are preparing a book on the expedition to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the crossing. It sounds like it'll be quite the interesting read, so keep your eyes open for it in the near future.

Also, a big thanks to Jon for reposting one of my Antarctic expedition updates from a few days back. It is much appreciated! :)

Thoughts on Everest: Beyond The Limit Season 3

Discovery Channel's third season of Everest: Beyond The Limit began airing this past Sunday, and subsequently finished up last night. The show did offer some amazing views of the mountain, and showed aspects of high altitude mountaineering, but personally I felt that it was mere shadow of its former self, and mostly ended up being a disappointment for me.

In the previous two seasons of the show, Discovery followed teams that were led by Russell Brice's Himex guide service on the North Side of the Mountain, located in Tibet. With the third season, the focus shifted to the South Side of Everest, found in Nepal. Brice's team returned, but the show also added climbers from Eric Simonson's IMG squad to the mix too.

All of this was well known before the show began airing, and it all seemed rather promising, but that was because I kept thinking of the possibilities in reference to the previous two seasons. I thought it would be great to see an in depth, multi-episode show centered around the very different approach to the South Side, with two teams giving us plenty to watch. What we got instead was Everest: Beyond The Limit Lite, a show lacking the depth and focus of the previous seasons, and in many ways it seems that Discovery gave up on the program before it ever aired.

I remarked in a previous post on this blog that it was disturbing that Discovery did little in the way of promotion for the show. I could barely find any reference to it on their website, and debuting the show during the week before Christmas and New Year seems like ratings suicide. Looking at what we ended up getting, I think that was a fairly accurate assessment. I can't imagine fans of the previous two seasons being satisfied with what we've been given this year.

For example, in seasons past, we really got to know the climbers well over a series of episodes that showed them making the entire climb, including acclimatization treks up to each of the established camps on the mountain. Watching this season it seems that a climb up Everest is merely five days of incredibly challenging climbing, rather than the month plus spent preparing for a summit bid. The producers of the show really glossed over the process, focusing instead on a different climber or two each episode who are making their assault on the summit, all the while the narrating reminding us that they are moving into the most dangerous part of the mountain. We're suppose to forget that it is a different "most dangerous part of the mountain" than the last time they mentioned it.

I will commend the show for it's solid camera work, which seemed to get better as the episodes went along. It also did a decent job of breaking down the climb into easy to understand sections, accurately indicating when climbers were on the Lhotse Face, the Yellow Band, or the Hillary Step. They also did a fine job of explaining the basics of mountaineering to a mainstream audience, even if they were a bit overly dramatic at times.

Where the show really dropped the ball for me was with building any kind of chemistry with the climbers, which was previously a strength in seasons past. In Seasons 1 and 2, you really got to know, and care about, the climbers, as you watched them work really hard to go after their goal of the summit. This year, it was a brief introduction of the climbers, and then off they'd go on their climb, with little regard to connecting with the audience.

It's a shame that the show has fallen to this level. While it is still interesting to watch, it is a far cry of what it once was, and has pretty much left me disappointed in the end product. I very much doubt we'll see a Season 4.

Best Hike Goes To The Himalaya: Day 17

Yesterday Best Hike site editor Rick McCharles posted the final update to his ongoing series on trekking independently through the Khumbu Region of the Himalaya. Over the past few weeks, Rick has taken us from Kathmandu all the way up to Everest Base Camp, and well beyond, and it has been an enjoyable series for anyone interested in making the trek for themselves.

On Day 17 of his trek Rick makes the descent from Namche back to Lukla, where he can catch a plane back to the capital of Nepal, where he started. The highlight of the post are a series of great photos of the suspension bridges that are quite common throughout this area, but Rick says he'll miss the Buddhist monuments the most.

He also offers up some great advice with things to keep in mind if you want to hike independently in Nepal as well. Here's what Rick has to say:

•you need a minimum of 14 days. More is better.
•acclimatization to altitude is the most serious danger
•Oct-Dec weather is cold and clear
•Mar-May the weather is warmer, but skies may be overcast
•best hike is the 3 Passes, next best Everest Base Camp, third best Gokyo
•if you fly, buy your flights Kathmandu-Lukla return in Kathmandu. You can change the date of your return, if necessary.
•no need to bring camping gear, but warm clothing and sleeping bag are essential

This has been a fun series to follow and it inspires me to go even more. Hopefully in the spring! Who's with me?!? :)

Bonington Going Back To Annapurna!

British mountaineering legend Sir Chris Bonington is heading back to Annapurna, the mountain that arguably cemented his reputation as one of the preeminent high altitude climbers of his generation. He'll go back in 2010, a year of anniversaries for the mountain.

According to this story over at Wide World, which has just relaunched with a new snappy new site design, Bonington will be trekking the Annapurna Circuit with his son Joe. This will be his first trip back since 1970, when he was the expedition leader for a team that made the first successful attempt on the South Face of Annapurna. While Bonington didn't reach the summit himself, he did plan and orchestrate the expedition that did claim that new route. He did, however, top out on Annapurna II back in 1960 as part of a British Army expedition.

In the article, Sir Chris tells Wide World that the trekking route will be much the same as the one they used back in 1960, although things have obviously changed a lot since then. There was only one main road in the entire country back then, and much of Nepal remained mountain wilderness. Bonington is obviously looking forward to revisiting the place that played a huge role in his mountaineering career.

The Annapurna Massif is actually made up of a series of peaks, with Annapurna I through IV being the most prominent. The jewel of the Massif is Annapurna I, the tenth highest peak in the world at 8091 meters (26,545 feet). It was first climbed by Maurice Herzog back in 1950, making 2010 the 60th anniversary of that first ascent. It'll also be the 40th anniversary of the Bonington's team making that first ascent on the South Face, and the 50th anniversary of his first visit to the region.

Hopefully, Sir Chris will share some of his thoughts while trekking or upon his return. It would certainly be an interesting read, especially with his keen sense of history. Better yet, you can join the trek yourself! Head over to BoningtonTreks.com for more info, and pricing.

Also, if you'd like to learn more about Chris, I highly recommend the book The Boys of Everest, which is a great read about Bonington and the elite group of climbers that he climbed with. Great stuff.

New Ski Jacket Includes iPod Controls, Recco Rescue System

Outdoor gear continues to improve in a variety of ways. It is now warmer, lighter, and more durable then ever. We've seen jackets and boots that charge our devices while warming us with built in heaters, but the RLX Aerotype Jacket from Ralph Lauren may be the most practical of all.

The jacket, which generally runs $1290 but is currently on sale for $780, is not only stylish on the slopes, but also includes integrated controls for your iPod, so you always have easy access to your tunes. But perhaps even more interesting, is the inclusion of the Recco Avalanche Rescue System, which means you can shred the hill all day, in bounds or out, without fear of being lost.

The Recco System uses a special set of detectors and reflectors that allow rescue groups to pin point the location of someone buried in an avalanche in a very fast and accurate fashion. The system is employed by more than 600 organizations around the globe, and those reflectors are integrated into this jacket, ensuring a quick rescue should the need arise.

Of course, the price point of the jacket puts it well out of the range of most people, and while the integrated technology does add to the price, I get the feeling the logo on the front doesn't help either. ;)

Outside's Top Ten Adventure Stories of the Decade

With the end of 2009 now just a couple of days away, I'm sure we'll see a few more of these "Best of the Year" and "Best of the Decade" lists. The Outside Blog gets things started today with their selection of the Top 10 Adventure Stories of the Decade.

