Bắc Kinh đóng cửa cầu kính vì không có ai chịu trách nhiệm

Quyết định dừng của chính quyền Bắc Kinh (Trung Quốc) gồm cả việc xây dựng và sử dụng cầu đáy kính, Shanghaiist đưa tin ngày 16/2.

Số lượng cầu đáy kính tăng đáng kể từ khi cầu kính Đĩa bay mở cửa năm 2016. Cây cầu này được xây dựng ở hẻm núi Sĩ Lâm, Bắc Kinh, Trung Quốc. Với diện tích 415 m2, đây được xem là tầng tham quan bằng kính lớn nhất thế giới. Cây cầu này mang lại cho du khách cái nhìn toàn cảnh về vẻ đẹp của vùng núi, và là điểm du lịch hấp dẫn chính ở quận Pinggu, Bắc Kinh.

Năm 2015, một cây cầu đáy kính ở tỉnh Hà Nam phải ngừng hoạt động vì kính bị nứt vỡ sau 2 tuần sử dụng. Vì vậy, trước mỗi công trình, Trung Quốc phải thử trọng lượng cầu. Tháng 9/2016, sau gần 2 tuần khai trương, cây cầu đáy kính cao nhất thế giới ở Trung Quốc phải đóng cửa vì quá đông khách. Cây cầu ở vườn quốc gia Trương Giá Giới, Hồ Nam, Trung Quốc cũng phải đóng cửa gần một tháng để bảo trì và nâng cấp.

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!

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.

Video: Mainland New Zealand

Shot on New Zealand's South Island, this timelapse video features some great shots of the spectacular landscapes found there. Images were captured near Mount Cook, the Te Anau Basin, and Central Otago, amongst other places. This seems like a fitting way to close out the week, and perhaps inspire a bit of wanderlust at the same time. I hope you enjoy!

Mainland New Zealand from Stephen Patience Photography on Vimeo.

Video: Expedition to Remote Myanmar

We have another fantastic video courtesy of National Geographic today. This time, the short film follows an expedition of elite climbers into a remote region of Myanmar where they hope to measure the height of a peak called Hkakabo Razi, which is believed to be Southeast Asia's tallest mountain at 5881 meters (19,295 ft). Along the way they face a grueling trek, some unexpected obstacles, and a surprisingly challenging ascent. That all makes for a great adventure video for those of us watching at home, although it looks like it created some struggles for this team. This is a great video for those interested in mountaineering and exploration. Don't miss it.

Video: Urban Mountain Biking Through the Streets of Cusco, Peru

We all love a good mountain bike video. It's always fun to watch someone bombing down an amazing trail or riding along a beautiful ridge. This video is not like that, although it is a lot of fun none the less. In this case, we follow pro riders Aaron Chase and Chris Van Dan as they take to the streets of Cusco, Peru on what has to be one of the gnarliest urban rides ever put down on film. It is 3+ minutes of these two men taking their bikes to some pretty unique places. Strap yourself in for this one, it's a lot of fun.

Video: Why Elephants May Go Extinct in Our Lifetime

I have another video today from Nat Geo, but this time it isn't quite so fun. It is a short clip about the dangers that elephants now face as a species with the continued poaching of the animals for their ivory. According to this video, an average of 100 elephants are killed each day by poachers. Their tusks are then turned into good that are sold in Asia and the U.S. where ivory is still seen as an acceptable thing to own or give as a gift. At this rate, these amazing animals could be wiped out in our lifetimes, never to be seen again. That would be a tragedy of epic proportions.

Warning: there are a couple of graphic shots in this video. They may be hard for some people to see, but this is a topic that is near and dear to me, and I wanted to share this none the less.

Video: Tour Conrad, Jimmy, and Renan's "Tenthouse" Suite from the Mountaineering Film Meru

Yesterday I mentioned that the mountaineering film Meru is due to be released in theaters this week. Today, National Geographic brings us this fantastic clip that takes us up 20,000 feet (6096 meters) to the "Tenthouse" suite, which is of course the wall-tent that the three climbers – Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk – stayed in while ascending the Shark Fin on Mt. Meru. Jimmy gives viewers a quick tour of their home, which is held in place by a few ropes, over a 4000 foot (1219 meter) drop. If you've ever wondered what it is like to live on the side of a mountain for days at a time, this clip will certainly provide some insights.

The commute to the suite is a tough one, but the views are certainly spectacular.

Video: Meet "Deep Blue," the Largest Shark Ever Captured on Film

If you're one of those people who is already a little trepidatious about getting into the ocean, than you'll probably want to avoid watching this video. It features a shark that has been dubbed "Deep Blue" who just might be the largest ever captured on film. The massive creature is over 20 feet in length, and is believed to be 50 years old. Its size is put well into perspective thanks to the human observers nearby who are both in and out of a protective cage.

