Japanese Polar Explorer Yasu Ogita Completes Canada to Greenland Expedition

Way back in March I told you about Japanese polar explorer Yasunaga Ogita's plans to ski from northern Canada to Greenland across the frozen sea ice of the Arctic Ocean. At the time, he was just preparing to set out, but now, two months later, he's finished the journey at long last, covering more than 830 km (515 miles) in the process.

Yasu initially set out from Grise Fjord on Ellesmere Island back on March 30. He then spent the next 48 days skiing to Greenland, crossing the frozen expanse of the Arctic Ocean along the way. He told ExWeb that his biggest challenge while en route was the fast moving arctic ice that was pushed along by a strong current. Crossing those moving floes can be difficult unless you're traveling at high speed, which isn't possible on foot when dragging a heavy sled behind.

Along the way, the Japanese polar veteran also encountered plenty of polar bears and even an arctic wolf who took an interest in his travels. He also saw seals, musk ox, caribou, and other creatures as well, proving that this part of the world isn't quite so empty as some would think.

To prepare for the crossing Yasu spoke to other explorers who had traveled in the region before, as well as locals in both Canada and Greenland. But much of the path was completely unknown, with very few people ever crossing through this part of the world. The crossing isn't completely unknown, but it is a very rare occurrence to say the least.

Yeas wrapped up his journey on May 16 and just recently traveled home to Japan. He is no doubt already thinking about his next adventure.

Himalaya Fall 2016: Nobu Heads to Everest, Climbers Missing in Pakistan

The fall climbing season is upon us with several expeditions already underway in Nepal, while others begin to ramp up elsewhere. Last week several large teams set out for Manaslu, which will be a popular peak this season. Those climbers are just now getting settled into Base Camp where they will soon begin their acclimatization process. But elsewhere, things are starting to get very interesting.

Japanese climber Nobukazu Kuriki reportedly left Kathmandu for Lhasa, Tibet yesterday. After making five previous attempts to climb Everest from the South Side in Nepal, he'll make his sixth attempt from the North Side instead. Kuriki says that after he acclimates, he'll attempt to climb the Great Couloir route in alpine style solo and without oxygen.

In 2015, Kuriki attempted the same approach from the South Side only to be turned back at Camp 4 due to high winds and deep snow. This year he hopes to have more success, with a change in scenery helping to bolster is efforts. Back in 2012 he famously got stranded high on Everest and had to be rescued, but severe frostbite cost him parts of nine fingers. 

Hopefully he'll find more success this year. 

When he gets to BC on the North Side he won't be alone. Spanish ultrarunner Kilian Jornet is already there, and has been acclimatizing for his attempt at a new speed record on Everest. He'll also make one push up the mountain, climbing without oxygen, and incredibly lightweight gear. There is no word yet on when that attempt might come, and there have been few updates on his progress in recent days. For now, we wait.

Finally, there is some sad news out of Pakistan, where the Karakoram climbing season has essentially just wrapped up. Climbers Kyle Dempster and Scott Adamson have gone missing on the Ogre II, and search and rescue operations are currently underway there. 

The duo haven't been seen in last Monday – August 22. On that evening, the headlamps of the two American's were spotted heading up the mountain but poor weather moved in over the ensuing days, obscuring the view from Base Camp. Dempster and Adamson had planned to spend five days on their summit bid, which would have put them back in BC by August 26. There has been no word from them however, so friends and family have been raising funds to pay for a search team to begin looking for the missing men. 

The Ogre is also known as Baintha Brakk, and is considered amongst the most difficult mountains in the world. Standing 7285 meters (23,901 ft) in height, it is both a technical and physically demanding climb. The approach is incredibly steep and dangerous which is why 24 years past between the first ascent in 1977 and the second in 2001. Dempster himself paired with Hayden Kennedy to climb Ogre for the third time in 2012. 

