The Rest of Everest Episode 131: High Peaks and High Aspirations

After a week off from the regular release schedule, The Rest of Everest returns this week with another excellent episode chronicling a trek up to Everest Base Camp that took place last spring.

This episode is entitled High Peaks and High Aspirations, and it's clear to see where that name comes from before the episode credits have even finished rolling. Stunning vistas are everywhere this time, including early shots of climbers going up Everest it self. They're mostly seen as tiny dots in the distance, but it is beautiful none the less.

The views continue throughout the episode of course, as we continue the trek up the Khumbu Valley. The regular characters that we've been following along are continuing to suffer a bit from the altitude, but BC is now so close they can practically see it. Highlights of the episode include snow capped peaks in all directions, the melodic sounds of yak bells going up the trail, and more insights from the trekkers on what it is really like to be there. Considering I'm going myself soon, I don't know if I should be excited or scared! :)

Catch all of the Rest of Everest episodes on the website or in iTunes. Week in and week out it is consistently great stuff.

Siberian Express Expedition Set To Begin Monday!

Speaking of icy adventures, the Siberian Express team of Ray Zahab and Kevin Vallely set off from Vancouver yesterday on their way to Siberia, where they hope to begin their expedition on Monday, March 1st.

You may recall, I wrote about this expedition a month back when Ray and Kevin were deep into their training. They will be making an attempt at a speed record for crossing Lake Baikal, the largest and deepest freshwater lake in the world. The lake is frozen this time of the year, making it a perfect opportunity to try to make the 400+ mile journey along its entire length. Despite the fact that they'll be going in unsupported fashion, pulling their gear behind them on sleds, they still intended to cover roughly 40 miles per day.

The expedition has some larger goals beyond the speed record as well. They hope to raise funds for the Ryan's Well Foundation and givingwater.org to help complete clean water projects in Africa. They'll also be connecting with thousands of students across the globe, as part of the impossible2Possible educational outreach programs.

While they're not heading to the North Pole, this is still a tremendous undertaking in a very harsh climate. The Siberian winters are brutal, and they'll be completely exposed out on the ice of the lake, which is gigantic in size. Not only does it cover more than 12,200 square miles of area, it actually reaches 5390 feet in depth as well. Those are staggering numbers for any body of water, let alone a freshwater lake.

North Pole 2010: More Teams Prepping To Go

Yesterday I posted about several of the expeditions that are either already in Canada, or were on their way. Unfortunately, a blizzard had a number of them stranded in a variety of locations, preventing them from reaching Resolute Bay, a popular starting point for arctic explorers. Flights are not expected to resume today, although I've heard that they will begin tomorrow, with several trips planned to make up for the back-log of people and gear waiting to hit the tiny Canadian town.

The teams I spotlighted yesterday aren't the only ones making the trip up north however, as there will be several others hoping to make the journey too. Take for example, Tessum Weber, who is aiming to get underway next week. At the age of 20, he hopes to become the youngest person to reach the Geographic North Pole, and he couldn't have picked a better guide to get him there. Tessum will be traveling with polar legend Richard Weber.

British explorers Dan Darley and Amelia Russell have been in Resolute Bay for more than a week, and have been ready to get started, while they patiently waited for a weather window. According to an update posted on their website yesterday, the window opened for them today. Due to the storms preventing anyone from getting into town, there was an open slot on an outgoing plane today. It seems that they quickly putting the finishing touches on their prep work, and should have hit the ice today. Hopefully we'll get an update from the soon. But for now, you can read more about the pair in this interview over at ExWeb.

Australian husband and wife team Linda Beilharz and Rob Rigato have posted a new dispatch today, and like everyone else, they're waiting out the weather with flights into Resolute still being cancelled. They also note that satellite images have revealed large leads opening up along the northern coastline of Canada, which may be good or bad depending on the weather. If they freeze over, they'll make for smooth and easy traveling, but if they don't freeze, it'll make for long treks around them. For Linda and Rob however, all they can do at this point is wait, as their gear is packed, and they are ready to go. Just waiting for their turn to be delivered to Ward Hunt Island, their starting point.

The Irish Team of Pat Falvey, Clare O’Leary, and John Dowd finished up their training in Yellowknife, Canada awhile back, and should also be preparing for their departure soon. To date, there has been few updates to the team website, although, as I mentioned yesterday, John has been updating his own blog regularly. Hopefully once they get underway, we'll hear more about their efforts as well.

Finally, Italian Michele Pontrandolfo is hoping to make a solo expedition to the Pole as well. While my Italian is spotty (At best!), I can tell from his blog that he arrived in Canada on Monday, and I'm guessing he's waiting, like everyone else, for the weather to clear.

Looks like it's quite the International contingent heading to 90º North this year. When they all get there, perhaps they can hold a U.N. meeting. Or at the very least, share a stick of butter.

Portage to Portage: Jake Has Crossed The Gulf and Rounded Florida

It has been a more than a month since we checked in with Jake Stachovak and his Portage to Portage Expedition. If you're a regular reader, you'll probably remember that Jake is making a journey around the entire Eastern United States, completely by Kayak, beginning and ending in Portage, Wisconsin. He had already paddled down the length of the Mississippi River, and when we last checked in, he was heading out onto the Gulf of Mexico.

It took Jake 37 days to paddle the length of the Gulf Coast, including 30 days in the cockpit and seven days off for bad weather. Now he has turned his kayak north and is beginning to paddle up the Eastern Shore Board. According to his blog, he is currently in the Miami area, where he's been enjoying some rest and relaxation, while he gears up for the next leg of the journey. He's also headed over to the Sweetwater Kayaks Symposium being held in St. Petersburg this weekend, which gives him a good excuse to stay on dry land for a bit longer.

The rest of the journey will see him paddling up the East Coast of the U.S. to New York City, where he'll navigate through canals into Lake Ontario. From there, he'll paddle across the Great Lakes, to the Fox river, which will allow him to paddle upstream, back to Wisconsin, where he started the entire journey from.

Below, is a video of Jake as he officially leaves the Gulf of Mexico behind, paddling under the Highway 1 bridge in Florida, and entering into the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. He pauses long enough to share some thoughts on the journey thus far, but the hilarious captions that his home team put into the video before posting are what really makes it all work. Good stuff and a very cool adventure.

North Pole 2010: And So It Begins...

The 2010 Arctic Season is preparing to get underway within a matter of a few days, as adventurous souls begin the long, cold, and dangerous march to the top of the world. The explorers are all gathering in Canada at the moment, putting the finishing touches on their preparation, and eager to hit the ice.

Eric Larsen, fresh off his recent journey to the South Pole, is in Ottawa, and trying to reach Resolute Bay, where he'll start his march to the North Pole. A winter storm in Resolute has prevented travel to that remote town for the better part of today, but Eric hopes to arrive there soon, and being the process of organizing his gear and getting putting the finishing touches on his preparations. This will be the second leg of Eric's Save The Poles Expedition, and if successful here, he'll head on to Everest in the fall, to claim all three "Poles" in one year. Joining Eric on the journey is Darcy St Laurent and Antony Jinman.

