Sarah Outen arrived in Tokyo

"LandepNews"

British adventurer Sarah Outen arrived in Tokyo a few days back, successfully bringing to a close the first stage of her London2London expedition. This leg of the journey was 11,000 miles in length and lasted for 227 days, but puts her only halfway to her goal.

As you probably recall, Sarah is attempting to make a completely human powered circumnavigation of the planet. She got underway in April, setting out from London, and paddled her way down the Thames River and across the English Channel. After that, she climbed aboard her bike and started pedaling east, passing through 12 different countries before arriving at her temporary stopping point. Along the way, she  has had to deal with bad weather, trucks that wouldn't share the road, dehydration in the Gobi Desert, and choppy seas on her paddle from Russia to Japan.

For now, Sarah will enjoy some down time in Japan as she rests and prepares for the next major stage of the expedition. In the spring of 2012 she'll start a 4300 mile solo crossing of the North Pacific, which will begin in Choshi, Japan and end in Vancouver, Canada. If she is successful, she'll become just the third person to make that journey.

After that, Sarah will return to the bike and ride from Vancouver to New York City, where she'll return to the water once again, and row the North Atlantic. If all goes according to schedule, she'll return to where she started – London – in late 2013.

Congrats to Sarah on reaching the end of this incredibly long first leg. Now take a break and getting ready for the next adventure.

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Mountain Hardwear Jovian Jacket

"LandepNews"

Before I start my review of the Mountain Hardwear Jovian Jacket, I have a disclaimer that I must get out. I'm a big fan of Mountain Hardwear gear. I mean a BIG fan. I have several pieces of their gear in my closet, and it has always performed above and beyond my expectations when I've needed it most. I've always found their equipment to be well designed, incredibly durable, and a good value for the money. I've always appreciated the company's attention to detail and obvious connection with their core market, providing outstanding products that can survive anything we throw at it. 

Now, that said, if you're looking for the short version of my review of the Jovian Jacket, here it is: This very lightweight, highly packable shell is simply amazing and only served to enhance my already high opinion of Mountain Hardwear gear. 

With that out of the way, here's what the the Jovian has to offer. The jacket uses the company's patented Dry.Q Elite fabrics, which are designed to be very durable and dry, even in the harshest of conditions, while remaining highly breathable at the same time. The fabrics are designed to vent quickly, so that we don't overheat while on a strenuous hike or climb. 

This was my first chance to put Dry.Q to the test, and it more than lived up to the hype. I was impressed not only at how well it repelled any and all water thrown at it, but kept me comfortable and dry at all times.

As you would expect from Mountain Hardwear, this jacket has all kinds of great little touches that add to the value. For instance, you'll find ample storage in the five pockets, including one inside the shell itself. Those pockets are sealed up very tightly, thanks to high quality zippers, which keep everything inside nice and dry as well.  The large, wide brimmed, hood is spacious enough to accommodate a helmet, yet still seals up snugly to prevent water from leaking inside, while the extra-long pit vents further aid in venting out excess heat. Throw in a design that allows for unrestricted movement, even while wearing layers underneath, and you have a nearly perfect shell for your outdoor adventures.

I say almost perfect, as there are a few caveats to be aware of when purchasing the Jovian. First, this isn't exactly the warmest shell around, which is understandable considering it tips the scales at just 19 ounces. Mountain Hardwear was going for a more minimalist approach with this jacket, and as a result, it probably isn't the best choice for winter excursions. The other minor nuisance are those zippers I mentioned above. While they do a great job in helping to keep moisture out, they also can be a challenge to open and close, sometimes requiring both hands to actually operate. They do loosen up a bit over time, but they are still on the stiff side. 

That said, the Jovian is one of the most versatile jackets you'll ever find. It will serve outdoor enthusiasts well on what ever adventures they embark on. Whether you're bagging peaks, backpacking, or simply making your morning bike commute, the Jovian is a jacket you'll appreciate. Heck, it's so comfortable and reliable,  you can wear it around town in bad weather, and still appreciate its design. Clearly, Mountain Hardwear has another winner on their hands. 

The MSRP on this jacket is $475 but TravelCountry.com currently has it on sale for just $380.

