March 13th, 2010 by admin

A few weeks back I posted a story about the World Run II, a long distance endurance run like nothing I’ve ever seen before. The event is the brainchild of Danish ultrarunner Jesper Olsen, who is about to become the first person to ever run the length of Africa, north to south, as he finishes the first half of an amazing long distance odyssey on foot.

On Saturday, March 13, Jesper will be running into Cape Point, South Africa, which will mark the end of the first stage of World Run II, which began back on July 1st of 2008, when he set off from the northernmost tip of Norway, and started running south. Now, 20 months, and nearly 21,250 kilometers later, he’s about to set some very impressive firsts. In addition to becoming the first person to run across Africa, north to south, he’ll also become the first person to run from the most northerly point in Europe, to the southernmost tip of Africa, and he’ll be the first to complete two documented runs of more than 20,000km, having finished his first during World Run I back in 2005, which went for more than 26,000km.

Upon reaching Cape Point, Jesper will then take a few months off to rest and recover before beginning the second stage of World Run II. That stage will begin in Punta Arenas, Chile, and will see him running north this time, covering the length of South America, up through Central America, into Mexico, and the U.S. before ending in Mt. Pearl, Newfoundland, Canada. When he’s done, Jesper will have covered more than 40,000km, through all kinds of terrain and weather conditions.

I just wanted to take the opportunity to salute Jesper and what he’s accomplished so far. While he still has a long way to go before he finishes World Run II, it is very impressive what he has accomplished so far. What an amazing expedition this has been through Africa, and what a great way to see the world – on your own two feet!

Update: It seems my original information was off just a bit. Jesper will now be arriving in Cape Point on Monday, not Saturday. We can afford him a little extra time to take in the sights though considering how far he has just run, right?

March 13th, 2010 by admin

Awhile back I posted a story about a promising looking climbing film called The North Face, and that it was about to get a release in the U.S. It turns out it was a fairly limited release, and while I waited and watched for it to come to my local theater, it never arrived. Now, I live in Austin, TX, which has quite a reputation as a “movie town”. Heck, SXSW is starting this week, and literally dozens of films will be debuting there, so you can imagine my disappointment when the movie wasn’t scheduled to play here.

Enter, REI. Yes, the gear store. Thankfully, they picked up the film and have been showing it off in some of their stores. When I saw it show up on my event calendar for March, I immediately made reservations, and planned to catch it. Last night, that finally happened, and I can tell you it was worth the wait.

The movie tells the tale of two German climbers, Toni Kurz and Andi Hinterstoisser (Played by Benno Furmann and Florian Lukas), who set out to challenge the Eiger back in 1936. At that time, climbing was quite the obsession in Europe, with newspaper stories written about mountaineers and their daring deeds. It was also a matter of national pride for climbers from a specific country to make a first ascent, something that would spur Kurz and Hinterstoisser on, as they made their attempt on the “Europe’s last great problem” in the name of the Fuhrer.

The film is beautifully shot, with both the landscapes and the action coming across very realistically. This is a movie that captures the essence of climbing, and the men who love it so. It is also historically accurate, and there were a number of times that I was struck by how primitive Kurz and Hinterstoisser’s gear was while I watched them climb. Everything form the clothes they wore, the packs they used, and even the pitons they pounded into the rock were painstakingly recreated, and it gives the film a level of realism that isn’t always found in these kinds of movies.

Those who know the tales of the Eiger know doubt know this tale too. I won’t spoil it for those that don’t, but it plays out on the screen very well, It is gripping to watch, and even while sitting in an REI store, I was riveted to the screen, watching the events play out. The characters are extremely well developed, the acting is superb, and, everything comes together on multiple levels. This isn’t Cliffhanger. This is a different kind of climbing film, and fans of the sport will enjoy it greatly. Historians of the sport will likely fall in love with it.

In case you couldn’t tell, I loved the film, and recommend it very highly. If you get the chance, you must see it. I’m not sure when it comes out on DVD, but I’ll definitely be looking to add it to my collection. And I can’t give a film a higher rating than that. Really great stuff.

March 13th, 2010 by admin

A few day back I mentioned that Outside Magazine had announced that they would be publishing an electronic version of the mag for Apple’s soon to be released iPad. Today comes word that JPFreek Adventure Magazine will follow suit, offering up an iPad compatible version of the popular Jeep enthusiasts periodical.

At the moment, there is no release date for when the iPad version of the magazine will be available, but more information will be forthcoming on JPFreek.com. This new method of distribution will also bring the magazine to the iPhone for the first time as well, opening it up to a new audience that may not have experienced it before.