Meanwhile, Christina Franco is back in Canada and preparing for her attempt to become the first woman to go solo and unassisted to the North Pole. She's currently in Resolute Bay and up to her eyeballs in prep work. Her latest blog post even has photos of her getting her gear and supplies ready for the first 60 days out o the ice. She is expected to be resupplied en route. She does note that the storm is on going, but that hasn't kept a bear from wandering into town.

Polar explorer John Dowd has completed his prep work in Yelllowknife, located in the Yukon Territory. He notes that he now feels much better on his skies, and isn't falling nearly as much, which I'm sure comes quite a relief considering he's about to undertake a 500 mile journey through the arctic. No word yet on when he'll begin his journey.

Finally, Australian Tom Smitheringale is putting the final preparation together as well, and the countdown clock on his website now reads less than 18 hours to go until he sets out for the Pole. That indicates they'll be leaving Iqaluit, Canada tomorrow, although his most recent blog update says that he is also stranded due to a blizzard. It is beginning to look like the expedition may not set off tomorrow as scheduled after all. His home team says they feel there is a 50/50 chance he'll get to go. How ironic is it that a trek to the North Pole is delayed by a blizzard?

Good luck to everyone. The blizzard will pass soon, and the skies will clear, letting you move forward before you know it. Stay safe out on the ice.

For those of at home following, perhaps we should start a pool on how long it'll be before someone spots their first polar bear. ;)

7 Scary Hikes Caught On Video

Travel blog Gadling.com, for which I'm a contributor, has a great post up today of 7 of the craziest, most dangerous hikes in the world. Each of the hikes on the list features some common denominators, namely they mix in a bit of altitude with a trail that is a bit on the dangerous side. But describing them wouldn't do them much justice, so thankfully, each of them is caught on video, so we understand exactly why they earned the moniker of "crazy".

A few of the hikes we've talked about here before, such as the El Caminito del Rey and Mount Hua in China. Others were completely new, but well deserving of making the list. One of the videos is embedded below so you have an idea of the level of scary we're talking about here. This one is from the top of Winay Picchu, a peak that actually looks down on Peru's famous Machu Picchu. The views look stunning, but watch that last step...

High Tech Goggles Incorporate GPS, Camera, Kitchen Sink

Recon Instruments and Zeal Optics are joining forces to bring us the most high tech ski goggles you've ever seen. Dubbed the Transcend GPS Goggle, the new eyewear incorporates a GPS chip with a built in heads-up display to give you on the fly information about your current location, speed, altitude, and a whole lot more. Navigation is handled by a couple of buttons located on the side of the unit, and data can be saved and viewed on your computer, as well as uploaded to the Internet to compare and challenge friends.

According to the promo video below, the goggles will include a camera for capturing photos and video on the mountain, as well as navigational information such as trail maps and resort specific runs, information on traffic on the slopes, queues for the lifts, tracking your buddy's location, and so much other stuff that even James Bond would be jealous.Reportedly, the goggles will be on sale on October 1st of this year, and you can pre-order now. The regular version will set you back $350, but for $100 more you can order a pair with lowlight and polarized lens.

Reading through the marketing info on the Transcend googles leaves you with a lot of questions. For instance, how does it feed all of that information to the googles themselves? Does it have bluetooth tethering to a smart phone or does it require its own data connection of some type? Obviously the GPS stuff is loaded on a chip, but real time updates on conditions on the mountain require something more. Still, these look really cool, and would be a lot of fun to play with. They certainly seem a lot nicer than those GPS gloves I wrote about last week.

First Female Winter Ascent On Denali Underway

According to ExWeb, the first attempt at a winter summit on Denali by a woman is currently underway, with climber Christine Feret and Artur Testov making the bid.

According to the expedition's blog, which is handled through Facebook, the duo was flown from Talkeetna to base camp at 7000 feet on Wednesday, where they've been busy setting up camp ever since. They have dug their first snow cave to serve as a shelter, and are busily preparing to begin their assault on the mountain.

ExWeb has the details on the climb, which will be a unique one to say the least. Christine and Artur estimate that it will take a minimum of 4 weeks to reach the summit, as they'll be climbing in an unusual fashion. The two mountaineers will be heading up the hill, dragging sleds with all of their gear on it behind them. It is estimated that when fully loaded, the sleds weigh more than 250 pounds. According to Christine, they'll hike each day as long as they can, then stop to dig a snow cave for shelter each night. They didn't even bother to bring tents with them on the trip. They did, however, pack a couple of steel shovels, and a ladder for crossing over, and escaping from, crevasses they may find along the way.

The weather on Denali can be quite treacherous at just about any time of the year, but especially so in the winter, when temperatures can drop to -40ºF and freak snow storms can batter the mountain. Standing 20,320 feet in height, it is the tallest mountain in North America, and due to its high latitude, it is pretty much cold there all year long. Thankfully, the climbers are familiar with the mountain, as Christine has already climbed it twice. She does hope to stand on the summit in the winter however, and if successful, she'll become the first woman to do so.

Good luck to her and Artur. Stay warm!

National Geographic Announces 2009 Adventurers of the Year

After three months of voting, during which more than 20,000 ballots were cast, National Geographic Adventure has announced their selection for the Adventurer of the Year, with a tie giving the award to two very deserving winners.

The winners of the award are explorer Albert Yu-Min Lin and soldier/climber Marc Hoffmeister. Lin earned his honors for leading an expedition to a remote part of Mongolia, where he has been searching for the missing tomb of Ghenghis Kahn, which was hidden by the Kahn's followers upon his death back in 1227. For his part, Hoffmeister was recognized for leading a team of Iraq war vets up the West Buttress Route of Denali. A number of those vets, including Hoffmeister himself, were injured in that conflict, with some even losing limbs.

Both of the winners expressed their gratitude for winning the award, but also were quick to note that they are just part of a much bigger team. Each of them also continues their adventures, with Lin continuing his search, while working to maintain the heritage of Mongolia, while Hoffmeister has gotten into whitewater rafting, adventure racing, and more climbing, summiting Kilimanjaro. To read Lin's reaction to wining, click here and for Hoffmeister's comments, click here.

The announcement of these awards continues the return to prominence of the Adventure Blog, which I recently noted had sprung back to life in recent days. It's nice to have it back, and it's nice to see the tradition of the Adventurer of the Year awards continuing.

Kayaking South Georgia: Hayley Arrives!

Solo kayaker Hayley Shepard arrived at South Georgia Island yesterday, and according to her blog, the waters are as wild and challenging as she expected. Hayley reports that there are plenty of ice bergs off the shore of the island which sits in the Southern Ocean, not far from Antarctica, and the legendary weather systems are already playing havoc with her plans, as high winds have prevented her support boat from reaching safe anchorage at Eleshul Bay. She and the crew were hoping to reach that place today.

