Freya Hoffmeister Paddles Around Cape Horn

Back in September, the queen of long distance paddling, Freya Hoffmeister, set out on an epic quest to circumnavigate around South America in a kayak. Starting in Buenos Aires, Freya began paddling south, following the Argentine coast, and over the past few months, she has continued to make great progress. Yesterday she reached a major milestone in the journey, as she rounded Cape Horn and turned her kayak north for the first time.

Anyone who knows anything about sailing or geography knows that Cape Horn is one of the more treacherous regions in all the world. The area is well known for incredibly bad weather, and the waters, which mark the boundary between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, are frequently turbulent to say the least. It is for that very reason that Freya chose to start her journey in Argentina, timing her arrival at the Cape with the austral summer, which is when the weather is at its calmest and most predictable.

Having now successfully navigated what is likely the most challenging and dangerous portion of the journey, she can now concentrate on the incredibly long distances she still has in front of her. The entire journey is expected to take about two years to complete and will cover more than 24,000km (14,913 miles). That means she still has roughly 20 more months of paddling ahead of her, but considering she has already kayaked around Australia, I don't expect she'll be put off by the challenge.

Thanks to Outside Online for sharing the news of Freya rounding the horn.

Video: Rocking and Rolling On The Southern Ocean

The Drake Passage is one of the most notoriously treacherous bodies of water in the world. Sitting between the southern tip of South America and the Shetland Islands of Antarctica, it is a dividing line of sorts between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Because of its unique geographical location, it has been known to see some incredibly bad weather, which can make sailing through those waters a precarious affair.

Recently, ski guide Kent McBride experienced this first hand when he was returning from an expedition to the Antarctic in which he, and some teammates, skied a variety of locations in the region. After finishing up that excursion, the team was on its way back to Chile, when they caught out in the Drake Passage when things began to get a bit dicey. You can see the results in the video below, which show the waters there rolling dramatically, while we're informed that the wind gusts are topping out the Beaufort Scale, which is a ranking between 1 and 12 that indicates the force and danger of the winds. In this case, the ship was experiencing a 12 on that scale, which is hurricane force.

You can read more about Kent's adventures over at the Born Out There Blog, which is the official blog of First Ascent gear.

Warning: If you're prone to sea sickness, this video may be enough to put you over the edge.

Cycling And Climbing Through South America

Two cyclists and climbers have combined their passions to launch a single great expedition that is currently underway in South America. Calling themselves the Biciclimbers, adventurers Jairo and Fer have set off to ride their bikes from Caracas, Venezuela to Ushuaia, Argentina, covering a distance of about 15,000km (9320 miles) in the process. Along the way, they'll also stop to climb some of the more prominent mountains in the countries they pass through as well.

According to their blog, it seems that the expedition got underway earlier this month, with the team first setting its sights on a climbing a big rock wall on the Gran Sabana of Venezuela. After that, they'll return to the road and what ever adventures capture their attention.

The Biciclimbers have dubbed their expedition "Pedaling the Andes," and they expect to cross through eight countries along the way. After leaving Venezuela, they'll make their way to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and finally Argentina. Exactly which mountains they'll climb along the way remains unclear, although the website does list Aconcagua, the tallest peak in South America at 6962 meters (22,841 ft).

The website and blog for the Biciclimbers is in Spanish, so in order to follow along, you'll need to be able to speak the language or use Google Translate to stay updated on their progress. They are already posting blog updates form the road however, and from the sound of things, they're enjoying the adventure so far.

What an amazing idea for a trip. Cycling and climbing on an extended journey sounds fantastic, and I hope Jairo and Fer have a great time. Very inspiring!

Freya Hoffmeister Begins Kayak Circumnavigation Of South America

Freya Hoffmiester has embarked on her next big adventure, setting out from Buenos Aires on Tuesday to attempt a circumnavigation of South America by kayak. The journey is expected to take upwards of 24 months and cover more than 24,000km (14,913 miles).

The German kayak-queen had plenty of supporters on hand to see her off on his latest journey, which will now see her traveling south along the Argentine cost. Her first big challenge will come when she braves Cape Horn, and the turbulent waters of the Drake Passage, as she rounds the tip of South America. That should come in a few weeks time, but for now, she is getting acclimated to life back on the water and enjoying some paddling time for herself.

