October 30th, 2009 by admin

It appears as if the Fall Himalaya Season for 2009 is rapidly coming to an end, with teams reporting successful summits on a variety of mountains, while others prepare to go home empty handed.

Field Touring Alpine has an update on their blog stating that their team has reached the top of Island Peak yesterday, with six climbers topping out on the 6186 meter mountain. All of them have also successfully returned to base camp, where they got some much needed rest and celebrated their success. Today, they left the mountain, heading back to Dingboche. The team isn’t done yet however, as they intend to head to Pumori next for a little more action.

The IMG blog has also been updated with news of their success, although they were climbing on Ama Dablam. Their summit also occurred yesterday, with the team setting out from C2 at 4 AM and proceeding up to the top by 10 AM. They then made the descent all the way back to BC, ending their day at 8:30 PM. Whew! What a long day. On a good note, the guides report that the route to the summit is in good shape and the stage is set for others to go up too.

The word is not so positive from Pumori, where the Peak Freaks are packing it in after an attempt on the summit that was halted when they came across a large ice shelf high on the mountain. After testing it for stability, they determined that it may or may not be safe, and the “may not” part was enough for them to call of their bid and head back to BC. The team is happy with what the accomplished this year, but weren’t willing to go further and put themselves at risks, so as of today, they are preparing to pack up and go home.

They weren’t the only team to call it a day, as the Climb With Us Team is also coming home. An audio update on their site says that despite great weather conditions over the past few weeks, the ice found on the upper peaks, formed from the melting of snow during the day, and the re-freezing at night, has caused them to also call off their expedition. They are also happy with what they accomplished, but a bit disappointed that they won’t stand on top of the mountain. They’ll be back in the Himalaya next spring however, with their eyes on Everest, and an even bigger prize.

October 30th, 2009 by admin

National Geographic Adventure tipped me off to this story earlier today when they posted it to their Adventure Blog. It seems that New Zealander Malcolm Law, an adventurer and ultrarunner, will attempt to complete seven of the country’s “Great Walks” in just seven days, in an effort to raise money for Leukemia research. If all goes as planned, he’ll cover 223 miles over the course of a very busy week.

Law covers the basics of his plan on his 7-in-7 website, which begins with the very apt tag line “It’s going to hurt!”. The challenge will get underway on November 29th, when he’ll take on the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk, a 26.5 mile trail that typically takes 3-4 days to complete. From there, it is on to the Tongariro Northern Circuit, which is 25.4 miles of mountain trail, before moving on to the Abel Tasman Coast Track (32.2 miles), the Heaphy Track (48.7 miles), Routeburn Track (20 miles), the Milford Track (33.2 miles), and finally ending at the 37.3 mile Kepler Challenge, a mountain run that is a yearly competition in Kiwi-land.

In order to accomplish his goal, Malcolm will be assisted by a team of support crew, that will help arrange rides to and from each of the daily routes, as they are spread out in different parts of New Zealand. Each day he’ll also be joined by a fresh group of support runners that will help pace him as he goes. If successful, Law’s website says that this will be the equivalent of running 9 off road marathons, while climbing Mt. Cook twice, in just seven days time.

In all, New Zealand has nine great walks, and the seven that Malcolm will attempt all fall on the mainland. The other two include the Rakiura Track, a 22.3 mile trek through Stewart Island, and the Whanganui Journey, which is a 90 mile kayaking route, and not a “great walk” at all.

For more information on the 7-in-7 Challenge, head over to the official website, where you’ll find a bio of Malcolm, who is 49 by the way. You’ll also find info on his support runners and ground crew, as well as ways that you can get involved with the challenge too by either joining him on the trail or donating to the cause.

Good luck Malcolm!

October 30th, 2009 by admin

British couple Paul and Rachel Chandler have been on an around the world cruise aboard their ship the Lynn Rival for some time now, and they’ve even been blogging about their adventures on this website. But last Friday, the couple went missing, and their online tracking system failed to send any new updates, while the ship was off the coast of Somalia, an area that has become infamous for its pirate activity. The last known message from the couple was an ominous sounding blog update that simply says: “PLEASE RING SARAH”.

Since that update there has been no trace of the Chandlers, and little news at all. A few days back, a Somali pirate leader named Farah Abdi released a statement saying that they had captured the pair, but there has yet to be any kind of confirmation that they are indeed in the pirates hands.

