Video: Highlights Of The Redbull Divide And Conquer

The Redbull Divide and Conquer is a three-stage race during which a three-person team has one member of their team cover each leg. This year's event took place on June 8 on Vancouver's spectacular North Shore. The video below gives you an idea of what it is all about, but judging from how amazing each leg of the course looks, I'd have a hard time deciding which discipline I'd want to do the most. It all looks spectacular to me! And as a side note, I'm jealous that hose living in Vancouver have this outdoor playground right in their backyard. It looks beautiful.

Video: Rios Libres Episode 3 - The Alternatives

Episode three of the four part Rio Libres web series has been released, continuing the exploration of the issues that the wild rivers of Chilean Patagonia face now that multinational corporations are threatening to build dams throughout the region. In this episode we explore some alternatives to the hydroelectric plants that will irrevocably change the landscape in the south in order to power the mining operations in the north – a region where solar power is more viable than just about any other place on the planet.

This has been an excellent series so far, but it's painful to think about what they are potentially doing to Patagonia.


Episode 3- The Alternatives from Rios Libres on Vimeo.

Is Big Brother A Threat To Travel And Exploration?

Unless you've been living under a rock these past couple of weeks, you've probably heard about the scandal here in the U.S. dealing with the National Security Agency collecting user data from various sources on the Internet and tracking phone calls. The entire affair has reopened the debate about how much access the government should have to the private information on its citizens and what exactly those citizens should know about how it is used. For their part, the NSA, the President and other elements of the U.S. government have defended their surveillance techniques by saying that they are necessary in order to keeps tabs on terrorists and to maintain American security. And judging from the reaction from the average person here, most people don't seem to mind all that much.

But what if Prism and the other NSA programs are just of the tip of the iceberg? Where does it all end and what else is going on that we don't know about? Are these programs a threat to our ability to move about freely? And what about explorers who often travel to places that are deemed by the U.S. government as locations that harbor terrorists? For instance, right now there are a numerous climbing teams in the mountains in Pakistan, which is a country that is known for being friendly towards extremist anti-American groups. After all, this is the country in which Osama Bin Laden was able to stay well hidden for years.

Some of these questions, and more, are explored in an article written by CuChullaine O'Reilly, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and founder of the Long Riders Guild. The article is entitled "Threats to Travel" and it was posted on the blog of explorer Mikael Strandberg a few days ago. It is an interesting read to say the least, particularly if you enjoy traveling to remote places or you are an explorer of those places.

In the article, CuChullaine discusses the growing length of America's "No Fly List" which prevents anyone on it from getting on a commercial airline bound for the States or traveling inside the country. It is estimated that that list now contains as many as one million names, having grown from just 16 prior to 9/11. He also takes a look at some of the steps taken historically by oppressive states to restrict the movement of citizens and sees some eerie similarities here.

The article is a long one, but it poses some important questions about what is and isn't acceptable in the modern age of travel and exploration. It is also very thought provoking, taking a good look at how government actions can have a profound impact on our ability to move about freely. At first glance, some of the actions and programs enacted by the U.S. government and other countries may not seem like much of a threat to explorers, but underneath they could have repercussions that could be felt for decades to come. This is definitely an interesting read.

Archaeologists Discover Lost City In Cambodia

Australian archaeologists using high tech equipment have discovered a lost city in Cambodia that had been swallowed up by the jungle and forgotten for more than 1200 years. The city was found using a sophisticated airborne surveillance systems called Lidar – which stands for light detection and ranging data. Mounted on a helicopter, the device uses lasers to penetrate the dense jungle canopy below, giving researchers an opportunity to discover things they wouldn't have been able to find on their own.

The city, which was built during the European Middle Ages, is named Mahendraparvata and is said to pre-date the famous Angkor Wat ruins by as many as 350 years. It is believed to have been built by the Hindu-Buddhist Khmer Empire between 800 and 1400 AD. Previously there had been a few scattered ruins and artifacts discovered, but through the use of Lidar, the team behind the discovery were able to see just how massive and sprawling the Mahendraparvata complex truly is.

