Exploration & Survival
ArchiveOrvis is holding a contest for people to submit their favorite outdoors or fishing photos, with the winning submission being used for their Fly Fishing catalog, according to orvis.com. The…
Here's a video wrap-up of our expedition. We finished in under 14 days, setting a new record, despite having to go slower than planned. The ice rubble and the winds were tough, but we stuck it out and made it through. –Kevin Vallely and Ray Zahab In March…
Starting this morning at 1am, Washington State and federal authorities began searching a remote part of Orcas Island for the teen burglar known as the Barefoot Bandit—this according to San Juan County Sheriff Bill Cummings. Dog-tracking teams and personnel from various law-enforcement agencies are swarming the area, where they…
For two men who've previously run across the Sahara, biked the Iditarod trail, and trekked to the South Pole, this expedition has proved to be one of our toughest. The harsh Siberian winter showed its teeth as we made our way across Lake Baikal unsupported, dragging 110-lb.
On March 21, 2010, extreme athlete Bill Heaner will attempt to jump from an air balloon, take a spin on his paraglider, and then reenter the same air balloon on the same flight…
You voted on the 10 Greatest ϳԹrs Since 1900. We're impressed with your picks—but we'll stick with our list. Check immediately below for the top 10. If you want to see the full results, a list by percentage is embedded at the bottom of this…
We're still moving along, but slower than planned. We've averaged less than our target of 60 to 65 kilometers a day because we've had to walk, instead of run, through blocks of ice heaved upon Lake Baikal's surface. There are stretches when we can run relatively clear and free,…
Checking in after Days Four and Five, when we've made some decent mileage: 53 and 41 kilometers, respectively. The numbers are below our target daily average of around 60 kilometers, but we had to slow down and walk once we hit some ice rubble. As you can tell from…
A better day today. Made it 50.5 kilometers. And we actually got to run, even as we maneuvered around broken ice! We woke at dawn to a snow-filled tent. Another wind storm had blown a foot of snow inside overnight, which we took an hour to clear. We were…
A difficult day today. We were hit with a wind storm first thing, which slowed us down considerably and left us having to run quickly in the last 20 kilometers before another wind storm stopped us. We decided to set up camp instead of risking getting caught in another…
We’ve traveled 60 kilometers on our first day of the expedition, meeting our daily quotient. If we keep this up, we’ll be able to traverse Lake Baikal in record time. Our day started before dark, when we pushed through deep snow, but once we got onto the ice, we…
The last few days have been a flurry of activity as we have been organizing our gear and packing our sleds for our run across Lake Baikal. An unsupported expedition like ours requires a meticulous eye for…
Last weekend, Swiss engineer and leading avalanche-safety expert Manuel Genswein was near Salt Lake City to showoff a device meant for surviving a deadly snow slide — a set of airbags designed into a backpack for floating atop avalanche debris, states the Associated…
After six-and-a-half grueling days, the British team Helly-Hansen Prunesco bested 14 international teams and held on to their title at the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race, the “world's toughest and wildest race” through the southernmost reaches of Chilean Patagonia. The 600km course has teams…
In his latest suspected airplane heist, teen fugitive Colton Harris-Moore nearly entered restricted airspace surrounding the city of Vancouver, which is under tight security ahead of the Winter Olympics, according to CNN.
A couple of years ago I got the chance to interview the cast and crew of The Deadliest Catch in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. My first interview was with Captain Phil…
Last night, a stolen Cirrus plane landed on Orcas Island, a favorite stomping ground for infamous teen fugitive Colton Harris-Moore, giving residents reason to assume the “Barefoot Burglar” is at it again, according to the…
When a young woman is killed by coyotes on a busy trail in broad daylight, how worried should we be?
The 2010 adventure racing season is about to begin. The first big race of the year, the Wenger Patagonian Expedition, begins tomorrow in Chile. The course runs 372 miles (600 km) over eight days. The…
Courtesy of NASA Hayley Shephard will attempt the first ever solo sea kayak expedition around South Georgia Island. Her goal is to bring attention to the endangered albatross bird. She will set out on February 3, facing extreme cold, frigid…
A comprehensive training program will not only prepare us to run 636 kilometers across Lake Baikal in about ten days, it will also help to prevent injury while dragging 100 pounds of gear and food along the way. Here are…
Felix Baumgartner wants to become the first man to break the speed of sound with his own body. The project is called…
Courtesy of Flickr Ryan Waters, 36, and Cecilie Skog, 35, have become the first to achieve an unassisted crossing of Antarctica, Explorers Web reports. They started their expedition on November 13, 2009 and ended…
Colton Harris-Moore, a.k.a. “the barefoot burglar” of Camano and Orcas Island, is still at large after 640 days since breaking free from prison, Bob Friel reports. Friel, who wrote the story on Harris-Moore in the January/February issue of…
Laszlo Csizmadia, a Hungarian man, spent four years planning to skydive through New Zealand's “Hole in the Rock,” reports the BBC. Video of his attempt is just now making its way around the web. Will he make it? See for…
On March 1, 2010, Kevin Vallely and Ray Zahab will embark on the i2P Siberian Express for Water Expedition. They will run 65 to 70 kilometers per day across the frozen surface…
What should you do if you injure yourself while backcountry skiing? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
Three separate teams reached the South Pole last week, The ϳԹ Blog reported. Ryan Waters and Cecilie Skog will now continue on their attempt to traverse the entire continent, while members…
In the Northwest's San Juan Islands, best known for killer whales and Microsoft retirees, a teen fugitive has made a mockery of local authorities, allegedly stealing cars, taking planes for joyrides, and breaking into vacation homes. His ability to elude the police and survive in the woods has earned him folk-hero status. But some wonder if the 18-year-old will make it out of the hunt alive.
