Mugs Stump, Polartec Grants Announced
Climbing.com has released the 2010 recipients of the Mugs Stump and Polartec grants. Six small teams have been awarded a total of $25,000 for clean, lightweight first ascents in 2010. For a complete list of past recipients and details on how to apply for the grant, visit mugstumpaward.com. Meanwhile, Polartec has also handed out some cash (totaling $20,000 from the Polartec Challenge) for one cycling trip and three climbing expeditions. While we're waiting for these expeditions to launch, take a look at Kate Harris and Mel Yule--two female recipients of the Polartec challenge with an inspiring cycling goal.
--Aurora Wingard
 |
Comments (0) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
Wild Tigers Disappearing in China
The Wildlife Conservation Society estimates that there are less than 50 wild tigers left in China, according to Treehugger.com. Habitat destruction, limited food sources, and poaching have contributed to major decreases throughout Asia. Want to help? If your a millionaire you might be able rent a tiger or two. Mother Nature Network discusses the plan recently proposed by Indonesia. Not ready to shell out the big bucks? Check out the Wildlife Conservation Society for tips, donation centers and other ways in which you can make a difference.
--Aurora Wingard
|
Comments (0) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
Video: Exploring Antarctica
Ever wondered what a day in the life of a polar explorer is like? Watch the video above to see what Eric Larsen and his two traveling buddies do on a typical day trekking in Antarctica. Somehow, the guys find time and energy to play snow football and make ice castles.
Larsen and his team embarked on the Save the Poles expedition in November to raise awareness about global warming. If successful, they will be the first ever to complete a journey to the North and South Poles and summit Everest in a single year.
--Aileen Torres
|
Comments (0) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
The Top 10 Dirtiest Hotels of 2010
Traveling? Don't get stranded in an awful hotel. Save your self the trouble by checking out TripAdvisor's dirtiest hotels of 2010. Even if you aren't planning a vacation, the reader comments are reason enough to look at the list. A few nuggets:
"wouldn't let a stray dog sleep there" (USA)
"not bad for a drunk rodeo" (CANADA)
"Arrived...paid...left....relived" (UNITED KINGDOM)
The annual review of over 450,000 hotels has left the hotel industry on pins and needles (and looking to protect the reputation of their establishment through a legal channel, as reported by the New York Times). That doesn't mean you should put your vacation on hold. TripAdvisor has 'best of' lists for you too. We've done our destination research as well.
--Aurora Wingard
|
Comments (0) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
February 08, 2010
Lagat Breaks 5000-meter Record In Boston
Bernard Lagat broke the American 5000 meter record at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games. Lagat announced his intentions before the games began, but it looked as if he wouldn't be so lucky. All runners were well behind the record pace with 1000 meters to go, reports Cool Running. But American Galen Rupp began pushing the pace and Lagat followed. He finished with a record time of 13:11.50. Video (albeit shaky) below.
-- Jonah Ogles
|
Comments (0) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
Video Of A Bear Walking On Two Legs
We don't know where this video was taken or how Backpacker found it, but it's pretty cool. The video features a three-legged black bear and her cub. All is normal until the bear stands up on two legs and walks around.
-- Jonah Ogles
|
Comments (1) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
Wenger Patagonian Adventure Race Begins Tomorrow
The 2010 adventure racing season is about to begin. The first big race of the year, the Wenger Patagonian Expedition, begins tomorrow in Chile. The course runs 372 miles (600 km) over eight days. The Adventure Blog posted a cool preview below. If you need someone to cheer for, our blogger The Gear Junkie will be competing.
-- Jonah Ogles
|
Comments (0) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
Video: Lindsey Vonn Preps for Vancouver
Check out Lindsey Vonn in The New York Times's 2010 Vancover Olympics video series, above. No American alpine skier, male or female, has ever won more than two medals at the Games, but Vonn is favored in three races and is a medal contender in two more. Follow her, along with other Olympians, on our Top 10 Twitter list.
--Aileen Torres
|
Comments (0) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
Shackleton's Lost Antarctic Whiskey Recovered
We've been waiting for this.The New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust has successfully recovered the whiskey left behind by Shackleton's 1908-1909 expedition to the continent, according to the Daily Mail. We anticipated the find in a December article.
The expedition recovered the cases in almost perfect condition, considering their age. And as a bonus, they also recovered some brandy left behind by Shackleton. Want a sip of century-old whiskey that's been on ice for the past 100 years? You may be out of luck. The Daily Mail says the Mackinley Old Scotch Whiskey must be kept according to conservation guidelines.
Photo from the Daily Mail
-- Jonah Ogles
|
Comments (0) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
Avalanche on Kashmir's Disputed Border Kills 17
More sad news to report: A slide killed at least 17 soldiers when it hit a military training camp near Gulmarg, a popular Indian ski resort, today. This border with Pakistan has long been disputed in one of the world's highest-altitude wars. The Christian Science Monitor has an excellent report, and years ago in this magazine, Kevin Fedarko wrote a first-hand account called The Coldest War.
The east coast is getting hammered with snow but human-triggered slide action in the U.S. mountain West is relatively quiet at the moment. Let's keep it that way.
|
Comments (0) | | | Email this post | | | TrackBack (0) | | | Permalink |
