Antarctica 2015: Luke Robertson at the Pole, Others Closing In

It looks like the next few days will be busy ones at the South Pole. As the end of the 2015 Antarctic season looms, there are several teams closing in on 90ºS, while others are pushing on with the hopes of reaching the finish line before the last plane departs the frozen continent on January 28.

The big news of the day is that solo skier Luke Robertson has reached the South Pole. He crossed the final few miles earlier today, and arrived at the research station at the bottom of the world just a few hours ago. It took Luke 39 days to complete the 1130 km (730 mile) crossing from Hercules Inlet, which is a respectable time indeed. By finishing his journey, Robertson is now the first Scotsman to ski solo and unsupported to the Pole, and he is the youngest Brit to ever do so at the age of 30.

We followed Luke's progress closely over the past month and a half. He didn't have a full comms unit, but did manage to tweet out his progress regularly. While there weren't a lot of details to be shared, it was clear that he was enjoying his time int he Antarctic, was generally in good spirits, and covered solid distances day in and day out. That workman like approach served him well throughout the expedition, and now he done. Congratulations to Luke on his accomplishment.

Elsewhere, the team of Devon McDiarmid, Stew Edge, Mostafa Salameh, and Shahrom Abdullah haven't posted an update on their progress over the past few days, but they are closing in on 90ºS as well. If they stay on the pace they've been setting, they should reach the South Pole by this weekend, bringing an end to their journey too. At one point, McDairmid and Edge were considering kite-skiing back to Hercules Inlet, but with the season growing short, it is unclear whether or not that is still on the agenda. They can cover vast distances in a short time using kites, but by the time they get to the Pole, they'll have less than two weeks to go to make the turn around.


Henry Worsley continues his slow, agonizing journey to the finish line on the Ross Ice Shelf. He's now been out on the ice for more than 62 days, and has finally crested the Titan Dome and has started his descent. Things should go faster and easier from here, but weather conditions are not being all that cooperative. Temperatures have dropped sharply, and whiteout conditions have returned, even as he crosses the 88th degree. Remember, he's already reached the Pole, and is now on his return trip to the coast. Worsley will continue to race the clock right up until the end it seems.

Guide Carl Alvy and client Emma Kelty are pressing on towards the Pole. They are in a desperate race against time as well, with four degrees to go before they're done, and not as much time at their disposal as they'd like. Weather conditions have included high winds and blowing snow, but they're pressing ahead as best as they can. Progress has been steady, but there is still many miles to go before they are done.

Finally, Doug Tumminello was picked up from Thiels Corner a few days back, and is now at the camp at Union Glacier. You may recall that he abandoned his attempt to ski to the South Pole a few days ago after facing persistent problems with his feet from the get go. Now, he's waiting for a flight to carry him back to Punta Arenas, then on towards home. With any luck, he'll be on his way in another day or two.

That's it for now. As you can see, the season is winding down quickly. Soon there will only be a couple of teams left to follow. It should be an interesting finish to another year.

Alex Honnold and Colin Haley Set New Speed Record on the Torre Traverse in Patagonia

It has been a good couple of weeks in Patagonia for Colin Haley. Not only did he set a speed record on Fitz Roy, completing a round-trip ascent of that mountain with Andy Wyatt in just 21 hours and 8 minutes, he also put up the first solo ascent of Torre Egger as well. That would be enough accomplishments for anyone's career climbing resume,  let alone just one month. But he wasn't finished just yet, as Haley was later joined by his friend Alex Honnold to set yet another speed record, this time finishing the Torre Traverse in an incredible 20 hours and 40 minutes.

What's the Torre Traverse you ask? Only one of the toughest challenges in all of climbing. In this case, it involved a north-to-south traverse of Patagonia’s Cerro Standhardt, Punta Herron, Torre Egger, and Cerro Torre in a single push. Those peaks are pretty much a collection of the toughest and most well known rock climbing walls in the region, with each being a considerable challenge on its own. Linking them up adds a new dimension to that challenge. So much so that it has only been done once before. That was back in 2008 when Haley made the same climb with Rolando Garibotti, spending three days on the attempt.

The Traverse has been a project in the works in Patagonia for decades, with some of the top climbers first envisioning it way back in the 1980's. At that point, one of the peaks – Punta Herron – hadn't even been climbed as of yet. Over the years there were a number of attempts to put all the routes together that were necessary to make the traverse, but it took until 2008 for it to all come together. It hadn't been repeated since, until Monday, when Haley and Honnold did it, and in a very impressive time.

According to National Geographic, the two climbers went camp-to-camp in 32 hours, with heir record time representing their actual time climbing. Considering the challenges that the Traverse presents, and the skill sets and climbing knowledge that Alex and Colin bring to the table, it seems likely that this record will stand for awhile.

