Looking for a dose of inspiration on a Monday? Look no further than the video below, which features rock climber Urko Carmona, who just happened to have lost a leg in a car accident when he was 16. Now in his 30's, Urko hasn't let that accident keep him from living the life he wants, including one filled with plenty of adventure. Watching him scale a difficult rock face is definitely impressive.

Live your Dreams from klaas willems on Vimeo.

If anyone knows how to be an explorer in the 21st century it is Mikael Strandberg. His various adventures have taken him on bicycle rides from Chile to Alaska and Norway to South Africa, amongst other places. He's traveled through Patagonia on horseback and trekked through East Africa. He has wandered the most remote regions of Siberia and crossed Yemen by camel. He is a Fellow in the Explorers Club, Royal Geographical Society and the Long Riders Guild. So when Mikael offers advice to aspiring explorers, you know that he is doing so from a place of experience.

In a blog post that was published today, Strandberg shares his 9 tips on how to become a modern day explorer. These simple pearls of wisdom form a solid foundation for anyone who is considering pursing a life of exploration, something that comes with sacrifices and challenges, but also great rewards and satisfaction.

I won't spoil the list because I think the entire thing is well worth a read. I will say that his final tip is perhaps the most important one of all. It simply reads: "9. Finally: Get out there and just do it!" For many of us, the biggest stumbling block towards pursuing our dreams and goals is ourself. Sometimes we need to take that leap of faith and just go for it. The people that I have known who have been the most successful at whatever it is they do have always been the ones who are willing to believe in themselves and make the leap.

Mikael's tips are excellent ones for just about anything you'd like to do in life. While he puts them into context of pursuing the life of an explorer, they could also be just as easily applied to someone who wants to start their own business, quit their day job to pursue other opportunities or just about anything else. He advocates for having a clear vision, staying focused and believing in yourself - qualities that are important no matter what goals you set for yourself.

To read the entire article and discover all of Mikael's tips, click here.

Our friend Dave Cornthwaite has released a fun little video which is the culmination of a project that started more than 1000 days ago. Starting on January 1, 2011, Dave, who we followed down the Mississippi River on a stand-up paddleboard and on a1000 mile swim down the Missouri River (amongst other adventures), began taking a photo of himself everyday for 1000 days. He has then strung them together in the video below, which is equal parts inspiring and entertaining. That time span overlaps several of his big expeditions, so you'll see Dave in a variety of situations. The message here, as the title implies, is that we should make ever day – every moment – count.

By now I'm sure you're all well aware that the shutdown of the U.S. government has ended and all services are being restored. This is, of course, a good thing for not only the States but the rest of the world, because if a budget compromise hadn't been reached by yesterday, the U.S. would have defaulted on its debt, causing all kinds of economic issues across the globe. Fortunately that didn't happen and some semblance of normalcy can return one again.

With the standoff between Democrats and Republicans over (at least for now!) the federal government began ramping up operations once again on Wednesday evening. As a result, all of America's national parks are open once again and visitors have already been flowing through their gates. With the fall travel season in full swing, this is good news for everyone who enjoys the outdoors and it means that we are no longer officially shut out from some of the most spectacular landscapes in North America, if not the world. I say "officially shut out" because many visitors to the parks ignored barricades and went inside during the shutdown anyway.

The news is not so rosy for the researchers and scientists hoping to travel to Antarctica this season. As I mentioned previously, the shutdown forced the government to put several Antarctic bases into "caretaker status" which essentially reduces everything to a skeleton crew and maintains the bare minimum or resources. Ramping back up from that isn't as easy as removing barricades and opening gates, as there are a lot of logistics that go into supplying those bases and ensuring staff can arrive there safely. Most of those plans were canceled or put on hold pending resolution to the budget crisis, and since those schedules are so tightly set, getting back on schedule is an uphill battle.


The National Science Foundation is currently evaluating its options and working to get back into service. As of this writing, their website still isn't even functional. From what I understand, they'll spend the next few days figuring out which Antarctic projects have priority and determining what funding they'll have available, before deciding on how to proceed.

