Billy’s Crossing

by Erik Olsen on

A heck of a story from the BBC about a young
African whose lifelong desire was to get to Europe. Problem is, to do so, he’d have to cross the entire expanse of the
Sahara, probably the most formidable regions of the world. He reaches Morocco, where he smuggles himself into the
Spanish enclave of Ceuta and finds work in Italy, where he has been given a residence permit. The story is part of an
excellent BBC series on migration. We here in the US are aware of migration issues where Mexico is concerned, but the
issue is one that all developing nations are dealing with. These are rough stories of folks escaping the awful places
they live for another life. Sometimes makes the whole travel thing seem a bit, well, trivial. Or at least, one feels
immensely lucky to have the freedom of movement we do.

Read the story. This is true
balls. Desperate, sad and ballsy.

Peter Potterfield’s Favorite Hikes

by Erik Olsen on

Peter Potterfield, the writer, journalist, hiker
has written a book
about his favorite hikes in the wrold. Potterfield was a co-founder of Mountainzone…the well-done outdoors site that
used to be much better btw, pre-dot com bust.

He is hoping his new book “Classic Hikes of the
World,” a coffee-table-style guide to 23 of what he considers the greatest backpacking trips on the planet, will
catch on with readers who are looking for some great adventures. The book is done in coffee-table style with great
photos and lots of information about the world’s greatest hikes.

I can’t wait to get my hands on this.

Hiking Death Hollow

by Erik Olsen on

Follow writer and adventurer Mike Eckel
on his hike through Utah’s canyons
and into Death Hollow, a canyon on the fringes of Utah’s Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument. Hiking,
rapelling, avoiding deep water and dangerous boulders, Mike and his buddy make the trip without killing themselves, but
have a killer adventure.

This is a hike that is best done right about now, and is one of the more challenging treks/climbs in the
area.

Gates of the Arctic

by Erik Olsen on

The Wilderness Act is almost 41 years old…about the same age as Tom Cruise…but I argue it’s
been much more influential. There are 8.5 million acres of wild country in the Arctic…a mind boggling expanse when you
think about it. Access to the area comes mostly from float planes, leaving you very alone in a very remote place.

NPR’s Elizabeth Arnold heads to the
Gates of the Arctic National Park in this audio piece and explains what makes
the North so alluring and intimidating.

Photo of the Day: (4/9/05)

by Erik Olsen on

Increasingly Flickr is becoming a great resource for amazing photos. That’s what’s so great about the digital photo
revolution is that everyone finds out they have a bit of artist in them after all. And so check out
this amazing photo of a dune by
Chrisch.