Richard Branson Wants To Take Us Under The Ocean

Never let it be said that billionaire adventurer Richard Branson doesn't have a flair for the dramatic. Not only is the flamboyant Brit working hard to offer space tourism to the masses, he's also looking to plumb the depths of the ocean too, promising to deliver personal underwater vehicles for the rest of us as well.

According to this story from Popular Mechanics, Branson has joined forces with Hawkes Ocean Technologies to design and build the Necker Nymph (or Deep Flight Merlin), which the entrepreneur will keep on-sight at his resort in the British Virgin Islands. The craft will shuttle two passengers, along with a pilot, around the ocean floor, offering amazing views of the scenery around them. Cost for a week's rental? $113,000. Yikes!

As for Hawkes, they say that they are already at work on their next generation vehicle, which will be able to dive down as low as 35,000 feet beneath the surface. It'll be powered by jet engine technology and will be controlled by a joystick much the same way as a fighter plane. The craft is expected to allow access to ocean depths that have not been readily accessed before. The cost for the prototype has reportedly already already surpassed $670,000 just in builder's fees.

I have to say, these are pretty cool vehicles. Well out of my price range mind you, but I'd love to take one for a spin. What a cool way to explore the ocean, cruising along the Great Barrier Reef or off the coast of Belize would be amazing. I want one! :)

Walking The Amazon Update: Ed and Cho into Manaus

It's been far too long since we checked in on the Walking the Amazon expedition. You may recall, this is the unbelievably ambitious project in which British adventurer Ed Stafford, along with his companion Cho Sanchez Rivera, are attempting to walk the entire length of the Amazon River, something that has never been accomplished before. When they've finished this herculean task, they'll have covered more than 4000 miles through thick, oppressive jungle, often referred to as The Green Hell.

Ed and Cho have recently reached the Brazilian city of Manaus, which is the largest city along the Amazon. With more than 1.8 million people, this is a town where they can rest, recuperate, and resupply before returning to the wild. Considering the long days and weeks the pair have spent slogging through the rainforest, it had to have been quite a shock to see an actual large, thriving metropolis for the first time in months. Most of the other settlements they've come across while trekking have been mostly very small villages, although there are occasionally towns of decent size along the river.

According to their most recent blog post, Manaus was indeed a bit overwhelming. Ed writes:

Cho and I wanted a place to recover and rest before our last push to the Atlantic - but Manaus isn’t that place for us. The prices are over double that outside the city limits and the industrial sprawl (now electronics assembly) is dirty and hectic.

Because of this, he and Cho have hopped a bus to another near by town, which is smaller and much slower paced. They'll spend some time there repairing their rubber boats, used to ford streams and rivers, while they regain their strength and prepare to make the final push towards the Atlantic Ocean, which is roughly 900 miles away yet.

At this point, Ed has spent 667 days on this journey, having begun on April 2nd, 2008. I know that the original plan was to end sometime early this year, but the boys have been running a bit behind schedule, and the journey ahead of them will not be an easy one. I suspect they'll be out on the trail for awhile yet.

As I've said before, this expedition continually boggles my mind. It's such a massive undertaking, it's hard to not be impressed with the sense of exploration and adventure. I hope the last long leg of the journey goes well for both Ed and Cho.

The Rest of Everest DVD Giveaway: Week 3

It's time for the third week in our Rest of Everest DVD giveaway contest, in which you can win a copy of Everest {the other side}, the film that launched the podcast.

Each week of the contest, I ask a trivia question from the most recent episode of the podcast. Then, all you have to do to be eligible to win is e-mail me the answer at KungFuJedi@gmail.com. Before next week's episode, I'll pick a winner from everyone who gives me the correct answer, and ship a DVD out to them ASAP.

This week's question is:

According to Jeff, how many combinations of Yak-Cattle hybrids are in Nepal? (Can be found by Google apparently!)

Good luck everyone!

The Rest of Everest Episode 128: Immortalized In Nepal

The Rest of Everest gets back on the trail to Everest Base Camp this week with the release of Episode 128, entitled Immortalized in Nepal. You may recall that in the past few episodes, the trekking team has been stranded in Dingboche thanks to inclement weather in the region. Those back-to-back rest days could possibly throw off the schedule however, preventing the team from getting up to Base Camp.

The video gets off to a beautiful start when the trekkers step out of their tent to check the weather, and they are greeted with sunshine and clear, blue skies, much to the delight of all involved. After spending a couple of extra days in Dingboche, they all seemed eager to get a move on, and hopeful they'll still make it to their planned destination of EBC. With the skies cleared, we get amazing views of surrounding peaks, including Lhotse, Everest, and Ama Dablam.

A few episodes back one of the trekkers celebrated his birthday while on the journey, and the Sherpa's helped him celebrate it in style. This week, another member of the team gets to celebrate, as Megan turns 25 while surrounded by the Himalaya. Of course, the Sherpa guides couldn't just let the occasion pass without celebrating, and to honor Megan's big day they prepared a little surprise for her on the trail, spelling out birthday wishes in rocks along one of the slopes.

This video definitely gets back to being focused on the trek, with plenty of footage of the team hiking the route up to Base Camp. Not only does this video show the conditions that we can expect on such a trek, but it also shows the kind of camaraderie that these trekking groups experience while traveling (and suffering?) together in remote places. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, if you're interested in making this trek for yourself, it's definitely worth watching this season of the podcast.

Champion Unveils Super Suit For Use On Everest

At last weeks Winter Outdoor Retailer conference , a lot of new outdoor gear was shown off and introduced to the public. As I mentioned last week, much of what I saw, from afar mind you, was mostly evolutionary and not necessarily revolutionary. One product that did stick out however, was the new "Super Suit" from Champion that will be used by the Climb With Us Team this year on Everest.

What makes the Super Suit special you ask? Simple, it is just 3 millimeters thick. Yep. You read that right. The gear is very thin, and according to Champion's PR, it still manages to provide the same level of warmth as a typical down parka worn on the mountain. Those traditional jackets are as much 40 millimeters thick, so as you can imagine, this is a significant increase in mobility while cutting gear weight at bulk at the same time. To put this into further perspective, Champion says that the suit, jacket and pants, are roughly the same thickness as your mouse pad.

You can find out a lot more about the Super Suit by clicking here. Much of it is marketing stuff, but you'll get an idea of what kinds of gear they'll be offering and what the team will be trying out while climbing on Everest in a few months. The prospects of this thinner, lighter, gear is really amazing, and if it performs as well as expected, it could be a major step forward in keeping us warm in remote places. At this time though, we still don't know when it will be released to the rest of us and how much it is going to cost.

Mt. Washington No Longer The Windiest Place On Earth

For years, Mt. Washington, located in the state of New Hampshire here in the U.S., has been described as the windiest place on Earth, thanks to a 75 year old record for the highest wind speed ever recorded. The mark was set back in 1934, when gusts reached a speed of 231 miles per hour on the summit of the 6,288 foot peak, which is legendary for it's incredibly bad weather.

