Video: Kayaking with Whales in Maui

Shot just a few weeks back, this video takes us to Maui in Hawaii to go kayaking with whales. The footage was shot with a GoPro camera, and shows just how close the paddlers were able to get to the giant mammals swimming around them. But the best shots came when the filmmakers plunged their camera under the water and captured several whales swimming just below them. Having recently gone whale watching myself, I found this video to be a lot of fun.

Kayaking with Whales from Chris on Vimeo.

Winter Climbs 2014: Summit Push Round 2 On Nanga Parbat

The weather continues to be dicey on Nanga Parbat, where the teams have been in Base Camp for most of the week, waiting for a shift in conditions. It seems there may be an opportunity to make a summit bid coming this weekend, so with that in mind, two of the squads are on the move ahead of a potential weather window. If that window opens, we could see the first winter ascents of Nanga on Saturday.

The Polish Justice For All team has sent Tomek Mackiewicz and Pawel Dunaj up the mountain and after safely reaching Camp 1 yesterday, they are now halfway between C1 and C2 today. The same duo were part of the summit push last week, but were turned back due to high winds and extremely cold temperatures. They report that the summit is still shrouded in clouds, but elsewhere around the mountain it is calm. On Saturday, winds on the summit are expected to drop to 30 km/h (18 mph), which is about as quiet as Nanga will get in the winter.

Meanwhile, the North Face team is also on the move and looking to take advantage of this potential weather window. Simone Moro and David Göttler also reached Camp 1 yesterday and are with the Poles at their intermediate camp today. Their reports indicate it took them just 2.5 hours to move from BC to C1, which is a sign that conditions are far better than they were last week and the boys are more acclimatized as well. That bodes well as they continue their push upwards over the next few days, although it should be noted that no one has been above 7100 meters (23,293 ft) yet, so there could be difficult conditions above that point that have yet to be discovered.

Jumping over to the Diamir Face, Italian climber Daniele Nardi is close to wrapping up his acclimatization work on Genalo Peak. If the weather holds out for him, he should complete that process in the next day or two, then return to Base Camp before launching his alpine style summit attempt when the weather permits.

The forecasts indicate that this new weather window will be a narrow one. It will probably only last for two days tops, which is why the climbers are moving into position now. They'll have to make a dash for the summit and get back down as quickly as possible, or risk getting caught in poor conditions on the more exposed portions of the climb. I suspect that if there is a chance at reaching the summit, the Poles and the North Face team will work together on that final go. For now, we'll just have to wait to see what happens. Keep your fingers crossed that these men get back down safely, summit or no.

15-Year Old Canadian Boy Discovers Lost City in Mexico

A 15-year old boy from Quebec is making headlines today for discovering a lost Mayan city in Mexico. The boy used knowledge of ancient astronomy and Google Earth to locate what appears to be remnants of the civilization that thrived across Central America 2000 years ago. 

While looking at maps of the locations of Mayan cities, William Gadoury learned that those cities lined up with the constellations in the sky as they appeared when the Mayan civilization was flourishing. Using that knowledge, he then began searching satellite imagery on Google Earth looking for structures in specific locations, discovering that one city that should have lined up with a specific star was missing. But after careful examination of a spot in the Yucatan Peninsula, he was able to identify what appears to be man-made object hidden under the dense jungle there.

The actual existence of the lost city has yet to be confirmed on the ground, but other researchers are hailing the discovery as a significant one, and are giving William the credit. Experts say that it appears that there are quite a few man-made structures hidden under a thick canopy of vegetation, including buildings, a road, a town square, and possibly even a pyramid. 

 The teenager has named the city K'aak Chi, which means "Mouth of Fire," and he will present his findings at a scientific gathering in Brazil next year. Meanwhile, archaeologists are already applying his technique of matching star charts to maps in hopes of finding other lost cities as well. 

This is another amazing story that reminds us that there are some things that are still hidden away from us, even in the 21st century. It's hard not to be impressed with this young man and his ingenuity. It's a wonder that no one else has discovered the connection between the stars and the Mayan cities before. 

