Winter Climbs 2016: Summit Bid Denied, Another Team Departs Nanga Parbat

Heading into this past weekend we were keeping a close eye on the proceedings on Nanga Parbat, where the first summit bid of the winter was underway. Climbers Elisabeth Revol and Tomek Mackiewicz were on a light and fast attempt to become the first team to complete a winter ascent of that mountain, and when we last checked in they were at 7400 meters (24,278 ft). But as we all know, nothing is certain on an 8000 meter peak, and according to ExWeb the duo turned back and are now preparing to leave the mountain altogether.

According to reports, Elisabeth and Tomek never climbed any higher than the 7400-7500 meter mark that we tracked them at last Friday. At that point, they determined that while the weather conditions were stable, the temperatures were simply too cold to push any higher. So, they decided that the best course of action was to spend the night at 7200 meters (23,622 ft) and then descend back to Base Camp the following day.

Once they arrived back in BC on Saturday, they shared the news that they would be leaving the mountain. The duo are now short on time and resources, and were expecting to return to Chilas – a nearby village – yesterday or today. From there, they'll begin the trek out and start the long journey home. For Tomek, this is the end of his sixth winter attempt on Nanga, and it was the third for Elisabeth.

Meanwhile, the trio of Alex Txikon, Daniele Nardi, and Ali Sadpara have pressed forward with their efforts. Over the weekend they completed fixing ropes up to Camp 3, which located at 6700 meters (21,981 ft). They also cached some gear and supplies there before returning to C2 for an overnight stay and dropping back down to BC the following day. They now have their route in place and are ready for a summit bid of their own, but they are waiting for a good weather window to make the attempt.


In his most recent update, Alex says that if conditions remain the same they won't need to fix any ropes above C3. The three men now believe they have completed the most complex and challenging section of the climb, and simply have to wait for good weather to have a go at the top. Currently the conditions include high winds and cold temperatures, which is keeping them in BC. They are hoping that only a minimal amount of snowfall will hit the mountain before they get the chance to launch a summit bid however, as more snow would cause them to have to reopen certain sections of the route, potentially burning important resources and energy.

Simone Moro and Tamara Lunger are reportedly still in BC after they went up the mountain last week. The last update we had on their progress indicated that they had descended and were planning on resting for a few days and watching the weather. It is unclear whether or not they are now ready for a summit push too, but it would seem that they should be close at this point. Again, it will be the weather that determines when they can go back up.

Finally, the Polish Justice For All team has now reached 7500 meters (24,606 ft) and have set up Camp 4 at that point on the mountain. They're all back in Base Camp at the moment awaiting a weather window of their own. They are prepared to stay on the mountain as long as possible, so patience is the key to success for this team.

If you'd like to catch a glimpse of what it was like for them on the hill, check out the video below. It was shot on their most recent slog up the mountain, and has some scenes that give us an indication of what it like there. In a word – cold!


Nanga Dream 15/16 Justice for All! from Michał Obrycki on Vimeo.

Video: Zipline Base Jumping in Utah

In this video, a group of extreme athletes traveled to the amazing landscapes of Utah to attempt a version of BASE jumping that I've never seen before. It's called Zip-BASE and it involves first ziplining down a long line before letting go and parachuting back to Earth. In this case, that long zipline is spread out across a large canyon and looks like quite a ride in and and of itself. But, mid-way through the descent things get even more interesting. Looks like fun, but I never want to try this.

Ultimate Playground 4K (Zip-BASE jumping) from Negative4 Productions on Vimeo.

Video: Getting the Shot - What it Takes to be an Adventure Photographer

Ever wonder what it takes to be a great outdoor and adventure photographer? As you can imagine, it is a fun, rewarding job, but one that is also incredibly tough too. That is especially true for a woman, as there aren't many in the industry. But Erin Hogue is one of those ladies, and in this video she talks about what it takes to get the perfect shot. Erin will also be the only woman participating in the inaugural World of X Games: Zoom Photography Contest next week, which is awarding prizes for the best action sports images as well. If you're an aspiring photographer, you'll want to check out this clip, and subscribe to her YouTube channel to catch the ongoing series starting soon. 

Canadian Adventures: Dogsledding and Wolf Encounters in Quebec

Last week I had the fantastic opportunity to travel to Quebec, Canada to experience some of the winter adventures that the province has to offer. More specifically, I visited the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, which is dominated by numerous lakes and rivers, not the least of which is its namesake body of water, which is a source for endless possibilities for outdoor activities, particularly during the summer. In my case however, I was looking for chances to explore the regions winter offerings, and I didn't come away disappointed.

