Video: Take a Hyperlapse Safari with National Geographic

Have you always wanted to go on a safari, but just haven't found the time? Then this video just might be the next best thing – at least for today anyway. It is a an excellent short film brought to us by National Geographic that takes us to South Africa to go in search of some of the most iconic and amazing animals that that country has to offer, including lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, and many more. While it can't completely measure up to the real thing, this will at least give you a taste of what an African safari is all about, and perhaps convince you to finally book one for yourself. Something my friends at Mountain Travel Sobek can certainly help you with.

Video: Expedition To Western Nepal

This short film documents an expedition to western Nepal that took place this past fall. A small group of climbers went there to take on Saipal Peak, a 7030 meter (23,064 ft) mountain that is off the beaten path. While they weren't able to summit, they did capture some amazing footage of the region. Enjoy!

Expédition Saipal 2013 from emmanuel abelé on Vimeo.

Video: Unclimbed - Reaching the Summit in the Himalaya (Part 6)

Discovery Canada has released another episode of their fantastic series of mountaineering videos entitled Unclimbed. If you've been following along with the series, you know that it has been following climbers Gabriel Filippi and Elia Saikaly as they prepare to attempt the first ascent of several unclimbed peaks in Nepal. Up until now however, we've seen very little of the third member of the team – Pasang Kaji Sherpa. That changes with this episode however, as we are introduced to Kaji and learn more about his way of life. Born and raised in the big mountains, he is an expert mountaineer, and a crucial part of the team. Learn more in the clip below.

Winter Outdoor Retailer 2014: New Gear For Cold Weather Adventures!

It is that time of year again. The Outdoor Retailer Winter Market is underway in Salt Lake City, with gear manufacturers big and small showing off their new products to be released in the months ahead. As the name would imply, most of what is on display at the show is aimed at cold weather activities, although as usual with OR, there is plenty of gear for every outdoor sport.

While I'm not attending Winter OR this year, some of my friends are there and are doing an excellent job of sharing some of their favorite new products. For instance, the TrailSpace team is on hand and has already started posting their highlights from Day 1 of the show. Some of the items that have caught their attention include a new cooking system from a company called Baro that doesn't even need a fire. There are also some great photos of the first jackets coming to the U.S. from Berghaus, a company that has a great reputation in Europe. There are also new jackets coming from Icebreaker and Mountain Hardwear too, with the theme being lighter and warmer. The Trailspace coverage also includes a look at new boots from Keen and Vasque, as well as a new packraft from Klymit. Be sure to "Like" Trailspace on Facebook to get updates throughout the next few days.

Similarly, the GearJunkie is doing is usual bang-up job of covering the new gear as well. The GJ squad takes a look at the latest offering from BioLite, who make stoves that generate electricity from the burning of wood. They also found the new winterized toe shoes from Vibram of interest, as well as Outdoor Research's new high performance heated gloves. The GearJunkie's extensive coverage expands further, taking a peek at solar powered speakers from Goal Zero, a new pack from Dakine, and much, much more.

Expect some other great gear reports over the next few days with lots of attention being shown on the latest and greatest products, most of which won't be available until the Fall of this year. Still, it's great to start dreaming about all of these new items now.

Video: Traveling Overland From Switzerland to Mongolia

This amazing video was shot on what must have been an epic road trip from Switzerland to Mongolia. Along the way, the filmmakers captured thousands of fantastic images as they passed through  Italy, Greece, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Russia. The landscapes the discovered along the way will leave you breathless, and inspire a healthy dose of wanderlust too. This is what overland travel is all about, and it is utterly spectacular.

Latitude 45 - Switzerland to Mongolia from Milo Zanecchia on Vimeo.

Video: A World Record Kayak Run on the Rio Santo Domingo in Mexico

Want to see a wild and crazy kayak run unlike any other? Check out the video below that features Rafa Ortiz and friends as they make six drops along a stretch of the Rio Santo Domingo river in Mexico, through Class IV and V+ rapids, setting a world record for running the toughest navigable part of that stretch of water. They had one wild ride along the way to say the least, as Ortiz continues to push boundaries in kayak exploration and adventure. Don't try this at home kids.

Video: More Footage of the GoPro Karma in Action

We still don't know a whole lot about the GoPro Karma, the company's first entry into the drone market. We know it's coming sometime in 2016, and while those working on the drone are being somewhat coy, they have hinted that it'll operate unlike the traditional drones that we're use to so far. We'll just have to wait for GoPro to reveal more information in time, but for now we have another test flight video that was released yesterday. It purportedly shows footage shot using the UAV as it captures snowboarder Bobby Brown and some friends on the slopes. As with the first preview video, the images look clear, clean, and very stable. I can't wait to find out more.

Winter Climbs 2016: Nanga Parbat Teams Prep For Blizzard

What a difference a week can make. Last week at this time, several teams on Nanga Parbat were working to put themselves in a position to make a summit push. A weather window had opened on the mountain, and a couple of the teams were hoping that they could take advantage of the situation to complete the first ascent of that mountain. Now, just a few days later, the climbers who remain are back in Base Camp and waiting out a massive storm that promises to drop heavy snows and high winds on their positions.