It is believed that the city was once surrounded by a large, open space without vegetation. In fact, deforestation may have led to the decline and fall of the city more than 1000 years ago. But without anyone to keep the jungle at bay, it was able to reclaim its lost lands over time. The jungle was so efficient in fact that it completely covered the area and made it difficult for anyone to discover the site, let alone trek to the place.

After using their high tech arial mapping techniques to determine the scope of the city, an adventurous group of explorers actually went out to see it for themselves. They've only just started to uncover the vast amount of buildings that must make up the site, but so far they've found two temples that are nearly intact as well as a cave filled with strange inscriptions and carvings.

It will of course take years to uncover the entire place and begin to see what is underneath. But I thought that this story was cool for the mere fact that I would have loved to have been amongst the team that went and visited the city on foot. Talk about a true adventure, that is something right out of an Indiana Jones movie.

The video below captures some images and footage from Mahendraparvata. Interesting stuff.

Video: Scuba Diving The Similan Islands

The Similan Islands make up a small archipelago that sits off the coast of Thailand. The entire region has been designated as a national park and it is known for being a fantastic spot for scuba divers, something that is abundantly clear in the video below. The short film was shot near the islands back in February and gives us a glimpse of the amazing sea life that inhabits the region. This is both beautiful and tranquil. Quite lovely.

GoPro: Similan Islands Scuba Diving from Marcus Pai on Vimeo.

Video: Ten Things To Do In Qatar

Tiny Qatar may not be the the first place that comes to mind when you're planning your next escape, but adventure travel expert Richard Bangs recently visited the Middle Eastern country which is amongst the richest in the world. In the video below, Richard shares his ten suggestions of things to do in Qatar, which may be small on landmass but it is big in terms of culture and history. His number one choice certainly looks like it would be a lot of fun!

Ultrarunners Set To Run Across The Gobi Desert

Ultrarunners Ray Zahab and Kevin Lin, who once teamed up to run across the Sahara together, are collaborating once again on another desert crossing. This time the two men will take on the remote and foreboding Gobi in an attempt to cover 2300 km (1430 miles) in just 35 days.

Ray and Kevin plan to run between 70-80 km (43-50 miles) per day on this epic journey through the Gobi. They will have a support team with them helping to provide the water they'll need to keep moving, but due to the remote and rugged nature of the region, they'll only be able to receive one or two resupplies each day. That means they'll need to carry plenty of water with that at all times as it will be uncertain as to when they'll be able to get more.

While crossing the Gobi, the team will also interact with the Mongolian people who still make their home in that wild place. They hope to learn from about the effects of desertification from these tough and resilient people, who are seeing its effects first hand. Ray, Kevin and the rest of the squad will share those experiences, as well as insights into life in the desert, with youth groups back home via satellite broadcasts. The hope is to educate and inspire those young people following along with a healthy dose of adventure.

The plan is for the run to actually begin on Sunday, June 23. Ray is leaving from Canada for Mongolia today and he'll connect with Kevin, who will be coming from Taiwan, later in the week. They'll spend the time leading up to start of the expedition by organizing gear, resting their bodies from the travel and acclimatizing somewhat to the climate. After that, it'll be full steam ahead for 35 days. You'll be able to follow their progress on the Expedition Gobi website, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

Good luck Kevin and Ray!

World Expedition Gobi Trailer from GOi2P on Vimeo.

Gear Closet: Suunto Ambit GPS Watch

I'm the first one to admit that my gear closet is packed full of far more stuff than the average outdoor enthusiast could ever need. Writing this blog has afforded me the opportunity to test a lot of great equipment and use it on my own personal adventures. But one item that I had been hoping to add to my collection for some time was an Ambit GPS watch from Suunto, a high tech piece of kit that is versatile enough to be used in everyday workouts, weekend treks or excursions to far flung destinations across the globe.

Before I say anything about this watch, it is important to point out that this review is based on the original Ambit, which I was able to grab at REI recently when they gave it a 25% discount following the release of the Ambit2. By most accounts, the Ambit2 takes the winning formula of its processor and refines it nicely, providing more functionality in a slightly slimmed down form factor. Since I haven't tested that model yet, I can only share my thoughts on the Ambit, which I must say lives up to its reputation as an excellent multi-functional watch for all of your outdoor adventures.

