Video: Exploring Alaska by Inflatable Kayak

In the spring of 2014, a trio of adventurers set off to explore the Tatshenshini River in Alaska by inflatable kayak. They spent 12 days in a remote wilderness that began at their put-in at Dalton Post in the Yukon and ended in Dry Bay. Along the way they found some of the most spectacular landscapes imaginable in a place that few people ever visit. You can get a taste of that expedition in the video below, which takes us down the Tatshenshini with them. You can also read more about the experience here.

Tatshenshini from Fluid Glass Productions on Vimeo.

Video: Close Encounter with a Grizzly Bear

I think most of us agree that we don't really want to come across an aggressive grizzly bear while out in the wild. While its true that these creatures are amazing to watch, they can also be dangerous at times. But if you'd like to get up close and personal with a grizz, than take a look at the video below. It captures a curious bear checking out a GoPro camera before taking a swipe at the unknown device that was placed in his territory. Thankfully, the camera came out unscathed, and the clip was posted online for us al to enjoy.

Back From South Dakota!

As you can probably tell by the resumption of updates here at The Adventure Blog today that I have returned from my trip to South Dakota. It was a brief visit, but a very good one, as the state is filled with the kind of natural resources that outdoor loves enjoy so much. Case in point, we were told that there are more than 400 miles (643 km) of single track mountain biking trails within a half-hour drive of Rapid City alone. That's an impressive number when you think about how hard it can be to find a good trail sometimes. 

Of course, while there I paid a visit to the amazing Badlands National Park, and dropped by Mt. Rushmore to pay homage to the four presidents on display there. We also traveled to Custer State Park as well, a place that is so strikingly beautiful that it could easily be a national park itself. We even spent one morning hiking to the summit of Harney Peak, South Dakota's high point at 7242 feet (2207 meters). 

This was not my first visit to South Dakota, so I had a bit of an idea of what to expect for arrived. But the state always finds ways to surprise you, and this time it was with its diversity of wildlife. Over the course of the five days I was there we came across bison, elk, deer, mountain goats, marmots, rabbits, prairie dogs, countless wild turkeys, and a variety of other creatures. The rugged forests and mountains of the western part of the state make a perfect home for these animals, and it was a lot of fun to see them while hiking or driving through the region.

One thing that did not surprise me was the warm welcome that visitors receive while in South Dakota. The people that live in the state are incredibly friendly and accommodating, often greeting travelers with a smile and a greeting. Everyone I met along the way was happy to talk about the wonderful opportunities their state affords to visitors, and offer suggestions of more things to see and do while there.

You'll hear a lot more about this trip in the days ahead. For now, I'm happy to be home, even if it is for a short while. In two days I'll depart on my honeymoon in Bora Bora, so updates will be interrupted once again. That will be an adventure of a completely different kind of course, but one that I am looking forward to greatly. 

Himalaya Fall 2015: Teams En Route to Base Camps

The fall climbing season in the Himalaya is set to begin as teams have now begun to arrive in Nepal, and are already making their way out to their respective Base Camps. In fact, it is shaping up to be a typical fall season in the big mountains as climber return to the region following the devastating earthquake of this past spring. That's good news for the tourism sector and economy of Nepal, although it remains to be seen how many mainstream travelers return as well. 

Amongst those heading into the mountains this fall are a pair of Japanese climbers, including Nobukazu Kuriki. This will be his fifth attempt to summit the mountain, with his last climb nearly ending in disaster. Kuriki attempted a solo-summit a few years back, but got stranded on his descent and ended up spending an extended amount of time above 8000 meters. This resulted in severe frostbite that claimed all but one of his fingers. He has already departed for Base Camp and is now starting his acclimatization process. 

Nick Cienski is also trekking to his Base Camp in the Himalaya at the moment. Nick, who launched the 6 Summits Challenge this past spring, is headed to Manaslu to try to get his expedition back on track. He had originally set a goal to summit six different 8000 meter peaks in a single calendar year, but has not had much luck so far this year. His spring expeditions were cut short due to the earthquake, and his summer plans in the Karakoram were thwarted due to the weather there. He hopes to continue working towards his goal with a successful summit of the 8163 meter (26,781 ft) Manaslu this fall. 

Also headed into the Himalaya at the moment is explorer/mountaineer Eric Larsen. He and team will be attempting some unclimbed peaks in Nepal this fall, including some mountains that have only just recently been opened for climbing. I spoke to Eric about this while at Outdoor Retailer a few weeks back, and he was super excited about the expedition. While there are no major 8000 meter mountains on the itinerary, there will be plenty of climbing on peaks that have had few or no visitors ever. It should be fun to watch the adventure unfold, and at the moment the team is driving to the start of their trek, which should begin in another day or two. 

ExWeb has the lowdown on a few other expeditions heading into the Himalaya in the days ahead. They include the possibility of a South Korean squad heading to Lhotse, as well as a team setting its sights on Nuptse as well. Adrian Ballinger will reportedly attempt a ski descent of Makalu, while climbers Luke Smithwick and Andrew Lock will look to open a new route on that same mountain. Finally, ExWeb indicated that a Polish team will attempt an alpine style ascent of Annapurna IV as well. 

Of course, there will also be a number of commercial teams operating in Nepal this fall. They will include the Adventure Consultants, SummitClimb, and Amical Alpin, all of which will be leading climbers who have eventual plans to attempt Everest. Each of these squads will be heading to Manaslu in the days ahead, with some already en route. 

As you can see, things are starting to pick up, and it won't be long before we start getting progress reports and updates. The monsoon hasn't fully receded yet, which means it is still very wet and rainy in Nepal. But soon that will change, and the climbing will begin. Hopefully there will be a lot more success than this past spring. 

Mt. McKinley Officially Renamed Denali

Yesterday, President Obama announced that he would use his executive powers to rename the tallest mountain in North America back to its original Inuit name of Denali. The 20,322 foot (6194 meter) peak had been named after President William McKinley, but in recent years there has been a movement afoot to switch the name back to its original title, which means "the great one" amongst the native tribes of Alaska.

The move comes just as the president sets out on a three-day visit to Alaska, where he will address some moves that the administration will take to combat climate change. During his time in office, Obama has also sought to improve relations between the U.S. government and Native Americans as well.

McKinley has long been referred to as Denali in mountaineering circles, so this change will be a welcome one for the men and women who climb the mountain. It is known as a challenging climb, with unpredictable weather often preventing teams from reaching the summit. It is also used as a warm-up of sorts before heading to Everest, as climbers can get valuable experience and technical skills while on Denali's slopes.

The mountain officially received the name of McKinley back in 1917, but there have been efforts to change it back for the past 40 years. In 1980, the land surrounding the mountain was named Denali National Park as a compromise of sorts. But Native Americans in Alaska have pushed to have the mountain's name restored in recent years, although those attempts had been rebuffed by the U.S. Congress thus far. In using his executive powers, Obama has circumvented congress altogether, and renamed the mountain completely on his own. By doing this, he has already raised the ire of more than a few senators.

Personally, I feel this name change is a long time coming and I'm glad to see that it has been made official. I don't think I've called it "McKinley" in years, except when talking to someone who doesn't know anything about its history and mountaineering legacy. Now, we can all call it by its rightful name as is fitting for a peak of such prominence.

#CarousellxAirbnb

I became a Carousell member early this year and I am still loving this app to every bits! I am quite an impulse online buyer so I have alot clothes and accessories that are BNIB or only used/wore once. Ever since I have downloaded Carousell app, I have successfully sold off quite a couple of my stuff and hence made new room for my new stuff =D!