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Made Possible Challenge

"LandepNews"

Polartec has launched their second annual Made Possible Challenge, which will award a single college with $10,000 cash and some great Polartec gear. The company hopes to encourage a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts through its support of collegiate outdoor programs and clubs.

Last year's winner was Appalachian State, which received 28,000 online votes in just a single week. The school used their $10,000 to create a scholarship fund that is helping to fund outdoor adventures for a number of students.

If you'd like to see your school considered for the 2011 edition of the Made Possible Challenge, simply go to this website and fill out the form, and submit either a document or short video explaining what your college would do with the money were you to be awarded the grant. Entries will be accepted until November 30th, at which time Polartec will select four finalists who will be announced on the company's Facebook page. After that, the public will weigh in, voting for the school that they feel is the most deserving.

The ultimate winner will be announced on February 1, 2012.

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South Pole 1911-2011

"LandepNews"

Now that the Antarctic season is officially underway for another year, I thought I'd mention a few more teams that are now on the ice and are either already making their way south or are preparing to get underway. As I've said on more than one occasion, it is going to be a very busy year at the bottom of the world, and the South Pole will see more visitors than normal. Considering that it has now been 100 years since Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott raced to that point, it seems only natural that we should commemorate that historic occasion.

As you would probably suspect, there are a number of Norwegian teams following Amundsen's route to the Pole, several of which are now underway. They are hoping to complete their journey by December 14, the same date that Amundsen arrived. Those teams include the Centenary Expedition to the South Pole, which officially started the journey today, and the South Pole 1911-2011 team, which arrived on the ice over the weekend, but hasn't updated their status since. Steffen Dhal has also gotten underway, and he reports stiff winds and very cold temperatures thus far.

One of the more interesting expeditions this season will be the Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race 2011-12, which will consist of two teams taking different routes to the Pole. The Amundsen Team, which will be led by Henry Worsley, will set out from the Bay of Whales and will cross the Ross Ice Shelf, and ascend the Axel Heiberg Glacier. The other squad, dubbed the Scott Team, will be led by Mark Langridge, who will take his team from Cape Evans, up the Beardmore Glacier. The members of both teams are currently at the Union Glacier Camp, where they are preparing their gear and getting read to begin their individual treks. The entire expedition is expected to take roughly 70 days to complete, with both teams arriving at the Pole in early January.

Veteran polar explorer Felicity Aston is back in the Antarctic, this time to attempt to become the first woman to cross the continent solo and unsupported. She'll start on the Ross Ice Shelf and head to the Pole, before making her way back to Hercules Inlet. She expects her journey to take about 70-days as well, covering 1700km (1056 miles) in the process. Similarly, Aussie Mark George plans to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole, then make the return trip via kite ski. Polar legend Richard Weber will lead a team on 35-day adventure from the Filchner Ice Shelf to the South Pole. They'll travel by skis from the Messner Start and later kite ski back to Hercules.

I'll add information on other expeditions and updates from Mt. Vinson, as they begin to take shape. It is going to be a very interesting season in the Antarctica, and I'm glad that it's officially underway at last.

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reaching the top of Carstensz Pyramid

"LandepNews"

Over the weekend, Alan Arnette finished the next climb in his Seven Summits for Alzheimer's project by reaching the top of Carstensz Pyramid, the tallest mountain in Oceania. The 4884 meter (16,024 ft) mountain is perhaps the most technically challenging of all the Seven Summits, requiring solid rock climbing skills to reach the top. With that in mind, Alan and his team, managed to summit in just four hours.

You can read a complete summit report on Alan's blog, where you'll find interesting insights into the logistics of the climb,  what it was like to scramble up that rocky face in the pre-dawn hours, and details on the route, which includes a Tyrollean Traverse. One of the things I love about Alan's updates is that you always get great info on each of his climbs, and this is no exception.

Next up, he'll travel to Australia this week to make the hike up Mount Kosciuszko, the tallest mountain on that continent. It is a mere 2228 meters (7310 ft) and is probably the least technical of the Seven Summits expanded list. Still, it should be an excellent hike and a great way to round out what has been a busy, but very successful year.

