August isn't typically the time of year that get much news on Everest. After all, the spring climbing season is well behind us and the much quieter fall season hasn't begun yet. But today we have a couple of Everest-centric stories worth noting and considering the rather large shadow the mountain casts over the mountaineering world, they are both worth sharing.

First up, Alan Arnette has weighed in with his thoughts on the new regulations that Nepal will be instituting next year. Those regulations include a permanent government presence in Base Camp, a ban on the use of helicopters in the region and a requirement that all attempts at setting a record on the mountain be declared ahead of time. Alan notes that while it is good to see Nepal making any kind of effort to bring a bit of order to Everest, he has his doubts as to whether or not these rules will actually accomplish anything or will even be enforced at all.

One of the more troubling aspect about the news that more regulations are coming to the world's tallest mountain is that aside from a BBC article on the changes, there has been little other information on the topic. The Nepali government hasn't even issued a press release or sent out any written confirmation of the rules changes. Worse yet, Alan says that none of the new regulations do anything to address the biggest challenge - overcrowding.

I have to say that I agree with Alan's assessment of the situation and had my own reservations about the new rules when they were announced. Nepal isn't all that well known for following through with their government oversight to begin with and adding yet more bureaucracy  probably isn't the answer. The fact that these new rules don't help in controlling the crowds leads me to believe that officials there are simply burying their heads in the sand so as to not disrupt the the cash cow that Everest has become for them. More people on the mountain means more permits sold, which of course leads to more cash in the country's coffers.

Meanwhile, Outside magazine has an interview with a Sherpa who was on Everest this past spring and was a witness to the incidents that led to a brawl between other Sherpas and European climbers Ueli Steck, Simone Moro and Jonathan Griffith. The conflict began up near Camp 3 at 23,000 feet (7010 meters) when the well-known trio attempted to cross the ropes that were being fixed at the time. Reportedly they dislodged a piece of ice that struck a Sherpa working below. This of course angered the other members of the rope-fixing team who had warned the three westerners to stay off the ropes. The lead Sherpa pulled the team off the job and ordered them to go down to Camp 2. When Simone, Ueli and Jonathan arrived back at that point a few hours later, all hell broke loose.

Tashi Sherpa, who works for International Mountain Guides and was the subject of this interview, paints a similar story from what we've heard in the past but with a few key differences. For instance, he claims that the crowd that approached Simone and Ueli in Camp 2 was nowhere near 100 people as many reports have indicated. He also says that Simone in particular was confrontational and abusive with the Sherpas involved. His actions, according to Tashi, directly led to increased tension between the parties involved.

The interview is a good one and comes across as being honest and forthright. The Sherpa, spoke to a reporter in Kathmandu and talked openly about a growing resentment amongst Sherpas towards western climbers. This is a result of them doing most of the work on Everest and getting little credit for the role they play. As the Nepali climbers have gotten more educated and self assured, they are now starting to ask why the stories about their climbs aren't included with news of westerners summiting the mountain. After all, without the Sherpas, very few people would actually be able to climb Everest.

I found the interview to be very interesting and credible. it is good to get the story from the perspective of the Sherpas involved – a story that has mostly gone untold until now. The person in Outside's interview, says that no foreign journalists or bloggers who were there in BC bothered to talk with the Sherpas involved to get their side of the story. Not even the Nepalese government liaisons approached them. This interview gets at least part of their story out to the public.

If you're a fan of all-things Everest, you'll certainly want to read both of these stories.

Listen up outdoor adventurers! Are you planning an epic expedition in the near future? Need some extra cash to help get your journey off the ground? Outside magazine is here to help!

Outside is seeking submissions for its 2013 Adventure Grant and is looking for one bold adventurer to give $10,000 to. To enter, all you have to do is click here and fill out the online form. It includes the usual information such as your name, address, and so on. You'll also be asked to write a brief (500 words or less) essay about what kind of adventure you have planned and share a photo of yourself or your team. Finally, you'll need to create a brief video, no longer than two minutes, that expresses your passion for whatever your adventure may be. Upload that video to YouTube or Vimeo, and you're all set to go.

Deadline for submissions is June 1, which means you don't have a lot of time to get everything you need together. Once the deadline passes, Outside editors will pick their finalists and those videos will be posted online where readers can vote for their favorites. Last year, readers selected Daniel Alvarez as their winner. The 31-year old from Tallahassee, Florida went on an amazing kayaking journey that began in Minnesota, followed the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico and then continued along the coast until he reached the tip of the Florida Keys.

This is a great opportunity for anyone to find some funding for their big adventure. Be creative, pitch your idea well and who knows, we may just be reading about you in the pages of Outside next year.

Still looking to add some new gear to your collection this spring? Then Outside magazine has you covered. Outside editors have announced their selection for the best gear for the summer season in their 2013 Gear of the Year awards.

This time out 15 great pieces of outdoor equipment made the list, providing shoppers with some excellent choices in the way of new backpacks, tents, running shoes and more. Each of these items is obviously designed for use the warmer spring and summer months, although much of it is versatile enough to be used all year round.

Earning a spot on the Gear of the Year list this time around is the new Mica FL2 tent from the North Face, which is a lightweight and durable three-season shelter. Osprey's new Xenith 88 pack earns a nod as well. It is lauded for being a big pack that is both comfortable and easy to fit. Salomon's S-Lab Sense Ultra trail shoes is the selection for runners, while the new Rip 9 RDO from Niner comes highly recommended for the mountain bike crowd.