The list spans a lot of different and unique stories ranging from the likes of Aron Ralston's dramatic and controversial survival tale to Lance Armstrong making Yellow a cool color. You may recall that back in 2003, Ralston rose to fame after being trapped in the wilderness under a boulder for several days, and then cutting his own arm off to escape, and while Lance spent many days in the Yellow Jersey of the Tour de France, his iconic "Live Strong" bracelets may have been the real reason the color became so popular.

Other stories that make their list include Dean Potter's literal rise to top rock climber to BASE jumper, the continued debate in mountaineering circles about a number of issues surrounding Everest, and Kelly Slater's 41 ASP victories in surfing. The list is far reaching and covers a multitude of areas, most of which were front and center in the pages of Outside over the past ten years.

So, what do you think of their choices? A number of those wouldn't make my list, but they are interesting selections none the less, and very fitting with the magazine's audience.

Antarctic 2009: Kaspersky Team Reach The Pole!

As predicted a few days back, the first teams are now arriving at the South Pole, finishing off long and demanding journeys, while marking the beginning of the end of the Antarctic season.

The Kaspersky Commonwealth Team finished their expedition yesterday reaching the Pole as expected. The girls completed their 550+ mile journey in about 39 days. They are now resting at the South Pole Research Station, and enjoying warm beds and hot meals. The aim of this expedition has always been to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the formation of the Commonwealth, but also to celebrate the abilities of women. In the case of these seven ladies, they are hoping to serve as role models for girls in back in their home countries, and having completed this arduous journey, I'd say they have accomplished multiple goals at once.

In other arrival news, ExWeb is reporting that the Danish team of Morten Grundsøe and Jens Erik Nielsen have also reached the South Pole. The pair made their expedition in an unsupported fashion, completing the last 33.5 miles in a single 22 hour push.

Ryan Waters and Cecilie Skog posted an update two days back with the news that they are now within the last degree of the Pole. As of that dispatch, they were just 40 nautical miles from their goal, which means they are likely to finish up sometime today or early tomorrow. Looks like they'll be celebrating the New Year at the bottom of the world.

Eric Larsen's Save The Poles Expedition has moved to 88.3ºS and continues to make good time with the weather remaining clear and calm, although temperatures have been quite cold, reaching as low as -30ºF. The team is trying to conserve as much energy as possible as they head into the home stretch, as it sounds like the grind of the continuous days on the ice has begun to take its toll. On their current pace, Eric and the boys should reach the end of their journey by early next week.

Meagan McGrath reached a milestone of her own within the past few days, reaching the half-way point of her journey by crossing the 85ºS mark. She still has a long way to go yet, and she's going to be racing the clock to a degree, but she sounds like she is in great spirits and enjoying the expedition so far. Lets hope Meagan gets the opportunity to reach the Pole. She's worked hard to do so, and she still has some time to complete the journey, but she'll have to work hard to make it.

Finally, the Shackleton's Unfinished Journey Team is also closing in on the Pole. They are now within 20 miles of their goal, and are hoping to celebrate the New Year with the other teams arriving as well. Upon successful completion of the trip, 17-year old Katie Walter will become the youngest person to ski to the Pole.

Looks like it's going to be crowded at the research station over the next few days.

Best Hike Goes To The Himalaya: Days 11-16

For those interested in the details of a trek through the Himalaya, Best Hike Editor Rick McCharles has continued to post a day-by-day account of his recent journey through Nepal, which saw him hiking to Everest Base Camp, and other areas of the Khumbu Valley.

On Day 11, Rick set out to conquer the Kongma La Pass, a hike that would require nine hours on the trail, but he says is a moderate hike once you're well acclimatized. The hike is punctuated by amazing views of glacier fed lakes and very remote wilderness.

When Days 12 and 13 arrived, Rick found himself sick once again, but still had needing to continue his trek, this time heading towards Lobuche. Upon arrival, amidst spectacular weather, he stayed in a local tea house, and was forced to spend a day of rest and recovery, while getting over his sickness.

Rick was feeling much better on Day 14, when he set out to cross the Cho La Pass, which he describes as "seriously dangerous". It is a place that often requires the use of an ice axe to make progress and even the Yaks have a difficult time crossing. It was another beautiful, and scenic hike, but also very demanding and difficult, and the second of the Three Passes of Everest trek.

Day 15 was spent preparing for the Renjo La, the third and final pass of the trek. Rick met a guest at one of the tea houses named Doug Benn, a professor visiting the area to study the effects of climate change on the glaciers there. He also took a side trek that day that would take him up to the Sacred Lakes of the Gokyo, a place that is holy for both Hindus and Buddhists alike.

On Day 16, Rick spent a long and grueling day on the trail to return to Namche, by passing the Renjo La in the process. The long trek brought him back to what passes for civilization in the Khumbu, allowing him to pass the night in a tea house, and in a room that was used was once used by former American President Jimmy Carter.

Each of Rick's entries includes a set of great photos from each day of the trek and of course his personal insights into what each day was like on the trail. For long distance hikers considering a go at the Everest region, these posts are very insightful and helpful in preparation for the trip. Great stuff as always from Best Hike.

The Life Antarctic: Baby Penguins!!

While we're on the subject of Antarctica, Jon Bowermaster is continuing his journey at the bottom of the world as well, and sent back another dispatch via his blog.

Jon has now made his way to Petermann Island, where they have spotted their first penguin chicks of the season. The island is home to a unique place, where Gentoos and Adelies and blue-eyed shags all live together and hatch their young together. But Bowermaster says that the number of Adelies on Petermann is dropping by roughly 10 percent each year. This year, they number around 300 mated pairs, but just a few years ago, that was more than 500. The birds love cold weather, and the island just isn't cold enough for them any more, but where exactly they are going, remains a bit of a mystery, even amongst the scientists that study penguins.

Petermann Island is just another location in the Antarctic that is feeling the direct impact of global climate change. The birds that are a hallmark of the place have begun to abandon it, and in large numbers. There are still plenty of tiny penguin chicks there again this season, but those numbers are dropping quickly, and it won't be long before the Adelies are no longer spotted on the shores of this special and unique place.

This most recent dispatch from Jon came on the 23rd of December. Expect more from the frozen continent soon, with great insights on how climate change is directly effecting the place, from a man who has watched it change every year over the past decade.

Antarctic 2009: The Pole in Sight For Several Teams!

While the rest of us celebrated the holidays with friends and family in the comfort of our homes, the Antarctic teams spent the days on the trail, heading due south, and closing in on their goal - The South Pole.

The most recent update from Antarctica come from the Kaspersky Commonwealth Team, where we learn that the girls are a mere 20 nautical miles from the Pole. The ladies have been out on the ice for 36 days, and it appears that they will hit 90ºS tomorrow. The team was hoping that they would be able to see the polar research station located at the Pole on the horizon today, but so far they've had no luck in spotting it, which is adding a bit of frustration on the final days of the expedition. The girls also say that they will never take hot, running water and flush toilets for granted ever again.

The last update from Ryan Waters and Cecilie Skog haven't sent a dispatch since Christmas Eve, when they were within 100 nautical miles of the Pole, and it is quite possible that they have arrived at their destination today or tomorrow at the latest. They celebrated the holiday with a half-day on the trail, and some time in the tent, but since then, nothing has been heard.