Gear Closet: Under Armour Bluetooth Wireless Earphones

One of the most popular running accessories amongst my friends in recent months has been wireless Bluetooth earphones. Most of us run with our smartphones these days, listening to music, audiobooks, and podcasts while we workout. But the cable that runs from our earbuds to our mobile device can be annoying at times, and often gets in the way. Wireless headphones eliminate this issue however, bringing a very high level of convenience, while also introducing some challenges of their own. 

Over the past couple of years, I've had the opportunity to test several different models of Bluetooth headsets designed specifically for runners. I've come to love the freedom that these types of headphones bring to the table, but have often found battery life to be a bit underwhelming. Recently, there has been a new entry into this increasingly crowded market, with Under Armour and JBL joining forces to release their own take on the wireless sports earbuds, and for the most part I'm very happy with the results. 

The first thing I noticed about the somewhat generically named Under Armour Headphones Wireless is the build quality. These earbuds feel incredibly solid in your hands, which seems fitting for a product that is meant to be used by frequent runners. We all know that we abuse our gear while out on the run, but these earphones are designed to shrug off the rigors of the road. Additionally, they are also water and sweat proof, keeping the tiny electronics inside safe from the elements. 

Paring these earphone with your mobile device vis Bluetooth is just as simple as you would expect, and takes only a few seconds to complete. Once the pairing process is done, the headphones will automatically connect to the audio device when it is turned on in the future, eliminating the need to repeat the process moving forward. The wireless connection between these earphones and my iPhone was strong, with very few distortions or dropouts. On two occasions (out of dozens of times using these earbuds) I actually had them disconnect from my phone, forcing me to turn them off and on again to re-establish the audio link. 

Unlike most other sports earbuds that I've tried, the Under Armour model only came with two sets of silicon covers that are meant to help find the perfect sizing for your ears. Competitors typically come with five or more, so I was somewhat dubious that they would fit correctly. The larger sizers were too large for my ears, but dropping down to the smaller covers did the trick nicely. Once twisted into place inside my ear, they molded to my personal contours and felt great. The fit was snug and comfortable, and exactly what you would expect from your earphones. 

That said, Under Armour and JBL offer a "guarantee" that these earbuds won't fall out no matter how vigorously you're moving. That hasn't exactly been the case for me, as I've had them bounce out on more than one occasion, and I routinely find myself adjusting the fit in my ear to keep them in place. Eventually I find just the right positioning, and they tend to stay in my ears at that point, but it can take a bit of fidgeting at times to make them work as advertised. Of course, everyone's ears vary in size and dimensions, so you may not find this to be a problem at all. 

These earphones are a bit larger than most other wireless models that I've tried, which some may find a bit distracting while out on a run. I equate that extra bulk to a larger battery, which extends the time between recharges out to 8 hours. That's better than most of the competition, and I've found that in real world testing, I could actually extend that battery life even further. Considering one of my least favorite things about using Bluetooth earbuds is having to recharge them all the time, this extended battery life came as a welcome addition. 

In terms of sound quality, the Under Amour headphones offer solid performance, particularly when compared to other wireless models. Vocals and music are clear and distinct, without just a touch of muddling at higher volume levels. Bass is at a minimum however, which is to be expected on earphones of this size. Wired earbuds still provide better all around performance in terms of audio quality, but most of us won't notice a huge difference, particularly while we're working out. 

As with most other headphones on the market these days, these earbuds have an inline remote that allows users to start and pause their music, adjust volume, power off and on, and pick-up phone calls using the built-in mic. Those features come in handy while out on a run, when using your smartphone directly isn't always convenient. 

With a price tag of $180, the Under Armor wireless headphones are definitely on the premium end of the spectrum. You will find other models that offer similar sound quality and battery performance for less money. You'll be hard pressed to find a set that are as durable and rugged however, which is an important thing to consider for runners. Some of those competitors won't survive nearly as long, which means you'll be plunking down more of your hard-earned cash once again. 

