Using Technology, Social Media, And Adventure For Change

I came across this interesting story yesterday on Mashable. It's about how a non-profit called FindingLife is using social media and technology to help spread the word about their projects, which in this case involves climbing mountains to raise awareness and funds to build a school in Kenya. FindingLife founder Elia Saikaly recently traveled to that country where he climbed Mt. Kenya along with 12 students from Canada and Kenya. The entire expedition was beamed back to schools in North America, where those classrooms could follow along with the team's progress and learn about life in Africa.

It seems that the expedition has been a success, as the FindingLife blog reports that the group reached the summit yesterday. They hope that their off mountain efforts are a success as well, as the message is to bridge the gap between students on different continents, while also building schools to help the under privileged children in Kenya.

Saikaly, who has made it his life's calling to address children's needs on a global level,  also climbed Everest last year and is now part of the Moving Mountains Trust, another organization that works towards helping people in developing nations to work towards a sustainable lifestyle that will not only improve their lives now, but in the future as well.

Below is one episode from an 8 part series that was filmed on the expedition, and it gives you a bit more insights into what the group is doing in Kenya. Excellent stuff!




Webisode 8 - Messages to everyone back home from Findinglifefilms on Vimeo

Equatoria: The Walk Across Africa Begins Tomorrow!

A couple of months back I posted a story about American explorer Julian Monroe Fisher, who was deep into the planning stages of his Equatoria expedition. The plan is for Fisher to start at the Indian Ocean and travel more than 4000 miles (6437 km) across Africa, completely on foot, until he reaches the Atlantic Ocean. He'll take the first steps on this arduous journey later this week.

Julian will begin his long march in Pemba, Mozambique and will continue heading west until he arrives at Lobito, Angola. Along the way, he'll pass through the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and Malawi as well. This adventure is being undertaken to not only explore the landscapes of the region that is being crossed, but to also raise awareness of the work of the Mines Advisory Group, an organization that works on a global level to dispose of land mines and other explosive devices left behind from a conflict.

The official website for the expedition lists Fisher's departure time for this Friday, and as you can imagine, he is hurriedly finishing up his preparation for the trek. You can read more about that preparation and what is going on in these final days before he begins on the expedition's Facebook page. That is also the same place you'll find update once he is underway, although Julian tells me he isn't carrying satellite communications gear or a laptop with him, which means we'll only get updates when he arrives in a town that is sizable enough to have Internet access.

The expedition is expected to take months to complete, with most of that time spent in the field, where Fisher can expect to face endless miles of challenging terrain, turbulent weather conditions, and the possibility of coming face-to-face with one of Africa's more dangerous animals, such as lions or elephants. But the experienced explorer has faced those things before, and is more than ready to make this walk across the continent.

Stay tuned for updates.

Gear Box: Solite 150 Headlamp

Back in January, when the Winter Outdoor Retailer show was taking place, there was a lot of buzz about a new headlamp from a company called Light & Motion. The headlamp is called the Solite 150, and all of the early previews and reviews raved about what a great product it was, but all I could think was "For $150, it better be a damn good headlamp!" Recently, I got my hands on a unit so I could see first hand if it was worth the hype – and the money!

The first thing I noticed when I took the Solite out of the box was that it certainly lives up to its name. It is indeed very light, weighing in at just 150 grams or about 5.3 ounces. The second thing I noticed when I turned on the light was just how bright it is. At the highest of the three settings, the Solite cranks out 150 lumens, which is very bright in the dark. At that setting, the included rechargeable battery pack is only rated for three hours, so you may want to crank it down to the medium or low settings which offer 75 and 33 lumens respectively. Both were more than adequate for casual around camp and night trail hiking.

Where the highest setting does come in handy however is when riding your bike. Those 150 lumens make it easier to see further down the road, which is useful when traveling at higher speeds, and it ensure that other vehicles will see you as well. The Solite comes with a great, easy to use quick mount for your handlebars, keeping the light locked in place when out for a ride. It is a nice touch that the Solite comes with both a headband and handlebar holder, making it all the more useful For your $150, you're going to want to use it as often as you can.