Today, the New York Times is reporting that seven pirates believed to have been involved with the adduction have been taken into custody by European Union ships operating in the area. The pirates were making a raid on a fishing vessel at the time, and were said to have the Chandler’s 38-foot yacht in tow, as they were making their way back to pirate town of Xarardheere.

Capturing these pirates is a good start of course, but we still don’t know where the Chandlers are or what their current condition is. Lets hope that we get confirmation of their good health soon, and that they’ll also be released soon as well. One can’t help but wonder though if the blog updates and real time satellite tracking played into their capture at all. Anyone know if Somali Pirates have the Internet?

October 30th, 2009 by admin

I know this is a few days old, but I’m still trying to catch-up form my down time last week. Last Sunday, this year’s edition of the Sahara Race got underway, with 130 competitors from 30 countries setting out across 250 km (155 miles) of some of the harshest conditions on the planet. The Sahara is the largest non-Polar desert on Earth, and it will test these racers, who will cross through three to four checkpoints each day, as they cover stages varying in length from 10-50 miles.

As of today, the race, we’re through three stages of the six stage event. The overall leader at this point is 40 year old Tobias Frenz of Germany, who is followed by Christian Schiester of Austria, and Paolo Barghini of Italy in second and third respectively. The top female competitor is Erica Terblanche of South Africa, who is currently running in 12th place over all.

Over the next three days, the racers will face several more tough stages, including a grueling 87.6 km (54.4 mile) trek dubbed the Black Desert March, tomorrow. That one will likely run into Friday for a number of the competitors, but thankfully things get better on Saturday, when they’ll finish up with a short run that completes the event by arriving at the finish line in the shadows of the Great Pyramids of Giza. What a way to end a race!

Having been to the Sahara and seen those Pyramids first hand, I can tell you that this has to be an incredible event for these runners. The desert is demanding on many levels, with an oppressive heat that I’ve never felt anywhere else on the planet. And if that wasn’t challenging enough, think about all that sand getting into every part of your body. Yes, I said every part!!

As always, this is a great event, and is just one pillar of the 4 Deserts series. Good luck to all the competitors. Be safe out there!

October 30th, 2009 by admin

Trailspace.com, which has always been an excellent resource for backpackers and hikers everywhere, has begun a great new series of articles designed to help long distance thru-hikers to tackle any of the long distance hikes in the U.S., such as the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide trails. But even if you don’t intend to tackle one of those 1000+ mile long monsters, the information is helpful for shorter treks too.

The planned four part series begins with this article which focuses on planning your hike. Author Barbara Egbert starts with some details on the Triple Crown of thru-hiking, laying out what you can expect on the three major trails linked to above, and how they all differ from one another.

The article then goes on to examine the gear that you’ll need, with an emphasis on lightweight but durable equipment. Tents, sleeping bags, and packs are all important considerations on any trip, but especially on one that will go for hundreds of miles. Choosing the right clothing and shoes are also very important as well of course.

From there, it’s on to some suggested training methods to get in shape for the miles ahead. Several thru-hikers give tips on their approaches to preparing for the trails, with strong recommendations of being in great shape before you go. The story also recommends that if you’re going to hike alone you should train alone in order to get use to the conditions you’ll experience while traveling miles on end by yourself.

Finally, the article concludes with a list of great books that cover each of the major trails, offering up resources that will be invaluable for long distance thru-hikers as they prepare for one of these major hikes. The suggestion being that if you’re considering one of these hikes, you’ll want to pick up the guide now, read it in the winter months, and begin collecting your gear and training for a 2010 epic hike.

This look like it’s going to be a great series, and a must read for anyone wanting to backpack anything longer than a weekend escape. Good stuff so far.

October 28th, 2009 by admin

Spelunkers across the globe have to be a little excited by the news that Japanese scientists have discovered what is believed to be an open lava tube on the surface of the moon, which could potentially offer access to what is believed to be a vast cave system under the lunar crust.

According to this story from National Geographic, this “skylight” could eventually be used as a safe haven for a permanently manned lunar base, providing shelter from the hostile environment above. The cave found underneath would also allow for a cheaper, larger, and more stable living and working environment for explorers sent to the moon.

