swim 5700km …

Good luck with that, Dan.

In May 2012, Dan will embark on his biggest journey to date, as he attempts a Global Triathlonswimming, cycling and running around the world. This will include a grueling 5700km swim, as Dan attempts to become the first man in history to swim the Atlantic. …

Dan Martin Extreme

How do you swim the Atlantic?

One stroke at a time.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via Alister Humphries)

Kloofing Suicide Gorge, South Africa

Kloofing is an adventure activity that typically involves the descent of a deep ravine or watercourse that may be dry or wet. The defining factor is usually that the ravine is several times deeper than it is wide. All manner of walking, scrambling, climbing, swimming, plunging, jumping, bumslides or abseiling (rappelling) could be involved.

A kloofing trip usually combines hiking with the descent of a watercourse. Some of the more “interesting” kloofing involves long abseils or high jumps into pools from varying heights, up to as high as 20 or more metres (for example the popular ‘Suicide Gorge‘ in South Africa). …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Looks like FUN.

I’d sign on with a guide to ensure safety.

Doh. Two different guiding sites I visited say that these trips are cancelled “due to maintenance”.

Leave a comment if you know different.

Suicide Gorge is the favourite adventure of James Haden. He also likes Table Mountain in South Africa. And Mt Sinai in Egypt.

Gear Junkies in Patagonia

What is it like to be truly remote and pushed to your physical and emotional limits in the wilderness?

This video, culled from clips taken by our race team on the go in remote Chile during the 2012 Patagonian Expedition Race, gives a solid glimpse into that question. …

read more – Gear Junkie

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

… the team managed a third-place finish

… . . Coming into CP17, we were four hours behind the Japanese team, and we decided to gamble on a straight-line bushwhack through a valley in the night with only two hours of tent-less sleep. In the predawn light, just before the glacier pass at CP18, we came upon the Japanese. They were clearly surprised [they had been ahead for a while] and yet they greeted us warmly, forming a line with each one of them shaking each one of our hands, smiling, and saying “Good to see you.” It was surreal. They then shared a look and bolted. [Note: Team Eastwind, from Japan, ended up beating Team GearJunkie/YogaSlackers by about 30 minutes in the 10-day race.] …

High Insanity: Patagonian Exped Race

(via The Adventure Blog)

Dientes Circuit trip report

Sebastian Irazuzta via email:

… In 2010 I was inspired by the trek you have posted on Navarino Island in the South of Chile. After some research my wife and I decided to take our Canadian winter vacation to Southern Chile and Argentina and see the wilderness of Navarino Island for ourselves. I have posted a short description along with some photos and videos of this trip on Everytrail. …

That’s an interactive map. Click on the image to see it.

I should mention that the weather was sometimes amazingly harsh.

Despite this, I think it was one of the nicest wilderness treks I have
done. I think you may find this post interesting in that I have
uploaded my GPS tracks for the entire trail. This is something I wish
I had had when I was on the trail myself as some sections were
difficult to navigate by map alone due to bad weather.

Thanks Sebastian!

Check out Dientes information page.

barefoot running backlash

Predictable.

There had to be a downside to running in bare feet.

Science of Sport:

Vibram shoes named in lawsuit: The danger of barefoot running

Vibram Five-finger named in lawsuit – zealousness, unfiltered advice creates more problems than it fixes

The main problem seems to be heel strike impact force.

related – ‘Born to Run’ author helping search for Boulder ultrarunner Micah True

True, better known as Caballo Blanco, went missing while out on a run.

Grand Canyon slots

A new documentary, Last of the Great Unknown, looks terrific.

It will premiere at the 2012 5point Film Festival in Carbondale Colorado, April 26-29th.

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on Vimeo.

http://vimeo.com/37927326

Deep within the Grand Canyon’s vast wilderness are secret and intimate tributaries rarely visited by man, hiding some of the Canyon’s most remarkable features.

The barrier to entry is steep. To explore them, one must have a knowledge of backpacking, packrafting, rappeling, anchor building, and off-trail navigation. The Last of the Great Unknown is the story of these slots, the canyoneers who systematically explored their drainages, and the secrets hidden deep within their walls.

official website

(via Northern California Hiking Trails)

South Pole return on foot

Scott 2012 Expedition:

No one has ever walked from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back again.

In 2012 … Ben (Saunders) and his team mates Alastair Humphreys and Martin Hartley take on arguably the most ambitious polar expedition in the last century: the four-month Scott 2012 – the first return journey to the South Pole on foot, and at 1,800 miles, the longest unsupported polar journey in history …

about

Last November they spent a week training, and getting to know one another, on the Isle of Skye.

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

Good luck team.

(via Alastair Humphreys)

_____

Alastair just finished rowing across the Atlantic. How did that go?

“If you ever see me anywhere near a boat again, you have my permission to shoot me!” – Sir Steve Redgrave after winning his fourth Olympic gold medal for rowing. Four years later, he won a fifth…

“This is bloody stupid!” – John Fairfax after becoming the first person to row the Atlantic solo. Two years later, he rowed the Pacific…

Attempt on Mt Anne, Tasmania

Frank (Our Hiking Blog) recommended a fascinating Sydney-based site called Sons of the Desert – a bushwalking blog

They post gorgeous BIG photos.

click to see full size originals

They got “lucky” with the notorious weather. Except for the wind. Tasmanian wind can destroy tents. And Maytag them.

Here’s how they tried to hold down one.

This is a great readAn Attempt on the Mt Anne Circuit, posted Jan. 2012.

If you like that, check their South Coast Track trip report.

Gawd. I still remember that mud.

… Yet I’m still planning a trip to Australia for Sept / October. Can hardly wait.

“A Life Ascending” – the movie

Megan Michelson:

On January 20, 2003, seven people were killed in a class 3 avalanche on a peak called La Traviata near Selkirk Mountain Experience, a backcountry hut and guiding operation outside Revelstoke, BC. The guide that day was SME owner and lead guide, Ruedi Beglinger, a Switzerland native with the highest level of mountain guiding certification and decades of experience. Until that day in 2003, SME had never had a serious injury or death during its then 18 years in business. …

… a new feature-length documentary called ”A Life Ascending” about the life and family of guide Ruedi Beglinger has been released on the film festival circuit. It recently won the audience choice award at Colorado’s Docuwest Film Festival …

ESPN

The DVD goes on sale Feb. 28th.

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

A Life Ascending

social media – Facebook | @alifeascending

I’ve subscribed to the blog, too.

RIP Rob and Mark Glaser, friends of mine killed by avalanche in 2011.

Barefooting the Ozette, Washington

Barefoot Jake doesn’t always go barefoot. On this weekend adventure out of Ozette Lake he wore his Luna ATS Huaraches and Vibram Five Finger KSO.

This terrain and climate is ideal for minimal footwear.

… over 90% Board Walk made up of new, old and really old planks that have been in place for probably longer than I have been born. Figured this would be a perfect opportunity to to break in my Luna ATS Huaraches further. Felt great to let the feet air out …

Evocative photos. Check them out here – Weekend of Barefooting the Ozette

That post caught my eye linked from Hiking in Finland as I’d been to Ozette myself last week.