Personally, I’m very excited about this news. As a contributor to JPFreek, I can’t wait to see how it looks on the iPad. The magazine has always done new things with technology from the beginning, launching as a digital e-zine in 2006, and continually pushing the envelope in new directions. In recent issues, the magazine has even incorporated video and other multimedia elements that will feel right at home on the iPad.

The iPad will begin shipping on April 3rd, and pre-orders open tomorrow. I think it’s safe to say that a number of our favorite magazines will be making the leap to the new device, which I think will be a very good thing. Not only will they be environmentally friendly, we’ll be able to carry them with us where ever we go. We’re also likely to see some new and interesting things being done by the publishers that will take advantage of the platform, and I can’t wait to see how they utilize this new system.

March 11th, 2010 by admin

Outside Magazine is running a pretty interesting poll today on their Outside Blog, asking us to help pick the Top 10 Adventurers since 1900. The magazine itself has already made their selections, and they’ll appear in the April issue which hits newsstands on March 13th, but they’re giving us a chance to weigh in on the topic as well.

The actual online poll can be found by clicking here. We’re asked to select our own ten adventurers from a list of 30+ names, or write in our own candidates. The list includes explorers, climbers, mountaineers, and a host of others from a variety of areas.

The list is fairly distinguished, although it’s a bit too heavy with more recent names if you ask me. Not that some of those candidates shouldn’t be on the list, but perhaps an expansion to include more names should be necessary. I also wonder why someone like Robert Falcon Scott doesn’t make the cut, nor Percy Harrison Fawcett, while some of the others were included. Why have Amelia Earhart for instance, but no Charles Lindbergh? The blank text box helps to rectify some of these issues, but we can only write in a single choice.

As for Outside’s on selections, their top ten looks like this:
10. Loic Jean-Albert
9. Robyn Davidson
8. Greg Noll
7. Doug Ammons
6. Yvon Chouinard
5. Lynn Hill
4. Thor Heyerdahl
3. Beryl Markham
2. Reinhold Messner
1. Roald Amundsen

Overall, not a bad list, and it’s hard to argue with most of them. Who would you add, both to the top ten and the options on the poll?

March 11th, 2010 by admin

The Mountainfilm Festival is one of the premiere events in the adventure film community. Held in Telluride, Colorado, the festival has grown into an annual event that combines art and a passion for outdoor adventure, while focusing on pressing social and environmental concerns as well.

This year’s festival is set to run from May 28th through the 31st, and in the weeks leading up to the event, the organizers have been running an online photo contest on the festival’s blog, The Conversation. In the second round of the contest, they’re seeking submissions of photos that exemplify the festival’s mission statement, which simply reads: “Mountainfilm is dedicated to educating and inspiring audiences about issues that matter, cultures worth exploring, environments worth preserving and conversations worth sustaining.”

Photos can be wide ranging in their subject matter, with beautiful landscapes, snapshots of amazing places, images that capture the essence of a culture, and so on. They’ll post weekly winners on the blog, and each month they’ll select one of the photos to win a prize. For March, they’re giving away a sweet looking Mazama backpack, courtesy of Jansport. They’ll also throw in a Men’s Woody Jacket and a Woman’s Skylar Jacket from Horny Toad. That’s not all! For a grand prize, they’re also giving away a “VIP Festival Package” that includes lodging for the festival, allowing you to experience one of the best adventure film fests in the world first hand.

To enter the contest, simply upload your photos to the Mountainfilm Flickr Pool. Be sure to include a title and description when you complete the upload. That’s all there is to it, and if you have a great photo, you may be on your way to Telluride at the end of May. Good luck! (Note: The contest is for U.S. residents only)

March 9th, 2010 by admin

There aren’t a lot of details on this yet, but there is an interesting post today on the Outside Blog that proclaims that Outside Magazine is headed to the iPad, the latest wonder gadget from Apple.

Last night during the Oscars, the first iPad commercial debuted (watch it below), and last week it was announced that it would begin appearing in stores on April 3rd. The thin, lightweight device has a 10″ screen and will run a multitude of apps, while also serving as an e-book reader. Since it was announced at the end of January, a number of publishers have declared their intentions of having their magazines and books published on the device, some with very interesting “enhanced” versions. While there is no word as to when the iPad edition of Outside will appear, or if it will differ from the print version in any way, we are told that we’ll soon be able to “read the magazine anywhere, without having to worry about where you left your paper copy.”

The first commercial for the iPad offers a quick look at some of the things the device is capable of. But for a better idea, check out the second video below. It show off some books that are coming soon from Penguin Books, and just how they will be enhanced on the platform. It gives you a small glimpse as to why people are very excited about these new devices, which are so much more than just a “bigger iPhone”. Personally, I can’t wait to use an iPad when I travel. I think it has huge potential as a multi-use device.