Find out more details of the climb in Nat Geo's article here.

Video: Mountain Biking in the Shadow of the Eiger

This is the third – and final – video in Teton Gravity Research's Single Track Sweden series, this time taking us back to that fabulous country to mountain bike in the shadow of the Eiger, one of the most iconic mountains in the entire world. As in the other videos of the series, we're treated to fantastic scenery, great looking trails, and amazing riding. Now I'm ready to go to Switzerland and ride a mountain bike too.

Massive Reef Discovered at the Mouth of the Amazon River

Here's a story that is further proof that our world still has a lot of mysteries and surprises to share with us. Scientists have discovered a massive coral reef hidden under the muddy waters at the mouth of the Amazon River in South America. The discovery comes at a crucial stage however, as the region has already been charted by petroleum companies looking to plumb its depth for oil.

Indications that the reef might exist first appeared back in the 1970's when fishermen began catching fish that were more commonly found on and around reefs in other parts of the world. But confirmation of the existence of this particular reef didn't come until recently, when researchers were finally able to prove that against all our knowledge and understanding of the ocean that it was hidden away along the coast of Brazil.

The reef stretches for nearly 700 miles (1126 km), and is more than 3600 sq. miles (9300 sq. km) in size. It is also said to be home to at least 60 species of sponges and 73 species of fish. Even more surprising is the fact that unlike other reefs found around the world, this one appears to be very healthy, and even growing. Climate change has begun to warm the oceans, which is causing coral reefs to die at an alarming rate. But this one is not displaying those same symptoms.

What makes this new reef so amazing is that it exists in a place that it was previously believed one shouldn't be able to survive. While it is submerged in ocean waters, the surface of the Atlantic is covered in fresh water that is dumped in from the might Amazon River. The river also deposits plenty of mud and sentiment into the water, which is typically not conducive to the growth of coral either. On top of that, oceanographers typically find reefs in shallower waters that are warmer and clearer than where this one exists. This has left some scientists to wonder if other reefs are out there in our oceans, just waiting to be found.


But the good news over the discovery of this reef – and the fact that it is thriving – is tempered somewhat due to the fact that it is already being threatened by man. It seems that the Brazilian government has already sold 80 parcels of ocean to oil companies to start drilling at the mouth of the Amazon. 20 of those blocks are already in operation, some of which are believed to be right on top of the reef itself. How that will impact the life of the reef moving forward remains to be seen.

Coral reefs play an important role in the keeping the ocean healthy as they often form protective barriers for ecosystems both along the coast line and living within the waters themselves. As those reefs recede, ocean storms, hurricanes, and typhoons could have a larger impact on certain regions of the planet. The Earth's coral reefs are also seen as the canary in the coal mine in terms of indicating the impact of climate change on an area too.

Still, finding this particular reef is amazing, especially since it shouldn't exist at all. Hopefully it will be well protected moving forward.

Cotopaxi Just Might Be Hiring for Your Dream Job

Looking for a job that will allow you to travel and play outdoors? Are you savvy with social media, technology, and blogging? Then Cotopaxi just might have an opportunity for you. The company is currently hiring  new Road Warrior to join the team for the upcoming year.

And what exactly are the duties of the Road Warrior? They'll be tasked with driving the company's mobile pop-up retail store throughout the U.S. as Cotopaxi expands its Questival adventure race series in 2017. The person hired for the job will also share their experience in a variety of social media outlets, while crisscrossing the U.S. on a 30+ city tour. The job won't be easy, but it should be fun. And it will be a great opportunity for someone who is looking for a creative outlet that involves adventure, gear, and exploring the country.

How does the job break down in terms of statistics? Cotopaxi has crunched the numbers and here's what they've come up with: Over the course of the year, the Road Warrior will take one truck and trailer, drive more than 25,000 miles, visit more than 30 cities, cross 88 state borders, spend 370+ hours on the road, and pass through numerous state, national, and city parks in the process. Oh yeah, they'll also get the chance to meet tens of thousands of like-minded people along the way.

Sound like something you'd be interested in? Than click here to start the application process. And good luck! You're probably going to need it!

Gear Closet: Five Ten Access Mesh Approach Shoe

It is amazing how technical and specialized our outdoor footwear has become. In the past, we made due with a single shoe that could serve in a variety of outdoor uses. Today however, we've gotten to the point where having the right footwear is akin to having the right tool for a job. Good shoe manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to improve their products and make them better for use in demanding outdoor environments. As a result, the shoes we wear are now highly tuned to the activities we enjoy, and we're all better off for it.