Similarly, Eric Larsen, and his team haven't sent a dispatch since Christmas Day, which was their 39th day out of Patriot Hills. Eric and the boys spent the day locating their final supply cache, before turning South once again. With their sleds full once again, it was slow going throughout the day, which was mostly up hill. They're now within two degrees of the Pole, and they hope to reach their destination within eight or nine days, which would put them in on the 2nd or 3rd of January, if everything goes according to plan.

Meagan McGrath also sent an audio dispatch on Christmas Day with updates on her progress as well. She says she had a fantastic day out on the ice, and is covering great distances in the past few days, and spent much of the holiday thinking of her friends and family, who she is missing badly, but is still enjoying her journey so far. There was no update on her location, but because she was forced to restart early on, Meagan is still a good distance away from the Pole.

Finally, the Shackleton's Unfinished Business Team have wasted no time in their journey to the Pole, and according to their latest dispatch today, they are now at 89.2ºS and covered 9.3 nautical miles today. At this rate, they'll finish off that final degree in the next few days, and they'll stand at the Pole for the New Year.

It appears that the next few days will be a busy one at the bottom of the world. Watch for updates from all the teams as they begin to arrive at the South Pole. The Antarctic season for 2009 will begin to wind down in the next few weeks, but not before plenty of action on Mt. Vinson as well, where the climbers will be looking to claim one of the seven summits.

Happy Holidays!!

I wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy holiday season. It has been another great year of adventure, bot for me personally and for the outdoor community as a whole, and I'm already looking forward to some interesting and exciting developments and opportunities for 2010.

Over the next week and a half or so, I'll be enjoying some down time from work, and hopefully getting out to enjoy some hiking, while having fun with friends and family. Because of this, updates will most likely be sporadic in the next few days. I hope that everyone else will enjoy the holidays as well, and will have the opportunity to have some fun and relaxation as 2009 comes to and end.

Happy Holidays everyone!

The Rest of Everest Episode 123: Tengboche

Wednesday is "Trek Everest Day" it seems, as we have another episode of The Rest of Everest to enjoy as well. This fourth season of the show is focused on an Everest Base Camp trek that took place this past spring, and continues to offer us some great insights into what it is like to make this journey.

Today we have Episode 123: Tengboche, which begins with video of the support team breaking camp for the trekkers, who were preparing to hit the trail, but not before visiting the vibrant and colorful local monastery first. Fortunately for us, we get to tag along for the ride, as the group paid a "special fee" to allow them to shoot photos and video inside the building.

While inside the monastery, the group gets an explanation of the Tibetan Wheel of Life, with one of the guides explaining its concepts in front of a beautifully painted representation of that important aspect to Buddhist beliefs. In short, the Wheel is a representation of the stages of life (birth, life, death) that we all pass through, while incorporating karmic influences in our actions and their impact on ourselves.

Leaving the monastery behind, the crew hits the trail once again, and for the later portions of this episode, we get to see more of the Himalayan countryside. As has been typical in recent episodes, show producer Jon Miller is joined by several members of the trek, and they each weigh in through out the show with their thoughts on the trek, and its impact on them as the went.

Keep an eye out for a great shot of the 22,349 foot peak Ama Dablam, which makes an appearance near the end of this episode as well.

Best Hike Goes To The Himalaya: Day 10 - Grocery Shopping in Dingboche

We're up to Day 10 of Best Hike's recent trek through the Himalaya. Site editor Rich McCharles has already guided us up to Everest Base Camp, and has now returned to Dingboche.

After a rather grueling climb up to BC, Rick elected to take another rest day upon his return to Dingboche, where he was able to get Internet access, even at 14,800 feet! He also found a cool looking grocery store in the village that allowed him to resupply, which was of utmost importance considering he was making the trek independently. Rick also elected to hang out in one of the tea houses for the first time, finding the accommodations comfortable and the food very tasty. Trekkers in Nepal rarely need to carry tents with them, as there are enough tea houses found along the trail that they can rest each night under a solid roof and eat hot local food.

One item of interest was that the owner of the internet cafe told Rick that trekking in the region was better in the spring than in the fall, saying that "hikers are healthier". He believed that the growing vegetation provided more oxygen, helping them to make the climb a bit easier. I'm not sure if there is much credence in the theory, but it sounds good to me! I guess that means, go in the spring and face larger crowds but have a healthier approach, or go in the fall, and take your chances, but relish in the empty trails.

Laura Dekker Update: She Stays With Dad, Prepares To Sail

More breaking news today on Laura Dekker, the 14-year old Dutch girl who has big plans to sail solo around the world. This past weekend, the teenager made headlines when she disappeared from Holland and turned up in St. Maarten, an island that falls in the Dutch Antilles of the Caribbean. A local there spotted her and alerted authorities, and upon being taken into custody, she was promptly sent back home.

Today, comes word that a judge has ruled on these recent activities, and has determined that Laura will remain in the custody of her father, despite youth services requesting that she be sent to live with family friends. Furthermore, the court has also set down some very specific conditions, saying that if she abides by them, she may be able to set sail in as little as three months time.

According to the article, Laura must now take a first aid course to learn how to deal with potentially life threatening injuries, and she'll be required to make several long distance sailing trips to other countries to demonstrate her abilities at sea. The judge says that Laura should view these challenges as opportunities to prove that she is fit and ready for the round-the-world journey that would require months at sea.

It was also revealed that young girl traveled to St. Maarten on her New Zealand passport (she holds dual citizenship), and then when she arrived, there, she was looking to buy a boat, obviously to set sail on her journey.

Well, the kid got what she wanted. She's now been given a set of criteria to fulfill that will most likely allow her to begin her circumnavigation attempt. The judge could have been much harsher on her, and she's very lucky that she's not being shipped off to foster care. I know her father is very much behind her attempt to sail the world, and that her mother is more cautious. But I can't help but wonder where mom is and why she hasn't asked to take custody of the girl.

Either way, I guess we'll have to wait a few months to see if she gets to go. Then we'll wait some more, and hope that all goes well.

New Movie Frozen Looks Either Really Silly or Really Scary

The Adventure LIfe posted a trailer to a new film coming out soon called Frozen that looks both incredibly scary and silly all at the same time. The movie centers around a trio of young skiers and snowboarders who are off to the slopes for a day of fun. But when they decide to make one last run very late in the day, they end up getting stranded on the chairlift just as the resort is closing down for the week. (I swear I'm not making this up!) The film will then follow their fight to survive out there in the cold, battling the elements, and wolves of course. (Really! I'm not making this up! Watch the trailer below!

The critical review quotes shown in the trailer compare the movie to Jaws at one point, but really, it seems more like Open Water to me. As I watched the teaser trailer, I thought the premise seemed like a bit of stretch, then after they're stranded, it just seemed to get worse. I kept waiting for the tone to shift towards a teen comedy, but it never happened. Not sure what to make of it all. What do you think?

Primal Quest Badlands Web Episodes #8

Adventure World Magazine has posted the eighth, and quite possibly final, web episode from Primal Quest Badlands. This video, like the rest of the series, was produced by Randy Erickson, and shows racer winners Team Orion Health reaching the finish line and celebrating their big win. The exhausted team won the race after nearly 8 days of running, trekking, mountain biking, and paddling their way across 600 miles of South Dakota backcountry.