The arrival of her boat at South Georgia followed a week of travel from the Falklands across very rough seas. She'll now spend a few days getting her gear together, and prepping her kayak, to begin her attempt to become the first person to make a solo kayaking expedition around that remote place.

Hayley mentions in her latest blog post that she is over joyed to finally be at the place that has been her goal for so long. She's been plotting this expedition for more than five years, and is even self-funding it, just to see her dream come true. She mentions that the mountains, beaches, and the wildlife all feel more dramatic and welcoming than she had ever imagined, and now she's more eager than ever to head out on the water.

While the entire paddle is "just" 375 miles in length, it will be extremely challenging none the less. The waters are beyond cold, and the weather is unpredictable and dangerous. Still, that's the reason we visit these remote places right? And after a couple of starts and stops, and years of preparation, it seems that at long last Hayley will be getting underway soon. Expect updates on her progress in the days ahead.

Everest 2010: An Interview With Mike Farris

Alan Arnette continues to prep us all for the upcoming Spring Season on Everest, when he'll have is usual great coverage with plenty of updates on the mountain. Until then, his Everest 2010 page is filling up with pre-season interviews and analysis, which now includes an interview with Mike Farris, a climber who went to the highest mountain on the planet last year, with a goal of climbing independently, only to find himself alone at the summit, and in trouble on the descent.

Before he went, Mike defined how he approached an "independent" climb of the mountain, and Alan included that definition in the pre-interview, background information. That definition was:

•Using most of the available fixed rope is unavoidable. I have to be content with the knowledge that I could climb the route without them, if need be. This doesn’t include the icefall, which requires fixed ropes for safety’s sake for all climbers.

•Anything I want to use above Base Camp, including oxygen, is carried by me. I won’t have any Sherpas carrying tents, food, fuel, stoves, etc. Except:

•Most teams set up an Advanced Base Camp at about 6400m (21,000 ft) and have a kitchen staff to prepare meals. Since I’m paying for this service anyway, I will use this ABC facility.

•I will use the minimum amount of bottled oxygen needed for safety. I won’t know what that amount is until I assess my level of acclimatization and fitness.

In the actual interview itself, Alan asks Mike about why he wanted to climb Everest with "style" and what that meant to him, why he chose to go alone, and what his thoughts were as he made his summit bid. When he set out last year, Make left Camp 4 at 10 PM, and spent eight hours climbing to the Balcony, which is, as Alan points out, a bit on the slow side. Farris reached the summit at 1:39 PM, very late in the day, and was instructed to spend just five minutes there. On the descent, the problems start to arise.

The interview is insightful and interesting, with Mike sharing his thoughts on what happened while he was alone at the top of the world. He also talks about his gratitude to those that helped get him down the mountain safely, and gives us an update on his healing process. Due to his exposure on the mountain, Mike had to have parts of seven fingers removed, as well as both big toes and six smaller toes, but says he is on the mend now.

Definitely a cautionary tale here. Well worth the read.

The Top 8 Natural Wonders of the World

Travel website Wild Junket has put together their picks for the Top 8 Natural Wonders of the World, listing the very best that Mother Earth has to offer us.

These eight locations are pretty much on every adventure traveler's short list of "must see" places. (If they're not, they ought to be!) Each of the entries includes a brief description of why it's earned a spot in the Top 8, with a few photos to help support the cause. Amongst the places that make the list are Igauzu Falls along the Argentinian-Brazillian border, Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, and the Grand Canyon in the U.S. As you can imagine, the other five spots, which I'll leave for you to discover for yourself, are equally interesting and beautiful.

I've been personally fortunate enough to witness five of these locations myself, and it's hard to argue with any of them. I might add the Serengeti to my list of favorite natural wonders, as it is simply amazing not only for the size and scope of the place, but also for the amazing wildlife that is at every turn. Of all the places I've visited, it is probably the one that I miss the most, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in going.

Big thanks to the Wend Blog for give me the heads up on this story.

Backpacker Magazine Does the Editor's Choice Awards Too! On Video No Less!

A few days back we got the Editor's Choice Awards from Outside Magazine, and not to be outdone, Backpacker has followed suit. In fact, Backpacker has done them one better, offering their selections in video format, which is a great way to not only present reviews on gear and other products, but also give us a real, first hand account of what the gear looks like, how big (or small) it is, and how it all operates.

You can check out an example of one of the videos below, and then view all of them on the Editor's Choice webpage. There is plenty to view there, so this should keep you busy for awhile, and there are some great products, with more coming soon.

Warning: The author of the Adventure Blog is not responsible for you draining your bank account to purchase all of this gear.

Tasman Sea Crossing Update: Shaun Carries On!

Yesterday I posted a story about Shaun Quincey, the New Zealander who is attempting to row solo across the Tasman Sea. At the time, we had heard that Shaun has activated his emergency rescue beacon following an especially rough night at sea that saw his little boat, the Tasman Trespasser II, roll over twice, causing equipment to be tossed overboard. Shaun was said to be safe, and mostly unharmed, inside the boats cabin, and he was waiting until dawn to determine the extent of his gear losses, and whether or not he could continue.

Today we have an update on his progress, with the word that he will indeed continue to attempt to row solo across the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, something only his father Colin has accomplished. It seems that after checking over his boat this morning, he discovered that he hadn't lost as much gear as he had feared. All of his emergency equipment is in good working order, and his communications gear is working fine too, which has given Shaun confidence in continuing the journey.

According to Shaun himself, the stormy night on the sea was extremely scary, as you can imagine. At one point, the boat capsized and was turned over for more than 20 minutes, with water rushing into the cabin. The 25-year old Kiwi was tethered to his boat however, and was never in danger of being swept away. He described the experience as "horrific", but he wants to continue on none the less.

Quincey set out from Australia on January 20th, and now has roughly 360 miles to go before he reaches the West Coast of New Zealand and the end of his journey. If everything goes according to schedule, in a few weeks time, he'll join his father as the only two men to successfully make a crossing of the Tasman in solo fashion and under their own power.

This is Canoeing!

I have to admit, I'm a bit of a paddling snob. Personally, I prefer kayaking to canoeing. Can't really say why exactly, except that I feel more in control and more able to handle bigger water in a kayak than I do a canoe. But perhaps this video, brought to us by the folks over at Cackle TV, can convince me to give canoeing a bit of a break.

Not only is the video beautifully shot, but it's images convey two sides to a canoe adventure. Some are serene and peaceful, with amazing scenery, while others are frenetic and fast, with crazy white water. The styles of canoes shown varies greatly too, with all kinds of unique boats that look fun to paddle. This video is a far cry from the snow kayaking one I posted earlier. Both look like fun, just in different ways.

Snow Paddling Video Looks Like Fun, Won't Replace Liquid Water

The Goat Blog over at Backcountry.com posted this fun little video yesterday and it looks like a creative way to get out and paddle in the winter when the river is actually frozen over. As much as we enjoy snow however, I somehow don't think the solid stuff will never be able to replace the liquid stuff when it comes to paddling. Still, this looks like a great way to have some fun on a winter afternoon, and while it is snowing in Austin today, we still don't really have enough to power a sled, let alone a kayak.

