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.
The Greatest Traveler You’ve Never Heard Of: J.R. Harris, a lifelong New Yorker, began his journey as a solo traveler in 1966 with a 7,200km road trip from Queens to northern Alaska. That trip sparked a lifetime of adventure, leading him to travel the world more than 13 times. He is an author and serves on the board of the Explorers Club, where he also leads diversity efforts. Now in his 80s, Harris is still planning new solo trips.
The First Non-Stop Flight Across the Atlantic: In the spring of 1919, four teams gathered in Newfoundland to compete for the first non-stop transatlantic flight. Jack Alcock and Ted Brown ultimately triumphed, flying a modified Vickers Vimy plane from Newfoundland to Ireland. Though overshadowed by Charles Lindbergh’s later solo crossing, their pioneering flight earned them acclaim from the likes of Amelia Earhart.
National Geographic Controversy
Why Did National Geographic Disappear Its Own Documentary About A Queer Climate Scientist? The National Geographic film For Winter centered on a queer climate scientist’s quest to drill an ice core on Mount Logan. After a triumphant showing at the Banff Mountain Film Festival, its global screenings were unexpectedly dropped. Some crew members didn’t even learn of its disappearance until contacted by adventure journalist Eva Holland.
A group of scientists, including expedition member Seth Campbell, sent a letter of protest to the National Geographic Society on May 28, expressing their “considerable disappointment” and stating that without restoration of the film, the Society “is no longer a trusted member of the scientific community.”
On June 6, they received a brief reply from National Geographic’s chief science and innovation officer, stating only that “something came to light” after the film’s completion, prompting their decision not to air it. No further explanation was given.
More and More Tourists Are Flocking to Antarctica. Let’s Stop It from Being Loved to Death: Tourism in Antarctica has risen sharply, from under 8,000 visitors annually in the 1990s to nearly 125,000 in 2023–24. This growth threatens fragile ecosystems through trampling, invasive species, wildlife disruption, and high carbon emissions. Existing regulations lack enforceable limits, prompting experts to call for stronger tourism oversight.
Photo: Shutterstock
Boxing with cougars
A Man Punched a Cougar in the Face and Lived to Tell About It: A man working in British Columbia encountered a cougar when the animal approached him and clawed at his torso. He responded by punching the cougar in the face, causing it to retreat. The unnamed man apparently escaped with only minor scratches. Wildlife experts say his reaction aligns with recommended guidelines.
My Son Went on a Solo Hike and Never Came Home: In July 2014, Cody Roman Dial, the 27-year-old son of Alaskan explorer Roman Dial, set out alone into the coastal rainforest of Costa Rica’s Corcovado National Park for what was meant to be a challenging multi-day hike. Days passed, and he did not return. In his memoir The Adventurer’s Son, Roman Dial reflects in vivid detail on the harrowing moment he realized his son was missing and the desperate day he began the search.
