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.
Highlining in the Scottish Highlands: Owen Hope discovered highlining in 2019. It combined many things he loved: mountains, climbing, community, and adventure sports. With a small group of Scottish highliners, he has been setting up, completing, and photographing highlines across Scotland.
Walking Planks on the World’s Most Dangerous Hike: Robin Esrock already had plans to visit Xi’an when he came across a photo. With a background of snow-capped mountains, a sheer wall had a series of narrow planks fastened to it. By chance, it was Mount Hua in Xi’an.
When he visited, the atmosphere did not match the photo. No one wore hiking shoes and there were crowds of every age and fitness level. But after an hour on the trail, the tourists thinned out. Then there was a booth where you had to pay to continue. Esrock was given a harness and set of carabiners and sent to walk the plank.
Observing tourists in the wild
Why Does Yellowstone Turn Us into Maniacs: Drew Magary does not know how to pitch a tent, rock climb, or start a fire. He is not an outdoorsman and happily admits he is a tourist. He is the perfect person to go to Yellowstone National and observe tourists in the wild.
There are signs everywhere telling people not to go within 25 yards of a bison. Yet once one person stops their car and creeps closer, more follow. This same confidence in fellow tourists is seen at the geysers. It could not be clearer that you can’t stray from the paths. But once one person does, everyone seems to follow.
Godmother of the Modern Backpack Looks Back on a Century of Adventure: Violet ‘Nena’ Kelty was born in 1922. Over the next century, she and her husband revolutionized backpacking gear. Aged 101, Kelty speaks about her life and role in the outdoor industry.
The Kelty family on a hike with their new backpacks. Photo: Kelty family
‘The Thing’
Legendary Climber Invents Gadget to Help Him Climb Again: Steven Chadwick was introduced to climbing at seven. It became his life. But in 2021, he suffered a stroke that paralyzed one side of his body.
Lying in a hospital bed, Chadwick decided he would climb again. He had to rebuild neural pathways and reteach his brain, hands, and left side of his body to work together. To do this he created “The Thing.”
Indigenous-Led Tourism Alliances Are Taking Back Recreation on Their Land: Tourism on lands belonging to Indigenous communities generates 40 billion dollars a year. But in many regions, Indigenous communities do not benefit.
Indigenous Tourism Alliances want to create economic opportunities for Indigenous people that stem from their cultural identity.
Free-climbing the Pineapple Express
Amity Warme is Free-Climbing Yosemite Big Walls: The east side of El Cap is rarely climbed, but last year Amity Warme and climbing partner Brent Barghann free-climbed El Nino 5.13b/c. From the ground up, they freed the 30-pitch Pineapple Express route over eight days. Now they have released a film of their ascent.
The Best Outdoorsy Museums Across Canada: Canada is an adventure playground. Unsurprisingly, it also has some very outdoorsy museums. One honors the Canadian canoe, one showcases bush planes, and a third charts the history of fishing.