Finding a hole, such as this one, on the surface of the moon has not been easy, and scientists have searched for a long time. It is the result of a lava tube that was created roughly 3 billion years ago, during a period of violent volcanic activity, on the small planetoid. The opening was discovered after scientists painstakingly examined a number of high resolution images of the moon’s surface, sent back to Earth by the Japanese spacecraft Kaguya.

Of course, before a permanent base could be built on the moon, the cave system would have to be explored more fully, which could mean that NASA will soon be in the market for some experienced spelunkers who have yearning to be the first to go underground on the Earth’s natural satellite. Sure, they can use space probes and robots to do some of that exploration, but where is the fun in that? Anyone want to visit the moon and go for a little adventure underground?

October 28th, 2009 by admin

I’m jumping back into my blogging duties, as I get back to my normal schedule at last, and I’ll start things off by getting caught up on the ongoing events in the Himalaya, where teams are setting the stage for summit bids on Ama Dablam, Pumori, and more.

The IMG Team has updated their blog this morning with news that the climbers have reached Camp 2, and are now in a position to make the push to the summit tomorrow, skipping their stay in C3 altogether. They say the weather remains good, and the conditions on the mountain are excellent as well, but they are making one final alpine style push because of falling ice at Camp 3 in the past. Stay tuned for updates tomorrow, as it looks like they’ll be topping out.

Field Touring Alpine has updated their blog as well, reporting that their team arrived on Ama Dablam Base Camp late last week, with the team heading over to Island Peak to make an acclimatization climb. Everyone is reportedly in good spirits, although they have suffered a few bouts of GI, as has been known to happen when traveling in a foreign country, especially at altitude. Look for more updates from FTA soon with news on their progress as well.

The Adventure Consultants are also on Island Peak, and today’s dispatch says that they are continuing their trek through the Khumbu, which helps serve as an acclimatization exercise as well. A number of the members of the team are planning on heading up to Everest BC today, which makes for a scenic trek, but they’ll find it deserted when they arrive, as it has been a quiet place this Fall.

Switching mountains, we’ll jump over to Pumori next, where the Peak Freaks are reporting that lead climber Tim Rippel was hit by a large chunk of ice last night while sleeping in his tent. The ice managed to break several of Tim’s ribs, and while the team has elected to carry on, he won’t be joining them as they go up the mountain. He has instead been replaced by Norwegian climber Lars Haugen, who will lead the team up to C2 today. They are currently looking to reach the summit as early as tomorrow. Check out the Peak Freaks video below for more information on the mountain and the climb. Good stuff.

Finally, The Peak Freaks aren’t the only team on Pumori of course, as the Climb With Us Team continues their efforts as well. The latest news from that bunch includes a blog post by Rock Climber Girl Sara Lingafelter, who gives a personal account of her own issues with dealing with altitude. Unfortunately for her, the altitude caused her to have to back down the mountain and recover from some AMS symptoms. She has since rejoined her team, which is currently in in ABC, and will be heading up to C1 tomorrow. From there, they’ll wait to see what the weather conditions look like before beginning their own assault on the summit.

October 22nd, 2009 by admin

Editorial Comment

(Unedited first copy)

Balloon Boy Fiasco May Finally Expose the Great Hoax of Storm Chasing

For those of us who recently followed the so-called “Balloon Boy” fiasco, we now know, there never was a kid in the balloon. We were the victims of a hoax according to the authorities.

Just hours after the story broke, my email and phone lines came alive. It was not because I was involved in the initial search to find a storm chasing family for the “Wife Swap,” reality show, but rather, because of my stature in the storm chasing community as a vocal critic of the media’s distorted portrayal of irresponsible chasing.

The fact that the Balloon Boy story evolved around a publicity seeking family involved in storm chasing did not surprise me. I have no doubt their inspiration for such a “stunt” or “hoax,” if proven true, would be easy to explain. They had to look no further than the media’s on-going portrayal of storm chasers, in unrealistic, falsely induced and sensationalized productions and / or press stories and Internet sites.

Although the Balloon Boy saga had nothing to do with storm chasing directly, the connection was supported when I saw video clips of the family on a “tornado chase.” Mr. Heene could be seen with his boys in a pick-up truck as a “tornado approached.” The next scene showed him unloading a dirt bike out of the truck — to apparently drive closer (or into) to the tornado. My goodness — where did he get such an idea?