I am very excited to know there is a campaign going on with Carousell and Airbnb which we share our travel story when we list our travel inspired items + include hashtag #CarousellxAirbnb and 5 lucky winners with the best stories will get to win $500 of Airbnb travel credits*!

How to join the contest 
1. Download the Carousell app
2. List 1 or more items that are related to your travel experience for sale and in the item description
3. Tell us the travel story the item represents and add hashtag #CarousellxAirbnb
4. Submit your listing(s) to the Carousell marketplace

Log on to bit.ly/carousellxairbnb to check out what others have shared!

This contest ends on 11 September 2015.
*T&Cs: http://bit.ly/carousellxairbnb-termsandconditions


I have already listed my item and hashtag #CarousellxAirbnb!

I hope I win and this will be my perfect birthday present this year!!*hehe

On the Road: Heading to South Dakota

The Adventure Blog will see a bit of down time over the next few days as I am headed to South Dakota on assignment. While there, I'll be exploring a state that I already know that I enjoy based on previous visits, but this time out I'll be hiking, mountain biking, and visiting some fantastic national and state parks. It should be a wonderful time in a place that has a lot to offer outdoor adventurers. 

If given the time, I will post updates while on the road, but considering the fact that the schedule looks fairly full, I'm not sure if that will be an option. But make no mistake, I will definitely be posting updates on the trip at some point, as I know that South Dakota is a place that many of you would enjoy visiting yourself. The Badlands and Black Hills are both worth the trip in and of themselves.

This will be a relatively short trip. I'm back home by the weekend. But, I'll once again only be there for a few days. On Wednesday of next week I – along with my lovely new bride – are off to the South Pacific for our honeymoon, and some much needed RnR. That said, I will be posting again to start next week before getting on a plane once again. In the meantime, enjoy some time outdoors, have a few adventures of your own, and spend some time in pursuit of your passions. I'll be back before you know it!

Video: Earth Porn - Forests and Mountains

This video is filled with images of the things we love – namely snowcapped mountains and lush forests. What more do you need to know beyond that? It is two minutes of beautiful landscapes shot in Alberta and Alaska. Now, just sit back and enjoy it.

EARTH PORN // VOL 4 // FORESTS & MOUNTAINS (ALBERTA TO ALASKA) from Christiaan Welzel on Vimeo.

Video: Azerbaijan - The Land of Fire

Azerbaijan is not a country that most people consider visiting when escaping on their holidays. Those people are not adventure travelers however, and judging from the amazing landscapes on display in this video, it is a destination that we should all have on our bucket lists. Remote, wild, and untamed, this video takes us to beautiful places that have to be seen to be believed. Much of the footage was captured by drone, giving us ariel shots of some stunning locations.

Azerbaijan - The Land Of Fire from Iftikhar Shabanov on Vimeo.

Mountaineer Beck Weathers Reflects on Everest

If you've read the book Into Thin Air, or know about the events that took place on Everest back 1996, the name Beck Weathers is one that you're no doubt familiar with. Beck was on the team that was led up the mountain by Rob Hall, the same team that Jon Krakauer was a part of. On the way up the mountain, Beck had difficult seeing, and was told to wait on the Balcony at 27,000 feet (8230 meters) for Hall's return. The guide planned to assist him in descending after he had taken his other clients to the top. Rob ended up losing his life high on the mountain, and Beck was later assisted down by another guide, but as a massive storm descended on Everest, he became disoriented and lost, stumbling off into the night. During that time Beck was exposed to the extreme winds and cold, as he bivouacked alone, high on the mountain. His face and hands were exposed, and as a result he suffered severe frostbite that would later claim parts of right arm, his left hand, and both feet, as well as his nose.

Weather's survival story is well known in mountaineering circles, and he was lucky to get off the mountain alive. He has also become an integral part of the Into Thin Air story, which will of course be told once again in the upcoming feature film Everest, which will be released in theaters in a few weeks time. In that film, Beck will be played by actor Josh Brolin, and judging from the trailer, he will be integral to the plot.

Recently, Beck sat down with Outside magazine to talk about the film, his Everest experience, and where he is at in his life now. In the interview he talks about the movie which he says is impressive and about as good as any mountaineering film can be. He also weighs in on having Brolin play him on the big screen, the challenges of making a good film about Everest, and some issues he has with the way the story is told.

Perhaps more importantly however, Weathers talks a bit about what the film does right. He points out certain areas of the movie that are moving in a very tragic way. Particularly when Rob Hall's wife gets the phone call from him on the mountain, or Beck's own spouse receives a similar call informing her the had died. He says that those personal moments in the film will leave a mark with audiences, and were done very well.

Like Krakauer said recently, Beck carries the physical, emotional, and psychological scars from that fateful day back in May of 1996. They have shaped him into the person he is today. While that incident has had a dramatic impact on his life, he has also found ways to move on and continue with living it to the fullest. He told Outside that the real story is what happens when you get back home, which is something that is seldom told.

Read the full interview here.

Himalaya Fall 2015: Everest Officially Reopens

Last we received word that Ice Doctors has arrived in Everest Base Camp to begin fixing the route through the Khumbu Icefall ahead of the arrival of fall expedition to the mountain. But this past Sunday, Kripasur Sherpa – Nepal's tourism minister – officially issued a climbing permit to Japanese mountaineer Nobukazu Kuriki and declared the mountain open for business, a significant step in starting the process of luring back travelers and climbers following the April 25 earthquake that killed more than 9000 people there.

The permit was given to Kuriki in a ceremony held in Kathmandu. That ceremony was as much about letting the world know that Everest is accepting teams again as it was to grant the permit to the Japanese climber. An avalanche caused by the earthquake killed 18 people in Base Camp on the mountain, bringing an abrupt end to the climbing season for a second year in a row. In 2014, another avalanche claimed the lives of 16 Nepali's working on the mountain.

Kuriki won't be waiting around long to get his expedition started. He reportedly left Kathmandu via helicopter today for the Khumbu region and will trek into BC to start his climb. He hopes to make a summit bid by mid-September, well ahead of the typical fall climbing schedule. That would also indicate that he has been acclimatizing somewhere else ahead of the start of his expedition.

The Japanese climber is no stranger to Everest. He attempted a solo fall summit a few years back, but was forced to turn back do to bad weather. He ended up getting stranded on the mountain and required the assistance of a team of Sherpas to help him down, and as a result he suffered severe frostbite that eventually cost him nine of his fingers. When he makes this second attempt on the world's tallest peak he'll be doing so without the use of those digits.

We will of course be keeping a close eye on the emerging climbing season in the Himalaya. Not only is this team heading to Everest, but others are on their way to the big mountains as well. There should be a lot to report on in the days ahead, and it will be interesting to see how the tourism sector in Nepal rebounds following the earthquake.

Video: Spaciousness in the Făgăraș Mountains of Romania

Need a little break from the challenges of a tough day? Feeling like you could use an escape to the mountains? If you're unable to actually head out yourself today, than perhaps this video can help. Shot in the Făgăraș Mountains of Romania it features some great timelapse and ariel footage from a spectacular setting that looks rugged and wild. This is five minutes of fantastic imagery from a part of the world that remains largely unknown to those of us in the west. Simply spectacular.

Spaciousness from Fourth Dimension on Vimeo.

Video: Ice Climbing in Montana with Conrad Anker and Kris Erickson

One of the more beautiful and thoughtful climbing videos I've seen in sometime, this short film takes us to the backcountry of Montana where Conrad Anker and Kris Erickson attempt to complete a new route called Nutcracker in the Hyalite Canyon region near Bozeman. The winter ascent follows a path that is mixed rock and ice along a beautiful line amongst stunning scenery. The 12-minute video follows the team as they climb, with some good insights and introspection thrown in along the way. Definitely a great piece of work, and well worth a bit of your time today.