Hopefully the two men will be found safe higher up on the mountain, but unfortunately that is seldom the case. Lets continue to hold out hope however, as there is still a chance they are alive and in need of some assistance in getting down. 

That's all for now. More updates to come soon. 

Video: Into Patagonia with Endurance Runner Dakota Jones

As most of you know, Patagonia is one massive, sweeping, and spectacular wilderness. It covers more than a million square kilometers of space, and yet is home to less than 2 million people. Recently, American mountain runner Dakota Jones visited that place in an effort to explore it for himself and meet a few of those people along the way. This video takes us with him as he goes into Patagonia and discovers all of the wonders that can be found there. This is an amazing short documentary that you should sit back and enjoy. It's well worth the watch.

Video: The Wildlife of Chernobyl

It has been 30 years since the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl in the Ukraine. Since than, the city, and the surrounding area, has been mostly deserted of people, but wildlife has returned to the area and is thriving. In this video from National Geographic, we get a glimpse of those creatures that include wolves, foxes, dogs, and other animals. It is fascinating to see them wandering through a place where humans continue to shun. As is usual, nature finds a way.

Video: Nat Geo Tells Us Why it is so Hard to Catch Poachers

As the world's population of elephants and rhinos wanes dramatically, many countries across the globe have stepped up their efforts to combat poaching in Africa and elsewhere. This is a battle that has been raging for sometime however, and yet we continue to hear how poaching is having a dramatic impact on the number of these creatures that roam the wild. Why is it so hard to stop these illegal activities? In this video from National Geographic Live, Naftali Honig – founder of the EAGLE Network – tells us why it is so hard to bring these people to justice.

Winter Climbs 2016: Nanga Parbat Climbers Reach Camp 2

It has been a really long and difficult couple of weeks on Nanga Parbat. The teams who are hoping to complete the first winter ascent of that mountain have mostly found themselves confined to Base Camp while waiting out the weather. While things haven't improved completely, conditions have gotten a bit better, with reports indicating that at least one team is on the move again, and taking advantage of the conditions that the mountain is affording them.

The international team of Alex Txikon, Ali Sadpara, Simone Moro, and Tamara Lunger have reportedly managed to climb back up to Camp 2 at 6100 meters (20,013 ft) in an effort to resume their acclimatization efforts. The group had turned back on a couple of previous attempts to climb above Camp 1 due to high winds, but were able to push through yesterday. If the current weather window holds, they hope to move up to C3 tomorrow.

After sitting in BC for a couple of weeks, the current rotation not only helps with their acclimatization, but is also giving the team a chance to review the conditions on the route, which have been covered in snow and ice in recent days. If the four climbers do get a chance to make an eventual summit bid, they now have a better understand of what they'll face on the way up.

Meanwhile, there is news from elsewhere on the mountain. Earlier in the week I posted that Polish climber Tomek Mackiewicz was on his way back to Base Camp to continue his attempt to climb Nanga Parbat. You may recall that Tomek made a summit push with teammate Elisabeth Revol back in January, but after their bid came up short, the two left the mountain. While Revol returned to France as expected, Tomek hung around in Pakistan and was looking for an opportunity to give the mountain another go. It looks like that won't happen now however, with the Pole turning back once again.

According to ExWeb, Tomek was trekking back to BC and may have reached the huts in Kutgali, which are just a two-hour walk from Base Camp. But, it seems that he won't go any further, and has more than likely turned back and will now head home for good. This makes perfect sense considering his climbing permit is set to expire early next week.

Finally, there continues to be no updates from Cleo Weidlich, but ExWeb is also reporting that unofficial sources say that two members of her team have left the mountain as well. Weidlich reportedly acclimatized in Nepal before leaving for Pakistan, and was climbing with a team of five Sherpas. There is no indication of whether or not she has actually been able to move up the mountain, or the status of the team beyond this basic information.

That's it for now. I'll keep you posted as the season continues to unfold.