Freya is no stranger to long kayak expeditions. Not only has she paddled around Iceland and New Zealand, but in 2009 she also completed a circumnavigation of Australia that took 332 days to complete. Of course, circling that continent by kayak was just a warm-up for this latest venture, which will not only take twice as long to complete, but will offer its own set of unique challenges.

You can follow Freya's progress on her expedition map and trip log, although most will probably find her blog to be more interesting. The first two entries offer her thoughts on getting started and enjoying her time back out on the water.

This is going to be one epic expedition. Obviously Freya is use to long distance paddles, but even still, paddling around South America is certainly an ambitious project.

Uncontacted Tribe Lives Less Than 100km From Machu Picchu

As mentioned last week, Sunday marked the 100th anniversary of the re-discovery of Machu Picchu by explorer Hiram Bingham. And while that amazing place continues to inspire travelers from across the globe, what I found even more interesting is that according to this story, there are still uncontacted tribes living less than 100km from the famous site. Worse yet, those tribes are now facing encroachment from the outside world that could threaten their way of life.

I wrote about the threats to uncontacted tribes when I posted a story about one being discovered in the Amazon a month or so back. In a nutshell, these tribes continue to live in isolation from the modern world, in the same manner that they have for hundreds of years. But now, climate change, deforestation, development and other outside forces are threatening to change their simple way of life forever.

This is exactly what is happening in Peru where the government has granted oil and gas companies access to the Kugapakori-Nahua-Nanti reserve, the home to these indigenous people. The Peruvian government says that it wants to protect these people, and their way of life, and yet they are providing access to their lands for big business.

Of course, this provides a difficult ethical dilemma for the modern world. We all know that society is constantly in need of energy sources, but how far should we go to tap new ones? Do our needs exceed those of these tribes simply because we have a more advanced society? It is a tough call, but I know that drilling for oil or natural gas in their environments will have a negative impact on their way of life, altering it forever.

National Geographic Celebrates 100 Years Of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of South America, and the stunning images of the mountain top fortress, located high in the Peruvian Andes, have inspired more than a few thoughts of adventure. 2011 marks the 100 year anniversary of Hiram Bingham's rediscovery of the hidden fortress, and to celebrate National Geographic has launched a website dedicated to that amazing place, which has been an archaeological treasure trove for a century.

Whether you've visited the site yourself or have dreams of making the journey one day, you'll find plenty to love on the Nat Geo Machu Picchu site. Not only will you find a host of great images from ancient city, you'll also get a list of the top 10 Machu Picchu secrets and 10 famous visitors, which include several surprising names. You'll also find articles on the history of the place, five great side trips while you're in Peru, and suggestions for alternate routes to the Inca Trail – a popular 4-day trek that ends in Machu Picchu itself. And once you've finished digesting all of that information, you'll be able to test your knowledge in a Machu Picchu quiz as well.

As a kid, reading the story of Bingham's discovery of Machu Picchu was like reading a real life account of Indian Jones. I was fascinated by the fact that a structure such as this one could be hidden away for centuries, and it allowed my imagination to run wild thinking about all the other undiscovered sites that are still out there, just waiting for us to stumble across them. This Sunday, July 24th,  is 100 years to the day since that archaeological find. Take a moment on that day to at least give a tip-of-the-hat to not only the Incans that built the amazing structure, but the man who rediscovered it as well.

Non-Profit Warm Current Seeks To Inspire Youth Through Surfing

A non-profit organization known as Warm Current has kicked off a unique fund raising program today that will allow them to continue, and expand, their mission of inspiring youth and underserved communities through surfing.

Starting today and running through July 31st, the organization is holding its Faces of Warm Current fund raiser, which focuses on generating cash to purchase new surfboards, wetsuits, and a trailer for upcoming Warm Current surf camps. The minimum donations start at just $5 and anyone who contributes will be able to upload a photo or message of their choice, which will then be added to the side of the trailer in the form of a two inch by two inch tile. Those tiles will form a mosaic that shares your message or image with the young people who will be reached by the Warm Current surf camp program.