With these two summits out of the way, only Denali remains left to be conquered. Alan attempted that peak back in July, but bad weather never really gave him a real shot at the summit. It will be next summer before another attempt can be made, so for now, he'll have the opportunity for some much deserved rest.

Congratulations to Alan on knocking off two more of the Summits. And thanks for taking us along with you this past year.

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The New York Times has posted a story and video on speed climbing

"LandepNews"The New York Times has posted a story and video on speed climbing in the world of mountaineering and takes a look at the approach to climbing, which inherently brings some risks for those who choose to go faster in the mountains.

The article mentions or quotes a number of big name climbers, including Steve House, who has a few harsh things to say about the approach, saying that speed records are for stroking someone's "ego." The Times also interviews Chad Kellogg about his attempts at a speed record on Everest, and the included video, which can't be embedded here, shows Chad training on Mt. Rainier. Rock climber Alex Honnold weighs in, saying he just climbs, and that speed records are simply a by-product of the faster approach. Even Ueli Steck offers some comments, saying that it is important to balance speed with safety on any climb.

I came across this link thanks to a post over at the Adventure Journal, and like them, I'm happy to see mountaineering get some mainstream press, but the writer acts like it is something new for climbers to try to go faster and lighter on the mountain. It has been happening for years, it is just that we've gotten to the point now where the athletes are better trained, better prepared, and have better equipment than ever before. That combination is allowing a few elite climbers to really push the envelope.

I think the following quote from Steve Swenson, president of the American Alpine Club, is a good one:

“Fifty years ago, adventure in the mountains was more about going places where no one had been,” he said. “Most of these places have been more thoroughly explored. Maybe adventure gets redefined.”

To me, "adventure" is a very personal thing, and what consitutues an adventure for some people, may not  be the same for others. It is important that we all find the definition that works for ourselves, and then pursue the best way to put some adventure into our lives. That's what I see out of these climbers. They are indeed redefining adventure for the 21st century.

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There were a few late summits on Manaslu

"LandepNews"

With the fall Himalaya season finally winding down (There were a few late summits on Manaslu), the adventure community will next turn its eyes to the Antarctic, where things are just now starting to ramp up. Over the course of the next few weeks, explorers, both solo and in teams, will descend on Punta Arenas, Chile, where they'll take care of all of their last minute preparations before hopping a flight aboard an ALE plane to the frozen continent.

Some of those explorers will be headed to the South Pole of course, while others will travel to Mt. Vinson, the tallest mountain on the continent. A few will venture off the beaten path to some other peak or take an unexplored route into a seldom visited, little known area of the Antarctic.

One of the first teams to arrive in Punta Arenas in the Crossing the Ice squad of James Castrission and Justin Jones, affectionately known as Cas and Jonesy. The boys touched down there a few days back, but have been recovering from jet lag and organizing their gear, as they get ready to hit the ice in just a few days time. They are a bit earlier than most, but they're going to need all the time they can get, as they intend to make the 2200km (1367 mile) journey from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, and back again, on foot and unassisted. If successful, they'll be the first to accomplish that feat.

This year will be a special one in the Antarctic, as it will mark the 100th anniversary of the famous (infamous?) race to the Pole that was waged by Norwegian Roald Amundsen and Britain's Robert Falcon Scott. There are a few teams that will be following in the footsteps of those explorers and plenty of stories about their heroics. For those that don't know, the two men were locked in a struggle to become the first man to reach the South Pole. Amundsen ended up getting their first, 35 days ahead of his rival, and Scott and his party suffered mightily, before dying on the return trip.

The full story is a sad one, and I'm sure I'll be sharing more details of it over the coming days, starting next week, when we'll mark the start of 100 year celebration with the anniversary of the start of Amundsen's expedition.

Because of this big anniversary, the Antarctic is going to be a very busy place this year.

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Costa Rica attending the World Rafting Championship

"LandepNews"

As I mentioned last week, I spent the weekend in Costa Rica attending the World Rafting Championship, which is actually still going on as I write this, although a champion should be crowned today. When I left on Thursday, I wasn't sure what to expect out of the event, but found that it was a fun competition with some excellent teams and dedicated group of fans on hand to support their country.

