I’ll definitely be watching this reality TV show.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
The first episode is on YouTube.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
South Africa’s Whale Trail
As I post this hike is still closed due to COVID.
The Whale Trail is an unforgettable experience, taking you through one of the Western Cape’s most unique and diverse nature reserves.
The route stretches over 55km, from Potberg to Koppie Alleen, with five overnight stops (hikers spend the first night at Potberg before starting the trail). The unspoilt natural beauty on this trail is unsurpassable, leading through lush fynbos and offering stunning views of the coast.
De Hoop is known as one of the best land-based whale-watching spots in the world. Between June and November, the coastline is transformed as southern right whales migrate here to breed and look after their young.
Reservations are limited to group bookings of either six or 12. (No children.) The tariff includes the shuttle service from Koppie Alleen, where the trail ends, back to the Potberg tourism office and the Whale Trail parking area.
CapeNature
If you have a group of 6 people and are interested, check a trip report on Hiking South Africa:
The Whale Trail
Click PLAY or get a glimpse on the Whale Trail race.
Father of the FKT – Buzz Burrell
The poster boy for Fastest Known Times is Kílian Jornet Burgada.
As I post, Kilian holds the fastest known time for the ascent and descent of Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Denali and perhaps Everest.
But it’s Buzz Burrell who really popularized the concept, co-founding fastestknowntime.com with Peter Bakwin and Jeff Schuler.
Those three run the site on a voluntary basis. And it’s a ton of work.
Buzz himself had been racing routes for decades. He set the FKT on the Colorado Trail in 1999. The FKT on John Muir in 2000.
This interview with Buzz will fill you with respect. Buzz co-hosts his own audio show called the FKT Podcast.
Mike Warden runs the Israel National Trail
Michael Wardian (born April 12, 1974) is an American marathoner and ultra-marathoner. …
In January 2017, Wardian ran seven marathons in seven days on seven continents in a record average speed of 2:45. …
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
He said the terrain is some of the most beautiful he’s seen in the world. And he felt very safe in Israel.
I listened to an entertaining interview on the Fastest Known Time podcast.
Heather Anderson – NAT GEO Adventurer of the Year
Heather Anderson, who goes by the trail name Anish, has thru-hiked the U.S.’s mega trails—the Appalachian, the Continental Divide, and the Pacific Crest—three times. …
Since 2013, Anderson has speed-hiked 28,000 trail miles—a greater distance than the circumference of Earth at the equator. …
Anish outdid herself last year, when she became the first woman, and fifth person, to complete the Triple Crown—7,944 miles—in a calendar year. She pulled off the feat in stunning fashion, hiking an average of more than 31 miles a day to finish in 251 days, 20 hours, and 10 minutes. (Cam “Swami” Honan holds the overall record at 231 days.) …
All this from a girl who was 70 pounds overweight and often teased while growing up …
How does anyone do this kind of thing?
You hike a lot of 18-hour days — waking up 4 a.m. and walking until 11 p.m.
AND Heather won’t accept rides in and out of town to pick-up her resupply!
She has a new book. Available in paperback and Kindle.
In her new memoir, Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home, Heather, whose trail name is “Anish,” conveys not only her athleticism and wilderness adventures, but also shares her distinct message of courage–her willingness to turn away from the predictability of a more traditional life in an effort to seek out what most fulfills her. …
NEW book – Reaching Beyond Boundaries
A Navy SEAL’s Guide to Achieving Everything You’ve Ever Imagined
I recommend this book for anyone who loves outdoor adventure.
It’s philosophy from the astonishing and inspiring life of
For the last decade, decorated Navy SEAL, accomplished athlete, and bestselling author Don Mann has been traveling across the country giving motivational talks and in the process inspiring hundreds with the secrets behind his awe-inspiring achievements. …
As an elite Navy SEAL, Mann performed seemingly impossible tasks on a regular basis. Here he details the lessons he learned from his training and shows how the rest of us can apply those teachings to our daily lives in terms of learning to push beyond our internal boundaries and achieve the goals we’ve set for ourselves, both professionally and personally. …
I recommend the audio version of the book because it’s read by Don Mann. That ownership makes his extreme stories come to life for me. When you hear Don’s voice, you know he’s the real deal. The kind of guy who could push himself to the point of passing out during extreme exercise. The kind of guy who will not quit.
The book intersperses Don’s life story — hundreds of outdoor races included — with stories of the people who inspired him.
Reinhold Messner, for example.
Before reading this book I’d never heard of the fantastic first American, all-woman summit of Annapurna in 1978. That blew my mind. They were decades ahead of their time.
I recommend this book even if you are an armchair adventurer. It’s going to make you want to get up off the couch and get outside.
Great Himalaya Trail documentary
I’m following an epic story on YouTube – an attempt on the Great Himalaya Trail by ultrarunners Ryan Sandes and Ryno Griesel.
It’s harsh.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Walking the Himalayas by Lev Wood
I was disappointed in this book.
Others disagree. It’s got fairly good ratings on GoodReads.
I learned very little about the Himalayas. Indeed most of the book has him nowhere near the mountains. He’s road walking in the lowlands.
I assume Lev’s boring route had to do with logistics for the film crew following along.
Ryan Sandes and Ryno Griesel ran much higher trails by comparison.
The book is poorly written too.
He got travel advice from the Dalai Lama. That bit I enjoyed.
And the tale of their vehicle crash was horrific. One of the real dangers of the Himalaya is motor vehicle accident.
related – TV series – Walking the Himalayas
Canmore, Alberta – 4 Peak Challenge
Adventure Racing World Championship, Wyoming
August 10–16th. 60 teams from 20 countries will have 6 days to cover 450 miles.
The first time Worlds has been held in the United States .
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
besthike.com 