The organization sprang from a 2008 surf trip to South America, during which the three founders visited a number of communities where underprivileged people simply couldn't enjoy the water because they couldn't afford the resources necessary to take advantage of it. Observing the plight of those local people inspired the idea of helping underserved communities throughout the world to reconnect with the natural environment through surfing. Since then, hundreds of wetsuits and surfboards have been donated to the cause, which has already impacted lives here and abroad.

The plan is to continue sending surf gear to those South American communities that helped generate the idea for the organization, but to also expand the Warm Current surf camps in the Pacific Northwest to help inspire kids here in the States as well. The non-profit has three goals in mind, help underprivileged individuals connect with outdoor recreation; increase the awareness of the importance of environmental stewardship; and decrease the amount of waste generated by the outdoor community by recycling their surf gear.

For more information about Warm Currents and their fund raising efforts, check out the video below. You can also donate to the cause by clicking here.



The Faces of Warm Current from Warm Current on Vimeo.

Atacama Overview - Chile's Other Adventure Destination

This morning I posted the first of what is sure to be several articles on Chile's Atacama Desert, over at Gadling.com. In the article I call the Atacama Chile's other adventure destination, because most travelers head to the South American country to experience the wild and beautiful Patagonia region or use Punta Arenas as a launching point for their Antarctic adventures.

 Located in the far north region of Chile, the Atacama is an amazingly diverse and beautiful region in its own right. The area is ringed by mountains which serve to create a rain shadow, preventing storm clouds from moving in and delivering rain to the area. As a result, there are places in the Atacama that haven't seen rain in centuries. Rain does fall in the mountains however, and that runs off into certain areas of the desert below, making lush oasis's in unexpected places. Those areas are green and vibrant and very different from the dry, desolate portions of the desert.

Fans of high altitude adventures will love the Atacama. The town that I stayed in, San Pedro, was situated on the desert floor, which is found at 8000 feet (2438 meters) above sea level. But San Pedro is just base camp for Atacama adventures, and there are literally dozens of mountains and volcanos (some still active!) worth climbing, just a short distance away from town. Some of these mountains are non-technical walk-ups, while others offer a far more challenging, full blown mountaineering experience.

In short, the Atacama is an adventure travelers dream. There are fantastic options there to hike, mountain bike, climb, and explore. The landscapes vary from starkly beautiful, but incredibly dry deserts, to geyser basins, salt flats, snow capped volcanoes, and more. One day you can be trekking through narrow, twisting canyons, and the next you'll be on your way to the top of an 18,000 foot (5480 meter) volcano. In between you can visit small villages that eke out a living in the harsh conditions and stroll a local market in search of handcrafted treasures.

I have plans for several more articles about my Atacama experience, and I'll be sure to link to them here as well. To read this first article, click here and to view some of my photos from the recent trip, click here. Hopefully I'll inspire some of you to want to visit this fantastic place for yourselves and discover why Chile's northern region is just as spectacular as its more well known southern domains.

impossible2Possible's Expedition Bolivia Underway

As I mentioned last week, the impossible2Possible crew have launched another adventure, this time to run across the salt flats of Bolivia with several youth ambassadors. They've dubbed this journey Expedition Bolivia, and it got underway yesterday with a 30km (18.6 mile) run through an amazing, yet desolate, landscape, as you'll be able to see from the video below. The video also shows the six young runners, who come from the U.S., Canada, and Bolivia, officially starting the run and then again at the 5k mark, where they admit that their adrenaline put them off to a bit of a fast start, but they fell into rhythm later.

All told, when they've finished the expedition this weekend, they'll have covered 250km (155 miles) and beamed their adventure back to hundreds of classrooms, where students of all ages are getting the opportunity to interact with them while they go. One of the key elements to any i2P expedition is their educational outreach opportunities, and this one is no different. In this case, Expedition Bolivia celebrates the International Year of Chemistry and much of the interaction with the classrooms will reflect that. They also hope to inspire students with a healthy dose of adventure along the way.

Looks like another great program.



i2P Expedition Bolivia - Day 1: 30 KM from GOi2P on Vimeo.

On The Road Again!

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I'm off on another escape, this time heading to the Atacama Desert in Chile. As I write this, I'm at the airport in Dallas, waiting for a connecting flight to Miami and an overnighter to Santiago. After that, it is another flight to Calama, and then an hour drive to my eventual destination of San Pedro de Atacama tomorrow morning. 