If I were to guess, I'd day we'll see a paired down Antarctic schedule for the season ahead. Some projects will still be salvaged but others will have to be delayed until next year or beyond. Operations will likely ramp up much more slowly than normal and will probably be at a much lower capacity. We'll just have to wait to see how things play out, but with the Antarctic expedition season about to commence, decisions will need to be made quite quickly.

I, for one, am glad to have the parks back in operation and at least some movement in Antarctica. Now if we could just get some people to move in Washington, things would be much better all around.

Want to be a reality TV star? This may be your chance. Yesterday an open casting call was put out for season 2 of the show Naked and Afraid, which is a Discovery Channel program although the press release said it will air on the National Geographic Channel.

If you're not familiar with the show, each episode features a man and a woman being dropped off in some wild place completely naked and left with the task of trying to survive for 21 days. Some of the locations from season 1 include the Serengeti, the jungles of Costa Rica and the island of Borneo. Each environment presents unique challenges to the people who are dropped there, including how to find food and water, building a shelter and finding some makeshift clothes.

Metal Flowers Media is handling the casting call and they're looking for men and women over he age of 18 who want to take part in this survival show. They are quick to point out that this is not a realty competition. Those who are selected to appear in an episode will be taken to their destination and dropped there for 21 days, where they must learn to survive off the land. Those who make the cut will be paid for their episode and during the casting process they'll be flying finalists to Los Angeles to meet with the producers.

If you have any interest in being on the show contact Naela Duarrani-Linday at naela@metalflowersmedia.com. Who knows, you might become the next Les Stroud or Bear Grylls, although I don't recall either of them doing a nude scene. I'd have to demand a stunt butt.

Here's an example of what the show is like for those who haven't seen it.

A few days ago I reviewed a surprising product from Energizer in the form of the Ultimate headlamp, a light that is bright, durable and very affordable. Today I have an entirely different product. One that isn't specifically meant for the outdoors but is incredibly useful while traveling. Particularly on a road trip during which you need to keep your gadgets and tech toys fully powered. It is the 180 Watt Cup Inverter , a device that any road warrior will want in their arsenal.

Designed to fit in the cup holder of just about any vehicle, this power inverter comes equipped with four USB ports and a standard AC outlet. When plugged into the DC port (cigarette lighter) of a car it can provide enough juice to power up smartphones, GPS devices, cameras – even a laptop – all at the same time. A small, almost completely silent, fan keeps the interior from overheating so that it can continue pumping out the power indefinitely, making this an essential piece of gear on any driving excursion.

As the name implies, this inverter is capable of cranking out 180 watts of continuous power. That's enough to provide each of the USB ports with up to 2.1 amps, which is sufficient juice to charge a tablet including  the notoriously power hungry iPad. All of that energy is shared across all four USB ports however, so if you plug several power-hungry devices in at the same time, they won't quite charge as rapidly as they should. Still, the inverter is efficient enough to keep multiple devices up and running for when you need them.


Energizer has built a very solid and dependable device that looks good for a device that is essentially a portable power strip for mobile devices. The clever shape allows it to slip into nearly any cup holder, which is the perfect place for a device like this one. It put it within easy reach of just about anyone in the vehicle but it also keeps it well out of the way of the driver, keeping it from becoming a distraction.

This is a simple product that works exactly as advertised, which is what you want of course. If you make frequent road trips and need to keep your gadgets charged while you're on the go, this is the perfect device to have in your vehicle. It's MSRP of $44.99 is a great price for something that can charge all your mobile devices and a laptop too. This is the kind of device that will change the way you travel and pay for itself many times over. Buy one, keep it in your car and never be without power again.

We've seen the human slingshot before but it still looks like fun. This time the folks behind the original video are back (with sponsors no less!) and this time they're hurling their friends toward the side of a mountain. All in good fun of course. That is, if you think hurling through the air at breakneck speed is your idea of fun.

