December 31st, 2009 by admin

Yesterday Best Hike site editor Rick McCharles posted the final update to his ongoing series on trekking independently through the Khumbu Region of the Himalaya. Over the past few weeks, Rick has taken us from Kathmandu all the way up to Everest Base Camp, and well beyond, and it has been an enjoyable series for anyone interested in making the trek for themselves.

On Day 17 of his trek Rick makes the descent from Namche back to Lukla, where he can catch a plane back to the capital of Nepal, where he started. The highlight of the post are a series of great photos of the suspension bridges that are quite common throughout this area, but Rick says he’ll miss the Buddhist monuments the most.

He also offers up some great advice with things to keep in mind if you want to hike independently in Nepal as well. Here’s what Rick has to say:

•you need a minimum of 14 days. More is better.
•acclimatization to altitude is the most serious danger
•Oct-Dec weather is cold and clear
•Mar-May the weather is warmer, but skies may be overcast
•best hike is the 3 Passes, next best Everest Base Camp, third best Gokyo
•if you fly, buy your flights Kathmandu-Lukla return in Kathmandu. You can change the date of your return, if necessary.
•no need to bring camping gear, but warm clothing and sleeping bag are essential

This has been a fun series to follow and it inspires me to go even more. Hopefully in the spring! Who’s with me?!?

December 31st, 2009 by admin

British mountaineering legend Sir Chris Bonington is heading back to Annapurna, the mountain that arguably cemented his reputation as one of the preeminent high altitude climbers of his generation. He’ll go back in 2010, a year of anniversaries for the mountain.

According to this story over at Wide World, which has just relaunched with a new snappy new site design, Bonington will be trekking the Annapurna Circuit with his son Joe. This will be his first trip back since 1970, when he was the expedition leader for a team that made the first successful attempt on the South Face of Annapurna. While Bonington didn’t reach the summit himself, he did plan and orchestrate the expedition that did claim that new route. He did, however, top out on Annapurna II back in 1960 as part of a British Army expedition.

In the article, Sir Chris tells Wide World that the trekking route will be much the same as the one they used back in 1960, although things have obviously changed a lot since then. There was only one main road in the entire country back then, and much of Nepal remained mountain wilderness. Bonington is obviously looking forward to revisiting the place that played a huge role in his mountaineering career.

The Annapurna Massif is actually made up of a series of peaks, with Annapurna I through IV being the most prominent. The jewel of the Massif is Annapurna I, the tenth highest peak in the world at 8091 meters (26,545 feet). It was first climbed by Maurice Herzog back in 1950, making 2010 the 60th anniversary of that first ascent. It’ll also be the 40th anniversary of the Bonington’s team making that first ascent on the South Face, and the 50th anniversary of his first visit to the region.

Hopefully, Sir Chris will share some of his thoughts while trekking or upon his return. It would certainly be an interesting read, especially with his keen sense of history. Better yet, you can join the trek yourself! Head over to BoningtonTreks.com for more info, and pricing.

Also, if you’d like to learn more about Chris, I highly recommend the book The Boys of Everest, which is a great read about Bonington and the elite group of climbers that he climbed with. Great stuff.

December 31st, 2009 by admin

With the end of 2009 now just a couple of days away, I’m sure we’ll see a few more of these “Best of the Year” and “Best of the Decade” lists. The Outside Blog gets things started today with their selection of the Top 10 Adventure Stories of the Decade.

The list spans a lot of different and unique stories ranging from the likes of Aron Ralston’s dramatic and controversial survival tale to Lance Armstrong making Yellow a cool color. You may recall that back in 2003, Ralston rose to fame after being trapped in the wilderness under a boulder for several days, and then cutting his own arm off to escape, and while Lance spent many days in the Yellow Jersey of the Tour de France, his iconic “Live Strong” bracelets may have been the real reason the color became so popular.

Other stories that make their list include Dean Potter’s literal rise to top rock climber to BASE jumper, the continued debate in mountaineering circles about a number of issues surrounding Everest, and Kelly Slater’s 41 ASP victories in surfing. The list is far reaching and covers a multitude of areas, most of which were front and center in the pages of Outside over the past ten years.

