Video: The Old Man River Project

Stretching for more than 2400 miles, the Mississippi River is one of the most iconic waterways in the entire world. Navigating its length in any type of watercraft is a challenge to say the least. But Brett Rogers, along with four crew mates, set out to do just that – in a 32-foot handmade York boat named Annie no less.

The video below is the first of a new ten-part series that will be debuting over the coming weeks. That series will chronicle the adventures that Brett and his companions encountered as they traveled the Mississippi from its headwaters to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico as part of their Old Man River Project.

If you like what you see here, be sure to checkout the expedition’s official Vimeo page where they’ll be unlocking new videos every Tuesday in the coming weeks. It looks like this will be one heck of a good webseries to follow.

Everest 2012: Puja Ceremonies and Acclimatization Climbs

As I mentioned on Monday, the teams continue to stream into Everest Base Camp where they have started to make themselves comfortable and are busy preparing for the challenges ahead. The teams that got in early are already plotting their next moves while those who are only just arriving now are still getting settled into what will be their home for the next six weeks.

Among the new arrivals is the Himex squad who reached BC yesterday amidst good weather. They say that the word from the Sherpas is that the Khumbu Icefall is in great shape this year and may not present the problems that it has in the past. But there are some worrisome indications that the annual monsoon could return early as well, which would mean that weather windows could be few and tight in the weeks ahead. For now, the team will rest in Base Camp for five days, doing a few acclimatization walks and preparing their bodies for the climb.

Meanwhile, the IMG team has already come and gone from Base Camp. The climbers are headed to Lobuche Peak (6118m/20,075ft) where they’ll practice their skills while working to on their acclimatization. Yesterday the group held their Puja Ceremony, with a local lama bestowing blessing on them and giving them permission to proceed with their climb. With that ceremony completed, the mountaineers are free to ascend to higher altitudes and the Sherpas can begin their work of stocking the camps. With that in mind, 11 IMG Sherpas were headed to Camp 1 today to carry loads of supplies and gear while another 33 Sherpas were headed up to C2 to stock the campsite there.

The Peak Freaks have been spending the last few days sorting gear and getting everyone’s personal equipment together. After resting in BC since Sunday, the group is off to Kala Pattar today, where they’ll trek to the top of the 5545 meter (18,192 ft) summit. This non-technical walk is also used for acclimatization and offers some of the most spectacular views of Everest that you’ll find on the South Side of the mountain.

The Nat Geo/North Face team of Conrad Anker, Corey Richards and the rest have arrived in Base Camp as well, but thus far updates haven’t been all that forth coming. Apparently they’ve had some issues with the 3G Internet service there, although they have started to tweet and post to Instagram as well. You can follow them using the hashtag #OnEverest and check out some of their photos by clicking here.

British climber Kenton Cool has arrived in BC for his attempt at his tenth summit of the mountain. He’ll be carrying a gold medal from the 1924 games with him on his summit bid this season and reports that it is a cold night in Base Camp this evening. He’s a veteran of all things Everest, but Ian Ridley is climbing the mountain for the first time, and earlier today he reported on his training exercises which involved learning to put in his boots and crampons on near the icefall. He says they won’t actually enter that dangerous section until the weekend and until then they rest and train.

Finally, the Peak Freaks have posted another awesome video of life in EBC. This was shot last year but still gives you a good idea of what conditions are like at the base of the mountain. Check it out below.

Video: Ice Climbing Bridal Veil Falls in Colorado

At 111 meters (365 ft) in height, Bridal Veil Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in the state of Colorado. It is a spectacular sight year round but in the winter the falls freeze over providing some of the best ice climbing in North America.

The video below was shot back in 2009, when the falls had just re-opened to ice climbing and it gives us a glimpse of how amazing the climb up that frozen rock face can be. The video also features legendary climber Jack Roberts, who passed away after falling off Bridal Veil in January. Jack was one of the top ice climbers in the world and had extensive experience climbing waterfalls across the globe, but BV was one of his favorites and he knew its challenges well.

Thanks to Ben Clark for sharing this video with us.

North Pole 2012: Arrivals At 90ºN

With the opening of the Barneo Ice Station last week, there has been a lot of traffic coming and going from the North Pole and the arctic in general. The temporary base is only scheduled to remain open for another two weeks, so travelers to the top of the world are taking advantage of the window while they can. To get a sampling of what is happening at Barneo, along with lots of great photos, check out the Live Journal, translated from Russian, by clicking here.