I'm told that there is Internet access at my hotel, so I hope to post some updates while I'm on the go, as I would hate to miss all the action that is about to unfold on Everest and other Himalayan peaks. If the connection is good (read, not like most Internet connections in remote areas, I hope to post some photos and updates on what I'm doing over the course of the next few days. I'm hoping to do some mountain biking, hiking, and volcano climbing, but we'll see. 

This is a quick trip, I'm back home on Monday, when you know I'll be back to regular posts. Hope everyone has their own adventures planned for the days ahead! Back soon!

8 Month Long, 6 Continent, Cycling Tour Annouced

Are you anticipating a little time off from work in the semi-near future? If so, you may want to sign up for the latest cycling tour announced by Pedalers Pub and Grille, an adventure travel company that specializes in cycling adventures all over the planet. In celebration of their 25th anniversary, the company has announced an epic ride that also comes with an epic price tag.

Dubbed the Once In A Lifetime Tour, this new option will send 30 lucky travelers off on an eight month long journey that will cross six continents and nearly 30 countries. The tour will kick-off in June of 2012 with a shakedown cruise in Vermont that will allow riders to get to know one another and get use to the rigors of the ride. From there, it's off to Europe, where they'll take a spin through France, Austria, Italy, and a number of other great cycling destinations. In the weeks that follow, the group will ride through parts of Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America, experiencing some great destinations along the way.

The tour won't come cheap though. If you want to join the fun, you'll need to plunk down $95,000, which includes all of your transportation costs, accommodations, most meals, guides on the trip, and a custom built bike. While nearly $100k for a vacation is a lot of money, you really are getting a lot for what you pay.

For more information on the trip, including a complete list of countries, click here, and for a detailed look at the itinerary, click here.

In Search Of The World's Most Poisonous Frog

You think it's easy being a photographer for National Geographic? Sure they get sent to some of the most amazing places on the planet and capture fantastic photographs of those destinations. But did you ever stop to wonder what they have to go through to get those great shots? Check out the video below for a very funny first hand account from photographer Mark Moffett, who traveled to Colombia to find an elusive, and very dangerous tree frog.

Thule Adventure Team Win Huairasinch Adventure Race

The Thule Adventure Team have claimed victory at the Huairasinchi Adventure Race which took place in Ecuador this past weekend, crossing the finish line two hours ahead of their closest competitors . The team fended off competition from second and third place teams, Equipo Ecuador and Team Skandia Adventures respectively,

While not as well known as some of the higher profile races, the Huairasinchi AR is earning itself a reputation as one of the toughest races around. It is billed as the "highest adventure race on Earth" and competitors climbed as up to 4300 meters (14,107 feet) while out on the course. Their route took them from the Amazon Jungle to the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, at they challenged themselves on foot, mountain bike, and kayak.

A race report is available on the team's website, which can be found here. It sounds like it was quite a challenging event, with only 33 of the 51 teams who started the race actually making it to the finish. Congratulations to the winning team which consisted of Captain Martin Flinta, Per Vestling, Jacky Boisset, and Myriam Guillot. Good luck on the rest of the 2011 season.

Thanks to Fredrik Ivansson for the tip!

Atacama Extreme: Blisters Bring The Suffering

We're now a week into the Atacama Extreme, which is an expedition that has been undertaken by explorer Ray Zahab who is attempting to run the length of Chile's Atacama Desert, the driest place on the planet. So far, the pace has been exactly what he expected, as he has covered roughly 70km (43 miles) per day, but that hasn't come without a price. Ray has been suffering with a massive blister, which has rubbed his foot raw, and as a result, yesterday he was forced to take some time off to let it heal. This is, as you can imagine, a bit of a frustration for the man who has run across the Sahara, gone to the South Pole on foot, and traversed the length of Lake Baikal in the dead of winter.

The video below gives you an idea of what exactly Ray has been dealing with while he has run the past few days. Clearly the desert has taken its toll on his feet. Since our last update on the run, Ray has moved through a region that was full of deep gorges and has found his way out onto the salt flats that the Atacama is so well known for. He has also found a set of abandoned railroad tracks that have helped lead the way through some of the more remote areas, but despite that, the desert still presents a considerable challenge, although the expedition remains on track to finish up later this week.