Now, according to the Adventure Life, that record has been wrestled away from Mt. Washington, and the new crown has been handed over to the Aussies. It seems that when cyclone Olivia hit barrow island back in 1996, it generated winds of 253 miles per hour, smashing those light breezes on Mt. Washington.

Why did it take so long to discover these wind speeds? Apparently a group of scientists were recently combing through weather and climate data, and discovered the mighty wind. Once it was discovered however, the findings were reported to meteorological services, and the new record became recognized, taking a little pride away from those that live on and around Mt. Washington.

Never fear though. The mountain still has plenty to brag about. It is a challenging climb in good weather conditions, and it's notoriously bad winters make it a tough test in the snow. It has even managed to make the list of some of the most dangerous mountains to climb. Not something you'd expect out of a peak that is less than 6300 feet in height.

Trailer Released For Antarctic Skiing Movie

Remember Chris Davenport? I mentioned him and his team a number of times this past Antarctic season, as they set out to visit the frozen continent and make the first descent down some un-skied mountains there. It seems they had a film crew along for the ride, and the project is now being put together for a summer release. The film is called Australis: An Antarctic Ski Odyssey and you can check out the trailer for it below. As you might expect, the scenery is stunning and the skiing looks amazing.

Thanks to the Goat for once again show the way!

Australis: An Antarctic Ski Odyssey from Granite Films Jim Surette on Vimeo.

Win A Jacket From First Ascent Courtesy of the Adventure Blog and Summit on the Summit!

Earlier in the month I wrote several times about the Summit on the Summit celebrity Kilimanjaro climb, which saw musician Kenna lead a team that included the likes of actors Jessica Biel and Emile Hirsch, adventure photographer Jimmy Chin, and rapper Lupe Fiasco to the summit of the highest mountain in Africa. The group was climbing to raise awareness of the growing global clean water crisis, and to raise funds to deliver water to people in need all over the planet.

The climb might be over, but the cause remains the same. There are ongoing efforts to continue to get out the word about this very important subject. That that end, The Adventure Blog has teamed up with the Summit on the Summit crew to give away a Peak XV down jacket provided by First Ascent.

The rules are simple. First, and foremost, you must be a resident of the U.S. to be eligible to win. If you meet that criteria, all you have to do is head over to the Summit on the Summit blog at Tumblr, and find the answer to one simple question:

What is the minimum standard amount of water that the United Nation’s High Commission for Refugees needs per person per day in liters?

Once you've found the answer, e-mail it to me at KungFuJedi@gmail.com with "Summit on the Summit" as your subject line, and type your answer in the body. I'll collect all the entrants with the correct answer, and pick the winner from a hat. All entries must be received by Midnight EST, February 3rd to be eligible. The winner will get the awesome jacket that is kindly provided by the good folks over at First Ascent, who were instrumental in outfitting the Summit on the Summit expedition. The jacket has a value of $269 and is designed to keep us warm in the most inclement weather. This really is a great prize for whoever wins! Good luck!!

The Rest of Everest DVD Giveaway Week 2 Winner!

This weeks winner in the Rest of Everest DVD give away contest is Rob Marsden of Tempe, AZ. Rob scored himself a copy of Everest {the other side}, which is the film that inspired the podcast that we all enjoy so much. Congrats Rob, the DVD is on it's way!

A new episode of the Rest of Everest is already on iTunes and the website, so I'll hopefully get a chance to review it tonight or tomorrow, and post a new question for this week. The contest will start once again, with your chance to win a copy of the DVD for yourself.

Tourists Stranded At Machu Picchu

Tourists visiting Machu Picchu in Peru have had a little surprise today, as torrential rainfalls in the region have caused massive flooding and landslides, stranding the travelers in the ancient Incan city. According to this story from the Guardian, the train that shuttles visitors to the site has been blocked by more than 40 landslides, effectively cutting it off for the foreseeable future. Rescue operations are underway however, with plans to airlift the more than 1500 people who have been stranded there for the past two days.

Located high in the Andes, Machu Picchu is one of the top tourist destinations in the entire country of Peru, with travelers flocking to it from around the globe. There are two ways of getting into the mountaintop fortress, either taking the 70 mile train ride or hiking for four days along the Inca Trail. Most take the train, although the trail has become increasingly popular with adventure travelers over the past ten years.

According to the story, ten helicopters have been designated to the rescue effort. There are conflicting reports however as to whether or not those efforts have actually gotten underway. Reportedly, the travelers have moved to a nearby hotel, which is booked solid of course. It is also being reported that food and water is now in short supply as well.

Talk about getting more adventure from your vacation than you were hoping for. It seems that everyone is okay at the moment, although two local residence lost their life in the mudslides. Lets hope they can evacuate the visitors in short order and everyone gets out safe and sound.

Climbing In Patagonia Caught On Helmet Cam

While we're on the subject of cool videos, check out the one below that shows climber Colin Haley making an impressive climb in Patagonia. Colin was wearing a helmet cam on his ascent of Aguja Guillaument, one of the peaks he's using as a warm-up to some bigger walls once the weather improves. He's planning on being in Patagonia for three months, and has already taken on some of the peaks in the Fitzroy Group, with even more ambitious climbs on the schedule.

Thanks to the Goat for this one!

BD athlete Colin Haley wears a helmet camera during a solo ascent of Aguja Guillaumet in Patagonia from Black Diamond Equipment on Vimeo.

Primal Quest Badlands Web Episodes #10

Once more we have another video from Primal Quest Badlands courtesy of Adventure World Magazine and Randy Ericksen. In this clip we hear from a number of racers about what their experiences were like during the race, including what they found the most challenging, what they liked best, and so on.

I'm not sure if this is the last of the web episodes, but it seems to be wrapping up the event with some final thoughts from teams that were already of the course and relaxing at the hotel.

Primal Quest Badlands was a 600-mile long adventure race that took place last summer in South Dakota. It pitted coed teams of four against one another over a ten day period in which they hiked, biked, ran, paddled, and climbed their way through the Black Hills and Badlands. It was one of the most grueling and difficult adventure races ever put together, and certainly something to see.

Everest 2010: Still Searching For Andrew Irvine and that Damn Camera!

With the Everest 2010 season beginning to loom ever closer, we're starting to get more details on expeditions and plans for the spring. But no matter how much things change on the mountain, it remains steeped in history, mystery and legend, holding an allure over the climbers and general public alike.

Of course, one of those enduring mysteries is whether or not George Mallory and climbing companion Andrew "Sandy" Irvine, ever reached the summit when on their fateful 1924 expedition. At the time, the pair were outfitted with the best equipment that was available, but despite their best efforts, the failed to return from the climb, perishing high up on rocky face.