Video: Winter in the Dolomites

The Italian Dolomites are one of the most beautiful places in all of Europe, if not the world. This video confirms that, providing almost three minutes of fantastic timelapse imagery from this fantastic setting, which is where many great Italian climbers have cut their teeth over the years. If you want to know just how magical of a place the Dolomites are, just sit back and enjoy this short clip. It is definitely worth the time.

WINTER | DOLOMITES 4K TIMELAPSE from Martin Heck | Timestorm Films on Vimeo.

On the Road Again!

Just another quick note to regular readers today to let everyone know that The Adventure Blog won't be updated for the rest of the week. I'm headed home to Iowa to visit friend and family and celebrate a milestone for one my family members. I may have time to post a few updates while away, but most likely we'll return to the usual posting schedule next Monday. In the meantime, have a great rest of the week and weekend.

Video: Learn the "Shepherd's Leap" on the Canary Islands

On the hilly slopes of the Canary Islands, the shepherds that once roamed the countryside had to get creative with how they moved across the islands. Most used a technique called "Salto del pastor" which translates to roughly "the shepherd's leap." Essentially, it is a bit like pole vaulting and it was used to cross streams, descend from heights, and slowly make their way to their destination. Today, it is a bit of a dying art, but a few still practice it, as you'll see in this wonderful short clip from National Geographic.

Nepal Fines Guiding Company for False Everest Summit Claims

Remember the story of the Indian couple who faked their Everest summit last spring? It was a husband and wife duo by the name Dinesh and Tarkeshwari Rathod who said they had reached the top of the highest mountain on Earth, only to discover later that they had faked their summit photos and never really made it above Base Camp. The two Indian police officers would later receive a 10 year ban on climbing in Nepal, and have been suspended from their jobs ever since. Now, the Nepali government is taking action against the guiding company that led them to Base Camp for also falsifying information.

According to The Himalayan Times, the Rathods were led to Everest BC by a company called Makalu Adventure, which is now being fined $4000 for submitting fake claims to the Department of Tourism in Nepal. Representatives from the company submitted falsified documents in order to obtain summit certificates for Dinesh and Tarkeshwari. But of course, the couple never reached the summit, and that had to have been known by the Sherpa guides, who first corroborated their claims, but then later backed off as the scrutiny intensified.

Under Nepal law, the government there has the right to fine Makalu Adventure as much as much as Rs 25,000, which is roughly $230. But, in this case, the DoT has elected to keep the company's $4000 garbage deposit, which is money that guide services put down in good faith, with the idea that it will be returned to them following an expedition, provided they pack out all of their garbage.

The ruling was just made within the past few days after members of the Department of Tourism spoke with Furba and Fursemba Sherpa, who were members of the team. Those two guides have been out of contact for months, but finally were able to come forward and be interviewed about the situation. They testified that the Rathods never went above 6000 meters (19,685 ft), and therefore couldn't have summited the mountain as they – along with Liaison Officer Ganesh Prasad Timsina and Makalu Adventure – had claimed.

Initially, representatives from Makalu Adventures blamed the Sherpas for the false reports, but that doesn't actually seem to be the case. The entire incident has Nepali officials reviewing the country's current laws and policies governing mountaineering, including the use of liaison officers, who have been the subject of much scrutiny recently due to the fact that most never even go to Everest Base Camp with the teams they are suppose to be working with.

The whole affair has been a messy one from the start. Hopefully now it will be put behind us and we can start thinking about the spring climbing season ahead. It isn't as far off as you might think at this point.

Majorcan Adventure: RnR in the Mediterranean

Situated in the Mediterranean Sea, Majorca is a part of the Balearic Islands archipelago, which falls just off the coast of Spain. The island is home to about 850,000 people, of which about half live in the capital city of Palma. The landscapes on the island vary from lovely beaches, to rolling hills, to rugged mountains, the highest of which is Puig Major at 1445 m (4741 ft) in height. Well known for its fine wines, excellent dining, and laid-back culture, Majorca is a dream escape for anyone looking for a little rest and relaxation, mixed in with some moderate adventure. It also happens to be the location for my latest escape, which has gotten off to a lovely start.