There are growing numbers of “un-reality,” media-spawned “chasers” looking to run away with the circus and / or get a shot at the elusive golden ring…. that sadly does not exist in the real world of storm chasing. In fact, the average storm chaser is lucky if he or she can make enough money to pay chasing gasoline costs.

One can surmise that the Balloon Boy spectacle was just the first act in the big show to come. The media-fueled inspirations go much deeper than just a few clowns trying to make a buck or be seen on TV. It can be life or death. Not too long ago, a 17 year-old high school student emailed me, seeking guidance about driving his car into a tornado for a YouTube glory clip. Others have forwarded even wackier ideas that would make the producers of Jackass gasp.

As a 21-year veteran of professional storm chasing, please allow me to introduce everyone to the reality of what storm chasing is actually about. For me, it’s become a public relations nightmare. I’m constantly working to separate myself from the Jethro Bodines. I rarely label myself a “storm chaser” anymore, in fear of being cast with the bad apples.

The heart of this problem lies within the modern media (including print, production companies, television and Internet), hereafter collectively called “media.” In their never- ending desire to “up one another” and make more money, they continue to seek out the most extreme of stories. What started out with great reality shows and well-produced features have morphed into a free for all, where a lack of accurate research and disregard for public safety overrides reality.

In some cases, the public has been presented with fair and honest representations. However, in other instances, the public has been hoaxed or mislead. Hopefully you now know, or soon will, the truth. For example:

1: In a single average year, there are actually only 2 or 3 good chase days that actually offer the potential (never guaranteed) to witness a tornado. The odds go down if you want to be close enough to film it. The media often distorts this reality to make it seem like all hell is breaking loose every day in Tornado Alley. Production companies sometimes acquire footage or pictures from other sources (not from the chasers seen in the actual productions or stories), or use archived clips / pictures, to add drama and fill to a story. Because chasing is 95 percent boring reality, even the most benign moment is often milked to its sensational death.

2: Despite the media’s and chaser’s Herculean efforts to legitimize the purpose of “tornado vehicles,” there is no such thing as a truly “tornado proof vehicle.” Most of these vehicles are designed for publicity stunts, publicity and homemade movies. Bona fide scientists do NOT use them and they contribute little or nothing to further scientific study of tornadoes! Sorry for this disappointing news kids. Then again, the Batmobile is not real either.

3: Tornadoes are actually quite violent and their strength cannot be accurately predicted from one moment to the next. I have seen a funnel cloud turn into a half-mile wide, violent tornado in just moments. The scientists involved in this falsehood and publicity hoax should lose all Government funding and be sent back to school. I have personally seen what a tornado can do to a car, truck, house, person or even a railroad car. If you drive any vehicle into a moderate to violent tornado, YOU WILL DIE or be seriously maimed, with often debilitating injuries. If your stunt results in a serious accident, or even contributes to one, you will be sued or even prosecuted. Balloon Boy-inspired chasers are forewarned.

4: Storm chasers generally do not make a real living from chasing alone.. They chase two or three big events in the spring months then go back to selling pizzas or attending school. The media often forgets to mention this as it’s not too glamorous and degrades the legitimacy of their stories.

5: The media sometimes does little to research their sources, experts or expose the actual purpose behind a person or groups chasing. False and misleading authority claims run rampant in the storm chasing community. Some chasers place weather instruments, light bars or decals on their vehicles to mimic researchers, media or rescue and / or fire personnel. Bogus Internet sites have made finding professional chasers a challenge.

6: The media often portrays hazardous and irresponsible chasing behavior in a glamorous or adventurous light. They rarely disclose or show the hazards irresponsible chasers pose to others on the road, or to the rescue personnel who might be needed to assist them because of their antics. Of course, this would make their cash cows look foolish.

7: The idiots you see on TV speeding down rural highways, running red lights, breaking multiple traffic laws, preying for destruction and screaming like schoolgirls do not represent the majority of storm chasers. There are many chasers, e.g., scientists, storm spotters, media personnel, hurricane hunters and even “hobbyist” chasers who conduct their adventures in a responsible manner. This is not to say that responsible chases do not have close calls and excitement worthy of prime time TV. The difference is between the reality of unplanned, natural events (news) vs. those events where the media alters reality (fiction) by encouraging (or subliminally suggesting) reckless and sensational behavior just to put people on TV and sell a story. What the hell happen to fascinating profiles of individuals based on reality?