The Solite does have one issue, and that is its rechargeable batteries.  While they are rated for 40 hours of life on their lowest setting, and my tests seem to bear that out, on an extended trip you'll want some way to charge them, and there is no way to use standard batteries. The light charges via USB, which means you'll have to get creative on how you want to charge while in the backcountry. You could take your laptop with you of course, but that's generally more weight than you'll want to carry, and laptops have their own battery issues. Fortunately for me, I have a Solio Classic solar charger, which collects and stores energy from the sun just for recharging these kinds of devices. It worked well with the Solite, although it did take awhile to charge it up fully. I realize that not everyone has that kind of gear at their disposal, and for them I'd recommend a headlamp from another manufacturer that uses standard batteries. Chances are, you'll find one for less money as well.

On the other hand, if you really demand performance out of your gear, and you're always looking to shave weight off your pack, the Solite is a great choice, even for $150. I also have a feeling that this headlamp will prove very popular with the adventure racing crowd. It is durable, bright, and versatile. Something that the AR crowd is always looking for in their gear.

So? Is it worth the $150 price tag? For the casual hiker/backpacker, I'd say no, there are cheaper alternatives that get the job done for them. But for those that need a little something more than "getting the job done," this is a great piece of kit that will definitely prove itself useful in a wide variety of situations.

Unfortunately for me, I have a penchant for leaving my headlamp in some distant country while I travel. Leaving my Solite behind would hurt. A lot!


MSRP: $150

Himalaya 2011: Everest Cell Network "Spotty"

Last fall a lot was made about Everest gaining 3G cell phone service, at least in Base Camp. The word was that cell tower was installed in the area, and we were promised all kinds of faster connections for data and voice. It all sounded good in theory, but it seems that in practice it isn't quite living up to how it was billed. In one of his early dispatches on the trek to BC, Dave Hahn noted that the service was sketchy, even down in the Khumbu Valley.

Today, Explorers Web has an interesting post on the subject, fielding some reports from climbers as to what technology they'll be taking with them to BC this year. It seems that many are bringing cell phones and sim cards with the hopes that they can stay more in touch with friends and family back home, but when they begin the climb, it'll be back to good old fashioned, and semi-reliable, sat phones while on the mountain.

Reports from some of the Sherpas and trekkers who are already up to Gorak Shep, the last teahouse before Base Camp, and the site of the cell tower, say that the service was down for more than 24-hours yesterday. One climber, Seth Wolpin, brought his iPhone along, which has been having all kinds of issues. He was told that the iPhone was "too complicated" for the Ncell operated tower to handle, but as Seth noted, even the regular cell phones have been having issues. That's a bit disheartening considering that there are few people in the area at the moment, so traffic on the network should be light. How bad will performance be once Base Camp gets busy, and a number of teams have downtime between their acclimatization treks.

It should also be noted that the tower is powered by a series of solar cells, and with the days being clear and sunny of late, it should have had plenty of power to keep the cell service up and running, so it seems as if there is something else to blame for the outages.

Obviously the cell towers that were constructed in the Khumbu were put there to help facilitate communications and make things safer in general, but so far it doesn't seem to be all that reliable at all. I remember when I was there last year, normal cell phones seemed to work up until about Dengboche or so, and then it was really hit or miss as to whether or not you could place a call. Our guides knew the best places however, as they would pull out their phones at just the right time to call their girlfriends back in Kathmandu. It was especially funny on the descent, as they knew when their service would return. Seems like they'll have to rely on those older, yet dependable, towers again this year.

