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.
New Adventure Travel Destination?: Kyrgyzstan has glaciers, lakes, 13 national parks, 10 nature reserves, and some of the highest peaks in the world. But it has previously flown under the radar of most travelers.
Some in Kyrgyzstan’s adventure tourism industry think this is a positive. It is allowing them to evolve sustainably and maintain their history and culture.
Backcountry Kyrgyzstan. Photo: Jerry Kobalenko
The Inextricable Link Between Surfers and Music: From several musicians who have surfed, to surfers who are always playing music, music and surfing go hand in hand. Ancient Hawaiians chanted to the sea god to request waves.
Brain Sousa delves into the two worlds and how they fit together. Is it because both groups have to improvise, or maybe because of the emotions involved in each pursuit?
A frostbite drug
The Frostbite Doctor: Alex Poole works in the Yukon and has seen more cases of frostbite than most doctors. One day, three cases came in. A sudden temperature drop had caught them off guard. They asked for iloprost, a European drug that they had heard about, but the drug was not available in Canada.
Poole and pharmacist Josianne Gauthier accidentally became the force behind getting the drug approved for use in Canada. In the process, they became some of the country’s foremost experts on frostbite.
Will Bosi climbs Return of the Sleepwalker in Nevada. Photo: Teresa Coimbra
Second Ascent of Return of the Sleepwalker: Will Bosi has made the second-ever ascent of Return of the Sleepwalker at Black Velvet Canyon in Nevada. The Scotsman spent 12 sessions working on the V17/Font 9A climb.
Commenting on the grade, Bosi said, “I still believe the stand start is only 8C/V15 but I do think the sit-start adds enough for it to remain Font 9A/V17.”
Storms transform Death Valley
A Rare Chance to Kayak in Death Valley: Death Valley is the driest place in North America. For most kayakers, it would rank at the bottom of their paddling wish list. But in a bizarre twist, it has skyrocketed in popularity this year.
Storms and heavy rainfall across Southern California have transformed an ancient lake bed. The water has worked its way down to Lake Manly, which dried up around 1,000 years ago. Now there is a temporary lake, 10km long, 5km wide, and 30cm deep. Park officials think it will only last a few more weeks, so the clock is ticking for paddlers who want to say they’ve kayaked in Death Valley.
A rare experience in Death Valley. Photo: NPS/Michael Kohler
One Star Reviews of National Parks: In 2022, 312 million people visited national parks in America. Some visitors were not impressed.
A visitor described the Grand Canyon’s South Rim as just “a very, very large hole.” After a visit to Yellowstone, another visitor suggested the “park people could install some Air Wicks” to help cover the smell of rotten eggs. The Washington Post has rounded up some of the funniest one-star reviews.
Scorching time
Liu Fo-lok sets Fourth Fastest Time in Race History: Liu Fo-lok has won this year’s Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra. On his first attempt, the 35-year-old set the fourth-fastest time in race history. He was four hours ahead of second place.
The race covers the city’s four main trails, a total of 298km. Liu Fo-luk completed the route in 52 hours, two minutes, and 24 seconds. He had hoped to get a sub-50 hour time, but an injury to his right leg slowed him down.
A photo taken by a motion-triggered camera proves Ullr is alive. Photo: Jacob Dalbey
Determined Owner Searches For Dog He Lost in Avalanche: Jack Dalbey lost his dog Ullr in an avalanche in Colorado 11 months ago. Dalbey was completely trapped except for one arm and spent three hours digging himself out. One of Dalbey’s friends died and the dog was nowhere to be seen. Pawprints leading away from the area convinced Dalbey that Ullr was alive. Eleven months later, a camera trap proved he was right. Now Dalbey just has to find him.