Day 7 Atacama Extreme from GOi2P on Vimeo.

7 Summits Climb For Alzheimer's: Camp 2 On Aconcagua

It has been about a week and a half since we last checked in on Alan Arnette. At that time he was in Argentina, where he was preparing for the trek to Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America, and next on his Seven Summits hit list. Since that time, he has not only arrived on the mountain, but has been working hard to help shuttle gear to the high camps in preparation for the summit push. Yesterday, he and the rest of the team were in Camp 2, located at 18,000 feet (5486 meters), with plans to move up to High Camp today. With their gear in place at that location, they'll be all set for their final push when the weather allows.

For Alan, hiking around Aconcagua is like visiting an old friend. He has successfully climbed the 22'841 foot peak (6962 meters) on two other occasions. But Alan is also a safe and deliberate climber who doesn't take anything for granted. I can assure you that he doesn't look at this summit as a fore-gone conclusion, and he is focused on getting up and down very safely.

For those who aren't aware, Alan is climbing the Seven Summits to raise $1 million for the Cure Alzheimer's Fund. Since announcing this project back in November, he has already successfully climbed Mt. Vinson in Antarctica, and after Aconcagua he'll move on to Everest, a mountain that he has also been on several times in the past. Most Seven Summiteers wait to do Everest last, but Alan will make it the third peak on his list.

Good luck on Aconcagua this week Alan! Climb on!

BBC Discovers The Patagonia Expedition Race

It has been one of the top adventure races in the world over the past few years, but it has taken a bit longer for the mainstream press to catch on. The BBC has discovered the Patagonia Expedition Race, and has written a rather nice article about what it calls "

">the world's last 'wild race.'"

Scheduled to take place in Chile from February 8-16, the 2011 Patagonia Expedition Race is now just 13 days away. This year's event will be the ninth time that the race has been run, and for a change of venue, it will move the course further north this time out to have the teams compete across the Southern Continental Ice Field, which will present its own unique challenges and obstacles.

Of course, as usual, the racers will have to paddle, mountain bike, trek, and navigate their way through the beautiful and wild Patagonian backcountry, while also dealing with the notoriously unpredictable weather that is common there.

The BBC has a great video on the event, but unfortunately they won't let me embed it here. You'll just have to check it out by clicking here. Meanwhile, stay tuned for more coverage of the race once it gets underway in a couple of weeks. As usual, it looks like it will offer a wild and spectacular start to the international adventure racing season.

Atacama Extreme: Website Goes Live, Run Begins Friday

Last week I told you about the Atacama Extreme expedition, which will feature endurance runners and adventure athletes Ray Zahab and Kevin Vallely running the length of the Atacama Desert in Chile. Last night the official website for the run went live just days before the two men head off to South America to start their adventure.

You can check-out the expedition's website at AtacamaExtreme.com. At the moment, the site contains several videos, one on training for running through the desert and two gear related videos. The first of those takes a look at preparing your footwear for a winter run and a desert run, and the second shows Ray organizing his gear for the upcoming trek. There is also a placeholder link on the site that will display the team's journal as the run unfolds and they share their experiences with those of us back home who are following along.

As I've mentioned before, the Atacama Desert is the driest place on the planet due to the fact that it falls into the rain shadows of both the Andes Mountains and the Chilean Coastal Range. Those two mountain ranges create a barrier on either side of the region which prevents storms from bringing rain to the area. As a result, some part of the Atacama haven't seen rain in centuries.

Kevin and Ray expect to arrive in Chile on Thursday of this week and will start the run on Friday. They'll begin in the northern part of the desert and head south, covering roughly 70km (43 miles) per day on foot. That's the equivalent of a marathon plus 17 more miles. They'll also be carrying their gear with them and have planned water stops along the way to help keep them hydrated, which will be a constant issue throughout the course of the run. If all goes as planned, they'll wrap up the expedition in the first week in February.

This adventure, like all of Ray and Kevin's other expeditions, is being conducted under the impossible2Possible banner, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and enriching student experiences across the globe. i2P delivers cultural, geographic, and environmental messages through fantastic adventures in far flung places. On this expedition alone they expect to reach more than 16,000 students, which is a very impressive feat in and of itself.