It would be nearly another 30 years before Hillary and Norgay would reach the top of the highest mountain on Earth. But the question has always remained, were Mallory and Irvine first? Did they actually make it to the top? Was it even possible with the gear they had at the time? Experts have weighed in on the matter for decades, with some thinking it was not only possible, but probable, while others dismissed Mallory and Irvine out of hand. The debate was further compounded because the bodies of the two men were never found. Most argued that they would never know the answer for sure, unless we could find the pocket Kodak Camera that the two men carried with them. It could, in theory, offer photographic proof that they had topped out.

The debate went back into full swing back in 1999 when Mallory's body was discovered at high altitude on Everest. It was a major discovery, and gave us some clues as to what had happened to the two men. But unfortunately, there was no camera on the body, and Irvine remains missing to this day.

Fast forward to 2010, and gadget site Gizmodo is reporting that a new expedition in search of Irvine and the camera will get underway this spring. Gizmodo cites Tom Holzel, an "Everest Historian" who claims to have used high resolution satellite photos to scour the mountain looking for signs of the missing climber. Holzel says that he has spotted an "oblong blob" that he believes is the body of Irvine, and he's banking on the camera being on the body as well. The expedition will reportedly climb to the "blob" and determine what it is once and for all. And if it is indeed Mallory's missing partner, Holzel has given them instructions on how to handle the nearly 90 year old camera in order to have the best chance of recovering photos.

As I've said before, the camera has become the Holy Grail of Mountaineering. People have been searching for it for years, and all have come up blank. Of course, Everest is a big mountain, with lots of ground to cover, which hasn't helped in the process. But it's also quite likely that the camera may not even be there any more. It could have been dropped along the way, or exposed to the elements, causing it to corrode and disappear. And even if it is found, it'll take a miracle for the film to not have already been exposed. Still, we all love a good mystery, and it would be fun to know for sure, whether Mallory and Irvine ever stood on top. But again, as I've said before, does it really matter? They may have reached the summit, but that's only half-way. You have to get back down again for the climb to be considered successful in my mind.

Skydiver Set To Break Altitude, Speed Record

Austrian Felix Baumgartner is set to challenge two amazing skydiving records later this year, as he attempts to jump from the edge of space, setting a new record for highest altitude, and while in free fall, he hopes to break a 50-year old speed record, by breaking the sound barrier.

Sponsored by Red Bull (Who else?), Baumgartner hopes to ascend to 120,000 feet with the help of a giant balloon filled with helium. The 600-foot wide balloon will carry a specially designed canister up to where the atmosphere is thin, with Baumgartner tucked away inside. It is estimated that it will take roughly three hours for the skydiver to reach the designated height, at which time he'll rotate the capsule's door open and leap out, setting the new record for high altitude jump in the process.

He'll then proceed to free fall for some time, and with the air so thin at that altitude, Felix's support crew expects him to reach supersonic speeds in about 35 seconds or so. If their calculations are correct, he'll set a new speed record as well. As he descends, He could drift as much as 150-200 miles from his starting point. The team hopes to prove that an astronaut could survive a similar jump were they forced to abandon a spacecraft on re-entry.

As of now, there is no target date set for when he'll make the jump. The team is hoping that it will happen this year, but they are still clearing some logistical hurdles. They will be conducting a number of test jumps at lower altitudes while they work out the final details and look for a proper weather window to make the leap.

For more on the story, check out the Fox News article found here.

Papua New Guinea's Lost World Revealed

Back in September I wrote about a "lost world" that had been discovered near Mt. Bosavi in a very remote section of Papua New Guinea. At the time, the place was just beginning to be explored by a team of scientists and a film crew from the BBC, but they had already discovered some amazing new species, including a giant rat and a variety of new spiders.

Now, nearly six months later, WideWorld Magazine has a follow-up story with more information on the place. The article talks about the logistics of getting to this amazing place, and how the filmmakers went about enlisting the aid of the local tribesmen who had no concept of the technologies they would be using there.

Mt. Bosavi is located in a previously unexplored region of Papua New Guinea. The once active volcano had been silent for some time, and its caldera has collapsed many millennia ago. As a result, a nearly impenetrable wall of rock has been built up around the region, forming a unique ecosystem that has been virtually cut off to the outside world for thousands of years.

This fascinating story from WideWorld not only shows us what it was like to explore this remote area for the first time, it also talks about how the BBC worked to get the footage they wanted and needed to make a documentary about the expedition. While scientists and explorers struggled to penetrate the interior of the lost world, equally talented cameramen came along for the ride, capturing a place that no man had ever looked upon before.

Really amazing stuff. I'm hoping desperately that this documentary will somehow make its way stateside. I'd love to watch this all unfold.

Everest 2010: China Says - "No Traverses For You!"

Alan Arnette had an interesting bit of news posted to his Everest 2010 blog yesterday. It seems just two months before the climbers will descend on Kathmandu, the Chinese have found a way to throw a crimp in some plans for the upcoming season. The Chinese Tibet Mountaineering Association, the governing body that oversees the permitting procedure on that side of the mountain, has announced that they will not be issuing any permits that would allow a climber to make a traverse of Everest this year.

For those who are unfamiliar with a traverse, it is an ascent in which the climber begins on one side of the mountain, say Nepal, makes the usual climb to the summit, and then descends down the other side of the mountain into Tibet. Of course it can work in the opposite direction too, going from Tibet to Nepal.

While the vast majority of climbers won't even notice that this restriction is in place, there were several who have been planning to make a traverse. For instance, Australian climber Andrew Lock was hoping to make the first ever traverse without oxygen and Gavin Turner was going to try for the first ever double traverse. In this case, a double traverse would be starting on one side, climbing to the top, descending on the other, then resting for several days before reversing the route back to the summit and returning to where the climber started.

This change in the permits has forced climbers to make some changes to their plans. Andrew hasn't said what he'll do just yet, and Gavin is now jumping over to Annapurna instead. Meanwhile, Alan notes that David Liano and Bill Burke, who were hoping to make a traverse, will instead attempt a double summit, making one climb on the North Side in Tibet, then traveling to the South Side in Nepal, and making a second climb from there. If successful, this will be the first time that that has been done as well.

While this is a fairly minor bump in the road for most, it is a bit disheartening for these climbers who have been planning for a traverse, which have been done a number of times in recent years on Everest. The CTMA hasn't said why they've stopped issuing these permits, but Alan speculates that they're hoping to have a climber from China become the first to make the actual double traverse. Yay for national pride!

Solo Sailing Update: ESPN Covers Abby's Departure

Yesterday I posted a story on the recent progress of Jessica Watson and her attempt to sail solo around the world with the intention of claiming the title of youngest person to accomplish that feat at the age of 16. At the end of that story I also noted that Abby Sunderland, also 16, had set sail on her own solo circumnavigation attempt over the weekend, hitting the Pacific Ocean on Saturday.

It seems that Abby's story has hit the big time, as ESPN.com has picked it up and currently has a story about her attempt on their website. The article is rather brief, and simply gives an outline of what Abby is up to, as she also hopes to become the youngest person to successfully complete this journey.

