The 7 Rivers, 7 Continents Expedition

Adventurer Mark Kalch's next big project is his 7 Rivers, 7 Continents paddling expedition, in which he will attempt to paddle the length of the longest rivers on each of the seven continents. Having already knocked off one of those rivers, he says he figured he might as well "man up and finish the rest."

Back in 2007 and 2008, Mark was part of an expedition that paddled the length of the Amazon River, covering more than 4300 miles. The Amazon, which stretches across South America, is the longest river in the world, and quite a challenge to navigate, but the other rivers that are waiting for him will each offer their own unique challenges as well.

The list of rivers he intends to paddle include the following:

Nile River (Africa) – 6650 km (4132 miles)
Yangtze River (Asia) – 6300 km (3916 miles)
Mississippi-Missouri River (North America) – 6275 km (3912 miles)
Volga River (Europe) – 3645 km (2266 miles)
Murray-Darling River (Australia) – 3370 km (2904 miles)
Onyx River (Antarctica) – 40 km (25 miles)

According to ExWeb, who brought this story to my attention, Mark will use a variety of watercraft to make these descents, including kayaks, white water rafts, and even stand-up paddle boards, depending on the type of water he is encountering at any given time. They also estimate that it will take him anywhere from 4 to 6 months to complete each river, so obviously this project will keep him busy for the next few years.

Each of these rivers will have a very different feel, and I've been fortunate enough to have been on four of the seven. The Nile, for instance, will be long and and hot, without much to see other than desert for much of its run, although it will be quite a ride to get things started. On the other hand, the Mississippi will keep him in the middle of civilization for the vast majority of the duration, with plenty of places to stop and rest, get a good meal, sleep in a comfortable bed, and so on. The experiences are going to be dramatically different, and this should be a fun expedition to follow for that alone. 

Anyway you look at it though, this is going to be a series of epic paddling adventures. Even the short, 25-mile long Onyx in Antarctica will have its share of challenges. Can't wait to read the updates!

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Plastiki Project Completes Pacific Journey

The crew of the Plastiki, the boat that was built almost entirely out of 12,500 recycled bottles, has completed its voyage across the Pacific, arriving in Sydney, Australia today. The ship set sail from San Francisco back in March, and now, 130 days and 8000 nautical miles later, the journey is done.

The ship, and the entire project, is the brain child of environmentalist David de Rothschild, the founder of Adventure Ecology. He came up with the concept more than four years ago, and after going through all the planning and design phases, it was the realization of a dream to see the ship set sail at long last.

The voyage was made to help raise awareness of the impact of plastic, and other man made elements, on the environment. Along the way, the Plastiki and her crew paid a visit to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a section of ocean the size of Texas where garbage from around the world has collected and created one giant mess of plastic and other junk.

Joining de Rothschild on the four month long journey were Skipper Jo Royle, Co-Skipper David Thomson, Olav Heyerdahl, Graham Hill, Luca Babini, Matthew Grey, Max Jourdan, Singeli Agnew and Vern Moen. Each was an integral part of the crew with several members working on putting together a film of the journey. It should be a interesting one to watch once it is complete, as I'm sure it'll have quite the commentary on health of our oceans.

Congrats to the entire crew of the Plastiki for completing the voyage. Well done!

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Climbing Videos Are Always Better WIth Cheesy 80's Music!

Looking for a little mid-afternoon distraction. Then be sure to check out this great climbing video that comes to us courtesy of Cedar Wright, who recently went on a bit of an adventure with his mates James Pearson, Matt Segal, Heidi Wirtz, Rob Frost, and Jason Singer Smith to scout out the climbing scene Down Under. What they found was some amazing opportunities in Tasmania, and they captured it all on video. Then set it to some of the greatest, and by greatest I also mean cheesiest, 80's music ever. Enjoy!

Australia Climbing Adventure_THE MUSICAL_Total Eclipse from Cedar Wright on Vimeo.

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Solo Sailing Update: Abby On A Slow Boat To Somewhere

A few days after being rescued in the Southern Ocean, Abby Sunderland remains aboard the French fishing ship, the Ile de la Reunion, and is currently bound for the Kerguelen Islands, a small chain located in the Indian Ocean. After that, she'll be transferred to another boat, and for ten more days she'll be making her way to a small island near Madagascar. After that, it is still up in the air, but she is slowly making her way home.

It appears that Abby's journey is over, and the Wild Eyes will not be repaired as was previously thought. The boat has been left adrift in the Indian Ocean, while her captain departed on the large fishing ship, where she has been sending updates to her blog from time to time. There isn't a whole lot to report really, just that she is happy to be headed home, and grateful for all of the efforts that were put in to rescue her. She has sent out a number of thank you's to those that scrambled to ensure that she was alive and well. Abby hasn't spoken to the press at all yet, although they have apparently been trying to reach her about the ship, but the French captain and his crew, have been running interference for her, and so far no one has gotten through.

Meanwhile, Abby's family has responded to some of the criticism that has been leveled their way in the past few days. In a post on her blog, they have written a response to the claims that Abby was sailing too far south, and across the Indian Ocean too late in the year. They also address the rumors that they were filming a reality television series called Adventures in Sunderland.