Flying into Quebec City, I spent my first night in the area enjoying a fantastic meal and wandering through the streets. There is definitely a European vibe to the place, with the vast majority of the inhabitants speaking only French, and obvious inspirations to the local architecture. Coming from the U.S., this makes it feel like you've traveled a lot further than you actually have, which gives Quebec an unexpected allure. It is also why the local tourism board went with the motto " So Europe, So Close."

As much as I enjoyed my visit to Quebec City, my stay was a brief one. The next day I set out with a few other travelers for the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean area to begin my explorations. This area is much more rural and rustic, with English-speaking citizens few and far between. That isn't a bad thing at all of course, but if you're expecting a similar experience as you find in other parts of Canada, you may encounter some unexpected bumps along the way. 

We were headed to a remote area of the Saguenay region, but en route we made a couple of stops along the way. The first was in a quaint little town called Robertville, which has made a name for itself locally by creating an ice village on its frozen lake each year. The village includes a walking trail and skating route, as well as a rink to play hockey of course. This is Canada after all. There are also more than 180 small cabins that range from basic escapes from the cold conditions, to elaborate homes away from homes. The locals see the ice village as a way to socialize with friends and family, and over the years it has become quite the popular place with visitors too.

While the Robertville ice village was a nice distraction, our ultimate destination was a place called Adventuraid. There, we would spend the night in small cabins and yurts located in the forest while we waited to meet the site's most interesting inhabitants - three packs of wolves that are kept in very large enclosures that allow them to run free, while still coming in contact with humans on a regular basis.

The following day, we had the opportunity to get up close and personal with these creatures when the owner of Advenuraid introduced us to one of his packs. The standard gray wolf and arctic wolf packs remain shy and wild around humans, so we didn't enter either of their enclosures. But one of the packs has been imprinted with humans from an early age, and as a result they are comfortable with visitors. 

Inside the pen, we were given the chance to interact with the wolves, which were very friendly, but still had a wild streak in them. Several of the younger wolves followed us around while we explored the interior of their enclosure, which included dense woods for them to retreat to should they feel the need. It was clear they were just as curious about us as we were them, although some of the older members of the pack remained reserved and at a safe distance. 

The imprinted pack was made up of both gray and arctic variety of wolves, and much of the time they behaved like their canine cousins that we keep at home. They were certainly playful – stealing the hat off one of my companions heads, and refusing to give it back – and highly curious too. They also chased one another around with boundless energy, while still displaying the pack mentality that is well established in the wild, complete with a pecking order and a clearly defined alpha member. 

For me, this was a fantastic opportunity to interact with creatures that I had only seen from afar in the past. I never thought that I'd have the chance to see a wolf this close, let alone pet one. For any animal lover, the experience is deeply moving, and will stay with you long after you've left. But be warned, if you go to Adventuraid to meet the wolves yourself, there are no guarantees that you'll have the same experience I had. If the wolves are shy that day, or aren't feeling particularly accommodating, they may not approach visitors at all. In fact, some never even get to go inside the enclosure, as the safety, health, and well-being of the wolves takes priority. 

If you do go however, staying onsite is the best options. The cabins are located near the pens, so you can observe the wolves in their habitats. I woke up on the morning of my visit, essentially rolled over in bed, and was able to watch them right from the window of the cabin. It was a great way to start the day to say the least. 

After our encounter with the wolves was over, we grabbed a hot meal before launching the second stage of our Adventuraid excursion. The company organizes dogsledding tours which can last for just a few hours or extend to four or five days. Sadly, we didn't have time for the longer style of trip, but we did manage to spend the afternoon exploring the thickly wooded backcountry with sled dogs. 

This was my first time dogsledding, so I was eager to give it a go. We used six-dog teams, and had two people to a sled, a drive and a passenger. After helping the Adventuraid staff collect the individual dogs for each of our teams, we harnessed them in, and were soon off and moving. The dogs were incredibly powerful, and knew the route well, so it was easy to soon find a rhythm, but the initial surge when the dogs first take off is a real kick, and it was fun to see just how much they enjoyed the outing too. 