Himalaya 2011: Treks (And Acclimatization) Continue

Over the weekend, the big commercial climbing teams continued their progress towards Everest Base Camp, with most of them now on the trek in the Khumbu Valley. As I've mentioned before, the trek is a beautiful one, and is necessary to reach Base Camp on the South Side. It is also part of the early acclimatization process that prepares the climbers for higher altitudes later on. The North Side is a completely different story, as teams are able to drive to BC there, which makes their acclimatization schedule a bit different.

Everest Guide Dave Hahn and his two clients, father-daughter Bill and Sara McGahan, are the furthest up the Khumbu Valley of any of the teams, and it appears that they will be the first to reach Base Camp. Dave is sending dispatches back to the National Geographic Adventure blog, and he reports that not only have they reached Pheriche, a popular rest-stop on the trek, but Bill and Sara are doing remarkably well. The altitude hasn't bothered them in the least so far, and as a result they took a "rest day" trek today, going up as much as 2500 feet, to catch some spectacular views of Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Makalu, Ama Dablam, and others. If all goes as planned, Dave and his companions will arrive at BC on Thursday. 

Similarly, Alan Arnette, who is climbing with International Mountain Guides, continues to share his trekking experience in the Khumbu. His blog posts from over the weekend talk about shopping in Namche Bazaar's famous Saturday Market, and taking an acclimatization trek that gave the team their first real view of Everest. Today, the team has moved on to Debouche, the next stop in the trek. Alan reports that everyone is moving well and feeling fine. The IMG itinerary says that they expect to arrive in Base Camp on Sunday. 

Also on the trail, and the same relative schedule, are the Himex and Altitude Junkies teams. Both were in Namche over the weekend and both are progressing well. This year, the Himex squad took a different approach to getting to the Khumbu however, electing to take helicopters from Kathmandu to Lukla, rather than going the standard route of flying through the KTM airport. The helicopters allowed them to skip past the luggage check and long lines, and get delivered in style to the infamous Lukla airport. Of course, this option comes with and added expense, but Himex, led by the sometimes controversial Russell Brice, is well known for sparing no expense to keep their clients safe, happy, and comfortable. 

Updates this week will no doubt be more about the trek. Looks like teams will be in BC starting at the end of the week, and then the real work will begin. Next week we should start to see the first hikes up to Camp 1, as the climb begins for real. 

Himalaya 2011: The Sights And Sounds Of The Khumbu

Not a whole lot to report from the Himalaya today. Most of the climbers are either still in Kathmandu and waiting for a flight out, or are on the trail to their respective peaks. The trek to Base Camp, whether it is on Everest, Annapurna, or elsewhere, is a spectacular one, as the mountains are simply beautiful to behold. But the path is also well worn and well known for many. That hasn't stopped Alan Arnette from continuing to post updates on his trek to EBC however, and with the traditional rest day in Namche upon him, Alan took the opportunity to update us on his walk so far.

If you've been to the Khumbu Valley, Alan's post will, without a doubt, inspire memories of the region. He talks about getting off the plane in Lukla, handing off the heavy luggage to the porters, and hitting the trail. His mentioning of yaks on the path and the long, slow climb up to Namche Bazaar, all elicit very good thoughts for me. It's an excellent read, with some great insights into the trek to Base Camp for sure.

Himalaya 2011: The Trek To BC Begins

The climbing hasn't exactly begun yet, but the climbers in the Himalaya are on the move. There have been a number of reports indicating that the weather has cleared, at least for now, and flights to Lukla are on schedule. Well, on schedule by Nepali terms anyway.

Arriving in Lukla is the first stage of the climb, even if it is still quite a long way from the mountain. From there, the climbers will actually descend a short distance for the first day, before making the long climb up to Namche Bazaar and their first rest day. It is all part of the early acclimatization process, and even though it is merely a trek at this stage, it all starts to prepare them for the challenge ahead.

Alan Arnette sent out his first audio dispatch of the season, and from the sounds of things, he is more than happy to have arrived in Lukla and to be back in the Khumbu Valley. He arrived in Lukla yesterday and made the long, slow slog up Namche Hill today. This is all old hat for Allen, who has been to Everest three times previously, but you can tell that there is some excitement in the air none the less.

