Video: Vote for the 2016 Nat Geo Adventurers of the Year

Even though the official slate of National Geographic's 2016 Adventurers of the Year were announced back in November, there is still one prize left up for grabs. The coveted People's Choice Award is given out based on a fan vote that is conducted online, and with less than a week to go before the polls closed, you still have a chance to help decide who will go home with this honor.

This video serves as an introduction to these amazing men and women, and it is filled with Nat Geo's customers great imagery too. Take a peek at this year's class of adventurers, then head over to the NG website to cast your vote for who you feel is most deserving. Voting runs through January 31st, and the ultimate winner will be announced in early February.

Adventure Tech: Beartooth is a New Communication Device for the Backcountry

Looking for a new way to communicate while traveling in remote places? Then check out the newly revealed Beartooth, a device that creates its own cell phone network, allowing users to stay in contact in place where coverage is normally impossible.

Much like the goTenna, which we reviewed back in January, the Beartooth connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth technology. A special app is then installed on your device that allows the user to send text messages to other  Beartooth users who are within range. But unlike the goTenna, this device can actually transmit voice messages as well using a push-to-talk option that is part of the app too. There is even group messaging for both text and voice as well.

Other nice features include GPS tracking that allows the user to share his or her location with others. That point shows up on detailed maps that can be downloaded prior to departure for use offline. The Beartooth even has the capability to serve as a USB battery pack for your smartphone too, providing an extra charge via its 3000 mAh battery.

The Beartooth has a range of 2 miles, which is about half that off the goTenna, but the device is smaller and doesn't need to be dangled from your pack or tent via a carabiner. Instead, you simply activate it and put it inside your backpack. From there, you can pretty much forget about it, using just your smartphone to communicate.

When Beartooth begins shipping later in the year, it'll come with two devices, one for you and one for the person you need to communicate with in the backcountry. The MSRP is expected to be $399, but those who preorder now can get the device for just $249. That seems like a small price to pay for what could be the future of communications in the backcountry.

Crack in Antarctic Ice Shelf Grew 17 Miles in Length Since December

I've posted some sobering reports on the impact of climate change on the Antarctic in recent months, but this one may be the most stunning of all. According to an article published by The New York Times yesterday, a crack in the Larsen Ice Shelf is growing at an incredibly rapid rate, signaling a possible complete collapse in the coming months, potentially creating the largest iceberg ever recorded.

According to scientists who have been monitoring the crack, it has grown by as much as 17 miles in the past two months. According to the Times, the speed at which it is spreading is accelerating as well, now growing at a rate of more than five football fields each and every day. At this point, the crack is now just 20 miles away from reaching its end point, which will result in the entire chunk of ice breaking free and slipping into the ocean, something that could happen as early as April or May of this year.

This is alarming for a number of reasons. Not only will it create the biggest iceberg of all time, but as that iceberg begins to float away from the frozen continent, it will begin to melt, and possibly breaking up into smaller icebergs that could cause problems for ships. But, more importantly, the ice shelf serves as a buffer between the ocean waters and the glaciers that sit on the continent itself. Without the ice shelf to help protect it, the glaciers will begin to melt at a much higher rate too, and will tumble directly into the water. If this continues to happen across Antarctic – and evidence suggests it will – we could see the start of a major rice in ocean levels around the world.

I know that there are still a lot of people out there who want to deny the impact of climate change. But, there is something happening to our planet, and the polar regions are the canary in the coal mine. In recent years, we've seen substantial change in both the Arctic and Antarctic, and those changes only seems to be speeding up. Perhaps with the austral winter now nearly upon us, we'll see things slow down at least temporarily, but the Larsen Ice Shelf is about to collapse, and at this point it isn't a question of "if" but "when."

To find out more about his, check out the entire story at NYTimes.com.

Antarctica 2016: Solo Skier Johanna Davidsson Closes in on the Pole and a New Record

Yesterday I posted an update from the Antarctic during which I shared info on a couple of expeditions I hadn't written about before, and made some quick updates on several of the skiers making their way to the South Pole. But one of the skiers I failed to post an update on was Swedish adventurer Johanna Davidsson, who is now closing in on polar history at the bottom of the world.

