A Video A Day... Under the Sea

Exquisite video composed by Sarah Lee; it doesn't really need words.  The beauty of this cinematography speaks for itself.

A Video a Day... Kayaks and Fat Bikes

National Geographic's posting some rad videos and pictures this week.  First up, the Extreme Photo of the Week: Rafael Ortiz's dramatic drop off a waterfall in Chiapas, Mexico.  It's extreme and Ortiz even said it was a little tricky, what with a blind entrance at the bottom.  Tackling an intense 30-foot drop is insane, but then having only a few seconds to recover and get your bearings as you tackle the next 50-foot drop?  Just wow!  And here's the picture to prove it!


Next on the menu for the week is NatGeo's 60-second Monday video!  Who's up for some fat biking in the snowy Colorado mountains?  I know I am!  Check it out.  Simplistic and pristine adventure.

A Video a Day... OMG the JMT

John Amorosano completed the John Muir Trail in California in Summer of 2013.  They completed 260 miles in 20 days from Horseshoe Meadows to Mt. Whitney then all the way to Yosemite Valley.  Along with his two companions, friend Chris, and brother-in-law Donnie, John documented the long days, the endless views, the hardships, and the friendships that this trail gives to you.

On day 15 of my combo trek of the High Sierra and John Muir Trails, grinding up to Muir Pass, I muttered: “I hate the JMT.” My partner laughed, a wry chuckle that signaled he knew something I didn’t. Namely: A long hike wears you down before building you up, and fleeting lows are followed by endless highs. Later, basking in the alpenglow of an Evolution Basin sunset, simultaneously drained and fulfilled, I knew there was no shortcut to this moment. And I said, naturally, “I love the JMT.” —Andrew Matranga via Backpacker Magazine, August 2010

Throughout this amazing documentary, John allows an intimate trip into the day-to-day lives of him and his companions, touching on their choice of food, campsites, fishing exploits, and struggles up long and tiring passes.  But with each panorama and photograph, this documentary touches something primal and deep in your hearts.  Several times a tear escaped for the pure beauty of the landscape is something that is only experienced through hard work and perseverance.  I'm sure the pictures don't really do it justice, but John's amazing filmography sure comes close to perfection.

If you haven't seen this yet, set aside an hour and a half of time and watch it.  I will guarantee you it will be the best hour and a half you've ever spent on YouTube, or maybe ever.  Promise.

"If God does exist, he gave this to us for a reason and it definitely wasn't to sit inside and play video games all day."   -Chris Safford

A Video A Day... How Do You VooDoo?

Who doesn't love some good old fashion off-roading?  But when I watched this video from VooDoo Cycles, the word "off-roading" seemed a little tame.  This video is some serious hardocre mountain biking.  I love the part when he throws his bike in the pool and then jumps in after it.  And sneaking up that rocky crevice?  Brilliant!  What I wouldn't give for that kind of adventure!  Watch and see for yourself!

Trail Therapy: The Wilderness of Netflix

How I Met Your Mother, American Horror Story, The Office...  Netflix is a TV lovers dream come true.  You can watch classic shows, watch blockbusters like The Avengers to your heart's content, or find some neat Indie films.  And I couldn't be happier that I can re-watch The X-Files again.

But Netflix has become a wealth of new discoveries.  When was the last time you browsed the Documentary section?  There are some truly amazing works just waiting for you to watch them.  And if you are like me and love watching travel and adventure dicumentaries, than Netflix has some amazing picks for you!

My current favorite is Nature: River of No Return.  It's about a newlywed couple who decide to spend a year in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho.  Issac has studied wolves for 13 years and he has decided to take his new wife into the forests and mountains that he loves so much for an adventure honeymoon beyond their wildest dreams.  While following the wolves they discover the amazing compassion of creatures, the survival of family, and the rebirth of burned land.

Not only is this film a fascinating view into the lives of wolves, but it is pure adventure.  Venturing into the wilderness for a weekend or a week is one thing.  Finding a new home for a whole year is purely incredible.  They have their problems: cold, wind, snow, mosquitoes.  But their time was exactly what they wanted; an exclusive opportunity to live in the wilds of Idaho and study a misjudged animal in its new home.

I know I would love to do something like this.  Live in the forests with nothing but my pack on my back.  Moving week to week to better and safer places.  Become, if only for a year, nomadic.  Where would I live for a year?  My first choice would be the North Cascades.  Second choice?  Grand Tetons.  What wilderness would you live in for a year, given the chance?

Trail Therapy: What's a Podcast?

Twitter.  Tumblr.  Instagram.  Snapchat.  Social media has come a very long way in an incredibly short amount of time.  It's intimidating to say the least and equally as difficult to stay up-to-date.  As part of the original class of Facebook (as it's entering it's 10 year anniversary) I'm happy to say that I've caught up with technology.  Being only 27 it was actually a lot harder than I thought it would be.  But as I pave the way into making a dent in the social media scene, I've discovered a technological marvel that, I feel, has been sadly overlooked.