Climbing Kilimanjaro Along The Lemosho Route

PlanetFear has a cool article up on their website which offers a nicely detailed story on climbing Kilimanjaro along the Lemosho Route. The article includes some great photos of the climb as well, helping to show off the variety of climate zones that trekkers experience while on the mountain.

Standing at 19,340 feet, Mt. Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa, and one of the few places on the continent where you'll experience snow. One of the highlights of the trek is that you actually get to experience five climate zones on the way to the summit including tropical conditions, rainforest, moorlands, high desert, and arctic. The various images that are included with this story show each of them off very well, and brought back good memories from my visit to the mountain. Even the image of the white necked raven, a common site on Kili, gave me smile.

The Lemosho Route is one of six possible paths to Uhuru Peak, the summit of Kilimanjaro. It is considered one of the more challenging routes, but is also more scenic than most of the others. It also has the benefit of having less traffic as well, as most trekkers take the Marangu or Machame Routes. The last section of the article has some good information on this route and what you can expect should you choose to take it.

There are also a few good, basic travel tips for Tanzania in general and some suggestions for equipment to bring along too, and while the text of the story is interesting and helps to set the mood, the photos really are worth a thousand words and really capture the experience of Kilimanjaro.

Rower Activates Emergency Rescue Beacon On The Tasman Sea

Long distance rower Shaun Quincey has been attempting to row across the wild and turbulent Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand for a little over a month now. The 25-year old was hoping to follow in his father's footsteps and become just the second person to successfully cross that body of water under his own power. But strong storms have been battering that area today, and earlier he activated his emergency rescue beacon, calling for help. At this time, it unknown whether or not he can continue the expedition, but he is said to be alive and well, huddled inside the cabin of his boat.

Back on January 20th, Shaun set out from Australia on his epic journey across the Tasman, a journey that his father Colin Quincey successfully made back in 1977. The elder Quincey remains the only person to complete that 1187 mile journey solo, but Shaun had hoped to duplicate the feat. He has been doing quite well in fact, and had recently passed the halfway point when the bad weather set in.

According to reports, Shaun's boat, the Tasman Trespasser II, was flipped over twice in the night, while the storms raged around him. His home team believes that he may have lost his oars, water ballasts, and possibly other gear as well. They have been in contact with the ocean rower however, and he is said to be safe inside the cabin, and waiting for morning to check out the condition of his boat and gear before deciding if he can continue or not.

Stay tuned for updates on this one. Any time the emergency beacon goes off, it's always a bit scary. It's good to know Shaun is alive and well, and lets keep our fingers crossed that he stays that way.

Outside Magazine's Editor's Choice For 2010!

Outside Magazine has published their Editor's Choice Awards for 2010, listing 51 great "items" that have caught the attention of the Outside staff in the past year. I say "items" in quotations because this is a very eclectic mix of everything from gear to people to activities and a whole lot more.

The wide ranging list of things to earn a spot on the list is part of what makes it so fun. For instance, one of the editor's choices is Nepal (yes, the whole country!) which comes in at #47. They love it because it is a trekkers paradise filled with unique experiences and cultural wonders, not to mention some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet. Other wonderful things to earn a spot on the list include "Empty Trailheads" (#41 - and we can all appreciate this one!), utilitarian bikes (#22), and Rob Machado's Hair, which reaches as high as #15 on the countdown. These examples give you an idea of the fun that they had while making the list, while still reminding us of a lot of really cool stuff that is just plain awesome.

The Outside staff didn't stop with just their list of good stuff though. They also came up with a list of ten items that weren't on the editor's choice. Those items include $100 lift tickets, zip-off pants, and the one I agree with the most, an empty passport.

Both of these lists are meant to be equal parts serious and tongue in cheek, but with a good all around message. Perfect reading for a Monday in February. Enjoy!

Everest 2010: Search For Irvine's Camera Delayed

A few weeks back I posted a story about British historian Tom Holzel who claims that he may have found the body of Sandy Irvine on Everest through the use of satellite imagery. He hoped to mount an expedition to the mountain this spring to examine the "oblong blob" that he identified as the remains of the climber, who has been missing since 1924, and possibly find a camera that has become the Holy Grail of Mountaineering. Unfortunately, an update on that expedition has been posted by ExWeb, and it seems that the search will be called off for this year due to the lack of funding.

According to the story, Holzel had sent out feelers to a number of benefactors, including Richard Branson, but none have stepped up to sponsor the search team, who would journey to the North Side of Everest to search for Irvine. Holzel reportedly told friends and supporters "The deadline for obtaining funding for a 2010 mini search expedition to Everest North side has passed", signaling an end, at least for now, of the spring search efforts.

Irvine was the climbing companion of George Mallory when the two men set out to conquer Everest back back in 1924. They never returned from that expedition, and for years people had wondered about their fate and whether or not they had reached the top of the mountain. The duo carried a camera with them on that trip, and it has often been thought that if that camera could be found, it might prove definitively, one way or another, that that hey summitted the mountain. That camera was not on Mallory's body when it was discovered back in 1999, and the search for Irvine's remains have been a topic of debate ever since.

Personally, I think it's a shame that this expedition isn't going to be conducted this spring. It would be very interesting to see if the "blob" is indeed Irvine, and if he has the camera, what it could possibly show. I've remained skeptical all along as to whether or not he and Mallory ever reached the top, but it would be a major story if the camera was found and the film developed. I guess for now, the mystery will continue.

The Great Himalaya Trail Set To Open Next Year!

The Great Himalaya Trail is the subject of my post over at travel blog Gadling.com this morning as well, but wanted to share the details here too. The GHT is a new long distance trekking route that will officially open next February, and will run the entire length of the Himalaya mountain range, connecting up a number of smaller individual trails, to form one giant epic adventure that will challenge even the most experienced trekkers.

All told, the Great Himalaya Trail will run roughly 2800 miles in length, crossing through five countries in the process. Thru-hikers can expect the entire route to require approximately 150 days to complete, as they march through Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, India, and Pakistan. And if you don't have 5 months to dedicate to walking the longest high altitude trail in the world, fear not. The GHT will be broken down into seven smaller segments, each taking between 18-35 day to finish, allowing travelers on a time constraint to still have a chance to experience its wonders.

The inaugural trek of the GHT is set to get underway on Feb. 15th, 2011. Adventure travel company World Expeditions is organizing the trip, and you can book the entire 150-day journey, or any one of the seven smaller routes with them now. Due to the logistics of the trail, the permits required, and the visas necessary to hike it, it is not recommended for independent trekkers at this time.

As of this writing, the Nepali section of the GHT is the only one that is complete, but the other countries are all scrambling to finish up their routes as well. When it is finished, the route will extend from Namche Barwa in Tibet all the way to Nanga Parbat in Pakistan, crossing through some of the most remote and beautiful places on the planet along the way.

Seems like adventure travelers and backpackers just gained another addition to their "Bucket Lists".

