History

The summit of Lenin Peak.

Lenin Peak: Historic Climbs and Tragedies on this ‘Easiest’ 7,000’er

Lenin Peak, a towering giant in the Pamirs, has...
waterman on a portaledge reading

Shining Brightly, Briefly: Johnny Waterman and His 1978 Solo Traverse of Mount Hunter

In 1978, American mountaineer Johnny Waterman completed the first...
A view of an island from above

The Desert Island Castaway Whose Life Inspired an Adventure Novel

A pirate capture, a daring escape, a deserted island...
old b/w photo of a young climber

Looking Back: A Tragic 1984 Disappearance on Everest’s West Ridge

Earlier this week, we examined the pioneering 1979 ascent...
Nejc Zaplotnik.

Remembering Slovenian Alpinist Nejc Zaplotnik

Today, Slovenian alpinist Nejc Zaplotnik would have turned 73....

Iceberg That Sank the Titanic Didn’t Create a Large Hole But a Series of Small Rips

Over a century after the Titanic sank, ground-breaking 3D...
two crazed-looking explorers

Half-Starved, Three-Quarters Crazy: How Two Explorers Survived Alone in Northern Greenland in 1911-12

Exploration stories are rife with extreme deprivation, both physical...
Rakaposhi.

The Climbing History of Rakaposhi

At 7,788m, Pakistan's Rakaposhi is a formidable peak that...
Mount Rainier.

The Climbing History of Mount Rainier

At 4,392m, Mount Rainier is the highest peak in...
A child's drawing of two human figures beside text in Old Novgorod, written on birch bark.

A Child’s Doodles Show Daily Life in Medieval Russia

The 13th century was eventful for the people of...
Chantal Mauduit

Looking Back: The 1992 Rescue Of Chantal Mauduit on K2

In our recent article remembering French mountaineer Chantal Mauduit,...
Chantal Mauduit.

Pursuing Happiness: Remembering Chantal Mauduit

The remarkable French alpinist Chantal Mauduit would have turned...
John Elvis Harlin II.

Remembering John Harlin, Eiger Legend

On March 22, 1966, American climber John Harlin fell...
Illustration of a mounted knight riding towards a group of Blemmyae, headless men.

When Foreigners Were Considered Monsters

Early explorers weren't just worried about storms, starvation, mutiny,...
A remote and snowy mountain spire

Climbing the Unclimbable: Mount Waddington

Mount Waddington, an infrequently climbed peak in British Columbia’s...
Illustration of prospectors leading camels in the desert.

Why Feral Camels Once Haunted the American Southwest

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, denizens...
Left: A man in late Tudor/early Stuart dress, Right: A 17th century map of the Arctic

Exploration Mysteries: A 16th-Century Arctic Expedition Ends in Disaster

It’s 1553, and Sir Hugh Willoughby is leading three...
A diver underwater beside a shipwreck.

Resurrecting An Extinct Grain from a 19th-Century Shipwreck

In November of 1878, a three-masted schooner named the...
The Duke of the Abruzzi in uniform, with medals

Remembering the Duke of Abruzzi

On January 29, 1873, Prince Luigi Amadeo Giuseppe Maria...
Riccardo Cassin.

Remembering Riccardo Cassin

On January 2, 1909, the versatile mountaineer Riccardo Cassin...
a map showing Atlantis

Explore the Fascinating History of Imaginary Lands With This Interactive Map

Every exploration buff knows that made-up geography often appeared...
A statue of Zheng He.

Great Explorers: Zheng He

Fifteenth-century China was a maritime powerhouse that explored new...

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