Allen is climbing as part of the International Mountain Guides team, and they posted an update to their blog today as well. In that update they indicated that the entire team, including a group of trekkers, arrived in Lukla yesterday, but perhaps more importantly, the preparations in Base Camp are nearly complete, which means it'll be a nice comfy place to stay when they all arrive in a week or so. The tent platforms are all built, and the lead Sherpas are returning to Namche Bazaar today to count the oxygen bottles for their garbage deposit and register the climbers for permits to pass through the dreaded Khumbu Icefalls, the most dangerous place on the mountain.

Meanwhile, the Altitude Junkies team is now assembling in Kathmandu and preparing for their trek to EBC. They'll depart in two separate groups, one on the 1st and the other on the 2nd of April. Similarly, the Himex team is leaving for Lukla today and expect to be in Base Camp on the 9th. They share all kinds of details about their climbing group, and a host of new upgrades for BC, in this post.

Also back on Everest this year is David Tait, who has made three successful summits of Everest, including a complete traverse of the mountain from the North to the South side. Tait vowed that he was through with Everest a few years back, but just like clockwork, he still returns each spring. He is currently in Kathmandu and organizing his gear, but will be off to Lukla shortly, and expects to be in Base Camp by the 7th of April.

Plenty more to come. Expect some great images from the EBC trek over the next few days as the climbers make their way to the mountain. Having done that trek myself last year, I know full well what they're up to and where they are staying along the way. Reading about their travels is making me miss the Khumbu at the moment.

Gear Box: Keen Alamosa WP Hiking Shoes

Spring is clearly in the air. The weather is warming up, the last of the winter snow is melting away, and our winter gear is going back into the closet so we can break out our warm weather equipment instead. It is most definitely time to hit the trail again, and if you're in the market for a new pair of hiking shoes, Keen has just the thing for you.

Living in Texas, we don't really get much in the way of snow, so I've already had an early start on the spring hiking. Recently I've been hitting the trail with a new pair of Keen Alamosa WP's on my feet, and once again I'm very impressed with what the company has to offer in their new line of hiking shoes.

The Alamosas are lightweight, yet durable, with an aggressive tread on the soles that holds tight even on slick wet rocks. Crafted from a great mix of breathable fabrics and nubuck leather, the shoes look great and feel even better. Like nearly every pair of Keens that I've tested over the past year or so, these shoes require little to no break-in, and the first time I put them on was prior to a three hour hike in the Texas Hill Country. At the end of that hike, the Alamosa's still looked like that had just come out of the box, but they felt like a pair  of hiking shoes that I had owned for years. Better yet, my feet felt well rested and protected throughout the hike, and there wasn't a blister to be found anywhere.

The "WP" on this pair of shoes stands for "Water Proof," and they certainly live up to that billing as well, I've walked through puddles, across streams, and through mud, and in all cases, my feet stayed dry. Of course you'd expect that from any shoe that bills itself as water proof, but on the other hand, those types of shoes often don't allow your feet to breathe, resulting in hot sweaty, feet on the trail. Those conditions can also lead to blisters, but fortunately the Alamosas breathe quite nicely, helping to keep your feet comfortable for extended treks in warmer weather.

As with the rest of their catalog, Keen has another excellent shoe on their hands. I was very impressed with how durable these shoes were while still remaining very lightweight. I'm not sure how they do it but  Keen has come up with the perfect blend of protection for our feet, without making the shoe bulky or heavy. Something I'm sure we can all appreciate. If you're in the market for some new light hikers this spring, you could do a lot worse than the Alamosa WP from Keen.  (MSRP: $110)

Shop for more Keen Shoes at TravelCountry.com

Himalaya 2011: More From Kathmandu

As I mentioned yesterday, the 2011 Himalaya season is starting to ramp up quickly with climbers and guides arriving in Kathmandu and putting the final touches on their preparations for the climbs ahead. One of those climbers is Alan Arnette, who will no doubt be posting regular updates throughout his expedition to climb Everest as part of his Seven Summits for Alzheimer's campaign. Alan posted another update from Kathmandu today, offering more insights into what is happening there and what we can expect in the weeks ahead.

