Heinrich Harrer's Exploits

by Neil Woodburn on

Erik posted a few weeks ago about the death of explorer
Heinrich Harrer—an adventurer who was unknown to most until 1997 when his book, "Seven
Years in Tibet" was made into a movie starring Brad Pitt (which incidentally, meant that all subsequent
book printings have pasted Pitt’s mug on the front cover, making a classic adventure book look more like a cheesy
Harlequin romance). 

What I didn’t realize at the time, was that Harrer was actually an accomplished explorer who did much more
than just wait out World War II with the Dalai Lama in Lhasa.  An article by John Flinn (who
apologizes for having just learned that Harrer had died) recounts some of the other adventures the Austrian Alpinist
was involved in—such as being the first to summit Carstensz Pyramid, a 16,000-foot mountain deep in the
jungles of New Guinea. 

Harrer was a stud and Flinn laments his passing as the world’s last true explorer—a tribute I’m
inclined to believe. 

Shanghai Destination Guide

by Erik Olsen on

One of the most intensely interesting places in the world
right now is China, and in that country the most energetic, rapidly changing place is its main industrial city
Shanghai. I have long wanted to head to Shanghai, but have not been able to muster the time, but if I went, I would
likely check out  this speical series and guide from
Concierge.com. I spent some time clicking through this and found it very in-depth, very useful.

Brainy Holidays

by Neil Woodburn on

If
you’re the type who likes to take your brain on vacation with you and actually use it, then spare a moment to
consider some of the following “research holidays.”  Built around the dual themes of learning and
research, these vacations combine the challenge of learning with the adventure of travel. 

Mark MacKenzie of The Independent does a nice job summarizing a few of the better options
that are available for those of you with Indiana Jones aspirations.  For more detailed information, check out the
article here.  

Shangri La River Expeditions – Jump in a kayak or
raft and help geoscientists map out river tributaries in western China.  No prior geoscience experience necessary.

South Africa’s Kuruman River Reserve – Work with the Earthwatch
Institute to monitor Meerkat breeding.  No prior meerkat breeding experience necessary.  Earthwatch also has
141 other projects to choose from if meerkats don’t float your boat.

Hawaiian Volcanos – Aspiring vulcanologists can travel to Hawaii to
measure volcanic activity with the United States Geological Survey (USGS).  Don’t expect to spend much time
kicking it on the beach, however.  “Volunteers must be in top physical shape.”  This means lots
of trekking around with heavy research equipment.  Brain and brawn required on this one. 

Antarctica – The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has a variety of
volunteer positions available that ranging from cooking for the scientists to being a molecular phylogeneticist. 
Go now and experience Antarctica before it melts. 

Photo of the Day (04/15/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on


With Easter weekend
here the snow begins to thaw a little and even disappear in most places. I’m not sure if such is the case in this
amazing panorama taken by Alby in Urumqi, China, but it was too beautiful to pass up. The red
lanterns look almost as if they are popping off the photo, bursting away from the freezing snow.  Everything from
the person in red strolling towards the lifeless brown tree to the temple to the right makes this a stellar photograph.

Go Before They’re Gone

by Neil Woodburn on

This month’s Men’s Journal features an article whose theme is horribly depressing; phenomenal travel destinations that will soon disappear.

For those of you who don’t believe in Global Warming, you may want to click over to some feel-good fantasy site because the following may upset the balance of the perfect little fictitious world you’ve created for yourself.

For the remaining intelligent souls among us, I’d like to remind you that man’s encroachment on nature takes many forms and each, in its own insidious way, is affecting everything around us. The Men’s Journal article details a handful of what we may be losing in the near future and when these tragedies are expected to occur. I’ve only included three in this post. For the complete list, check out a copy of the May edition of Men’s Journal-sorry, but it is not online.

Mont Blanc, France – Warming temperatures are expected to melt most of the mountain’s glaciers by 2035.

Three Gorges, China – The massive demand for energy has resulted in the construction of the world’s largest dam. By 2009, the area’s incredible landscape and archeological relics will be under 350 feet of water.

Maldives, Indian Ocean – Low-lying island nations such as the Maldives, which are only three feet above sea level, are expected to disappear by 2100 due to rising waters brought on by global warming.

[Photo: Flickr | YXO]