In its basic form, the Ambit is a sports watch and as such it has all of the functionality you would expect out of such a device. Obviously it tells time (in two locations no less), and includes day, date and alarm functionality, as you would expect. It also has a stopwatch, interval timers, a countdown timer and more. It is rugged enough to be used at altitudes extending beyond the summit of Everest and as much as 100 meters (328 feet). In short, it is everything you would expect out of an outdoor watch and more.

At the heart of the Ambit is a powerful GPS chip that interfaces with the other functions of the watch, providing all kinds of real time data to the wearer. For instance, when running or cycling, the GPS feed information about your current speed, distance, pace – all of which is helpful when training for an event. While hiking, the watch can mark waypoints and help you navigate back to them using its onboard mapping capabilities. These capabilities put a powerful outdoor computer on your wrist that can help you in a variety of ways, particularly if you're an avid outdoor athlete or your adventures take you regularly into the backcountry.

Video: Searching For The Yeti

Even in the 21st Century tales of the Yeti continue to spark our imagination. The mythical ape-like creature that supposedly lives in the High Himalaya has remained elusive, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't continue to look for him. At least that's the basic premise of this wonderful short film that seems more like a good excuse to go mountain biking in Nepal rather than a true study of cryptozoology. Considering the stunning backdrops and excellent trails, I think any excuse to mountain bike in Nepal is a good one. Anyone want to organize this kind of Yeti hunt with me?

Searching for the Yeti from Gary Thomas on Vimeo.

National Geographic Honors Six Explorers, Conservationists and Adventurers

Last night the National Geographic Society's 125th Anniversary Gala took place at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. The event continued the year-long celebration of the "New Age of Exploration" by honoring some very distinguished guests for their contributions to science, the expansion of knowledge and pushing the boundaries of exploration in the 21st century.

Nat Geo CEO and Chairman John Fahey was on hand to hand out the Hubbard Medal, which is the Society's highest honor. This year's recipients included filmmaker James Cameron and oceanographer Sylvia Earl, both of whom were honored for their work in exploring and protecting the seas. Cameron was also named Explorer of the Year for 2012 dive into the Mariana Trench. The medal was also given to author Edward O. Wilson for a lifetime of writing about the diversity of life on our planet. BASE Jumper Felix Baumgartner was on hand to collect his award as the Adventurer of the Year, which he earned with his record setting leap from the edge of space, while Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebeck was given the Alexander Graham Bell Medal for his 25 years of service as the host of the National Geographic Bee. The Chairman's Award went to philanthropist Howard G. Buffett for his leadership in conservation efforts around the globe.

Congratulations to all of the winners. Each is more than deserving for their in their own field. Some for their amazing achievements over the past year and others for a lifelong contribution to the ideals that the National Geographic Society has espoused since it's inception 125 years ago. These fine individuals are certainly representative of exploration in a new age.

You can read a complete rundown of the evening here.

Video: In Search Of Whales

The video below is remarkable for two reasons. First, it shows off the amazing DeepFlight submersible vehicle, which looks like it would be fantastic to cruise around in and secondly it gives us some great underwater video footage of whales. The DeepFlight was armed with an array of GoPro cameras on this outing and as a result, we get some great shots from under the sea. It's a bit long, but stick with it and the payoff is worth it. Enjoy!

Couple Spends Eight Years Cycling The World

If you're going to take your time touring the world you might as well do it on the back of bicycle. That seems to be the approach that Richard and Stani Velomad have taken since they left their home in France more than eight years ago on their second epic cycling journey. The married couple's journey recently took them to Islambad, Pakistan, where they now estimate that they have covered more than 150,000 km (93,205 miles) on the back of their bikes.

Richard and Stani made their first long distance cycling trip back in 1996 when they started riding from Alaska to Argentina. It took them nearly four years to complete that ride which took them through the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile along the way. By the time they had finished, they had completely run out of cash and had to return home to France in order to earn some cash to fund their next ride.