Overall, I really like these wireless earbuds. They are comfortable to wear, offer great battery life, and have good sound quality too. If you've been putting off taking the plunge into wireless audio for running, this is as good as any earbuds that I've tried so far. 

Video: Dave Cornthwaite's Expedition 1000 Project

If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you've no doubt seen me mention Dave Cornthwaite and his Expedition 1000 project on more than one occasion. The concept is a simple one: Dave wants to undertake a series of expeditions, covering 1000 miles (1609 km) or more, completely under his own power. He's already been successful at a number of those expeditions and he is always planning his next one too. The beautiful and inspiring video below shares the philosophy behind Expedition 1000 – where it came from and where it is going. It also gives us a glimpse at some of the things Dave has accomplished so far on his amazing adventures.

Dave isn't letting up however. Later this year he has a 2000 mile recumbent bike ride through Chile's Atacama Desert scheduled and another 1000 mile non-motorized expedition in Europe as well. After that, it'll be 2000 miles of kitesurfing in Brazil.

At this point, I'm not sure if he ever stops moving.

Dave Cornthwaite's Expedition1000 from davecornthwaite on Vimeo.

Video: Beautiful Light In Victoria, Australia

As I take a bit of a day off here today, I have a few videos queued up for your enjoyment. The first is a stunning timelapse of the shifting light in Victoria, Australia. The video was shot throughout 2013 in numerous places throughout the state, capturing some of its best natural settings in beautiful fashion.

VICTORIAN LIGHT from Daniel Johnson on Vimeo.

Everest 2014: The Cost Of Climbing Everest

We may be just a week into 2014, but it is never too early to start thinking about the spring Everest climbing season. As many of you already know, year-in and year-out, one of the best sources of information on all things having to do with Everest is Alan Arnette. Each year, Alan provides excellent insights into what it takes to climb the mountain, while providing regular updates on conditions on both the North and South sides, while closely tracking the locations of the numerous teams attempting to scale its impressive slopes. Over the past few years, Alan has kicked off his annual coverage by first giving us a run down of just how much it costs to undertake an Everest expedition, and each year it is an interesting read. Yesterday, he posted the 2014 version of that report, and for those unfamiliar with the expenses of a major climb in the Himalaya, it can sometimes cause sticker shock.

As usual, the costs for climbing Everest have increased on both the North and South side of the mountain this year. But what's different for 2014 is that while the guide services at the high end of the spectrum have mostly held steady, it is the low-end companies that seem to have hiked their rates for 2014. He is also quick to point out that this type of expedition is not one in which you want to go cut-rate, but with prices ranging from $30,000 - $100,000 it can be confusing to decide to who to go with.

Alan breaks down the costs into different categories, giving readers estimates on climbing solo vs. as part of an organized team. He also discusses the differences in teams as well, which include Sherpa supported climbs, Sherpa guided expeditions and Western guided options. Each of those provides a different level of service, with some willing to spend less to do more on their own, while others pay considerably more for a safer, more full-service attempt on the summit.


With guided climbs costing in the neighborhood of $40,000 to $65,000, it is sometimes tough to see where the cost differences come from. Alan points out that sometimes it is just in the form of profit to help pay the overhead required to operate on the mountain, but it also often comes at the expense of services such as Sherpa support on the upper slopes or no bottled oxygen included in the price.

One of the more interesting elements of Alan's report is his comparison chart of the companies that operate on Everest. It gives the name of the organization, average team size, types of guides, previous summit success and of course the costs. The prices range from as low as $28,450 for an expedition on the North Side with Summit Climb, to $89,000 with AlpenGlow on the South Side that includes Western guides.

If you've ever considered climbing Everest yourself, then Alan's Cost to Climb guide is a must read. It'll give you all the information you need for selecting the right guide service for your own climb, while weighing in all the factors to think about, including safety considering, which route to take, which company to go with and much more.

It also serves to get the adrenaline flowing for a new Everest climbing season. For fans of the mountain, April can't come fast enough!