Always Above Us from The North Face on Vimeo.

Movement Afoot to Reclaim Glen Canyon in Utah

Over the past few years there has been a number of successful attempts to remove dams on some of the larger rivers in the American west. The results have generally been improved environments, more natural habitats, and better flows of rivers throughout the region. Now, environmentalists are turning their attention to Glen Canyon Dam in Utah, which could have a similar impact on the Colorado River, and improve conditions further down river, including in Lake Mead and the Grand Canyon itself.

The gist of the story is laid out in an article written by Tim Gibbins on a post to the O.A.R.S. blog. Essentially, the Glen Canyon Dam was built in a time period when a lot of other dams were being built in the west as a way to control the flow of the river as a method to help create environments suitable for farming and provide water to areas that were typically very arid. But when the dam was completed, it also created Lake Powell, which filled in a landscape that is spectacular enough to be considered on the same level as many national parks. The Glen Canyon has sat mostly under water – and unappreciated – ever since.

As Tim points out in his article, Lake Powell reached its hight point back on July 15, 1983. Today, it sits at just 50% capacity, and the dam that created it may be doing more harm than good. Worse yet, climatologists believe that neither Powell, nor Lake Mead, will ever fill to their capacities again.

This has led to a movement to decommission the Glen Canyon Dam, which could help to fill Mead, and restore the Glen Canyon region to its former glory. Beneath all of that water is a natural landscape filled with twisting gorges, rock spires, and other natural wonders just waiting to be rediscovered. Removing the dam would allow that to happen, and would have a positive impact downstream as well.

We are a long way from the dam being dismantled, but there is at least a conversation brewing about the positive side effects it could bring. As more people pick up on this story, it could gain enough momentum to being the process at long last.

Two Climbers Die in Fall Inside Grand Teton National Park

Two female climbers fell to their death while climbing inside Grand Teton National Park over the weekend as a strange, and tragic, summer season continues throughout the U.S. national park system.

Tyler Strandberg and Catherine Nix, both of Jackson, Wyoming, fell 200 feet while attempting to climb to the summit of Teewinot Mountain on Saturday. They were taking what is described as the standard route to the top along the East Face of that mountain when the accident occurred. The two women, along with a third climbing partner named Rebecca Anderson, were ascending a steep section without ropes when Strandberg and Nix fell. Anderson was the person who placed a 911 call to authorities to report the incident.

Teewinot is a 12,326-foot (3756 meter) peak that is generally climbed without the use of ropes. It is a mostly non-techcnal ascent, although there is a challenging Class 4.0 scramble to the summit near the end. The route up the East Face is also unmarked and requires good pathfinding skills to stay on course. The three women wandered off course on their way up the mountain, which led them into a much more challenging section that was very steep and rocky. Those conditions eventually contributed to the death of Strandberg and Nix, and also stranded Anderson who had to be airlifted off the mountain by helicopter.

My condolences to the friends and family of the two women who lost their lives. It is a sad story that reminds us of the dangers of climbing and the need to be extra cautious, particularly on a route that isn't well known.

Columbia Sportswear Wants to Pay You to Test Gear

Do you love being outdoors? Do you enjoy trying out new gear? If so, than Columbia just might be looking for you. The gear company is looking for two Directors of Toughness to put their latest and greatest outdoor clothing to the test, and they're willing to pay handsomely for the right candidates. 

The job requires a six-month commitment out of the two hires, although they will be paid $26,000 as compensation. On top of that, whoever gets the job will also be sent off on several exciting expeditions to some of the most iconic places in North America, and other parts of the world. Benefits include health insurance and paid housing in Portland, Oregon as well. And of course, the Directors of Toughness will also be outfitted with all of the gear that they could ever hope for to help them survive their adventure too.

Where exactly these gear testers will go has yet to be determined, but the plan is for them to follow the weather. In other words, those who are hired for these positions will probably be spending a lot of time in places that are less than ideal in terms of the conditions. That is to be expected of course, as the best way to see if a piece of gear performs well is to take it to places that are cold and difficult.

Applications for the DoT positions are being accepted through the end of August. If you think you have what it takes to join the Columbia team, click here to fill out the application. And good luck!

Video: Beautiful Azores in 4K

Want to end the week with a beautiful escape to someplace lovely? Than this short video ought to do the trick. It features timelapse imagery from the Azores that is simply too stunning for words. These beautiful islands located off the coast of Portugal are well known for their beauty, but this clip gives us a first-hand look at just how spectacular a destination the Azores truly are. Enjoy.

Açores 4K from Lukas Unterholzner on Vimeo.

Swiss Mountain Runner Bags Five Peaks in Record Time

Swiss mountain runner Andreas Steindl has set an impressive new record in the Alps. A few days back, the 26-year old endurance athlete and mountaineer managed to bag the summit of five different 4000 meter (13,123 ft) peaks on his way from Zermatt to Saas-Fee in a stunning time of just 7 hours and 45 minutes.

Steindl's quest began in the church square in Zermatt and ended the church square in Saas-Fee. In-between he ran a route that crossed the summits of Alphubel (4206 m/13,799 ft), Täschhorn (4491m/14,734 ft), Dom (4545 m/14,911 ft), Lenzspitze (4294 m/14,087 ft), and Nadelhorn (4327m/14,196 ft). His sub-8 hour time ended up being 77 minutes faster than his previous record along this route.

The video below captures the run and gives you an idea of what Andreas was up against. This was no easy run in the mountains by any means, requiring speed, strength, and sure footing to achieve his goal. Watching these mountain runners go about their business never gets old, as they are indeed some of the best athletes in the world today.

July Was the Hottest Month Ever According to Researchers

There was disturbing news for environmentalists earlier this week as a new report indicates that July was the hottest month ever recorded. According to research conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average temperature across the planet in July was 16.6ºC/61.9ºF, which .08 degrees higher than previous marks, and has been deemed a "significant" margin in terms of weather.

Scientists are blaming global climate change and the El Nino phenomenon for the spike in temperatures, and sadly July wasn't the only month to see a bump. In fact, the seven previous months for 2015 have also set records for the warmest period recorded as well, with official records dating back to 1880.

Jake Crouch, a scientist at NOAA, says "Now that we are fairly certain that 2015 will be the warmest year on record, it is time to start looking at what are the impacts of that? What does that mean for people on the ground?"

In other words, there is definitely a trend forming, and it is not a good one. The Earth is getting warmer and it will have consequences for how we live within our lifetimes. As the polar caps melt, and the oceans rise, coastlines will be altered dramatically. Droughts will become more frequent and severe, and powerful storms are likely to become more common in their ferocity and duration. Looking around, it is easy to see some of these things already starting to happen, and chances are it is only going to get worse.


Much of this isn't new of course. We've been hearing the warnings from climatologists for some time.  And yet despite those warnings, we still have people who refuse to believe what the environmental data is telling us, even as glaciers recede, less snow falls in winter, and rivers and lakes begin to dry up. How these people can bury their heads in the sand and ignore what is happening is beyond me, but since climate change has been turned into a political issue, it seems to be a more common response.

As the debate rages over whether or not climate change is a natural phenomenon or is manmade, I have to wonder if it really matters. Is the cause of these changes really that important? What matters most is what can we do to avoid worldwide catastrophe, and what measures can we take to ensure that we have a future on this planet?

I'll get off my soapbox now. I mostly wanted to share this story that confirms what many of us already know. Climate change is happening, and it will impact the outdoor spaces that we love so much. Hopefully it isn't too late to make meaningful changes that can have a positive impact instead.