They spent the next four years working 85+ hours a week and saving every penny they could. The bought a house, fixed it up and then sold it, all so they could get back out on the road. In 2004 they set out again and have been on the road ever since.

Their second cycling tour has taken them to such places as Morocco, Tunisia, Italy, Slovenia, Bosnia, Austria, Germany, Russia, Mongolia, China and into South East Asia. They've ridden across Viet Nam, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia before turning south to New Zealand and Australia. They've since returned to Asia to ride through Burma and back into China, which is where they crossed the border into Pakistan. They say they don't know how long they'll keep riding, but their on their way to India now, in a roundabout fashion.

Obviously living on the road hasn't been without its challenges. They've faced all kinds of dangers along the way, including hostile locals and the threat of being shot (in the U.S. of all places). But they've also experienced the kindness of strangers and interacted with some amazing cultures. While in Burma for instance, they were surprised to find that everyone offered them tea no matter where they went and they remarked on how welcoming and friendly the people of Pakistan have been as well.

Eight years seems like an incredibly long time to be on the road, but the lifestyle seems to be working for them. Who knows how long they'll keep it up, but looking over the list of places that they've been, it seems they haven't explored too much of Africa just yet. That should keep them busy for another eight years at least.

Thanks to my friend Zeeshan Nawaz Kahn for sharing this great story with me!

Share Your Cycling Photos On Instagram, Win Prizes!

The rise of technology and social media has certainly brought some interesting changes to our lives. We are now more connected than ever to not only our friends and family, but also people and organizations that we would never had a chance to be in contact with in the past. One small bicycle shop in Denver, Colorado is using social media to reach out to cyclists around the world and the results have been to create a community with a shared common interest that isn't confined by geographic bounds.

Adrenaline Cycles has been running a contest on Instragram for several months now that allows anyone to share their favorite cycling photos for a chance to win monthly prizes from brands such as Fizik, Pearl Izumi, Shimano and more. The winners are chosen by the store's staff and at the end of the year, they'll be giving away an extremely sweet prize – a 2013 Cannondale SuperSix Evo Ultegra Di2 road bike valued at $5200.

To enter the contest, all you have to do is follow the shop on Instagram @adrenalinecycles. Then, submit as many photos as you would like using the current hashtag of the month. The most likes on a weekly basis earns Adrenaline gear and the photo of the month wins a grand prize. For the month of June that is a Garmin Edge 510 cycling computer bundle. 

I have to admit, I haven't jumped on the Instagram bandwagon but I know a lot of people who really enjoy using the service. This is a fun and creative way for Adrenaline Cycles to build a following and some excitement around their shop that extends well beyond their typical reach. It's a very creative concept and some of the photo submissions are quite spectacular. If you're a cyclist who is also an Instagram user, you should dial into this contest. You might be able score yourself some great swag and possibly even a new ride in the process.

Video: Timelapsed Horizons.

If you're looking for a beautiful video to relax to tonight, play this one at fullscreen. Filmmakter Randy Halverson says that it is a "Dakotalapse" since it was shot in his home state of South Dakota. If you haven't been to that state before, some of the landscapes may surprise you. In this case, they all happen to be set against a stunning backdrop of night skies as well. If you're a fan of timelapse videos, you're not going to want to miss this one.

Horizons from Randy Halverson on Vimeo.

Video: Downhill Mountain Biking Never Looked So Good!

With the weekend almost within reach I've been thinking about getting my mountain bike out on a trail. I came across this video that provided plenty of inspiration to do just that. It is a beautiful short film that shares the joy of downhill mountain biking in some pretty amazing environments. Maybe it'll inspire you to get on your bike too!

Pakistan 2013: Base Camps Open!

As I mentioned a few days ago, the 2013 climbing season is now officially open and teams are now arriving in Base Camps across the Himalaya and Karakoram in Pakistan. Most are just starting to get settled in and are launching their first round of acclimatization rotations as they prepare for the challenges that are ahead. While there won't be nearly as many teams in the region as there are in Nepal and Tibet in the spring, the next six weeks or so will be very busy on a number of big mountains.

