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.
Lara Neumeier Makes First Female Ascent of a 5.14c: On October 7, Lara Neumeier made the first female ascent of Rhapsody (E11 7a/5.14c) at Dumbarton Rock, Scotland. She succeeded 20 years after Dave MacLeod established the route as the world’s first E11.
Neumeier’s ascent makes her the fifth woman to climb a 5.14c trad route. In an interview, she discussed the 15 climbing days and two visits spent working the route, how it compares to other routes, and her hope that the ascent will encourage more women to attempt the iconic line.
Karl Bushby, shortly after starting and now. Photo Facebook
I Left My 8-Year-Old Son Behind 28 Years Ago to Walk Around the World: After 28 years walking around the world, Karl Bushby should complete this Goliath Expedition within the next month. Now he faces an emotional homecoming: his son, whom he left behind at the age of eight, is now 36. Bushby has a grandchild he has never met, and his mother has seen him only three times since he left.
British hiking rules
Julia Clarke hikes beside a stream in Mull, Scotland. Photo: Julia Clarke
Here are Nine British Hiking Rules Americans Need to Know: After returning to Scotland after more than a decade in Colorado, Julia Clarke realized she needed to rethink her mountain skills. She warns Americans not to underestimate the weather, terrain, or seemingly puny hills in Britain.
From wild camping rules and differences in hiking trails, to avoiding cows and brushing up on your navigational skills, she shares nine key differences American hikers should understand before tackling the British backcountry.
Women Across Diving Speak Out on Harassment: Women across the diving industry are speaking out about sexual harassment and assault. After years of raising concerns, petitioning and reporting to expedition operators and dive agencies with little outcome, many are taking to social media to share the experiences that have affected their careers as instructors, expedition leaders, and marine professionals.
Campaigners are demanding that the industry establish better and more accessible reporting systems, better safeguarding standards, and that operators vet their staff properly.
A debate over climbing ethics
The Art of Progress: Climbing ethics are constantly evolving, and many are now reconsidering whether traditional ground-up ascents, minimal bolting, and preserving the original character of a route should take precedence over safety, accessibility, and the experience of future climbers.
Derek Franz explores this debate by looking at lines across Yosemite, Madagascar, Germany, and Patagonia, and the work underway to replace corroded bolts in many of them. The approach challenges the idea that a first ascent should remain untouched.
Three Dead After Avalanche in Chile: On October 17, an avalanche swept seven mountaineers into Laguna del Inca near Chile’s Ski Portillo resort. Three were killed and four injured.
The group was climbing toward Cerro Los Tres Hermanos when they triggered a slab avalanche. Rescue teams and the police responded within 10 minutes, and the survivors were airlifted to hospital. According to resort management, the group had entered a restricted area marked as an avalanche danger zone despite earlier warnings.
How Mount Kenya is changing
Old Traditions and New Developments on Mt. Kenya: Giovanni Trambaiolo explores Mount Kenya’s climbing history, especially the overlooked contributions of Kenyan climbers and the mountain’s deep spiritual significance to indigenous communities. He describes opening up Rainmaker, the new six-pitch trad route on the Temple Cliffs of Mount Kenya.
Three Mountain Emergencies in 14 Hours: Three hunting emergencies in northwest Colorado prompted search-and-rescue crews to respond within 14 hours, as the first significant snowfall of the season coincided with the opening of elk season on October 14 and 15.
Their first rescue call was for an overdue hunter, and the second from an individual who became separated from their group near Bears Ears and was too cold to walk. A third hunter suffered serious injuries when a tree fell on their tent as they slept. Another hunting party did not require rescue but got caught in snow, mud, and fog and spent over four hours finding their way back to camp.