One of the explorers who is currently out on the ice and rapidly making his way to 90ºN is Mark Wood who is looking to cap his solo expedition to the South Pole with a similar journey to the North. According to his most recent update, which was posted yesterday, Mark was sitting at 89º49’32″N. That means he should arrive at the North Pole today provided everything goes as expected. He’ll then immediately get airlifted back to Barneo before heading home. Wood has noted that temperatures have been hovering around -30ºC/-22ºF, which is colder than anything he had experienced while in the Antarctic. He also says that even though he is approaching the finish line, he is still quite wary of the challenges, which include open leads of water and polar bears.

The 6 Ordinary Men have completed their last degree journey to the North Pole, arriving at that point earlier today. You may recall this is the team of Brits who were skiing from 89ºN to the Pole to raise funds for the Sparks Charity, an organization dedicated to improving the health of children. While their journey was a relatively short one, it was still challenging. Conditions out on the ice haven’t been easy and  the temperatures have been bitingly cold.

Finally, the team of French researchers at the North Pole have been diligently going about their work in varying conditions as well. They have taken advantage of the mid-night sun to collect more samples and take various environmental and atmospheric readings, but that sun hasn’t provided much in the way of warmth. Their most recent dispatch indicates that temperatures at the top of the world have been around -35ºC/-31ºF.

In addition to these hardy explorers, there are a number of tourists traveling to the North Pole at the moment as well. Most are going by aircraft and not staying long, but a few are taking part in last degree ski journeys too. It is one of the top adventure travel destinations on the planet and few ever get a chance to visit that remote place. Considering joining such an expedition on your own? Expect to devote about 15-20 days and pay around $40,000. Ouch!

Video: Inspiration At The End of the World

The Patagonian Expedition Race is one of the toughest, most challenging endurance events on the planet. Each year some of the top adventure racers in the world travel to Chile to take part in the suffer-fest that is “The Last Wild Race,” and most go home exhausted and beaten, but throughly satisfied.

This year the team of the GearJunkie/YogaSlackers took third place at the PER while also managing to capture much of the adventure on video. They put together the short film below to share those experiences with others and it is a fantastic look not only at the sport of AR but the very personal nature of adventure in all its forms. Really great stuff.

Thanks to the GearJunkie for sharing!

Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide Winners!

Over the past few weeks I’ve been running a little giveaway on the site during which I was giving away eight copies of Andrew Skruka’s new book The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide. Late last week I randomly selected the winners. They are:

Kerry Scott (Piney River, VA)
Stacy Mantooth (Las Vegas, NV)
Michael Smith (Downingtown, PA)
Andrew Frishman (Santa Fe, NM)
Roberto Guzman (La Habra Heights, CA)
Amy Ekberg (St. Paul, MN)
Jim Cawley (Smithsburg, MD)
Lee Edwards (Brisbane, Australia)

Congrats to all the winners. I shipped out the books today and they should be arriving on your doorsteps very soon. Thanks to everyone who entered the contest and who read this blog. I appreciate you stopping by my little slice of the Internet.

Also, big thanks to the folks over at National Geographic Books for providing the prizes for this giveaway!

Himalaya 2012: Updates From The "Other" Mountains

While the teams continue to stream into Everest Base Camp, the other big Himalayan peaks are starting to gather crowds (albeit modest ones!) as well. As usual, there are a series of exciting expeditions taking place across the region this spring and the climbers on those adventures are starting their approaches as well.

One of the more ambitious projects for 2012 comes from Ueli Steck who has joined forces with American climber Freddie Wilkinson to launch his Khumbu Express II expedition. The duo hope to open new routes on the North Faces’ of Cholatse (6440m/21,129ft), Tawoche (6542m/21,463ft) and Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft). Ueli and Freddie are currently trekking acclimatizing and trekking through the Khumbu Valley and after a rest day in Namche Bazaar yesterday they are expected in Pheriche today. That should put them in Base Camp on Cholatse by the weekend where we’ll hopefully start to get regular updates on their progress.

Also in the Khumbu, and on his way to Everest BC, is Simone Moro, who will be attempting the difficult Everest-Lhotse traverse. For those that don’t know, Lhotse is the fourth highest peak in the world at 8516 meters (27,940 ft) in height. It is also the next door neighbor to Everest and when climbing either of the peaks from the South Side, teams share the same route all the way up to Camp 4. At that point, they go in separate directions to their respective summits, before descending back down to the shared camp once again. Simone hopes to climb to the top of Everest, descend to C4 and then begin an ascent of Lhotse from that point after he has had a chance to rest. If successful this will be one impressive feat, and if anyone can do it, it is Simone. We’ll definitely be watching this expedition closely in the weeks ahead.