Yep, you read that right. Apparently at some point there was a reality television series in the works about the Sunderland family, which consists of mom and dad, and seven kids, although an eight child is due any moment now. The press got wind of this show a few days back, and that has fueled speculation that the whole solo sailing journey that Abby and her brother Zac have undergone is purely for monetary gain. Perhaps the parents were even pushing them into it or at the very least, allowed them to go so they could make money. But the deal apparently is long dead, and there is no show in the works. In fact the studio involved is even in trouble for failing to pay back taxes, so at this point, it seems the rumors of a television show are false. What the future holds is still a mystery.

Finally, the Australian Search and Rescue team was hoping to get the word out that they did everything the could to help Abby, including chartering a commercial jet to fly over her last known position, and despite all of that, they are not asking the family to pay for any of the efforts. Apparently the word on that hadn't been widely reported, and the Aussie government wanted the world to know that they didn't put a price tag on helping save Abby. Good to know. And I'd expect nothing less from the wonderful people from Oz. :)

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Blackheart.com.au Wins XPD Australia Adventure Race

The 2010 XPD Australia, taking place in Cairns over the past week, is over, with BlackHeart.com.au crossing the finish line in first place after more than seven days of racing. They were joined on the podium by McCain Adventure Addicts of South Africa and Team Merrell/Akali, a mixed team from France, New Zealand, and Canada, in second and third place respectively.

The expedition length adventure race challenged teams of four to run, trek, mountain bike, paddle, and navigate their way through some of the most challenging backcountry that Queensland, Australia has to offer. The athletes found themselves in kayaks on wild whitewater rivers as well as the sea, while they hiked through rainforests and biked challenging single track.

The winning team reached the finish line several hour ahead of the second place finishers, but it was not as easy as it would seem from just glancing at the leaderboard. Team Orion Adventure was at the front of the pack, pushing Blackheart hard late in the race, but that outstanding team was forced to withdraw due to an ankle injury to one of the team members when they were on the final leg of the race.

Congratulations to BlackHeart.com.au on an outstanding race. To find out more about the XPD, head over to Adventure World Magazine, where they've followed the events much more closely than I have this past week. They've even posted a very good profile on McCain Adventure Addicts, a team that recorded their best finish ever in an International race.

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Solo Sailing Update: Jessica Finishes Tomorrow!

For a number of months we've been following Jessica Watson and Abby Sunderland as they both have attempted their daring solo circumnavigations of the globe in the hopes of becoming the youngest to achieve that goal. Both of these remarkable young ladies are just 16 years old, and both have had quite the adventure out on the open seas. But now, one is closing in on the finish line, while the other takes a break for some much needed repairs.

The biggest news at the moment is that Jessica is now just hours away from completing her solo sail around the world. She is expected to arrive in Sydney, Australia sometime tomorrow, with thousands of well wishers on hand to welcome her home. Jess began her voyage back in October, and hasn't stepped foot on land since, but she is now looking forward to meeting friends and family when she sails into the Sydney harbor tomorrow.

Of course, there is already some controversy brewing around the completion of the journey, or at least at any records she would hope to claim. The World Sailing Speed Record Council has already said that they would not recognize her as the youngest to sail around the world, as they have a strict policy that those who attempt that journey should be at least 18 years old. But perhaps more importantly, there are some who say her voyage wasn't long enough to be considered for any speed records either. Jessica's route is some 2000 miles shorter than what is a typically considered for those kinds of records, and while she did go above the equator, as the rules for these types of expeditions require, she didn't spend much time in the Northern Hemisphere.

Still, the question is does it really matter? I'm guessing it doesn't mean a think to Jess, who is completing this journey for herself and for the epic adventure. She may not go into some of the official record books, but she finished what she set out to do, regardless of what some of the old sea dogs think about her route.

Meanwhile, Abby Sunderland reached Cape Town, South Africa last week, and has spent several days there having her boat checked out. She limped over to Africa thanks to a failing autopilot that has been giving her problems almost since her voyage began. Divers have also inspected her ship, the WIld Eyes for damage, and while they found a few minor things, there hasn't been anything significant to repair. They did clean out some sea weed from the prop, which may have been causing minor engine issues, and they've patched some scratches on the hull, but nothing significant has been discovered.

Abby's brother Zac has been spending time with her in South Africa, but is heading home today. Zac completed his own round-the-world sailing trip last year, inspiring his sister to follow in his wake. With the repairs done, and Zac headed out of town, Abby will now wait for a weather window to return to the sea. She expects that to happen on Tuesday, so soon she'll be back out on the water as well.

Because she stopped for repairs, Abby is officially out of the record books as well, as these solo circumnavigation attempts are suppose to be non-stop. Regardless of that rule however, Abby is actually younger than Jessica, and probably wouldn't have been officially recognized for her achievement either. The course she selected is longer however, and will probably fulfill the requirements in that area at least. Abby has reiterated however that she is not doing this for records either. She is doing this for herself and will continue on her voyage despite having to stop for these repairs.

You certainly have to admire the adventurous spirit these two young women have. I want to congratulate Jess for finishing her journey and wish Abby well on the next leg of hers.

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Outer Edge Magazine Announces Aussie Adventure Awards

Australian outdoor adventure magazines Outer Edge and Wild has announced the winners of their annual Adventure Awards for achievement in the calendar year of 2009, with a host of worthy recipients getting recognition.

