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.

What's Going on in America's National Parks?

It has been an odd summer in America's national parks. It seems like every few days lately there is another story of something odd or tragic happening inside one of the parks, including lots of encounters with wildlife and other strange going-ons. Here's a rundown of just some of the things that have been taking place within the past few weeks.

Of course, one of the biggest stories of the summer has been the bison attacks in Yellowstone. Just a few weeks back a woman was charged by a bison while she was using a selfie stick to take a photo. She had of course wandered a bit too close to the animal, which was then annoyed at her presence and expressed it the only way he knew how. I can't say as I blame him, as selfie sticks really annoy me too.

But this wasn't the only incident involving visitors to Yellowstone and the bison that live there. Far from it in fact. There have been at least five other bison attacks in the park this summer, as visitors seem to not be heeding the warnings about wandering too close to the large, and sometimes very aggressive, animals.

The bison aren't the only creatures to be wary of in Yellowstone either. Last week, a grizzly bear attacked and killed a hiker there too. 63-year old Lance Crosby was described as a very experienced hiker who had been working at medical clinics within the park for the past five years. It is unclear exactly what happened, but it seems likely that Crosby came upon the bear while hiking alone, and was attacked as a result. The bear was later captured and euthanized.


Over in Yosemite, a child has been diagnosed with the plague. It seems the child picked up the disease – which is the same as the "Black Death" that ravaged Europe in the 14th century – in a campground within the park. Apparently it can be transmitted from flea bites and takes about 3-7 days to incubate within the human body. Fortunately, it was diagnosed and treated quickly, so this young person is going to be fine. But the mere thought of being exposed to such a disease in this day and age is a bit startling.

The campground in question is Crane Flat by the way. It has been closed this week while health officials apply flea treatment to the burros of rodents that live in the area. It is hoped that that will kill the fleas carrying the plague and make it safe to return again soon.

Finally, there is the sad story of the French couple who died while hiking in the White Sands National  Monument earlier this week. Apparently they ran low on water while trekking in temperatures the exceeded 100ºF/37ºC and eventually succumbed to dehydration and heat exhaustion. The two gave extra water rations to their nine-year old son however, who was found alive and extremely dehydrated, near his fallen parents. It is an incredibly sad story that underscores the dangers of being out in extremely warm weather.

Each of these stories also remind us that even though the national parks see millions of visitors on an annual basis, they remain wild and untamed in many ways. Nature is still an incredibly strong force capable of bringing great harm to us humans. It has been a strange summer in the parks for sure, but lets hope the remaining weeks of the travel season are calmer and safer all around.

Video: Get a Full-Strength Dose of Nature Today!

Here's a humorous video that will likely induce more than a few chuckles. It is a parody clip of a prescription medicine commercial, but rather than trying to sell you a pill that will cure all of your ills, it prescribes getting outside in nature instead. Some of the purported side-effects of this "drug" will certainly ring true to more than a few of us I'm sure.

Enjoy the clip, than drop by Nature-RX.org to find out more about the video.

Casting Call: New Television Show Looking for "Extreme Survivalists"

A new television show is currently looking to cast fresh faces for what sounds like a reality competition of some sort. I've had this rattling around in my email inbox for awhile, and thought I'd share it just in case someone was interested in giving it a go. Here's the casting call in full:

INFORMATION:

NOW CASTING: EXTREME SURVIVALISTS!!

Are you one of the elite that protect small expeditions, that forge into the darkest and most dangerous parts of the planet? Can you survive in the remotest jungles and toughest mountain ranges, fending off predators and all of nature’s dangers in harsh, unforgiving terrains with a single mission – to stay alive?

Then October Films want to talk to you!


Email: casting@octoberfilms.co.uk


Twitter: http://bit.ly/1K6bh8p

#NowCasting #Casting #Survival #Survivalists #ExMilitary #ExtremeAdventure #Offgrid #ExtremeSurvival #Nationwide

#militaryporn #troopthanks #instalike #seals #navy #soldiers #ship #america #dailycombat #instadaily #commandos #airforce #murica #fighter #troops #military #paratroopers #avgeek #bushcraft
#BeOnTV #BeOnScreen

All I'll say is, that is a lot of hashtags. And good luck to anyone who applies. It certainly could be a good opportunity for the right person, and there seems to be a growing demand for reality television that takes place in remote areas of the world. Perhaps this will be another hit in that genre.

Off to 2015 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market!