After a very busy of year of travel so far, I've been looking forward to this visit to Majorca for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that I'm joined on this excursion by my wife and some good friends. Often when I hit the road for an adventure it is by myself, so I've welcomed the company of these companions and I'm happy to have a group of others to share the journey with this time around. Of course, that also means we needed a nice place to stay that could accommodate us all under one roof. Fortunately, Majorca has lots of options in this area thanks to a wide variety of lovely villas scattered throughout the island. Finding such a villa is made all the easier thanks to Travelopo.com. The site is a bit like AirBnB, but instead of finding a room in someone's guest house, you're actually able to view and book beautiful villas from all across not just Majorca, but Europe in general.

We ended up staying in a beautiful four-bedroom, five-bath home not far from the town of Pollença, a sleepy little berg that is within easy walking distance of our villa. That location has made it perfect for our plans, which involve equal doses of relaxation and exploration. In Pollença we've found an excellent base camp where we can wander through local markets, dine in lovely outdoor cafes, and sample some of the region's best wines. Oh yeah, we also managed to walk around nearly every part of the city, and hike to the top of a high hill that offers stunning views of the northern shores of the island and the Mediterranean beyond.

October is a great time of year to visit the island, as the high tourist season is over but the weather remains warm and accommodating. Most of the restaurants, bars, and coffee shops are fairly quiet, as are the beaches, trails, and other popular destinations. This makes getting around a lot easier, and finding a spot to sit and enjoy a beverage while watching the world go by more enjoyable too.


My traveling companions and I arrived in Pollença on a Saturday afternoon following three flights and a dramatic shift in our timezone. Feeling a bit rundown after all of that travel, we were anxious to get settled into our villa and start enjoying our Mediterranean escape. That started with a quick dip in the pool at our home for the next week, before showering up, getting dressed, and heading into town for a delicious meal and a solid sampling of the local wines. By the time we returned to our accommodations we were all exhausted and ready to sleep, with everyone retiring to their respective sleeping quarters not much later.

On Sunday we were ready to explore more of Pollença, while also continuing to rest up some. Most of the group slept late, then headed into town for some lunch. That was followed by a leisurely stroll through the narrow, twisting streets that led us to the foot of Calvari, a tall hill on the edge of town that features 365 steps that lead to an old cathedral at the top. The walk was an exhilarating one, but not difficult enough to really prevent anyone from reaching the top. Legend has it that with each step of the climb, those making the pilgrimage to the summit can wash away all of the bad things that have happened in their life over the past year. I can't confirm that that is true, but I can say that it is worth the hike.

Once at the top, those who make the march are treated to some spectacular views that include glimpse of the Mediterranean in the distance, numerous rolling hills across the countryside, and rocky cliffs on the top of some very prominent bluffs. You can also scope out the entirety of the town of  Pollença, which sprawls out below. I would later use this same vantage point during an evening run, which allowed me to navigate to parts of the city I hadn't seen before and discover more of what this region of Majorca has to offer.

We capped our Sunday activities with a late dinner in town that included locally grown olives, as well as traditional bread with aioli sauce, along with a wide variety of tasty meals. It also gave us a chance to dine like the locals, sitting outside in the cool evening air at a fine restaurant that sits a bit off the tourist track. It made for a wonderful evening of conversation, laughter, and making new friends. Later, we would head home well fed, in great spirits, and ready to retire for the night once again.

On our second full day on the island we started to branch out a bit further from our villa. After wandering into Pollença in search of some morning coffee to get the day started, we were soon feeling ready to hit the road. By mid-morning, we had rallied up the troops, got in our rental cars, and drove a short distance out the city to one of the local wineries – called Can Vidalet – for a tasting. Once again, we were delighted to discover the local wines are very tasty, particularly when enjoyed with bread, sausage, and cheese. Early on, it is already abundantly clear that we won't be lacking in both red and white wines to enjoy on during our stay.