Seeing this thing swim by would have to be absolutely awe-inspiring and frighting at the same time. It is indeed an incredible sight to behold. I definitely think we're going to need a bigger boat.

Video: Exploring Iceland by Drone

If there is a place that seems perfect for exploring via drone, it is probably Iceland. The country is filled with spectacular landscapes that include mountains, glaciers, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. Those places are all captured nicely in this short video, which was shot using a DJI Phantom 3. As you'll see, the results are fantastic, giving us views of these wonderful places that we couldn't normally get on our own.

ICELAND from modern-atelier on Vimeo.

Video: A World-Record 164-Person Skydive

Setting up and pulling off a world record skydive attempt isn't easy. There is a lot of preparation and coordination that goes into such an event. This video not only gives us a behind the scenes look at how something like that comes together, but it also takes us into the air to join 164 skydivers as they link-up mid-flight to set a new world record. As you can probably imagine, it is a pretty spectacular sight.

Meru Film Opens This Week

Yesterday I shared the second trailer for the upcoming Everest film, which judging from the traffic on that post there is a great deal of interest amongst reader. But that isn't the only mountaineer movie that we'll be able to catch in theaters over the next few weeks, as Meru is also releasing to a more limited number of screens starting this week.

This documentary follows the 2008 expedition to Mount Meru by Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk to attempt to climb the Shark Fin, a 4000-foot (1219 meter) big wall in the Indian Himalaya. The trio of climbers faced difficult conditions, avalanches, harsh weather, and some of the most challenging pitches found anywhere on the planet on their way up the 21,000-foot (6400 meter) peak. Along the way they were pushed to their absolute limits as they gave into their obsession for reaching the summit.

For my money, Meru is the most important mountaineering film we'll see of the two new releases. It is raw and real, with the actual climbers telling the story. Everest on the other hand is a big Hollywood production that – judging from the trailer – is filled with melodramatic dialog. Don't get me wrong, the climbing scenes look well done for this type of movie, but Meru is using actual footage from the real expedition, and the scenes haven't been recreated for the purpose of telling the story.

The documentary will go into limited release starting this Friday, and will slowly make its way into other theaters in the weeks ahead. You can check to see where it will be playing in your area by clicking here. In my case, it arrives in my town on Sept. 4, two days after a depart for the South Pacific for my honeymoon. That means it may not be still playing here when I get back home, but I am eager to see it none the less.

For an idea of what Meru is all about, check out the trailer below. It does a fine job of showing us what to expect. Can't wait to see it at some point.

Video: Explore Wild Alaska

Want to know why Alaska is called "The Last Frontier?" Than check out this video that was shot in the southern part of the state just last month. It features stunning landscapes of remote and wild places, amazing wildlife, and breathtaking settings that are found far from any human settlements. Having just visited Alaska myself this summer, I can tell you that it is a magical place filled with opportunities for adventure. This short film can give you a glimpse of what it has to offer. Sit back and enjoy.

Wild Alaska from Richard Sidey on Vimeo.

Video: Watch the Second Trailer for Everest

Next month, the big Hollywood adaptation of Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air will hit theaters at long last. Simply entitled Everest, this film features an all-star cast with the likes of Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kiera Knightly, Robin Wright, and many more. Last week, the second trailer for the film was released, giving us more of a glimpse of what to expect from the movie. This trailer includes more climbing shots than we've seen in the previous clips, including some nerve-wracking scenes of climbers passing through the Khumbu Icefall. It also gives viewers a better sense of the scope of the story as well, which most of us know inside and out by now.

When the first trailer for the film was released, I was a bit skeptical. Now, I remain cautiously optimistic. There is still some cringe-worthy dialog at times, but the climbing scenes look top notch, and cinematography is breathtaking. I think it is safe to say that we probably haven't seen a mountaineering film of this kind before, and I am now eager to see it on the big screen. Hopefully it meets expectations. Checkout the second trailer below.

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.

Video: On The Edge of Darkness

Timelapse video of the night skies rarely disappoint, and this video is no exception. Shot over a two-week period in Utah, the images seen here are both awe inspiring and incredibly humbling. The countless starts overhead provide an amazing sense of scale, while the rocky backdrop is spectacular too. This is one of those clips that you'll want to save for future reference, as it is as mesmerizing on subsequent viewing as it is on the first.

The Edge of Darkness (4k Resolution) from Ron Risman on Vimeo.

Video: Scenes From the Tromsø Sky Race

The 2015 edition of the Tromsø Sky Race went down last week, with top trail runners from around the world descending on Norway to take on an epic mountain running challenge. The video below gives you an idea of what this race is about, sharing two-minutes of footage of the runners as they make their way along a trail that looks both challenging and beautiful. This is not a race for beginning trail runners to say the least, but it is a rewarding experience for those who take part.

Tromsø SkyRace 2015 from TromsoSkyrace on Vimeo.