Australian climber Allie Pepper has completed her acclimatization trek through the Khumbu and has now returned to Kathmandu where she is preparing to leave for Manaslu. That 8156 meter (26,759 ft) peak will be the first of her Himalayan double-headers this year as she also intends to summit Lhotse later in the season. Allie has posted some excellent photos of her trek which you can check-out here.

The Adventure Consultants are guiding a team on Manaslu this spring as well and they are already en route to the mountain. They reached the village of Samagaun today and will rest there before heading to Base Camp on Thursday. The entire team is in good spirits, feeling great and eager to get their climb underway.

Finally, Don Bowie is on Annapurna where he has already been making good progress. As of last Wednesday, which is when Don last updated us on his status, he had already spent two nights in Camp 1 and was preparing to head to Camp 2 for an over-night stay as well. Presumably that went off without a hitch and he has since returned to BC for a rest. Hopefully we’ll get an update soon, as Annapurna is one of the more challenging climbs in the Himalaya and I’d love to hear how the conditions are on that mountain this spring.

Book Review: The Ultimate Hang by Derek Hansen

Hikers and backpackers are constantly looking for ways to travel lighter and faster on their excursions into the backwoods. Whether its an overnight stay along a local trail or a weeks-long thru-hike of one of the grand epics such as the Appalachian Trail, we’re always looking to shed pounds while remaining as comfortable as possible. Author Derek Hansen has found the key to doing just that and he shares the secret with us in his book The Ultimate Hang: An Illustrated Guide to Hammock Camping.

Derek asserts that we can drastically cut down on our pack weight by ditching a tent in favor of a lightweight and comfortable hammock, particularly in warmer weather. He notes that sleeping in a hammock allows backpackers to stay off the hard ground, which provides a better night sleep, and that they perform the same no matter if the terrain is smooth and flat or rocky and uneven. Hammocks can be equipped with rain flies to keep out the inclement weather and insect netting to prevent the creepy crawlies from making their way inside as well. They even adhere to the “leave no trace” concept, having zero impact on the campsite.

Converting to hammock camping may seem like a  simple affair, and for the most part it is, but Hansen has plenty of great advice for first-timers and experienced backpackers alike. He starts with the very basics, such as what gear you’ll need for your hammock and then he demonstrates the ease of setting it up using some simple, yet highly effective, illustrations. Derek shares important information on selecting the proper campsite, lightning safety, avoiding wild animals and much more. He even tells us how to stay warm when the cooler weather sets in and how to best keep the rain out when we are inevitably caught out in a storm.

The Ultimate Hang may be a mere 130 pages in length but is chock-full of useful information for anyone who is interested in giving up their tent in favor of a hammock. The book is a fast and easy read, and features plenty of charming illustrations that compliment the text very well. By the time you finish reading this guide you’ll be more than prepared to spend your first night in the woods sleeping between two trees and suspended several feet off the ground.

Of course, there are times when sleeping in a tent does have some advantages over a hammock. For instance, tents are naturally warmer and can be shared by multiple people as well. They also are less problematic above the tree line when hammocks require the use of other suspension types to be of any use. But under the right conditions, it is clear that a good hammock is an excellent way to travel and sleep while on a backpacking trip.

I have to admit I learned a lot from reading this book, which was not only informative but fun as well. Derek makes a great case for using a hammock on just about any camping trip and I’ve already started looking for a nice, comfortable option to take with me to the woods. I like the concept of traveling a bit lighter and sleeping more comfortably. Both of those options would make life on the trail so much better.

The Ultimate Hang is available from Amazon for just $12.78. Find out more at TheUltimateHang.com

Outside Announces New $10,000 Adventure Grant

In celebration of the magazine’s 35th anniversary and the release of their Adventure Issue, Outside  has also announced the creation of their first annual Adventure Grant. This new endowment is for $10,000 and will be awarded to help fund “a smart, creative, and (perhaps) slightly foolhardy project” that will appear in a future issue.

Applications for the grant are being accepted online between now and May 18th. The official application can be found by clicking here. In addition to basic contact information, the applicant is asked to submit a 500 word essay describing your adventure and why you are uniquely qualified to pull it off. Photos and video can also be included to help illustrate the point.