Primal Quest Adventure Race Underway in Tahoe

A legendary adventure race has risen from the ashes, and is currently underway near Lake Tahoe in California. The 2015 edition of Primal Quest began yesterday, with 11 coed teams of four setting off on a 400+ mile (643 km) expedition-length course that is expected to take up to seven days to complete. The start of the race marks the return of one of the truly epic brands in the sport.

If there are two races that have epitomized adventure racing in the past, it is the Eco-Challenge and Primal Quest. Both were considered the toughest, most grueling races on the planet back in the day. Eco-Challenge – which was created by TV mogul Mark Burnett – was the event that brought adventure racing to a world stage, making a much larger audience aware of the sport for the very first time. It drew millions of viewers who mesmerized by the amazing athletes who spent days racing through some of the most challenging environments on the planet. But the race folded up shop back in 2002 and passed the torch on to its spiritual successor – Primal Quest. That even ran from 2002 to 2009 with some truly epic courses of its own. 

Despite a few rumblings of a possible return over the years, PQ remained off the AR schedule for a long time. It has returned at last however, with a new race management team that hopes to rebuild the brand back to its original status. 

Right now, the teams taking part in the race are into the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where over the next few days they'll be running, mountain biking, paddling, and climbing their way along the route. As I write this, the lead teams are through the early checkpoints and are well into the competition. Team Bones from the U.S. is running in first place through CP 8, while Team GodZone of New Zealand is currently in second through CP 6. They're being chased by the Team Too Much Fun Club, who are in third through CP 6 as well. Considering there are 31 total checkpoints in the event however, there is a lot of racing yet to come. 

As someone who served on the staff of the previous two Primal Quest races, I'm glad to see PQ back on the schedule. Hopefully it continues to be a successful event in years to come. Good luck to all the teams racing this week as well. Have fun and stay safe. 

Controversy Brews Over Nolan's 14 Run

Yesterday I posted the news that two women – Anna Frost and Missy Gosney – became the first female ultrarunners to complete the grueling Nolan's 14 challenge. This very difficult endeavor requires athletes to cover more than 100 miles, and bag 14 different 14,000 foot (4267 meter) peaks in Colorado's Sawatch Range in under 60 hours. The duo had apparently completed that task on Tuesday of this week, but now there is some controversy brewing as to whether or not they finished at the proper location in the time required.

Outside Online has the scoop on this story, but essentially there is debate in the ultrarunning community over just where Nolan's 14 ends. Some say it is at the final summit, while others say it is at the trailhead. Frost and Gosney reached their final summit on Mt. Shavano in 57 hours and 55 minutes, and then took time to celebrate at the top. By the time they actually descended down to the trailhead, the 60 hour time limit had expired.

Matt Mahoney is the unofficial record keeper for Nolan's 14, and his site indicates that the run ends on the final summit. But most other ultrarunners who have attempted the challenge have listed their times from trailhead to trailhead. It is also argued that the intent for the original creators of the event were for it to go from trailhead to trailhead as well, beginning and ending at the Fish Hatchery near Leadville or Blank Cabin near Salida, depending on which direction you are traveling.

Frost told Outside that she and Gosney were perfectly happy with their effort, and that they felt they had completed the run according to the rules. The ladies would have had enough time to descend to the trailhead had they departed from the summit of Shavano more quickly, but instead they elected to stay on top and celebrate with their support team. In her mind, they completed Nolan's 14 according to the official rules.

Mahoney's website doesn't have Frost and Gosney's run listed just yet, although past attempts are recorded on the site. Each of those includes the number of peaks that a runner notched in the time allowed as the indicator of how much of the run they managed to complete. So, for instance, a runner may have bagged 8 peaks in their attempt at the challenge before they ran out of time or retired from the chase. If this method of recording the run holds true, than Frost and Gosney will be credited with achieving 14 summits, which should equate to success. But, it seems there will always be those who question their effort since they didn't reach the trailhead in the specified time.

Either way, it was a fine effort on what has become one of the truly great challenges in ultrarunning.

Video: Life Lessons From a Seven-Thousand Mile Long Bike Ride

Jedidiah Jenkins rode his bike from Oregon to the southernmost tip of South America. Along the way, he learned a lot about himself and the world. His friend, filmmaker Kenny Laubbacher joined him for part of the journey to find out why he would embark on such a ride. This video shares some of his answers, and may provide not only a bit of insight as to why someone would ride their bike 7000 miles (11,265 km), but perhaps a bit of inspiration for seeking your own adventures too. Beautifully filmed and thoughtfully put together, this is one clip you should not skip.

Video: Down to Nothing - Climbing a Remote Peak in Myanmar

Last week I posted a video from National Geographic that followed a team of climbers into a remote region of Myanmar to attempt to summit Hkakabo Razi, potentially the highest peak in southeast Asia at 5881 meters (19,295 ft). That expedition pushed the team to their absolute physical and mental limits as they struggled with all manner of challenges. This video comes our way from the expedition's co-sponsor The North Face, and it offers us a different perspective on the events that took place. If you want to see an up close account of a team of explorers in a remote corner of the planet, than spend 25 minutes with this film. You'll come away with a new appreciation for this team's efforts, and what goes into making an expedition like this one work.

Down To Nothing from The North Face on Vimeo.

Outside Gives Us an Inside Look at Everest

We're still several weeks off from the release of the major motion picture Everest, but already the hype-train is leaving the station. Over the next few weeks I'm sure we'll see a steady stream of press events, interviews, and sneak previews all leading up to the film's arrival in theaters on September 18.  Outside magazine is already leading the charge however with an interview with cast and crew members from the blockbuster movie that could redefine mountaineering films to come.

The article takes us behind the scenes to get a look at the production of Everest, which reportedly cost $55 million to make. That is relatively small change in Hollywood these days, particularly when you consider the cast of the film. Josh Brolin portrays one of the climbers, with Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kiera Knightly, Robin Wright, and a host of other notables on playbill.

The film is based upon the 1996 climbing season on Everest, famously chronicled in Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air. It has been nearly two decades since those events took place, and considering the last two seasons on Everest have been tragic in their own right, it will be interesting to see how the events unfold on the big screen. But the producers spared no expense in filming the movie, with such luminaries as David Breashears, Guy Cotter, and David Morton onboard to provide video footage and advice. They even traveled to Nepal to film some of scenes, although much of the principle photography was done in the Italian Dolomites, which stood in for the Himalaya.

It has taken years to get this film into theaters, and the story of that production is a fascinating one. Outside takes us through the early efforts to convince Hollywood to make the movie, and what it took to get a director, cast, and crew onboard. Those deeply involved with making Everest also share their insights into the characters from the story, challenges of filming on location and much more.

If you're interested in Everest, the 1996 season, or big Hollywood films, this is an interesting article to read to say the least. While I am personally trying to be cautiously optimistic about the film, I am eager to see it for myself and see how it turns out. Considering the talent that is involved with the movie, and the heritage of those who helped produce it, I suspect it could be one of the most realistic mountaineering films we've seen in a long time, if not ever. Judging from the trailer, the scenery alone will probably be worth the price of admission.

We have to wait another month before we know for sure, and advance reviews will probably give us some hints of what to expect. But hopefully the film will be entertaining and insightful. If it educates a larger audience about what happens on Everest each spring, all the better.

Two Ultrarunners Become First Women to Complete Nolan's 14

Ultrarunner's Anna Frost and Missy Gosney completed one of the toughest challenges in endurance sports on Tuesday when they became the first women to complete the notorious Nolan's 14. The ladies wrapped up their grueling endeavor in a time of 57 hours and 55 minutes, bagging 14 different 14,000-foot (4267 meter) peaks in the process. 