This is just a taste of the items that make the list. There are plenty of other suggestions in the area of footwear, sunglasses, cycling and more. Of course, the ubiquitous GoPro Hero 3 Black edition gets a mention too and at this point we all know how good of a camera that is.

If you're in the mood to spend a little cash, take a look what Outside recommends you add to your gear closet. I'm sure there is something on their you'll find hard to resist.

Outside magazine has selected their choices for the 2013 Adventurers of the Year, giving that honor to nine people that they feel are "changing the face of global adventure." Their selections are diverse, deserving and most of all very inspiring.

Amongst those earning a spot on the list are ultrarunner Kilian Jornet, who has been a fixture in endurance and mountain sports for some time, but has recently become a darling of the mainstream media. He's joined by director James Cameron, who plumbed the depths of the ocean and Eruc Erden, who circumnavigated the planet completely under his own power. Of course Felix Baumgartner makes the list, as does Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, even though it has been nearly two years since she completed her quest to climb all 14 8000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen.

All in all, this is another solid list of outdoor personalities who deserve plenty of recognition, although I can think of a few more that I would either add to the list or substitute for a few that received recognition. I realize that these lists are always subjective, but they also tend to lean towards picking people who are especially easy to market. Gerlinde's story is a good one for example and it would certainly earn her Adventurer of the Year honors for 2012, but I'm not sure I'd have her on my 2013 list.

That said, I have major respect for everyone of these men and women and I like that Outside is recognizing them for the things they have accomplished.

Still looking for some ideas for your next big trip? Perhaps Outside magazine can help! The periodical has posted its selection for the 2013 Travel Awards listing their favorite trips, guide services, destinations and a whole lot more.

All told, there are 42 trips on the list, providing travelers with options that range from sailing in the Marshall Islands to trekking in the Karakoram mountain range. They also offer tips on their favorite lodges, hotels and even airport bars. There is a little something here for everyone, whether you prefer your adventures on a beach, in the mountains or somewhere in between.

And after you've finished perusing all of the great travel suggestions, head on over to the Outside Facebook page and complete the What Trip Are You Quiz? By doing so between now and April 8, you'll automatically be entered to win one of five dream trips for you and a guest. Options include paddling down the Salmon River, zipping off to the rainforest of Ecuador or skiing in the Alaskan backcountry.

As for me, I'm still trying to plan my own escape for this year. I've had a couple of opportunities on the back burner, but life has kind of gotten in the way this spring. I hope to change that soon, so Outside's awards come at just as I'm considering where to go in 2013. My feet are getting itchy, the wanderlust is taking over and the world is calling. Maybe I should just spin a globe and go where my finger falls.

For years Alan Arnette has been our go-to source for information related to Everest. Each spring he provides the most comprehensive updates and reports from the mountain, diligently tracking all of the teams as they make their way up and down (and back up and down) the slopes. Alan also does a great job of providing plenty of preseason coverage as well, providing insights into what it is like to climb the world's tallest mountain and interviewing the personalities that are in the Himalayan community.

Because of all this excellent Everest coverage, not to mention his own extensive personal climbing resume, Outside magazine decided it was time that someone interviewed Alan instead. That interview went online yesterday and it is an excellent read for anyone who has wanted to know more about the man behind AlanArnette.com.

In the article, Alan talks about what got him interested in climbing in the first place, how his site evolved from a page about his personal adventures into something more and why he works hard to raise funds and awareness about Alzheimer's. That is a cause that is particularly near and dear to his heart and has played a big role in his motivations for climbing today.

If you're a regular reader of this blog you know that I link out to Alan's content on a regular basis, in part because I think he does outstanding work and in part because I love his approach to adventure and climbing in general. I've been fortunate enough to connect with Alan on occasion through the Internet and he has always provided great insight, advice and knowledge. Reading this article you'll get a sense of who he is as person and it'll make your visits to his website have a little more meaning as well.

Thanks to Outside for spotlighting Alan. I can't think of anyone who deserves it more.

An interesting story showed up on the Outside magazine website yesteraday. Its an article that first appeared in the January issue of the print mag and is just now making its way online. In it, a white-water kayaking guide by the name of James "Rocky" Contos contends that the river that has been previously thought to be the source of the Amazon isn't in fact the source at all. That would mean that all previous attempts to make a first descent of the waterway were starting in the wrong place and the Amazon has yet to be paddled source-to-sea.

Contos says that he made his discovery while using Google Earth to plan some new kayaking routes in Peru. Previously it has been assumed that the Apurimac River marks the furthest starting point of the Amazon, but he believes that its true source sits on the 18,363-foot (5597 meter) Nevado Mismi mountain, where the Mantaro River begins. By Contos' estimates, the Mantaro is approximately 50 miles longer than the Apurimac, giving it the distinction of being the furthest source.

If what Contos says is true, we'll eventually have to re-write the record books on the first descent of the river. As of right now, it hasn't been done. At least not by kayak. Contos shared his findings with West Hansen, who was launching his Amazon Express expedition last year, but the two had a bit of a contentious relationship it seems, which led to Hansen going the historical route and Contos using motorboats to complete a first full descent of what he believes is the Amazon River. The Outside article has more details on the situation between the two men, which seems like it can best be described as frosty.

For now, we have to wait to see if there is independent confirmation of this new finding, which Outside speculates could lead to a rush of expedition paddlers heading to South America to attempt to become the first to run the Amazon from the "new" source to the sea. Regardless if it is proven or not however, I suspect there are some already planning to make the run, just so they can lay claim to it.