Here at ExWeb, when we’re not outdoors, we get our adventure fix by exploring social media and the wider interweb. Sometimes we’re a little too plugged in, and browsing interesting stories turn from minutes into hours. To nourish your own adventure fix, here are some of the best links we’ve discovered this week.
Nejc Zaplotnik, Mountain Poet: Mountaineering historian Bernadette McDonald recounts some of the key moments and mysteries of the vibrant life of one of the great climbers of the 20th century. She also shares translated passages of Zaplotnik’s book.
Everest 2021: The WTF Season: You’ll need a few hours, perhaps even a few days to wade through this one. But amateur climber Paul Devaney (who is on his own quest to bag the Seven Summits) has trawled through social media reports and podcasts to get at the truth behind the fiascos and lies that marred this year’s Everest season.
Will Gadd: Act Like a Pro: The climbing legend explains why adventure photography pros get the results first before getting experimental, and why if you want to work with athletes, you should never, ever behave like a d***.
Blind Climber Jesse Dufton ‘Non-sights’ E3: Jesse Dufton has remarkably onsighted his first E3 (US 5.11a/b) climbing route, Internationale, at Kilt Rock in Scotland. It was the first time the blind climber (yes, that does say blind, and yes he did lead the route on trad gear) had ever attempted a route of that grade.
Can Family and Adventure Mix?
Photo: UKC
To Be a Climbing Mum, or Not to Be? Nutan Shinde-Pawar discusses the difficulties many parents — and especially women — with outdoor passions and careers face when deciding whether or not to start a family.
Timothy Olson (Probably) Just Nabbed the FKT On The PCT: Okay, FKT’s are a contentious issue in the adventure world, but it was still significant to hear that Timothy Olson after 4,268km, 122,000m in elevation gain, and more than 51 days, finished his Pacific Coast Trail thru-hike. That’s border to border, Mexico to Canada.
The Coolest Prof on Campus is Luddite Backpack Builder John Campbell: Hikers and climbers worldwide love cottage manufacturers for their dedication to their craft and bespoke outdoor gear. In this interview, the founder of Alpine Luddites, John Campbell, gives a fascinating insight into what it’s like to tread your own path and start up a small outdoor gear company.