The event is taking place in Turrialba, which is a bit off the beaten tourist path in Costa Rica, but offers some of the best rafting anywhere on the planet. The WRC is taking place on the Pacuare River, which offers plenty of Class IV rapids, which were swelled daily by the onset of tropical rainstorms. The river runs right through the heart of a beautiful rainforest setting, and made for an incredible "stadium" for this event.

The WRC features a different type of rafting competition every day. On the first day, the teams competed in the Sprint, which simply had them racing down a set course on the river as fast as they could. Those results then led to the Head-to-Head competition on Saturday, which created a bracket, not unlike that found in the NCAA basketball tournament, in which the teams actually raced one another along a longer section of the river. This was much more fun and exciting to watch, as the squads really dug deep to give every ounce of speed out of their boats. Yesterday, the teams participated in the Slalom event, which had them navigating through a series of flags on the water. That event rewards not only speed but also agility. Today, the final stage of the competition, is the Down River, which puts all of the teams out on the water at the same time, as they race over a long course.

Where teams place in each of those events earns them points. The team with the highest point total at the end of the competition will win the 2011 World Rafting Championship. Heading into the final day, Japan was in the lead for the men, and the Czech Republic was first amongst the women. Where they all end up will be determined by the outcome of the Down River today, which could potentially change the final standings dramatically.

I'll post more thoughts and some photos from the event once the results go official. Needless to say though, it was a fun grassroots competition that was great to witness first hand.

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The Fall 2011 Himalaya climbing season is quickly coming to an

"LandepNews"

The Fall 2011 Himalaya climbing season is quickly coming to an end as climbers finish their expeditions. Some are already heading home, while others are still coming down the mountain, but the last few days have seen a flurry of summits on several peaks.

On Manaslu, Himex has pust 46(!) people on top in the past two days, which is an astounding number. Their dispatch claims that is about 10% of the total number of people who have actually climbed the mountain since it was first summited back in 1956. Similarly, the Altitude Junkies had a dispatch yesterday saying that their team was in position to go up to the summit today, so it seems patience is finally paying off for those who stayed for a few extra days.

IMG is also reporting that their Shisha Pangma team reached the summit yesterday as well. It was a tough climb, with lots of trail breaking through deep snow, but in the end they were able to get up and down safely and are due back in ABC today.

There have been more summits on Cho Oyu as well, with the SummitClimb team topping out on Monday and more teams hoping to go up yesterday amidst good weather. Unfortunately, ExWeb is reporting that there is also an ongoing rescue attempt on that mountain as well, with a stranded Spanish climber in Camp 2. Apparently, the climber turned back from his summit attempt due to exhaustion, and now is unable to make his way unassisted down the mountain. Other climbers are going up to help him, but snow conditions are making things challenging, and there are few teams left in ABC to lend a hand. Lets hope for the best.

The exhausted climbers on Makalu,  Artur Hajzer, Kacper Tekieli, Adam Ciucka and Maciej Stanczak, along with four Sherpas, are continuing their very slow descent. They reportedly reached Camp 1 yesterday and should be back in ABC today, although Stanczak has had to be carried off the mountain due to his extreme exhaustion. They appear to be otherwise in good health and should be fine after a bit of rest.

Congrats to everyone who has topped out over the past few days. It has been a hectic end to the season, and while there may yet be a few more late summits, most of the season is now over, and the Himalaya will grow quiet until the spring.

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According to The Antarctic Sun

"LandepNews"

In one of the sure signs that the impending Austral Summer is not far off, and the looming Antarctic Season with it, McMurdo Station had its first seasonal flight arrive yesterday. According to The Antarctic Sun, the first plane safely landed at the research facility after being delayed a day by an early summer blizzard. It is the first of 63 scheduled flights to McMurdo, which is located at Hut Point Peninsula on Ross Island.

The station consists of 85 buildings and includes a runway, helicopter pad, and harbor. That harbor will be opened soon by a Russian icebreaker, which will allow more supplies and personnel to arrive on location, some of which will continue on to the South Pole itself. The U.S. has more than 100 research projects planned for the 2011-2012 season, so it'll be a very busy year at the bottom of the world for all of the scientists and researchers in the Antarctic.