The 8000-meter peaks in Pakistan have a reputation for being incredibly difficult to climb with all five of them offering its own unique challenge. Chief amongst them is K2, perhaps the toughest mountain in the world. Despite the challenges of climbing that beast, the second tallest mountain on the planet will see plenty of visitors this summer. One of them is explorer Mike Horn, who fresh off his Pangaea Expedition is not returning to the mountains. He'll be joined by his teammates Fred Roux and Köbe Reichen, who he has climbed in Pakistan with in the past. The men left for Islamabad yesterday and aren't like to arrive in BC until sometime next week, when they'll begin their climb. Interestingly enough, both Mike and Fred are carrying paragliders with them and hope to sail off the summit should they reach that point.

Also departing for K2 next week is Adrian Hayes, who in the past has visited the Three Poles – North Pole, South Pole and Everest. He says he's been planning this expedition for three years and training extremely hard for the past six months, so now he's ready to take on the challenge too. He'll leave for Pakistan in a week and share his experiences at every step of the way.

A Japanese team is currently trekking to K2 BC and a second team made up of international climbers is expected in country this weekend. Considering it takes a few days to organize gear once they reach Islamabad, then fly or drive to Skardu, before proceeding on to Askole by 4x4, followed by a 7-8 day trek, it'll be a little while before Base Camp really starts to bustle.

Young Adventurers Launch 900-Mile Canoe Expedition To The Arctic

On Monday a team of six young explorers launched an epic summer paddling expedition that will see them covering more than 900 miles (1448 km) as they travel by canoe to the Arctic Ocean. Their expedition will carry them across three Canadian Provinces on this adventure as they also collect water samples to be examined by research scientists once the journey is complete.

The expedition is called the Tri-Province Arctic Canoe Expedition and it got underway from Black Lake, located in Saskatchewan following a three-mile portage that included the team shuttling 700 pounds (318 kg) of gear to their starting point. The route will take them through some extremely remote areas as they travel along the Dubawnt, Morse and Armark Rivers on their way to the Queen Maude Gulf in the Arctic. Some of their challenges will include crossing some early portage portholes on their way out of Black Lake, navigating through Lake Dubwnt, which is often frozen even in the winter, and an upstream slog on the Morse River that has never been attempted before.

The six young men on this journey include Kyle Terry, Ben Woods, Henry Cordeal, Jess Hernandez, Chris Martella and Andrew Hubb, all of which are between the ages of 22 and 26. They expect their journey to take roughly 70-days to complete, during which they'll be passing through some seldom visited sections of the Canadian wilderness. While traveling in the Queen Maud Gulf Migratory Bird Sanctuary, they hope to document some of the wildlife that they see along the way. Additionally, the water samples they take at various stages of the trip will be used in a research project at the University of Alaska to study the water cycle by creating a map of the patterns of isotopes found in the water in different locations. The hope is that it will allow researchers to study the processes that are affecting the water in unique parts of the world.

The boys have now been out on the water for four days and they have not posted any updates to their social media outlets just yet. Hopefully that will change as they get settled into the routine of the journey. You can follow them on both Facebook and Twitter if you would like to keep up with their adventure. You can also read about what they packed for a 70-day backwoods adventure in this article found at the National Geographic Adventure Blog.

Good luck guys!

The Rest of Everest Episode 191: Landing The MI-17

With the summer climbing season in Pakistan now getting underway, you really should be watching The Rest of Everest. This season the video podcast is focusing on an expedition to climb Broad Peak and K2 in the Karakoram Range and each episode will give you a glimpse into what is happening in that region right now.

In the latest episode we see how the team entertains itself at Base Camp while between acclimatization rotations and we also see what happens when someone needs to be evacuated due to altitude sickness. In this case, it is a trekker who takes ill and must be airlifted to a lower altitude aboard a Russian built MI-17 helicopter. Considering BC is located 8 days from the nearest medical facilities, you get some idea of just how remote the area is.

