British Adventurer to Walk the Length of Japan for Charity

At the end of February, British adventurer and photographer Richard Dunwoody will embark on a major undertaking as he sets out to walk the entire length of Japan from south to north. The expedition will see him traveling completely unsupported as he seeks to raise funds for charity.

Dunwoody, who has previously skied to both the North and South Pole, will cover more than 2000 miles (3218 km) as he treks across Japan's three largest islands – Kyushu, Honshu and Hokkaido. The plan is to cover somewhere between 20-30 miles (32-48 km) per day, while spending most nights camping out. The journey should take a little more than three months to complete.

The plan is to set out form Cape Data on February 27 and continue moving north to the furthest point on Hokkaido, a point he hopes to reach by early June. Throughout the trip, Dunwoody – who is also a former champion jockey – will share photos and stories from the road. While most of the journey will be done solo, Richard does hope that some friends will join him throughout the hike as well.

In the past, Dunwoody has raised more than £250,000 ($312,000) for a variety of charities through his adventurous activities. This time out, he's hoping to raise funs for the Sarcoma UK, a nonprofit that provides support for individuals suffering with these forms of cancer. Richard's nephew George has been battling the disease for the past few years, and has undergone a number of therapies in an effort to overcome it. He is just 21 years old, and represented the U.K. Junior World Rowing Championships back in 2014 before taking ill.

If you want to give to the cause, you'll find a Just Giving page has been set up here. The goal is to raise £25,000 and every contribution counts. You can follow Richard's progress through social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Patagonia Expedition Race Now Underway in Chile

The legendary Patagonia Expedition Race returned from a three-year hiatus yesterday when 18 coed teams of four embarked on what promises to be one of the most challenging adventure races of their lives. Over the course of the next ten days, the competitors will run, pedal, climb, and paddle their way across more than 600 km (372 miles) of the most spectacularly beautiful, and incredibly grueling, terrain on the planet.

Anyone who follows adventure racing has no doubt heard about the Patagonia Expedition Race. For years it set the standard for the sport, offering some of the most physically demanding courses ever. The famously bad Patagonia weather often played a role, with cold conditions, heavy rains, rough seas, and high winds often impacting the outcome of the event. Sadly, the race was off the schedule for the past two years, but has now returned bigger, and badder, than ever.

The teams arrived in Punta Arenas, Chile over the weekend where they went through mandatory gear and skills checks prior to the start of the race yesterday. As usual with an adventure race like this one, the competitors received their route information 24 hours before the start of the event, allowing them to plot their navigation points ahead of time. After the gun went off signifying the start of the race yesterday, they'll now spend somewhere between 6-10 days racing non-stop, 24/7 until a winner is crowned.

You can follow the PER on the race's official website or at SleepMonsters.com. It should be an interesting race to watch unfold.

Video: The 10 Deadliest Mountains in the World

Lets face it, mountaineering comes with some inherent risks, no matter when and where you're climbing. But, thanks to technical difficulties, unpredictable weather, and unique terrain, some mountains are obviously more dangerous than others. In this video we explore the 10 deadliest mountains in the world, giving us a look at some truly scary places, but ones that are also incredibly alluring too. If you've ever wondered which peaks make even the best alpinists in the world take pause, these are the ones. Make sure you know what you're doing before setting out to an expedition to one of these peaks.

Video: Life in Balance

Here's one of those videos that shows off a skill that is better to be seen in a clip like this one, rather than to attempt yourself. In it, we join Norwegian Eskil Rønningsbakken as he travels around that country demonstrating his ability to balance on objects that are dangling not he edge of extreme spaces, including cliff, canyons, and mountains. His demonstration of agility is quite impressive, particularly considering the places he has chosen to show off these skills. And of course, this being Norway, the scenery is beautiful too.

Video: Exploring Japan's Spiritual Connection with the Mountains

The Japanese practice of Shugendo is a spiritual practice of seeking a connection with nature, particularly in the mountains where Japan's forefathers believed their gods resided. This connection can bring on a zen-like state, with the person seeking a oneness with the natural world around them. In this video, Salomon athletes Rickey Gates and Anna Frost make the journey to Japan in search of their own unique connection with the natural world. As you'll see in the video below, what they find there is a powerful attachment to nature that is unlike anything found in other cultures. Be sure to turn on subtitles to get the entire story.

Gear Closet: Lowa Renegade Ice GTX Boots

In a few weeks, I'm setting off on an trip to Quebec, Canada that will see me snowshoeing, dogsledding, and generally having a good time in the snow. To say I'm looking forward to that experience would be a vast understatement, as it isn't often that I get to go play in those kinds of conditions. Knowing that I would be heading up north for a week of outdoor adventure, I figured it would be a good time to test some new gear in prime winter weather. I knew that I wanted to take some new clothing with me to try out, but I also thought it would be a great opportunity to put a new set of winter boots to the test as well. Lucky for me, my friends over at Lowa were willing to ship me a pair of their Renegade Ice GTX boots to take along on that trip. Little did I know that my opportunity to see how they would perform would come sooner than I expected.