Meanwhile, Aussie adventurers Justin Jones and James Castrission, who I told you about here, have left Sydney and are preparing for their epic Antarctic expedition. The pair plan to travel on foot to the South Pole, starting at the Union Glacier Camp, and then back again – a journey that has not been accomplished before. They are now in Punta Arenas, Chile where they'll complete their last minute prep work and secure their gear, before officially starting out on October 16th.

Expect to hear more about them in the weeks ahead.

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The 2011 Antarctic season

"LandepNews"

The 2011 Antarctic season is just a few weeks away, and soon we'll see a number of intrepid explorers setting out for the South Pole or other locations on the frozen continent. If you have your own dreams of visiting polar destinations, you may want to consider taking a course from Ice Warrior, a company that not only organizes expeditions of their own, but provides crucial training for adventurers traveling in the extreme polar regions of our planet.

Ice Warrior is preparing a full slate of Polar Training courses for this October, offering excellent opportunities to learn new skills and discover just what it takes to survive on a journey to the North or South Pole. The courses are held in Dartmoor, in the U.K., and offer training on navigation, first aid, ropes work, and more. Most of the training modules are broken down into two day sessions and they can be taken independently or back-to-back in one comprehensive learning experience.

Of particular interest to me is their first course in October which focuses on the core skills of expedition planning, finding funding, and overall fitness. Those are key skills that are important for anyone hoping to make an expedition, whether in an arctic setting or elsewhere. And since these courses are instructed by polar veteran Jim McNeill, you can bet you'll come away with some excellent practical knowledge that can be applied to your next adventure.

For a complete list of courses, including dates and pricing, click here. On that same page, you'll also find information on two polar training expeditions which will be coming up in January as well.

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Alan Arnette sharing his gear for Kilimanjaro

"LandepNews" Last week I posted a video of Alan Arnette sharing his gear for Kilimanjaro with the rest of us. At the time, Alan was busy preparing to leave for Africa, where he would be climbing that mountain, which is the sixth of his Seven Summits for Alzheimer's expedition. After spending a few days in Europe, Alan arrived in Tanzania a few days ago and began his Kili climb in ernest today. He also started blogging about his adventure, giving us all the opportunity to follow along as he heads to the Roof of Africa over the next few days.

Today's entry is a brief one, but brings back quite a few memories for me. When climbing Kilimanjaro you actually pass through five different climate zones on the way to the summit, and today Alan hiked through the Could Forest. In his update, he notes that it felt more like Costa Rica or Hawaii than Africa, and when I did this leg a few years back, I thought the same. It was warm and humid and it didn't take long for me shirt to get soaked in sweat. That shirt wouldn't dry until I returned to Arusha at the end of the climb.

Alan his trekking the Machame Route, which is considered one of the more challenging, but scenic. I took the same route when I was there, and as he describes the trail, I can remember it well. It was a steep ascent, gaining more than 3800 feet of altitude on the first day, but by the time you're finished, you've arrived at camp, which sits on the edge of the next climate zone, an alpine marshland. Alan will hike through that tomorrow.

For anyone considering a Kilimanjaro trek, you'll definitely want to follow along with Alan's blog over the next few days. I'm sure he'll be posting regular updates on his progress, and he'll likely be sharing lots of information from the trail. It could also be insightful for those considering the adventure, as it is more challenging than what some would lead you to believe. That said, it is also amazingly beautiful and one of the top treks in the world.

Alan was more fortunate than I was on my first day on Kili. I didn't see any wildlife of note that day, but he reports that his team was shadowed by Blue Monkeys at one point. I had to wait until I was on safari to see the wildlife, and if you're going to Tanzania to do Kili, you owe it to yourself to stay a few days longer to visit the Serengeti as well. It is one of my favorite places in the world, easily living up to, and exceeding, all expectations.

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Seven Summit Climbs for Alzheimer's

"LandepNews"

As many of you know, mountaineer Alan Arnette is in the midst of his Seven Summit Climbs for Alzheimer's during which he hopes to reach the top of the highest mountains on each of the seven continents in an effort to raise money and awareness of the Cure Alzheimer's Fund.  He has already completed four of the climbs (Vinson, Aconcagua, Everest, and Elbrus) and was denied a summit attempt on Denali due to persistent bad weather, and in a few days time he'll leave for Africa, where he'll attempt Kilimanjaro.