World Run II: A New Definition Of Endurance Runs!

Occasionally I get great articles, reports, and links sent my way from readers who are aware of some great adventures that I haven't come across before. At any given time, there are always some amazing things going on, and it's difficult to keep track of them all, although I do my best. :) One such reader is Darrell Raubenheimer, who drops me a note from time to time about one amazing endurance event or another that is taking place in and around South Africa, which he calls home. Earlier today, I received just such a note telling me about endurance athlete Jesper Olsen and his World Run II.

Back in 2005, Jesper completed the first ever fully documented run around the world. Dubbed the World Run, the event saw him begin and end in London, crossing Europe, and Asia, before ending up in Tokyo, Japan From there, the Danish runner hopped a flight to Sydney, ran across Australia to Perth, then grabbed another flight to Los Angeles, where he proceed to run north to Vancouver, then across Canada and the U.S., before taking a flight back to the U.K., returning to where he started. When he was done, Jesper had run more than 16,000 miles.

But like any good adventurer, the ultrarunner couldn't stay home for long, and thus the plan was hatched for World Run II, which like all good sequels, is bigger, and more impressive than the first. This time, Jesper is running a course that is roughly 25,000 miles in length and going from north-to-south, and back again. In the process, he'll cross four continents, numerous countries, and through nearly every time of environment imaginable.

The run got underway from Nordkapp, Norway, the northernmost point in Europe, and will continue south to Cape Town in South Africa. From there, Jesper will hop a flight to Punta Arenas, Chile, in South America, and turn is way north, heading up through that continent, and into North America, through Mexico, the U.S., and into Canada, eventually ending at Mt. Pearl, a small town in Newfoundland.

Jesper's latest blog report, which can be found on the World Run II website, indicates that he is now closing in on Cape Town, which is a major milestone for his expedition. As of two days ago, he had completed nearly 12,800 miles, so he's roughly halfway done. As of that posting, he was still about 500 miles away from Cape Town, but mentioned that he was looking forward to a break, some time to heal, and recover, before moving on to South America. Considering he's just about finished up a complete run across the African continent, north to south, I'd say he's earned some rest.

Personally, I'm in awe of this undertaking. I've taken the last two days off from running to try to heal a bit of a nagging injury, and now I feel just completely lazy after reading about some of the things that Jesper has been dealing with along the way. I may have missed the first half of this very cool adventure, but you can bet I'll be following along with the second half. Thanks for the tip Darrell, it is highly appreciated as always! :)

Everest 2010: South Side Update and Safety On The Mountain

It's clear that the Spring Season in the Himalaya is looming closer, as there are now more reports coming in on expedition plans and climbers are preparing to set out to Kathmandu in just a few weeks time. For those heading to those mountains, that time will go by way too quickly, and before you know it, we'll be getting all kinds of progress reports from the region itself.

A few weeks back we received a report on the outlook for climbing the North Side of Everest this year courtesy of Alan Arnette who was interviewing Jamie McGuiness, who operates a trekking and climbing guide service on that side of the mountain. The North Side has been difficult, at best, to access the past few years, but Jaime seems to think that it'll be open to business as usual this year.

Now, Alan is back with another new interview, this time looking at the outlook for the South Side of the mountain in an interview with Eric Simonson of International Mountain Guides. IMG is one of the big players on the Nepali side of Everest and they are in a good position to weigh in on what is to be expected there this spring. Eric says that the IMG team is essentially full, and that everything is on track for the season ahead. He also talks a bit about working with Discovery Channel, touches on a few improvements to climbing the mountain (new bolts in the Yellow Band), and gives his thoughts on the season ahead.

Judging from Eric's comments, it seems that having Russell Brice's HiMex team on the South Side has been a good thing. He mentions that Russell was the one who helped organize a "a consortium of outfitters" last year that saw the bigger teams working more cooperatively with each other. Those efforts benefited everyone on the mountain, and it seems that that attitude will continue this year, and all-in-all, that's a very positive step to keeping things safe there.

Speaking of safety, there is another good Everest article today, this time from Stephanie Pearson who is part of the Climb WIth Us Team this spring. Stephanie has put together a good story about how things have changed on the world's highest mountain over the past 14 years since the tragic events that killed nine climbers back in 1996. The article takes a look at some of the circumstances that led to that disaster, and the way things have changed now to help avoid a repeat. Several of the guides interviewed by Stephanie point to improved coordination and communication on the mountain as the key to making the climb safer, although Dave Hahn ominously notes early on that "Yeah it could still happen. You bet. It will happen again,”

Lets hope that he's wrong about that.

The Rest of Everest DVD Giveaway: Week 5 Winner!

The winner in our fifth, and final, Rest of Everest DVD Giveaway contest is Robin Rongey of Edwardsville, IL. Robin has won a copy of Everest {the other side}, which is the wonderful film from which the Rest of Everest video podcast was started. Congrats Robin, I'll get the DVD out to you as soon as I can.

I'd like to thank everyone for entering this contest over the past month or so. I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope all the winners are enjoying the DVD as much as I have. Hopefully it helped to introduce some of you to this wonderful podcast that did a great job of spotlighting every aspect of a climb of Everest, and continues to cover all kinds of adventures in the Himalaya. If you're not already watching it on an (almost) weekly basis, then you really should be. It is consistently well filmed, well edited, and very informative on a subject we all love, the Himalaya and the tallest mountain on the planet.

Besides finding all of the episodes (there are 130 of them to date) on the website you can also subscribe to the podcast directly in iTunes by clicking here.

Ancient Men Were Explorers Too!

I read this story over at the National Geographic website earlier and found it fascinating. It seems that a team of archeologists have found an crudely constructed ancient axe on the Isle of Crete, off the coast of Greece, that indicates that man has been traveling by sea far longer than we ever suspected.

The archeologists were actually hoping to find simple stone tools from a civilization that sailed those waters roughly 11,000 years ago. Instead, they discovered the axe, which closely resembles others that have been found in central Europe and Africa. Those tools date back 175,000 years, which tells them that men were building boats and traveling the waters of the Mediterranean for tens of thousands of years earlier than was first believed.

One of the more telling quotes from the article, which puts this all into perspective, comes from archeologist Curtis Runnels, who said "The idea of finding tools from this very early time period on Crete was about as believable as finding an iPod in King Tut's tomb." Runnels added that he was "flabbergasted" by the discovery.

All told, the team of archeologists discovered more than 30 similar axes and other primitive tools at 9 different dig sites spread out across the island. Radio carbon dating for the various stratification levels from which they were found indicate that the newest of the tools were left on Crete some 45,000 years ago, while the oldest date back 130,000 years.

The find has also opened up debate as to how the migration of man spread across Europe. It is widely believed that Africa was the birth place of primitive man, and they migrated outward from there. The theory has always been that we traveled on foot through the Middle East and into Asia and Europe from there, But now that theory could be challenged with the thought that perhaps our ancestors traveled by boat into Europe, hopping across islands as they went. Either way, we know that they were exploring the open waters long before we ever suspected. It seems that the concept of a "Mediterranean Cruise" isn't such a new thing either.