As of now, Johanna is just 57km (35 miles) from reaching Pole, which is still a daunting distance of course. But, in recent days she has been skiing as much as 35 km (21 miles) per day, which means that if she manages to put in a solid effort, she should reach 90ºS on Christmas Day. As quickly and as efficiently as she has been moving, that seems like a real possibility at this point.

As ExWeb points out, if she does manage to complete the journey by December 25 Johanna will set a new speed record for a woman skiing solo along the traditional Hercules Inlet to the South Pole route, which covers a distance of 1130 km (702 miles). The current record is held by British skier Hannah McKeand, and stands at 39 days, 9 hours, and 33 minutes. Since Johanna started on November 15, she even has a few days to spare and could beat that record rather soundly.

Obviously she still has quite a bit of distance to cover, and this record isn't int he bag yet. In fact, it wasn't even part of her original plan. She had just hoped to ski to the South Pole and hopefully kite-ski back to Hercules if time permitted. It seems like she should be able to do that if she still wants to. Reaching the Pole by Christmas gives her plenty of time for the return trip.

The days in the Antarctic can be long and tedious, with little to break up the monotony of skiing. Most of the skiers look forward to Christmas as they typically have saved a few special treats to enjoy on that day, and perhaps even a present or two. But for Johanna, it could mean something even more special. The completion of the first leg of her journey and a celebration at one of the most remote places on Earth.

Stay tuned!

North Pole 2014: Eric Larsen And Ryan Waters Preparing For North Pole Expedition

We've barely put the Antarctic expedition season behind us and it is already time to start looking ahead to the North Pole season that will get underway in a few weeks. The past few years have proven that a journey to the top of the world is no walk in the park, as no one has completed the full length journey since 2011. But that hasn't stopped anyone from trying, and this year will be no exception.

Veteran polar explorers Eric Larsen and Ryan Waters will be amongst those attempting to complete this very difficult and dangerous journey this year. The two men are preparing to set out from Ellesmere Island on March 1 for what they estimate will be a 500+ mile (800 km) crossing of the Arctic Ocean. As is typical for a polar journey, they'll travel unassisted, on skis, while dragging 350 pound (158 kg) sleds filled with all of their gear and supplies behind them as they go.

As if a North Pole expedition isn't challenging enough on its own, the duo hopes to break the record for skiing to that point on the globe. In order to do that, they'll have to reach 90ºN in under 49 days. Both men have plenty of experience in challenging environments however. They climbed Denali together in 2009, and both have summited Everest. Waters has bagged all of the Seven Summits and skied to the South Pole as well. Larsen has gone to the North Pole on two previous occasions and has been to the South Pole as well.


They'll need all of that experience if they hope to be successful this time out. Climate change is dramatically altering the Arctic and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to travel there. The ice is not as stable as it once was and large open areas of water are now common. Explorers need to ring a way to go around those obstacles or don a drysuit and swim across. Massive storms have also become more common in the Arctic, creating even more dangerous conditions for the skiers. Throw in the potential threat of polar bears and the constant battling against negative drift on the ice flows, and you being to understand the magnitude of the challenge ahead.

As the North Pole season gets underway, I'll be following Eric and Ryan's expedition closely. Expect to hear more about them and other expeditions that will be heading north soon. I am of the firm belief that soon, this type of journey will no longer be possible. Let's hope this year that isn't the case.

Video: A Journey to the Roof of Africa - Kilimanjaro

For many adventure travelers a climb to the summit of Kilimanjaro is the ultimate dream trip, and one that I've made myself. In this video we join two Egyptian friends who set out to Tanzania to trek to the "Roof of Africa" themselves. The short documentary takes you from Kilimanjaro airport to the summit of the mountain and beyond. If this trip is in your future, you'll definitely want to watch.

Video: Mammut's #Project360 Goes to the Summit of Mt. Everest

We've covered Mammut's #Project360 a couple of times in the past. That's the outdoor gear manufacturer's attempt to bring some of the world's most iconic peaks to the Internet using a high tech camera system that captures images in 360º fashion. After the very successful climbing season in Nepal this spring, #Project360 can now add Mt. Everest to the list. Lakpa Sherpa and Pemba Rinji Sherpa, along with support from Kusang Sherpa and Ang Kaji Sherpa, managed to take Mammut's cameras to the top of the mountain, capturing the entire South Side route in the process. The video below gives us a glimpse of their adventure and the challenges that were overcome to capture the footage, which is already online at the #Project360 website.