Some of the winners include mountaineer Andrew Lock, who earned the Solo Adventurer of the Year award. Lock became the first Australian to climb all 14 of the 8000 meter peaks after he topped out on Shishapangma back in September. Simon Carter took the Best Adventure Photograph of the Year with these stunning shots from the Blue Mountains. Jon Muir was inducted into the Adventure Hall of Fame for his illustrious career that includes visits to the Poles, a summit of Everest, and much much more. Other categories included Best Adventure Film, which went to Beau Miles for a movie based on his attempt to paddle around the Horn of Africa, and Adventure Destination of the Year, which went to the very deserving Yukon Territory of Canada. For a complete list of winners click here.

On a related note, I wanted to mention that I'll be collaborating with the good folks over at Outer Edge in the weeks ahead. It is a great magazine that covers a lot of the same topics that I do, including everything from mountaineering, backpacking, adventure racing, and more. I'm sure this collaboration will result in some great adventure stories from Down Under, a country that practically thrives on adventure, and I hope to make a good contribution in return. Happy to be a part of the team guys! :)

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Want To Become An Eco Hero?

A new web/social networking site called Eco Heroes is nearing completion and will launch soon, that asks us each to do our part to help the environment on a daily basis, while sharing our experiences with other, in hopes that we'll inspire one another to be more eco-friendly and conscious of our impact on the world around us.

Spearheaded by Eco Hero Roz Savage, the site will be equal parts social networking and environmental initiative, wrapped up in a fun, colorful wrapper that even has some game elements attached. Each day, members of the site will sign in and share their good environmental deed, which can in turn be linked to Twitter so you can let all your friends and followers know as well. Your "Green Deeds" can be submitted to the site via your Twitter account, by e-mail, or by logging in directly. The creators of Eco Heroes are also promising a dedicated iPhone app in the near future as well, allowing you to boast of your deeds while on the go.

Once submitted to the site, other members can give your actions a thumbs up or thumbs down, indicating how much they like your actions, but more importantly you can earn points based on your Green Deeds, which will unlock special merit badges that you can use to show off your commitment towards protecting the environment and the actions you've done to stand behind that commitment. The site will also recognize Eco Heroes of the Week and award prizes as well.

Right now, if you go to the Eco Heroes website, there isn't much to see. You can sign up for an account, but after that you'll have to wait for notification that the site has officially opened. The launch is expected sometime around April 17th, which not-so-coninsidently is the projected start date of Roz's final leg of her trans-Pacific Row. This time out, she'll be departing from Tarawa and rowing the remaining distance to Australia. it's going to be one last epic leg of what has already been an amazing journey.

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The Top 8 Natural Wonders of the World

Travel website Wild Junket has put together their picks for the Top 8 Natural Wonders of the World, listing the very best that Mother Earth has to offer us.

These eight locations are pretty much on every adventure traveler's short list of "must see" places. (If they're not, they ought to be!) Each of the entries includes a brief description of why it's earned a spot in the Top 8, with a few photos to help support the cause. Amongst the places that make the list are Igauzu Falls along the Argentinian-Brazillian border, Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, and the Grand Canyon in the U.S. As you can imagine, the other five spots, which I'll leave for you to discover for yourself, are equally interesting and beautiful.

I've been personally fortunate enough to witness five of these locations myself, and it's hard to argue with any of them. I might add the Serengeti to my list of favorite natural wonders, as it is simply amazing not only for the size and scope of the place, but also for the amazing wildlife that is at every turn. Of all the places I've visited, it is probably the one that I miss the most, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in going.

Big thanks to the Wend Blog for give me the heads up on this story.

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Freya Hoffmeister Completes Paddle Round Australia

It's been awhile since I posted anything on Freya Hoffmeister. The last time we checked in on her, she was 190 days into her attempt to kayak her way around Australia, hoping to set a new speed record in the process. Yesterday, the 45-year old German woman completed her paddle, arriving in Queenscliff, and in capturing the record too.

All told, the journey took Freya 332 days to complete the 9400+ mile journey around Australia. She has become just the second person to ever paddle that length, and the first woman as well. She beat the old record, set by New Zealander Paul Caffyn 27 years ago, by more than a month. Caffyn took 360 days to complete his journey. On her website, Freya promised "I promise, if anyone will paddle around Australia within the next 27 years, I’ll be at the finish line."

The journey was definitely a challenging and difficult one. Of those 332 days she was paddling, 245 of them were spent out on the water. She sailed counter-clockwise around the continent, beginning and ending in Queenscliff, and managed to cut more than 680 miles off the expedition by braving the open sea at the Gulf of Carpentaria, which she crossed in approximately eight days, sleeping in her kayak as she went. That extremely treacherous crossing has only been accomplished by one other person, the late Andrew McAuley, who would later disappear attempting to paddle from Australia to New Zealand.

Paddling expeditions like this one are not new to Freya. Back in 2007 she also circumnavigated around Iceland in just 33 days, and solo circumnavigated New Zealand's South Island in a record 70 days.

Congrats on finishing up the big paddle down under Freya. I think you've earned a little rest and relaxation just in time for the holidays.

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Kayaking Around Australia

Men's Journal is reporting in with another interesting aquatic adventure. This time it's an update on Freya Hoffmeister, who is attempting to set a new speed record for circumnavigating Australia in a kayak.

Freya has now been on the water for 191 days and making her way down the western coast of Australia. Her goal is to cover the more than 9400 miles around the continent in just one year, and reading her blog you can tell that she is not only going after that challenge, but enjoying the journey as well. The current record for kayaking around Australia is 361 days, and if everything continues to go as expected, it seems that Freya will have a shot at setting a new record.