Best Hike Goes To The Himalaya: Day 9 - Base Camp!

Our virtual tag-along adventure through the HImalaya with Rick McCharles, editor of BestHike.com, continues today, as reach the high point of his trek, Everest Base Camp.

It is Day 9 of Rick's expedition, and he has made a massive push up to Everest Base Camp in order to be there when the weather clears and to get the best opportunity to view the summit of the mountain unfettered by clouds. BC is located at 17,500 feet, just below the famous Khumbu Icefalls, which is a treacherous, yet beautiful portion of the mountain. For most trekkers, that is where the journey ends, as it is dangerous to attempt a crossing of the icefall, which is maintained by a team of Sherpas, who lay a series of ladders over wide open crevasses to create a path during the climbing season.

Upon reaching his goal, Rick took some superb photos, before quickly beating a hasty retreat. His goal was to head back down the mountain, to richer air, and Dingboche, where he could resume his plans to hike the "Three Passes of Everest" Itinerary, a route that would send him on the most challenging hike in the region.

Stay tuned! More photos and stories from the trail to come tomorrow.

The Life Antarctic: Thoughts On Copenhagen

I'm sure many of you followed the events that took place in Copenhagen recently, when the U.N. convened the largest ever conference on global climate change, with some 190 nations attending. The 11-day event met with very mixed results and ended up being about compromise and posturing rather than making any real commitment to improving the environment.

Jon Bowermaster has sent another dispatch from the Antarctic, where he weighs in with his thoughts on the Copenhagen Conference, while sitting aboard a ship passing through the icy waters off the coast of the continent that is probably seeing the most dramatic changes.

Jon was getting updates via the Internet, and like many of us, was dismayed by the end results. But to throw an even darker shadow over the proceedings, he attempted to discover the "carbon footprint" of the conference, and came to this conclusion:

1,200 limousines, 140 private jets, 15,000 delegates, 10,000 environmental activists and lobbyists, over 100 world leaders and 5,000 journalists. According to summit organizers the 11-day conference, including the participants’ travel, created a total of 41,000 tons of “carbon dioxide equivalent,” equal to the amount produced over the same period by a U.S. city, population 225,000.

For a meeting on the environment, it sure seems like they didn't think about their impact on it while organizing the event.

I know that there were a lot of politics involved in what went on in Copenhagen. China and India led a walkout of the developing countries at one point, as those nations feel that remaining environmentally conscious will stunt their economic growth and prevent them from making strides at industrializing their countries. This ended up leading to a series of compromises that took much of the bite out of the final documents.

Meanwhile, Jon reads about the results of the conference and wonders why more couldn't have been accomplished, as he sits in a place that is ruled by a treaty signed by many nations, and is a symbol of how countries can work together.

British Climber Clings To Ledge By Fingertips... For Six Hours!

Here's an amazing story of survival if I've ever heard one.

This past weekend, an unnamed 23-year old British climber, and his climbing partner, became stuck on a rock face known as the Giant's Head Chimney, found on the 3,790ft Lochnagar. Apparently the lead climber reached an impasse and could no longer go up or down, stranding both men on the mountain, but fortunately, the second climber was able to find a safe ledge and make a call for help. That was at approximately 4 PM in the afternoon, and it would be six hours before they would be rescued, with the stuck climber clinging to the rock by his fingertips for the entire time.

Following the call, the RAF scrambled a rescue helicopter, with eight crew members, to the area, but it took some time to assemble the crew, fly to the region, and locate the missing climbers. When they did find them, a rescuer had to be lowered from the helicopter to retrieve the pair, while local police watched from the ground.

All told, the two men were stuck on the wall for six hours. Authorities say that the bottom climber was in good health and suffered no ill effects, and was in fact quite comfortable and warm on his ledge. The lead climber however, clung to the rocks for all those hours, exposed to temperatures that hovered around the 20ºF mark. As a result, he suffered mild frostbite and is now recovering from those effects.

The article says that the two climbers were both quite experienced and well equipped. They just happened to maneuver themselves into a position where they couldn't move, and had to call for help. I guess there is a good lesson in there in that no matter how experienced you are and how much gear you bring, something can always go wrong.

Thanks to The Goat for the heads up on this story.

North Face Coming To US Theaters January 29th

A few weeks back I posted a link to a trailer for an upcoming film called North Face which recounts the efforts of German climbers circa 1936 to conquer the unclimbed North Face of the Eiger. Now, a few more details on the film, including a release date, have emerged.

The film is set to hit American theaters on Friday, January 29th. I've been told that the film has been out for months in Europe, but it is just now making its way to this side of the pond, and from most accounts, it is worth the wait. The movie will center around German climbers Toni Kurz and Andi Hinterstoisser (Played by Benno Furmann and Florian Lukas respective), who were spurred on by nationalism and Nazi pride, to make an attempt on the most dangerous and notorious rock face in the Alps.

The climb begins innocently enough, but conditions soon begin to erode on the mountain, and two men find themselves in a race against time, with the elements closing in around them, and while they are suspended on one of the most challenging and physically demanding rock faces anywhere in the world.

For those that haven't seen it, I've posted the trailer once again. The film looks like it was stunningly shot, and I'm already looking forward to catching it. I'm glad it's finally coming stateside, as it's obviously better late then never.

Updated: Laura Dekker Went Missing, Found in St. Maarten

Laura Dekker, the 14-year old girl who had hoped to make a solo circumnavigation sailing attempt a few months back, but was subsequently barred from doing so by the Dutch government, went missing over the weekend, and was later found on the Island of St. Maarten in the Caribbean.

According to this story from the BBC News, relatives reported the young girl missing three days ago, and Dutch newspapers reported that she withdrew $5000 from her bank account before fleeing to the island. Dutch courts had ruled that Laura was to remain under supervision of the State until the school year ended in July to ensure that she didn't go ahead with circumnavigation attempt, despite the barring of that adventure. Authorities are still weighing the idea of someone so young hitting the open ocean on their own.

The BBC says that a local woman recognized Laura and alerted authorities to her whereabouts. A lot of questions remain regarding just how she got to St. Maarten, and whether or not she was assisted by anyone in doing so. Her father is a strong supporter of her making the voyage. It should be noted that her boat, the Guppy, is still in its slip back in the Netherlands.

I've written my thoughts on Laura a number of times already and it remains the same. I still believe that she is far too young to set sail on her own, no matter how much sailing experience and knowledge she has. Something about this story makes me very suspicious as well. Perhaps the plan was to send her off to St. Maarten and get her underway, with a different boat of course, over the holiday break, and before too many people noticed, so she would be well into the voyage before anything could be done. Perhaps I'm looking too deeply into this, but that's the first thought that comes to my mind. This already odd story grows even stranger, and it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out. Either way, I don't believe this will help her cause when the case comes up for review next summer.

Update: There is more information on this story has begun to come to light, thanks to this story from the Times Online. It seems that Laura may have run away from own, possibly on her own and likely to set off on her sailing journey by herself. Apparently she left her father a note before she set off, although the contents of that note are as of yet still unknown. Her father has supported her right to sail from the beginning, and has been her staunchest defender. According to the Times, Laura is now on her way back home to Holland, where I'm sure this little incident will play poorly with the Council of Child Protection, who are charged with overseeing her case.