Aside from setting the scene about how noisy and chaotic Kathmandu can be this time of year, or any time of year for that matter, Alan says that the weather in the region has improved, which means flights will resume to Lukla today. That's important for the climbers heading to the Khumbu region, in particular those going to Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and other peaks in that area. The IMG team that Alan is climbing with is scheduled to leave for Lukla on Thursday, when they'll also begin their trek to Base Camp. Other teams were already hoping to get out of KTM yesterday, so expected a bottleneck of travelers over the next few days, as everyone struggles to get out on the trail.

Alan also noted that he bumped into Russell Brice, owner of Himalayan Experience, better known as Himex, in the lobby of his hotel, and also had lunch with Phil Crampton of the Altitude Junkies. Both indicated that the number of climbers on Everest could be down as much as 25% this year thanks to the ongoing issues with the global economy and a rise in prices to climb the mountain. Back in 2009, there were more than 500 people who reached the summit of Everest, but it seems that this year we won't even come close to those kinds of numbers. That's probably a good thing, as it will reduce the crowds on Summit Day and may make for a safer climb in general.

Over the next week or so, most of the teams will be consumed with getting out of Kathmandu and making the trek to Base Camp. While that trek is a walk in the park compared to what lies ahead for them, it is still an important part of the acclimatization process that will prepare them to go higher on the mountain. It is also quite a great hike with some amazing views. On the North Side of Everest, in Tibet, the climbers will actually drive to BC. It isn't the same experience, and they deal with the acclimatization a bit differently, but there will be teams headed that direction soon too.

Mission Everest: Trekking To EBC

Over the weekend I was sent a link to this video by Hank Leukart, one of the filmmakers behind this great short film. The video, which is a little more than 54 minutes in length, follows Hank and his brother Brian, who collaborated on the video as well, as they make the trek to Everest Base Camp, located at 17,600 feet in Nepal.

The two brothers decided to undertake the journey following the death of their father, and although they are use to long distance trekking and hiking, the trip turns out to be everything they had hoped for and more.

Watching the video brings back a lot of memories for me, as I was preparing to make this very trek last year at this time. Watching the familiar scenes from the trail were fantastic, and brought back a wave of nostalgia. The hike to EBC is a good one, even if the altitude can be challenging for the unprepared. If you've ever thought about making the trek yourself, you'll definitely want to watch the video. It'll give you a great sense of what a hike in the High Himalaya is all about.

Also, be sure to check out Hank's essays about the trip over at his site Without Baggage. Excellent work Hank!



Mission Everest: A Tale of Two Brothers from Hank Leukart on Vimeo.

Website For Soldiers To The Summit Film Launched

Last fall I wrote about the Soldiers To The Summit expedition that took place in the Himalaya and saw 11 wounded vets making their way up Kala Patar (18,512 feet/5642 meters) or make the more technically challenging 20,075-foot tall Labouch (20,075 feet/6118 meters).

The expedition was ultimately a big success, and Serac Adventure Films is in the process of producing a movie about the climb. That film will chronicle the impact that this adventue had on the lives of the men and women who made the journey up those mountains, which turned out to be as much of a spiritual and emotional journey as it was physical one.

The website for the film was recently launched and it provides more information about the soldiers who took part in the expedition as well as giving us a glimpse of what we can expect when the movie is eventually released. You can check out that website by clicking here and read the Soldiers to the Summit Blog here. Judging from the video below, I'd say that this looks like a fantastic film.


Soldiers Preview from Outside Adventure Film School on Vimeo.

