When we’re not outdoors, we get our adventure fix by exploring social media and the web. Here are some of the best adventure links we’ve discovered this week.
Greatest Kayaking Expeditions of the Century: Paddling magazine has curated a list of the best kayaking expeditions of the century. The entries were nominated by accomplished expedition paddlers; the more nominations, the higher the expedition ranked.
From Aleksander Dobas’ hat trick of Atlantic crossings to the circumnavigation of South America by Freya Hoffmeister, the list includes some of the most challenging paddles ever attempted.
The Extreme Sport of Wolverine Research: Ask most people about wolverines, and they will think you are referencing Hugh Jackman’s X-Men character. Few people know about these carnivores that look a bit like small bears. This is one of the reasons Rebecca Watters began studying the enigmatic creatures.
Watters’ work involves skiing remote mountain passes and hiking to the point of illness. “Would it even be a work trip if someone didn’t almost die?”
Joss Naylor. Photo: BBC
Remembering the King of the Fells
King of the Fells: Joss Naylor, known as the King of the Fells, has died at the age of 88. The legendary fell runner broke the Lake District 24-hour record three times and ran FKTs on the Three Peaks, Welsh 3,000’ers, and the Pennine Way.
Naylor started running in 1960 and continued well into his 70s. To mark milestone birthdays, he took on milestone challenges. At 60, he ran 60 Lakeland fell tops. At 70, he ran 70. An inspiration to many, Naylor received an MBE for his services to the sport.
A Biologist Examines the Hidden Risks of Summer Adventuring: Whether you are dusting off your kayak or unpacking your swimsuit, there are always risks. Three common fears during summer adventures are snake bites, bear encounters, and shark attacks. A biologist weighs in on the likelihood of each and the precautions you should take.
Pen Llyn: The Climbers’ Club Guide to the Llyn Peninsula. Photo: Common Climbers
A dangerous gift
The Most Dangerous Book in the World: Pen Llyn: The Climbers Guide to the Llyn Peninsula might just be the most dangerous book you could give a rock climber. Written by Pat Littlejohn and Mike Lovatt, two legends of British sea cliff climbing, the guidebook details some of the most difficult and terrifying rock climbs around.
Most of the listed routes are loose and unpredictable, upping the risk to a point where you feel like you are gambling with your life. To get through these climbs, you need to give into the cliff face and “surrender to whatever may befall you.”
The Greatest Grand Canyon Speed Runs, Ranked: Usually Grand Canyon speed runs are ranked by how fast they are. This list ranks them by how cool they are.
The list includes the first true speed descent (a record that stood for 33 years), a homebuilt muslin kayak that made it down the river without a single portage, a group whose food of choice was a bucket of fried chicken, and an epic rescue.
Gino Bartali. Photo: Museo del Ciclismo Gino Bartali
A true cycling hero
The Tour de France Champion Who Saved Hundreds of Jews: This year’s Tour de France started in Florence, the home of Gino Bartali. Bartali is the city’s cycling hero. Bartali won the Tour de France twice, but more importantly, he saved the lives of hundreds of Jews between 1943 and 1945.
During the war, Bartali cycled thousands of kilometers couriering fake identification documents from Florence to Assai and Genoa. He would don his racing jersey and use his fame as his disguise. If stopped, he simply said he was training and no one questioned it. It is thought he saved over 500 lives.
Summer Is Here and I’m Not Ready to Stop Skiing: In mid-June, Jake Stern’s seasonal depression hits. He could climb, hike, or mountain bike in the Eastern Sierra, but he is only interested in one thing: skiing.
Now, in mid-July, Stern is hiking for miles out of the Mount Whitney basin with his skis on his back. With his girlfriend, he heads for the cirque between Mount Irvine and Mount Mallory. Halfway up the couloir, it is clear it is getting too hot. They throw on their skis and revel in what might be their last weekend skiing until winter.