With our early wine stop behind us, we next set out for a nearby town called Alcúdia. Being a bit of a history buff, this was one of the destinations on the island I had most been looking forward to seeing. The town was established on the site of the beaches that the Romans used when they first came ashore when they invaded the island back in 123 BC. They soon captured Majorca and subsumed it into the empire, with the capital of Palma being founded shortly thereafter. The city of Alcúdia didn't come about for another 1400 years however, and was officially founded in 1298 by King James I.

As the city crew, it became a fortress with stone walls surrounding its borders. Those were completed in 1362 and the remnants of that construction is still visible there today. Large sections of those massive walls remain in place, and can be walked by visitors to the city. Strolling along on those battlements, it is impossible not to think about how much history that place has seen over the years, including when a large harbor was added to Alcúdia back in 1779.

Today, the town is a popular stop with visitors, and it is by far the most touristy place we've seen on Majorca so far. Where as Pollençia is quiet and accommodating, Alcúdia has a lot more hustle and bustle. On top of that, the streets behind the ancient walls contain a number of shops and restaurants that accommodate to travelers. While I definitely enjoyed walking those narrow avenues, it was also clear that we had found one of the places that was most popular with tourists. That doesn't mean it isn't worth a look, just be sure you're aware of this before visiting.

In addition to the 650 year old city walls, there are a number of other architectural points of interest in the Alcúdia area as well, including some old churches that tower high above most of the other buildings in the area. Unfortunately, none of those churches was open to the public on the day that we visited, but they were still impressive to see, with stone relief carvings, stain glass windows, and high bell towers.

After enjoying a few hours exploring Alcúdia, it was once again time to head back to your villa, which is definitely our refuge on this trip. Quiet, peaceful, and oh-so comfortable, our entire group genuinely loves spending time there. Whether its wading in the pool, sitting in a comfy chair with a good book, or knocking out a quick game of ping pong, we couldn't have asked for a better place to stay during our visit. It is spacious, comfortable, and features a fantastic location. Which is all you can ask for in a holiday rental property really.

With our first couple days under our belt, and the group feeling well rested, we're now eager to set off to other parts of the island. We have a few solid plans on what we'll be doing over the next few days, as well as some things that we'd like to do when we have some free time. I'll report back with more tips and advice from Majorca as I uncover more myself.

Woman Sets Record for Fastest Person to Visit Every Country on Earth

An American woman named Cassie De Pecol has set a new world record for visiting every country on Earth in the fastest time ever, completing her whirlwind adventure in just 18 months and 26 days. Over the course of that time, she managed to see 196 different nations, averaging about one new destination every three days or so.

Cassie's round-the-world journey began back in July of 2015, and while she of course wanted to sample every culture on Earth, she had other plans in mind as well. De Pecol began traveling as an ambassador for the International Institute of Peace Through Tourism, and often met with dignitaries to discuss sustainable tourism as well. She remains committed to that goal even after her recent return home, and says that she'll plant trees to help offset some of the carbon footprint from her journey. "If you say, fly from Bangalore, India, to Colombo, Sri Lanka, you end up killing one tree during that flight, the goal is to plant two trees, for regenerative tourism, not just sustainable tourism," De Pecol told CNN.

While undertaking this goal of seeing the world, Cassie flew more than 255 times, which causes some to call her a hypocrite. She recognizes that criticism however and says that she has plans to plant trees in over 50 countries as part of her sustainable tourism efforts.

De Pecol faced more than a few challenges in visiting every country on Earth. Not the least off which was her American passport. U.S. citizens are not welcome in every country – including North Korea, Syria, and Turkmenistan. But, she found creative was to gain legal entry into all of those places, adding their stamps to her passport as she went.

