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.
The rock in the Atlantic Ocean: Rockall is a piece of stone poking out of the Atlantic Ocean, some 140km off Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. Most people have never heard of it. Fewer have stood on Rockall than have walked on the moon, but now one man is sleeping on it.
Chris Cameron has been there since May 30. He wants to remain for 60 days, then write a book. He’s been planning it since lockdown, and now finds himself on a rock that Britain and Ireland have been arguing over for years.
Quit building giant rock cairns: Rangers in Yosemite National Park are asking hikers not to create rock cairns. Hikers have a habit of stacking up the rocks, either as a navigational marker or as an “I was here” gesture. This goes against the park’s Leave No Trace ethics. National parks around the world have made similar requests.
The myth of King Tut’s tomb
Tomb raiding should come with a health warning: In the early 20th century, ancient Egypt — and the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, in particular — captured worldwide attention. Many myths and tales surrounded King Tut’s tomb, especially the curse that would supposedly affect anyone who entered it. A few people who worked on the site did actually die in unusual circumstances. James Rampton discusses where the stories came from, and whether there is any truth behind those old myths.
One of the Worst Mountaineering Accidents in History: On October 4, 2022, an avalanche on Draupadi Ka Danda II in Uttarakhand, India killed 29 people. Deep Thakkar was on the mountain that day. When he heard a crack behind him, he turned to see a huge slab of ice and snow start moving. There was no time to respond. Nearly everyone was attached to the same rope and all started falling, pulling each other down. Thakker tried to keep above the snow but was dragged under. He was sure he was going to die.
Draupadi Ka Danda II.
It’s not all about the summit
Beyond the Cult of the Summit: To many, success on a mountain means summiting. But Norman Hadley questions that definition. Walking, hiking, or climbing a single route on a mountain does not suddenly mean you understand it. Helvellyn in the UK’s Lake District, for example, has over 1,000 routes. If you completed every one, would that be enough to say you know it? What about if you completed each route twice?
“My knowledge of any mountain will always be incomplete,” says Norman Hadley. “I choose to find that immensely comforting.”
Running with my dog makes me feel braver: Amelia Arvesen was running one morning when a man jumped out of the bushes toward her. She panicked and didn’t return to that section of the trail for months. All that changed when she got her dog, Kona. Kona loved running, and he reminded Arvesen that she did too, and that it was time to reclaim her favorite trails.
Hikers Escape A Havasupai Flash Flood: On March 17, people camping between Havasu and Mooney Falls, Arizona, had 20 minutes to evacuate before a flash flood hit. They managed to pack and hike to the top of Havasu Falls. An hour later, all the bridges into town were washed away, the campers were stranded and had to clamber up the side of a canyon to get out. Two of them caught the flood on camera.
Bikepacking through Mercantor. Photo: Joffrey Maluski
Exploring Homeland: Joffrey Maluski grew up in Mercantour, France. He spent years traveling and was planning a bike tour around the world when Covid hit. Not ready to give up exploring, he turned to the region where he grew up, the Alps. With his skis and bike, he began a difficult 20-day winter journey through the mountains.