A $10,000 adventure grant is nothing to sneeze at and this could be just the kind of funding and exposure that an expedition is looking for to get off the ground. After all, I’ll be sponsorship dollars would be easier to come by when the sponsor in question could get some recognition in Outside.

In addition to the announcement of this impressive grant, the magazine also announced its pick for their Adventurers of the Year and suggestions for 12 great adventures in national parks. The former includes such names as Felicity Aston, Conrad Anker, and Laura Dekker, while the latter has awesome suggestions for travelers visiting Isle Royal National Park or the Great Sand Dunes and Preserve, amongst others.

Everest 2012: Base Camp Arrivals and The Challenges of Kathmandu

As expected, the first teams of climbers began arriving in Everest Base Camp over the weekend where they found the Sherpa teams had already established the locations that would be their homes for the weeks ahead. While they began to settle in and started planning for the climb ahead, other teams continued to work their way up the Khumbu Valley or have started their journeys into Tibet for approach from the North Side of the mountain.

One of the first squads to arrive was the Peak Freaks who reached BC on Saturday. This year they’ve expanded their operations to include two kitchen and two dining tents, one for the climbers themselves and another for the Sherpa teams who prefer to prepare and eat their food at different times. Upon arrival, the team was surprised to learn that the Sherpa guides have already been up to Camp 2 on the mountain where they’ve claimed a spot for their tents at that location. It’ll be several weeks yet before the western climbers make their way to that point, but it seems their guides have already begun shuttling supplies in preparation.

Ian Ridley arrived in BC yesterday where he reports the temperatures are still on the cool side. Over night temperatures fell to -16ºC/3ºF and while the sun brings warm conditions inside the tent (21ºC/70ºF) as soon as it falls back into the shade, those temperatures drop to just 2ºC/35ºF. He also notes that the constant creaking and cracking of the glacier has made it a bit unnerving to sleep in the tent thus far.

Phil Purdy has updated his blog from Base Camp as well, reporting on his own Easter Sunday arrival. He notes that his team will now rest for the next three or four day before they proceed through the Khumbu Icefall and up to Camp 1 as part of their first round of acclimatization. He says that he also expects their Puja ceremony to take place in the next day or two as well. Each team goes through a Puja before starting their climb, and during that ceremony Buddhist monks bless them and their gear, and ask the mountain to grant them safe passage to the summit.

Further down the valley, the Himex team spent a few days in Pheriche as part of the acclimatization process. They report that heavy snow hit the area, which made for some beautiful sights but cold conditions. As a result, most preferred to stay inside close to the fire while they were in the little village, but those comfortable conditions didn’t last long and today the team is trekking up to Lobuche camp where they’ll spend a few more days acclimatizing before moving on to BC.

Teams are starting their migration to the Tibetan side of the mountain as well. We already knew that the 7 Summits Club planned on flying to Lhasa on Thursday of this week, where they’ll begin their overland journey to Base Camp on the North Side of Everest. Joining them there will be the Altitude Junkies, who now say that they’ll begin their journey to Tibet starting tomorrow. They hope to be in BC by Saturday or Sunday of this week, where they’ll begin their prep work for going to the summit as well.

It hasn’t been an easy couple of days in Kathmandu where a number of teams are still finishing up their last minute planning before officially launching their expeditions. The storms that dumped snows across the Khumub this weekend resulted in rain in Nepal’s capitol city. Those rains flooded streets and made things a bit of a mess for a time. Waters have receded now, but residents and visitors are now in the midst of a “bandha” or strike today, which means traffic isn’t moving in or out of the city and protestors have taken to the streets. These strikes generally last just one day however, and business should return to normal tomorrow. For those caught up in the action, which happens on an annual basis, it can be a bit frustrating, but most plan around the protests making them mostly a minor inconvenience.

Finally, there have been reports from ExWeb and Alan Arnette about a couple of oxygen tanks exploding while being tested with masks over the past few days. Obviously most climbers make the ascent while using supplementary oxygen and the system needs to be working perfectly in order for them to actually have a chance at reaching the summit. The bottles in question were supplied by a company out of the U.K. called Summit Oxygen, who are a relatively new competitor to Posisk, which held a monopoly on bottled oxygen in the Himalaya for years. Fortunately, the exploding bottles have resulted in mostly minor injuries thus far, but this is obviously a volatile situation and one that will leave teams feeling a bit uneasy about their choice of bottled O’s. Let’s hope that these are a few isolated incidences and that there will be no further problems moving forward, particularly when the oxygen is put into action in a few weeks time.