Her other big challenge was funding the project. When she first started planning, she estimated that it would take $198,000. She managed to save $10,000 of her own, and raised the rest of the cash she needed by gathering sponsors. In the end, she was able to complete the trip, and in record time.

While reading this story, a couple of things came to mind. First, I'm pretty sure I could travel around the world for a lot less than $198,000, so I'd like to see how she came up with that budget. The other things is that my style of travel isn't one where I'd want to knock off a country every three days. I know she had other goals in mind, and that it wasn't about going on a leisurely trip, but I certainly would have liked to have spent more time in each of those places, speed record be damned.

That said, it is pretty amazing that she managed to get into all of these places, and I'm impressed with her persistence and dedication.

Winter Climbs 2014: Poor Weather Descends On Nanga Parbat

The winter climbing seasons is progressing quickly,  and the teams in Pakistan attempting the first ascent of Nanga Parbat have already spent more than a month on the mountain. As is usual with a winter climb, weather dictates when progress can be made, and until recently that weather had been fairly cooperative. But things have taken a turn for the worse at the moment, putting the climbers back in Base Camp, where they wait patiently for an opportunity to resume their expeditions.

The North Face team of Simone Moro, David Göttler and Emilio Previtali have been making solid progress on the mountain thus far. Simone and David have shuttled gear up to Camp 2 last week when the weather was good, and spent a few nights at altitude acclimatizing to the thin air. They had hoped to go as high as 7000 meters (22,965 ft), although it seems that they weren't quite able to reach that point. Still, they seem pleased with the work they have put in so far, and with just under two months to go in the winter, they aren't watching the clock too much just yet.

David granted an interview to German adventure sport journalist Stefan Nestler, during which he shared some thoughts on the climb so far. He indicated that he and Simone had gone as high as 6400 meters (20,997 ft) in their last acclimatization rotation, but they were forced to return to BC with the onset of poor weather. David also noted that his team is getting along great with the Polish squad they are sharing Base Camp with. Both units have been sharing intel and the duties of installing the fixed ropes up the slope.

Speaking of the Poles, their Justice For All team hasn't made an update in awhile, but ExWeb says that most of the team has gone up to 6100 meters (20,013 ft), with one member even spending some time in C2. Much like the TNF squad, they are acclimatizing as best they can while carrying gear up the slopes, and always keeping an eye on the weather. The forecast indicates that it will remain bad through  the weekend, with a potential window opening at the start of next week.

Meanwhile, Italian climber Daniele Nardi has arrived in Pakistan and is making his way towards Nanga Parbat. He'll attempt a solo, alpine style ascent along the Diamir Face, which means he won't be sharing BC with the other teams. That side of the mountain is reportedly quite unstable this year, but Daniele will give it a go none the less. Hopefully he'll be safe during his stay on the mountain.

That's all for now. We'll be keeping an eye on developments on Nanga Parbat in the days and weeks ahead. This could be the year that someone finally climbs the "Killer Mountain" during the winter.

Video: Iceland Under a Full Moon

Just when you thought Iceland couldn't get any more beautiful, we catch a glimpse of it illuminated by a big, bright, full moon. Join a group of friends as they go surfing and kayaking in an environment that has to be seen to be believed. Along the way, you'll also get a sense of everything that Iceland has to offer. And chances are, you're going to want to go there yourself.

Iceland under Full Moon from O Z Z O Photography on Vimeo.

Video: Meet Nat Geo Wildlife Photographer Joe Riis

Joe Riis has one of those jobs we all dream of. He is a wildlife photographer for National Geographic an occupation that takes him to wild and remote places all over the world. In this video, we learn more about Joe and his job, but also discover that even when you lead an adventurous life, there are still plenty of challenges to finding happiness and contentment. This is a clip you shouldn't miss. Particularly if you're looking to lead a more fulfilling life.

Joe from Andy Maser on Vimeo.