Category: people

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Edward Abbey – “I Loved it…I Loved it All”

Ned Judge:

An eight minute film essay that I co-produced and directed with Ed Abbey in 1985. …

We met in Moab and went out to Arches National Park to shoot some practice sessions with a home video camera. We would review them at the motel in the evening. After a day or two, Ed was feeling pretty comfortable on camera so we scheduled the shoot. We were all happy with the way it went.

But then we ran head-on into network reality. Roger Mudd, the show’s host, was extremely negative about putting an “eco-terrorist” on the show. … So this Abbey essay was put on the shelf and never aired.

Abbey died 3 years later in March 1989.

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

Edward Paul Abbey (January 29, 1927 – March 14, 1989) was an American author and essayist noted for his advocacy of environmental issues, criticism of public land policies, and anarchist political views. His best-known works include the novel The Monkey Wrench Gang, which has been cited as an inspiration by radical environmental groups, and the non-fiction work Desert Solitaire. Writer Larry McMurtry referred to Abbey as the “Thoreau of the American West“. …

The story of his death and burial is … very Abbey.

Those two books are MUST READS for any serious outdoorsperson.

(via Rocky who calls Edward Abbey the Hunter Thompson of the environment)

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Nimblewill Nomad – all 11 America’s National Scenic Trails

His quest began New Years Day, 1998.

Noon Sunday, September 9, 2012, Nimblewill Nomad reached the summit of Grand Monadnock Mountain, New Hampshire, thus completing his trek o’er the New England National Scenic Trail.

And as to the significance of that day? Well, it marks the successful conclusion of Nimblewill’s quest to hike all eleven of America’s National Scenic Trails. He now becomes the second person, behind Bart Smith, to have documented this accomplishment.

nimblewillnomad.com

You might recall his hiking books: Ten Million Steps and Where Less the Path is Worn.

National Scenic Trails (18,734mi)

Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Arizona National Scenic Trail
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
Florida National Scenic Trail
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
New England National Scenic Trail
North Country National Scenic Trail
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail
Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

(via gossamergear)

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with Fedak in Tuolumne Canyon

16.5 miles and 2700 foot gain down into the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River.

… For three miles, the Tuolumne River curves lazily through meadows like a time-lapse video of a cat on a sunny windowsill. Then it perks up and dashes over a series of cascades and waterfalls, terminating at Glen Aulin …

Yosemite Hikes – Glen Aulin (Tuolumne Falls & White Cascade)

John Fedak, resident of the Sierra Nevada mountains for the Summer season, led me on this, one of his favourite hikes.

Here’s John’s photo trip report of our day — LeConte Falls 2012.

We rendezvoused at Lembert Dome trailhead on the Tioga Road. This was the shortest winter snow closure for Tioga on record, by the way.

Tuolumne Meadows

On a Saturday in July the trail was busy. We even shared the bridge with these beasts.

In the Spring, it’s great for waterfalls. Later in the season, popular for swimming.

Thank you kindly for sharing this trail, John. It was a terrific day.

Fedak is one of the original hiking photo bloggers. He has thousands of annotated photos from his many, many adventures.

Check those out at Fedak.net

More of my own pics from this glorious day are posted on Flickr.

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swim 5700km …

Good luck with that, Dan.

In May 2012, Dan will embark on his biggest journey to date, as he attempts a Global Triathlon – swimming, 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)

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Babu Sunuwar and Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa

Babu Sunuwar and Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa are National Geographic’s 2012 Adventurers of the Year.

They climbed Everest, rode a paraglider off the summit, cycled to the river, then paddled to the Indian Ocean.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via The Adventure Blog)

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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…

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“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.

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Charles Dickens was a walker

Sports Illustrated:

Charles Dickens, an avid walker, logged 20 miles a day

Dickens was from childhood an avid, even compulsive, walker. …

Scarcely a day went by that Dickens didn’t flee his desk and take to the streets of London and its suburbs. …

(his) passion for walking did not diminish with age. He was 55 when he began the second of his tours of America, in 1867, and despite a dizzying schedule of 76 readings in about 150 days ranging from Washington to Buffalo to Portland, Maine, he still made time to walk daily. …

Frisky As The Dickens (1988)

Come and follow his follow his trails to discover the locations of Great Expectations, David Copperfield en de Pickwick Papers. Tour 1 will take place 10-15 June 2012 Including one day of the Medway Dickens Festival Price: € 295

(via Kottke)

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Skurka – How I Make a Living as an Adventurer

You’d think the greatest hiker all-time would be able to make a reasonable living off it.

Nope.

I live on little. When I first became a full-time adventurer, my finances dictated that I do. Now, I’m stuck firmly in my frugal ways. I only buy what I need, usually only when it’s on sale. I rent month-to-month so I can avoid paying rent when I’m gone for extended periods. All of my possessions can be transported in my Pontiac Vibe (with roof rack and box). And I have intentionally avoided costly “grown up” responsibilities like mortgages, a spouse, kids, and pets.

Because I don’t need much to be comfortable and happy, I don’t need to earn much either.

details

andrewskurka.com

(via TrailSpace)