Frost and Gosney set out on their journey on Sunday, hitting the trail near Leadville, Colorado. Their first summit came on Mt. Massive, but that was just the beginning. On Tuesday, they wrapped up their record-setting attempt by descending from their final peak, Mt. Shavano. 

For those not familiar with Nolan's 14, it is a unique ultrarunning challenge that requires athletes to summit 14 different mountains beginning or ending with either Massive or Shavano. They can go travel either north or south, and the route they take to nab the other 12 peaks is entirely up to the athlete attempting the feat. In order to successfully complete the challenge, runners must also finish within 60 hours. 

The two endurance athletes tell Nat Geo that along the way they got lost on the trail, faced some scary storms, and were constantly nauseated while above 13,000 feet (3962 meters), which is about 25% of the entire course. They even experienced the "sleep monsters," which are hallucinations brought on by sleep deprivation. At times, Frost said she saw elephants and giraffes, as well as a black koala and Mickey Mouse, while out on the trail. Fortunately, the did not suffer any injuries however, and aside from some issues with their feet – which is to be expected on a 100-mile (160 km) run, they came off of Nolan's 14 in relatively good health.

Congratulations to both Anna and Missy on a job well done. You two are an inspiration to adventure runners everywhere! 

Summer Climbs 2015: Czechs Abandon Attempt on Gasherbrum I

Bad weather in the big mountains of Pakistan have once again brought a halt to climbing there, and possibly finally shut down the summer climbing season for good. ExWeb has posted the news that the Czech climbing team of Marek Holecek and Tomas Petrecek have returned to Base Camp on Gasherbrum I after having their summit bid thwarted by heavy snow and high winds. It is unclear at this time just how close they got to the summit, or whether or not they'll try again.

The two men spent nearly two weeks on GI, even though when they set out from BC on their summit push they took fuel and supplies for just seven days. We do know that they managed to climb as high as 7300 meters (23,950 ft), although according to reports it seems they got a lot higher than that before turning back. The expedition's sponsor says that they got "really close" to the top, but simply couldn't continue all the way up.

Te team's chosen route of ascent was a direct line up GI's southwest face, which Marek has attempted on two other occasions in the past. From the sounds of things, his third attempt along this new route was more successful than previous expeditions, but conditions simply weren't right to finish off the climb.

Marek and Tomas returned to BC this afternoon local time, where they are reportedly resting and regaining their strength. It isn't known if they will give Gasherbrum I another go, but that seems very unlikely. It is now late in the summer climbing season, and the weather has not been cooperative for weeks. It seems far more likely at this point that they'll pack up camp and head home. But until we have confirmation of their departure, there remains a chance that they'll consider another summit bid. At this point, that will be determined by the amount of supplies they have left over, and the weather forecast. Their physical conditioning will also play a role as well.

In all likelihood we have seen the end of a very long summer climbing season at last. It has not been a very successful one, as K2 turned back all challengers and Broad Peak allowed just two summits all season long. But, fortunately where were very few accidents, and aside from a couple of incidents, everyone got up and down safely. The mountains will be there next year, ready to welcome teams once again.

Video: Mountains of the South Wind

This beautiful video takes us back to New Zealand once again, where we get some great shots of the mountains that cover the landscape there. The timelapse shots of these beautiful places are a good reminder of how amazing our planet actually is. This is three minutes of pure bliss. Sit back and enjoy.

Mountains of the South Wind 4K from Bevan Percival on Vimeo.

Video: Trekking and Packrafting Across Iceland

Want to go on a great adventure without leaving the comfort of your home? Than checkout this video which takes us on a journey across Iceland on foot and packraft. Shot over 13 days in June, the filmmakers managed to capture some spectacular landscapes as they traversed the country south to north. Along the way, they managed to visit some truly spectacular and wild places.

Crossing Iceland, South to North. Hiking & Packrafting. from EduMB on Vimeo.

Video: Climbing the Shark Fin on Meru with Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk

This past weekend the film Meru finally made its debut in theaters across the U.S. It has not gone into wide release just yet however, so I'm sure that like me, most of you haven't seen it just yet. This video  serves as an introduction to the film, giving you an understanding not just of what it is about, but what climbers Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk accomplished on their 2008 ascent of the Shark Fin on Mt. Meru. This was one of the boldest and most dangerous climbs in recent history, and it is great that their story is finally being told. Check out the video below to get you even more excited for seeing the documentary in the theater.

Climbing the Shark’s Fin from The New York Times - Video on Vimeo.

Interview With Explorer Planning to Walk the Zambezi River

The Zambezi River stretches for nearly 1600 miles (2574 km) across central and east Africa, meandering its way through Zambia and Angola, as well as along the borders of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, before flowing into Mozambique on its way to the Indian Ocean. Its route passes through thick forests, pastoral grasslands, and dense swamps that are at times nearly impassable. Along the way, the river features numerous rapids with intense whitewater, and more than a few waterfalls – including the absolutely massive Victoria Falls, often referred to locally as the "Smoke that Thunders." In other words, the Zambezi follows a route that is remote and difficult, which is exactly why one explorer wants to trek it.

Starting in November of this year, British adventurer Chaz Powell will set out to walk the entire length of the river, source to sea. He'll undertake this major expedition not just for the challenge and adventure, but to raise awareness of the rising amount of wildlife crime taking place in Africa and other parts of the world, where poaching has become a serious issue.

Recently, Powell sat down with my friends over at CheapTents.com to talk about his expedition. In that interview, he discusses what inspired him to become an adventurer, his biggest expedition to date, and his motivations for wanting to walk the Zambezi. He also talks about some of the logistics of the walk, the challenges he'll face along the way, and some of the animals he expects to encounter in the wilderness. Those include lions, elephants, hippos, rhinos, crocs, and a host of others.

When asked about his experience in the field, Chaz admits that he has done some overloading in Africa, and campervaning in Australia, but he has never undertaken a journey like this before. That could prove dangerous out in the wild, where traveling on foot is quite different than anything else he's done.

The expedition is expected to take about six months to complete, and Powell says he plans on wrapping it up around April of next year. You can follow his progress both on Facebook and Twitter, as he ramps up his preparation and gets ready for his November departure. This should be another interesting journey to follow in the weeks ahead.

Himalaya Fall 2015: Icefall Doctors Fixing Route for Autumn Everest Expedition

We haven't even officially closed the book on the summer climbing season in Pakistan just yet, and already the fall season in the Himalaya is starting to get underway. According to a story in the Himalayan Times, the Icefall Doctors have reported for duty at Everest Base Camp, where they have started to build a route through the Khumbu Icefall. They hope to have established a stable path by the time a Japanese team arrives for a fall attempt on the mountain.

That team will consist of climbers Nobukazu Kuriki and Masaru Kadotani, who hope to summit the world's tallest mountain during the fall. They are expected to arrive in BC around the time of the autumnal equinox on September 21. According to the story, there will be five teams climbing in the Khumbu region in the weeks ahead, with expeditions set to take place on both Everest and Manaslu. 

There was a time when the fall climbing season was a busy one on Everest, but there have been few expeditions to the mountain during the post-monsoon season in recent years. In fact, as Stefan Nestler points out, there has been only one fall summit in the past five years, and that was accomplished by explorer Eric Larsen on his three poles project five years ago. Since then, there have been no summits and very few attempts, as most teams have preferred to stay focused on the more popular spring climbing season instead. 

The next few weeks and months will be interesting ones for Nepal. Traditionally, as the monsoon subsides for another year, travelers return to trek and climb in the mountains there. But after the April earthquake, some areas are still recovering. Whether or not that will have an impact on the travel season, and the economy of the country, remains to be seen. Most experts believe that tourism will be key to rebuilding the shattered infrastructure in Nepal, but if visitors are slow to return, it could mean that it will take even longer for the country to get back on track. 

