Nepalese Plan Everescalator

by Erik Olsen on

Here’s an odd one: The Nepalese government wants to make it easier, much easier, for people to climb towering Mount Everest . Turns out they are planning to build a working, electric escalator that will carry people from base camp to the summit in less than an hour. The engineering effort is being put in the hands of the Japanese, in a serious political snub to the Chinese who had also bid on the project. The proposed escalator will be approximately fifteen miles long and will rise and fall with the jagged gradations of the mountain. It will move approximately five miles an hour and will offer superb views of the surrounding Himalayas . There will be rest stops, as well, built into the structure, that will allow riders to stop for tea or snacks. For children who grow easily bored by gaping mountain vistas, they are planning to offer portable DVD players and a wide selection of films.

Right now, only a handful of people scale the 29,035 foot peak each year, and the government wants to change that. Those who summit today have to pay exorbitant peak fees, approximately $50,000 per climber. But with the construction of an escalator to the top of the mountain, the fee will be reduced to about $1000 per “escalatee”. The Everescalator is scheduled for completion in February 2010.

New West Magazine

by Erik Olsen on

I’ve been a fan of the Western-minded magazine New West since it launched was back when. The articles there range from serious
ruminations on land and water policy to arts, film and
events, to travel. It really is a serious effort
to cover Western news with a depth and thoughtfulness that most of the major daily newspapers miss. And I was quite
happy to learn this morning that they managed to secure some new cash to keep going. The magazine has some heft on its
masthead. it is run by Jonathan Weber, who started the Industry Standard and whose editorial judgment and Western
sensibilities are top notch. So give it a look if you can. And check out their Flickr Stream which features some superb and
mind-blowing photos from the Western states.

Climbing Icebergs with Will Gadd

by Erik Olsen on

First, a warning: don’t try this at home. Not that you
would, since you’d either have to live in Greenland or keep monstrous icebergs around the house. No icebergs? OK, then
read on.

The photos
here, and the amazing video
that accompanies it, take us to, well, not Greenland, but a series of icebergs that came off Greenland and which lie
ten miles off Labrador’s coast. The climber in the video here is Will Gadd, a 38-year old adrenaline junkie, who also
happens to be one of the top ice climbers in the world…which I thinks helps matters when you’re talking
about such ballsy stuff. Me? I think I’ll stick to the neighborhood climbing wall. 

Africa Travel: Tanzania

by Adrienne Wilson on

Kilimanjaro is the largest free standing mountain in Africa and has the highest peak at 5,895 m. Located in Tanzania, an east African country bordering the Indian Ocean between Kenya and Mozambique, many a climber make the trip every year to drool at the base of the mountain in the Kilimanjaro National Park, preparing for the day their quest will begin and non-climbers give glimpse wishing they only had the guts. Tanzania is many things, but if there is one thing that makes it most famous it is this particular site. I’m not a climber by any means. The last thing I probably climed was a jungle-gym back in 4th grade in Enterprise, Alabama and as you can imagine I must feel a bit embarrassed sharing that when talking about Kilimanjaro in the same paragraph.

So… Let’s start planning a vacation to the area. Gain some basic info at UNESCO since the mountain is a world heritage site. This Tanzania Parks site is good point in seeing pictures of the area as planning what to do and when to go. Additionally the Tanzania Tourism site has the full scope of what the country can offer visitors interested in safari or even Zanzibar. For now we’ll focus on Kilimanjaro. You’ll need to pay full attention if attempting to summit.

Spring Break Adrenaline Ideas

by Adrienne Wilson on

If the extent of your thrill-seeking is wild nude nights on the beach when the waves are crashing pretty rough
and the tide is high, splashing around with drunk college buds when you know you could eventually be swallowed up in
one gulp, then look away now. Fine Living may only feature three picks for spring break
this year, but they guarantee you’ll get a rush out of doing at least one. Their picks for an heart-pounding,
unforgettable spring break – backcountry skiing in Montana, ultimate extreme adventures in Las Vegas
(includes bungee jumping, rock climbing, glider plane soaring, etc.) and learning how to make it in the wilderness with
skills taught by U.S. Special Operations veterans at a survival camp in North
Carolina. Sounds like a racy way to spend your time.