If you're an avid outdoor enthusiast, and a gear nut, you probably already know that the 2015 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market is set to get underway in Salt Lake City Utah tomorrow. For those who don't know, OR is is the bi-annual convention where the top gear manufacturers show off their latest and greatest gear, most of which won't be available until late this year, or sometime in early 2016. For those of us who love our backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, and hiking boots, it is what I like to refer to as "gearvana." Essentially it is four days of outdoor adventure lifestyle, with lots of really fun and interesting people.

Today, I'll be catching a flight for SLC, and I'll be spending the next few days meeting with a wide variety of gear companies at OR. It will be long, tiring days, but also incredibly fun and revealing too. If you've read my blog during past OR shows, you know that I tend to do follow-up articles when I get back sharing some of the cool things that I saw there. But, I also post a lot of photos and impressions on social media while I am there too. So, if you'd like to keep up with some of the things I'll be seeing, follow me on Twitter at @kungfujedi. Additionally, since I am also the news editor at Gear Institute, I'll be working closely with the team there as well. You can follow us on Twitter at @GearInstitute as well. 

I'll be back next Monday, and posting regular updates once again. Enjoy the rest of your week and the weekend ahead. 

Video: On the Road in New Zealand with Photographer Chris Burkard

Chris Burkard is a professional photographer who travels the globe to capture athletes in remote and extreme places. In this video, he takes us along on a journey to beautiful New Zealand, giving us a glimpse of some of the exceptional landscapes found there while his subjects hike, climb, windsurf, and paddle their way through that amazing place. This clip is so beautiful it will inspire you to get outside and go on an adventure of your own.

Video: Lose Yourself in Nature and Adventure

This video is a reminder to all of us of the importance of getting outside, communing with nature, and finding our own adventures, wherever they might take us. It is filled with amazing images from the world around us, including mountains, hills, and streams. But it is the words of the narration that will hopefully stick with you long after you've watched the three-and-a-half minute clip. Those words urge us to explore our planet, and they are wise words indeed.

Lose Yourself from The Monday Mountaineers on Vimeo.

Get Fresh Gear Delivered to Your Door with BivySak.com

Who amongst us doesn't love getting new gear? There is nothing quite so satisfying for an outdoor enthusiast than getting new equipment for use on our adventures. But what if you could have that new gear delivered directly to your door on a regular basis without ever having to go to the store? Better yet, what if the contents of that box was tailored for a specific season, with gear that is meant to be used at the time of year that it is delivered.

That is the premise behind a new service called BivySak that not only curates outdoor products for members, but delivers high quality goods to their door four times a year. The company works directly with top gear manufacturers – including the likes of Patagonia, Salomon, and GSI – to collect some awesome products that we'd all like to have in our gear closets. Things like jackets, water bottles, camp cooking utensils, and so on. Those products are matched up based on seasonal activities, and shipped to BivySak members in time for use during the season ahead.

As an example of what the contents of a certain box might contain, I recently received a sample of the BivySak shipment for the fall. Inside my box I found an excellent soft-shell jacket from Salomon, as well as a beanie for cool weather activities. There was also a FairShare mug from GSI, some a spork, and a nice assortment of energy bars from Honey Stinger. All told, a pretty good haul for someone who likes to be outside, even when temperatures start to drop.

A BivySak membership costs $24.99 per month, which means each of your individual boxes will set you back approximately $75. But the company guarantees that the contents of that box will be worth more than your membership fee each time you receive a new package. Looking at the sample that I was sent, I would say that the jacket alone was worth more than $75, with the extra contents just being icing on the cake.


BivySak is working off a popular business model on the Internet these days, with other companies sending monthly boxed subscriptions of clothing, collectibles, and other items as well. Those companies include the likes of Mancrate and Birchbox, both of which offer a similar service but not focused on outdoor gear. That's what helps separate Bivy from the crowd, as they are actually selecting items that are more likely to be of interest to us. The sample box that I received contained items that I will certainly use moving forward, which is not something I can say about the other services of this type that I looked at.

On top of offering monthly memberships, you can also give BivySak as a gift as well. I know we're a long way off from the holiday season at this point, but this is definitely something that you should keep in mind for the outdoor love in your life. It is high quality gear delivered to their door once per quarter, truly making it the gift that keeps on giving.

To find out more, check out BivySak.com. The site has several reviews of the product, information on their gear partners, a list of contents from previous boxes, and a countdown clock for when their next box ships. All in all, I'm impressed with what the BivySak team has put together here, and it is a fun service that I'm sure many will appreciate.