As part of her journey, the German paddler cut across the Gulf of Carpenteria, setting out into the turbulent waters of the Pacific. Only Andrew McAuley has accomplished the same goal in a solo fashion. You may recall that McAuley later disappeared while making a solo attempt at paddling across the Tasman Sea.

You can follow Freya's adventures on her official website, where you'll find more information about her, and this paddling expedition. If she stays on schedule, expect her to return to her point of origin, near Melbourne, sometime next January.

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Australian Adventures: Down on the Farm!

After getting a taste of Cairns and exploring the Whitsunday Islands near Airlie Beach, it was time to move on to our third, and final, destination in Australia.

Catching a late afternoon plane from Proserpine, a small Australian town with a unique airport that had just two gates, we were on our way back to Brisbane, where we immediately jumped in another van and were off on a three hour drive to Goomeri. We arrived in that small outback town, with a population of just 400, under the cloak of darkness, and quickly checked into the Grand Hotel, which offers pub accommodations upstairs, while the locals get wild in the bar downstairs.

Throughout our stay in Oz we kept hearing about a sporting event called State of Origin, in which the top Aussie rugby players from Queensland return home to form a team to play against their rivals from New South Wales, who field a similar squad. The annual grudge match is a best of three contest that pits the Queensland Canetoads against the New South Wales Cockroaches (I can't make these names up folks), and to say that the matches get heated would be an understatement. We were fortunate to catch part of Game 1 in the Grand Hotel Pub, in which the Canetoads took down the Cockroaches, which put the patrons in a festive mood and they were more than ready to celebrate the big win late into the night.

While we did enjoy the down home charms of Goomeri, and the very friendly people that live there, the reason we traveled to the Outback was to visit a local farm that specializes in helping young travelers coming to Oz on the Working Holiday Visa. Springbrook Farm is not only a working cattle ranch but also doubles as the headquarters for the Visit Oz organization, which specializes in helping young travelers acquire the skills they need to find work on farms throughout the country.

In a nutshell, it works like this. After getting their Working Holiday Visa, backpackers pay a fee to Visit Oz that gets them a few days of r n' r at Sunset Beach before they begin their training on the farm. After three days of sand and surf, they'll report to Springbrook, where they'll spend an intense week learning a variety of skills to help them find work. They'll learn to ride motorcycles and horse, drive tractors, use chainsaws, build fences, and so on. Meanwhile, as the week progresses, they'll begin to get job offers from farms and ranches from all over Australia. Most will get two or three offers to choose from, and it is extremely rare that someone doesn't find work through Visit Oz. Once they've completed their training, they'll travel to where ever their new employer is located and begin their work, earning a minimum of $500 per week, although we were told that most made $1000-$1500, depending on their skill sets.

From there, it is totally up to the backpacker how long he or she wants to continue working. Most will work for three to four months and save up their money for their impending travels, and since most of their posting are on remote farms, which provide room and board while they are there, they tend to save a lot of money up very quickly.

We ended up spending a full day on the farm, reporting early for breakfast, and then beginning motorcycle training. Some of us had ridden before, while others were experiencing it for the first time, but after quickly getting oriented with the bike, we were all off and riding in no time. We spent a short time just riding in the training yard, but later we took the bikes out onto a series of trails that ran across the property, which offered us some new challenges and helped to build riding skills further.

With the morning consumed riding the bikes, we took a brief break for lunch before turning our attention to the horses. We were all eager to get riding, but before that could happen we had brush down our mounts and clean their hooves, and then saddle them as well. Most of those skills were new to me and the other writers, but it is part of the training process that everyone who comes to Visit Oz goes through, and we were given an accurate, albeit abbreviated, look at that process.

Eventually we were saddled up and out on the trail, and once again exploring Springbrook Farm, which has over 900 acres of land. The plan was for us to get comfortable on horseback before bringing some cattle in from the field. For some reason, a few of the horses decided today would be the day that they would be a bit temperamental, so a some of us had to deal with mounts that weren't always completely cooperative. My horse, a big pale beast named Prince, wasn't taking too kindly to a couple of new additions to the paddock, and any time we wandered too close to one of these newcomers, I'd take the opportunity to nip at one of them, and show his discomfort by kicking up his heels. This didn't do anything to endear him to the rider, namely me, who was generally holding on for dear life. Eventually I learned that we'd both get along much better if I kept Prince away from these offending newcomers, and the rest of the ride went much better, including rounding up the cattle and herding them back to the corral.

We finished up the day by learning to drive a tractor that would typically be used on farms throughout the country. It was a fairly simple process, even for those who have difficulty with a manual transmission, although the nuances of using it in the field would take longer than the short time we had practicing.

After our long day of training, we stayed at Springbrook for an evening barbecue that gave us the opportunity to chat with several young backpackers that were going through the Visit Oz program. They had been there for a few days and had quickly picked up a number of news skills. Several were already beginning to get job offers and they were weighing their options for the months ahead. Most didn't have any idea how long they wanted to work for, but they definitely had the intention of enjoying their stay in Australia once they finished their work. At the dinner table that evening there were young people from South Africa, the Netherlands, and the U.S., although we were told that there are still very few people coming from the States to take advantage of the Working Holiday Visa.

And with that, my visit to Australia was coming to an end. We returned to Goomeri for another night at the Grand Hotel, before catching an early morning ride back to Brisbane where we would, eventually, catch a flight back home. My week Down Under was packed form end to end with activities and I was sad to be leaving it behind when I felt there was still so much more I wanted to see. Australia is an easy place to fall in love with. The landscapes are diverse and breathtaking, the people are incredibly friendly, and the infrastructure is in place to make the entire travel experience as painless as possible. I can't recommend it enough to anyone looking for a comfortable and easy trip abroad that still offers plenty of adventure.