It's always great when an adventure story like the ones we're use to following around here hit the mainstream. You don't often hear about these stories in the regular press. At least not until they've either finished the attempt or had some catastrophe befall them in the middle. I doubt ESPN will ever mention Abby again until she's completed the round-the-world trip, but it's nice to see her getting some attention from the big boys.

And for those that missed the story yesterday, you can follow Abby's progress in her Solo Round Blog.

Solo Sailing Update: Jessica Survives The Horn, Storms

Last week I noted that the Around The Americas crew was clearing Cape Horn on their attempt to circumnavigate North and South America, but it turns out they weren't alone in sailing those treacherous waters. Jessica Watson, who is in the midst of her attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world, has also recently cleared the Horn, and is currently facing storm waters off the Falklands.

The 16-year old Australian girl cleared the cape back on January 14th, and then proceeded on to the Falkland Islands as she heads out onto the open waters of the Atlantic. In her recent posts to her blog, she noted that winds have been light, but steady, for the most part, and she has been happy with her progress since rounding the southern most tip of South America, which required four very long days without much sleep.

Things got even more interesting over the weekend when a storm moved into the area, tossing Jessica and her ship, the Ella's Pink Lady, around like a model. In fact, in her blog post from yesterday, the teenager says that her ship has experienced four "knockdowns", which essentially means the winds and waves have knocked the boat on to it's side, including one that she describes as "the mast being pushed 180 degrees in to the water." Scary stuff!

The winds were so bad at one point that Jessica recorded them at 65 knots (roughly 75 mph!) That was before losing her wind instruments in one of the knockdowns. As a result of these conditions, Jessica battened down the hatches and stayed below decks, allowing her electric autopilot to keep her on course, downwind from the storm.

The post is quite the harrowing read and a bit of an insight into what it is like out there on the open waters. This girl has even more respect form me than she did before, as I'm sure I'd be limping into the nearest port, and booking the next plane ticket home. Jessica seems nonplussed by the activities though, and will continue on as planned.

In related new, Adventure World Magazine is reporting that Abby Sunderland has set sail on her attempt to sail solo around the world as well. Abby, who is also just 16 years old, set out on Saturday. You can read her thoughts and updates on her blog as well. Good lucky Abby!

New ExWeb Launching Soon!

If you've wandered by Explorersweb today you may have noticed that it is not open for business. Instead, there is a simple note saying that "explorersweb 3.0 will launch soon", with no further indication of when we can expect the site to relaunch nor what new additions we will see once it does.

Regular readers of my blog already know that I'm a big fan of ExWeb and frequently link to their stories and news from adventurers doing crazy things and visiting remote places all over the planet. While I don't always agree with their stance on certain issues, I do think they do a good job of keeping us all abreast on a variety of topics that we all love, such as mountaineers taking on big peaks, polar explorers heading to the top and bottom of the world, and a whole lot more.

With that in mind, I'm very much interested in seeing what they have in store for us once the site relaunches. Will it be more interactive? Will it allow us to leave comments on stories? How about forums to discuss the latest news and events from the adventure world? Will it include some *gasp* social media elements which have become so popular over the past few years? I guess only time will tell.

So, what would you like to see in a redesigned and relaunched Explorersweb? The old design was functional and worked well, but was starting to look a little dated. Still, I was generally on the site for the content, and not for the design. They always managed to pack quite a bit of info in the space they had, and I suspect that will remain the case in the new design as well. How fancy they get with flash, video, and other features will be interesting to see. Hope they're back up and going again soon.

Listening To The Antarctic Ice

Ever wondered what the ocean beneath the Antarctic ice sounds like? Then you're in luck, because the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research has you covered.

The German scientific base was established to explore the relationship with the ocean, the ice, and the plants and animals that inhabit the area. as such, they have placed two hydrophones beneath the surface. Those devices are powered by an autonomous, wind and solar generating observatory found on the Ekström ice shelf. The collected data, including the sounds, are transmitted back to the base, which then uploads it all via satellite connection to the Internet.

The results? An audio stream of what it sounds like beneath the ocean in Antarctica. The stream is available in both MP3 format and Ogg-Vorbis, both of which can be found by clicking here.

The information on the page warns that the sound is highly compressed and meant for scientific study, so it may not be fascinating to listen to all of the time. They also say that the sounds of animals may be very faint at times as well. And if that weren't enough, you'll hear a distinct hissing sound for a variety of reasons. The official description reads as follows:

A constant hiss pervading the signal is partly due to electronic noise as we push the hydrophone amplifiers to their limits, but also the natural ocean background noise made audible here through the use of ultra sensitive hydrophones. Additional broad band noise caused by wind, waves and currents adds to it on occasion. There a three sources of click-like interference: switching relais, electrostatic discharges caused by snow drift, and sferics produced by thunderstorms ten thousands of kilometers away.

While it may not be your favorite music, it is still an interesting thing to hear, and think about how far the sounds have to travel just to make it to our ears. Cool stuff. :)

Remote/Dangerous Travel Day At Gadling

Travel blog Gadling.com, for which I contribute on a regular basis, is having another theme day today, this time focused on the very broad subject of remote or dangerous travel. As a result, most of the stories on the site are about adventure travel to some degree, with articles on a number of different topics.

My own contribution to the topic is an article on the Nanda Devi Sanctuary in India. This remote corner of the Himalaya is definitely a unique and interesting place that is legendary for both its challenges and beauty. The Sanctuary itself is ringed in by a wall of mountains, the shortest of which is 19,700 feet in height. That wall prevented outside intruders from reaching the interior of the region until 1934, when British explorers Eric Shipton and H.W. Tillman finally found a way in. Once inside, they also gained access to Nanda Devi herself, the 25,643 foot tall mountain named after a Hindu goddess. That mountain is also considered one of the most beautiful in the world, haunting the dreams of mountaineers everywhere.

Some other stories appearing at Gadling today include a great story with six tips for traveling in the dangerous city of Mogadishu. There is also a story on dressing for extreme travel, which will probably seem like old hat to most of you, but still has some good tips to think about. For the ladies, there is a guide for packing for adventure travel, with a few more articles in the queue that will be going up later in the afternoon.

Adventure travelers should hopefully find some good things on Gadling today, and everyday. It's one of the best travel sites on the Internet, and I'm happy to be associated with them.

Gear Box: Keen Newport DP Backpack

Back in August I wrote a review of the Newport Backpack from Keen. At the time, I wrote about how I was impressed with the build quality of the pack, which had quickly replaced the commuter pack that I had been using for years, and while it continues to impress me months later, it is still a far better for schlepping around town than hitting the trail. I said as much in that review, giving the bag kudos for versatility, but having a few nits to pick with its trail performance.

Fortunately, the designers over at Keen haven't been resting on their laurels, and their newly released Newport DP pack is a far better option for hitting the trail. The new pack shares its older siblings build quality and commitment to the environment. The DP is tough and rugged, with a quality feel across the entire product. The pack is constructed from high quality materials with reinforced seams and heavy duty zippers and belt clips.