Steering the sled took a bit of getting use to. The dogs pull it along nicely, but the drive still needs to lean into a turn when making a sharp change in direction. After about 15-20 minutes of mushing I started to get the hang of it quickly, but not before burying my sled in a meter of snow after taking a turn too sharply. It was a harsh lesson to try to get the sled out of the deep powder without losing it altogether as the dogs pulled on it to go. But after a couple of minutes of scrambling, we were back on the trail, and off and running once again. 

Our route took us through the forest and down on to a frozen river, which gave us the opportunity to let the dogs open up a bit. They ran with strength and confidence, while my companion on the sled and I simply enjoyed the ride. Soon, we were back in the woods, and heading for home, but not before navigating plenty more backcountry trails, some of which were narrow enough that the sled could barely pass through. 

My all-too-brief dogsledding adventure was over before I wanted it to be. But, it did provide me with some good experience that I'm sure will come in handy if I ever get the chance to do it again. It was definitely a fun, exhilarating experience, and I know have even more respect for top mushers. 

Late in the day we left Adventuraid behind, but my companions and I continued to talk about our experience there long after we had moved on. It was a place that provided some unique experiences to say the least, and I don't think we'll soon forget them. Both the wolves and the sled dogs were wonderful animals, each unique in their own way. If you're looking for a truly great destination to experience some amazing outdoor adventures, than you should put the place on your radar. You won't come away disappointed in any way. 

Next up, snowshoeing in the Valley of the Phantoms. 

Video: End-to-End on the Pacific Crest Trail in 7 Minutes!

The Pacific Crest Trail is one of the greatest long distance hikes anywhere in the world. Stretching for more than 2600 miles (4185 km) from the U.S. border with Mexico to the border with Canada, the PCT passes through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the western United States. But not all of us have the time to walk it ourselves, which is where this video comes in handy. It allows you to see the trail, end-to-end, in just seven minutes, using three-second clips the entire way. After watching it, you'll probably want to hike it yourself even more.

The Pacific Crest Trail (Three Second Thru-Hike) from Halfway Anywhere on Vimeo.

2016 Was The Hottest Year on Record

Stop me if you've heard this one before...

According to NASA and NOAA, 2016 was the hottest year on record, breaking the previous mark for the third consecutive year. And if that wasn't sobering enough news, the latest report on climate change also indicates that 16 of the 17 hottest years ever have taken place since 2000.

Studies indicate that the average temperature across the planet increased by 1.1ºC (1.98ºF) last year, which may not sound like much but it is enough to have a dramatic impact on large sections of the globe – especially in the polar regions. It also means that we're already well on our way towards surpassing the 1.5ºC goal set by the Paris Climate Agreement from 2015.

The cause for the increased temperature remains the same as it has for the past two decades, or longer. The burning of fossil fuels increases carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, and the continued deforestation of rainforests – often referred to as the "lungs" of our planet. These harmful processes seem to be continuing to accelerate, despite efforts to reverse their effects.

Historical records of temperatures have been kept as far back as the 1880's, which means we have more than 130 years of data to compare the current trends to. It is also becoming increasingly more difficult to deny the impact of humans on the environment. As part of the report, Michael Mann, the director of the Earth Science Center at Pennsylvania State University,  said "The effect of human activity on our climate is no longer subtle. It's plain as day, as are the impacts -- in the form of record floods, droughts, superstorms and wildfires -- that it is having on us and our planet."

To make matters worse, the Arctic seems to be warming at a faster rate than the rest of the planet, with temperatures now climbing to 3ºC (5.4ºF) higher than they were a decade ago. That means an increased rate of melting of the ice caps, which in turn leads to raising sea levels around the world. That will have a big impact on coastlines, eventually putting areas that are now inhabited potentially under water.

But, there is cause for some hope. Scientists believe that 2017 won't be warmer than the previous years thanks to El Nino keeping things a bit cooler. This is probably a temporary state of affairs however, even if it does buy us a brief respite.

How anyone can continue to deny climate change is beyond me. Whether or not humans are having an impact doesn't matter any longer. It's happening, and we need to do whatever we can to halt it. It's not too late, but time is running out.

Video: Wingsuit Pilot Flies Through a Ring of Fire

The title for this one pretty much says it all. Wingsuit pilot Uli Emanuele proves his skill by flying through a ring of fire at high speed. As you can imagine, this looks as crazy in motion as it sounds. Definitely don't try this at home folks.