One company that has continued to refine its product line in this way is Five Ten. Best known for making mountain biking and climbing shoes, the designers at Five Ten have always done a good job of tailoring their products for the needs of their customers. That same sensibility has been brought over to their hiking line as well, as I recently found in their new Access Mesh approach shoe, a light hiker stealthily designed with the look of a sneaker.

At first glance, it would be easy to mistake the Access Mesh as running or cross-training shoe. It is lightweight, features a low-profile design, and features a technical fit that is more commonly found in that style of shoe. But looks can be very deceiving, and writing this show off as "just" a trail show would be a mistake. Underneath the hood of this shoe are some serious technical features that make it stand out from the crowd.

For instance, the Access utilizes Five Ten's Stealth S1 rubber on its outsole. That is a material that has been put to good use on the company's bike shoes as well, and has a tried and true reputation for providing plenty of grip on a wide variety of surfaces, both wet and dry. The toe-cap of the shoe has also been reinforced for added protection, and it features a "climbing zone" that has been brought over from the line of climbing shoes for added grip too. Throw in a rubberized exoskeleton on the lacing system, which added extra torsional support, and you end up having a highly technical piece of footwear for use in the outdoors.


As the name implies, the Access Mesh uses lightweight and highly breathable materials, which allow warmth and moisture to easily escape. The result is a shoe what performs well in warm weather conditions, both on and off the trail.

When I first put this shoe on I thought that it felt very comfortable on my feet, but felt a little stiff. Part of that is due to the Stealth S1 rubber on the sole, and for a time I wasn't sure if I'd actually like the Access Mesh. But, as I've worn them a bit longer, they've loosened up nicely and now feel very natural to wear just about anywhere. Performance hasn't suffered in the least, it just took me a bit of time to break them in fully. Since that happened, I've been incredibly happy with the fit and feel of these shoes, which don't scream "hiker" if you wear them around the neighborhood or down the street to the store.

I also appreciate the level of versatility they bring to the table. While they have been primarily designed to be an approach shoe or warm-weather hiker, I've also been wearing them while mountain biking too. Because the S1 rubber was first developed for use in Five Ten's biking line, this shoe can serve double duty in that department too. I've also found they make a good travel shoe, since they offer the athletic feel of a sneaker with the support of something more substantial.

As promised, this shoe does hold its grip on a wide variety of surfaces. I've worn them while walking or hiking on pavement, dirt trails, loose scree, wet rocks, mud, sand, and more. For such a lightweight shoe, it handled all of this conditions easily and without problem, helping me to feel more safe and secure. The S1 rubber does its job, sticking to those surfaces like glue, and while I wouldn't necessarily want to go rock climbing in the Access Mesh, you can certainly feel Five Ten's climbing heritage in the shoe's grip.

Priced at $130 the Five Ten Access Mesh is a very versatile shoe that can be used in a variety of outdoor activities. It is comfortable, durable, and designed for use both on and off the trail. I appreciate the shoe's ability to vent away excess heat and moisture, and love that it provides so much support and protection for the foot without looking overly technical.

If you're in the market for a lightweight, versatile shoe that looks good, and won't kill your wallet, you'll want to give the Access Mesh a look. I think you'll find it is a surprisingly great shoe for light hiking, making approaches, or even mountain biking. Heck, you'll probably even find your wearing them for other activities too.

Buy online at CampSaver.com

Win An "Expedition" To Brazil

Ever wanted to visit Brazil? If so, the very tasty Fogo de Chão restaurant has you covered. The company is giving away a trip to your choice of four destinations within the country, which is sure to be abuzz with World Cup fever later this summer.

Dubbed Expedition Brazil, entrants in the competition can choose between the Brasilia Cultural Tour (cultural, historical and architectural tours of the capital city), Big City Exploration (activities in and around São Paulo), Rio Beach Vacation (sun and surf in Rio!) and Traditional Gaucho Experience (cowboy tradition Brazil style).

To enter, just visit the Expedition Brazil website and select the adventure you'd most like to go on. Then fill out the form, telling Fogo why you deserve to go on that particular trip. Then rally your troops over social media, getting them to "like" your submission. The number of "likes" will factor into the the final decision. Once they've selected three finalists, there will be a final vote online to determine the winner. That person will than share their adventure with video, photos and more.

Each one of these trips would be a great way to see Brazil, although I have to say that I'm surprised they didn't offer an option to visit the Amazon as well. If I had to chose from one of these four options, I'd go with the Gaucho experience. Horseback riding in Brazil's cattle country, a Gaucho rodeo, and similar activities sound the most adventurous to me. Then again, hanging out on a beach in Rio wouldn't be bad either.

The contest runs through Feb. 16, so hurry and get your submission in. The extra voting time may come in handy. Good luck!