March 9th, 2010 by admin

Wide World Magazine has another fun article online today, this time for the travelers amongst us. The online mag has put together their selection of 10 great rail adventures from around the globe, offering up some great suggestions on amazing places to visit by train.

The ten trips are not listed in any particular order, and fall under specific categories. For instance, they kick things off with the world’s most famous train ride, the Trans-Siberia, which stretches for more than 5000 miles through Russia’s most remote areas. The route can be completed in just a week or can be explored for months, depending on your itinerary, and there are side routes that travel through Mongolia, pass into Beijing, and glide by Lake Baikal, the largest freshwater lake in the world.

Other classic train rides that make the list include the highest in the world in the form of the China-Tibet line, a historic route along the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, and their pick for the best train ride through Europe, the Bernina Express in Switzerland.

If you’ve ever wanted to make an amazing journey by rail, there are certainly more than a few great recommendations here. Personally, I think a long distance train ride would make for a fantastic travel experience, and I’d love to do just about every one of the trips on this list.

March 7th, 2010 by admin

Are you looking for new destinations to take an international backpacking trip this year? Then Off Track Planet has just the list for you, naming their selections for the Top 10 Backpacking Destinations for 2010. The list is meant to inspire young travelers to visit unique places that offer more than your typical Spring Break fare, but the list has something to offer anyone who is searching for new destinations to explore.

Rather than simply counting down the destinations as is typical with these kinds of list, Offtrack offers their selections by category. For instance, under the heading of “Cheapest” they recommend Cambodia, recommending it not only for it’s inexpensive options, but the fact that it is far less crowded than similar destinations, such as Thailand. For the best “Sightseeing” they give the nod to Italy for its rich history and numerous attractions, and in their “Adventurous” category they recommend the HImalaya, saying take your pick between Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan.

Other categories include ” Nightlife”, “Best Art Scene”, and “Nature Filled”, giving this list a very broad appeal to a lot of different travelers. Their selection for “Overall” best destination goes to Colombia, which has become a popular adventure travel destination again following years of high crime and deadly gang warfare. It seems to have bounced back onto the travel radar once again, allowing safe access to foreign visitors once again.

March 7th, 2010 by admin

I’ve written about endurance athlete Lisa Smith-Batchen in the past, most notably when she was taking on Death Valley both on foot and bike a few years back. That was an 810 mile odyssey that involved the Badwater Ultra and the Furnace Creek 508. Now, she’s about to embark on another long distance event that will wrack up even more mileage.

On April 19th, Lisa will kick off the Running Hope Through America event, which will see her covering 50 miles in all 50 states over a period of 62 days. She’ll get things started in Trenton, New Jersey and proceed from there, finishing up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming on June 19th.

As usual, Lisa isn’t just running because she loves to run, although she obviously does love it. She’ll be running to raise awareness and funds for a variety of charities, such as the Orphan Foundation of America, the Caring House Project, Aids Orphans Rising. Lisa is also part of the Dream Chasers Foundation, a group of dedicated endurance athletes who work together to channel their considerable energies towards helping charitable organizations.

While two athletes have completed 50 marathons in 50 states (Dean Karnazes being one of them), no one has ever gone for 50 miles in all 50 states. Lisa is hoping to become the first, and judging by her past performance, i wouldn’t bet against. her. Good luck Lisa!

March 5th, 2010 by admin

National Geographic has an interesting story from the world of archeology today that says that a wall built by King Solomon has been unearthed, lending credence to a passage from the bible. Israeli archeologists discovered the ancient wall, thought to be more than 3000 years old, near Jerusalem.

While conducting the dig, researchers found that the wall stretched more than 230 feet in length and stood 20 feet tall. They also discovered that it was part of a larger compound that included a gatehouse, guard tower, and an adjacent building as well. Excavations are still ongoing, so it is possible that they’ll find more as they go.

In the Book of Kings, the Bible states that King Solomon constructed defensive fortifications, including a wall, near Jerusalem, but up until now, there has been no real evidence of this. Tools and artifacts found at the site point to a time frame of about the 10th Century BC. One of the researchers on the archeology team said that only two kings at that time would have had the resources to build such a fortification, Solomon and David. Further evidence narrowed the date further to Solomon’s era.

It’s fascinating to me that they are still unearthing these kinds of discoveries so close to a city that has been populated, more or less, non-stop for 3000 years. This is a very cool find, and it’s amazing that they are able to link it back to a point in history that is not all that well documented.