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.
A New Scuba Diving Record: Barrington Scott has set an unusual record by scuba diving across all seven continents in 19 days, 19 hours, and 40 minutes.
Starting in Australia and culminating in the icy waters of Antarctica, Scott’s 43,500km journey saw him stop in Thailand, Egypt, Malta, the U.S., and Argentina. The ex-marine hopes to inspire a new generation of black divers.
This is Everything I’ll Eat as I Race the Iditarod: Quince Mountain is getting ready for his second Iditarod, a 1,600km race across Alaska’s rugged wilderness. One of the biggest jobs is preparing all the food he and his sled dogs need. Each dog packs away around 10,000 calories a day. From 300 chicken legs to whole frozen cheesecakes and honey sandwiches, he details his menu for the race.
The Priest Shelter on the Appalachian Trail. Photo: Trailforks
Confession on the trail
The Trail Shelter Where Thru-Hikers Confess Their Sins: Along Virginia’s Appalachian Trail, the Priest Shelter has become a unique confessional spot for thru-hikers. After a challenging seven-kilometer ascent, many hikers pen their secrets in the shelter’s logbook.
Most people think the tradition began in the 1980s. Some attribute the outpouring of confessions to the penance-like climb before reaching the shelter. While some confessions are heart-wrenching, most take the shape of hilarious anecdotes: sneaking rocks into an annoying hiking partner’s pack or singing Christmas tunes at full volume on the trail during summer.
Winners of ‘Go Big’ Wave of the Winter: Watch as five Hawaiian surfers take on Waimea Bay in an outrigger canoe. Ikaika Kalama, Mikey Redd, Kekoa Rasey, Na’i Awo, and Kahula-Davis Aka’Akamai Nathaniel caught a giant set of waves on the final day of the contest.
They are in a perfect position and soar down the wave, almost fully vertical before making the bottom turn. Even though the breaking wave sends them flying out of the canoe, the feat earned them Hawaii’s “Go Big” Moment Award.
Keeping safe
Assault Survivor Creates App to Keep Women Runners Safe: After enduring two assaults while running, seasoned ultra-runner Dena Lewis has created Running Mate, a “RunShare” app to improve safety for women runners.
The app connects you with verified running or walking partners. Similar to ride-sharing platforms, users can schedule runs in advance or request companions in real time. All running partners undergo background checks to ensure safety. The app is operational in Boston, Austin, Tampa, Atlanta, West Palm Beach, and Salt Lake City, and Running Mate hopes to expand to additional locations.
The 300km Route Shining a Spotlight on Sri Lanka’s Tea History: The Pekoe Trail is Sri Lanka’s first long-distance hiking trail. Starting in Kandy, the circuitous route runs 300km, ending in Nuwara Eliya. Split into 22 stages, it traces the rich history of the country’s tea industry. The immersive route offers travelers an intimate look into the origins and evolution of Ceylon tea, from colonial plantations to modern-day estates. Open year-round, its low elevation and relatively easy trails mean it is a hike for everyone.
An albino deer in the Cairngorms. Photo: Al Todd
Winter climbing risks
Ten Types of Winter Mountain Misadventures: Winter climbing brings a host of risks. Sometimes, there are serious dangers; other problems skew toward comedy.
From a standoff with an albino deer to being taken out in the dark by the speediest grouse to descending a snowy slope on a bike to see if he could beat the skiers, mountaineer Norman Hadley looks back on some of his silliest scrapes.
Climbers Fined and Blacklisted from Indonesian Mountain After Illegal Ascent: Three Australian climbers have been fined and banned for five years from Mount Rinjani after making an illegal ascent. The trio ignored official regulations and climbed the 3,726m Indonesian volcano. Caught on a hidden cam, they were apprehended after descending the active volcano. All trails on the popular mountain are off-limits until April 2 because of hazardous weather conditions.