So, what do you think of their choices? A number of those wouldn’t make my list, but they are interesting selections none the less, and very fitting with the magazine’s audience.

December 31st, 2009 by admin

As predicted a few days back, the first teams are now arriving at the South Pole, finishing off long and demanding journeys, while marking the beginning of the end of the Antarctic season.

The Kaspersky Commonwealth Team finished their expedition yesterday reaching the Pole as expected. The girls completed their 550+ mile journey in about 39 days. They are now resting at the South Pole Research Station, and enjoying warm beds and hot meals. The aim of this expedition has always been to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the formation of the Commonwealth, but also to celebrate the abilities of women. In the case of these seven ladies, they are hoping to serve as role models for girls in back in their home countries, and having completed this arduous journey, I’d say they have accomplished multiple goals at once.

In other arrival news, ExWeb is reporting that the Danish team of Morten Grundsøe and Jens Erik Nielsen have also reached the South Pole. The pair made their expedition in an unsupported fashion, completing the last 33.5 miles in a single 22 hour push.

Ryan Waters and Cecilie Skog posted an update two days back with the news that they are now within the last degree of the Pole. As of that dispatch, they were just 40 nautical miles from their goal, which means they are likely to finish up sometime today or early tomorrow. Looks like they’ll be celebrating the New Year at the bottom of the world.

Eric Larsen’s Save The Poles Expedition has moved to 88.3ºS and continues to make good time with the weather remaining clear and calm, although temperatures have been quite cold, reaching as low as -30ºF. The team is trying to conserve as much energy as possible as they head into the home stretch, as it sounds like the grind of the continuous days on the ice has begun to take its toll. On their current pace, Eric and the boys should reach the end of their journey by early next week.

Meagan McGrath reached a milestone of her own within the past few days, reaching the half-way point of her journey by crossing the 85ºS mark. She still has a long way to go yet, and she’s going to be racing the clock to a degree, but she sounds like she is in great spirits and enjoying the expedition so far. Lets hope Meagan gets the opportunity to reach the Pole. She’s worked hard to do so, and she still has some time to complete the journey, but she’ll have to work hard to make it.

Finally, the Shackleton’s Unfinished Journey Team is also closing in on the Pole. They are now within 20 miles of their goal, and are hoping to celebrate the New Year with the other teams arriving as well. Upon successful completion of the trip, 17-year old Katie Walter will become the youngest person to ski to the Pole.

Looks like it’s going to be crowded at the research station over the next few days.

December 29th, 2009 by admin

For those interested in the details of a trek through the Himalaya, Best Hike Editor Rick McCharles has continued to post a day-by-day account of his recent journey through Nepal, which saw him hiking to Everest Base Camp, and other areas of the Khumbu Valley.

On Day 11, Rick set out to conquer the Kongma La Pass, a hike that would require nine hours on the trail, but he says is a moderate hike once you’re well acclimatized. The hike is punctuated by amazing views of glacier fed lakes and very remote wilderness.

When Days 12 and 13 arrived, Rick found himself sick once again, but still had needing to continue his trek, this time heading towards Lobuche. Upon arrival, amidst spectacular weather, he stayed in a local tea house, and was forced to spend a day of rest and recovery, while getting over his sickness.

Rick was feeling much better on Day 14, when he set out to cross the Cho La Pass, which he describes as “seriously dangerous”. It is a place that often requires the use of an ice axe to make progress and even the Yaks have a difficult time crossing. It was another beautiful, and scenic hike, but also very demanding and difficult, and the second of the Three Passes of Everest trek.

Day 15 was spent preparing for the Renjo La, the third and final pass of the trek. Rick met a guest at one of the tea houses named Doug Benn, a professor visiting the area to study the effects of climate change on the glaciers there. He also took a side trek that day that would take him up to the Sacred Lakes of the Gokyo, a place that is holy for both Hindus and Buddhists alike.