Over the weekend, Alan posted an update to his blog sharing the gear that he'll be taking with him on this climb. As he notes, Kili is a different kind of climb, as it is actually a "hike-up" mountain that includes a lot of altitude, but not much technical challenge. The result is that it isn't as gear intensive as some of the other big peaks, although Summit Day does require warmer gear than most of the rest of the trek. Alan also included a video showing off his specific gear and sharing the items that he's taking with him. You'll find that video below.

I know that Kilimanjaro is is a popular destination for many adventure travelers, and I regularly get e-mails regarding the trek. I thought that Alan's blog post and video would come in handy for anyone planning their own trip to Kili as it will help you to know what exactly you should be taking with you when you head to Tanzania. There is no need for a bulky down suit on this expedition, although you do pass through five climate zones from the base of the mountain to the summit, so you still need to bring plenty of gear along.

After Kili, Alan will next head to Indonesia to climb Carstensz Pyramid and then on to Australia for Mt. Kosciuszko, the tallest point on that continent.
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climbing in the Grand Tetons

"LandepNews"

Earlier today, Outside Magazine posted their latest edition of the Life List, 50 things we can all add to our bucket list of items we want to accomplish before our time on this planet runs out. The list is filled with big trips, new skills, and a variety of other things to aspire to in our adventurous lives.

Some of the items that make the list include going climbing in the Grand Tetons, learn to kayak, and get into the best shape of your life. You'll also be challenged to trek the Himalayas, master a second language, or simply just take a risk.

Of course, there are literally dozens of other things on the list as well, and I simply love the number one item, which is Get A Passport. This may be the easiest thing on the list to accomplish, and yet many people don't have a passport. That one simple document really does open the world to you, and through travel, many adventures can follow.

This is a wonderful list and while it is a real challenge to accomplish everything on it it, there are a lot of things that are simple and easy to pursue in our normal lives as well. Give it a glance and I'm sure you'll find plenty of new things to put in your bucket too.

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competing in the Checkpoint Tracker Championship

"LandepNews"

Adventure racers planning on competing in the Checkpoint Tracker Championship, to be held in western Kentucky this October, may want to get their registrations in today. Not only is the field for the event filling up very quickly, today is the final day to get the early registration discount.

The race is scheduled to take place on October 21 in the Land Between The Lakes and will feature a 100+ mile course designed to challenge the teams with plenty of mountain biking, trekking, paddling, and more. Currently, registration for the event is $250 per person, but after midnight tonight that price goes up to $275. That entry fee includes registration for the Championship, pre and post-race dinners, a limited edition Checkpoint Tracker Championship fleece, a Checkpoint Tracker hat, maps from MyTopo.com, and more.

If your team is looking for a great event to compete in this fall, than you should be strongly considering this race. Not only is the setting going to be a remarkable place to compete, but this will be one of the premiere races in North America for the remainder of the year. Most of the top teams in the country will be on hand, so it is a great place to test your skills, and above all else, it should simply be a fun weekend.

Hurry and register now before the price goes up at the end of the day.

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successfully climbed K2

"LandepNews"

The squad of international climbers who successfully climbed K2 earlier this week are now safely down the mountain and making their way to Base Camp. According to a dispatch posted on Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner's website, Ralf Dujmovits and Tommy Henrich climbed up to their "Deposit Camp" today to meet Gerlinde, and her compatriots Maxut Zumayev, Vassiliy Pivtsov, and Darek Zaluski. The six teammates then continued down the mountain to BC, and eventually the Chinese Base Camp, where a team of porters were waiting to load the remaining gear on camels for the trek out. That trek will begin tomorrow, and the entire team will soon be back in civilization once again.

According to Max, the four summiteers didn't truly celebrate their achievement until they were officially back down the mountain. As most mountaineers will tell you, the summit is only half-way to the finish line, and K2 is a particularly treacherous peak on the descent as well as the climb. Fortunately, the team reached Base Camp without any real problems, and they are now resting up and preparing for the journey home.

Max also noted that he and Vassiliy received a call from the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Karim Masimov, to personally congratulate them, but they were still on the mountain at the time. Ralf took the call and passed on the sentiments to the two Kazakh climbers.