In preparation for the arrival of the storm, Alex Txikon and Ali Sadpara went out in the bad weather to place bamboo poles along their route from BC to the moraine that leads up the slope. They are predicting that heavy snow will fall in that area in particular, and the poles will help them find their way once the storm clears, avoiding potential hazards that include some large crevasses. The duo, working in conjunction with Daniele Nardi, have fixed their ropes up to 6700 meters (21,981 ft), and have fully acclimatized, so now they are simply waiting for the weather to clear up before launching a summit bid of their own. When that could happen is anyone's guess at this point however, as the weather looks bleak for the next few days at the least.

Meanwhile, ExWeb is reporting that Simone Moro and Tamara Lunger may be changing up their plans. The two climbers have been on the mountain for a month now, and have managed to establish C2, but have struggled to get any higher on their chosen route. In order to acclimatize before a summit push, they need to establish more camps and spend some time at altitude. According to reports, Moro and Lunger have retrieved the gear that they had cached on the mountain, and are now rethinking their strategy. They are not prepared to go home just yet, but are possibly exploring other routes. Considering they are sharing BC with Alex, Ali, and Daniele, perhaps the five climbers will join forces and work together. (Update: that appears to be exactly what they'll be doing!)


Over on the Rupal Face, the Polish Justice For All team is back in Base Camp and taking a breather. They've managed to climb as high as 7500 meters (24,606 ft), but it is now unclear what their plans are. At one point, the team had said that it was prepared to stay through the entire winter, but ExWeb says that they could be planning to pullout and head for home – and Stefan Nestler agrees – as some of the members of the team are running low on time. The squad hasn't said this is the case just yet however, so we'll have to wait to see if they are indeed wrapping things up.

There is apparently a late newcomer to the mountain however, as reports indicate that American climber – by way of Brazil – Cleo Weidlich has arrived on Nanga Parbat with a support team. She's looking to have a go at the first winter ascent too, although starting this late in the season seems like quite a risk. She is in BC on the Rupal Face, and will begin her acclimatization efforts once the weather clears as well.

That's it for now, but I'll have more news from the mountain when there is anything to report.

Video: Banff in Timelapse

All you really need to know about this video is that it is a timelapse set in Canada's Banff National Park, one of the most beautiful settings on the planet. Enjoy!

Timelapse: Banff National Park from Roadtrippers on Vimeo.

Activists To Launch 15,000 Mile, 5-Month Road Trip To Promote Clean Drinking Water In Americas

Two adventurers are preparing to launch what promises to be an epic road trip adventure across the Americas in an effort to promote clean drinking water initiatives in that part of the world. Later his week, American Paul Cebul and German Steffen Mueller will embark on a five-month long journey that will cross 15 countries and culminate in Rio de Janeiro in time for the World Cup in July.

Cebul and Mueller will set out from Boston on Saturday and begin heading south. Their trip will take them across the U.S., into Mexico and then on into Central America. Eventually, they'll cross over the Panama Canal and move into South America, before eventually reaching Rio around July 13. Along the way, they'll pass through 70 different cities and visit an estimated 65 colleges and universities as they spread their message about the importance of clean drinking water, particularly in developing countries.

The two men are calling their expedition Water for the Americas, and while they have a website set up to support their initiatives, the site doesn't offer a lot of information at this time. Hopefully they'll update it before they hit the road, allowing us to follow their progress and adventures as they go.

Clean drinking water is one of the hot button topics across the globe right now. While most developed nations don't struggle with having water to drink, poorer nations have a difficult time, especially as climate change begins to take its toll on the environment. Cebul and Mueller hope to educate people about this issue, particularly in nations that are being most hard hit.

While I applaud their efforts, this sounds like just an excuse to make a months long road trip to the World Cup. I kid! I kid!

Infographic: Choose Your Own Adventure in America's National Parks

National Park Week continues through this weekend in America's National Parks. That means free entry into every park in the system, and lots of great opportunities for outdoor adventure. To help you find the best adventure for you, the National Park Foundation released this info graphic, which is filled with all kinds of great suggestions. I don't post too many infographics on this blog, but I thought this one was worth sharing. For a full size version of this click here.

Himalaya Fall 2016: Climbers Heading to Tenzing and Hillary Peaks

The fall climbing season in the Himalaya is still ramping up, with lots of climbers heading to places like Cho Oyu, Manaslu, and Dhaulagiri. But, the big 8000 meter peaks aren't the only ones garnering attention this year, as it appears that several teams are heading out to attempt first ascents on some unclimbed mountains.

According to this story in The Himalayan Times, a three-person team consisting of Gabriel Filippi, Elia Saikaly and Pasang Kaji Sherpa will be attempting to summit both Tenzing Peak (7916 m/25,971 ft) and Hillary Peak (7681 m/25,200 ft). Both mountains, which are named after the two legendary climbers who were the first to summit Everest, hold a special place in the hearts of Nepalis but until now have not drawn much attention from climbers.

