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Proving that age is just a number and adventure can keep us all young, a self described "crazy grandma" is attempting to climb the Seven Summits at the age of 58. Lisa Walker has already knocked Kilimanjaro off of her list and will head to Aconcagua next month for her second mountain, as she pursues her quest to climb the higher peak on each of the seven continents. Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance has a profile of Walker on its website in which she shares some of the challenges she has faced climbing and traveling in different parts of the world, including an intense trek to the top of the 20,100-foot (6126 meter) Stok Kangri in the Indian Himalaya. Only half of her team managed to reach the summit on that tough expedition. Walker isn't just a climber, but an endurance athlete too. She competes in long distance running races and triathlons, including half-Ironman events, which keeps her in better shape than most people her age. That has also inspired her to want to cli...

Last week I posted a story about Alan Arnette's recent look at the cost of climbing Everest in 2018 . This week, he's back to delve deeper into the numbers behind all of the expeditions that visit the world's highest peak, and take a peek ahead at what we can expect in the spring of 2018, when more people than ever will be heading to the Himalaya. As you probably recall, the Himalayan Database is the main authority on who has and hasn't climbed Everest and the other big mountains in Nepal and Tibet. Recently, the database was updated to include all the summits from 2017 and was released online for free . Over the past couple of weeks, Alan has been pouring over the numbers to search for any interesting tidbits of information, with some fascinating things being revealed. According to the database, 4833 people have summited Everest a grand total of 8306 times to date. Most of those (5280) came from the Nepali side, with an additionally 3026 reaching the summit on the ...

This short documentary takes us on a globe-spanning quest with skier Aaron Rice who has set a goal for himself to ski 2.5 million human-powered vertical feet in a single year. To accomplish this goal, he'll need to ski more than 330 days, which means he'll be chasing snow in different regions of the world. This turns this endeavor into quite a grind for both body and mind, leaving little room for error. 2.5 Million from WILDER on Vimeo .

The Trans Sierra Norte is a three-day enduro mountain bike race that takes place in the Mexican highlands near the town of Oaxacan. The race features more than 3000 feet of vertical gain and loss as competitors zip along on trails that are thousands of years old and used for commerce between villages. In this video, we travel to Mexico to witness this race firsthand, soaking up not only sights and sounds of the region, but also the amazing culture and traditions along the way too. Welcome to the Ride of the Dead.

Last month I got the opportunity to travel to Las Vegas, which I have to admit is not amongst my favorite destinations on the planet. I don't have anything against the city, it can be extremely fun at times, but given a choice I'd rather be spending time in the mountains or exploring some other remote corner of the globe. But, the point of this trip was to discover all of the opportunities for adventure that can be had just outside the city, and after three days there I came away with a new appreciation for this part of Nevada . Our base camp for the trip would be the Downtown Grand , a comfortable but not overly glitzy hotel in the older section of Vegas. This part of town is located far from the strip, but still offers its own unique experience with plenty of gambling, shows, restaurants, and nightlife all within easy walking distance. Plus, if you haven't been down to the Fremont Street area of Las Vegas in awhile, you'll probably be in for a treat. The area has unde...

We've seen a lot of different holiday gift guides this season, including five that I wrote myself. But, most of those lists offer suggestions for the male outdoor enthusiast, with barely a mention of the daring and adventurous ladies in our life. GearJunkie has rectified this issue however, offering up their picks for gifts that the badass outdoorswoman will love . Some of the very cool items making the list include Crescent Moon EVA All-Foam snowshoes , light hiking boots from Danner , and the new women's version of the Ventrix jacket from The North Face. Other items include a host of women-only gear, plus some stylish and fun products that just about everyone – male or female – will love. Some of those items include camp lights from Revel , a new tent from Fjallraven , and travel tumblers from S'well . If you're still searching for a great gift for that awesome outdoorswoman in your life, this list will certainly provide some good options. Whether she's a hiker,...

