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.
Graham Zimmerman’s Close Call: An excerpt from Zimmerman’s new book. Zimmerman and Clint Helander made the first ascent of the west face of Mount Titanic in the Revelation Mountains, Alaska. Days later, Zimmerman was ready to tackle another climb, Helander wanted a few more days of recovery.
A frustrated Zimmerman skied off without his partner, irritated that he would have to wait. Eventually, he saw sense and chastised himself for leaving them both in an unsafe situation. But before he could return, the ice below gave way and trapped him in a crevasse.
Graham Zimmerman presents his new book at the 2023 Banff Mountain Book Festival. Photo: Jerry Kobalenko
75-Year-Old Completes International Appalachian Trail: Will French started thru-hiking in his 50s. He fell in love with the camaraderie he found and the feeling of being on the trail.
In 1998, French heard about the International Appalachian Trail. It does not have a set route but crosses 22 countries following a rough trail across the ancient Appalachian-Caledonian Mountains before the continents split. French started in 2009 and finished 14 years later.
The rescue team. Photo: Outdoor Journal
Falling ill 1,000m underground
1,000 Meters Below: Mark Dickey is one of the most experienced cavers in the world and has helped with many rescue missions. This September, he himself needed rescue.
Dickey was 1,000m below the surface in Morca Cave, Turkey. Twelve hours from the surface, he fell ill. Blood in his stool and vomit indicated internal bleeding. His fiancé and friends tried to pull together a rescue mission.
Why We Kick Cairns: Hikers build piles of rocks on trails and mountaintops — sometimes as navigational markers, sometimes as I Was Here graffiti. In this podcast, Justin Housman and Stephen Casimiro discuss the origins of cairns, their environmental impact, and their opinion on kicking them over.
The Original Mountain Marathon Heads to Wales: This year, the two-day Original Mountain Marathon took place in north Wales. Armed with a map of the 150 sq km competition area, 1,500 competitors flocked to the mountains.
They faced poor visibility, rain, slippery rock, high winds, steep uphills, and scree. Here, competitors and organizers reflect on the event and the move to Wales.
Extreme sport and adventure weddings. Photo: The New York Times
Adventure weddings
Weddings at the Edge of the World: Adventure weddings are a surprising addition to the world of backcountry travel. For some couples who share outdoor pursuits, it seems like the perfect option.
One couple heads to Everest to say, “I do.” Another pair has the ceremony at the top of a mountain and proceeds to ski down in their wedding finery, with all the guests in tow.
Comical Complexities of a Surf Lineup: At first glance, the rules of a surf lineup seem straightforward. In reality, there are many unwritten rules, which can change depending on where you are and who you are around. One of the difficulties of surfing is figuring these out when you have been thrown into a new surfing lineup.
Evan Quarnstrom speaks about his memorable lineups, the micro-calculations he made, and the comical side of bizarre situations.
Jesse Dufton climbs on Lundy Island. Photo: UK Climbing
Non-sight Ascent of Destiny: Blind climber Jesse Dutton has made the first non-sight ascent of Destiny E2 5c on Lundy Island. It is one of the hardest climbs he has completed.
Dutton’s wife, Molly, was his sight guide for the challenge. Here he discusses the climb, how his mind wandered to philosophy, and how he applies this to climbing.