The already crowded action camera market, currently dominated by GoPro, just got a bit more crowded. Garmin, the company so well known for making GPS devices, has released two new enteries for aspiring filmmakers to consider in the form of the VIRB and VIRB Elite. Whether or not they'll be able to make a dent with consumers remains to be seen, but they are packing some serious technology under the hood.

The VIRB is capable of capturing video in resolutions up to 1080p HD, which is pretty much standards for any action camera these days. But Garmin's device also features onboard image stabilization and lens distortion correction, which help to make the footage just a bit cleaner and clearer. Battery life is a rated to be a solid three hours and both versions of the VIRB are capable of capturing still images while video is recording. A built-in 1.4-inch display allows the user to watch video already shot or see exactly what they are filming at all times. The VIRB Elite also comes equipped with onboard WiFi and GPS, while both units feature ANT+ connectivity for pairing with other devices.

Garmin knows their market well and built the VIRB to appeal to the outdoor crowd. The camera is rated for IPX-7 waterproofing, which means it can survive under a meter of water for up 30 minutes. That makes it tough enough for most waterborne adventures, although if you want to take it diving you'll need to purchase the optional dive case. A number of mounts will be available for the VIRB as well allowing the user to connect it to their handlebars, helmet, surfboards, kayaks and more. A built-in HDMI port and a microSD card slot rounds out the package. The camera can support up 64GB of microSD storage, which is enough for as much as 7 hours of 1080p footage.

The VIRB and VIRB Elite will be available in September with a price tag of $300 and $400 respectively.

Remember the Challenge21 initiative? It was the ambitious project by climber/photographer Jake Norton to summit the three highest peaks on each of the seven continents in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of safe, clean drinking water in developing countries across the world. The project was launched a couple of years back and the team behind it have been diligently working away towards their goals while facing an uphill struggle to find funding and link their message to their efforts in the mountains. That hasn't been an easy task and it looks like Challenge 21 is going through a bit of a refocusing phase as Jake and company search to find new ways to spread the word on how important having a source of clean drinking water really is.

In a recent post to the Challenge21 blog, Jake talks openly about these struggles while also pointing out that the project has been a great success. Since its start, Challenge21 has reached more than 1 million people and raised over $260,000 for Water For People. But at the same time he feels the organization can do more and that he needs to broaden the appeal of the project and cast a wider net in spreading the message that he had originally intended. With that in mind, Jake and his team will continue climbing, but he is finding new ways to link the story he wants to tell with the natural spaces that he visits.

The blog post also included the announcement of an upcoming expedition which will see Jake joined by Pete McBride and David Morton as they travel to India to make the first ascent of Chaukhumba IV a 6885 meter (22,589 ft) at the headwaters of the Ganges River. After they've summited that peak, the team intends to then travel source-to-sea, documenting life on the Ganges, which is one of the most important rivers in the world, but culturally and environmentally. It also happens to be one of the most polluted in the world. The dichotomy of these things will be part of the story that they tell as we follow these three men down a river that is considered sacred to hundreds of millions of people.

Stay tuned for more information on this expedition as it gets underway later this year. It should be well documented and feature some great stories both from the mountains of India and the river that plays such a significant role in that country's identity.

There is little question that Jimmy Chin is one of the top two or three adventure photographers in the business today. He work is always fantastic and he goes to great lengths to catch the perfect shot. No where is this hammered home more completely than in the video below, which is a demo reel of his work, both in still photography and video. Many of the images are simply breathtaking and a great example of why Jimmy is so respected in his field.

JIMMY CHIN // DIRECTOR + CINEMATOGRAPHER REEL // 2013 from Camp 4 Collective on Vimeo.

With mid-August now upon us, it is safe to say that we are definitely in the dog days of summer. In fact, where I live we've had a string of triple digit days (that's 38º+ for my readers who prefer celsius) and there isn't much relief in sight. If you're like me, a little hot weather isn't enough to keep you indoors for long and provided you have clothing suitable to the weather, it's easy to head out, even in the heat of the day.