A few days back I posted a story about the start of the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race . At the time, I mentioned that the seven crews involved in the round-the-world competition were now heading into the difficult and unpredictable Southern Ocean. Lest anyone think that those warnings were nothing but over blown hyperbole, the ships quickly ran into foul weather which was enough to break the mast and nearly capsize one of the vessels. After setting out from Cape Town under a strong breeze, the teams found themselves with calm weather for the start of their adventure across the Southern Ocean. But, as expected, those conditions didn't last long and within a day or two a high pressure storm system began to build. That system bore down on the ships as they make their way deeper south en route to their eventual destination in Melbourne, Australia. This massive low-pressure system is massive in scale, stretching for 1500 nautical miles (1726 miles/2778 km) from the tip of Africa ne...

With about two weeks to go until we say goodbye to 2017, it is time to look back on the year that has passed and reflect on all of the amazing, wild, and down-right crazy things that have gone down. GoPro is doing that in video form, offering up a short, but spectacular, year in review clip for our enjoyment. There are truly some fantastic shots in this compilation vid, which is a nice reminder that 2017 wasn't such a bad year after all. But, it also serves as inspiration for chasing our own adventures in 2018.

This past summer mountaineer Vanessa O'Brien became the first American (and British!) woman to summit K2. Shortly after the climb she was interviewed about the experience, which you'll find in the short video below. The clip includes some amazing shots from the expedition itself, giving us the viewers a chance to see what it was like on the mountain. As you'll see, it was quite an adventure.

Road cyclists and mountain bikers listen up – your search for the perfect cycling light might be over. The Radius F1 comes our way courtesy of Binoreal and it delivers some really great features to help us stay safe on our rides. What makes the Radius F1 so special? For starters, it has built-in sensors that can detect when you're in motion and when you're stopped, and will adjust the light accordingly. It can even tell how fast you're going, increasing the brightness to match. The faster you ride, the brighter it gets – up to 450 or 650 lumens depending on the model. Slow down, and it the light dims to conserve battery life, but still manages to put out an impressive 200 lumens of illumination. If all of that wasn't enticing enough, the light will also sense when you're slowing down and will switch to a pulse mode when taking corners or flash mode when you come to a complete stop. And if you are stopped for more than three minutes it will first drop into a stand-...

It seems 2017 has been a year filled with dire warnings about the future of our planet and the impact climate change will have on our lives. This week, two different reports were released indicating that things are changing more rapidly than we imagined and we could be on the brink of catastrophe. On Tuesday, the 2017 Arctic Report Card was released and amidst the various messages about the loss of pack ice in the Arctic was a clear warning. The 85 scientists from 12 different countries who compile the report on an annual basis say that the Arctic shows no signs of returning to the reliably frozen region of past decades. In other words, there is less and less ice in this part of the world, and that doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon. The report goes on to say that that warming of ocean's surface and retreat of the sea ice extent is unprecedented in the past 1500 years. The researchers can determine this by examining such variables as tree rings, sediment cores, and air...

It has been another busy couple of days in the Antarctic where the teams continue to hit milestones on their various expeditions. By now, most everyone has settled into a routine and have hit their stride, which makes it easier to cover the miles, even if they all still face major challenges ahead. For the Spectre team of Leo Houlding, Jean Burgun, and Mark Sedon the next stage of their journey is clear. The boys have abandoned the Gothic Mountains after achieving their goal of summiting the Spectre rock spire this past weekend and are now turning for home. They left this morning while experiencing the best weather of the trip so far. Eventually they'll deploy their kites to help speed them along back to the coast, but for now they're man hauling it while they work through an area thick with crevasses and snow bridges. Before leaving, the team spent the past few days continuing to climb in the area. They had knocked off the Spectre, completing the second ascent of that tower f...

For many people, the first thought that comes to mind when you think of Peru is Machu Picchu, the mountaintop fortress that was built by the Inca. That place is indeed spectacular, but the country has so much more to offer. From snowcapped peaks in the Andes to the Amazon Basin, Peru is a country filled with opportunities for adventure. In this video, we travel there to get a look at these places first hand, leaving the more well-trodden places behind to explore other destinations far off the tourist track. RHYTHMS OF PERU from Nathaniel Connella on Vimeo .