I wanted to send out a BIG THANK YOU to the good folks at Backpacking Queensland for inviting me to come visit there wonderful country, and to V Australia for providing the plane tickets and an amazing onboard experience. It was all very much appreciated.

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Australian Adventures: The Whitsunday Islands and Airlie Beach

On my third day in Oz, we were up before sunrise, and whisked off to the airport once more to catch an early flight out of Cairns. To be honest, I was a bit sad to be leaving so soon, as I knew that we had barely scratched the surface of what the city had to offer, but we were heading on to other adventures, in other parts of Queensland.

Before long we were on a plane for Townsville, where we were met by yet another guide and van that soon had us out on the open road and bound for the tourist town of Airlie Beach. The three hour ride would give me the opportunity to take in more of the Aussie countryside as we moved away from the coastline and into more arid sections. The highway was a bit more remote, passing through small towns that were not unlike the rural settings found here in the States, except that the roadkill consisted of kangaroos instead of deer. We even passed through the town of Bowen, which was prominently featured in Baz Luhrman's epic film Australia which was released last year. Portions of the town, including its long wharf, were easily identified, although sadly there were no Hugh Jackman or Nicole Kidman sightings.

Eventually we rolled into Airlie Beach, and drove straight to the harbor, which was lined with impressive ships and yachts of all shapes and sizes. The plan was for our group of six, the five writers and Anna, our Aussie chaperone, to split up on to two different boats and set sail for the Whitsundays, a series of 74 islands sprinkled across the Great Barrier Reef. The region is renowned for its incredible diving and sailing opportunities, and are famous for their breathtaking beauty.

My group was the first to depart, and we barely had time to grab our bags and throw them up on deck before we were underway. We were aboard a tall sailing ship called the Boomerang that was once a wold champion racer, and still could crank up the speed when it had to. Over the course of the next few days, we, along with 20 or so other young travelers, would be living aboard the ship, and would have plenty of opportunity to witness that world class speed for ourselves. In the process, we also became part of the "crew" and learned to crank up the sails, and stay out of the way while the real crew did their job.

The better part of the next two days were spent exploring the waters around the Whitsundays, which I found to not only meet, but exceed their reputation for beauty. In those two days we not only sailed the open waters, but also snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, which teemed with life as schools of colorful fish swam just out of reach.It was a bit surreal to drift along in the crystal clear waters, surrounding by so many species of fish, but it was also one of the most amazing moments of the entire trip.

One of the mornings we went ashore on Whitsunday Island to visit a stunning beach that looked like something you would find on a postcard. The very fine, white sand stretched out into the water, creating a barrier. On one side, there were the rising tides and growing swells of the Pacific Ocean, with ships drifting on the horizon. On the other, were calm, clear waters that sparkled in the morning sun, while manta rays drifted just beneath the surface. Did I mention how surreal it was here as well?

Nights on the boat were generally spent chatting, playing some games, and consuming copious amounts of a locally popular, cheap, boxed wine, affectionately dubbed "goon". Most of the passengers aboard the Boomerang were young backpackers who were in Australia on extended vacations. Some of them had come on the working holiday visa, and were now enjoying the fruits of their labor. After spending several months working on farms, picking fruit, or any number of other occupations, they decided it was time to cash out, and begin enjoying their holiday instead. Most were working their way up the Queensland coast, taking in the scenery and relaxed beach culture lifestyle, while spending the money they had earned. Some intended to stay until their year was up, others until the money ran out, although they didn't dismiss the options of working for a month or two again to continue their travels.

Before we knew it, our two days on the Boomerang were finished, and we were returning to Airlie Beach, which is a sleepy little beach town that probably wouldn't exist if it weren't for the tourism industry. Its proximity to the Whitsundays and The Great Barrier Reef make it a favorite stop over for backpackers driving from Brisbane to Cairns, and it is an easy place to kill a number of days.

While in Airlie, I stayed at the local Youth Hostels of Australia location. Once again, it was comfortable, clean and functional, and relatively quiet considering the age and activities of the cliental. I also had the opportunity to tour Airlie Waterfront Backpackers, another local hostel, that had a completely different feel from the YHA that I stayed at. The Waterfront had a more homey feel, and it seemed like a place you would want to hangout in, and not just sleep. Perhaps that is why there were more backpackers on the Working Holiday visa staying there, since they were in town for extended stays, they wanted a place that was more conducive for calling home in the months that they would be working in Airlie Beach.

While touring the Waterfront Backpackers, and later when we stopped for dinner and drinks at the Beaches Backpacker Bar we met yet still more travelers taking advantage of the Working Holiday visa. When we were in Cairns, these young backpackers were often working on farms and picking fruit, but in Airlie Beach there weren't as many of those types of job, so instead they found work on the various boats sailing the Whitsundays. As crew members on the various sailing vessels, they worked as deck hands, cooks, diving instructors, and more. Many preferred these types of jobs to the manual labor that is offered in other areas of Queensland.

Following a late night of drinking and dancing at Beaches, we were off and running once again the next morning. We had another flight to catch, but not until later in the afternoon, and not before we drove out of Airlie Beach to visit Cedar Creek Falls, a lovely little spot in the woods that is off the beaten path for most tourists. We brought a picnic lunch with us, and settled in under the trees along the rocky shore of a crystal clear pool of water that was fed by a cascade of falls pouring down a 50 foot rock face no more than twenty yards away. A curious turtle rose to the surface and paddled about, while we nibbled on chicken sandwiches and soaked in the surroundings. Later, a quick hike up a near by trail, thickly lined with ferns, took us to the top of the falls for a completely different perspective.

Back in the cars, we were once again on the road and heading to the airport. Our time in Airlie Beach was at an end, and we had one more region of Queensland to visit before it was time to head home. I felt much more satisfied with my visit to Airile Beach than I did Cairns, in part because I had more time to explore the area, the amazing Whitsunday Islands were an incredible playground for a couple of days. We snorkeled on the Great Barrier Reef, swam in the Pacific, and sailed in one of the most pristine settings on the planet. It was a wonderful example of the adventures that were to be had in Queensland, and I felt blessed for having had the chance to take it all in.

Next stop was a small town called Goomeri, an outback town that would be unlike anything we had experienced so far.

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Australian Adventures: Cairns

Australia has always had a spot on my list of places that I wanted to visit. It is a huge country, the size of the United States, and yet only 20 million people live there. That means vast, remote spaces, that remain largely uninhabited, spread across a dizzying array of terrains that include desert, rolling hills, grasslands, rainforest, and literally thousands of miles of coastline.

Fortunately for me, I recently had the opportunity to visit the country thanks to Backpacking Queensland, an organization designed to promote travel to that Australian state. They brought me, along with four other online travel journalists, "down under" to not only give us a small sample of the travel opportunities that Queensland had to offer, but also to acquaint us with the Working Holiday Visas that allow young travelers to explore the country while working temporarily, allowing them to fund their travels as well. This visa option has long been an option for visitors from other parts of the world, but has only recently become available for Americans as well.

One of the more daunting aspects of traveling to Oz is the long flights from the States. I flew out of Los Angeles and was heading to Brisbane, which is a 14 hour flight, on top of the 3 hours I had already spent flying from Austin, TX. Traditionally, a flight of that length is quite a challenge for me. I'm more than six feet tall, and don't fit all that well in the seats in coach. But once again, fortunately for me, V Australia came through for us, providing tickets in their Premium Economy section that were quite outstanding. In fact, I'd say that my initial reaction is the V Australia is the best airline I've ever flown. The plane was a Boeing 777, practically brand new, and outfitted with a very comfortable traveling environment that included large seats, plenty of leg room, and a high tech entertainment system with dozens of movies, television shows, and games to keep you occupied while the hours pass. On top of that, the crew was very friendly, went out of their way to ensure that we had everything we needed, and genuinely seemed to enjoy their jobs. While all of that didn't make the 14 hour flight any shorter, it sure helped to make me more comfortable.


Arriving in Brisbane at 7 AM, we immediately collected our bags and set out for the domestic terminal to hop a flight to Cairns, a city of 135,000 along Queensland's north east coast. Cairns offers access to some amazing natural wonders, including the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. That means that there is excellent diving and hiking close at hand. In fact, adventure and adrenaline sports seem to be a way of life in the region, with plenty of advertisements throughout the city promising the best bungee jumping, parachuting, zip lining, and more.

While in Cairns we stayed at the Calypso Backpackers Resort, a comfortable and eclectic hostel centrally located in the city. While I was there, the place was abuzz with young backpackers from all over the planet, all of which have come to Oz to explore the country and enjoy the wonderful hospitality. Calypso is a veritable hub of activity, and at various times while I was hanging out in the common area, I saw a number of groups whisked off by shuttles to go sky diving, snorkeling on the reef, or on day trips to the rainforest.

A number of the backpackers staying at the Calypso were taking advantage of the Australian working holiday visa options to fund their trip. As I mentioned before, it is an option that allows young men and women, between the ages of 18-30, to spend up to one year in the country, mixing in work and travel as they go. The jobs available vary widely depending on what part of the country you are in, and make no mistake, they generally fall into the manual labor category. But they also usually pay quite well, allowing backpackers to save up plenty of money in a short period of time. Couple those opportunities with an extensive infrastructure designed to make it cheap and easy for backpackers to travel, and you can begin to understand how travel friendly Australia really is.

Obtaining your working holiday visa is quite easy. Simply go to this page and fill out the application, pay the $195 (Aus) processing fee, and in as little as 24 hours, you're likely to have everything you need to travel to Oz, and remain there for up to one year. During that time, you can come and go as often as you'd like, and work as much or as little as well.

On our first afternoon in Cairns, we zipped up the scenic highway, stopping for a traditional lunch of fish and chips on a beautiful beach. After all those hours on an airplane, it was refreshing to get some good food and fresh air. The fact that the Pacific Ocean stretched out into the distance, with a half-dozen shades of blue coloring the water, was simply a bonus.

Once we were well fed, everyone wasl feeling better, and ready to have some fun. Our guides took us to meet a young man named Link, an Aboriginal whose family had lived in the region for literally untold thousands of years. It was low tide when we arrived, so Link took us out hunting for mud crabs, which are abundant in the region. Our young guide seemed to have an encyclopedic knowledge about the plants, animals, and insects in the area, giving us all kinds of facts about them, and how they could be used as natural medicines or other purposes. He also told us about Aboriginal culture, showed us a variety of boomerangs, demonstrating how each is used, and mentioned that there are still members of his tribe that live in the forests not far from his house, in the same way that they have for hundreds of years, eschewing modern life and technology. I was fascinated to hear these stories and wondered if perhaps we were being watched at that very moment.

