Who will be making the big break-throughs, the big accomplishments in the world of adventure next year? National
Geographic Adventure comes up with three
folks who they say are bound to impress. It’s an eclectic chioce, but here goes.
First is Norman Vaughan who, in December 2005, will celebrate his 100th birthday atop Antarctica’s 10,302-foot
(3,140-meter) Mount Vaughan (yes, named for him. He was with Admiral Byrd on the first American expedition to the South
Pole in 1928.) One hundred years old and dealing with crampons rather than cramps is indeed impressive.
Then there’s Allison Gannet who next fall, will climb Nepal’s 22,000-foot (6,707-meter) Gyaglen Peak, the site of the
first all-woman expedition to the Himalaya 50 years ago. OK, big time climber, that’s cool.
And finally (I suppose this counts as an adventurer…a little odd though…maybe he’s related to someone at Nat Geo)
there is Mark Oleson, a shoe designer and the brains behind the Adidas 1, a ground-breaking state-of-the-art shoe due
out next year. Shoe-designer…hmmm. OK, well let’s hope it’s a really great shoe.