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.
Clearing up Toxic Wartime Shipwrecks: Many of the thousands of WWII shipwrecks at the bottom of the ocean pose a significant environmental threat. Some hold unexploded munitions, and it is estimated that in all, they contain six billion gallons of heavy fuel oil. As the ships deteriorate, this oil will leak into our oceans. A group of Australian maritime archaeologists is working to extract pollutants before this happens.
What It’s Like to Face Off With A Grizzly: A decade ago, Jon Bentzel and Micah Nelson were hiking through Glacier National Park in Montana. Though prepared for encountering a bear, they didn’t expect to.
Suddenly, two young cubs toppled out of a bush. Seconds later, the mother bear charged Bentzel as he desperately searched for the bear spray in his pack. The bear clawed his head and arms before Nelson managed to find the spray and scare the bear off.
Photo: New York Times
Paris after World War II
Paris Here I Come: Paris Here I Come! is a travel gem from 1953. War correspondent Ollie Stewart remained in Paris after the war; his guide to the city offers insight into a post-war Europe where adventure and joy seemed more attainable for a Black American man than they did at home. Decades later, his great-niece visits Paris with his guidebook in hand.
The Merits and Dangers of Using a Leash: Last week, a 33-year-old surfer drowned when her leash became entangled while she surfed a popular standing wave on Munich’s Eisbach River. It is the first fatality there in over 50 years. The government has closed the site, and anyone who ignores this faces a hefty fine. River surfing expert Quirin Rohleder weighs in on leash safety following the accident.
Munich’s Eisbach Wave. Photo: Quirin Rohleder
A traveling king
The First King to Travel Around the World: King David Kalakaua of Hawaii made history in 1881 as the first reigning monarch to circumnavigate the globe. Known as the Merrie Monarch, he took the 281-day journey with a small entourage, hoping to share Hawaii’s culture with the rest of the world. While some people think Kalakaua’s tour showed his commitment to Hawaii’s prosperity, others questioned his motives. Nevertheless, the journey has had a lasting impact. Every year, the Merrie Monarch Festival celebrates Hawaiian history and culture.
Classic Routes I’ve Fallen Off: As they say in climbing: “If you ain’t flying, you ain’t trying.” Kate Harrison recounts her most humbling falls on some of Britain’s most iconic routes. Though she can barely remember some of her moves, she can remember each fall in vivid detail. From peeling off the Pleasure Dome to slicing her finger open on True Grip, each fall taught her something.
Climbing True Grip, Dinas Cromlech, Llanberis Pass. Photo: Daniel Price
Is hitchhiking dead?
Does Anyone Still Hitchhike?: Andrew Fedorov reflects on his years hitchhiking across America. From a stuntman with 50 concussions to a bounty hunter obsessed with flat-Earth theories, he has met an array of characters.
Between safety concerns and increased car ownership, hitchhiking is far less common than it used to be. Yet Fedorov believes that modern tools, like smartphones and online communities, have made the practice safer. He argues that hitchhiking offers a type of human connection you don’t get from other travel.
I Hiked the Southernmost Trail in Patagonia: When Olivia James started googling the Dientes de Navarino Circuit in Patagonia, she found scant information. Drawn to off-the-beaten-track experiences, that was enough to convince her to take it on. Teaming up with another solo female hiker, she recounts the remote trek. She does not try to sugar-coat it, detailing her fatigue, difficult terrain, brutal weather, and their relief when they made it to the end.