Now that everyone is down and safe, I want to send one more round of congratulations to the team. They worked hard and were very patient, and in the end their persistence paid off, and they were able to climb the toughest mountain in the world. It is an amazing accomplishment and they've earned every bit of rest and relaxation that they've got coming to them. Well done!

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story about the Row To The Pole Team

"LandepNews"

A few weeks back I posted a story about the Row To The Pole Team, which was made up of six crew members who were attempting to become the first people to row to the Magnetic North Pole. At the time, they were just setting out from Resolute Bay, Canada and were taking to the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean. Now, more than three weeks later, they are approaching the finish line.

The team, which is led by polar explorer Josh Wishart, has battled cold weather, high winds, and plenty of drift ice on the way to their destination. In total, they will have covered approximately 450 miles on their way to the Pole, which is located in the waters of the Arctic Ocean itself. Reading the updates from their blog, it is clear that his hasn't been an easy trip, as weather conditions haven't been favorable much of the time.

Officially, the team is rowing to the GPS coordinates of 78°35.7N 104°11.9W, which is actually the location of the Magnetic North Pole back in 1996. Unlike the Geographic North Pole, which is located at 90ºN, the Magnetic Pole is moving, and has continued to do so for some time. Now, 15 years after it was recorded at this location, it has now drifted further north and east. In 2005, the Pole was estimated to be located at 82.7°N 114.4°W, and is now believed to be moving towards Russia at a speed of about 35 miles per year. That means that the destination that the team is actually rowing to is nowhere near where the atual Magnetic North Pole is located. This has, as you can imagine, caused a stir amongst some in the adventure community.

So, while I congratulate the team on reaching their destination, as rowing through the Arctic Ocean is never an easy feat, I can't help but wonder what it is they have actually accomplished. They did reach a point on the map, but that point doesn't really hold any kind of significant relevance to any other. I salute their adventurous spirit and attitude, and I commend them for facing the elements to complete their voyage, but I'm not sure that they actually achieved what they set out to do, which is to Row To The Pole.

The video below shows what the conditions are like for them today as they approach the finish. They've left behind much of the ice and the winds have calmed some as well.

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patience have finally paid off on K2

"LandepNews"

The long weeks of hard work and patience have finally paid off on K2, where the news is coming in this morning that the international team has summited the mountain. Details are still a bit light, but late in the day Pakistan time, Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, Maxut Zumayev, and Vassiliy Pivtsov have topped out on the world's second highest peak. Derek Zaluski is said to be close behind, but as of this writing, not at the summit yet.

Gerlinde's website has been down for maintenance all day (How's that for timing?), but has just come back online to announce that she has reached the summit, with Max and Vassiliy close behind. The note alos says that Darek is trailing a bit, but should arrive shortly. That post came at 6:18 PM local time.

Their day began at 1:30AM this morning, when they started the final summit push. The team had spent a very cold night at 8300 meters (27,230 ft) and were anxious to get the final portion of their climb underway. Unfortunately, they found plenty of snow waiting for them, and they had to continue to break trail through waist deep powder for much of their way up. It is also an extremely cold day on the mountain, and all four are said to be suffering from the bitter temperature. That said, the winds are nearly non-existant and there isn't a cloud in the sky, so the weather window has held, even if the temperatures have dropped.

This is all welcome news, as these summits are the first since the tragic events of 2008 during which 11 people died on K2. Since that time, the mountain has turned back all challengers, including some of the most experienced and talented climbers on the planet.

It should also be noted that by completing this climb, Gerlinde has become the first woman to summit all 14 of the 8000 meter peaks without the use of supplemental oxygen. That is a huge accomplishment as well, and she deserves all the accolades for pulling that off.

Of course, the climb isn't over just yet. They need to get back down safely as well, and considering how long they've been climbing already today, they are surely exhausted. They'll likely descend back to Camp 4, rest awhile, then continue down the mountain. Keep your fingers crossed for them until they are safely back in Base Camp. They're not safely off the "Savage Mountain" just yet.

Congrats to Gerlinde, Max, Vassiliy, and Darek on a job well done. Now get down safe!

Thank's for link: