Polar explorers complete first unassisted traverse of Antarctica

by Kraig Becker on

Late last week, American Ryan Waters and Norwegian Cecilie Skog became the first team to make an unsupported/unassisted traverse of the Antarctic continent, covering more than 840 miles beginning at Berkner Island and ending at the Ross Ice Shelf, with a stop at the South Pole along the way.

The pair set off on their journey back on November 13 of last year and reached their final destination 70 days later on January 21. Over the course of those many days out on the ice, they frequently had to deal with high winds, whiteout conditions, and bitter cold, sometimes dropping as low as -40º F. As if dealing with the weather wasn’t challenging enough, they also had to endure the altitude (Antarctica is the highest continent on Earth) and massive sastrugi, hard waves of drifting snow that form on top of the ice.

Ryan and Cecilie made the journey on skies, while dragging all of their supplies and gear behind them in specially designed sleds. In order for this expedition to be classified as “unsupported” they had to make the journey without ever receiving a supply drop along the way, and to earn the distinction as “unassisted”, they had to finish the trip completely under their own power. Previous traverses of Antarctic were done through the use of dog sled teams or by using massive kites to pull the explorers across the snow.

The duo spent about a day and a half at their final destination along the Ross Ice Shelf before being picked up by a specially designed aircraft. They’ve now returned to Punta Arenas, Chile where they are enjoying fine food and warm beds for the first time in two months.%Gallery-79934%

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Ski for free at Stowe when you stay at Topnotch Resort

by Katie Hammel on

Ski season is in full swing at resorts throughout the US, and now through April 10, you can “ski for free” at Topnotch Resort in Stowe, Vermont. The resort sits at the base of Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, which reaches nearly 5,000 feet. It offers luxury accommodations on 120 acres, 40 minutes from Burlington Airport. .

This season, included in accommodations rates, you’ll also receive two adult lifts tickets to Stowe Mountain delivered by the resort’s “Ski Concierge”, shuttle service to and from the mountain, and overnight ski storage. Rentals are available from the resort’s Nordic Barn. In addition to skiing, the resort offers tennis, a spa, and horseback trail rides.

Rates start at $250 (plus tax) for weekdays and $350 for weekends. Blackout dates include January 28-30, February 7-20, February 25-27, and March 21-23. Rate outside of the promotion start at $300 per night, and lift tickets at Stowe can cost $84 per day per person, so this deal would save you around $200 per day for two skiers….which means more money for apres ski fun and hot toddies by the fire.

Big Island Hawaii: Get your adventure on

by Katie Hammel on

There’s virtually no limit to the adventures you can have on the Big Island of Hawaii. SCUBA, snorkel, watch whales pass in season, take a helicopter flight over the island, or view lava up close from a boat, watching the fiery rivers pop and hiss as they land in the ocean. On the Kohala Coast, many of the resorts offer easy access to some of the island’s most unique activities. For others, well…you’ll need to get a bit more creative.

Stand-up paddleboarding
Kona Village resort offers guests several options for traditional Hawaiian water-sports, including stand-up paddleboarding, through its Alaka’i program. Alaka’i means “ambassadors of the waves” and the staff here really do try to fulfill that role by teaching guests not just about the logistics of each activity, but also about its historical and cultural significance to the islands. The Junior Alaka’i program is geared for kids 10-17 and includes three days of lessons in activities like paddleboarding, windsurfing, free diving, and outrigger canoeing. Guests at the Four Seasons Hualalai can also use the equipment at Kona Village.

Elsewhere on the Big Island, you can rent a board from Hilo’s What Sup Big Island, where daily paddleboard rental is $65, or $75 for a half day with lunch and beginner lesson.



Outrigger canoeing
Outrigger canoes, traditional Hawaiian boats, resemble regular canoes that have an added support (called an outrigger) added to one side. These canoes can go quite fast, and are more stable in rough waters than regular canoes. As part of Kona Village’s Alaka’i program, guests can learn to paddle one, and once they have successfully learned to maneuver a six-person outrigger canoe, they are free to use one and two-person canoes on their own for the remainder of their stay.

On the Kohala Coast, the Fairmont Orchid also offers outrigger canoe excursions and Sky Blue Canoe offers lessons and rentals. A 90-minute tour is $65.

Surf lessons
It’s practically sacrilege to go to Hawaii and not take a surf lesson. The instructors at Kona Mike’s Surf Adventures are all certified in CPR , First Aid, and professional rescue. Group lessons start at $99 and private lessons are $150 and each lesson includes two hours of in-water instruction.

Horseback riding
Hawaii’s Big Island has a surprising number of cattle ranches, all thanks to a few cattle who were gifted to King Kamehameha back at the end of the 18th century. When, a few decades later, those cattle had reproduced and began to be a nuisance, King Kamehameha III recruited some Mexican cowboys, which the locals dubbed “paniolos”, to handle the problem. Today, paniolos still work the ranches, many of which welcome guests for daily horseback rides. Na’ alapa Stables at Kahua Ranch is one of these. Located less than an hour north of Kona, the ranch offers 2.5 hour rides for just under $90. The price is well worth it for the beautiful views down to the ocean from the ranch’s 4000-foot elevation.



Snow skiing
Snow skiing…in Hawaii? That’s right. Mauna Kea, an inactive volcano, reaches over 13,000 feet above sea level (and over 30,000 above its base on the floor of the ocean, making it the tallest mountain in the world, technically). The top of the mountain is home to an observatory and is the ideal place to do some serious stargazing all year round. And thanks to the elevation of Mauna Kea, Hawaii actually has snow several months of the year! There’s just one catch to skiing Mauna Kea: there’s no ski resort there. So intrepid adventurers have a friend drive them up the mountain, where they strap on their own skis and snowboards (or just grab a sled…or even a cardboard box) and ski or sled down the mountain. If you want to ski in Mauna Kea, you can sign up with Ski Hawaii, which runs group tours for $250 per person, or rents equipment for as low as $50 per day.

Film illustrates how climate change affects ski resorts

by Mike Barish on

We all hear plenty of talk about climate change on a daily basis. But we often don’t see it in terms that relate to us. Teton Gravity Research sought to remedy that by producing the short film Generations. The film focuses on how climate change has affected the ski industry. Rather than discussing the topic in overly generalized terms, it looks at the issue from a perspective that anyone who has ever thrown a snowball can understand.

In the Northeast, shortened ski seasons have devastated ski resorts. Many have shut down or are clinging to life. Glaciers throughout the world are receding at alarming rates. The beautiful landscapes and breathtaking vistas that are enjoyed by winter sports enthusiasts every year are rapidly changing and disappearing. Generations tells the story of climate change through the eyes of skiers, action sports athletes and lovers of winter.

Do yourself a favor and set aside 15 minutes to watch Generations. Hell, watch it now. If you’re reading this, you’re obviously not doing any work. It’s well done and will really help you understand how climate change is affecting the way we enjoy our surroundings.

10 hilarious (and painful, and frightening) ski lift videos

by Gadling Staff on

Unless you want to cling to the glove-shredding, arm-yanking tow rope of the bunny hill, if you’re going downhill skiing, you’ll be riding a ski lift. While ski lifts serve a functional purpose — getting you to the top of the mountain — they can also be a great source of entertainment. From improper dismounts, to technical malfunctions, to a chairlift that masquerades as a thrill ride, here are ten of the funniest, most painful, most frightening, and most novel ski lift videos.

Unlucky Ski Lift Operator
Since skiers aren’t always alert, ski lift operators must always be on their toes. This poor ski lift operator can’t seem to get a break — as soon as he’s ushered one fallen skier out of harm’s way, another tumbling skier dismounts from the chairlift. Either that slope is really icy — or happy hour just ended.

Ski Lift Face Plant
There’s a reason chairlifts have official dismount locations. Don’t try jumping off the lift just because you feel like it, or you might end up like this poor snowboarder. Ouch!

Dangling Dismount

This ski lift thinks it’s a bird of prey! Like an osprey swooping down on its next meal, this ski lift grabs its victim by the neck, carrying him off into the nether. Gives new meaning to the words “ski lift,” right?

France’s Scary Up and Over Lift
Most ski lift rides up the mountain are uneventful — a time to reflect on the run you just completed or plan your next descent. Some chair lift rides are, however, an adventure in themselves. France’s Val d’Isere resort, for example, features one of the scariest ski lift rides in the world. Affectionately known as the “Up and Over” lift, this lift takes you up to the mountain peak and over to the other side of the mountain. It’s better than a ride at Six Flags!

Ski Lift in High Winds
Although ski lifts have been around for decades, Mother Nature occasionally takes her frustration out on the this technology, in the form of high-speed winds. Severe weather makes chairlifts inoperable — and potentially deadly — as seen in this horrifying video.

The Single Chair Lift
The world’s first ski lift opened in 1936 at Sun Valley Resort in Sun Valley, Idaho. This single-chair lift brought skiers up the mountain one at a time — a far cry from today’s high-speed, multiple occupancy lifts. Operating costs made these single-chair ski lifts obsolete years ago, but at Vermont’s Mad River Glen, the single chair lift lives on!

Evacuate the ski lift!
Newbie or not, no matter how long you’ve been skiing, when you’re riding a lift, getting stuck is always at the back of your mind. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a chairlift stops functioning and needs to be evacuated, check out this video.

Controlled Chair Lift Destruction
A ski lift evacuation is scary, but this hypothetical situation is even worse! Loaded with simulated passengers (concrete blocks), this ski lift set for destruction in Winter Park, Colorado, demonstrates what would happen should all mechanics fail and launches the lift into a high speed rollback.

Devil’s Lake Ski Lift Rollback
But what happens if a ski lift rollback occurs WITH passengers aboard? It happened at Devil’s Lake Resort in Wisconsin. Skiers in this news report video describe what happened when the ski lift they were riding started rolling back.

Chairlift Tips for Skiing
Scared of getting into a chairlift accident? If you’re a beginner, check out this helpful ski lift video for newbies.

Want more? Don’t miss 10 Things You Probably Shouldn’t Do in a Kayak.