Also like the the regular Newport pack, there is plenty of storage options, including a hydration bladder sleeve with enough capacity for a three liter bladder. The main compartment on the DP has a great, large capacity, mesh pocket built in, and a secondary compartment offers multiple sub-pockets for keeping your gear organized and within easy reach. A handy clip keeps your keys safe and sound and both compartments are wide and deep, ensuring that you have plenty of room to carry everything you'll need for a day out on the trail.

Another new addition to the pack that helps to define it as more of trail pack is the increased padding along the back. While the original Newport had some padding, which aided in making it a comfortable commuter pack, the DP takes it up a notch with ample cushioning on the back panel. In fact, it has some of the thickest, most comfortable padding I've found on any daypack, which made it a joy to use all day on the trail. The lightweight, yet sturdy, breathable mesh shoulder straps only add to the level of comfort.

As if all of that wasn't enough, there are a couple of other nice features that help set the Newport DP out from the crowd. For instance, there is a built-in rain cover in the bottom of the pack. If you happen to get caught in a downpour, simply unzip the cover and pull it up and over the pack, keeping it, and all of the contents inside dry. The DP also has a removable hip belt, which is a nice option for those who don't like having something restrictive around their waist while hiking. I personally prefer a hip belt to help keep a pack from moving around too much, as I move, but it is a nice option to have none the less.

After using the original Newport pack almost daily since August, I can already tell that I am in love with the DP as well. It's high quality construction and thoughtful design elements make it a no brainer as a recommendation for anyone looking for a new daypack. Throw in ample storage and a comfortable fit, and you have a pack that will fit your needs for years to come. And at $90 it won't break your bank either.

*Disclaimer*: This pack was provided to me by Keen for review purposes.

Vancouver To Hawaii By High Tech Peddle Boat

It has been nearly two years since I wrote this story about Greg Kolodziejzyk, an adventurer who was, as the time, planning on crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a high tech boat that is propelled by peddling. Now, Greg is back, with a new goal and a newly designed website, to begin the countdown to his next adventure.

According to PedalTheOcean.com, Greg will now attempt to travel from Vancouver, Canada to Hawaii, a distance of nearly 3000 miles, under his own power. He expects the voyage to take somewhere between 40 and 80 days, beginning in June of this year. He'll be passing through a treacherous stretch of open water known as the Graveyard of the Pacific which is renown for its wild seas, unpredictable storms, and dangerous waves. If successful, Kolodziejzyk will become the first person to make that journey under his own power, which he'll be doing in his specially designed and built WITHiN boat.

Like many adventurers these days, Greg is undertaking this endeavor for a cause. He's working to combat child obesity by raising funds for Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids, an organization that is working to provide bicycles for second and third graders free of charge.

The Peddle The Ocean expedition looks like another great adventure set up for later in the year. 2010 looks like it's going to be a good one already. Good luck to Greg on this adventure. We'll be following!

Become A Teva Life Agent, Win $10,000 To Fund Your Adventure

Teva, the company that designs great hiking shoes and sandals, is launching a new program that will give a handful of luck winners an opportunity to win $10,000 to send them on an adventure of a lifetime.

Dubbed the Teva Life Agents, this program is designed to let us get our adventurous side out by encouraging people to chase their dreams and escape the monotony of every day life. To apply for your chance to win one of these $10,000 prizes, you simply need to submit your entry, either in video or essay format, explaining what your adventure is, and how you'd like to pursue it. If you win, you'll be asked to share that adventure, in written and video form (camera provided!) with the rest of us.

Judging our entries will be an initial list of Life Agents that includes a number of interesting and adventurous people. That esteemed panel includes anthropologist Wade Davis, mountain biker Jeff Lenosky, environmentalist Kick Kennedy, filmmaker/photographer Jason Goldwatch, and kayaker John Grace. This group of individuals are all very different, and yet they share a love of adventure and living life to the fullest, which is why Teva selected them to be part of the program.

So, if you have big plans for 2010, but you're not sure how you're going to fund them yet. Head on over and submit your film or essay. After all, you might be the next Life Agent and be off on that adventure before you know it.

Nat Geo Releases Atlas For The iPhone!

National Geographic has released an iPhone version of their popular World Atlas, allowing us to take it with us wherever we go.

The new app, which can be found at this link, cost just $1.99, but offers everything you'd expect from the printed version, and then some. For instance, the program offers seven levels of cartography provided by National Geographic themselves, as well as an addition seven layers of maps provided by Microsoft Bing. The high-resolution imagery used to render those maps are the same as those found in Nat Geo's wall maps and printed atlases, giving you the best looking and most comprehensive maps in the world, right in your pocket.

If that wasn't enough, the app also includes access to the Flags and Facts database, which offers a wealth of information on countries and cities from around the globe. You can also search for information on more than 7 million locations, bookmark your favorites, and use the iPhone's built in GPS to locate your current position at any time. All of that, and more, is wrapped up in an easy to use interface that quite literally puts the world at your fingertips. To find out more about this app, click here.

I'm a huge fan of National Geographic's maps and atlases. In fact, I received a beautiful, framed wall map as a Christmas present that is simply beautiful and amazing. Having their World Atlas right on my iPhone seems like a dream come true. As if I needed another app to keep me playing with Apple's wonderful little gadget.

The Costs of Climbing The Seven Summits

The Outpost, the official blog of Outdoorzy.com, has an interesting post up today that examines the costs of climbing the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on all seven continents.

The article looks at several broad categories and gives a good estimate of what each of them costs. For instance, they say that it'll set you back roughly $1170 for training to ensure you know what you're doing on those mountains, and another $9200 in airfare just to fly to the various countries that is home to one of these mountains. Throw in another $1500 for "incidentals", which covers such things as visas and passports, and things start to add up quickly.

Of course, the largest category is for the guide services necessary to climb the 7 (+1) mountains. The Outpost says that you can expect to pay between $105,850 - $169,900 on guides depending on who you choose to go with. They do note that this is an area that can be highly customized, and that's why there is such a large variance in the cost. Guide services are not all created equal, and sometimes you get what you pay for. Besides, do you really want to go cut-rate on this kind of trip?

The one category that I might disagree with their estimate on is gear, which they say will cost you $2000. In my opinion that is on the very low side, as I've seen down suits and thermal boots for Everest that will cost you that much alone. But I suppose, that this is, once again, an area that can really vary greatly, and you do indeed get what you pay for here as well.

So what's the bottom line? Outdoorzy says that the grand total of making a Seven Summits bid is about $119,720 - $183,870. That doesn't include the time you'll need to get off work, as most of us aren't sponsored climbers either.

Winter Outdoor Retailer 2010 Underway

The annual Winter Outdoor Retailer gear show is currently underway in Salt Lake City. As usual, the show is hosts all the major gear manufacturers, as well as plenty of minor ones too, as they show off all their new products that will be available later this year.

For gear hounds, the week of the show, and it's summer counterpart, are generally a lot of fun, as there are always new and interesting pieces of gear to get excited about. You'll find new tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, and a whole lot more. And of course, I can almost hear my bank account weeping in anticipation.