Video: Fat Biking Through the Iconic Landscapes of Utah

There is no question that fat biking is changing our perception of where you can go on a bike. Case in point, this fantastic video takes us deep into the deserts of Utah with pro rider Steve Fassbinder and a friend as they explore those iconic landscapes from the seat of a fatty. This will make you want to break out the big wheels and go on an adventure of your own.

Antarctica 2013: Teams Closing In On The South Pole

The end is in sight for most of the teams skiing to the South Pole, as several of them close in on the finish line at last. The next few days should be busy ones at 90ºS, as a spate of skiers arrive there after weeks out on the ice. For most, it'll be a welcome relief as they complete a journey that has been both mentally and physically exhausting. The season is beginning to wind down quite quickly now, but there is still plenty of work to be done before it is over.

One of the more distressing stories coming out of Antarctica is that of Juan Menendez Granados. I haven't written much about Juan's expedition this season, but he has been skiing and cycling to the South Pole, alternating between modes of transportation depending on the conditions. ExWeb is reporting that because the expedition is taking longer than he had originally expected, Juan is now running low on food. He has plenty of fuel to keep melting snow for water, but his rations are running out quickly and he is still several days from the Pole at best. ALE could drop him a resupply, but he was hoping to make the journey unsupported. We'll have to wait to see if he can still finish in that fashion. When you're working hard 12 hours a day and burning more than 8000 calories in the process, there is never enough food for a journey of this type. But in this case, it sounds like Juan will be extremely hungry when he gets to the Pole.

Elsewhere, Antony Jinman is closing in on his finish and now expects to reach 90ºS sometime tomorrow night. Yesterday he traveled in a complete whiteout for the entire day, but still managed to knock off 16 nautical miles (29.6 km). That leaves him with about 30 nautical miles (55.5 km) to go to the Pole. The plan is to push it extra hard today, and cover as much distance as he can, so that he can wrap things up relatively easily tomorrow. Hopefully the weather will cooperate, making his final push to the end an easier one.


Lewis Clarke is in the homestretch and should be on pace to reach the Pole this weekend. He, and his guide Carl Alvey, have reached the Polar Plateau and are now skiing on a relatively flat surface that has fewer sastrugi and other obstructions, which should make for easier skiing. As of yesterday, they still had 65 miles (104 km ) to go before they finish, but at their current pace that should put them in on Saturday as expected. When he is done, Lewis will become the youngest person ever to ski the full distance to the Pole at just 16 years old.

Chris and Marty Fagan are also nearing the end. They're traveling at a slightly slower pace at this point, but have only 46.6 miles (75 km) to cover before they reach the South Pole. That should also put them in on Saturday, provided everything goes as expected.

South Pole cyclist Daniel Burton only rode for a couple of hours yesterday due to heavy snow falling. That made for tough going on soft new snow and with limited visibility. He had hoped to make it to the South Pole this weekend as well, although since he is still sitting at 88ºS42"W, he has some miles to cover before he is done. The weather is expected to improve today, so hopefully he can make up some ground and reach the Pole this weekend after all. Any more delays will probably push that arrival into early next week.

Finally, no Antarctic report would be complete with out an update from the Scott Expedition. Ben and Tarka reached one of their supply depots on Monday, which allowed them to restock their food and fuel for the next stage of their journey. The next few days promise to be incredibly tough ones for an expedition that has seen its fair share after 82 days on the ice. The boys are descending the Beardmore Glacier and aren't able to use their skis at the moment. Instead they have donned crampons and are slowly and carefully making their way back down to the Ross Ice Shelf. Once there, they feel like the pace will pick up considerably as they make their push toward the coast, but it'll take them four days to complete the descent, which will make things more difficult in the meantime. In order to negotiate the tricky blue ice of the glacier, they've connected their two sleds to one another, and they are taking turns splitting the duties of one of them in the front pulling the sleds, while the other is in the back, helping to steer. This will be their approach for the next few days, until they can don their skis again and get back to their normal mode of transportation.

That's all for today. Watch for more updates later in the week as the teams begin to arrive at the South Pole.

Plane Crash Claims 18 Lives In Nepal

A plane crash in Nepal on Monday claimed the lives of the 18 people on board. The flight crashed into the side of a hill after taking off from the town of Pokhara. Most of the passengers were Nepali, although there was one Dane aboard the flight as well.

