Adventure Travel News

Muchbetteradventures.com have just launched the first edition of a new sustainable adventure e-magazine.

This free, community generated e-mag will be keeping adventure seekers in the loop with news, destinations, stories, kit developments, photos and videos at the beating heart of local, ethical and action-packed adventures. At the same time, the magazine aims to provide exposure and support for those working towards sustainability in the outdoor, adventure and travel industries.

Alex, co-founder of muchbetteradventures.com, remarks: ‘Like everything else we do, this magazine takes a very collaborative, inclusive approach. We feel this is the most important way to unify and widen the market for sustainable adventure travel.’

They welcome press releases and articles for their news sections, online guides and future editions of the mag. They are also delighted to receive contributions from other organisations, websites and blogs, which will always be credited.

On a knife edge ridge in Western China; Kasha Rigby, Guila Monega, Ingrid Backstrom and Jimmy Chin scramble along with the intention of reaching the summit then skiing down. They were on Reddomaine, a 20,000-foot peak, one of the many surrounding the monstrous 24,790-foot Gunga Shan in the Minya Konka massif.

The weather had come in on the 4 climbers, but not enough to put them too far behind schedule, they remained resolute in their efforts to continue on up the mountain. With visibility worsening, the team had to huddle in and discuss how they would proceed. With the deadline for turning back getting evermore extended; a few multi pitch belays and Kasha Rigby soloing the last 100 ft of a huge ice bulge saw the team reach the summit of Reddomaine without major incident.

When the team started down the mountain, they were to be the first in history to descend using skis. What had taken them 12 hours to climb, took them 3 hours to descend. When they arrived into base camp the weather had cleared and the moon illuminated their way home.

Source: NG Adventure Blog – thanks guys, inspiring stuff as ever.

A job that is devoted to guiding others in the pursuit of danger and adventure in the mountains requires a level of skill found in only the most experienced of international mountaineers. However, the Seven Summits are about to be conquered once again, but this time by a sherpa who grew up listening to songs about Tenzing Sherpa and has been writing about mountaineering in the Himalayas as a profession.

Ang Chhiring has completed 6 of the Summits, climbing the highest on each continent leaving Everest, in the Himalayas, till last. Born in Nepal, he moved to America to study and returned home some years later to help the community by raising money on his epic adventure. He is on-line for a record breaking time for all 7 summits, without oxygen. Gaining a lot of press attention has ensured the charity work he is also undertaking should get some great publicity.

Good luck A.C. Sherpa.

With comparable weather to the Alps, this season’s weather conditions in Scotland have surprised many winter sports enthusiasts.

The BBC have written a story about the latest conditions in Glencoe. With a meter of snow at car park level and up to 80 cm falling in 24 hours further up the mountains, the region is one of the world’s snowiest.

It’s not all good news though. Story after story has emerged of winter sports related fatalities in Scotland over the winter season, some due to severe conditions not typical to the area. Comparable to the Alps? Perhaps.

We would love to hear from anyone who has visited both regions this season: general@beouthere.com.

BBC source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8538404.stm

Adventure World Magazine have just posted images from Days 1 to 3 of the 2010 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race.

Super nice. Super hard. Respect earnt.

Check out more photos on the event’s site here: http://www.patagonianexpeditionrace.com/

On the 26th March of this year, Doug Scott CBE will be talking at the 2010 Outdoor Show in Birmingham’s NEC. Accompanying Doug will be a host of other great adventurers and TV outdoor personalities. James Cracknell & Ben Fogle will be present talking about their previous expeditions and their upcoming trek across Australia. Also expect to see Leo Holding and Joe Simpson.

The climber talks always sell out fast at these events, and its not hard to see why. Leo Holding has climbed some of the hardest ‘Big Wall’ climbs on the planet and continues to find fresh challenges. Joe Simpson has featured heavily as a professional speaker and as an accomplished author and climber.

One of the highlights of this years show will be Doug Scott CBE, as a veteran of adventure and a true British hero. Doug was the first Briton to reach the summit of Everest and has climbed the the highest peak on every continent. He has made new routes and first ascents of over 20 high peaks in Asia and has engaged in 45 mountain-based expeditions. Doug Scott truly is an accomplished climber, but he has also turned his hand to photography.

Find out more about Doug and what else is on at the Outdoor Show this year by going to the outdoor show homepage.

The Adventure Travel Trade Association have confirmed that beouthere.com will be joining the largest global collection of adventure travel professionals in 2010.

beouthere.com is everything adventure travel, listing adventure travel companies, gathering travel reviews and showing the latest adventure news.

More information will follow shortly.

The Wenger Patagonia Expedition Race is not over, but is won. 14 teams raced across the baron wastes of some of the most in hospitable terrain on earth in Chilean Patagonia. The race still continues for 8 teams who battle the elements to finish before the 17th February cut off point.

The British team lead by Nicola MacLeod took six and half days to cross almost 600km on Kayak, mountain bike and Trekking. They lead from early on in the race and continued to push through and increase their lead as they showed the endurance, courage and determination that the race demands.

With a 30% finish rate last year, it was no surprise this year when another British team dropped out just after the half way point due to health issues in the team. It was not long before 4 more teams dropped out of the race due to health and exhaustion. Race organisers claim tho however that to even reach half way is a massive accomplishment.

Well done to the British team HELLY HANSEN-PRUNESCO!!

For more information visit; http://www.patagonianexpeditionrace.com/index.php

NEW! This year, the Ocean Rowing Society are giving entrants the opportunity to race other teams around the coast of England, Scotland and Wales in a race that is an estimated 2010 miles long.

In 2005 4 men broke a Guiness World Record when they finished the same route in a startling 26 days 21 hours and 14 minutes. The team that broke it was put together on behalf of the British Army. Now however, if any team beats the army’s record in the 2010 race, they are being offered £30,000 for the new record along with a further £30,000 for finishing first.

The race organisers continue to process applications and give useful advise on experience required and what kind of equipment you are expected to need.

The race will support the Help for Hero’s charity that provides after care for injured services personnel.

A race which encompasses navigation, trekking, mountain biking, paddling and climbing is always going to be more than a test of skill. For the brave participants in this years Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race every ounce of strength, determination and grit will be needed to finish this epic adventure.

On the 10th February this year, the teams started out from PRIMERA ANGOSTURA, Chile. The first of 18 legs was meant to start on sea kayaks. However, was cancelled due to extreme winds.

All 14 teams have been through extensive training and a rigourous selection process before taking part in this battle within one of the harshest places on earth. Some times teams will go hundreds of KM with out seeing a single soul.

When talking about the race this year, race organisers were quick to reassure the press that this year will be full of new challenges; ‘The land is diverse, the challenge real, the adventure untamed’.

For more information on the race go to; http://www.patagonianexpeditionrace.com/