One of the major expeditions we followed closely last winter was Alex Txikon's attempt to summit Everest solo in winter. There are some rumblings that he might be headed back to try again this year, but I haven't seen official confirmation of those plans yet. This video was shot in Base Camp last winter and it features a special moment when Reinhold Messner – perhaps the greatest mountaineer of all time – came to visit Alex there. The two men share a common bond of the mountains and talk a bit of strategy for making the ascent in winter.

Yesterday I noted the success of an international team of climbers in the Antarctic who completed the second ascent of a rock spire called the Spectre. Not to be outdone by their European counterparts, a group of all-start climbers from the U.S. is also down south and has been putting up some impressive routes as well. The very strong team of climbers includes the likes of Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, Alex Honnold, Cedar Wright, Savannah Cumins, and Anna Pfaff. The group is also joined by cameraman Pablo Durana, who is documenting the expedition to Queen Maud Land, where they are focused on opening new routes in an area rich with possibilities. According to this story from Planet Mountain , Honnold and Wright have been exploring different routes near the famous Ulvetanna cathedral. The entire team arrived on the frozen continent on December 1, and immediately started scouting out six different peaks that surround their base camp, which includes Holtanna, Hollstind, Kinntanna, Stetind...

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, we're about a week away from the official start of winter. Where I live, we've been experiencing some icy temperatures and frosty winds for awhile now, but technically we haven't even reached winter yet. But all good outdoor adventurers know that winter is just another season to head outside and enjoy the activities, just be sure to bundle up with some good layers first.  To help us make the most of the season ahead, Outside magazine  – working in conjunction with Columbia Sportswear – has published a guide for things to do and places to go during the colder months ahead. The story is called 100 Days of Winter , which is ironic since winter isn't even 100 days long, and is filled with suggestions on how you can embrace the cold and the snow to have the best winter ever.  Some of the suggestions that make the list include going camping in the snow, riding your bike in poor conditions on purpose, and take a polar plunge in a cold lake or...

Over the past month or so, I've been writing extensively about the unfolding expedition season down in Antarctica. As I write this, adventurous men and women are making their way across the frozen continent on skis while pulling sleds filled with supplies and gear behind them as they go. Some are headed to the South Pole, other are traversing to different places, but they are all crossing one of the most dramatic, demanding, and spectacular wildernesses on the planet. If you've ever dreamed of doing that same thing, then I definitely have a tip for you. In January of 2018, polar explorer Eric Larsen  will be conducting a Level 1 Polar Training course to help others follow in his footsteps. The course will be held on Lake Winnipeg in Canada and will consist of a week of intense training that will help you to become more adept at winter travel or even prepare you for your own journey to the North or South Pole. The course will consist of three days of indoor training, which in tu...

I've written about Rob and Barney Swan a couple of times during the current Antarctic expedition season, but this video does a good jog of sharing their story. This father and son team are skiing to the South Pole to help raise awareness of renewable and clean energy sources. But in this clip, it's more about the relationship between the two men, who are spending weeks out on the ice together on their journey to 90ºS.

In this video we get a look at a rare phenomenon in the Grand Canyon – a full-cloud inversion. What is that exactly? It occurs when cold air is trapped in the canyon itself with warmer air moving overhead. The result is a build-up of clouds below with clear skies overhead. Those standing on the canyon rim can watch the clouds below them as they move like waves. It is quite a sight to behold as you'll see in this clip. SKYGLOWPROJECT.COM: KAIBAB REQUIEM from Harun Mehmedinovic on Vimeo .

As I write this, I am busily working away at editing the second episode of The Adventure Podcast . We hope to have the second episode out very soon. But before we release it, my cohost David Adlard and I wanted to let everyone know that the show is available on your favorite platform for listening to podcasts now. So, no matter if you enjoy listening on an iOS device, Android phone or tablet, or just on your computer, you should be able to subscribe to our feed and automatically get new episodes.  For those who want to listen to our new little venture, here's where you can get the episodes: Subscribe in iTunes/iOS Podcasts by clicking here .  On Android use Google Play Music to get the show here .  If you listen on Stitcher, you'll find The Adventure Podcast here . We also have an RSS feed set up for the show here . Also, if you've had a chance to listen to the show, we'd love your feedback. We can be reached on Twitter at @adventure_pod or by email at theadventurepo...