More to come as the expedition unfolds.

7 Summits Climb For Alzheimer's: Alan's Off To Aconcagua!

This past weekend, our friend Alan Arnette flew off to Argentina where he is attempting to climb Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South America, as part of his 7 Summits Climbs for Alzheimer's. Alan is currently en route to the mountain, which stands 6962 meters (22,841 ft) in height. While it is a mostly non-technical climb, at least along the regular route, the altitude alone is enough to cause some problems for those that are unprepared.

Alan will not arrive in BC for a few more days yet, as he and his IMG guides are now in Mendoza awaiting the rest of the team and preparing the last of their gear before purchasing their climbing permits for the mountain. Expect good updates at every step of the process, as Alan always does an excellent job of keeping us informed of his progress and giving great insights into what it is like to climb the mountain he is currently on. I expect no less this time, especially considering that he has already successfully climbed Aconcagua in the past.

An example of Alan's great work is the video below, during which he talks about his prep work for the mountain and shows off the gear he's using on this climb. He doesn't just show us the individual pieces however, as he actually shows us each piece in regards to where it is used during the climb. It is very insightful for those that wonder where all that gear is put to use.

impossible2Possible Team Prepares To Run Atacama Desert

Adventure endurance athletes Ray Zahab and Kevin Vallely are in the final stages of preparing for their next expedition, and will soon be setting out for one of the most extreme environments on the planet. The duo have already traveled on foot to the South Pole and set a speed record for crossing Lake Baikal in winter, but now have turned their attention away from frozen climes to take on a completely different challenge. Beginning next week, the impossible2Possible ambassadors will begin an 1100km (683 mile) run along the length of Chile's Atacama Desert.

The plan is for Ray and Kevin to arrive in Chile on Thursday, January 20th and begin the expedition the following day. They'll start in the northern region of desert and head south, taking a light and fast approach to the run, which will follow some of the same footpaths that ancient Inca messengers used centuries ago. They hope to average about 70km (43 miles) per day across the length of the journey, which is expected to wrap up in the first week of February.

Described as the driest place on the planet, the Atacama Desert sits in the rain shadow of the Andes Mountains and the Chilean Coastal Range. Those two mountain ranges act as walls, preventing storms from passing through and delivering moisture to the region. As a result, there are portions of the desert that have not seen any measurable amount of rain in recorded history.

As is usual with any i2P expedition, this will also be an educational experience. More than 16,000 students, in classrooms around the globe, have signed up to follow along and to learn  more about the environment that Ray and Kevin will be running through. The impossible2Possible mission has always been to educate and inspire through adventure, and they have been doing an excellent job in that department for several years now, sending teams to far flung places like Tunisia and the Amazon as well. This Atacama Extreme expedition seems poised to continue that legacy.

Good luck to both Kevin and Ray as they set out next week. Looks like it's going to be another grand adventure!

Freya Hoffmeister Announces Next Kayaking Challenge - South America!

The queen of long distance paddling, Freya Hoffmeister, has announced her next challenge, which will be a considerable one to say the least. After spending 332 days paddling around Australia, covering more than  14,000 km (8700 miles) in the process, she'll next turn her attention to South America. Yep! Freya is now going to kayak around the entire continent of South America.

This time out, Freya plans to make the paddle in three different stages, setting off on the first stage around September or October of this year from Santiago, Chile. She'll then proceed east through the Magellan Strait and around Cape Horn, before turning north, ending the first leg of the journey in Buenos Aires, Argentina some 7 to 8 months later. After that, she'll take 4 or 5 months off to rest and prepare for the second and third legs of the trip, which will take place in September or October of 2012 and 2013 respectively.

Freya roughly estimates the trip will take about 22 months of time on the water to complete and she'll cover more than 22,000 km (13,670 miles). She also has set a goal of finishing up the entire expedition in May of 2014, right before her 50th birthday.

Pretty impressive follow-up to the Australian paddle. One thing is clear, Freya just can't seem to stay home. :) Find out more about the expedition on Freya's Facebook Page.

Thanks to the Belgian Adventurer Louis-Philippe Loncke for sharing this scoop with me. Sorry it took a few days to post it mate!