Liftoff On New Year’s Eve, 26-year-old motorsports phenom Travis Pastrana will attempt the longest car jump in history, launching off a steel ramp at around 100 miles per hour and landing more than 200 feet away. To make…
In light of our November feature on fear (“FLAT” by Jennifer Kahn) about Scott Macartney's near-death crash during a ski race, it's time we take a look at some other heart-stopping “yard sales.” From snowboarding into boulders to an entire peloton running directly…
Chris Davenport and a team of skiers, who just spent a few weeks ski mountaineering in Antarctica, returned Stateside yesterday, but not without some eye-catching bounty. Here are the latest pics of the team's first descents from Davenport's point-and-shoot. The Sphinx, center, is a 1,700-plus-foot smooth face varying…
In this month's issue, we've got the scoop on Shackleton's whiskey, but according to the AP, more frozen food has been discovered in the Arctic: two blocks of New Zealand butter, to be exact. The butter was found in…
Explorer Eric Larsen, who aims to be part of the first expedition to travel to Mount Everest, the North Pole, and the South Pole in one year to draw attention to climate change, is steadily logging…
Sure, it's great to see amazing feats of agility and speed in surfing videos, but sometimes you just want to see some wicked wipeouts. Luckily, TransWorld's got it covered with some cringe-worthy crashes from the…
On Sunday, a German man who was about to board a flight from New Zealand was found to have 44 lizards stashed in his underwear, reports TreeHugger. The man confessed to being an endangered species dealer, and expected to get $1,500…
The inaugural adidas TERREX ϳԹ Race will be held in Lake District, in northwest England, August 27-30, according to the ϳԹ Blog. Registration for the event begins December 15th. The registration fee for a team of four will be £1350. For those who aren't up to the…
The Rim of Africa, set to open to the public in October of 2010, will be the first long distance hiking trail on the African continent. Influenced by the Appalachian trail and the Continental Divide, the trail will wind along the gorgeous landscapes of…
Homer, the dummy, has been taking one on the chin—and everywhere else—for you.
Photo: Anne Mustoe from her website By Mary Catherine O'Connor For some people, the only kinds of bike rides to go on are the epic kind. Such was the opinion, it seems, of Anne Mustoe,…
Like free throws or music scales, survival skills can be practiced. If you repeat the exercises needed for a life or death situation you can increase your chances of survival—whether you’re a father perfecting a friction fire in the backyard or a soldier simulating an…
Yves Rossy will attempt to become the first person ever to complete an intercontinental crossing via jet-wing on November 25. He plans to take off in a Pilatus Porter aircraft from Morocco, ascend to a height of 2,000 meters, then exit from…
Two mountain guides were acquitted this week by the Swiss military court in the death of six Swiss soldiers recruits who were killed in an avalanche on Mount Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps in July of 2007. According to SwissInfo, defending accusations…
The Seattle couple Christopher Miller and Brandy Meissner, along with their two dogs, were recently rescued from their 38-foot fishing boat in 40-foot seas by Princess Cruises' Golden Princess, according to Vagabondish. It's one of the largest cruise ships in the world. The couple had been…
The Wildlife Conservation Society and Birdlife International have released the first atlas of the Patagonian Sea, and it's all thanks to penguins, albatrosses, and other marine animals, reports…
Marco di Lauro photographs the relief effort in the war-torn nation of Chad.
Travis McMahan was found alive after getting lost and spending 14-days alone in the Big Horn Mountains, according to the Billings Gazette. After losing his way in a snowstorm near his campsite at the Buffalo Creek Campground area, McMahan, who had been out scouting for elk, estimates…
In our new complete survival guide we include our best survival stories, tips, and features. We've even included some video tips. We'll do more, but first we want to hear from you. ext_script = "https://www.surveys.mariahmedia.com/poll.ashx?p=6427440A0B4D2C2F"…
Eric Larsen is now in Chile, preparing for his expedition to the South Pole as part of his Save the Poles project, which will involve a year-long expedition to the ends of the Earth and the summit of Mount Everest to raise…
Researchers have found that as the number of Americans using hot tubs has risen, hot-tub, whirlpool, and spa-related injuries have increased 160 percent in the U.S. from 1990 to 2007. Slips and falls caused half of the injuries, 15 percent were “hits and scrapes,” and 11 percent were caused by…
Last week on ϳԹ's dog blog, ϳԹK9.com, readers guessed the breeds that make up Assistant Editor Carr's dogs, Rio and Odin. Results from the Canine Heritage Breed test were in transit from the lab. Today, the results are revealed. Head…
63-year-old Richard Moreau allegedly killed a man and injured two others at a bar in Vail Saturday night, according to the Desert News. Police say he let loose a volley of shots when the bar manager tried to toss him out. –Dave Costello.