Cycling The Americas Update: Mark Is Done!!

It has been a long, challenging, and adventurous journey for cyclist Mark Beaumont, but he has, at last, reached the "End of the World", Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Mark set off from Alaska last spring, 268 days ago in fact, and has ridden his trusty bicycle all the way to the tip of South America. In the process, he rode 13,080 miles and crossed through 12 countires. Oh yeah, and along the way, he managed to summit the 20,320 foot Denali and the 22,841 foot Aconcagua, the tallest mountains in North and South America respectively.

The news of his arrival has just been posted on his blog where Mark says:

I'm ecstatic to be here, it has been my dream and focus for so long - but also a small part of me is sad that the simple but tough life of bike and camera has come to an end, again, at least for now!

I'm sure this isn't the last we've heard of Mark. He'll enjoy a bit of down time now, work on his BBC documentary of the ride, rest up, and plot his next adventure. Lets not forget, this is a guy who once rode around the world in just 194 days. I doubt he'll stay home for long!

Congrats on a job well done Mark. It has been a joy to follow along on your journey. You showed a real enthusiasm for travel and the cultures you were experiencing at every step. I'm going to miss your updates, but I look forward to your next adventure.

North Pole 2010: Christina Franco Prepares For Return To The Ice

London based Italian Christina Franco will once again attempt to become the first woman to make a solo journey to the Geographic North Pole this year, setting out from Cape Discovery, Canada on the 480 mile journey in just a few weeks time.

You may recall that we followed Christina in the 2009 Arctic season as well, but a double equipment failure on her stoves prevented her from completing the journey, and pulled her off the ice before she really had a chance to get going. She made the most of her opportunity however by undertaking a last degree journey to the Pole, seizing the opportunity as a training exercise. Now, she's back, and more than ready to make a serious attempt to reach the top of the world. She has already successfully reached the Magnetic North Pole back in 2005.

Christina is currently in the last stages of her preparation, and will soon depart for Canada. She has been undergoing training in Norway which will help prepare her for the rigors of her journey, but even those cold climes will not replicate what she'll see on her way north. Early on, she'll face an incredible amount of ice rubble created when the giant slabs of ice on the Arctic Ocean crash into one another, creating towers that reach as much as two stories in height. For 20 days, she'll struggle through that environment, dragging a heavy sled, filled with gear and supplies, behind her.

Once those fields of rubble are put behind her however, things don't get much better. The terrain will flatten out, but then she'll have to face the very real danger of open water, and as we all know the Arctic Ocean isn't a great body of water to take a dip in. And if that wasn't enough, there is the ever present danger of polar bears and the frustrations of negative drift, all of which, will collaborate to make this the most challenging expedition that she can imagine. And Christina will love ever minute of it.

I'm looking forward to following this expedition. I wish Christina all the best, and hope she become the first woman to make the solo journey to the Pole.

GPS In A Glove! Why? Why Not?

Yesterday we had a sweet new camera that integrated a GPS chip into to track your location while filming. Today, we've got a new pair of gloves that do the same.

Zanier Gloves has recently announced their Xplore.XGX glove that will include a fully functional GPS chip, allowing skiers to track their speed, distance, and duration on the slopes, as well as altitude changes and route information. The gloves will also provide basic navigation as well, although I'd guess that means using waypoints and a digital compass. Don't expect any kind of map integration. At least not on this year's model.

The functionality of the gloves doesn't end after you get back to the car either. You can plug them into your computer via USB and upload your data to the web to track your progress and plot your route on maps. You can even share the data from your latest ski expedition with your friends.

Aside from the high tech gadgetry that includes a screen with continually updated information the gloves look like a nice piece of gear. They're made of Gore-Tex, and designed to be comfortable and warm, while still allowing us to get a solid grip on our ski poles or other gear that we need to grab.

Seems like we're putting GPS into everything these days. Kind of a cool product, but I can't help but think that a fully functional handheld GPS device might not be a better buy. With no release date or price set on the gloves just yet, it's hard to know for sure, but I'm guessing these won't be cheap.

National Geographic Adventure Blog Is Alive And Kicking!

We all shared a collective moment of sadness when it was announced that National Geographic Adventure Magazine would cease to be published back in early December. At the time, they put out a press release saying that we hadn't heard the last of Adventure, and that the "brand" would live on in other ways. That seemed like a lot of marketing spin back then, and while we crossed our fingers and hoped for the best, the outlook seemed grim, even as they said "goodbye for now".

But, all is not a grim as it once seemed. Back at the beginning of February, the NG Adventure Blog sprung back to life with an update on the Everett Ruess Mystery, and how the DNA testing went wrong.

Since then, we've been getting a steady stream of good content from the blog, just like we did before the announcement that the print mag was going away. We've had stories on the top adventures to do while in Hawaii, a look at a sweet $10,000 bike (Yes, I want one!), and exciting things to do in British Columbia as the Olympics got underway. I especially found this story on a project to map the protected wild areas of Africa to be very fascinating and this story on efforts by paddlers to save fish on the Mekong had me wanting to hit the river in a kayak myself.

It's great to see that one of my favorite websites had returned with some excellent content. While it's not quite like having the print mag back, it is great to see the Adventure crew is putting together some good stories for those of us who have missed them.

Yukon Quest: Hans Gatt Claims Victory!

The 2010 Yukon Quest has come to an end, with musher Hans Gatt reaching the finish line in Whitehorse on Monday afternoon. Gatt finished the 1000 mile long race from Fairbanks, Alaska to Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory of Canada, in nine days and 26 minutes, setting a record in the process.

For the 51-year old Gatt, this is his fourth victory in the Yukon Quest, tying him with Lance Mackey, who came in second place, a little over an hour back. Hugh Neff completed the podium, arriving in third place, nearly three hours off of Gatt's pace. Complete results can be found on the leaderboard, and as of this writing, there are still several teams out on the course and making their way to the finish.

Yesterday, less than 24-hours after his record breaking win, Gatt announced that he'll retire from long distance sled dog racing at the end of this season. He is planning to make one more long run with his team, competing in the 1160 mile long Iditarod which is schedule to get underway on March 6. After that, he'll continue to race, but only at shorter, less demanding events.

You can't blame the guy for wanting to retire. Being out on a 1000+ mile long course in the dead of the Alaskan/Canadian winter has to take it's toll on a person. He's also proven himself several times over in the Yukon Quest. I'm sure he'd like to add the Iditarod championship to his resume before he bows out however. Congratulations to Hans and good luck in the "Last Great Race" in a few weeks time.

The World's Best Hikes

We generally cover a wide variety of topics over at Gadling, a travel blog to which I contribute to on an almost daily basis. Everything from luxury to budget travel, and everything in between. Not surprisingly enough, I generally weigh in on adventure destinations and similar topics to what we discuss around here. But every once in awhile, someone writes a good article that I wished I had done. We have one of those today in the form of a list of the World's Best Hikes.