On a side note. When I was 14 if I had planned to run away, it probably would have been down the block. This kid hops a flight to the Caribbean. She certainly has nerves of steel, although I stand by my thoughts that the high seas are no place for a 14-year old to be sailing solo.

Best Hike Goes To The Himalaya: Day 6, 7, and 8 - The Trek Continues

Over the weekend, Best Hike editor Rick McCharles continued making posts on his recent journey through the Himalaya, trekking to Everest Base Camp from the Nepali side of the mountain. As usual, the posts were accompanied by great photos capturing the amazing scenery, as well as slices of culture, from the region.

On Day 6 of the trek, Rick made his way above the tree line and on into Dingboche, a rather famous village located at 14,800 feet. Dingboche is the location of one of the largest, and most impressive, Buddhist monasteries in the region, and a popular spot to for climbers heading to Island Peak, a 20,305 foot mountain that is a popular hike-up near by. Rick also noted that the weather had been a bit disappointing for the time of year, when it is suppose to be clear and cold, but on his trek, the skies were often clouded over.

The weather offered up a surprise on Day 7 in the form of snow, which is not uncommon in that part of the Himalaya in November. The snow fall spurred Rick on, skipping a planned acclimatization day, and instead sending him up to Everest BC. Turns out the snow made for a pleasant hike, and he ended up pitching his tent that night near some famous shrines to Sherpas and climbers located near Dughla Pass.

On the morning of Day 8, Rick was wondering if it had been a good idea to camp above 4800 meters. He ended up having a restless night huddled in his tent trying to stay warm and his cooking gear was frozen solid and refused to light up. Eventually he was able to get one going, just so he could thaw out his boots and get back on the trail. One thing did go his way however, as the weather cleared at last, so he decided to make a dash for EBC, picking up 800 meters of elevation gain in the process!

Did he make it? You'll have to read the story to know for sure. But it has certainly been fun to follow along on Rick's adventure so far, and he isn't done yet.

Which Side of Everest is Most Dangerous?

Alan Arnette has written another interesting and insightful piece on everyone's favorite Himalayan peak, Everest. The story is entitled The Deadly Side of Everest and it takes a statistical look at which side of the mountain is the most dangerous to climb.

When breaking down the numbers, over the past few years, it quickly becomes clear that the North Side of Everest suffers more fatalities, clocking in with a rate of about two-to-one over the South Side. Alan also notes that if you factor out nine Sherpa deaths on the Nepali side of the mountain, that rate actually ski rockets up to an astounding eight-to-one ratio. He then goes on to explain some of the reasons why this may be the case, listing more exposure to the cold, harsher winds, and the challenge of conquering the "Steps" high on the mountain.

Alan does note that deaths have been substantially on the decline in recent years thanks to improvements in technology and gear, better forecasting of weather, and substantially improved rescue resources on both sides of the mountain. Great trends that are likely to continue, even as the number of people heading to Everest increases each year.

More interesting stuff to ponder as the 2010 Everest season begins to loom on the horizon.

Joe Simpson Solos New Himalaya Route

Joe Simpson, best known for writing such books as Touching the Void and The Beckoning Silence, has solo climbed a new route in the Himalaya, according to this report from the British Mountaineering Council.

Simpson, whose story of survival on Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes has proven inspirational to millions, took on a new route along the South Face of Mera Peak, a 6470 meter (21,227 feet) mountain not far from Everest. The new route is said to be more than 4000 feet in length, and required two and a half days for the climber to complete. Upon reaching the top, as is typical, Simpson was allowed to name the new route. He selected In Memoriam for his friends Mal Duff and Ian Tattersall, who also climbed this mountain back in 1986.

The BMC report says that Simpson also had surgery on his ankle last year that was successful in alleviating a lot of pain. This climb was suppose to be his farewell to the mountains, but could signify that he'll actually continuing climbing, following this success. I guess we'll have to wait and see, but I had been under the impression that Joe had already hung up his crampons, but it appears he had a least one big climb still in him, and perhaps more to come.

Antarctica 2009: Ryan and Cecilie Closing In!

It was another busy and active weekend at the bottom of the world, with teams dealing with a variety of conditions, ranging from clear and cold to falling snow creating whiteout conditions. At this point of the expeditions, they're all starting to hit a variety of milestones, as they continue the very long, cold, march to the South Pole.

Today we'll start with Ryan Waters and Cecilie Skog, who continue to make great progress, and are starting to appear like they'll be the first ones to reach the Pole. Their last dispatch came on Friday, when they reported a halo around the sun, which generally portents snow, and sure enough, later in the day, the got a fresh dusting of the white stuff. But more importantly, that night they camped at 87ºS, and obviously by now they are well on their way to 88ºS, which means they are on their pace to reach the Pole before New Years, as they had hoped.

Eric Larsen and his squad continue their expedition as well, but they had to suffer through whiteout conditions over the weekend. In his latest update, Eric explains how navigating by compass in those conditions is more of an art form and less of a physical skill, at it requires the navigator to stay focused on his compass all day, while continuing to ski in a straight line, without any points of reference. It seems like that was what the boys were dealing with much of Saturday, but eventually the weather cleared, showing blue skies and nothing but flat, snow covered plains, in all directions. Fortunately, it also warmed up, allowing them strip down to their skivvies for much of the trip.

The Kaspersky Commonwealth girls have now been out on the ice for 28 days, and are beginning to close in on their final destination as well. In their most recent dispatch, dated yesterday, it was noted that they have now moved with 130 miles of the Pole, and while that is still a great deal of distance to cover, at the rate they're taking chunk of mileage, they may be there in time for the New Year as well.

Meagan McGrath crossed over the 83º line over the weekend, knocking off 15 nautical miles on back-to-back days. She's happy with her progress so far, but isn't sure if she'll be able to keep up that pace over the 7º that she still has to cover to reach the Pole. She also gives a plug to one of her sponsors, who make a chocolate candy that she is carrying along with her, that sounds like a bit of a commercial, but she seems extremely happy to have these treats with her on the trip.

The Shakleton's Unfinished Business Team has posted an update on their status, with the news that they'll be leaving for the 88.23º S mark tomorrow, where they'll begin the actual meat of their journey. They've been in Patriot HIlls since last Thursday, where they've been sorting gear and getting their supplies ready, while acclimatizing to the environment and making a few practice runs on their skis. They all seem eager and ready to get going, as they finish off what Shackleton started a century ago.

Finally, Chris Davenport and his team have been prowling all over the Antarctic Peninsula, looking for all kinds of remote mountains to climb, and then ski back down. They've done several first descents over the past few weeks, and now Chris makes his last dispatch from the region, with some great photos, and the word that the gang managed to ski the "Sphinx", a diamond shaped mountain that they mentioned in an earlier post. All-in-all, it seems like it was a great expedition, with plenty of success both on the climbing and skiing front.

Best Hike Goes To The Himalaya: Day 5 - Onward and Upward!

Rick McCharles, the trekking guru and editor of BestHike.com has posted Day 5 of his recent hike through the Himalaya, in which he took the classic route up to Everest Base Camp.

When last we checked in with Rick, he had climbed up to Namche Bazaar, a popular checkpoint on the trek where most people stop for a rest day to acclimatize to the altitude. After literally and figuratively catching his breath there however, Rick continued his journey on to Tengboche, another popular stop on the trekking route, which is home to an amazing monastery that has captivated visitors for years.