If you haven't had your fill of holiday gear guides just yet, I have another very good one one to share. OutdoorX4 magazine – an outlet that I contribute to on a regular basis – has released its first ever Gear Issue , and it is filled with great reviews of some of the best products around. While the magazine does have an off-road/overlanding slant, it is aimed at outdoor enthusiasts of all types, and the gear that is found within this issue is perfect for hikers, backpackers, adventure travelers, and more. There are literally dozens of pieces of gear to sift through in this issue, so it is almost impossible for me to list them all here. But, you'll find reviews of sleeping bags, portable charging stations, camp cookstoves, tents, hiking boots, and much more. I personally contributed 5 or 6 reviews, but have also found numerous other items that I want to add to my gear closet for use on my own adventures, both on and off-road. Unlike most of the other gear guides we've see...

More news from the Antarctic today, where the expedition season continues to unfold at a fairly fast pace. The explorers who are making their way across the continent this year seem to continue to hit milestones on their way towards their own individual objectives. And while the season still has a very long way to go before it ends, it seems like it will be one of the more interesting years on the frozen continent in quite some time. Will begin with an update on the Spectre team , which consists of Leo Houlding, Jean Burgun, and Mark Sedon. This trio of adventurers set off across the Antarctic via kite ski to reach the Gothic Mountains. Their plan was to climb a challenging rock spire called the Spectre by making the first ascent via the South Spur. Unfortunately, when they finally arrived there, they discovered that route that they had indeed to use for their descent was incredibly difficult, consisting more of blue ice and snow than rock and solid ground. When we checked in with the ...

There as been a lot of talk all year long about the collapse of the ice shelfs in Antarctica and the impact that will have on the glaciers there. This phenomenon has the potential to have long and lasting consequences for hundreds of millions of people around the globe, but just what does this mean for climate change? In this video, National Geographic provides some insight into what is happening to the world's glaciers and how this could impact all of us in the future.

Back in October, rock climbers Brad Gobright and Jim Reynolds set a new speed record on The Nose in Yosemite , zipping up the most iconic climb in the world in a blistering 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 44 seconds. That's 4 minutes faster than the previous record held by Hans Florine and Alex Honnold. In this video clip we get a look at the two men on the wall, as they're making their way up. This isn't some stylized, highly produced climbing documentary, but is instead raw footage captured on their way to the record. That makes it all the better.

Stage 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race got underway yesterday from Cape Town, South Africa as the teams head into the Southern Ocean for the first time. This next leg of the race promises to be a challenging one, as strong winds appeared just prior to the restart. The seven ships taking part in this year's edition of the round-the-world sailing event departed Cape Town and are now under sail for Melbourne, Australia. This stage of the race will cover approximately 6500 nautical miles (7480 miles/12,038 km) and will include a trip round the infamous Cape of Good Hope before the crews take a hard left turn and plunge south to the Souther Ocean. The route will take them through the Westerly Storm Track, a section of water that is notorious for its bad weather, before heading north once again to cross the Great Australian Bight and the Bass Strait on their way into Melbourne. They are expected to arrive there sometime around December 27. On Saturday, just prior to the teams setting out on St...

Alan Arnette has compiled his annual examination of the costs of climbing Everest and as usual the post is filled with lots of interesting information. If you're thinking of joining an expedition to the highest mountain on the planet sometime in the near future, you'll definitely want to give this article a look. For those going in 2018, here's what you can expect to pay. So how much will it cost next year? Alan says it will be a minimum of $30,000, with most climbers paying somewhere in the neighborhood of about $45,000. That's an increase over 2017, with prices climbing both on the lower end of the spectrum and the premium high-end as well. In 2018, the price range for an Everest climb starts at $28,000 and goes up to as much as $85,000. You can have a completely custom climb for $115,000 as well, although few take that option. At the bottom end, if you want to mostly go it alone, with some support, you can get away with spending as little as $20,000, although as Al...