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.
Diving Deep off Cambridge Bay: Amanda Savoie spends summers diving in the Arctic Ocean off Cambridge Bay, in Canada’s Nunavut territory. As soon as you put your head underwater, you are immersed in a world teeming with life. The Canadian High Arctic Research Station opened in 2019 and has made it easier for divers to explore the region.
Climbing on the Edge of the World: The film follows Robbie Phillips and Will Birkett as they sail from the Outer Hebrides to the Scottish archipelago of St Kilda.
The pair aim to make the first ascent of an overhanging 200m sea cliff. They then move on to an ancient sea stack. Once climbed by sea bird hunters, humans have not touched the sea stack for 130 years.
A one-euro home
What It’s Like to Buy a One Euro Home in Italy: Municipalities across Italy are part of a one-euro house program. Anyone can buy a property from the program for a single euro. But these houses are definitely fixer-uppers. A set of collapsing walls with a questionable roof might be more appropriate. This buyer speaks about their experience buying three properties with the scheme.
The 2024 Australian Geographic Adventurers of the Year: Australian Geographic Society has named its adventurers of 2024. The Lifetime of Adventure award went to Mike Dillon for his work as an adventure cinematographer over seven decades.
The Spirit of Adventure award went to Steph Devery for her solo multi-year cycle ride across 40 countries. Lucy Barnard was named Adventurer of the Year for her ongoing walk around the world and Young Adventurer of the Year went to Tom Robinson, the youngest person to row the Pacific solo.
Mike Dillon. Photo: Kristoffer Paulsen
No climbing bolt ban
National Park Service Abandons Plans to Ban Climbing Bolts in Wilderness: Last year, the U.S. NPS and Forest Service proposed a ban on fixed anchors and bolts in the wilderness. They asked for the public’s opinion, and the climbing community answered. They noted that it would impact some of America’s most iconic climbs and cause serious safety issues for climbers. This week, the NPS announced that they have abandoned the plan.
Emily Harrington Makes Her Yosemite Multi-Pitch Return: Emily Harrington speaks about her recent ascent of The Nexus (5.13b/8a) on the Fifi Buttress.
In 2023, with two young children, Harrington could not get in the right headspace for Yosemite. This year, she went with a different mindset. She let go of expectations and approached everything one move at a time.
Photo: Emily Harrington
A difficult rescue
Fall on Ice: On Dec. 26, 2023, search-and-rescue teams arrived in Provo Canyon, Utah. Tim Thompson had been near the end of his first pitch when the ice below his foot gave way. His uppermost screw was pulled from the ice, and he fell 15 meters.
The rescue team had to move Thompson 30 meters over steep, icy ground to a ledge. From there, he was airlifted to hospital.
Hiker Rescued from Waist-Deep ‘Quicksand’: On Tuesday, the Summersville, West Virginia Fire Department received a call about a man stuck in deep mud. The hiker was walking around a local lake when quicksand-like mud trapped him. It took a team of 10 to extract the hiker.