Carhartt isn't an apparel brand that quickly comes to mind when you're looking for clothing for outdoor adventures. After all, the company has built itself a reputation for creating comfortable and durable clothing for use in work environments such as construction sites, shipyards and farms. But now Carhartt is applying what it has learned in the work place to make clothes we can sea when we head out to play too and judging from what I saw from them at Outdoor Retailer, I'd say they have some great things in store for us. But until that new gear arrives, here are a couple of products you can buy now to get you through the remainder of the summer.

Men's Rugged Cargo Shorts ($36)
I have to admit, when I first took Carhartt's Rugged cargo shorts out of the box they were shipped to me in, I was a little concerned. The seemed heavier than most of the other pairs of shorts that I typically wear and I was afraid they wouldn't be comfortable in very hot weather. After all, no on likes thick, dense fabrics that don't breathe well in the heat. Turns out I had nothing to worry about however, because these shorts are made out of 100% cotton that is soft and comfortable, while still performing very well in the heat.

For a company that is known for offering clothes that are ultra-durable, it says something that they gave these short the  name "Rugged." The fabrics used in their construction are practically bullet proof, shrugging off wear and tear easily and holding their good looks even when they're been put through a gauntlet of abuse. Like their work clothes, these shorts can take punishment and keep coming back for more, all the while keeping the wearer comfortable with their relaxed fit design.


These shorts have a generous amount of pocket space. Not only are there four in the usual spots (two on the front and two on the back) there are also two massive cargo pockets on each of the legs. They are large enough to carry all kinds of small items including a digital camera, GPS device, a headlamp or just about any other small gadget you may want to bring with you when you head out. There is even a pocket specifically built for carrying a smartphone, which is a nice touch for a pair of shorts designed more for leisure than work.

I was incredibly pleased with how the Rugged cargo shorts felt when I put them on and even more impressed after spending a day running errands and going on a short hike with them as well. They performed as well as any of the other shorts in my wardrobe and did so without compromising quality and durability. With a price tag of just $36, I feel these shorts are an incredible bargain as they are built to last a long time and good looking enough to wear to any casual occasion. Summer isn't over just yet and now might be a good time to add the Rugged cargo shorts to your closet too.

Men's Force Short-Sleeve T-Shirt ($28)
A good pair of shorts is only half the equation when it comes to staying cool and dry in the hot weather. A good shirt plays an even more important role, wicking moisture away from the body and helping the wearer stay as comfortable as possible even as the mercury climbs higher. Carhartt's Force t-shirt is the perfect compliment for the Rugged cargo shorts in that regard as it's cotton/polyester blend is perfect for pulling sweat away from the body and allowing it to quickly evaporate. The result is a more comfortable day out in the sun.

The Force t-shirt not only looks good but incorporates fabrics designed to resist stains that help to keep it that way. Like everything else in the Carhartt line-up, it is durable and built to last. This is anything but a cheap t-shirt that will wear out after you've owned it for a few months. Instead, it is a piece of clothing that is designed to last. And unlike the cargo shorts, you'll want to continue wearing the Force even when the weather starts to get cooler.

Carhartt's understanding of their customer needs shows through in the small touches. For instance, the shirt has a tagless neck collar to prevent chafing and a breast pocket comes in handy for keeping small items close at hand. The design also incorporates Raglan sleeves that don't hinder the range of motion while the relaxed fit of the shirt doesn't bind or restrict movement in any way. In other words, it is great shirt for any time of the year, it just happens to well suited for the summer months too.

The Force t-shirt and Rugged cargo shorts are Carhartt quality brought to the casual market. They look good, are durable and comfortable. Everything you could ask for in warm weather clothing and at affordable prices.

This new promo video from Backcountry is so much more than a commercial for an online gear store. It's an endorsement for the lifestyle that many of us have chosen to pursue. It teases us with images of incredibly beautiful locations but then slaps us in the face with the hardships and challenges we endure in our ongoing search for adventure. This video is inspiring, energizing and the perfect way to send us off into a weekend. Enjoy!

Water is Life is a nonprofit that focuses on improving water quality in communities around the world, something that we all know is incredibly important in improving the lives of many people in developing countries. According to their statistics, there is a 1 in 5 chance that a child living in an environment without clean drinking water will die before they reach the age of 5. With that in mind, they set out to help 4-year old Nkaitole, a boy living in Kenya, to check a few things off his bucket list before his fifth birthday. The results are in this very touching video below. Warning: Before you start watching this you may want to have a few tissues close at hand.

Back in May, Xpedition.tv launched a new short adventure film competition which was focused on looking for emerging talent in the outdoor adventure world. The competition was broken down into three categories with winners being honored for being the "Most Inspiring," "Most Innovative" and "Most Surprising." Earlier this week the winners were announced and there are a couple of familiar videos earning some of the top honors.

In the category of "Most Inspiring" our friend Dave Cornthwaite, along with Miguel Endara, took home the top honors for their Swim 1000 film (see below). The eight minute short chronicles Dave's grueling thousand mile swim down the Missouri River last summer which pushed him to his physical and mental limits.

The prize for "Most Innovative" when to a film called Further Up Yonder, which features stunning images from the International Space Station. I featured that film on my blog last December when it was released and it remains breathtaking months later. Finally, in the category of "Most Surprising" is the video Shunpo, which is a beautifully shot movie that encourages us all to break out of the mundane and routine. You can read more about the winners and view the runner-ups (some of which I've shared on here before as well!) by clicking here.

All in all, really great field of winners which were selected from a group of 60 entrants. The folks behind the competition and Xpedition.tv say this is only the beginning for what they have planned however. Stay tuned for more inspiration and adventure from this site in the future.


Swim 1000 from Miguel Endara on Vimeo.

Movie lovers will no doubt remember the Von Trapps, the family made famous by the film The Sound of Music. At the end of the film the Von Trapps fled Austria as the Germans were invading prior to the start of World War II, crossing the Alps in hopes of evading capture. But what happened to them after that was left up to the viewers imagination.

Recently, Richard Bangs, host of the television show Adventures with Purpose, went looking for the Von Trapps to discover what had become of them. Turns out they settled on a farm in Vermont, where their descendants now run a resort that reflects their Austrian heritage including plenty of outdoor activities. The video below gives fans of the movie an update on what happened with the family after the credits rolled.

America's National Parks are some of the most spectacular landscapes anywhere in the world. But due to budget cuts, they now face some incredible challenges. Just exactly how big are those challenges? Take a look at the infographic below to get an idea. And yes, I know it's long, but this is a topic that I'm passionate about and other fans of the parks should be aware exactly what's at stake.

As I've mentioned in a few posts over the past week or so, the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market gets underway in Salt Lake City, Utah tomorrow and for the next few days I'll be up to my eyeballs in new backpacks, tents, boots and other assorted gear. It is an incredibly fun show to attend although also very busy and packed full with more things that you can possibly see in the allotted time. Still, you won't find me complaining because it is four days of total immersion in the outdoor and adventure culture.

Since I'll be otherwise indisposed over the next few days there won't be any updates to the blog for the rest of the week. I will however be sharing my OR experience on social media. That usually involves posting photos of some cool new gear and maybe snapping a shot of a personality from the world of outdoor adventure. In the past, I've rubbed elbows with the likes of Conrad Anker, Ueli Steck, Alex Honnold and similar folks who go completely unnoticed in the regular world but are rock stars while at Outdoor Retailer. If you'd like to join in on the fun, follow me on Twitter or Facebook to get a glimpse of the show.

Regular updates to the Adventure Blog will resume next Monday when I'm sure I'll have plenty of thoughts on new gear and other things announced at the convention. Until then, make sure you get outside and find a little adventure of your own.

Looking to commune with nature but don't have time to escape your desk today? Then you'll want to checkout the video below which captures some stunning images from the Catskills Mountains that will go a long way towards getting your fix. Filmmaker Savva Svet called this wonderful little film "Bodhi" in honor of the tree under which the Buddha found ultimate enlightenment. This video may not achieve the same effect but it is certainly a step in the right direction. Simply wonderful.