Gear Box: Bear Grylls Survival Pack From Gerber

Awhile back I posted a review of the Bear Grylls Folding Survival Knife from Gerber, giving it high marks for quality and and versatility. The company continues to expand its Bear line, now offering several survival kits that are the perfect edition to your pack.

I recently got my hands on the BG Survival Series Basic Kit, which includes seven items stored inside a sturdy, and well constructed, waterproof sack. Those items include a Mini Paraframe Knife, an emergency whistle, fire starter, waterproof matches, snare wire, emergency cord, and cotton balls to be used for fire tinder. That's right, Gerber managed to put most of the "10 essentials" right into one well designed package.

Each of the items in the kit are small, compact, and highly useful, and while the Mini Paraframe won't replace your other knives or multitools, it is a nice little blade to have around "just in case." The fire starter, matches, and cotton balls are an excellent resource to have around whether you're on the trail for two hours or two weeks. The little kit even includes Bear's "Priorities of Survival," pamphlet, which is a pocket guide for survival in the field. The back of the waterproof bag also conveniently has a set of alpine rescue signals that can be used to send message to rescue teams in the air.

The compact Basic Survival Kit is another nice product from Gerber, that maintains the company's standards for quality, while remaining very affordable. This is one of those products that is inexpensive enough to be an impulse buy and really should be in your pack for when ever you head out on the trail. MSRP is about $30, but the kit can be found online for far less than that.

Andrew Skurka's Alaska-Yukon Expedition Detailed In Nat Geo

Last year long distance trekker Andrew Skurka set off on his most ambitious and challenging expedition to date. He was already a legend in the thru-hiking community, but his 4679 mile (7530km) Alaska-Yukon Expedition set a new standard for all others to follow. The route passed through some of the most remote places in the U.S. and Canada, crossing eight national parks and several mountain ranges in the process. As is typical, Andrew went alone and spent 176 days on the trail hiking, skiing, and rafting his way through the unforgiving wilderness. Now, his full story is finally being told in the pages of National Geographic Magazine, which will feature Skruka's adventure in the March issue that will be hitting newsstands soon. Fortunately, we can all read the story online now, simply by clicking here.

The piece is written by Dan Koeppel, who does an excellent job of getting Andrew to open up about his trek through the Alaskan wilderness, which included a challenging traverse of the Brooks Range, which remains one of the most untouched and wild places on the planet. But this story isn't just about the journey, but the man behind the trek as well. Skurka comes across as a very the kind of guy that you'd love to share the trail with and you get the sense that while he's had plenty of adventures, this one touched him in unique ways and changed his outlook on his long distance hikes forever.

In typical Nat Geo style, this isn't just a story about a hike through the wilderness. It's much more than that, and I recommend that you give it a read. Andrew truly is one of a kind and his approach to life is one that should be applauded. This is a very good read. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

22 Essential Adventure Skills We All Need

Outside Online has a great article on their website listing the bare essential skills that all adventurers should have in their arsenal, no matter where they are headed. They are designed to be a baseline for any outdoor enthusiast who finds themselves off the beaten path from time to time and on adventures, both planned and unexpected.

This list really does have a little of something for everyone, from the backpacker, long distance trekker, or adventure traveler. The skills vary greatly, but they all have one thing in common – making us all safe while we're on the go and making our journeys a lot easier.

In total, there are 22 skills listed on this "bare essentials" list and even if you already know most of them inside and out, it's nice to have a reminder. Most of the entires on the list include anecdotes or stories that explain when and why they are necessary, as well as some helpful tips on how to brush up your own skills in that particular area.

Examples of these essential skills include "Never Get Caught Empty-Pocketed" which means make sure you have the gear you need to survive on you at all times. The "Pack Like A Pro" section offers helpful hints on selecting the right clothing for your trip and packing it all properly, while the "Pull Off a Big Trip" section gives advice on how to organize that adventure you've always wanted to take.

Some of these things may seem elementary upon first glance, but as I said, reminders are always a good thing, and even if you're an old pro, you may find some new tips in this list. Apparently this is just part 1 of a four part series on "essentials" so we'll have plenty more to come it seems.