While I wasn't completely caught up in the massive blizzard that struck the eastern United States last week, my city did see more than 8 inches (20 cm) of powder fall in a very short time. That was enough to bring the town to a halt for a couple of days, and it was a good excuse to get outside and enjoy winter weather that isn't all too common here. Luckily for me, I have all the right gear to do just that, including my new Lowa boots.

The Renegade Ice is an updated version of Lowa's Renegade GTX that has been specifically designed for use in the snow. As such, they are taller than the original GTX to provide extra support – and keep snow out – when you wade into deeper powder. They also have a Gore-Tex liner to keep moisture at bay, and a fleece lining on the interior for added warmth. The Renegade Ice also features a specially designed frame that is meant to give them added stability on snow and ice, while still keeping them lightweight and durable.

Putting these boots on for the first time, I found them a bit stiff out of the box. This isn't uncommon on winter boots in particular however, especially with the taller ankle support. It didn't take long for them to start to loosen up though, and after wearing them for an hour or so I didn't find them stiff to walk in at all, although they did continue to provide a nice level of support.


In terms of comfort, you couldn't ask for more out of a winter boot. The interior is soft and warm, and offers plenty of room for your toes, even while wearing a thicker sock. And despite all of the extra padding and thick soles, my foot still felt well connected to the ground, making it easy to keep my footing while walking across icy surfaces. In fact, these boots were practically all I wore for a three day period, which should tell you something about how well they actually feel on your feet.

Speaking of maintaining footing, the Renegade Ice incorporates Lowa's G3 winter sole, which features special lugs and fibers that are meant to hold it in place on snow and ice. While wearing them outside I experienced very little slipping at all, even when transitioning from different types of surfaces. The sole held me firmly in place when walking up and down hills too, which is often where you notice a boot struggling to maintain its footing. But that wasn't an issue at all here, as I hiked through deep powder and walked on thick ice without missing a beat.

In terms of durability, the Renegade Ice GTX boots feel extremely well made. Their leather uppers are tough as nails, and even though I wore them nonstop for three days in icy conditions, they still look like they're brand new. Judging from the time that I've spent with them so far, they seem like a boot that is built to survive in tough conditions, and I expect that a pair will see you through many winter adventures.

Because of their lightweight – yet warm – design, these boots would be perfect for snowshoeing, winter hiking, or other fast paced winter activities. In fact, the only time my feet ever got cold in them at all, was when I was standing in one place for an extended period of time. While moving, they were warm and cozy, and didn't cause any problems whatsoever.

The Renegade Ice GTX typically sell for $285, which is a competitive price for a boot that is designed for winter use. They can be found online for less however if you do a little searching. If you're in the market for a lightweight and warm boot for your active winter pursuits, this is a great option. I think you'll find they are up to just about anything that you throw at them.

Adventure Film Review: 126 Degrees In The Shade

Over the past few years while writing this blog, it has been my absolute pleasure to connect with some truly remarkable individuals. I have met climbers, adventurers, exceptional endurance athletes, and a host of other amazing people. Amongst those people are Mikael Strandberg, a modern day explorer who continues to work tirelessly to fill in the remaining blank spots on the map.

In 2012, Mikael, along with traveling companion Tanya Holm, traveled 350 km (217 miles) across the Sands of Al Mahra in Yemen by camel. That journey took them into the heart of the desert and through a country that has had its fair share of turmoil in recent years. The expedition was as much about exploring a little known landscape, as it was the culture of Yemen, a country that receives very little positive press from the mainstream media.

Since he returned from that adventure, Mikael has been busy working on a documentary about his Yemen project. That film is called 126 Degrees In The Shade, and I've been fortunate enough to get a sneak peek at this amazing film. The 58 minute doc drops us right into the middle of the expedition, giving us a first hand look at what the Swedish explorer and his friend Tanya encountered while out in the desert.

Some of the challenges that they faced along the way included physical exhaustion, angry sheiks, logistical hurdles, and as the name implies, some insanely hot temperatures. But along the way, they also met some amazing people. The people of Yemen, who are not always what you would expect.

The film is enlightening, entertaining and a well crafted look at Mikael's adventure. If you have an interest in modern day exploration, Middle Eastern culture, or simply want to see an alternative take on Yemen, then you won't want to miss this film. It is a refreshing take on a part of the world that is largely misunderstood, despite some of the challenges that the Yemenis face.

The full version of the film will be released soon, and Mikael intends to enter it into some of the top film festivals. But until then, you can get a look at what it is like by checking out the trailer below. It is a bit of teaser for the full documentary, but you'll at least have an idea of what to expect from the full release. If you get the chance, you'll definitely want to see the final film.


Expedition Yemen - 126 degrees in the shade - trailer 1 from Explorer Mikael Strandberg on Vimeo.