I have always used the analogy of firefighters. Can you imagine a media or production company asking (e.g., encourage, provide a publicity platform or otherwise entice), wildland firefighters to “put themselves in the direct path of a raging fire” to make the story more exciting. I think not. The firefighters would kick their butts. However, when it comes to “storm chasing,” the media has found a willing group, within a rather new entity, who will do anything with the proper encouragement. Shame on then.

The claim of the media that such events would occur even if they were not there, or that they are just “tagging along” is moot. Everyone acts different in front of a camera. The dangerous and sophomoric chasing behavior, along with carefully constructed publicity stunts were not occurring on such a level before the media frenzy began. There was no medium for mass publicity. Nor were individuals going to such great lengths only to take such foolish risks. In addition, the media is well aware they are promoting irresponsible behavior that others will emulate.

The day is fast approaching when one of the media inspired chasers injures or kills someone because of reckless antics. The result will be lawsuits and jail time for everyone involved, including the promoters who can hardly claim ignorance.

The Balloon Boy episode should put irresponsible chasers and unprofessional media outlets on alert. You are vulnerable. You are now under the watchful eye of news stations and law enforcement and you will be held accountable for your actions.

The storm chaser circus is coming to town…. It’s coming, trust me. Just don’t let the burning big top catch you inside.

Warren Faidley

Storm Chasing Journalist

For more information:

NASCAS (National Association of Storm Chasers and Spotters):

www.chasing storms.com

Storm Chaser Homepage: www.stormchaser.com

October 22nd, 2009 by admin

I’m happy to report that I was a featured guest blogger today over at NileGuide, an excellent travel site with plenty of great resources for any traveler, including a very unique trip planning service, and one of the best travel blogs around.

My post actually appears on that blog today, and it is a piece I wrote on budget adventure travel, which I note in the article are three words that you don’t generally see next to one another. Lets face it, adventure travel can be very expensive, so using the term “budget” means that you have to qualify exactly what you mean by that. Still, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t deals to be had in the adventure travel space, and I give some tips on how to save some cash when planning a trip. I also happen to believe that you’ll be able to get some really great deals throughout the rest of this year and into next. The economy may finally be starting to turn around, but the majority of us aren’t starting to travel just quiet yet. That means good deals for those of us that are!

I’d like to thank NileGuide for inviting me to contribute to their great site. I had fun writing the piece and I am honored that they would invite me. If you’re not familiar with NileGuide, I highly recommend you go take a look. If you’re planning a trip soon, you definitely need to check out their system for creating your own travel guide, which allows you to customize it to your own liking, and for your personal itinerary, rather than buying a guide book from one of the big travel publishers, that is packed with pages on places you’ll never visit. NileGuide’s system is intuitive, easy to use, and provides lots of great info. As an example, check out their guide to Cusco, Peru for an idea of the service.

I hope everyone enjoys the article and finds something interesting and useful in it.

October 22nd, 2009 by admin

After a few false starts, 16-year old Jessica Watson has finally begun her attempt at a solo circumnavigation of the globe by sail boat, setting out from Sydney, Australia on Sunday. If all goes as planned, the trip will take ten months to complete, and she’ll become the youngest person to make that journey, besting Zac Sunderland and Mike Perham, two young men who completed the same trip this past summer at the age of 17.

Jessica set sail in her 33 foot yacht, the Ella’s Pink Lady, and began heading northeast, towards New Zealand. She’ll pass by Fiji and Samoa, while heading out into the Pacific, where she’ll eventually turn south, to round Cape Horn. From there, it is on to the Falkland Islands, and the Cape of Good Hope, at the southern end of Africa, crossing the Southern Atlantic in the process. Finally, she’ll turn for home, crossing the Southern Ocean in the process. You can read more details of her route on her website.

The Aussie girl has also started posting to her blog already, and two days out she is reporting good winds, hitting 13 knots, and fine weather. Jessica reports that she is settling into a routine sleeping on deck for brief periods while she doges shipping traffic, which she’ll leave behind soon enough.

Good luck and Godspeed Jessica!