With our mud crab hunting expedition a failure, we loaded up in the van and headed back into Cairns, stopping along the way for a couple of frosty beverages, and to grab some pizza before we crashed for the night. After the long flight from States, and relatively busy day, everyone was ready to finally get some sleep. Everyone retired to our comfortable rooms at the Calypso for a much deserved rest.

But before we knew it, morning was upon us, and we were off once again. We spent part of the morning getting a brief tour of Cairns before setting out for a two hour drive to Innisfail, a smaller, more rural, community south of Cairns. The drive gave us the opportunity to see more of the countryside, which was dominated by large sugar cain fields, the primary agricultural export from Queensland. The cain fields were incredibly dense, with the plants growing close together, and one of our guides mentioned that you definitely didn't wan to walk through the cain, as they were thick with wild animals, including many of the very poisonous snakes that inhabit the Australian countryside.

Before long, we arrived at our destination, which was a banana farm that employs a number of backpackers traveling under the working holiday visa. With more than 100 acres of banana trees, there is always plenty to do on the farm, and it was interesting to hear how the bananas were harvested and prepared for shipping to market. Working on the farm is physically demanding stuff, but a number of young travelers find that they can make good money working there, and after as little as three months, they have enough to pay for the rest of their trip through Oz.

After our visit to the banana farm, we drove into Innisfail to tour the Codge Lodge, another comfortable backpacker hostel, where many of the working holiday visa holders were staying. It was their day off, and most were lounging about, taking advantage of their downtime. Some worked on the banana or papaya farms, while others found work in local fish farms, while still others found other local jobs. I chatted with backpackers from the U.K., Ireland, Russia, France and more, all of which were in the country on the working holiday visa. Each of them noted that while they were currently working, they were still enjoying their stay in Australia, and were earning plenty of money to really see the country in the weeks and months ahead. Most planned to work 3-4 months tops, before beginning the "holiday" portion of their visa.

After our visit to the Codge Lodge, and a quick lunch at a local Italian restaurant, it was time to have a little fun. With that in mind, we headed over to the Johnson River Crocodile Park to meet some of the local wildlife. While at the park, we had the opportunity to hold a baby croc, feed kangaroos and wallabies right from our hands, and pet a very friendly dingo. But the real stars of the show were the massive crocs, some stretching 15+ feet in length. The highly trained, and quite possibly suicidal, staff at the park dangled food in front of these giant reptiles, and prodded them to take it from their hands. The powerful jaws of the crocodiles snapped loudly as they dutifully stood up and went after their meals, just inches from the silly man taunting them.

After our visit to the croc park, it was time to head back to Cairns, but before we did, we stopped to take a brief stroll through the rainforest at one of the nearby parks. The forest was dense and humid, and reminded me a bit of the Amazon, which I had visited a month earlier. But the paved trails lined with other hikers quickly dispelled any illusions that I was back in South America. Still, the rainforest was beautiful, and all the more so for the fact that you could go from dense jungle to some of the best beaches in the world, just by making a short drive. Our brief stroll was both relaxing and exhilarating at the same time.

After our hike, we were back on the road to Cairns, where were had plans to visit the Woolshed, a famous (or is that infamous?) backpacker hangout that offers cheap food and free flowing adult beverages. We spent the early part of the evening chatting with more young travelers working their way through Australia, but as the night went on, the music got louder, and the patrons began dancing on any available surface, including the tables.

That was our cue to call it a night, as the next day we would leave Cairns behind and head to another aea of Queensland. Our stay in the "Tropical North" was all too brief, and I felt like we barely scratched the surface of what Cairns had to offer. But I was definitely intrigued with the all the possibilities for adventure travel in the region, and not only do I think it should be on any travelers list for places to visit when heading down under, I hope to go back myself to really take it all in.

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16-Year Old Aussie Girl Prepares to Circumnavigate the Globe

I caught wind of this story while I was in Australia, and was intrigued to learn more once I got home. It seems that Jessica Watson, who hails from Mooloolaba, Queensland, is preparing to sale solo around the world. That alone is an ambitious project for anyone, but Jessica is only 16 years old. If she is successful, she'll become the youngest person to ever make the journey.

Jessica hopes to set out in November and will be going after the record currently held by German Jessie Martin, who sailed around the world solo back in 1999 at the age of 18. Meanwhile, 17 year-old Mike Perham of the U.K. is halfway through his attempt to circumnavigate the globe as well. He is currently experiencing gear problems and is Tasmania, of all places, and faces the challenge of sailing around Cape Horn in the winter. With any luck, he'll be finished up by the time Jessica is hitting the water.

The Australian teenager has quite a bit of sailing experience despite her young age. She start out at the age of 8, and has continued to build her skills since then. She has even sailed solo across the Tasman Sea between her home country and New Zealand, and while that isn't the same as 8 months at sea alone, it is still a good test of her abilities.

You can find out more about Jessica on her website at YoungestRound.com. On the site she sets out her planned routes, has data on her yacht, and is keeping a blog of her preparations.

Good luck Jessica! We'll be following along. Keep the winds at your back!

Update: I was reminded by Crazy Rower #2, an always helpful commenter, that American Zac Sutherland, age 17, is also close to finishing up his solo circumnavigation of the globe. You can follow his progress here.

