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.
Capturing the Quiet Symphony of Mountains: Often in the mountains you are so caught up in climbing or skiing that you forget to take in what surrounds you. In moments of silence, you can appreciate the scale and beauty of the landscape.
Photographer Ryan Creary has spent decades capturing silent moments in snowy mountains. After 20 years, he is still trying to show how small we are compared to the grandeur of nature.
Europe’s Best Long-Distance Hiking Trails: Multi-day hikes are more popular than ever. This list compiles some of the best long-distance trails in Europe.
The hikes range in difficulty, length, and terrain. From the 40km Hyssna Trail in Sweden to the enormous Camino de Santiago across Spain, there is something for everyone.
Risking your health to look good
Why Do So Many Climbers Not Wear Helmets?: Surveys of ice climbers, mountaineers, and alpine climbers suggest that over 90% of participants wear helmets. But indoors, those numbers dwindle. Despite the risks, many people avoid helmets because they think they are unfashionable. You would assume that as climbs get more difficult helmet use increases. But this is not the case on sport routes.
Dougald MacDonald delves into the risks of climbing with and without a helmet and speaks to climbers about their experiences.
Climbing guide Abiral Rai leads a group on Everest. Photo: Abiral Rai
For Nepali Guides On Everest, Daily Life is Full of Danger: In 2024, roughly 1,500 Nepali mountain workers will help 414 clients on Everest. Abiral Rai has worked on the mountain since he was 18, first as a porter and now as a guide. He talks about daily life for Nepali guides and breaks down a four-day acclimatization ascent from Base Camp to Camp 3.
These Chinese Immigrants Opened the Doors to the American West: When Philip Cheung learned that Chinese workers had helped build America’s railways, he wanted to find out more.
Somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 Chinese laborers constructed some of the most dangerous sections of the transcontinental railways in the western United States. Overlooked for generations, these immigrants were pivotal to the economic expansion of the U.S. Now scholars, activists, and the laborers’ descendants are telling their story.
The Met Gala of bike races
The Traka Adventure: Stephen Fitzgerald completed his first ultra bike race in 2015. He fell in love and signed up for more events. Fast forward a few years and he was racing over 1,000km through Morocco in the Atlas Mountain Race.
This year, the Traka Adventure sounded appealing. A 560km race in Girona, Spain, it is the Met Gala of bike races. However, with just days to go, organizers canceled the event because of bad weather. Fitzgerald and his team decided to do the Traka anyway.
Stephen Fitzgerald takes on the Traka adventure. Photo: Stephen Fitzgerald
The U.S. Founding Father Who Traveled the Globe: A lesser-known fact about Benjamin Franklin is that he was a keen traveler. He grew up in the 1710s watching ships arrive in Boston Harbor and dreamed of becoming a sailor.
Franklin crossed the Pacific eight times. He traveled the length of the U.S., sailed to France, and spent over a third of his life abroad. Eric Weiner dives into Franklin’s travels, his commentary on the places he visited, and how Franklin became Weiner’s inspiration.
Another death on Mount Whitney
Rockfall Claims Third Life in a Week on Mount Whitney: A third person has died on Mount Whitney in a single week. Rockfall caused all three fatalities on the Californian peak. Spring freeze-thaw cycles cause more rockfall now than in other seasons. Rescue services urge those venturing to Mount Whitney to stay in groups and retreat if conditions deteriorate.