According to the story, Hillary Peak can be found close to Lhotse and Nuptse, while Tenzing Peak is located between Cho Oyu and Gyachung Kang. That means the team will have to travel a bit in order to get to the summits of both mountains. It appears that they will first acclimatize on Hillary and make an attempt on the summit, before proceeding toward their second goal.

Neither of the two mountains has been climbed before, and the route to their summits remains a bit of a mystery. While the two peaks have been scouted, the trio of mountaineers will have their work cut for them. They will likely be creating the path to the summit that others will follow in the years ahead.

In a push to draw some attention away from its 8000 meter peaks, and spark some interest in more mountaineers coming to visit, Nepal recently opened up more than 100 peaks that had previously been closed to climbers. A number of those mountains remain unclimbed, which is a big draw to even the most experienced alpinist. The plan seems to have worked to a degree, as I have heard from several mountaineers who will be attempting one of these "virgin" peaks this year or in the near future. That includes American Lonnie Dupre, who will head to Nepal next month to lead a team up Langju, a 6365 meter (20,885 ft) mountain that has yet to be summited as well.

I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more about the big peaks in the days ahead, but I'll try to keep an eye on this smaller expedition as well. Some of the boldest and most impressive climbs are coming on other mountains, and the teams attempting them deserve plenty of attention too.

Antarctica 2015: Another Team at the Pole, Worsley Heads Downhill at Last

It has been another couple of busy days in Antarctica, where the remaining teams continue to press ahead with their expeditions. For one squad, this weekend marked the end of the line, while others soldier on with the end of the season starting to loom.

The four-person team of Devon McDiarmid, Stew Edge, Mostafa Salameh, and Shahrom Abdullah completed their journey to the South Pole yesterday.  It took them a total of 50 days to cross Antarctica along the Messner Route. The squad was one of the last to start this year, but once they found their rhythm they managed to make solid time and wrapped up the journey with plenty of time to catch the last flight off the frozen continent next week.

For Salameh completing the expedition was especially sweet. Not only is he now the first Jordanian to summit Everest, he's also the first to ski to the South Pole as well. Congratulations to Mostafa and the entire team on a job well done.


Elsewhere, skier Emma Kelty and guide Carl Alvy have started to pick up speed. The duo are reportedly in good spirits and are feeling great physically too. They're now skiing nine hours a day to make up some time, and have managed to cross  their most recent degree in just four days time. If they can keep up that pace, they have a good shot of reaching the Pole before the January 28 deadline. Hight winds and whiteout conditions aren't going to make it easy on them however, although the clock is the real enemy at the moment.

For Brit Henry Worsley it is quite literally all downhill from here. The solo-skier making the first unsupported traverse of the continent crested the Titan Dome last week, and has at long last started do descend towards the Shackleton Glacier and the Ross Iceshelf. That doesn't mean things have gotten easy however, as today he reports that soft snow is making it tough to make progress.

Henry has now been out on the ice for 66 days, and still has 228 km (142 miles) to go until he reaches the end of his journey. In order to get to the finish line on time, he needs to ski a minimum of 25 km (16 miles) per day, which is incredibly tough after already pushing his body to the limit for more than two months. Still, he is skiing longer hours every day in order to achieve his goal and at the moment it looks like he should be able to finish on time however, it jus isn't going to be very easy.

Finally, there have been no updates on the location of Doug Tumminello and Luke Robertson, but presumably they are either back in Union Glacier or have flown to Punta Arenas to begin the journey home. Doug put an end to his expedition after 35 days when he reached Thiels Corner, but Luke completed his solo-crossing of Antarctica late last week, reaching the South Pole in 39 days. Both should be on already off the continent or departing soon, but it is unclear where they are at right now.

As you can see, the number of teams still out on the ice is diminishing rapidly. We'll wrap up another season next week. But until then, I'll continue to keep any eye on the progress of the remaining skiers and share news as it it warranted.

Reminder: Hangout With Nat Geo's Adventurers Of The Year Tomorrow!

I posted about this last week, but I wanted to remind everyone that National Geographic will be hosting a Google Hangout tomorrow with five of its 2014 Adventurers of the Year. That means, that through the use of modern technology, we'll all get the chance to attend a virtual meeting with some pretty impressive people.

Amongst those scheduled to be in attendance at the hangout are ultrarunner Kilian Jornet, surfer Greg Long, long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad, snowboarder Kevin Pearce and explorer Sarah Marquis. Climber, storyteller and adventure filmmaker Fitz Cahall, who did the individual pieces on the Adventurers for Nat Geo, will also be in attendance.

The Google Hangout will take place from 1-2 PM Eastern Standard Time tomorrow. Questions for the group can be submitted through all the usual social media outlets, including Twitter, Google+ and Facebook using the hashtag #AdvOfYearChat. If there is something you'd like to ask these folks, it is best to get your questions in ahead of time so they can be reviewed and asked during the online meeting.

And as always, don't forget to cast your vote for the People's Choice Adventurer of the Year. Voting will run through the end of January. I know who I'd like to see win, but we'll just have to wait until the winner is announced in February.