Bodhi from Savva Svet on Vimeo.

As I mentioned earlier, the Outdoor Retailer show is set to get underway tomorrow in Salt Lake City with the Open Air Demo, followed by the launch of the convention itself on Wednesday. Over the next few days, gear companies, retail buyers, media and a swarm of outdoor personalities will descend on SLC in what is one of the most outdoor and adventure focused events that you could ever imagine. Gear hounds in particular would love spending a few days at OR. There is literally acres of new equipment to sift through ranging from tents, backpacks and boots to stand-up paddleboards, camp stoves and just about anything else you can think of that is suitable for the outdoors. In short, it is gear nirvana with the latest and greatest products that will be filling our store shelves in the months ahead.

As usual, the Gear Junkie has done a good job of previewing some of the products that will be at the show in a few days. In a post that went up last week, and I'm only just now getting a chance to share, GJ gives us a nice glimpse of a few of the items that may be of interest to outdoor enthusiasts. For instance, there is a sneak peek at new sleeping bags coming from Sierra Designs. What sets these bags apart from the crowd is that one features waterproof down – a vast improvement over traditional down fill – while the other has a zipperless design with a built in "comforter." Other gear items in the preview include SUP boards that have built in lights powered be a rechargeable battery, a new tent from Big Agnes and a super-lightweight shell jacket from Bergans.

This is all just scratching the surface however and there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of new products on display. If you're in the market for an expensive new piece of gear, you'll probably want to delay your purchase at least through this week so that you can see what the gear companies have in the pipeline. You may be able to get older models at substantially reduced prices or the next big thing could very well be exactly what you're looking for.

I arrive in Salt Lake City on Wednesday morning and have appointments with many gear companies running through Saturday. As I have in the past, I intend to share some thoughts from the show floor, including photos, on both Facebook and Twitter. If you're interested in seeing what's new from the outdoor industry, you may want to give me a follow. Hopefully I'll have plenty of good stuff to show.

On the eve of the start of the summer Outdoor Retailer gear convention, SPOT has announced the release of its new third generation Satellite Messenger. The new device, which is available at retail now, features some significant upgrades over previous SPOT devices, allowing outdoor enthusiasts to travel through the backcountry more safely then ever before.

Perhaps the biggest upgrade with the SPOT Gen3 is in the area of battery life. The new model can operate twice as long between charges as compared to previous models, which were already fairly energy efficient. That extra battery life is put to good use in terms of tracking as well, allowing this new device to update its location more regularly. The SPOT Gen3 is capable of sharing its location every 5, 10, 30 or 60 minutes, allowing friends and family to trace your path while out on an outdoor adventure. There is even a new mode that will allow the unit to share precise locations every 2.5 minutes, which my friends who are race directors for adventure races will surely appreciate. There is even a new mode that automatically sends tracking information when the SPOT Gen3 is moving but quits transmitting when it has stopped. This motion sensor will help save battery life while still providing regular updates on the users progress.

Speaking of battery life, the new SPOT device has improved in that department while also adding more ways to keep it powered. It can be operated using standard AAA batteries of course but the device now has the option for using rechargeable power cells or run off a direct connection from a USB power source as well. This lends a nice level of versatility to the Gen3 Messenger and means that there are more ways for us to keep it functioning while out in the field.

As with previous versions of the device, the new model allows users to send an S.O.S. message when they get into trouble or send pre-canned message to let friends and family know that they are okay. This simple, yet effective, messaging system is at the heart of what SPOT was intended for and the company claims that since it's launch a few years back, SPOT Messengers have been responsible for more than 2300 rescues worldwide.

The Gen3 model looks a bit larger than the older versions of the Messenger. It has also received a redesign that includes larger buttons and integrated loops designed to make it easer to use and carry. The unit remains waterproof and ruggedized of course, allowing it to take plenty of abuse while in the field.

I have an appointment to meet with the folks at SPOT while I'm at OR in a few days. I'll post some impressions on their new products, including the new SPOT Global Phone when I get the chance.