Seven Summits Mountaineer Richard Bass Passes Away at the Age of 85

Richard Bass, the first man to climb the Seven Summits, has passed away at the age of 85. He, along with his friend Frank Wells, came up with the idea of climbing the highest peak on each of the seven continents back in the early 80's, and both men set out achieve that feat. Bass did so in April, 1985 when he nabbed the final peak on his list by summiting Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia.

A Texas oilman, Bass is also the founder of the famous Snowbird ski resort in Utah. His efforts to climb the Seven Summit made that pursuit a popular one with mountaineers across the globe, and helped to commercialize climbing on some of those mountains. At the time that he completed his quest, the list of mountains included Everest (Asia), Elbrus (Europe), Denali (North America), Aconcagua (South America), Kilimanjaro (Africa), Vinson (Antarctica), and Kosciusko. The list has since been amended to include Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia, as some climbers have expanded the Australian continent to include more of the Pacific region.

Long time friend and documentary filmmaker David Breashears made the announcement of Bass' passing on his Facebook page. The note simply said:

“It is with great sadness that I convey the news of the passing of Richard D. Bass late in the evening of July 26. Dick passed away peacefully in the company of friends and family; he was eighty-five-years old.”

Dick Bass wasn't as well known as climbers like Reinhold Messner or Ed Viesturs of course, but he certainly left an indelible mark on the mountaineering community. Even today, there are hundreds of people attempting the Seven Summits at any given moment, and his achievement is still considered an impressive accomplishment for any adventurer.

Bass' tale of his endeavor, simply called Seven Summits, was one of the first mountaineering books that I ever read. It left quite an impression on me when I started thinking about my own adventures, and for that I am eternally grateful.

My condolences to Dick's friends and family. He will be missed.

Off to Colorado on Assignment

I'm hitting the road again tomorrow and will be gone through the end of the week. I'm off to Grand Junction, Colorado on assignment for a magazine article I'll be writing soon. Hopefully I'll have a chance to post a few morning updates while I'm there, but if blog posts are sparse this week, you'll know why. 

While I'm in Colorado, I'll be going off-roading with Cooper Tires to test a new set of tires that the company will be releasing soon. We'll be taking on such routes as the Grand Mesa Trail and Bangs Canyon in some jeeps especially equipped to take on the terrain there. It should be both a fun and informative couple of days, and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to spend some time back in the Rockies once again. 

With any luck, I'll post at least a few updates over the next few days, particularly as we get closer to the start of summit pushes on Broad Peak and K2. It will be a busy couple of weeks in the big mountains, and as usual I'll be doing my best with staying up with the latest news. 

Adventurers to Spend a Year in the Wilderness to Stop Mining

Remember Dave and Amy Freeman? They're the couple that were named National Geographic Adventurers of the Year back in 2014 for their 11,000+ mile (17,700 km) journey across North America, during which they established the Wilderness Classroom as a way to use adventure to help educate kids. Last year they also took a paddling trip to Washington, D.C. as a way to raise awareness of the threat of sulfide mining to the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota. Those efforts did not go unnoticed, but the threat remains very real. So now the husband and wife adventure team are planning to take yet another step in their campaign to protect the area they love, but this time they'll be spending a whole year in the wilderness to draw attention to the cause.

Starting on September 23 of this year, and running until September 22 of 2016, Dave and Amy will embark on a 365-day adventure in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. During that time, they'll travel by canoe, snowshoe, and dogsled as they explore more than 500 lakes and streams that are threatened by sulfide-ore mining that is taking place on the edge of these protected lands, as well as Voyageurs National Park.

Dave and Amy hope to save the Boundary Waters by putting an end to mining operations there. Those mines sit on private lands just off the protected areas, but still threaten to have a harmful effect on the environment. This is an area that the couple knows well, and has fallen in love with, so they have made it their mission to protect it from this challenges.

The start of their year-long adventure is still two months away, but the duo is busy preparing for the challenges ahead. Once underway, you'll be able to read updates on their journey at SaveTheBoundaryWaters.org.

Back From Alaska!

After spending more than two weeks in Alaska working the Expedition Alaska adventure race, I am now back home and ready to start updating again on a semi-regular basis. I say semi-regular because this week will continue to be a very busy one on my end. On Saturday I am getting married, and with lots of friends and family coming into town, things could be a bit disrupted again later in the week. So, don't expect too much on Friday or probably next Monday. But other than that, things should be getting back to mostly normal around here. At least for a couple of weeks anyway. 