As always, there are some good websites covering the event, and showing off the new stuff. I always appreciate the coverage over at Trail Space, as they do a good job of showing off the latest trends. True to his name, the Gear Junkie does a good job of hitting the big stories too, and his coverage can be found in the Daily Dose. Also, The Goat blog from Backcountry.com is showing off all kinds of goodies too.

So far, I haven't seen a lot of stuff that has blown me away. It seems like most of the gear is more evolutionary than revolutionary. There is a continued focus on being more eco-sensitive and making products that respect the environment. There are updated fabrics and materials being applied to clothes, bags, and so on, making the gear lighter, stronger, and more resistant to the elements. All good things of course.

Stay tuned. If I see something is particularly interesting, I'll be sure to spotlight it. :)

The Rest of Everest DVD Giveaway: Week 2

We're ready for the second week of our Rest of Everest DVD give away in which you can win a copy of Everest {the other side} the DVD that launched the program.

Once again, the rules are simple. Watch this week's episode of the Rest of Everest, and find the answer to the trivia question below. Then send your answer to kungfujedi@gmail.com. I'll collect all the correct answers, and then pick a winner out of a hat to win this week's DVD.

This week's question is:

What movie did Jon see a poster for in the teahouse in Dingboche?

Good luck everyone!

The Rest of Everest Episode 127: You CAN Hear Me Now

Midweek, as usual, brings us a new episode of The Rest of Everest, which continues the trek through the Khumbu Valley up to Everest Base Camp. When we left off last week, the team was still stranded in Dingboche, and that's where we start this week.

Episode 127, entitled You CAN Here Me Now begins with everyone still hanging out in the local teahouse while they wait for the weather to clear. Early on, we get a nice contrast of cultures, as we see the team carrying all kinds of high tech gear, including some great camera gear and Jon's iPhone, only to also see a local woman changing out the fuel in the stove used as a furnace. The "fuel" in this case was yak dung.

Over the course of the trek thus far, we've heard that there have been issues with the satellite phone not working properly. But on this day, it is finally up and running, allowing the trekkers to make phone calls home to say hello and check in with their friends and family.

Not much in the way of scenery this week, as the region is still covered with low clouds and snow. But Lhotse does make a cameo appearance at one point, and next week's episode looks like it'll put us back on the trail to base camp. Tune in then to see how the trek unfolds.

The South Pole Dome Is No More!

Way back in November I wrote about how the dome at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station was being demolished and shipped home because it had been replaced by a newer, more energy efficient building. That dome had been an iconic symbol at the Pole for 30 years, and there was a movement afoot to get the dome reassembled back in the States as a monument to the research and exploration that has gone on there for three decades.

January 15th was the end of an era, as the deconstruction of the dome was completed at last. The photo below was taken of the entire team at the station, with just two sections of the dome still standing. After the photo was shot, those last two sections were taken down, and the building was officially decommissioned. You can find out more at SouthPoleStation.com and you can see this a larger version of the photo by clicking here.

While I'm sure the new, six story tall building, will be a fine home for the scientists, researchers, and staff at the Pole, it'll hardly cut the horizon in the same way that the dome once did. It'll be a very different view for the explorers that make their way to that spot in the future, that much is for sure.

Thanks to Lou-Phi for reminding me of this story. Much appreciated as always! :)

Antarctica 2009: Ryan and Cecilie Are Done!!

I posted an Antarctic update earlier in the day, but thought this was worth it's own post as well. In the earlier update I noted that Ryan Waters and Cecilie Skogs were closing in on their goal of traversing across the continent, and they've just sent back a dispatch saying that they have completed their expedition. Here is the complete text from the dispatch:

We are very pleased to announce that Cecilie Skog of Norway and Ryan Waters of the USA, have completed the first ever un-supported/un-assisted ski traverse of Antarctica!

The team skied 1,117 miles/1,800 kilometers over 70 days from Berkner Island in the Ronne/Filchner Sea to the South Pole, then continued to the Ross Sea to complete a full traverse of the continent.

more soon...

Pretty impressive work from the two adventurers. Completing an unsupported traverse is an amazing accomplishment, and I want to congratulate Ryan and Cecilie for a job well done. Great work you two!

With this expedition coming to an end, the 2009 Antarctic Season is really coming to a close. There are a few things still going on down there, and a few teams still on Vinson and some other peaks, but the window will be closing soon, and the number of people living in Antarctica will once again return to a very small number. At least until the 2010 season, when things will certainly get interesting once again.

Paddling Through Tibet

I found this cool video over at the Wend Blog earlier and thought that it was worth sharing here too. It does a great job of capturing some of the amazing scenery in Eastern Tibet, while showing a kayaking team taking on BIG whitewater in remote areas of the country. Looks like quite a ride!

Tibet Kayak Mission from Kayak TV on Vimeo.

Antarctica 2009: Meagan Heading Home, Ryan and Cecilie Nearly Done!

More news from the Antarctic today as one expedition comes to an end and another is steaming towards the finish line.

We'll start with Ryan Waters and Cecilie Skog who are nearing the end of their adventure. In a dispatch sent out yesterday, they noted that they had made impressive time across the Axel Heiberg Glacier, which was the one remaining obstacle in the completion of their traverse of the continent. After a very long, 17-hour day, the pair covered plenty of mileage, passing some extremely treacherous terrain in the process.

The end of their dispatch reads as follows:

Today we covered 30 kilometers down the long and lovely glacier and can literally see the finish out below us on the frozen Ross sea ice.

Check here tomorrow for the breaking news...

We're still waiting for a dispatch today, but it seems that their epic journey should come to an end very shortly, as the pair arrive at long last at the Ross Sea. Stay tuned!

Also, Megan McGrath posted a written note a few days back as well. It seems the intrepid Canadian adventurer didn't spend too much time at the South Pole, as she was already back in Punta Areanas, Chili by Tuesday, and was heading home yesterday. Talk about a quick turn around!

Meagan says that her South Pole expedition was the hardest thing she's ever done and this is coming from a girl who has completed the Seven Summits, including Everest. She says she is exhausted, and looking forward to some rest, but after a bit of down time, she'll be back to training for her next adventure.

Retouching The Void With Simon Yates

Here's another great opportunity to go trekking with a climbing legend. It seems that Simon Yates, of Touching the Void fame, is leading a trek back to Siula Grande, the mountain that made his, and Joe Simpson's story famous.

U.K. adventure travel company World Expeditions has put together a 19-day trekking expedition along the Huayhuash Circuit which will be guided by Simon himself. Along with the usual highlights of this trek, which includes Inca ruins, a visit to Huaraz and Lima, as well as 13-days of hiking in the Andes, trekkers will have the opportunity to visit base camp on Siula Grande.

This is a rare opportunity for mountaineers, both active and armchair, to get a first hand account of one of the most legendary climbing stories of the past three decades. Simon will obviously have some amazing insights into what happened there. I'm sure the journey will be an emotional one, as Simon has not trekked through the region since 1985, when the events of the book took place, although I'm pretty sure he was back on the mountain when the film was being made.