On Day 16, Rick spent a long and grueling day on the trail to return to Namche, by passing the Renjo La in the process. The long trek brought him back to what passes for civilization in the Khumbu, allowing him to pass the night in a tea house, and in a room that was used was once used by former American President Jimmy Carter.

Each of Rick’s entries includes a set of great photos from each day of the trek and of course his personal insights into what each day was like on the trail. For long distance hikers considering a go at the Everest region, these posts are very insightful and helpful in preparation for the trip. Great stuff as always from Best Hike.

December 29th, 2009 by admin

While we’re on the subject of Antarctica, Jon Bowermaster is continuing his journey at the bottom of the world as well, and sent back another dispatch via his blog.

Jon has now made his way to Petermann Island, where they have spotted their first penguin chicks of the season. The island is home to a unique place, where Gentoos and Adelies and blue-eyed shags all live together and hatch their young together. But Bowermaster says that the number of Adelies on Petermann is dropping by roughly 10 percent each year. This year, they number around 300 mated pairs, but just a few years ago, that was more than 500. The birds love cold weather, and the island just isn’t cold enough for them any more, but where exactly they are going, remains a bit of a mystery, even amongst the scientists that study penguins.

Petermann Island is just another location in the Antarctic that is feeling the direct impact of global climate change. The birds that are a hallmark of the place have begun to abandon it, and in large numbers. There are still plenty of tiny penguin chicks there again this season, but those numbers are dropping quickly, and it won’t be long before the Adelies are no longer spotted on the shores of this special and unique place.

This most recent dispatch from Jon came on the 23rd of December. Expect more from the frozen continent soon, with great insights on how climate change is directly effecting the place, from a man who has watched it change every year over the past decade.

December 29th, 2009 by admin

While the rest of us celebrated the holidays with friends and family in the comfort of our homes, the Antarctic teams spent the days on the trail, heading due south, and closing in on their goal - The South Pole.

The most recent update from Antarctica come from the Kaspersky Commonwealth Team, where we learn that the girls are a mere 20 nautical miles from the Pole. The ladies have been out on the ice for 36 days, and it appears that they will hit 90ºS tomorrow. The team was hoping that they would be able to see the polar research station located at the Pole on the horizon today, but so far they’ve had no luck in spotting it, which is adding a bit of frustration on the final days of the expedition. The girls also say that they will never take hot, running water and flush toilets for granted ever again.

The last update from Ryan Waters and Cecilie Skog haven’t sent a dispatch since Christmas Eve, when they were within 100 nautical miles of the Pole, and it is quite possible that they have arrived at their destination today or tomorrow at the latest. They celebrated the holiday with a half-day on the trail, and some time in the tent, but since then, nothing has been heard.

Similarly, Eric Larsen, and his team haven’t sent a dispatch since Christmas Day, which was their 39th day out of Patriot Hills. Eric and the boys spent the day locating their final supply cache, before turning South once again. With their sleds full once again, it was slow going throughout the day, which was mostly up hill. They’re now within two degrees of the Pole, and they hope to reach their destination within eight or nine days, which would put them in on the 2nd or 3rd of January, if everything goes according to plan.

Meagan McGrath also sent an audio dispatch on Christmas Day with updates on her progress as well. She says she had a fantastic day out on the ice, and is covering great distances in the past few days, and spent much of the holiday thinking of her friends and family, who she is missing badly, but is still enjoying her journey so far. There was no update on her location, but because she was forced to restart early on, Meagan is still a good distance away from the Pole.

Finally, the Shackleton’s Unfinished Business Team have wasted no time in their journey to the Pole, and according to their latest dispatch today, they are now at 89.2ºS and covered 9.3 nautical miles today. At this rate, they’ll finish off that final degree in the next few days, and they’ll stand at the Pole for the New Year.

It appears that the next few days will be a busy one at the bottom of the world. Watch for updates from all the teams as they begin to arrive at the South Pole. The Antarctic season for 2009 will begin to wind down in the next few weeks, but not before plenty of action on Mt. Vinson as well, where the climbers will be looking to claim one of the seven summits.