Either way, it looks like we'll have an Everest expedition to follow in the weeks ahead. It is not uncommon for commercial teams to attempt Manaslu in the fall as a warm-up to the spring climbing season, but an Everest climb at this time of the year will be a rare treat indeed. 

Stay tuned for more news about the emerging fall season and the teams that will be taking part. It will be good to see some action back in the Himalaya once again. 

Video: A Winning Downhill Mountain Bike Run

Ever wonder what a winning down-hill run looks like at a UCI mountain biking event? Than take a look at the footage captured by Rachel Atherton's GoPro camera this past weekend. With this ride she not only won the event she was competing in, she collected enough points to become the overall season winner as well. See what she has to deal with out on the course from her own perspective as she bombs down a run that includes tight curves, jumps, banks, and a host of other obstacles. It looks like a lot of fun, although I don't think I'd be going quite so fast.

Video: Riding the Liguria Mountain Divide Race in Italy

This short video is the latest from our friends over at Teton Gravity Research. It takes us to Italy where we follow endurance mountain biker Jay Petervary as he attempts to ride the Liguria Mountain Divide Race, a grueling competition that features a 311-mile course with more than 55,000 feet (16,764 meters) of vertical gain. Most riders take nine days to finish, but Jay did it in 4 days, 12 hours. Check it out for yourself and get a taste of what this event is all about.

Video: Skiing the Grand Tetons with Jimmy Chin

Last winter, climbers/skiers Jimmy Chin, Kit Deslauriers, and Mark Synnott traveled to the Grand Tetons in Wyoming to climb the legendary peaks there, and make ski descents of those mountains. This video, which comes our way courtesy of National Geographic, chronicles those efforts. For those that don't know, the Grand Tetons are amongst the most rugged and difficult in all of North America, and present some interesting challenges for even the most experienced mountaineers. See just what kinds of obstacles this team had to overcome in the short film below, which is both beautifully shot and quite inspiring too. Enjoy!

80-Year Old Becomes Oldest to Paddle the Mississippi Source-to-Sea

Way back in May of this year, I wrote about Dale Sanders, an 80-year old adventurer who was planning to paddle the length of the Mississippi River from source to sea. Dale was using his epic journey as a way to raise awareness and funds to fight type 1 juvenile diabetes – something his great niece suffers from – and he was inspired by the likes of Dave Cornthwaite, who he assisted on his Mississippi paddle a few years back. On Sunday, Sanders completed his journey at long last, arriving at the Gulf of Mexico after weeks out on the water. In doing so, he became the oldest person to paddle the length of the "Mighty Mississippi" and instantly became an inspiration for the rest of us.

The self-proclaimed "Grey Beard Adventurer" set off from Lake Itasca in Minnesota back on May 15. Back then, he still had to endure late spring sleet and snow, with cold winds making his progress difficult. But as the long days of summer dragged on, the weather shifted noticeably. For six weeks he faced daily rainfalls that left his clothes and other gear constantly soaked. Later, as he moved further south, it was heat and humidity that made his Mississippi sojourn a challenging one.

By the time he reached the Gulf on Sunday, Sanders had paddled more than 2300 miles, spending just over three months out on the river. Along the way he met hundreds of people that lent him a hand or joined him for a stretch of the expedition. Judging from his last dispatch, it seems clear that he was overwhelmed by the support he received along the way, particularly as he neared the end of the paddle where he received a hero's welcome from friends and family.

I want to congratulate Sanders on completing his journey. As I mentioned, he is an inspiration to all of us. Hopefully when I'm 80 I'll still be able to go on these types of adventures. Dale is living proof that age is not a barrier to achieving your goals.

11-Year Old Climber Summits Elbrus in Quest for Seven Summits

Last week I posted a story about Tyler Armstrong, the 11-year old mountaineer who has designs on climbing Everest next spring. In that article I questioned whether or not such a young climber should be attempting to climb the world's tallest peak which is dangerous enough for full-grown adults. But while I was busy pontificating about Tyler's ambitions to become the youngest to accomplish such a feat, he was in Russia adding another mountain to his resume. The young man – climbing with his father – successfully summited Mt. Elbrus, the tallest mountain in Europe.

Tyler's expedition took five days to complete, culminating with a successful summit day on August 9. This was the third of the Seven Summits that he has climbed, with Kilimanjaro and Aconcagua already under his belt. The 5642 meter (18,510 ft) peak was seen as a bit of a warm-up for Everest next spring, as it gave Tyler the opportunity to work on more technical aspects of mountaineering, including rope skills and walking with crampons.

In order to climb Everest in 2016 Armstrong will need to get special permission from the Nepali or Tibetan governments. Both countries instituted minimum age requirements back in 2010 when Jordan Romero became the youngest person to climb Everest at 13 years old. Before Tyler can even start to climb the mountain, he'll need to plead his case just to get a permit. It will be interesting to see how officials from either country react to the petition.

Regardless of whether or not he gets to climb Everest, you do have to respect and admire Tyler's drive. While he is of course hoping to climb all of the Seven Summits at some point, he isn't doing it just to selfishly try to reach that goal at a young age. The young man is using these climbs to raise funds to fight muscular dystrophy, and he hopes to eventually reach a goal of $1 million for the Cure Duchenne organization.

Incidentally, yesterday I wrote a story about how Jon Krakauer admitted that climbing Everest was the "biggest mistake" of his life. In that post I wrote that Krakauer's reveal came after he received a question about climbing Everest from a young climber. It turns out that climber was Tyler, who was inquiring about Krakauer's experiences on the mountain back in 1996. I'm guessing he wasn't expecting the response that he got from the best selling author, who did just about everything he could to dissuade the 11-year old from climbing the mountain. We'll see if those words had any impact on Tyler, or his ambitions to climb in the Himalaya next year.

Video: Running the Red Bull K3 Mountain Race

The Red Bull K3 Mountain Race is a grueling event held on Rocciamelone, a mountain located in northwest Italy near the town of Turin. Participants start the race at an altitude of about 500 meters (1640 ft) and must run up a mountain route that covers 10 km (6.2 miles) and features 3030 meters (9941 ft) of vertical gain. Yep, you read that right. Runners must cover more than 3000 meters on their way to the summit, in what looks to be incredibly tough terrain.

The video below was shot at the 2015 version of the event, which took place on the 8th of August. As you'll see, this is a sufferfest of monumental proportions, pushing athletes to their absolute limits. It is not a race to be taken lightly for sure, but it looks like quite the experience to say the least.

Video: Slackliner Sets New Free-Solo Record

I don't cover a lot of slacklining news here at The Adventure Blog, but this video simply had to be shared. Shot on August 2 of this year, it features Spencer Seabrooke as he sets a new free solo slacklining distance record, which means he walked this rope without using any safety ropes. The record was set while Spencer was suspended 290 meters (951 ft) and crossed a chasm that is 64 meters (209 ft) wide. It is an incredible display of nerves and balance, and as you watch this clip, don't forget to remind yourself to breathe. It gets a little intense at times.

Nat Geo Follows the Trail of the Illegal Ivory Trade

Last week I posted a video that gave us an inside look at the efforts of poachers in Africa to get their hands on elephant tusks which are then sold on the black market. This trade has risen to such heights in recent years, that it now threatens the wild elephant population, which could go extinct in our lifetimes. Now, National Geographic has followed that video up with an interactive online article that takes us through how the ivory trade works, and how the value of those tusks increases as it makes its way through the supply chain.