As for Expedition Alaska, it was an epic event to be sure. The 350+ mile race went through incredibly challenging and demanding wilderness areas, with the teams experiencing just about everything that the state has to offer. They crossed a massive glacier, went up mountain ridges, paddled down raging rivers, and mountain biked some of the best single track in the world. 

To say it was an adventure race for the ages would be an understatement, and the comments from the participants post-race only reinforced that notion. Some called it the race that they had been waiting years for, and others said that it more than lived up to the hype. The team that put on the event hope to do it again in the future, but for now we're all glad to be back home, catching up on some much needed rest, and getting back to our routine. Believe it or not, putting on a race such as this one is almost as demanding on the organizers as it is the racers. 

A lot has happened while I was away, so I'll be spending some time over the next few days catching up with the things I missed. Climbs are proceeding on K2 and Broad Peak, adventurers have set out on new expeditions, and of course the Tour de France – one of my favorite events – has gotten underway. I'll be covering all of this and more in the days ahead. In the meantime, I appreciate your patience while we crank the blog back up once again. 

Mountain Hardwear Is Giving Away Free Campsites This Summer

Mountain Hardwear is so committed to helping us get outside this summer that they're actually giving away free campsites. The gear company has joined forces with Hipcamp to provide free access to three amazing camps located in California, Wyoming, and New York, with visitors able to reserve a spot for two consecutive nights.

The three campsites include Clear Creek Ranch in Northern California, Grand Tetons Climber's Ranch in Wyoming, and The Gunks in New York. Each is of these private campsites offer beautiful outdoor settings that are perfect for a short escape to the backcountry, particularly during the warm summer months.

Reserving the sites is incredibly easy. Simply go to this website and look for the location that you are interested in visiting. Then, select the dates that you would like to stay at that location, and check to see if they are open. From there, you can book the site absolutely free.

If the dates you are looking for aren't available, don't fret. Mountain Hardwear plans to open more dates throughout the summer, and will send emails to campers to alert them that they are available. Announcements of new open dates will also be made on MHW social media, including Twitter and Facebook.

You can find out more at the Mountain Hardwear Blog here.

Video: NBC News Discovers Wingsuit Flying

It is always interesting when the mainstream media discovers an outdoor or extreme sport, and gives it some exposure. Last night, NBC News did just that with its brief exposé on wingsuit flying, which you'll find below. While this video, which features the GoPro Bomb Squad, was part of the nightly news, it was also part of a documentary that aired on CNBC last night entitled "The New High: Extreme Sport," which took a look at a number of the activities that many of us follow or participate in. The one-hour special not only examined wingsuit flying and BASE jumping, but also obstacle course racing, kiteboarding, and other "extreme" activities. The show is likely to air again over the weekend, so if you get a chance, give it a look. I haven't seen it myself, and I'm curious as to how it came out. In the meantime, you can get some solid ariel footage from the clip below.

Video: A Tribute to Denali the Dog

A few years back photographer Ben Moon faced the challenge of his life when battled cancer. Through all of that, his dog Denali stayed by his side, and the two shared a bond that was incredibly deep. Later, Denali would contract the same disease, and battle it as well, eventually losing his life. Now, Moon has created an incredibly touching tribute to his friend in the form of this short film. It is told from Denali's perspective, and is filled with wit and wisdom that we can all gain by watching it. But be warned, this video will likely leave you in tears, particularly if you've ever had to say goodbye to a pet yourself. As we all know, our animal companions become part of the family, and it is never easy to let them go.

Denali from FELT SOUL MEDIA on Vimeo.

National Geographic Announces 2015 Emerging Explorers

National Geographic has announced its selection for the 2015 Emerging Explorers program. Each year, the iconic organization selects a group of talented and driven scientists, conservationists, storytellers, and innovators who are making an important contribution to their chosen field, even at the early stages of their career. Each of them gains a good deal of recognition for the honor, as well as $10,000 to devote to their projects.

This year's class of explorers include Salam Al Kuntar, an archaeologist who is working hard to protect important sites inside Syria, Leslie Dawn, a nuclear scientists working on improving the way reactors function, and Innocent Mburanumwe, a ranger who protects the extremely endangered gorillas in the Virunga National Park of Democratic Republic of the Congo. They're joined on the list by wildlife conservationists, medical engineers, a biophysicist, and a number of other extremely bright men and women.