There will be two treks held this fall, and the first one, running from Sept. 4-22 has already sold out. As of this writing however, there are still some slots open on the second trip, which will take place from Sept. 25 - Oct. 13. So, if you want to make one of the best treks in the world, while getting a first hand account of a legendary story from one of the men who were there, be sure to sign up quickly.

The Rest of Everest DVD Giveaway Week 1 Winner!

Congratulations to Val Nordquist of Philadelphia, PA for winning the Rest of Everest DVD contest this week and claiming a copy of Everest {the other side}. I'll get that DVD shipped out to you ASAP Val, and I hope you enjoy it! :)

A new episode of The Rest of Everest should be available later today, which means we'll have another opportunity to win in the next day or two. If you're a fan of Everest, and mountaineering in general, you'll want a copy of this DVD. It's an excellent, well made film about the mountain, and it was the catalyst that brought us the Rest of Everest podcast.

Thanks to everyone who entered this week. If you didn't win, give it a shot this week. We have a number of DVD's to give away, and it's easy to win!

10 Things You Shouldn't Do In A Kayak, in Video Form!

There is a great collection of kayaking videos over at Gadling today. Ten of them in fact, all used in the category of things you probably shouldn't do in a kayak. Some of them I've posted here before, but it it is still a fun video list that will have you laughing and sometimes cringing all at the same time. Check out an example below, then head over to see the rest of the vids found here.

impossible2Possible Team Prepares For Siberian Express!

Polar explorer, endurance athlete, and all around adventurer Ray Zahab is preparing to set out on yet another expedition. Ray will be joined by Kevin Vallely, who has an equally impressive adventure resume, as the duo take on one of the most remote and harshest environments on the planet in a bid to raise funds for water projects in Africa, while connecting with thousands of students in the process, all as a part of the amazing impossible2Possible organization.

The expedition is dubbed the Siberian Express and it will see Ray and Kevin running the length of Lake Baikal, a distance of more than 650km (403 miles). The two men will be making the journey unsupported, which means they'll be pulling all of their gear and supplies behind them, but despite those heavy loads, they expect to travel somewhere between 65 and 70 km per day, or about 40 miles, over the frozen lake, which sits in Russia's southern Siberia region.

The goal of the expedition is two fold. First, they hope to raise enough funds to complete two clean drinking water projects in Africa, working in conjunction with the Ryan's Well Foundation and GivingWater.org. The second goal is to educate and engage students about the water crisis, and get them to help in the process. By the time the expedition gets underway, the i2P Experiential Learning Program expects to be in contact with between 8000-10,000 students from around the world through educational modules, live streaming video conferences, and Q&A sessions. Those same students will be the ones helping with the fundraising efforts by organizing their own bake sales, raffles, car washes, and so on.

The site of the expedition, Lake Baikal, is the largest freshwater lake in the world, covering some 12,248 square miles of area. It is also the deepest lake as well, averaging 2442 feet of depth and stretching as far down as 5390 feet down at its deepest point. Baikal holds roughly 20% of the world's freshwater, and in the very cold Siberian winters, it freezes solid, allowing expeditions such as this one to traverse it's length.

As if this expedition wasn't enough, i2P is also busy putting together the second leg of the Word Expedition that will have a team of youth adventurers running across Tunisia. Stay tuned for more information on that project in the future as well.

NASA Set To Unveil Personal VTOL Aircraft, I Want One!

Ever since the calendar turned to 2010, I've been asking myself where I could find a flying car or personal jetpack. After all, 2010 sounded so futuristic at one point. Sadly, we still aren't living in an age of the Jetsons, and I'm still tethered to the Earth by gravity on my daily commute.

Thankfully, the big brains over at NASA are hoping to change that, as they are set to officially unveil the design for their Puffin personal aircraft. According to Gizmodo, the vehicle stands 12-feet in height, has a wingspan of 13.5-feet, and is powered by an electrical engine that can cruise at speeds of 150 mph and but can top out at over 300 mph when necessary. Reportedly, the aircraft can fly up to 30,000 feet in altitude, and is designed for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL).

What's the catch you ask? Well, as a prototype, there is no known costs yet, and because it is battery powered, its flight range is still a bit limited. At the moment, the Puffin is only capable of covering about 50 miles of distance on a single charge. Good enough for that morning commute, but not great for heading to the coast for the weekend. Still, NASA has a pretty good track record with improving on technology, and better, more efficient batteries are in the works. That leaves me with just one question. Where and when can I get one of these?

17-Year Old Sets Record For Seven Summits

Backpacker Magazine is reporting in their Daily Dirt Blog that 17-year old Johnny Collinson of Utah has become the youngest person to climb the Seven Summits after reaching the top Mt. Vinson yesterday.

Collinson has yet to post anything to his own website, but he was climbing with a Mountain Madness team, and they have reported the teen's success. Johnny was part of a four person team that was guided up by North Face athlete Willie Benegas, who will be on his way to Aconcagua shortly.

A quick glance at Johnny's website tells us that he has climbed the Carstenz Pyramid version of the Seven Summits, which is of course the most challenging and technically demanding. There is no word on whether or not he'll head to Australia to nab Kosciusko, the tallest mountain on that continent. But considering that it is a simple walk up, it would only be a bump in the road for him after claiming these other peaks.

Congrats to Johnny on a job well done. Will he hold the record long though? Jordan Romero plans to head to Everest this spring and Vinson in the fall.

Portage to Portage: Jake's Hit The Gulf, Talks To Himself On Video

A couple of weeks back I mentioned the Portage to Portage Kayak Expedition, in which paddler Jake Stachovak is attempting to circumnavigate the Eastern U.S. by kayak along an interesting route that begins and ends in Wisconsin. Along the way, he'll pass along the Mississippi River, into the Gulf of Mexico, up the Atlantic Coast, into the Great Lakes, and finally along a river back to where he started.

When checking his progress today, I discovered that he has completed the first leg of that expedition by reaching the Gulf. Considering the cold weather conditions and blizzards that he was dealing with back in December when he first launched, he has to be feeling good about the warmer weather he's experiencing now. It seems like he's making good time, but then again, when you watch the video below, you'll understand why. I found this over at CanoeKayak.com, and while it's mostly just a view of Jake paddling, and telling a rather silly joke, the subtitles, most likely supplied by his support team are pretty amusing. On top of that, we discover that Jake takes 76 paddle strokes a minute, which is fairly impressive, and helps to explain how he reached the Gulf already.

Of course, he still has a long ways to go, and paddling in the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean won't be nearly as easy as the Mississippi River. But, it seems that Jake his happy with his progress so far, and is determined to paddle all the way home.

Summit on the Summit Documentary Coming March 14th!