December 25th, 2009 by admin

Wednesday is “Trek Everest Day” it seems, as we have another episode of The Rest of Everest to enjoy as well. This fourth season of the show is focused on an Everest Base Camp trek that took place this past spring, and continues to offer us some great insights into what it is like to make this journey.

Today we have Episode 123: Tengboche, which begins with video of the support team breaking camp for the trekkers, who were preparing to hit the trail, but not before visiting the vibrant and colorful local monastery first. Fortunately for us, we get to tag along for the ride, as the group paid a “special fee” to allow them to shoot photos and video inside the building.

While inside the monastery, the group gets an explanation of the Tibetan Wheel of Life, with one of the guides explaining its concepts in front of a beautifully painted representation of that important aspect to Buddhist beliefs. In short, the Wheel is a representation of the stages of life (birth, life, death) that we all pass through, while incorporating karmic influences in our actions and their impact on ourselves.

Leaving the monastery behind, the crew hits the trail once again, and for the later portions of this episode, we get to see more of the Himalayan countryside. As has been typical in recent episodes, show producer Jon Miller is joined by several members of the trek, and they each weigh in through out the show with their thoughts on the trek, and its impact on them as the went.

Keep an eye out for a great shot of the 22,349 foot peak Ama Dablam, which makes an appearance near the end of this episode as well.

December 25th, 2009 by admin

We’re up to Day 10 of Best Hike’s recent trek through the Himalaya. Site editor Rich McCharles has already guided us up to Everest Base Camp, and has now returned to Dingboche.

After a rather grueling climb up to BC, Rick elected to take another rest day upon his return to Dingboche, where he was able to get Internet access, even at 14,800 feet! He also found a cool looking grocery store in the village that allowed him to resupply, which was of utmost importance considering he was making the trek independently. Rick also elected to hang out in one of the tea houses for the first time, finding the accommodations comfortable and the food very tasty. Trekkers in Nepal rarely need to carry tents with them, as there are enough tea houses found along the trail that they can rest each night under a solid roof and eat hot local food.

One item of interest was that the owner of the internet cafe told Rick that trekking in the region was better in the spring than in the fall, saying that “hikers are healthier”. He believed that the growing vegetation provided more oxygen, helping them to make the climb a bit easier. I’m not sure if there is much credence in the theory, but it sounds good to me! I guess that means, go in the spring and face larger crowds but have a healthier approach, or go in the fall, and take your chances, but relish in the empty trails.

December 25th, 2009 by admin

More breaking news today on Laura Dekker, the 14-year old Dutch girl who has big plans to sail solo around the world. This past weekend, the teenager made headlines when she disappeared from Holland and turned up in St. Maarten, an island that falls in the Dutch Antilles of the Caribbean. A local there spotted her and alerted authorities, and upon being taken into custody, she was promptly sent back home.

Today, comes word that a judge has ruled on these recent activities, and has determined that Laura will remain in the custody of her father, despite youth services requesting that she be sent to live with family friends. Furthermore, the court has also set down some very specific conditions, saying that if she abides by them, she may be able to set sail in as little as three months time.

According to the article, Laura must now take a first aid course to learn how to deal with potentially life threatening injuries, and she’ll be required to make several long distance sailing trips to other countries to demonstrate her abilities at sea. The judge says that Laura should view these challenges as opportunities to prove that she is fit and ready for the round-the-world journey that would require months at sea.

It was also revealed that young girl traveled to St. Maarten on her New Zealand passport (she holds dual citizenship), and then when she arrived, there, she was looking to buy a boat, obviously to set sail on her journey.

Well, the kid got what she wanted. She’s now been given a set of criteria to fulfill that will most likely allow her to begin her circumnavigation attempt. The judge could have been much harsher on her, and she’s very lucky that she’s not being shipped off to foster care. I know her father is very much behind her attempt to sail the world, and that her mother is more cautious. But I can’t help but wonder where mom is and why she hasn’t asked to take custody of the girl.

Either way, I guess we’ll have to wait a few months to see if she gets to go. Then we’ll wait some more, and hope that all goes well.