With the same time stamp as Facebook, podcasts are an extraordinary social estuary of knowledge and entertainment.  Similar to talk radio, podcasts are recorded broadcasts of conversations, interviews, and musical selections, just to name a few.  Since I've begun listening to several of these amazing podcasts, I've started feeling more connected to the adventure society.  If you're into podcasts of the outdoor nature, you've probably already heard of The Dirtbag Diaries produced by Patagonia, one of the most popular out there.  Profoundly philosophical and exciting, these detailed vocal illustrations provide a wonderful drive to live as an adventurer and pursue the most fulfilling and soul-defining life possible.

One such podcast I recently began following is All Who Wander, a hiking/backpacking/camping podcast about the Appalachian Trail.  The first two podcasts followed a meet-and-greet session with growing AT legend and adventurer, Jennifer Pharr Davis, who holds the speed record on the trail.  She reads an except from her book, Becoming Oydessa.  Her profound message?  Just get out.  Sounds like what I say all the time. She states that one of the reasons she decided on a speed record attempt was to get her name out there.  Because she wanted to show children the amazing experiences of being on the trail and she didn't think she could make as big of an impact without an extraordinary title to back it up.  Well she got her wish and she's reaching larger audiences more than ever.

But this isn't a shout out for Davis, although I was inspired to buy and read her book.  This is about podcasts.  When you read an interview or an article, you aren't hearing the voices.  You aren't hearing the inflections, the jokes, the sarcasm as they were delivered.  We get to hear the truth in the words and by constantly checking Twitter, reading small articles suggested to us on internet searches, and exploring the world as fast as possible through minimized descriptions, we're losing integrity of the spoken voice.  Podcasts are a way of slowing down, realizing that the world holds a deeper meaning for our lives.  Take the time to listen to something profound and really live by the words you hear.  So check out this forgotten art of social media and let it open new doors for you, as it did for me.

Some of my favorite podcasts:  The Dirtbag Diaries, All Who Wander, The Backwoods Adventure, and Backpacking Light.

Trail Therapy: A Hike for the Cure!

On April 24, Megan Bullers will begin the long trek from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific Crest Trail.  The lengthy endeavor of 2,650 miles will take her four-to-five months to complete.  With her father as her inspiration, she's hiking to raise money and awareness of multiple sclerosis.  More than 2.5 million people suffer from this disease, including Bullers' father.  She is prepared to head out on this amazing journey with the love and support of her father's voice coaching her along the way.  So donate if you can and check out her video.  She's inspiring and I'm looking forward to keeping up with her throughout her journey.

Trail Therapy: The Votes are In!!!

 

National Geographic's Adventurer of the Year voting results are in and the winner is: Kilian Jornet!

Jornet is leading the field of sky running.  And for those of you who don't know what that is, it's a combination of trail running and mountaineering.  As NatGeo puts it, "He is... blurring the lines between trail running and technical climbing at record-shattering speeds."  Climbs that take professionals whole days to complete, takes Jornet mere hours.  His records have inspired a new genre of mountaineering, trail running, and racing in general. He broke the Matterhorn record in 2013 climbing and descending the 14,692 foot peak in 2 hours and 52 minutes!

Check out his acceptance video!  He's so genuine!

A Video A Day... Away

You need to check out this amazing video by Dan Barham, posted on The Adventure Journal by Steve Casimiro.  Dan's videos are amazingly poetic and give you such cabin fever for adventure, this one especially.  The stunning scenery, the music, and the excitement of each day make this video a must watch whenever your winter days are getting you down.  So cheer up, watch this, and then get out!

Trail Therapy: A Dream that Almost Wasn't

24-year-old Luke Weaver just finished a thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail.  If you're paying attention to the date, he just finished in February; almost four months after a traditional finish.  And if you've been watching the news, the East Coast has had a pretty vicious winter.  So to have this accomplishment under his belt and to have finished in such amazing conditions, it's accurate to say that Weaver is a man of courage and dedication.

To the day, he still battles with constant staph infections in his leg and his AT dreams began in the hospital.  Amongst his numerous surgeries and talks of amputation, Weaver began planning a thru-hike to celebrate his success in fighting his infections.  He had been fever and symptoms free for two years and he was having high hopes for completing the trail.

Weaver's thru-hike is termed a flip-flop, meaning that you hike half the trail in one direction and then relocate and hike the other half of the trail in the opposite direction. Some people will start in the middle and hike north or south and then start again from the middle for the other direction.  Weaver did the other option, which is a start at one terminus and hiking halfway then moving to the other terminus and hiking back to the middle.  As long as the trail is completed in one calendar year it is considered an acceptable thru-hike.

Weaver will be battling medical setbacks probably all of his life, but he has proven that he will never let that stop him from seeking out and fulfilling his dreams.  His passion and dedication is a great motivator to everyone hoping to undertake any great adventure.

Luke's advice?  A furry companion and a ton of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

A Video A Day... Adventure Photography

Every Monday, NationalGeographic.com posts a new sixty second adventure.  This week speaks to my week.  Finally, after two months of little to no snow in the Cascades, we got dumped on!  Snow was falling everywhere in the state and we even had a winter storm warning.  I was able to get out and hike in the snow and conditions were perfect for the Tubbs Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer snowshoe event at Steven's Pass.  It wasn't nearly as extreme as Cory Richards' photographic attempts in Antarctica, but sometimes it feels like that!