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.
I Visited Every Country in the World Without Flying: Thor Pedersen spent almost a decade visiting every country on Earth without boarding a single plane. At age 34, he left behind a stable career and relationship to take on the extraordinary challenge. Here, he reflects on what he has learned over the last 10 years, including the emotional toll of long-term travel.
An Acadia to Zion Guide to Visiting National Parks: National Parks in America are in a state of chaos. At the same time as over 1,000 National Park Service workers are fired, the number of visitors has vastly increased. Here is everything you need to know before traveling to America’s 10 most popular parks.
Grand Teton National Park. Photo: Shutterstock
The 13 Best Thru-Hiking Stories of All Time: Over the last few decades, long-distance hiking has soared in popularity. With that has come thousands of incredible stories. Backpacker selected the 13 favorite adventures they have covered over the last five decades. Highlights include Jeffrey Cogswell’s 1981 account, Coming of Age on the Appalachian Trail,” and Cindy Ross’s 1991 piece Blind Faith, which chronicles what it means to be a visually impaired hiker.
Best day hikes in Oz and NZ
Eight Epic Day Walks in Australia and New Zealand: Australian Geographic has compiled a selection of the best day hikes in New Zealand and Australia. The piece details the duration, difficulty, and highlights of each hike.
A Silent Rebellion: Kit Wilson and his father, polar traveler Geoff Wilson, take on an expedition across Iceland’s Highlands. Beginning on the northern coast, they traverse volcanic deserts and glacial rivers with their horses. Then, while they are skiing across the Vatnajökull Glacier, a brutal storm tears their tent and cuts their journey short.
The New Trend of Land Snorkeling: Snorkeling conjures up ideas of coral reefs and tropical waters, but Clyde Aspevig and Carol Guzman want hikers to snorkel on land, specifically on the American Prairie Reserve. Land snorkeling means wandering around an area, soaking up the nature around you, and being curious. Hikers nowadays typically focus on getting from A to B or reaching summits quickly. This new approach means letting interest and natural features guide you.
A 74-year-old rings The Bells
Rob Matheson Repeats The Bells, The Bells! Seventy-four-year-old Rob Matheson has climbed the notoriously tricky The Bells, The Bells! (E7 6b) on North Stack Wall in North Wales. After a first attempt in March, he successfully rang “The Bell” on April 24. In 1980, John Redhead first ascended the route, Britain’s first E7. In two videos, Matheson discusses his reasons for climbing the route and its lack of protection.
Lonnie Kauk Found Guilty of Domestic Violence: Professional climber and snowboarder Lonnie Kauk has been found guilty of domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend, Riley Hancock. A jury in Mammoth Lakes convicted Kauk of three felonies —strangulation, criminal threats, and vandalism —and one misdemeanor for domestic violence. Photographic evidence presented at trial showed a bruised handprint on Hancock’s neck. Kauk, known for his climbing achievements and the son of Yosemite climbing legend Ron Kauk, is scheduled for sentencing in June.