Nice tips from a great source and an especially helpful article for beginners or those just in the planning stages of their first big adventure.

12,500 Mile 'All-In Trek' Is Underway

Way back in September I told you about Samuel Gardner and his "All-In Trek." It was around then that Samuel first announced his plans to hike the North Country Trail, Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail and Pacific Crest Trail, all back-to-back. On January 1st of this year, he set out to do just that, and now, a month and a half in, he's started to receive a great deal of attention for his efforts.

If successful, Gardner will cover more than 12,500 miles (20,117km) on his adventure. He began his journey on the North Country Trail, which stretches 4600 miles from New York to North Dakota. At the moment, he is 45 days into that march, and when you consider that it is still deep winter in the states he's crossing through, you begin to have an appreciation for what he has undertaken. In fact, the weather has been down right awful for him on the trail thus far, but he was well prepared for that and has made solid progress thus far.

Once he finishes off the North Country Trail, Gardner will move on to the 2650 mile (4264km) Pacific Crest Trail, which he'll travel south to north, ending at the Canadian border. Then it's off to the Continental Divide Trail (3100 miles/5000km) which he'll tackle going north to south, before finally heading over to the Appalachian Trail, which is 2175 miles (3500km) in length, and will cap the expedition. The plan is to complete the journey in just one year, which means that Sam will have to average roughly 34 miles per day to achieve that goal.

National Geographic Adventure recently did a brief interview with Gardner, which you can now read on their Adventure Blog. In the interview, Sam talks about his inspirations for the trek, what weather conditions have been like so far, as well as his favorite trail foods. You can about his thoughts on those subjects, and a whole lot more, by clicking here.

You can also read daily updates on Sam's progress on his website's Journal section, which offers plenty of great insights into what it is like on the trail.

Good luck Sam!

Low2High: Africa Expedition Underway

A unique expedition got underway last week in Africa when Brit Kyle Henning set off on his bike from the shores of Lake Assal near Djibouti, Ethiopia. That region has the distinction of being the lowest spot on the continent, falling 155 meters (508 feet) below sea level. From there, Kyle will ride his bike to Tanzania, covering about 3000km (1864 miles), where he'll then proceed to climb to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa at 5892 meters (19,340 feet).

Henning has dubbed his journey fittingly enough Low2High: Africa, and he has undertaken this excursion to raise funds for the New Day Children's Center, located in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Kyle hopes to raise £2,500 (roughly $4000) for the center to help meet the needs of some of the children there. He has just finished a two year stint in the Peace Corps, where he helped to improve the HIV/AIDS Services Network in the city, but he hasn't finished helping out just yet.

Already ten days into his ride, Kyle has posted a rather large update to his blog to help keep everyone informed of how the journey is going so far. He has also spoken with ExWeb, who have posted a nice interview with him as well. Henning tells ExWeb that he is "having the time of my life" on this expedition and that he is glad that he has taken on the challenge.

This seems like another fantastic adventure. As I mentioned a few days back, traveling through Africa on a bike sounds like a great way to explore the continent. Getting to visit it's lowest and highest points along the way, is an amazing bonus. Hopefully Kyle is successful in his venture, both for himself and the children he is trying to help back in Bahir Dar.

To donate to Kyle's cause, go to his fund raising page here. As of this writing, he has raised about £888.13, so he is well on his way towards his goal, with a bit to go yet.

Walking The Amazon Comes To The Discovery Channel!

I've made little secret of my admiration for Ed Stafford, the man who walked the length of the Amazon River. Ed spent 860 days in the jungle, covering more than 4000 miles in the process, and setting the standard for which all 21st Century expeditions will be measured.

He completed the trek last August, and has been home to the U.K. since, and while Ed works away on a book about his exploits, the Discovery Channel is preparing to share his journey with their audience. They'll air two shows on successive Wednesdays, on February 2 and 9, at 10 PM, which will give us a glimpse into what it was like for Ed to make his epic hike. Check out the trailer and a preview clip below.