To tell this story, Nat Geo created fake elephant tusks that contain GPS trackers and sensors that are capable of registering no only their location, but surrounding conditions as well. They then planted those fake tusks with poachers, and followed their progress across Africa starting in the Central African Republic, a country that has seen its elephant population intensely targeted.

The tusks then traveled along a known smuggling route that also happens to follow a region where the Lord's Resistance Army – led by Joseph Kony – operates almost with impunity. At one point, the GPS-enabled tusks are transferred into South Sudan, before entering Kafia Kingi, a disputed region that is currently controlled by Sudan. At this point, they have traveled 483 km (300 miles) to be a part of the poacher's inventory.


But the journey is far from over. After spending three weeks in Kafia Kingi, the tusks go back on the move heading north before reaching Ed Daein in Sudan. At this point, they have traveled more than 900 km (560 miles), and are currently either sitting in a building or are buried under ground. Researchers are waiting for the GPS signal to go active again so they can discover the next stage of the journey toward buyers most likely in Asia.

The article then goes on to explain how the price of poached ivory rises as it passes through the supply chain, starting out at a value as low as $66/pound and rising to as much as $4630/pound as it makes its way out to the Asian markets.

This eye-opening report does a good job of showing the flow of ivory through Africa, and then out to the rest of the world. It is a sobering look at what has become a major problem that could ultimately lead to the demise of wild elephants in Africa. Poaching accounts for the death of more than 30,000 of those creatures in a given year, and it is a practice that simply has to end. How we get to the point where it doesn't happen any longer is the real challenge, but it involves shutting down the demand for ivory in places across the world, including the U.S. and China.

As someone who has seen elephants in the wild throughout Africa, it is unfathomable that they are killed in such high numbers just to claim their tusks. Hopefully we can reverse this trend in the years ahead, and we'll see the end of poaching in our lifetime, rather than the extinction of these animals.

Summer Climbs 2015: An Update From Gasherbrum I

The Czech team climbing Gasherbrum I in Pakistan still hasn't wrapped up its expedition, but they aren't ready to quite give up yet either. The two climbers –  Marek Holecek and Tomas Petrecek – continue to wait patiently for a chance to summit, as the weather has prevented them from making much progress over the past few days. But there is a potential window in sight, and the duo are prepared to take advantage of it if they can.

ExWeb has posted an update on Marek and Tomas' efforts. According to their most recent dispatches, the two climbers have moved up above 7300 meters (23,950 ft), but have been unable to make any further progress over the past few days. GI's summit sits at 8080 meters (26,510 ft), so the team still has a considerable distance to go, but given a good weather window they could potentially finish the ascent and begin heading back down within a couple of days.

They just might get that weather window starting tomorrow. Forecasts indicate that conditions should start to improve over the next few days, potentially allowing them to launch their summit bid. If the weather doesn't get better however, the duo will most likely be forced to retreat. When they set out from Base Camp on August 7 they had planned for a seven day climb. Now, ten days later, they're likely starting to run low on food and supplies.

It has been a very long, and difficult, season in Pakistan this summer. While several teams have found success on Gasherbrum I and II, Broad Peak saw just two summits, and K2 turned away all challengers. Now, everyone except the Czech team has gone home. Marek and Thomas are hoping to wrap up the season in a successful fashion, but the weather must cooperate first.

Either way, we should have news about the ultimate outcome of the expedition in the next few days.

Jon Krakauer Calls Climbing Everest "Biggest Mistake of My Life"

Into Thin Air author Jon Krakauer raised eyebrows a few days back when he said that he felt climbing Mt. Everest was the biggest mistake of his life. Krakauer was speaking at a Huffington Post Live event at the time, which was being used to promote the new mountaineering film Meru in which he appears. His response came after receiving a question from a young climber who wanted tips for taking on the world's tallest mountain.

During the exchange Krakauer revealed that since climbing Everest back in 1996, the now-infamous season that was chronicled so famously in his book, he has suffered from bouts of PTSD, and continues to struggle with the events that too place there. You may recall that in 1996 eight climbers lost their lives on the mountain, including legendary guide Rob Hall. Into Thin Air is also he basis of the new film Everest that will be released to theaters on September 18.

Krakauer became famous thanks to the book, which was a bestseller at the time and is considered one of the top mountaineering books of all time. But, he told the HuffPo Live crowd "if I could go back and relive my life, I would never have climbed Everest."

Those are strong words from a guy who is so closely associated with the mountain. But they also show you how much of an impact the events that took place there have impacted his life, and he's probably not alone. A lot of people climb Everest for many different reasons, and the experience means different things to each of them. But when something as dreadful as the 1996 season goes down (or the 2014 and 2015 seasons for that matter), it is going to stick with you for the rest of your life.

The author went on to advise the 11-year old climber who initially asked the question about climbing Everest to think long and hard about his decision to do so. Krakauer told him "It's a serious, serious choice," adding, "If you do it, if you go for it, you'll be making really important decisions where your brain isn't functioning because of hypoxia or you haven't had enough to eat. Meru is a much harder mountain to climb, but in some ways Everest is much more dangerous. The dangers are more insidious. They're not as obvious."

Strong words indeed from a man who knows what he is talking about.

Helping Kids Be Bilingual

Helping Kids Be Bilingual

A few routines can help children be bilingual. In every, it's imperative to open children to both dialects in distinctive settings and to help them comprehend the centrality of realizing every dialect.

Two methodologies are prescribed:

The one parent, one dialect methodology implies that every guardian talks an alternate dialect at home amid the early years of their tyke's life. Case in point, the mother may converse with the kid just in English, while the father may utilize just Spanish.

The minority dialect at home strategy permits folks to build up an utilization for every dialect. For instance, while children would just communicate in Spanish at home, at school they would communicate in English.

With any strategy, make an effort not to blend the dialects. That is, the point at which you converse with your tyke in your legacy dialect, don't blend it with English in expressions or sentences. Then again, you shouldn't be amazed if your kid blends expressions of both dialects in one sentence. When it happens, right him or her by coolly giving the best possible word in the dialect you are utilizing.

Numerous materials can help your kid take in a brief moment dialect, including dialect learning CD-ROMs, computer games, features, and DVDs; music CDs; and battery-worked dolls. It's likewise simple to discover bilingual books and kid's shows in Spanish, for example, Clifford, the Big Red Dog and Dora, the Explorer. Also, obviously, there's dependably the Internet.

At the point when presenting children to a second dialect, remember their interests. Case in point, if a youngster preferences soccer, watch a match in one of the Spanish-talking stations. In the event that your kid likes music, check for the most recent collections of specialists singing in English and in their local dialect.

For youthful children, use adolescence rhymes, tunes, and recreations. As your children develop, be industrious and imaginative with your methodology. A few folks send their children to dialect schools with the goal that they take in the dialect utilizing a more formal technique. Numerous families likewise send their children to their nation of root to invest more energy with relatives, either amid the mid year or for more periods. Remember that it's additionally critical to have companions who talk a legacy dialect.

Arrives a Cultural Loss?

Some of your way of life and a few binds are liable to be lost if your tyke is brought up in another nation; be that as it may, it's dependent upon you to pick whether you need to pass your social legacy to your children or not.

There is, to be sure, an "American" society. On the other hand, recall that for a considerable length of time, numerous individuals who landed in America searching for an all the more encouraging future kept their local dialects and societies at their homes and in their neighborhoods. Be that as it may, they figured out how to communicate in English and mixed in with the American way of life. These social characters still exist in numerous families after numerous eras. Case in point, there's an Italian or Chinese neighborhood in each huge city in the United States. Also, Mardi Gras, Cinco de Mayo, and St. Patrick's Day are commended with excitement consistently.