The hike up to Tengboche is reportedly not nearly as difficult as the early days of the trek leading to Namche, but the views beging to change quite dramatically, as the High Himalaya begin to close in. Rick caught sight of Ama Dablam, which he notes would soon become his favorite mountain of the entire region.

One of the great things about this trek is that Rick went independently, giving him the freedom to roam as he saw fit. That meant if he was feeling strong, he could keep hiking, but if the altitude was bothering him, he could rest some and not worry about slowing down a group or trying to keep up with them. This definitely had its benefits through his journey, and as noted earlier, traveling independently through Nepal is safe and easy for experienced trekkers.

Get Your Star Wars Weather Forecast!

A few days ago, these amazing photos of Lego recreations of the weather on Hoth, the ice planet in The Empire Strikes Back, made the rounds, much to the delight of geeks everywhere, myself included.

Fans of George Lucas' space opera can now take it one step further by checking their Star Wars Weather Forecast which relates the current weather in their town with a location from the movies. Simply enter any city from around the globe, and check out your results.

In my case, living in Austin, TX, where the weather is currently sunny and 60º F, my results came back as "It's like Naboo out there. Temperate, dry, and fairly pleasant." I'm sure a lot of you will have Hoth-like results considering the season, but I feel bad for those that have Alderan conditions. (Okay, maybe that's a bit too geeky!)

Anyway, I thought this was a fun time waster on a Friday afternoon. :)

Ocean Rowing: 22-Year Old Attempts Atlantic Crossing

22-year old Katie Spotz is in the final stages of preparing to challenge the Atlantic, in her bid to become the youngest person to ever row across an ocean and the first American to go from Africa to South America by paddle. In the process, she hopes to raise funds for the Blue Planet Run, an organization dedicated to delivering clean drinking water to locations around the globe.

The 2500 mile journey is expected to take somewhere between 70 and 100 days to completed, with Katie facing huge waves and crazy weather on her journey from Dakar, Senegal, on Africa's West Coast, to South America. She'll make the trip in a specially designed, 19-foot row boat, but won't even use a tarp to help shield her from the sun and other elements. The boat has plenty of storage for all of her supplies and comes equipped with solar panels to recharge her communications equipment while at sea.

As of this writing, Katie is ten days from setting off on her journey, and according to the blog on her website, she left for Senegal today. Once she arrives there, she'll spend some time getting her gear and boat prepared before hitting the water. From then on, it'll be just her, the boat, and the Ocean.

For more about Katie, check out the recent interview she conducted, which can be found on video below and be sure to follow her updates on Twitter at @KatieSpotz. Good luck Katie! We'll be following along!

Mike McIntyre talks to Katie Spotz about her trip across the Atlantic, in a row boat

The Life Antarctic: Into Neko Harbour

Continuing his journey along the Antarctic Peninsula, Jon Bowermaster sent another dispatch yesterday, detailing his arrival at Neko Harbour, a place that he calls "one of the most beautiful along the Peninsula", although he quickly admits that he says that about a lot of places along the peninsula.

This beautifully written blog update gives us an excellent idea of what it is like on the frozen continent. Jon talks about how it is both very quiet and yet filled with ambient noises, such as penguins chattering with their newborn or the sounds of humpback whales just below the surface. For a place that is so remote, it is still filled with a lot of life.

Speaking of remote, Jon also notes that if you hike more than 100 feet from the shore, you're likely to become the first person to ever walk in that area. There are still a relatively small number of visitors to Antarctica each year, and most that do some, seldom venture away from shore at all.

After spending several hours in the area, it was time for the team to move on, but not before witnessing a large chunk of ice breaking free from the 200 foot tall glacier with a resounding crack that would be heard for miles. Just another example of life in the Antarctic.

Video of The Known Universe

Want to feel incredibly small and insignificant? Then check out the video below which was made for the Hayden Planetarium in New York City that puts into scale just how large the Universe is. The video begins in the Himalaya and slowly begins to pan out, past the moon, the solar system, and so on. It's pretty amazing, and really, really humbling.

Enjoy.

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The Rest of Everest Episode 122: Nice Lens, Baby

Speaking of Everest Base Camp Treks, lets not forget about The Rest of Everest, which returns with another great episode this week, giving us a full motion view of what the Khumbu Valley trek is really like. Just as Rick from Best Hike moves into Namche, the Rest of Everest crew is getting ready to head out.

Episode 122 is entitled "Nice Lens, Baby", reminding us that this isn't just a long hike up to EBC, but is also a photography and vidoegraphy workshop as well. Co-host of the Trek Chris Marquardt broke out an intriguing looking Lens Baby, which it appears that the members of the team were having a blast with. I'd never seen a lens like that before, and I'm definitely interested in learning more. The results from the photographs and video were very cool.

From a trekking standpoint, the group leaves Namche, following their acclimatization day there, and begins the hike to Tengboche. Everyone took advantage of their rest day, and were really strong on the trail that day, as they moved through more mountain villages and interacted with the locals, including some very cute kids.

As has become a recurring theme with this season of ROE, we get tons of video from the trail that include some great shots of the mountains that loom over the trekkers as they make their way through the Khumbu. As I've said in the past, this is invaluable footage for anyone thinking of making the trek themselves, as it gives you a great idea of what that adventure is like. The commentary that is included with each episode, in which show producer Jon Miller is joined by a number of the trekkers, is also very interesting, with those that made the trip with Jon and Chris, have some great insights to share as well.

Good stuff as always.

Best Hike Goes To The Himalaya: Day 4 - Acclimatizing in Namche

Best Hike editor Rick McCharles brings us another installment of his recent Himalayan adventure, in which he went trekking in the Khumbu Valley. We're up to Day 4, in which he takes a breather in Namche Bazaar, a popular acclimatization stop along the trail.

While in Nachme, Rick took a stroll through the popular market place, in which Tibetan traders were selling any number of cheap, strange, and wonderful goods, mostly brought across the border from China. He also visited a nearby Nepali market which offered up local foods, before taking in a Buddhist gompa.

Just because it's an acclimatization day, it doesn't mean that you rest on your laurels. Rick did take a four hour tour dubbed the "Sherpa Villages of the Khumbu" that offered him an opportunity to see some more of the local sights, while working on that acclimatization process. Following an "off-trail scramble up to the quarries of Zarok", he visited the seldom used Everest View Hotel, and hiked over to Khunde and Khumjung, two towns in the area.

Rick called the "rest day" one of his best of the trip, and judging from his photos you can see why.

Top 10 Greatest Sea Kayaking Expeditions

Check out this great article that was sent my way by the Belgian Adventurer Louis-Philippe Loncke . The story is a few years old and comes from Paddler Magazine and lists their picks for the 10 Greatest Sea Kayaking Expeditions of all time.

Obviously the list includes some amazing adventures from all over the planet, including such bold paddling expeditions as Jon Turk's 2000 mile, 100-day journey from Japan to Alaska, which traveled past the Kuril Islands, Kamchatka, Siberia, and beyond, all the while dodging ice and treacherous weather conditions. Even more intriguing may be Frank Goodman's (and company) kayaking journey around Cape Horn, at the Southern Tip of South America. When when it was accomplished back in 1977, was the first successful journey by paddle through those very dangerous waters.