Top Adventurers Reveal What's On Their Bucket Lists

Here's another article that was posted while I was away last week, but is definitely worth a mention. National Geographic Adventure polled some of the top outdoor athletes and explorers and asked them what remains on their "bucket lists" to accomplish. The results were then put online for us to enjoy. Check it out here.

Each person on the list was allowed to name their best trip ever and the dream adventure that remained to be accomplished. For instance, mountaineer Ed Viesturs said that his best trip ever was his third climb on Annapurna, which successfully put him on top at last, finishing off the 8000 meter peaks. And what was Ed's dream adventure? Visiting the South Pole! Ed didn't quite make it to the Pole, but he was just in Antarctica to climb Mt. Vinson as part of the First Ascent team.

Other athletes that were polled include skier Alison Gannett, long distance hiker Andrew Skurka, and ice climber Will Gadd, amongst others. Each has already had some fantastic adventures of course, but they also have some big dreams too.

So, if you were asked the same question, how would you answer? What is your best trip ever and what is the top adventure you'd still like to complete? So many choices in each category!

Best Hike's Top Ten Hiking Towns Worldwide: #2 and #1

With the holidays hitting at the end of last week, I didn't have the opportunity to post Best Hike's picks for the final two spots on its Top Ten Hiking Towns in the World. In the run up to Christmas, site editor Rick McCharles has been posting his selection of favorite towns to serve as a base camp for some of the top trekking destinations around the globe, and he completed that list on Christmas Day announcing his top choice.

But before we reveal what the number one hiking town is, we have to take a look at number 2. That honor goes to Huaraz, Peru, which is described as a "trekker's paradise" thanks to its proximity to the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra mountain ranges, not to mention Cordillera Huayhuash, which Rick says is for the hardcore trekker. He also says that despite the regional population reaching 100,000 people, the town still feels like a remote mountain village. He also gives it points for not having an airport, thanks in part because all the tourists fly to Cusco and leave this corner of the Andes alone.

Finally, the number one hiking town on the Best Hike list is Queenstown, New Zealand, which is described as the Adventure Capital of the World. Queenstown has a little something to offer any outdoor enthusiast, including hiking and trekking of course, but also skiing, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, bungee jumping, and more. The town of 10,000 people offers access to the excellent Routeburn and Kepler Tracks, as well as the Milford Track, which is largely considered to be amongst the best hiking trails anywhere in the world.

So, there you have it, the list i snow complete. With 2011 just a few days away, it's time to start planning a visit to one or more of these towns. It seems you can't go wrong with any of them. Thanks to Rick for sharing his considerable expertise with all of us. Great list!

Best Hike's Top Ten Hiking Towns Worldwide: #3 - Namche, Bazaar

The Best Hike Blog revealed their pick for the number 3 hiking town in the world today, as their end of the year countdown continues. This selection is one that I can wholeheartedly agree with, as I visited the place earlier this year.

Namche Bazaar, located in the Himalaya of Nepal, gets the nod in no small part because of it's proximity to Everest. The town, which has a population of about 800 people, is truly is the gateway to the High Himalaya, but is also one of the most enjoyable stops along that trek to the Khumbu Valley. Visitors will find plenty of choices in accommodations and restaurants, as well as such amenities as Internet access, hot showers, and plenty of gear shops to buy last minute equipment in. But getting there isn't easy, as the hike up the "hill" is quite a slog. One that will leave you breathless at 3,440 metres (11,286 ft).

As Best Hike editor Rick McCharles points out, the big draw to visiting Namche is obviously Everest, but the culture of Nepal and the views along the way are equally appealing. The hikes throughout the region are fantastic, and there are no mountains anywhere that compare to the Himalaya.

Great pick in my opinion. So, what towns do you think will be in the #1 and #2 spots?