GB Row Update: Then There Were Two

Remember last week when I wrote about the GB Row Challenge, a 2000-mile (3218 km) race around Great Britain in a rowboat? At the time I pondered the question of whether or not it could be the toughest rowing race in the world as the six teams that entered were just fully getting underway. Ahead of them were some considerable challenges, including swift and ever changing currents, unpredictable weather and incredibly rough seas. Add in the fact that these waters see some of the highest shipping traffic in the world, and you begin to understand what they rowers faced as they moved out of the Thames and into the ocean proper.

Fast forward a week and clearly those challenges have taken a toll. Four teams have now dropped from the race, leaving two teams to battle it out for the win, or to merely continue on to see if they can actually finish. Neither of those teams is on a record pace at the moment, but they are continuing to row as best they can under the current conditions.

The two teams that are still rowing include the four-man squad of the Islanders, who are currently out front and the two-man team of Savoir Faire. While obviously a two person team won't be able to keep up with a four-man boat that is capable of rowing 24-hours a day, each of them are just hoping to make it to the finish line and collect the winning check for their category. That would be worth £15,000 ($22,944) if they can manage to do it, but they still have a long way to go. As of this writing, the Islanders still have 835 nautical miles to go until they are done, while their competitors are facing 975 nautical miles before they can stop.

It remains to be seen whether or not these two remaining boats can continue to press forward. The majority of the teams that enter this race never finish as is evident by the high attrition rate once again this year. With miles of rough, open water to go, these rowers have a lot of physical and mental challenges yet to overcome and the second half of the race will be more of a grind than the first.

Thanks to Steve Price for sharing an update on this amazing and grueling event.

The 2013 Tour Divide Mountain Bike Race Begins Friday

One of the longest and most demanding mountain bike races in the world gets underway on Friday when this year's crop of riders set out on the Tour Divide. For most, it'll be a weeks long journey along the epic Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, which runs for 2745 miles (4418 km) between Banff, in Albert Canada and Antelope Wells, New Mexico, which falls on the U.S.-Mexican border. Along the way the riders will need to be completely self sufficient while out on the trail, as this route runs through some very remote backcountry that routinely leaves them far from civilization.

As always, this race is run for the pure adventure. There is no prize money, very little fanfare and almost no media coverage. The field consists of a small group of dedicated mountain bikers who simply love the challenge of the trail, which is a mish-mash of single-track, jeep routes, fire roads and equally challenging paths. All told, the riders will actually face over 200,000 feet of vertical gain along the way, which is the same as going from sea level to the summit of Everest more than seven times.

And just how long will it take for the riders to complete the 2745 miles? The fastest riders will complete the route in approximately two weeks, but those are elite riders who pound the pedals for hours on end each day. The rank and file riders are more likely to take somewhere between 20 and 30 days depending on trail conditions, weather, mechanical issues and so on. No matter how long it take, it won't be a ride in the park. This is a demanding trail no matter what pace you set.

For updates on the race once it gets started, be sure to check out TourDivide.org and the official Facebook page.

Climbing The Mönch With Ueli Steck

So what's a world class climber to do after having his Everest dreams crushed? Return home, rest up and then go play in the alps apparently.

After Ueli Steck left the Himalaya following his much publicized showdown with the Sherpas this spring, he went on radio silence. He, Simone Moro and Jonathan Griffin were threatened, beaten and generally harassed on Everest, forcing them to abandon their attempt at a new route. Once the situation calmed down, he and Griffin left Nepal and returned home to Europe, where Ueli has been careful with his comments on the delicate situation.

But as with all climbers, the mountains make everything better and it looks like he had the opportunity to stretch his legs a bit in the Alps this week. Jonathan joined him for a little speed-run up the Mönch, a 4107 meter (13,747 ft) peak that sits between the famous Jungfrau and the Eiger.

Jonathan writes in a blog post on Ueli's website that the Mönch isn't a particularly tough climb, but it is a long route. During their busy day in the Alps, the covered 3460 meters (11,351 ft) of vertical ascent and 18 km (11 miles) total distance. Best of all, they captured some great photos along the way, showing the Swiss Machine completely in his element. You can take a peek at them here.

It is good to see these two men get back to climbing. Lets hope we see them back in the Himalaya in the future as well.