As the name implies, the article is the compilation of some of the best treks to be found anywhere in the world. There are the usual suspects in the form of The Appalachian Trail, Kilimanjaro, and Everest Base Camp, each of which more than deserves to be on the list. But there are some other great suggestions that are often overlooked, such as the Timberline Trail in Oregon, and the Cinque Terre in Italy as well.

The article was contributed to Gadling by Jason Heflin, who is one of the founders of Outdoorzy.com and writes that site's Outpost Blog. He's also recently done a great job of covering the Huairashinchi adventure race, which just wrapped up in Ecuador, for Adventure World Magazine as well.

The article also included the following video which is a great look at the Everest Base Camp trek that I'm eagerly looking forward to doing in a few months. Can't wait!

New HD Action Camera Adds GPS To The Mix

Aspiring outdoor filmmakers have a new gadget to add to their bag of tricks. The GPS HD Action camera from GoBandit is designed to be used in rough conditions, eschewing a hard drive or tape storage in favor of built in flash memory and the ability to use SD cards to capture all of our adventure pursuits. The camera is also water proof, and can take 5 megapixel still images as well.

But perhaps best of all, it has an onboard GPS system that keeps track of your location while filming, while storing data on the route you took, the speed you traveled, and so on. That data can later be displayed on the video itself, which is captured at a resolution of 720p, while running at 30 frames per second.

Imagine using this to capture your latest mountain biking blowout. Not only will it allow you to share the exact location of your latest flip over your handlebars, it'll be able to tell all of your friends exactly how fast you were going when you managed to face plant. That'll make for some great YouTube videos I'm sure.

The camera is due out in April with an MSRP of $389, which isn't half bad for all of the goodies it has inside. You can check out a teaser video of the camera in action below. Thanks to Engadget for the heads up.

gobandit GPS HD Action Camera from gobandit on Vimeo.

Mount St. Helens Update: Hiker's Body Recovered

Yesterday I posted a story about Joseph Bohlig, a 52-year old climber who fell into the crater of Mount St. Helens in Washington state on Monday when an ice shelf collapsed under him while having his photo taken atop the volcano. At the time, rescue operations were underway, but the SAR teams were having a difficult time reaching Bohlig due to bad weather. They were hoping that conditions would change later in the day, and they'd be able to reach him. Sadly, they were able eventually get a helicopter into the crater, but Bohlig was already dead when they arrived.

According to this story from the Daily Mail, a Navy helicopter discovered Bohlig's body on its second pass through the crater, although it was already partially covered with snow. It appears that he died of injuries sustained from the fall.

On Monday, Bohlig and his friend Scott Salkovichs made the four hour trek to the top of the mountain to reach the rim of the crater. Salkovichs stepped back to take the photo, just as the ice shelf broke, and although he tried to reach his friend, it was too late, and all he could do was watch him plummet to the ground below. Salkovichs tossed a backpack down to Bohlig, but the injured man couldn't reach it. He was alive however, as he was heard blowing a rescue whistle not long after the fall.

Salkovichs then descended the mountain and went for aid, but rescue teams were unable to get into the crater due to high winds and low visibility. They had to wait until conditions improved on Tuesday, but by then, it was too late.

Bohlig was an experienced mountaineer who had hiked to the top of Mount St. Helens on many occasions. He had plenty of knowledge of the mountain, and had plenty of gear with him as well. Unfortunately, he had discarded some of his clothes, and his backpack, when he went to pose for the photo. The resulting 1500 foot fall left him injured, alone, and without most of that gear. As is often the case in these types of stories, it's an odd set of circumstances that helped lead to the tragedy.

I offer my sincere condolences to Joseph's family. I'm sure they are taking the loss hard. But as his father said, he died doing something he loved. We should all be so lucky to suffer that fate.

Kayak Video Invites Us To Get Some Face Time

I came across this cool paddling video at the Canoe & Kayak Magazine website. It's the trailer for an upcoming kayaking movie called Face Time, which is due out this spring, and it should serve the same purpose as yesterday's mountain biking video, to inspire us to hold on until spring, when we can hit the water once again.

There are lots of crazy, insane stunts being pulled off in this one, and keep your eyes peeled for what appears to be a couch on two kayaks. What will they think of next?

Hiker Stranded Inside Mount St. Helens

Rescue efforts are ongoing this afternoon for a 52-year-old climber who slipped, and fell into the crater of Mount St. Helens yesterday, plummeting 1500 feet in the process. Apparently, Joseph Bohlig was preparing to have his photo taken when the snow shelf that he was standing on collapsed, sending him tumbling to the ground below. The climbing partner made it off the mountain safely and then called authorities for help, but the condition of Bohlig is unknown at this time, and they report that he is also without much of his gear and equipment.

Rescue teams were immediately scrambled to try to extract the fallen climber, but weather conditions deteriorated rapidly, forcing them to put off the attempt until today. As of this writing, they're still waiting to make that attempt, and a call has been put out to the Air Force to aid in the rescue, but conditions remain dangerous. If the skies clear however, a helicopter will be dispatched to the crater itself, and the extraction can be made fairly quickly, as the SAR teams know exactly where Bohlig is at.

Located in the state of Washington, Mount St. Helens stands 8365 feet in height and is a popular climb in all seasons. In fact, Bohlig himself is a veteran of the climb, having made the attempt more than 60 times. The became famous back in 1980, when it violently erupted, sending ash and magma flying for miles. It still has seismic and volcanic activity from time to time, but hasn't erupted since that time.

Lets hope conditions improve soon enough, and the SAR teams can do their thing.

Kayaking South Georgia: Hayley's Off!

Last week I posted an update on Hayley Shepard, the woman who was preparing to make the first solo kayaking expedition around South Georgia Island in the Southern Ocean. When we last checked in, the expedition was in a bit of jeopardy due to the crew of her support vessel being down one member after Greg Landreth, the captain of the boat, was injured while making a rough crossing of the Drake Passage. Without a full crew, the Northanger wouldn't be able to perform her duties adequately, which could have forced Hayley to make a journey around the Falklands instead. A noble venture to say the least, but not what she had originally intended to set out to do.

Fortunately, the New Zealander is going to get the opportunity to go after her goal after all. A post to her blog yesterday indicates that she is "South Georgia Bound", after first mate Keri set down a few ground rules about how the trip would transpire. Basically, they're going to be very cautious, as Greg's leadership as the skipper of the boat will be missed immensely. If another crew member goes down, they're turning back. If weather conditions get too challenging, they're durning back. Hayley and the boat will stay in constant contact while she is paddling, and they will take their time, not racing a clock, to complete the journey.

At this point Hayley has to be overjoyed. She's been planning this expedition for years, and is even self-funding the trip, all so she can challenge herself in one of the harshest ocean environments around. The 375 mile paddle isn't about the distance, it's about the harsh conditions, which is the appeal to many adventurers that make their way to that part of the world.

So, the expedition is on! We should begin getting updates from South Georgia in a few days time. Good luck to Hayley and the whole crew.