The Summit on the Summit climb may be over, but the team is still focused on the cause and working towards providing clean drinking water to the world. The First Ascent Blog has been posting videos from the climb, including the one below, which was shot after the climbers returned from the mountain. It features some of the celebs who made the journey talking about the experience and sharing their thoughts.

Of further interest, at the end of the video there is a note that there will be a documentary of the climb that is set to air on MTV on March 14th that will no doubt have a more in depth view of what it is like to scale Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa.

I'm already looking forward to it.

Putting Those Climbing Skills To Use Around The House

I saw this video yesterday both on the Wend Blog and the Goat, but thought it was worth sharing here as well. It's a fun little clip that shows how you can put those climbing skills to use around your house, or at the very least get a workout in when the weather is terrible. Pretty impressive stuff. :)

Mongolia 2010 Expedition: An Interview With Ripley Davenport

In just a few short months, Ripley Davenport will set out on his Mongolia 2010 Expedition, in which he'll attempt to become the first person to trek solo, and unsupported across the entire country. Traveling from East to West, he'll cover more than 1700 miles from the Mongolian Steppe, through the Gobi Desert and onto the Altai Mountain Range, all the while pulling a cart behind him that will contain all of his supplies and gear. If successful, this will set the new standard for trekking, becoming the longest solo and unsupported walk in history.

Ripley will leave for Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia in April, but he was kind enough to answer some questions about his upcoming adventure for us, even as he is working hard to prepare for the rigors of the journey.

Adventure Blog: With less than 90 days to go, how is your training going?

Ripley Davenport: Very well. I am well passed the level of fitness as I was back in my military days and I can feel it. My thanks and gratitude go out to Ray Zahab from i2P for his professional advice and tailored training programs. My physical training is at its highest tempo. The tractor tires are still being used on the odd day but now I am focusing on using the expeditiion trailer with near enough the eqivalent weight I’ll be hauling in Mongolia for prolonged periods of time. It stems to 4 hours a day at present but every week I am increasing by 30 minutes and adding weight.
Aerobics, yoga and stretches every day and some serious iron man excerises such as tire lifting and and 100m burst tractor pire pulling. Having two active kids that need 24 hour attention helps the fitness (more mentally) in some ways!

AB: The deadline is looming closer and closer, what do you still need to get done before you leave for Mongolia?

RD: I am finishing up on several small items connected with the expedition and going about searching for, perhaps, a title sponsor or some well needed financial support. Up until now all the funding has come from my own pocket. Although a relatively low budget expedition, far from any polar or climbing adventure, it has taken a healthy chunk from a small family.
We, as a small family, have made many sacrifices and decided to move to a smaller house and sold our second car to allocate funds for the Mongolia 2010 Expedition. The Endurance Trust, has been extremely supportive with allocating some funding for the expedition.

AB: What is the biggest logistical hurdle that you still need to face? Is there something that you're glad is behind you?

RD: I have done all the expedition planning myself. Website, sponsorship searching, logistics, fabrication of the trailer, speaking and fund raising. It has been an experience in itself and, more importantly, I have gained invalueable knowledge and taken onboard a few lessons. The expedition is not just the actual event but the planning and preparation that leads up to it. It’s been a big hurdle.

The construction of the expedition trailer has been a hurdle but with the help of a sound engineer, Louis Phillipe Loncke and 12 different trailer / cart designs, I have spawned a trailer worthy of such a journey. I am grateful to my engineer Poul and to Louis for his experience and sound knowledge.

I think I will be gald most of all of getting out there and doing it and taking a break from all the planning and preparation. It’s where the metal will meet the meat.

AB: As you finish up your preparation, what to you think will be your biggest challenge while on the trek?

RD: The biggest challenge was getting my head around completing this. Walking across a country so large and over such terrain, over such time offered unlimited challenges. Sandstorms will be an ever constant phenomenom and April / May is renowned for sudden sand storms that blot out the sun so I guess I will have to walk in the shade (yep, a line from the movie 300), and plough on through it all. Of course, servere icy winds and unrelenting cold will hamper my first weeks but the temperatures should climb slowly throughout my journey. I will experience sub zero temperatures and desert heat, more than likely in one day. Water is another cause for concern. I will be taking 150L of water and carrying a water purification system from HTIwater, which works on the Osmosis system. Drinking water from nature. This will enable me to use any water, and I mean any rancid, foul smelling mud that I can find and replenish my supplies as I cross the country. I have acquired several Russian military maps that have numerous watering holes and wells marked.

AB: We know about your physical training for Mongolia, how are you preparing mentally for the challenge?

RD: I believe in it and practice it like a religion. I rate it higher than the physical aspect. It’s your mind that will determine if you will succeed. It is the mind that keeps you moving forward even if you are moving backwards and slightly to the side.

I have already walked across Mongolia, in fact, several times in my head. I constantly visualise the walk and myself immersed in various situations. I act out each senario and think of different ways that I can handle it. My focus is on performance enhancement through various techniques, including relaxation, tension and stress management, visualisation and focusing skills.

Over time I have been taught how to reduce and eliminate tension and stress, which helps in laying the groundwork for my ongoing mental preparation. Visualisation or what I call ‘mental rehearsal’ is a proven and effective way to help the feeling that I am in control of my performance.

In the beginning, the visualisation is geared toward skill development or mechanical improvements in one or more areas such as walking, running or pulling the car tires. Once I “see myself” or can effectively mentally rehearse a skill, it can be done within seconds of performance. I was taught visual rehearsal back in the military. You walk through the task, over and over, until you can perform the duty in your sleep or blindfolded.

The bottom line: truly believing in yourself, your ability, and your goals is a vital element of mentally preparing to succeed. If you can actually see yourself doing it and succeeding in it, then surely you must be able?

AB: After all of the planning and preparation, how eager are you to get started?

RD: I am very eager to get started. It’s been a long wait but still worthwhile. It’s important to be rational about anything of this magnitude and plan well in advance considering many factors. Launching straight into something, so demanding and precarious, without careful consideration for every evetuality only brings dire consequences. Mongolia has been a plan since 2001, so you could say I’ve waited nearly nine years, but it’s only the last 2 years when I’ve sunk all my teeth into making this happen. I am just as excited about starting this as, I think, most people are. It’s been a long time and finally, very soon, a dream will become reality.

AB: What else would you like to share?

RD: At this time I would like to thank a few people, without whom, this road would have been far more bumpy and problematic.

Burmaa Zunduisuren the Managing Director from Visit Mongolia, who has assisted beyond the call of sponsorship duty in dealing with the paperwork involved in securing permission to make this expedition happen.

Gareth Garvey partner from B-innovation and member of the The International Rotary Club and British Chamber of Commerce in Copenhagen who continually stands by my side in sourcing help.

Matt Nelson of the Endurance Trust, for providing some well needed financial support, help and general friendship.


I'd like to thank Ripley for sharing his thoughts and insights on his upcoming expedition. You can rest assured that we'll be following along and tracking his progress. This is going to be an amazing adventure, and real proof of some of the great things that we can do when we put our minds to it. Good lucky Ripley!