When we’re not outdoors, we get our adventure fix by exploring social media and the web. To nourish your adventure fix, here are some of the best adventure links we’ve discovered this week.
Lightning Destroys Stone Pillar on Ben Nevis: Lightning strikes during a major UK storm on June 12 destroyed a stone pillar 10 meters from the summit of Ben Nevis. Mountain guide Rich Pyne was summiting the mountain for the 562nd time when he noticed the damage. “It looks like it was destroyed from within,” he said. There were 28,000 lightning strikes across the UK that day.
Galactic Swimming: Astronomer and swimmer Paul Kalas has combined his passions into a rare experience that we can share. Galactic swimming takes place at night, immersing the swimmer in both worlds. A clear sky allows you to see the billions of stars in the Milky Way above. Below, the marine world comes alive with bioluminescence as you move through the water. Kalas talks of his own galactic swims and how to prepare for them.
Nick Clinch (middle, back row) on the American Antarctic Mountaineering Expedition. Photo: American Alpine Club
Historical Badass – Nick Clinch: Nick Clinch’s multiple first ascents began in 1955 when the 20-something climber started planning to do Hidden Peak in the Karakoram with a friend. Clinch did not make the summit himself in 1958, but his logistics made the FA possible. In 1960, his team made another first ascent, this time on Masherbrum.
For many, his crowing jewel is his team’s first ascent of Antarctica’s Mount Vinson. All 10 members summited, and Clinch was awarded the American Alpine Club’s Gold Medal.
No paradise for surfers
Surfing Never Left Réunion Island: Between 2011 and 2019, there were 24 shark attacks around Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean, including 11 fatalities. The “Shark Crisis” started when one tore off a surfer’s leg. Surfing was banned in most places, but a small group continued to surf daily. All of a sudden, avoiding sharks wasn’t their only goal. They had to hide from the authorities as well.
Lyla Harrod Knows She’s Never Alone: Last year, Lyla Harrod set the unsupported women’s fastest known time on the White Mountains Direttissima. She came up with the idea after completing the Pacific Crest Trail earlier in the year. Everyone thinks that “unsupported” is carrying all your supplies. While this is true, Harrod soon discovered that it also means no emotional support from others. To her, that often meant caring for herself as if she were a child again.
Titanic conspiracy theories on TikTok
The Titanic Truthers of TikTok: There have always been a few debates about what happened to the Titanic. At exactly what time did it hit the iceberg? How many people perished? Records vary slightly, but now a new group of people is questioning what happened. They are turning to TikTok to air their conspiracy theories and claims.
One video with 11 million views claims that it didn’t sink at all. Another suggests that J.P. Morgan orchestrated the disaster. Titanic experts weigh in on this frustrating trend and ponder the wider implications of misinformation on TikTok.
Argentina’s Answer to Yellowstone: The Iberá Wetlands in northeastern Argentina are one of the most important freshwater ecosystems in South America. It has become one of the country’s top destinations for wildlife watching.
Although it now teems with life, 30 years ago it was “a degraded backwater.” Back then, Doug and Kristine Tompkins saw the degradation and set to work on one of the biggest rewilding programs on the continent. Their inspiration: Yellowstone National Park.
Angus Kille on The Meltdown. Photo: Angus Kille
Angus Kille Completes The Meltdown: Last week, Angus Kill completed the fourth-ever ascent of The Meltdown (9a) at Twll Mawr in Wales. It is considered the hardest slab route in the UK. Kille speaks to UK Climbing about how he prepared for his climb. Over the last year, he has spent 25 sessions figuring out the wall. “I got sucked in because all the crazy moves began to feel more possible the more attention I paid to them,” he said.