Fluidly talking a second dialect may prompt critical social advantages. Youngsters taking in their social legacy dialect can speak with their relatives and fortify family ties past the outskirts. They're additionally liable to be willing to know the history and customs of their family's nation of birthplace. Understanding where they originate from helps children create solid personalities and can help them figure out where they'll go later on.

Being bilingual means understanding and communicating in two dialects

In some nations, it's regular for children to take in two or more dialects at once and to utilize them every day to impart and comprehend individuals around them — indeed, a few children experience childhood in spots where four or more dialects are talked.

In nations, for example, the United States, there may be a prevailing dialect; i.e., the one utilized by the administration, schools, and the group. Because of this, folks who talk an extra, "legacy" dialect may confront a situation: Should we educate our youngsters just the overwhelming dialect or would it be a good idea for us to attempt to raise them bilingual?

Despite the fact that it's imperative to take in the common dialect in the nation where you live, for some individuals it's additionally vital to have their children take in the dialect of their guardians, grandparents, and more established kin.

Choosing whether to show your children one or more dialects is dependent upon you. You may think they have to "begin once again" in another nation and that they just need to take in the predominant dialect. Then again, there are a few focal points to bringing up bilingual children.

What Bilingual Means

Being bilingual means understanding and communicating in two dialects, and having the capacity to pass on your contemplations obviously in both. Being plurilingual means having these aptitudes in more than two dialects.

Numerous individuals think English is the official dialect in the United States. This is not by any stretch of the imagination so; while some nations have official dialects, the United States does not. Truth be told, in 2004 the United States had around 336 talked or recorded dialects. Some U.S. states, however, are authoritatively bilingual. For instance, in Louisiana, English and French are the state's official dialects; in New Mexico, the authority dialects are English and Spanish; in Hawaii, they're English and Hawaiian. Along these lines, being bilingual in the United States is not new.

Points of interest of Being Bilingual

Some exploration demonstrates that children presented to a few dialects are more inventive and better at creating critical thinking abilities. Different studies recommend that talking a second dialect, regardless of the possibility that just amid the first years of life, helps fabricate psychological capacities so that a tyke will have a less demanding time learning different dialects later on.

A few specialists say that if folks and children don't talk the same dialect at home, correspondence between them may endure. Subsequently, folks may lose some control over their kids and, after some time, children may swing to negative impacts, for example, posses, to recover the feeling of having a place they no more involvement with hom

Ventures to Great Stepparenting

Ventures to Great Stepparenting

All folks face challenges sometimes. Yet, when you're a stepparent, those snags are exacerbated by the way that you are not the conception guardian — this can open up force battles inside of the family, whether it's from the children, your accomplice's ex, or even your accomplice.

At the point when challenges escape from hand, on the other hand, putting kids' requirements first can help you use sound judgment. Here's the way:

Put needs, not needs, first. Children need adoration, love, and predictable tenets most importantly else. Giving them toys or treats, particularly on the off chance that they're not earned with decent evaluations or conduct, can prompt a circumstance where you sense that you're exchanging presents for adoration. Thus, on the off chance that you feel remorseful for treating your organic children uniquely in contrast to your stepchildren, don't purchase endowments to compensate for it. Do you best to make sense of how to treat them all the more just as.

House standards matter. Keep your home guidelines as predictable as could reasonably be expected for all children, whether they're your children from a past relationship, your accomplice's children from a past relationship, or new kids you have had together. Youngsters and teenagers will have diverse principles, however they ought to be reliably connected at all times. This helps children conform to moves, such as moving to another house or respecting another infant, and helps them feel that all children in you're home are dealt with just as. In the event that children are managing two altogether different arrangements of guidelines in every home, it might be the ideal time for a grown-ups just family meeting — generally children can figure out how to "function the framework" for transient pick up however long haul issues.

Make new family customs. Discover unique exercises to do with your stepkids, yet make sure to get their input. Some new family customs could incorporate tabletop game evenings, bicycle riding together, cooking, doing specialties, or notwithstanding playing snappy word recreations in the auto. The key is to have a ton of fun together, not to attempt to win their adoration — children are shrewd and will rapidly make sense of in case you're attempting to constrain a relationship.

Regard all folks. At the point when an accomplice's ex is expired, it's vital to be touchy to and honor that individual. On the off chance that you and your accomplice offer guardianship with the conception guardian, attempt to be respectful and merciful in your communications with one another( (regardless of how hard that can be!). Never say negative things in regards to the conception guardian before the children. Doing as such frequently reverse discharges and children get furious with the guardian making the comments. No kid likes to hear their guardians condemned, regardless of the fact that he or she is whining about them to you.

Try not to utilize kids as dispatchers or go-betweens. Do whatever it takes not to question kids about what's occurring in the other family unit — they'll disdain it when they feel that they're being requested that "spy" on another guardian. Wherever conceivable, correspond straightforwardly with the other guardian about pertinent matters, for example, booking, appearance, wellbeing issues, or school issues. Online guardianship logbooks make this procedure a little less demanding in light of the fact that folks can note appearance days and offer this data with one another by means of the Internet.

Converse with your accomplice or mate. Correspondence in the middle of you and your accomplice is critical with the goal that you can settle on child rearing choices together. This is particularly urgent in the event that you every have distinctive thoughts on child rearing and order. In case you're new to child rearing as a stepparent, ask your accomplice what might be the most ideal approach to become more acquainted with the children. Use assets to figure out what children of diverse ages are keen on — and keep in mind to ask them.

Regardless of what the circumstances of your new family, odds are there'll be a few knocks along the way. Be that as it may, don't surrender attempting to make things work — regardless of the possibility that things began off a bit rough, despite everything they can (and likely will) enhance as you and your new relatives become acquainted with one an

Variables That Affect Your Relationship

Variables That Affect Your Relationship

Youngsters who are grieving the passing of a perished guardian or the detachment or separation of their introduction to the world folks may need time to recuperate before they can completely acknowledge you as another guardian.

For those whose conception folks are still alive, remarriage may mean the end of trust that their guardians will rejoin. Regardless of the possibility that it has been quite a while subsequent to the division, children (even become ones!) frequently cling to that expectation for quite a while. From the kids' viewpoint, this reality can make them feel furious, hurt, and befuddled.

Different components that may influence the move into stepparenting:

How old the children are. In the matter of modifying and framing new connections, more youthful children for the most part have a simpler time than more seasoned children.

To what extent you've known them. For the most part, the more you know the children, the better the relationship. There are special cases (for instance, in the event that you were companions with the folks before they isolated and are rebuked for the separation), yet as a rule having a history together makes the move a bit smoother.

To what extent you dated the guardian before marriage. Once more, there are exemptions yet regularly on the off chance that you don't race into the association with the grown-up, children have a decent sense that you are in this for the whole deal.

How well the guardian you wed coexists with the ex-companion. This is a basic element. Insignificant clash and open correspondence between ex-accomplices can have a major effect in regards to how effortlessly children acknowledge you as their stepparent. It's much less demanding for children to move to new living courses of action when grown-ups keep negative remarks out of earshot.

The amount of time the children go through with you. Attempting to bond with children each other weekend — when they need quality time with a conception guardian they don't see as frequently as they'd like — can be a troublesome approach to make companions with your new stepkids. Keep in mind to put their needs first: If children need time with their introduction to the world guardian, they ought to get it. So once in a while making yourself rare can help smooth the way to a superior relationship over the long haul.

Knowing early what circumstances may get to be hazardous as you unite new relatives can help you get ready so that, if difficulties emerge, you can deal with them with an additional measurement of tolerance and bea