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Off To Oz!!

So, having been back from the Amazon a nearly unbearable six weeks (yeah! I know!) I simply have to head out on another adventure. I'm off to Australia this time, where I'll be exploring the Great Barrier Reef, hiking a rainforest (Yes, another one!), and taking in the local culture and activities in Queensland.

All kidding aside, I've been lucky enough to be asked to join a press tour heading Down Under for a week and a half, and I'm excited to visit another place I've never been. Internet access will be spotty for most of the trip, so I likely won't be updating much until after I return on June 5th. At that time, I'll resume regular postings and fill you in on more details on the trip as well.

Before I go, I want to thank V Australia for hooking me, and my fellow travelers, up with our airline tickets and Backpacking Queensland for showing us, what I'm sure will be, a great time while we're visiting. I'd also like to thank Julie over at Jam PR for hooking me up with some great gear to test out on the trip. When I get back, I'll be writing some reviews on new footwear from Keen as well as some other stuff from Outdoor Research. And finally, a big thanks to Cortney from REI for sending me a cool Traverse backpack to test out as well. I can already tell that it's going to fit my needs nicely, and I'll post some thoughts on it when I return as well.

Chat with you soon!

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Ten Unknown Treks

Backpacker.com has put together an excellent list of ten undiscovered treks, scouring the globe to find the best long distance hiking trails that have yet to come up on the radar for most backpackers.

The list has a little something for everyone, and offers great suggestions on five continents, including several in Europe, Australia, South America, Asia and Africa. Some of the great trails making the list include the Pyrenees Traverse in France, which offers great backcountry hiking all day with comfortable and quaint inns to stay in each night. Heading to Nepal you'll find the Rolwaling to Khumbu circuit, a 20-day hike that offers a fraction of the hikers in the Khumbu Valley, while still staying the shadow of Everest itself, and travel to Ethiopia to trek the Simien Mountains, which offer an 8 day, 86-mile route that blends culture, wildlife and amazing scenery in one.

The article says that you should get to these treks before everyone else does. They're still off the beaten path (pun fully intended!) for the vast majority and as such, you'll likely have the trail to yourself, at least for now. That'll probably change now that Backpacker has tipped us all off, but regardless, these each look like amazing treks.

My friend Colm, who I did Kilimanjaro with a few years back, did the Simien trek i Ethiopia last year, and had nothing but great things to say about the experience. From the sounds of things, it lives up to Backpacker's description and then some. While Kili has become all the rage, and the Atlas Mountains in Morocco continue to draw hikers, the Simians remain a bit of a mystery, still untamed and wild. Go quickly!

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Trekking The Simpson Desert

Belgian Adventurer Louis-Philippe Loncke has announced his next expedition, a solo, unsupported traverse of the Simpson Desert in Australia. The plan is to cover approximately 800 km (497 miles) over 35 days, traveling North to South, in what could well be the longest unsupported desert trek without water points for resupply ever.

To over come the challenges of this trek, Louis-Phillppe created a special cart to allow him to carry all of his supplies and water. Since there aren't any wells along his route, he'll need to lug more than 140 liters of water with him. He is approaching this expedition much the way an Arctic explorer would a trip to one of the Poles, but replacing the sledge with his cart.

The Simspn Desert is approximately 176,500 square-km in size and is found in central Australia. It's known for the longest parallel sand dunes in the World. There are more than 1100 dunes in the desert, the tallest of which is over 40 meters in height. Some of these dunes run over 200 km in length. Rainfall in the region is less than 400 millimeters a year.

You can read about Louis-Phillippe's preparations at his Simpson Desert Trek Blog and you can learn more about the Belgian Adventurer at his official site.

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Divers Left Alone At Sea For Nearly 20 Hours!

In what can best be described as a nightmare come true, British Diver Richard Neely, 38, and his American girlfriend Allyson Dalton, 40 were left behind by their diving group last week, and were forced to survive for more than 19 hours adrift at sea.

The couple was on vacation in Australia and were diving off the Great Barrier Reef. The dive was to last just one hour, but turned into an ordeal after they surfaced roughly 200 meters from their boat. The strong current was pulling them away, and they couldn't swim fast enough to reach their companions. Shouting for help had no effect, and soon the commercial diving boat left and three hours passed before anyone noticed that they were missing. An extensive search began shortly there after.

Neely and Dalton jettisoned their depleted oxygen tanks, and later their weight belts, to allow themselves to become more buoyant but as night set in, the water grew cooler. Neely remembered reading in a book that it was best to lash yourselves together in a situation like that, and in a move that may have saved their lives, the couple were able to share body warmth throughout the night.

The longer they were at sea, the more they began to think about the sharks that inhabited the area. The Great Barrier Reef is home to the largest shark population on the planet, and the two divers were afraid to even mention the word to one another. As the daw approached, there fear grew, as they knew that sharks were more likely to attack at dawn.

Fortunately the dawn also brought back warmth and light, allowing the search teams to continue their job. Eventually they were spotted by helicopter and pulled from the water, cold and wet, but only a little worse for wear.

If you've seen the movie Open Water you probably have a bit of an idea what these two were going through and how they might have been left behind. These large commercial diving boats often have a lot of people and a quick head count is performed before leaving the area. I guess in this case the head count was either not performed at all or it was a miscount, but either way, they're lucky to be alive. Something tells me that they may soon own that diving company. ;)

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