Air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane just minutes after takeoff. It was en route to Kathmandu with 15 passengers and three crew members. The Twin Otter aircraft, a staple in the mountainous landscapes of Nepal, went down on a hill known as Masinelek. The official cause of the crash is bad weather.

This is the third crash in as many years in Nepal, bringing into question the safety of flying there. According to the BBC article linked to above, since 1949, there have been more than 70 aircraft crashes in Nepal, with over 700 people dying in those crashes. For the size of the country, that is a pretty astounding number, but when you factor in the High Himalaya, and the unpredictable weather, it becomes a bit more understandable.

Despite the remote and difficult terrain that this plane went down in, the bodies have already been recovered and returned to Kathmandu. My condolences go out to the friends and family of those who died in this accident.

Video: (To)Day Dream - REI Reminds Us to Spend Some Time Outdoors

This video seems highly appropriate as we head into the weekend. It is a a short, but sweet, reminder to get outside and enjoy nature. It comes our way courtesy of REI – who obviously has a vested interest in getting us outdoors – but it is a great message nonetheless. Yes, we're all busy and have very complicated lives. But some time outdoors can help us sort through all of that. So, as the video says find an empty spot on your calendar and find an empty spot on the map. It is as simple as that.

(To)day Dream from REI on Vimeo.

Video: Cinedrones are Awesome!

Recently I've mentioned a few times how I think the use of drones in adventure filmmaking is going to change the craft forever. The video below is dedicated to that vary thing, showing us how these little flying camera platforms can deliver amazing results. This is really fun and interesting stuff to be sure.

CINEDRONES ARE AWESOME from ANTIMEDIA on Vimeo.

Winter Climbs 2014: Base Camp Departure On Nanga Parbat

The teams attempting the first winter ascent of Nanga Parbat have been in "hurry up, and wait" mode for most of their stay on the mountain so far. That isn't unexpected on a climb in Pakistan in the middle of the coldest, most dangerous season of all. The weather has offered few opportunities for climbing too high on the mountain so far, but the climbers knew it would be like that before they ever arrived. So, they have been taking advantage of those opportunities as they come and have been patiently waiting for things to improve while they acclimatize as best they can. Over the weekend, conditions on the mountain improved slightly, giving them a chance to move higher and scout the route more properly.

The big news coming out of Pakistan is that the Polish Justice For All team has lost a man. According to ExWeb, Marek Klonowski has left the squad and returned home after his partner gave birth to their child. Being on Nanga wasn't as important as being with his expanding family, so he took leave of his friends and returned to Poland. That leaves Tomek Mackiewicz, Jacek Teler and Paweł Dunaj as the climbing team, with Michał Dzikowski and Michał Obrycki as their support crew.

Meanwhile, the North Face team of Simone Moro, David Göttler and Emilio Pevitali report that weather has indeed improved, but they remain in Base Camp at the moment to let the winds clear the snow from the higher portions of the mountain. This will reduce avalanche risk significantly and make it much safer for them as the move up to Camp 1, and possibly Camp 2, over the next few days. They'll work hard to shuttle gear up the route and establish their high camps, while also acclimatizing to the altitude at the same time.

Meanwhile, Daniele Nardi will soon set off for Pakistan as well as he attempts a solo summit of Nanga Parbat. He is due in country next week and should make his way to the mountain quite quickly. We've already seen Ralf Dujmovits abandon a similar attempt this winter due to unsafe conditions. It'll be interesting to see if Daniele will have better luck on his own expedition.

That's it for today. Hopefully we'll have more word on team movement in the next few days.

Video: A Higher Crawling

We share a steady stream of interesting and informative videos here at The Adventure Blog, so every once in awhile it's nice to get one that is just plain fun. Like the clip below, which is a parody of mountaineering videos, although this time it stars a couple of 6 month old climbing phenoms who are rivals at first, but eventually bond over their love of the high spaces of our planets. And diapers. I hope it puts a smile on your face. Enjoy.

A Higher Crawling from eric becker on Vimeo.

Video: Paragliding Through the Italian Dolomites

We've seen some amazing videos from the Dolomites in Northern Italy, but we've never seen those famous mountains from this perspective before. This video was shot on a 50 km (31 mile) flight in a paraglider that soared high above the iconic jagged peaks that are a trademark of the region. This four-and-a-half-minute clip will give us a look at these mountains that most of us will never see, and it is well worth the trip. Enjoy!

Amazing day in the Dolomites from Robi on Vimeo.