In total, there are 14 men and and women who have received the distinction of being named an Emerging Explorer this year. Their interests and passions vary greatly, but they all hold a common trait in that they are trying to make the world a better place in some way or another. One has helped create the largest shark sanctuary on the planet, while another is attempting to stamp out illegal trafficking of wildlife. Still others are focused on preventing climate change, exploring the human mind, or preventing the spread of disease. These are the new explorers for the 21st century, and their work is as vital and important as ever.

To find out more about these men and women, check out Nat Geo's Emerging Explorers page, and watch the video below.

Video: A GoPro Camera Falls From Orbit

Recently the private space firm SpaceX conducted a test of its new Falcon 9 rocket, sending it into orbit high above the Earth. By most accounts it was a successful flight, potentially opening the door for a new era of commercial space flight. During that test a GoPro camera was attached to one of the rockets farings, and it managed to capture some amazing footage as it fell back to Earth. The video below is a sample of that footage, which is oddly tranquil, especially when set to the music of the Blue Danube by Johann Strauss.

Bradley Wiggins Sets New Hour Record For Cycling

With the 2015 Tour de France now less than a month away, it is certainly time to start thinking about cycling once again. If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you probably already know that Le Tour is one of my favorite events to follow each year. It is cycling's grandest stage, and a daily dose of inspiration for those of us who like to ride.

This past weekend, 2012 Tour champ Bradley Wiggins, who has all-but given up road racing in favor of returning to the track, set a new UCI hour record. For those who don't know, the hour record is an attempt by a rider to go as far as possible in just 60 minutes. It is conducted on a track instead of the road, and the cyclist rides completely alone. The event has received quite a bit of attention in the past year or so, as last September Jens Voight set a new mark by traveling 51.11 km (31.7 miles) over the course of his ride. Since then the record was broken three more times, with Brit Alex Dowsett the current record holder at 52.937 km (32.89 miles) going into the weekend.

The 35-year old Wiggins, who is known for being a powerful cyclist both on and off the track, managed to smash that mark however, and by most accounts it didn't appear that he was even working all that hard to do so. At the end of the ride, Wiggo had managed to travel an astounding 54.526 km (33.88 miles), beating the old record by a kilometer and a half.

This is an impressive feat for a rider who has struggled with injuries since winning his Tour de France nearly three years ago. He was left off the Sky team altogether last year, and more recently he has expressed his interest in returning to track cycling, which is where he got his early start, and has continued to show his prowess.

After hearing that his record had been broken, Dowseet – who is a road cyclist himself – has already said he would like to try to regain the title. It is unclear as to when exactly he would do that, but it seems that there is a real arms race going on right now to push the hour record even higher. Wiggins has already indicated that this was his one go at the mark, and that he would not continue to try to extend the distance. Considering how impressively he handled the ride, it seems he could probably go further, but having shown what he can do, it seems Sir Bradley has other things he'd prefer to concentrate on.

Congratulations to Wiggins on this very impressive feat. Now who is going to step up to challenge the record next?

Video: Lost on New Zealand's South Island

This super-creative clip packs a lot of scenery and adventure into just a minute and a half. Shot on New Zealand's South Island, it takes us across the entire place with rapid-fire scenes of beautiful landscapes and wild adventures.This is about as comprehensive of a tour of South Island as you'll get in under two minutes, and once again it will leave you wanting more.

Lost in New Zealand from BenSteensels on Vimeo.

92-Year Old Woman Becomes Oldest to Complete Marathon

Looking for a dose of inspiration before your run today? Then check out Harriet Thompson of Charlotte, NC. This past weekend, 92-year old Harriet became the oldest woman to complete a marathon when she crossed the finish line at the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. 

Harriet completed the event with a time of 7:24:36, which was more than two hours faster than the next oldest woman to finish a marathon. According to Runner's World, back in 2010, Gladys Burrell ran the Honolulu Marathon in a time of 9:53:16. At the time, she was 19 days past her 92nd birthday, which is 74 days younger than Harriet. 

The grandmother of 10 isn't new to running. This is actually the 16th time she has completed a marathon, running each of the Rock 'n" Roll races in San Diego over the years, save the 2013 even when she was battling cancer. She even olds the marathon record for 90-94 age group, which she set last year with a time of 7:07:42. That's pretty impressive all things considered. 

Harriet says that she has no intentions of slowing down either. She says she'll be back for future races as long as she can continue to run. Hopefully that will be for many more years to come, as I'm sure she serves as a great inspiration to many people who are much younger than her. 

Think about Harriet the next time you're considering skipping a training run. If she's out there on the road putting in her miles, we can be too.