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.
In the Land of Jaguars: Brazil’s Pantanal is the world’s largest wetland. One outpost, Porto Jofre, has become famous for its jaguars. Usually impossible to spot, you can see them with remarkable ease there.
Twenty years ago, hunting and poaching pushed jaguars to the brink, but government protection and ecotourism have turned things around.
The Secret To Making Your Dream Long Paddle Trip Happen: In 2022, kayaker Constance Simes did a solo circumnavigation of Lake Superior. She covered 1,930km over 57 days.
Many canoeists and kayakers dream of long paddle trips, but few make it happen. Simes believes they are easier and more feasible than people think. The key is being honest with yourself about your skill level and your goals.
Constance Simes. Photo: Constance Simes
Old Leatherman
What I Found on the 587km Trail of a Lost Folk Hero: In the late 19th century, a mysterious figure known as Old Leatherman became a local legend in New York and Connecticut. Dressed entirely in a handmade leather outfit and speaking an unknown language, he walked a 587km loop between the Connecticut and Hudson Rivers for over three decades.
Along the route, Old Leatherman used a network of over 100 caves, where he kept food and slept. His true identity and origins remain unknown.
Polar Guide Swaps Snow Boots for Spacesuit: Australian polar explorer and occasional ExplorersWeb contributor Eric Philips is set to become the fourth Australian to go into space. On March 31, he will be part of a four-person crew on the SpaceX Fram2 mission. The crew will be the first to orbit both the North and South Poles.
Over the three-and-a-half-day mission, the crew will conduct observations from an altitude of around 450km, capturing views of high-latitude regions. In addition to carrying out polar research, the team will conduct unique experiments, such as growing mushrooms in microgravity and collecting biomedical data.
Eric Philips. Photo: Fram2
Wolves drive tourism
How Wolves Became Yellowstone’s $82 Million Tourist Attraction: In 1995, eight wolves from Canada were moved to Yellowstone National Park to control the growing elk population. Three decades later, the wolf population is thriving, and so is tourism.
Some companies offer half-day wolf-watching tours starting at $950, others week-long experiences during mating season that cost $7,150. It has been a huge boost for the local economy, bringing in $82 million a year. But while some conservationists believe it is raising awareness, others worry that it makes wolves less wary of humans.
This Year’s Barkley Marathons Did Not Have a Single Finisher: The 2025 Barkley Marathons ended without a single finisher. In 2024, Jasmin Paris became the first woman to complete the grueling marathon. Following her success, organizer Gary Cantrell decided to up the difficulty. Of 40 participants, only nine started the second lap within the 12-hour cut-off, and no one completed the second lap within 24 hours.
Solo around the world
Cole Brauer Sailed Solo Around the World: At 19, Cole Brauer joined the University of Hawaii’s sailing team. She had never sailed before. A decade later, she became the first American woman to complete a solo, nonstop, unassisted circumnavigation of the globe.
Starting in Spain on Oct. 29, 2023, Brauer sailed her 12-meter boat around the three great capes — South America’s Cape Horn, Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, and Australia’s Cape Leeuwin — and arrived back in Spain after 130 days at sea. She took second place overall and set a new speed record for her vessel class.
How Has Your Address Changed Over 750 Million Years?: Ancient Earth is an interactive map created by Ian Webster. It allows users to input their address and explore how their location has shifted over the past 750 million years. Using data that “tracks the evolving distribution of land and sea over the past 1.1 billion years,” the map offers 26 “time snapshots” between the Cryogenic period and today.
