Explorers Discover Legendary Boiling River in the Amazon

Need proof that we still don't know as much about our own planet as we think we do? Than look no further than this story about a team of researchers that discovered a legendary boiling river located deep in the Amazon.

In a new book entitled The Boiling River: Adventure and Discovery in the Amazon, Peruvian scientist Andrés Ruzo shares the story of the discovery of this river, which he first heard about from his grandfather, who told him that Spanish conquistadors wandered into the jungle, and returned months later with tales of strange animals, endless rainforest, and a river that was so hot that it boiled from below.

That story stuck with Ruzo, even as an adult, and when he became a graduate student at Southern Methodists University in Texas, he decided to do his PhD project on creating the first geothermal map of Peru. He hoped to discover the boiling river, and show how it would be possible for it to actually boil from geothermal activity.

He didn't exactly find support from the faculty and other students. Most told him his pursuit was futile and went against all of the principles of science that we knew up until this point. For a river to actually be so hot that it boiled, the forces at work underneath it would have to be tremendous.


After spending months researching the possibilities and looking for answers, Ruzo discovered an unlikely ally – his aunt. She claimed to have actually visited such a river, and told her nephew where to find it. It was located near Mayantuyacu, a site held sacred by the local people.

The river itself isn't large. It runs for just 4 miles (6.4 km), and ranges up to 82 feet (25 meters) wide and 20 feet (6 meters) deep. It is described as being hot enough to make cup of tea, with certain sections actually boiling as described.

Now, Ruzo's discovery is making headlines, and his theories don't seem to absurd. He even gave an interview to Nat Geo about his research and quest to find this legendary stretch of water. Unsurprisingly, now he's working to protect the site to ensure that it remains sacred and pure.

This story makes you wonder what other "legendary" stories that have emerged from the jungles, deserts, and mountains of the world have some basis in truth. Hopefully we'll always have scientists and explores like Andrés to keep looking for them.

Crowd Sourced Travel Show Sends Host On Adventures You Choose

Travel host Eli Newell has come up with a novel idea for a new show that puts a bit of uncertainty and adventure back into the genre. The program is called Don't Kill Eli and it gives viewers the power to choose where he'll be off to next, and what he'll do when he gets there.

The project, which is being funded by a Kickstater campaign, begins with Newell posting a series of videos online. Viewers then select the video of the location they'd most like to see him visit, and watch that video, there by recording a vote. The destination that gets the most votes is where he'll go.

The first vote ended last night, and the winner is Beirut. According to his Twitter account, Eli is already looking to book airfare and will be heading to Lebanon in March. Presumably his travels there will be filmed so we can all enjoy his adventures once he gets home. Future episodes will follow the same format, with the audience selecting where to send Eli, without getting him killed of course! This could be fun to follow.

Video: Meet the Himalaya

Want an intimate look at the Himalaya Mountains and the people that live there? Than all you have to do is watch this film. It takes us to India, Nepal, and Tibet to show us just how spectacularly beautiful this part of the world truly is. But more than that, it shows us how beautiful the mountain people of the Himalaya are as well. This is a moving, touching, spectacular five-minute clip that you won't want to miss.

HIMALAYA from Berta Tilmantaitė on Vimeo.

Three Female Nepali Climbers Announce Kangchenjunga Expedition for Spring

Three of the most famous women climbers from Nepal have announced their next big expedition, and true to form they're going after one of the highest mountains on the planet. Back in 2014, Maya Sherpa, Dawa Yangzum Sherpa, and Pasang Lhamu Sherpa drew accolades from the mountaineering community when they summited K2, which was an impressive addition to their resume which already included an Everest climb in 2007. Now, with the two highest mountains in the world already under their belt, they'll turn their attention to the third tallest - Kangchenjunga.

The expedition is set to take place this spring, with the goal of reaching the summit in April or May. The ladies are hoping to become the first Nepali women's expedition to scale that mountain, which to date has seen just nine female ascents, all made by foreigners.

Kangchenjunga, which sees very little traffic in general, has only been summited a total of 344 times since it was first climbed on May 25, 1955. It is a technically challenging ascent that is usually made all the more difficult due to unpredictable weather conditions.

The ladies say they are climbing the mountain not to just establish a new record for Nepali women, but also to raise awareness of climate change and demonstrate that the mountains in their home country are safe. Since the earthquake back in 2015, tourism and climbing expeditions have been down, impacting the economy there. That is expected to change this year as climbers begin to return in larger numbers, and trekkers make their way back into the Himalaya as well.

It should be fun to follow this trio come spring, when the big mountains in Nepal will be very busy with some interesting expeditions. We're still three months away from the start of the spring climbing season, but it is already shaping up to be a good one. For now though, we'll continue to keep an eye on the developing winter climbs, which are mostly just getting underway.

Video: Staying Powered Up on North America's 50 Classic Climbs

This video is a bit of a commercial for Goal Zero products, but it is also a case study of what works in the field too. Over the past seven years, Mark and Janelle Smiliey have been committed to completing all 50 of the Classic Climbs of North America. As they went about that project, they found themselves looking for ways to keep their electronic gear (smartphones, tablets, cameras, etc.) powered up in the backcountry. That was a real challenge, until they found Goal Zero. The three-minute video is filled with some great mountaineering and climbing shots, and product placement is kept to a minimum. Definitely worth a watch.

Video: Highlining Between Two Hot Air Balloons

I have to say, I'm not a huge fan of highlining, only because it looks like an activity that would scare the sh!t out of me. But this video is kind of the ultimate in that activity as a brave soul walks a tight rope between two hot air balloons. Obviously he's wearing a parachute to help keep him safe, but still, this looks pretty crazy to me.

The Balloon Highline from sebastien montaz-rosset on Vimeo.

Video: Trail Running Through the Canyons of Nowhere, Utah

The stunning landscapes of American southwest take center stage in this beautiful video that follows ultrarunners Rickey Gates and Dakota Jones as they head into the canyons of "Nowhere, Utah" to explore the amazing topography that is found there. Traveling on foot and by raft, the two men discover a vast wilderness that is simply breathtaking to behold. This is another great video from the team a Salomon, who have been knocking it out of the park with their clips recently. I hope you enjoy.