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.
Soloing Felt Easy and Fun. Then an Avalanche Broke the Reverie: In 2021, Anthony Walsh and Karl Durtler were climbing a mountain in Western Canada. A few pitches in, they found a cave and clambered inside. Within minutes, an avalanche was crashing over them. When it seemed safe, they began their descent. Soon after, another avalanche hit.
Colin Duffy Tops Defying Gravity in Just Eight Tries: On December 1, Colin Duffy made the seventh ascent of Defying Gravity (V15 8C) in Colorado. The route has one of the hardest starting moves in the world. Despite this, Duffy topped the notoriously difficult boulder in a single session after just eight attempts. The video below documents the climb.
Why expeditions fail
Pro Boaters on Why Expeditions Fail: Even for the most experienced paddlers, expeditions often fail. Perhaps the water level is not right, or the weather makes it too dangerous. Other times, it is a case of bad planning, poor communication, or a team that does not know how to work together. Expert paddlers discuss why some whitewater expeditions don’t succeed.
Tourism Industry Opposes Trekking Ban in Kangra Hills: The Kangra District Administration in the Indian Himalaya has banned hiking on various trails. They say this is to protect hikers from sudden snowfall and tricky conditions.
But those in the tourism industry are not happy. They argue that there has been no snow or rain for months and that the ban will deter thousands of tourists from visiting the region.
Dharamsala, Kangra Hills. Photo: Shutterstock
Stung to death
Hiker Dies After Being Attacked by Stinging Insects: A 63-year-old hiker has died after being attacked by stinging insects while hiking in Hong Kong. The man was trekking with a group on the Wilson Trail in the Pat Sin Leng mountain range when they ran into a swarm of flying insects.
While running for shelter, one woman called for help, describing the insects as “bee-like” to emergency services. When rescue crews arrived, one of the party was missing. They found him four hours later. The insects had stung him many times, and he had fallen into a coma. He later died in hospital.
Man Breaks British Record Running Across Australia: Jack Pitcher has set a new British record for running across Australia. The 28-year-old ran 4,320km from Perth to Sydney. He finished in 61 days, cutting a whopping 16 days from the previous record set by Nikki Love.
Jack Pitcher. Photo: The Independent/PA Wire
The best climbing films
16 Amazing Climbing Films and Shows: Red Bull has compiled a list of their top 16 climbing films to keep you going through the winter months. From the La Dura Dura series (10 seasons of elite climbers taking on peaks around the world) to stand-alone films such as Tribute to Failure, there is something for every climbing fanatic.
Another Warning About Over-Reliance on Hiking Apps: The Vancouver Search and Rescue agency is imploring people to prepare for their hikes properly. Over three days, they were called out for two near-identical rescues.
In both cases, hikers had found routes online and decided to give them a go. Neither were prepared for the difficulty of the trail or winter conditions. Rescuers found both hikers wearing running shoes and cotton clothes and suffering from hypothermia.