Also making the list is Paul Caffyn's 1981 circumnavigation of Australia, which was just surpassed by Freya Hoffmeister. Freya became just the second person to finish that journey, and did it in less time, although I'm sure advances in technology and gear over the past 27 years didn't hurt her cause any.

All in all, a fun list, with some really cool expeditions, some of which I hadn't heard of before. If you're a paddler who likes ot spend some time out on the water you might find plenty of inspiration here, although Paddler may want to update it with some of the newer expeditions over the past few years.

Mt. Hood Update: Rescue Turns To Recovery

Sad, but not entirely unexpected, news from Mt. Hood, where it was announced yesterday that rescue efforts were being abandoned for two missing climbers, as hope faded that they could be found alive. SAR teams called off efforts to locate Katie Nolan and Anthony Vietti, who have been missing since last Friday, when they, along with companion Luke Gullberg, set off to make an ascent on Hood. Gulberg's body was later found at 9000 feet on the Reid Glacier, but no sign of Nolan or Vietti has been discovered.

Weather and avalanche conditions have made it difficult for search parties to comb the mountain. Storms have hit the area hard since Monday, with more than two feet of snow dropping on the mountain. Whiteout conditions added to the challenge, and kept rescuers away from Hood for two days, while they waited in vain for the weather to break.

We have begun to learn a bit more about what happened to the trio while climbing the mountain thanks to clues found on Gullberg's body. Cell phone photos seem to indicate that there was an accident along the way and that Nolan may have been injured. It appears that while Vietti stayed behind with her, Gullberg elected to climb down the mountain to seek aid. He feel on his descent, suffering relatively minor injuries, but later succumbed to exposure.

This bring a sad ending to a story that we've all been hoping would turn out well. Lets keep the families of these climbers in our thoughts, especially as we head into the holiday season.

Antarctica 2009: Good Weather and Hard Pack

The crop of 2009 adventurers heading to the South Pole continue their expeditions, making good time in equally good weather, with several reporting hard pack snow that's aiding their ability to ski faster and further.

Canadian explorer Meagan McGrath checked in with a fairly lengthy audio dispatch a few days back. She's adjusting rapidly to being back out on the ice, and is seemingly doing fine. Meagan is one of the polar adventurers who is taking advantage of the hard snow pack, as she indicated that it is allowing her to go faster and with less effort. She's averaging more than 14 nautical miles per day now, and seems to be settling into her rhythm quite nicely. She also gives a quick assessment of her gear and how it is performing, and mentions that she seems to have gotten her issues worked out on how to recharge her equipment, so expect more timely updates as she continues on her way.

Eric Larsen, Bill Hanlon and Dongsheng Liu have also experienced harder snow the past few days as well. In his latest dispatch, Eric talks about how they had been shuffling along in fluffy, white powder for a awhile, and that can take it's toll on the team, burning more energy and slowing them down mightily. But Dongsheng made a comment about wish the snow were a bit hard, and his wish was granted later in the day. As a result of their speedier pace, the team is now leaving the Thiel Mountains behind, and is heading out on to the great, wide open, Antarctic expanse, where they are finding blue ice, crevasses, and a variety of other anomalies.

Ryan Waters and Cecilie Skog took a well deserved rest day a few days back. After knocking off 60 miles in just three days, the pair were quite tired, and enjoyed some time in the tent. They are now estimating a New Year's Eve arrival at the Pole and as of this writing they should be past the 86º S point. Ryan estimates that it takes roughly 4 days to pass a single degree, which puts them in sight of their goal in just about two weeks time.

The Kaspersky Team seem to be enjoying their little ski outing. In fact, they've gone so far as to announce a little contest in which we can try to guess how much weight team member Era, from Brunei, will lose on the expedition. Check out this blog post to find out what Era's diet consists of at the moment, and find out the details of the contest. Essentially, Era weighed in at 57.9kg (127 pounds) before the expedition started. While out on the ice, the girls are consuming roughly 4500 calories per day, but are also skiing between 7.5 and 9 hours per day. So, after all is said and done, how much weight will she lose on this demanding trip to the Pole? Weigh in with your guess within the closest .1 kilo.

Finally, the Shackleton's Unfinished Business Team have completed their gear prep and skills training, and are now waiting for a proper weather window to be shuttled to Patriot HIlls by the fine folks at ALE. From the sounds of things, the team is in good spirits and ready to go. You may recall that this it the team that will be travel by skis from the point that Shackleton turned back at in 1909. The team also has a team member named Katie Walter, who is just 17 years old, and could become the youngest person to make the journey to the South Pole.

Freya Hoffmeister Completes Paddle Round Australia

It's been awhile since I posted anything on Freya Hoffmeister. The last time we checked in on her, she was 190 days into her attempt to kayak her way around Australia, hoping to set a new speed record in the process. Yesterday, the 45-year old German woman completed her paddle, arriving in Queenscliff, and in capturing the record too.

All told, the journey took Freya 332 days to complete the 9400+ mile journey around Australia. She has become just the second person to ever paddle that length, and the first woman as well. She beat the old record, set by New Zealander Paul Caffyn 27 years ago, by more than a month. Caffyn took 360 days to complete his journey. On her website, Freya promised "I promise, if anyone will paddle around Australia within the next 27 years, I’ll be at the finish line."

The journey was definitely a challenging and difficult one. Of those 332 days she was paddling, 245 of them were spent out on the water. She sailed counter-clockwise around the continent, beginning and ending in Queenscliff, and managed to cut more than 680 miles off the expedition by braving the open sea at the Gulf of Carpentaria, which she crossed in approximately eight days, sleeping in her kayak as she went. That extremely treacherous crossing has only been accomplished by one other person, the late Andrew McAuley, who would later disappear attempting to paddle from Australia to New Zealand.

Paddling expeditions like this one are not new to Freya. Back in 2007 she also circumnavigated around Iceland in just 33 days, and solo circumnavigated New Zealand's South Island in a record 70 days.

Congrats on finishing up the big paddle down under Freya. I think you've earned a little rest and relaxation just in time for the holidays.

Best Hike Goes To The Himalaya: Day 3 - Namche Bazaar

Best Hike editor Rick McCharles continues his trek through the Himalaya today, this time reaching the famous village of Namche Bazaar. The town is a popular place for climbers and trekkers on their way to Everest, as traditionally they'll stop off and take a rest day or two in Namche as part of the normal acclimatization process.

Up until this point, Rick had been feeling a bit under the weather, thanks in no small part to the altitude. But after two days of trekking, he was on the mend and ready to enter the Sagarmatha National Park, the preserve that contains Everest and a number of other big mountains. As an independent hiker, Rick was required to show his TIMS card (Trekking Information Management System), and pay a fee of U.S.$13.50.

The rest of today's story shows some great photos of the multitude of suspension bridges that are common along the trail. We also get some shots of Namche itself, and it was on that day that the intrepid editor received his first glimpses of Everest as well, the mountain that he had come so far to step foot on.

Primal Quest Badlands Web Episodes #7

Adventure World Magazine and Randy Ericksen have delivered another video from Primal Quest Badlands, the 600+ mile long adventure race that took place in the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota this past August.

In this video we the two top teams turning for home with Orion Health and Salomon/Crested Butte battling out for first place. There is plenty of other video from the course as well, with our first stunning shots of the Badlands themselves.