Backpack Aims To Be The Camelbak For Oxygen

Here's an odd concept I didn't see coming. It's called the Oxyfit and it's being billed as the "the world's first compact personal oxygen supply." In a nutshell, it's a backpack designed to pump the O2 directly to you when you're working out. In fact, the product page for the device says that it can be worn during nearly any activity, and that it is small, lightweight, and discreet. Furthermore, it claims that you'll be able to "run farther, work longer, and even lose weight!"

The system weighs about 3.5 pounds and is powered by a lithium battery for 1.5 hours at a time. It promises to be able to "boosts available oxygen from 20% or lower up to 30%". The miracle device doesn't end there either, as it says that increased oxygen can boost brain power, increase your metabolism, and produce anti-aging effects too! All of this for the low, low price of just $2681.

Honestly, when I first saw this, I immediately thought of CamelBak, the company that makes those ubiquitous hydration packs that we all love so much. This product looks like it's trying to be a CamelBak, but instead of serving up water while we're on the go, it offers oxygen instead. I'll bet even money that CamelBak will have a similar product at the Summer OR show that'll do both. ;)

Story via Gizmodo.

Himalaya 2010: Simone and Denis Go For Ambitious Double Header

Simone Moro and Denis Urubko are two of the strongest mountaineers in the world, and their resumes are filled with impressive summits on mountains all over the planet. Now, according to ExWeb, they're joining forces once again to go for a challenging and ambitious double header in the Himalaya this spring.

If everything goes according to plan, the duo will be putting up a completely new route on Everest's companion, Lhotse in a few months time. They plan to climb without supplemental oxygen, fixed ropes, or Sherpa support as well, making this a true alpine style ascent. They haven't revealed many details of their plan just yet, but they do note that there are fewer routes to the top of Lhotse, which stands at 8516 meters (27,940 feet) than any other eight-thousander. One gets the feeling that they'll be exploring much of the new route as they go.

Before challenging the 4th tallest mountain in the world however, they'll warm up on Everest first. Italian Simone will go to the summit without oxygen, while guiding a friend to the top. If successful, it'll be his third time up the Big Hill. Meanwhile, Kazakh Denis doesn't have a summit permit, but will still go as high as Camp 4 as he acclimatizes for the action on Lhotse.

The two have teamed up in the past, most notably when they became the first to summit the 8463 meter (27,766 feet) Makalu during the winter last February. They're hoping for a similar success when they leave for Kathmandu on March 20th.

The World's Hardest Bouldering Problem Captured On Video

Climber Daniel Woods has completed what might be the hardest bouldering problem in the world, a route in Boulder Canyon, Colorado that he has named "The Game" and is tentatively being rated a V16 difficulty. Woods has completed similarly challenging boulders before, but thinks this one is, by far, the most challenging he has done.

His work on the problem was captured on video, and you can check out for yourself. Makes my fingers hurt just watching it! Great work though. Congrats Daniel!

The Game, World's Hardest Boulder Problem? from Cedar Wright on Vimeo.

Mountain Biking Season Isn't That Far Away!

We may still be locked into winter here in the northern hemisphere, especially considering that there was snow on the ground in all 50 U.S. states this past weekend, but that doesn't mean we can't look ahead to spring, and warmer weather, when we can get on our bikes once again. To help us through this long drought, Adventure World Magazine has posted this mountain biking video that is fast and furious. They mention that it might offer some inspiration while we wait for the spring thaw, but watching a couple of the wipeouts reminds me that I'm in no hurry for THAT to happen.

Enjoy!

Patagonian Expedition Adventure Race Over, Brits Defend!

The Patagonian Expedition Adventure Race is billed as the "world's toughest and wildest" race, covering more than 600 kilometers through some of the most beautiful and challenging terrain on the planet. And for the past week, 16 coed teams of four have been trekking, biking, and paddling their way through Chile's Patagonia, battling the elements, the landscape, and each other.

After a week of racing, the first team that crossed the finish line was the defending champs Helly Hansen-Prunesco. This British team has now proven themselves two years in a row, claiming the championship in 2009, and becoming the first team to ever successfully defend their title in 2010. The racers, Nicola Macleod, Andrew Wilson, Mark Humpfrey, and Bruce Duncan, completed a final trek along the Beagle Channel in the early hours of the morning today to claim their victory.

Meanwhile, the rest of the teams are still out on the course. According to the race website, many of them reached Yendegaia Bay last night, but a mandatory dark zone was in effect to prevent the athletes from heading out onto the Channel itself. Considering the reputation of those waters, it would be no picnic in a kayak during the day, let alone at night. More of the teams are expected to reach the finish line later today.

Helly Hansen took charge of the race on the second day, moving out in front on a long, and tough, mountain biking leg in the Darwin Mountains. From there, they simply put the pedal down, and didn't let anyone else get back within striking distance, which is evidenced by the fact that they are now enjoying hot showers and warm food, while the rest of the field continues to play catch-up.

Congrats to the winners of this year's race. Great job on repeating in one of the toughest adventure races on the planet.

Gear Box: Eureka Kotey Sleeping Bag

Sleeping bags are another piece of gear that are crucial to our comfort while out on the trail. Whether it's snuggling up inside one at the end of the day or carrying one in our pack, we all want a bag that is light, versatile, and works well in the weather conditions in which we use it. In other words, we want it to keep us warm and dry in what ever weather we encounter. I recently had the opportunity to test out the Kotey bag from Eureka, and found that it fits that description, and does so in a small package.

The first thing I noticed was how small and light the Kotey was. When stored properly inside it's included bag, it compresses down to a very small size, allowing it to fit neatly inside your backpack without taking up much room at all. On top of that, the bag weighs just a shade over 2 pounds, which means that it's not going to significantly impact the amount of weight you're carrying while lugging it around all day.

Made from synthetic materials, the Kotey is rated for temperatures down to 35ºF (2ºC), which makes it ideal for spring and fall camping, and cooler summer nights depending on your location. Obviously, for winter camping, you'll want something a bit warmer. While I didn't get the chance to test it in sub-40º weather, I did find that this mummy-style sleeping bag kept me comfortable and snug. There was also plenty of room inside for my longer 6'2" frame, despite the bag not being rated for my size.

Eureka is a company well known for its excellent tents, with great options for backpackers and families alike. Their line of sleeping bags displays the same high quality design and construction, showing that as a company they "get it" it in terms of what we want while out on the trail. Lightweight, high quality products that allow us to enjoy our time in the backcountry. Small, but highly appreciated touches, like an internal pocked, perfect for storing your iPod, are just one example of the conveniences that this bag has to offer. Those touches will help you to really like this bag a lot, but it's small size and weight will make you love it.

MSRP for the Kotey is $95 but it can be found online at discounts too. If you're in the market for a good 3-season bag, this is definitely a winner. Now does someone have any suggestions for a 4-season bag for the Himalaya this spring?

Disclaimer: The Kotey that I tested was proved by Eureka for this review.