A new documentary film called Dear Governor Cuomo takes a look at the impact of fracking on the state of New York and how one man – Governor Andrew Cuomo – can make a huge difference simply by banning the practice. This past May, a group of musicians, actors, scientists and activists gathered in Albany, NY to ask the Governor to join the anti-fracking movement. The documentary, which is written and directed by our friend Jon Bowermaster, is a blend of moving music and a powerful message of protecting the environment.
The film is in limited release now and is an important one, even if you don't live in New York.
One of the more interesting and exciting tech tools to be announced in recent months has been Microsoft's Surface tablet. With its 10" screen, touch interface and included case/keyboard, the device immediately captured the attention of travelers and adventurers who were drawn to the small size, durability and potential to be more productive than other tablets currently on the market.
A few weeks back we all enjoyed some highlights from the Red Bull Rampage free-ride mountain bike race that went down in Virgin, Utah last month, often marveling at the riders ability to defy gravity. The race features a course with some impossibly narrow trails, usually flanked by significant drops on either side, that are occasionally broken up with some massive jumps and drops. The competitors launch from a starting gate and scream down the hill to reach the finish line some 1500 feet (457 meters) below. How exactly they get there is up to them, but lets just say the results can be pretty spectacular.
Last week I shared my thoughts on some tasty new energy bars called Journey Bars that are unique in the flavors that they offer. Rather than going with sugary-sweet tastes like so many similar products from competitors, Journey Bar has instead elected to go with savory options such as coconut curry, parmesan romano and hickory barbecue. I gave the bars high marks for offering something different and for being healthy and easy to carry along on trips, long hikes or runs.
It has been a productive week in the Antarctic, where South Pole skiers are making good progress and the Lake Ellsworth research team has gotten down to business. There is still plenty of work to be done, but it is good to see some encouraging and positive news from frozen continent at last.
Looking for some suggestions on where to go and what to do on your next escape? Then check out the Ultimate Adventure Bucket List courtesy of National Geographic Adventure. The list was compiled by Nat Geo editors who asked past Adventurer of the Year winners to share their biggest, best and most outrageous expeditions from the past. The result is 20 great stories that will have you plotting your next excursion as well.
Without a doubt, 1963 was an incredibly important year in terms of American history on Everest. On May 1 of that year, Jim Whittaker made the first successful summit of the mountain by an American and three weeks later he was joined by Willi Unsoeld and Tom Hornbein who completed the first ascent along the difficult West Ridge. It was a season for the ages at a time when the number summits in any given year could be counted on two hands. It was a very different era on the world's tallest peak, before anyone ever used the words "over crowding" to describe the scene there.
One of the more unique ultra-marathon events in the world got underway this past weekend with the start of the Last Desert marathon in Antarctica. The event annually draws a group of very dedicated runners who travel to the bottom of the world to compete in an endurance event in one of the more extreme environments on the planet.
A four-woman rowing team is gearing up to take on the Pacific Ocean next summer. The crew, which consists of Annabel Hancock, Laura Penhaul, Becky Scott and Wendy Hilton, intend to set out on their three-stage crossing next June, departing from San Francisco on what is expected to be a six month long, 8500+ mile (13,680 km) journey.
The 2012 adventure racing season isn't finished quite yet. On Wednesday of this week, the Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge will get underway, pitting some of the best endurance athletes in the world against one another on five-day stage race that will cover more than 350 km (217 miles) of Australian wilderness.
According to this article from The Age, a British man has earned the distinction of becoming the first person to visit every nation on the planet without flying. 33-year old Graham Hughes says that he has spent the better part of the past four years traveling the globe to accomplish this feat, ending his quest by crossing into the Earth's newest country, South Sudan, a few days ago.
I've been following Aaron Linsdau's progress in Antarctica very closely since he got underway two weeks ago, and it is regularly been my lead story in these Antarctic updates. For those who haven't been following so far, Aaron is hoping to become the first American to ski solo and unsupported from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole and back. Something that has only been done by three other people. In order to cover the 1400+ miles (2250 km) that this journey will cover, he arrived in the Antarctic plenty early. But unfortunately nothing has gone his way and he is barely making any progress at all, something that continues to be evident on his almost daily dispatches.
EpicTV posted an interesting story today that has me a bit conflicted. The article talks about the first descent of Marmore Falls in Italy by kayaker Dario Vanacore and even features some impressive photos from the stunt. The falls, which stand 165 meters (540 ft) in height, are amongst the tallest in all of Europe and are a popular tourist attraction as well. They feature a three-stepped drop and were partially carved by the Romans to help facilitate the flow of water into Rome, which gives them both a natural beauty and historical significance.
While I've been away enjoying the holiday break here in the U.S. the intrepid teams of polar explorers that we've been following in the Antarctic have continued their expeditions on the frozen continent. Despite the fact that a few days have passed since our last update, conditions haven't necessarily improved much and the early South Pole skiers are struggling against a number of challenges.