Mt. Hood Update: Bad Weather Hampers Efforts

A quick note to update everyone on what's going on out in Oregon, where two climbers remain missing today, after failing to return from a summit attempt on Mt. Hood last Friday. Search and Rescue efforts have been further hampered today with the onset of inclement weather, which has resulted in whiteout conditions on the mountain.

SAR teams continued to search for Anthony Vietti and Katie Nolan yesterday, employing the use of several helicopters, but so far to no avail. Vietti and Nolan's companion Luke Gullberg was found dead on the Reed Glacier on Saturday, but there has been no sign of them as of yet. Gullberg's body was located at about 9000 feet, and search teams have been wary of going higher on the mountain due to fears of avalanches thanks to recent snowfall. More snow fell over night, and is expected to continue for some time.

For the latest update, check out the video below. Keep your fingers crossed folks. Miracles do happen as we've seen in the past.

Best Hike Goes To The Himalaya: Day 2 - Hiking Independently

Best Hike has posted Day 2 of their recent hike through the Himalaya, with more photos and thoughts courtesy of site editor Rick McCharles, who is a virtual walking encyclopedia of trekking knowledge from around the globe.

Besides the usual great photography that accompany his posts, Rick shares his thoughts on hiking independently in Nepal, which he says is easy to do and very safe, despite the fact that there were several signs posted about missing trekkers. Rick says that the trails are full of other hikers, and it's rare that you're actually alone, which makes for fairly safe traveling in general, and lends itself to backpacker camaraderie.

On his second day in the Himalaya, Rick, who is a very experienced trekker himself, said that he was still feeling the effects of altitude, so playing it safe, he didn't hike far that day, but instead, elected to set up camp early in the afternoon, and make a short day hike into a more remote, lesser visited area. By the end of the day however, he was feeling better and getting acclimatizing well to the altitude.

Everything that I've ever heard says that Nepal is indeed a very safe place to trek. Even when the Maoist rebels were in control of the countryside, they rarely messed with the climbers and trekkers, and when they did, it was usually to shake them down for a few bucks as a "tariff" for using the trial. But even that has come to an end in the past few years, as the Maoists are now in power and have no need for those kinds of actions. Plus, tourism is the top draw to the country, so it is important that they keep it safe for travelers that come to check out the amazing culture and natural beauty.

Everest 2010: An Interview with Phil Crampton of Altitude Junkies

It feels a little odd to be writing about the Everest 2010 season before Christmas, but when our friend Alan Arnette has already launched his coverage, I'm just trying to keep up. As regular readers know, Alan has the best coverage of Everest that you'll find anywhere, and it looks like he's going to surpass himself in the spring climbing season.

Today we get a new entry that true Everest junkies will enjoy, as it is An Insider's Look at Everest 2010, kicking things off with an interview with Phil Crampton, the owner of the Altitude Junkies, one of the best, and most reputable guide services on the mountain.

Alan begins the blog post with a little background on Phil, and his experience guiding in the Himalaya. From there, he goes into the interview itself, asking Phil about his thoughts for the spring climbing and trekking season in Nepal, whether or not he thinks it will be a "normal" year on Everest, and much more. The past few season's on Everest haven't been "normal" so to speak, thanks in part to the closures of Tibet, and the uncertainty of gaining access from that side of the mountain. Phil also talks about the rising costs of making a climb on Everest and the differences he found between climbing the North and South sides of the mountain.

All in all, Phil expects this to be a very good year on Everest, with a lot of the uncertainty from the past two years out of the picture. That should make a lot of climbers and trekkers more secure in their travels come spring time, but as Alan points out, we're still 16 weeks away from the start of that season, and a lot can change between now and then.

The Life Antarctic: Jon Bowermaster Continues His Journey

I mentioned last week that Jon Bowermaster had returned to the Antarctic for the tenth straight year, and that he was blogging his journey, which began with his crossing of the Drake Passage. Since then, we've had a couple of more updates, including his arrival on the continent itself.

Unlike most of the visitors to the Antarctic that I write about, Jon makes the journey by ship, and generally explores the coastline, often in a Zodiac or kayak. On Day 2 of his latest journey, he arrived on Barrientos, a tiny island that is part of the South Shetlands, where he was greeted by penguins protecting their nests. Later, on Deception Island, Jon estimates that there were somewhere between 120,00-160,000 of the tuxedoed, flightless birds, who are expecting their chicks to arrive in the next few weeks.

On Day 3, the expedition traveled into the Weddell Sea, where we get some great photos of the giant, tabular icebergs. These huge patches of ice, usually a mile or more in length and 150-200 feet in height, float out into the Southern Sea, and drift ever so slowly into the surrounding waters. Jon says it'll take a "decade or so" for these behemoths to melt, but in the meantime, they make for a stunning display floating just off the Antarctic coast.

Watch for more updates, including great photos, on Jon's blog soon, and swing by Gadling, where he is also posting stories from the Antarctic, like this one that ran yesterday.

Everest: Beyond The Limit Season 3 Schedule Clarified

Leave it to Alan Arnette to figure out what's going on with Discovery Channel's series Everest: Beyond The Limit. Last week I posted a story with the news that it seemed the show was set to begin airing on December 30th and would consist of five episodes. This info came from Tigress Productions website, and seemed to counter rumors that show would begin on Sunday, Dec. 27th.

Turns out, both dates were right, but for different reasons. Alan says in this blog post, that the show will air on both the 27th and 30th, and all five episodes will be broadcast on those two days. It seems episodes 1-3 will be shown on the 27th, beginning at 8 PM Eastern Time. Then on Wednesday the 30th, episodes 4 and 5 will be broadcast, bringing the show to a very quick end. Here's what we can expect to see on those episodes according to Alan:

Episode One covers early trips through the ice fall, David Tait’s summit with the rope fixing team and the ice fall avalanche that killed the Sherpa.
Episode Two concentrates on John Golden’s summit attempt with IMG
Episode Three covers the main IMG team summit on May 20
Episode Four is the first Himex summits on May 21
Episode Five is the second Himex summits on May 23

This is very interesting news for a number of reasons. First, and foremost, I know fans of the show have been waiting for news for some time, and I think it's quite odd that two weeks out, we're still waiting for Discovery to start promoting the show. I also think it's odd that there are only five episodes, and that they are all going to be shown in rapid fire succession, a far cry from years past when the show went on for weeks, and was accompanied by another show called "After the Climb" that broke down in more detail the events that transpired on the mountain, usually with the climbers giving us the scoop. I know that Beyond The Limit has a nice following for Discovery, and after a two year hiatus, you'd think they'd be pushing it's return and milking it for all it's worth. After all, this will be a different show, with new climbers, on a different side of the mountain. It sort of seems like the show is being sent out to die, airing through the holidays, a traditionally slow time for television, without much fan fare.

I guess we should take what we can get and enjoy it for what it is.

Update: The Discovery Channel Schedule does go out to Dec. 27th now, and the show is indeed listed for that Sunday. The three episodes listed for airing that night have the following descriptions:

Episode 1: Everest gives up it's first summit of the season, and takes its first victim.
Episode 2: After a knee injury ended his football career, John Golden overcomes a disability to attempt the highest goal on earth.
Episode 3: Astronaut Scott Parazynski attempts to be the first spacewalker on the summit of Everest.

There you go. Set the DVR's now!