Russian BASE jumper Valery Rozov was successfully rescued from a botched jump in the southern Pakistan city of Karachi after his parachute opened and became entangled with an adjacent building, according to English Russia.The accident is being blamed on high winds. No one was hurt. –Dave Costello…
To gear up for their Expedition Week, National Geographic is letting you choose which conservation-focused expedition they will sponsor next. The two contenders are Trip Jennings, who wants to save elephants from the ivory trade; and Ben Horton, who wants to stop shark poachers…
The ϳԹ Racing World Championship will take place in Portugal, November 8 to 13. Competing teams will have four members–one of whom must be female–and they will trek, mountain bike, and paddle through 700 to 800 kilometers of gnarly terrain to get to…
An oil rig 150 miles off the northwest coast of Australia, which has been leaking an estimated 400 barrels of oil a day since Aug. 21, has now caught fire, according to msnbc. Rig operator, PTTEP Australasia, claims it does not know how the…
In our November issue (on newsstands now) we feature “The New Rules of Survival“, a comprehensive guide to dealing with life or death situations…
Forget severed hands and hooks; the real scary story is feet. Tuesday, yet another foot was found on the beach in British Columbia, reports the Vancouver Sun. This is the seventh foot that has been found on the coast…
19-year-old Taylor Mitchell died after being attacked by two coyotes in Cape Breton highlands National Park, Canada, according to CBC News. She was attacked Tuesday afternoon while walking alone on a popular hiking trail. Park officials say that other hikers managed to scare off the coyotes…
Swimmers are being warned to stay out of the waters near Stradbroke Island, Australia, after a 10-foot great white shark, which had been caught on a drum-line, was nearly ripped clean in half by what is being estimated to be a 20-foot great white. The…
The planet is smaller than ever, but that just means there's a host of new dangers out there—and a new set of solutions. These days, a text message or the right travel-insurance policy might just save your bacon. So study up—your life may depend on it.
The pilot of a small plane that crashed in Denali National Park Wednesday, October 14, has been found alive after walking 20 miles through the back country, according to KTUU. After receiving severe burns from the wreck, Daniel McGregor, 35, made his way from the crash…
A recent study on cycling injuries presented at the 2009 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons found that injuries at one trauma center had increased significantly over the past 11 years, reports Medical News Today. Even…
Todd Carmichael, who planned to cross Death Valley in a move that would challenge three world records, called off the expedition yesterday after much deliberation. Carmichael had hoped to complete the longest open desert self-supported manhaul solo in history, with no outside help. That's…
Belgian cyclist Frank Vandenbroucke, whose once promising career was repeatedly derailed by doping scandal, drug and alcohol problems, and depression, was found dead today. AFP has the story here. John BradleyTwitter: johnwbradley…
What may be one of the 20 largest diamonds ever found was recently discovered in the Cullian mine in South Africa, according to National Geographic. The 507.55 carat gem weighs just over 100 grams, and is estimated to be worth close to $20 million. The Cullian mine…
Police in Polk County, Florida, are on the lookout for five raccoons who attacked and injured an elderly woman who tried to shoo them away from her door. USA Today's blog reports that the woman was so severely bitten and scratched that she…
By Stephen Regenold Beginning in the 1940s, the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Mapping Program was tasked with the immense cartographical feat of surveying the entire country to create a series of more than 50,000 topographical maps. Widely-available and mostly accurate, the 1:24,000-scale government maps canvas…
When feet started floating into the dark, coastal bays of British Columbia, it wasn’t hard to imagine the worst, especially when the Mounties went silent. Even paradise has an underbelly.
But beneath his foul language and outrageous antics, the Czech photographer is the greatest living observer of human suffering and spirit.
Quotes from Stranded (now out on DVD; $30, zeitgeistfilms.com), a gripping new documentary about the survivors of the 1972 Andes plane crash depicted in the film Alive.
Luanne Freer talks about saving lives in the world's highest emergency room.
I went to a school and was promised I would be able to track a mouse across a cement floor after a week. I couldn't. Is it possible to get that good, that fast?
Ben Sherwood talks about the secrets and science that can save your life.
If a shark doesn't kill you, shallow-water blackout or a giant propeller might. But the spearfishermen freediving the oil rigs off Louisiana's coast don't let that get in the way of the hunt for fresh tuna.
Times are tough, but growing and killing your own food isn't the answer.
He snuck a parachute up the Empire State Building under a fat suit. He says he knows how to fly. Crazy? Maybe. But Jeb Corliss is sure fun to watch.
Every hour of every day, behemoth container ships cruise the highways of ocean commerce, loaded with stereos and lobster and plastic air fresheners. And during the winter storm season, massive waves from out of nowhere can wreck these arks of global trade.
If I go off the beaten path at a ski resort and get lost, what should I do? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico