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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Want To Be On Discovery Channel's Out of the Wild Season 2?

Casting is about to begin on the second season of Discovery Channel's Emmy-award winning Out of the Wild, a show that dropped nine amateur adventurers into the Alaskan backcountry and followed them as they learned to survive in the harsh environments there. The second season of the show will follow a similar formula, but will send the new team of explorers off to South America instead.

Pilgrim Films, the company that produces the show, is now looking for people to join this new reality show expedition. To be eligible you must be at least 21 years of age, and be available for a series of interviews coming up in October. If you're selected to be a part of the team, you must also be available for approximately a month later in the year for filming the show as well. If you're interested in being a part of the show, send an e-mail to OTWCasting@gmail.com with your name, phone number, a recent photo, and a brief explanation of why you should be on the show. For more information on the casting process click here.

The interesting thing to me is that they are headed to South America this time, but they don't say where they are going. The possibilities are nearly endless with places like Patagonia springing to mind, as it would provide a similar environment to Alaska. But even more intriguing is the thought of them going to the Amazon Jungle or perhaps the Atacama Desert or some place else that would provide an extreme environment that is very different from the last season. Could be interesting. If any of you try out for the show, good luck!

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Erik Weihenmayer Climbs Alpamayo

Alpamayo is a 19,511 foot tall, snow capped peak in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range of the Peruvian Andes. It is a very prominent peak in the area, and is widely considered one of the most beautiful peaks in the world. It was for all of those reasons, and more, that Erik Weihenmayer and his climbing partner Eric Alexander, recently made the trip to Peru to attempt the mountain. 


Erik shared the details of the climb on his blog, which included some great photos of the trip and the video below. The trip involved a 2-day trek to BC, which is located at 14,500 feet, and establishing an intermediary camp at 16,000 feet before going to the summit. The two men had to work in rain and snow, and some technical portions of the climb, but eventually they stood on top. The story of their climb is a good one though, with lots of challenges to overcome along the way.


This climb marks the first blind ascent of the mountain. As many of you know, Erik is the first person to climb Everest without the use of his sight, and has since added the rest of the Seven Summits, including Carstenz Pyramid. He's also scaled El Cap in Yosemite and Mt. Kenya in Africa, amongst plenty of other peaks. 

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Trekking to the Lost City in Colombia

By now you would think I would know better than to surf on by the Best Hike blog. More than once editor Rick McCharles has added something new to my "life list" of must do treks, and today is no different.

A couple of days back Rick posted the video below that shows of an amazing multi-day trek that I hadn't heard of, but is now very much on my radar. The five day long, 50km hike, takes you through remote mountains and jungles in Colombia to visit the sacred city of Tayuna. The trek cannot be made independently, and service is offered by Sierra Tours. For more information, checkout Best Hike's page dedicated to the trek. 


Check out the amazing video below, and then lets start planning our trip!


The Lost City with Sierra Tours from GetUp&Go Films on Vimeo.

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More Sailing Updates: Two Expeditions Coming To An End

With all of this talk about these young girls making their solo circumnavigation attempts, it's sometimes easy to forget that there are some other great sea borne adventures that have been taking place, two of which are coming to an end today.

First up, Reid Stowe, who I've mentioned a few times in the past, is about to finish up his 1000 Days at Sea Expedition. He's actually been at sea for 1152 days, and will be pulling into New York harbor sometime today.

The goal of the expedition was to demonstrate the possibilities of making a journey to Mars, and when he began the voyage, he was hoping so simulate the conditions that astronauts could possibly face if they were on a prolonged journey. That was more than three years ago, and at long last, he'll set foot on land once again today, where he'll be greeted by hundreds of well wishers, including Soanya Ahmad, who began the journey with him, but was forced to leave after 305 days due to debilitating sea sickness. Turns out that she was also pregnant, and would later give birth to their son. Since that time, Reid has spent more than two years alone at sea.

I'll bet he'll be happy to be back on land tonight.

Meanwhile, jumping to the west coast, a few days back I posted an update on the Around the Americas Team, and how they were closing in on their final destination as well. Turns out, today will be the day for them to return home as well. The crew of the Ocean Watch should reach Seattle sometime this afternoon too, bringing an end to their 13-month circumnavigation of North and South America that saw them navigating their way through the Northwest Passage. This amazing journey has never been completed before, and while making the voyage, the crew took water samples and recorded all kinds of data to help us to better understand the impact of global climate change on the health of our seas.

I want to take the opportunity to with both Reid and the Ocean Watch crew home. Your two respective journeys have been tremendous to follow.

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Around The Americas Update: Nearly Home!

I haven't really mentioned much about the Around the Americas expedition since they made their way through the perilous waters off of Cape Horn. That was back in January, and since that time, they've had plenty of adventures, as they've sailed up the west coasts of both North and South America, making their way back to where they started, Seattle, Washington. Now, they're within a few days of completing their epic journey, and finishing a sailing adventure that had never been done before.

For those who aren't familiar with the expedition, the crew of the Ocean Watch set sail from Seattle last May with the idea of circumnavigating the continents of both North and South America. Until recent years, the journey wasn't even possible, but thanks to global climate change, the Northwest Passage has been navigable for the past few years. Upon beginning their voyage, the ship sailed north, to Alaska, and began what was perhaps the most treacherous portion of the trip through the ice waters of the Arctic Ocean. Once they cleared that section, they turned south, down the coast of North and South America, around the Horn, and then back North, where they are now, more than a year after starting, and closing in on their destination.

Of course, the journey wasn't just about the adventure itself. Along the way, the crew was joined by a variety of guests, and throughout the journey, a number of scientific experiments were made, and sample were taken, to record the impact of global climate change on the oceans and seas through which they passed. When they get back home, the crew of the Ocean Watch, will deliver some very important data that could offer some great insights into the health of our oceans.

I'll post an update again when they've reached Seattle. It's been a long journey, and you can read about their experiences in their blog, which they've been keeping since the beginning, and has lots of great information and stores to tell. Read it by clicking here.

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Introducing The National Geographic Global Action Atlas

Every once in awhile a very cool and innovative project comes along that makes you ask "why hasn't someone thought of this sooner?" Last week I was introduced to just such a project, and it is my privilege to share it with everyone now.

It's called the Global Action Atlas and it comes to us courtesy of National Geographic and is powered by Bing Maps. The site throws a spotlight on cause-related projects that are taking place on a local level around the globe, while delivering information on those projects to concerned citizens anywhere on the planet, enabling them to get involved with the projects that strike a chord with them. Connecting people to the right causes, no matter where they are, is one of the key elements of the Action Atlas.

Examples of some of the projects and action items that are currently featured on the site include a call for action against the Gulf Coast oil spill which is threatening fragile wetlands as well as a call for aid in regions of China that suffered damage during the recent earthquake there. But not everything is an urgent request for aid either. For instance, I came across a really interesting project that is hoping to create "America's Serengeti" That project is being organized by the American Prairie Foundation in an effort to develop a wildlife reserve more than a million acres in size.

At the heart of the Global Action Atlas is the Action Map, which gives you a quick look at projects from around the world. Even though the site is still listed as a beta, there are literally dozens of interesting projects that you can get involved in across North and South America, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and beyond. The map offers a number of zoom levels, allowing you to focus on a specific region as well as a number of checkboxes that offer you the option to filter out certain types of projects that may not be of interest to you. You can also search by keywords or location names, and bring up a map key that will assist you in deciphering what all the little icons on the map mean.

National Geographic's mission says that they hope "to inspire people to care about the planet", and that mission is enhanced by the Global Action Atlas by turning inspiration into action. The atlas looks to match inspired and motivated people with a project that speaks to them on some level, perhaps linking them to a cause they didn't even know existed. Through the use of the atlas, we may be motivated further to share information, donate to a cause, or even volunteer to take part in a more direct way. Looking through the amazing projects that are taking place across the globe, it's difficult to not want to get involved.

As noted, the Action Atlas is still in beta form, which means it is still being tested, and the bugs are being worked out. With that in mind, the site is also looking for feedback and they have set up a quick survey allowing us to weigh in. While the atlas is an amazing tool already, we can all help to make it even better, by offering our thoughts. I'd encourage you to do just that, then logon and get inspired for yourself.

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Tour d'Afrique 2010: Five Countries Down, Five To Go!

The 2010 edition of the Tour d'Afrique is now more than halfway done, with riders leaving Tanzania behind, and entering Malawi for the first time. The epic cycling event is the longest in the world, and extends the entire length of Africa, running North to South.

Malawi is the sixth of ten countries for the cyclists, who have already rolled through Egypt, the Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania. Each of those nations offered their own set of highlights and challenges, such as long, difficult climbs in Ethiopia and plenty of heat, humidity, and mud in Tanzania. The paved and sunflower lined road, in Malawi will come as a much welcome respite for the tired legs of the adventurous travelers who are making this journey. Ahead of the riders lies Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, and finally South Africa.

Highlights of the trip thus far have been many, as the cyclists set out from the shadow of the Great Pyramids and have peddled past some of the most diverse and amazing wildlife on the planet. They've crossed deserts and expansive plains, ridden past the the famed Simian Mountains, and through the foothills of Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain on the continent.

Now in its eight year, the Tour d'Afrique has become the adventure cycling tour for anyone who longs to see the world from the back of their bike. The Tour runs 120 days in length, 96 of which are spent cycling, and covers more than 12,000 kilometers (7450 miles) in the process. This year, the riders hale from 14 different countries, with some coming to ride for the adventure itself, while others are competing in an incredibly long and demanding race. No matter what your reasons for riding are, this has got to be the most rewarding cycling trip anywhere.

You can follow along for the rest of the tour at TourdAfrique.com where they are posting regular updates, blog posts, and photos.

On a personal note, this is one of those events that is at the top of my personal bucket list. It seems like it would be an amazing way to see Africa and a perfect adventure. Of course, the team that puts this on has a number of other great rides as well, such as their Silk Route adventure and the Vuelta Sudamericana, which is another epic ride lasting 80 days through South America.

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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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World Run II: A New Definition Of Endurance Runs!

Occasionally I get great articles, reports, and links sent my way from readers who are aware of some great adventures that I haven't come across before. At any given time, there are always some amazing things going on, and it's difficult to keep track of them all, although I do my best. :) One such reader is Darrell Raubenheimer, who drops me a note from time to time about one amazing endurance event or another that is taking place in and around South Africa, which he calls home. Earlier today, I received just such a note telling me about endurance athlete Jesper Olsen and his World Run II.

Back in 2005, Jesper completed the first ever fully documented run around the world. Dubbed the World Run, the event saw him begin and end in London, crossing Europe, and Asia, before ending up in Tokyo, Japan From there, the Danish runner hopped a flight to Sydney, ran across Australia to Perth, then grabbed another flight to Los Angeles, where he proceed to run north to Vancouver, then across Canada and the U.S., before taking a flight back to the U.K., returning to where he started. When he was done, Jesper had run more than 16,000 miles.

But like any good adventurer, the ultrarunner couldn't stay home for long, and thus the plan was hatched for World Run II, which like all good sequels, is bigger, and more impressive than the first. This time, Jesper is running a course that is roughly 25,000 miles in length and going from north-to-south, and back again. In the process, he'll cross four continents, numerous countries, and through nearly every time of environment imaginable.

The run got underway from Nordkapp, Norway, the northernmost point in Europe, and will continue south to Cape Town in South Africa. From there, Jesper will hop a flight to Punta Arenas, Chile, in South America, and turn is way north, heading up through that continent, and into North America, through Mexico, the U.S., and into Canada, eventually ending at Mt. Pearl, a small town in Newfoundland.

Jesper's latest blog report, which can be found on the World Run II website, indicates that he is now closing in on Cape Town, which is a major milestone for his expedition. As of two days ago, he had completed nearly 12,800 miles, so he's roughly halfway done. As of that posting, he was still about 500 miles away from Cape Town, but mentioned that he was looking forward to a break, some time to heal, and recover, before moving on to South America. Considering he's just about finished up a complete run across the African continent, north to south, I'd say he's earned some rest.

Personally, I'm in awe of this undertaking. I've taken the last two days off from running to try to heal a bit of a nagging injury, and now I feel just completely lazy after reading about some of the things that Jesper has been dealing with along the way. I may have missed the first half of this very cool adventure, but you can bet I'll be following along with the second half. Thanks for the tip Darrell, it is highly appreciated as always! :)

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Cycling The Americas Update: Mark Is Done!!

It has been a long, challenging, and adventurous journey for cyclist Mark Beaumont, but he has, at last, reached the "End of the World", Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Mark set off from Alaska last spring, 268 days ago in fact, and has ridden his trusty bicycle all the way to the tip of South America. In the process, he rode 13,080 miles and crossed through 12 countires. Oh yeah, and along the way, he managed to summit the 20,320 foot Denali and the 22,841 foot Aconcagua, the tallest mountains in North and South America respectively.

The news of his arrival has just been posted on his blog where Mark says:

I'm ecstatic to be here, it has been my dream and focus for so long - but also a small part of me is sad that the simple but tough life of bike and camera has come to an end, again, at least for now!

I'm sure this isn't the last we've heard of Mark. He'll enjoy a bit of down time now, work on his BBC documentary of the ride, rest up, and plot his next adventure. Lets not forget, this is a guy who once rode around the world in just 194 days. I doubt he'll stay home for long!

Congrats on a job well done Mark. It has been a joy to follow along on your journey. You showed a real enthusiasm for travel and the cultures you were experiencing at every step. I'm going to miss your updates, but I look forward to your next adventure.

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Chad Kellogg Completes New Route On Aconcagua

American climber Chad Kellogg has completed a new route on Aconcagua, going up solo and in alpine style, up the South Face. According to this story, courtesy of ExWeb, the new route took 42 hours to complete, covering more than 2000 meters (6561 feet) of new terrain in the process.

According to ExWeb Chad went to Argentina, along with a good friend, back in December with an eye on climbing Aconcagua, which is the tallest peak in South America at 22,841 feet. The pair acclimatized on the normal route along the Northwest Ridge, taking a week to complete that climb, but in the process, Chad's friend picked up a lung infection that sent him off the mountain.

Not content with just reaching the summit along the usual route, Chat was looking for something more challenging and interesting. Before making their summit bid, he and his friend did a recon of the South Face, where he spotted a potential new route that he felt he could do. On Dec. 22nd, he received word of a three-day weather window, and he set off to take advantage of it. ExWeb reports that he carried just a down jacket, synthetic insulated pants, a pair of mittens and gear including a 30m rope, 4 screws, 4 pins, and 4 cams. 20 bars, a 300-calorie freeze dried meal, and a stove with one canister.

Kellogg says that he initially thought he could complete the route in just 24 hours time, provided conditions were right higher on the mountain. Obviously it ended up taking longer than that, as he had to deal with a number of issues, including very technical sections, avalanches, and the usual issues that come with route finding along a new line. In the end, he stood on top, but not before dealing with quite a few challenges including running out of all of his supplies. ExWeb's story comes mostly from Chad himself, and it is a great read all around.

The Aconcagua climb was meant to be a warm-up for Everest, where Chad will be going this Spring. From the sounds of thins, he's more than ready.

Note: To all the Chad Kellogg bashers out there, I don't want to hear any comments or e-mails regarding his claims at speed records. The story has been beat to death, and I don't want any part of it. Any comments will be deleted. Please move along to a different blog/forum.

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Aconcagua Speed Run Retreats, Tries Again

I've mentioned Diane Van Deren's speed run attempt on Aconcagua a couple of times already, and there was an update on their progress over the weekend. According to the Never Stop Exploring Blog, the team retreated back to base camp following four consecutive nights stuck at 18,000 feet amidst high winds and -20º temperatures. Reportedly, the winds were holding steady at 50-60 miles per hour. Fortunately, not all has been lost however, as the weather forecasts for the next few days indicate that the winds will drop off, and although temperatures are set to remain cool, they'll be moving back up the mountain today to make another summit bid.

Diane, along with mountain guide Willie Benegas, both climbed up to 20,000 feet as part of their training and acclimatization process. And they both seem strong and ready to go for the 22,841 foot summit. Once they've completed that, they'll descend back to BC once again, then hike an additional 20 miles down the trail, where they'll begin their endurance run to the top of the mountain once again. Van Deren, who is an accomplished endurance athlete, is being monitored for a study by the Mayo Clinic that is examining the effects of altitude on climbers, with updates being posted to their blog as well.

Last week when I posted on this a couple of readers left comments, rightly pointing out that they weren't sure what the Mayo Clinic was hoping to accomplish from this study, considering the sample size is just one person. In those discussions we decided that this wasn't so much a study of the effects of altitude on climbers, but instead the effects on Diane Van Deren. What they hope to learn from following just her is a bit vague, and since she's already a freak of nature when it comes to endurance events, their findings are likely to not have much of a reflection on the rest of us. I guess we'll wait and see.

If the current weather window holds, as planned, we should hear more about the summit bid within the next few days.

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Aconcagua Speed Run Expedition Begins

A few weeks back I posted a story about North Face athlete Diane Van Deren as she was preparing to head off to South America to take on Argentina's Aconcagua, the highest mountain on the continent. But unlike most climbers making a bid on the mountain, Diane's goal was to complete the initial climb as a warm-up, then make a speed attempt on the mountain, running to the summit for a second time.

The latest update on the expedition, posted to the Never Stop Exploring Blog, indicates that as of two days ago, the team was finished with their acclimatization process and would begin their actual assault on the summit yesterday, with an eye on reaching the top on Friday, provided the weather holds. They don't expect to make any more dispatches until after they've returned to BC, which could be late on Friday night or Saturday morning.

After that, the second phase of the expedition will get underway, in which Diane, along with guide Willie Benegas, will move 20 miles down the road from base camp, and begin a long run back to BC, and all the way back up the mountain. They expect the journey to take roughly 95 hours to complete, and they're doing it as part of a medical study, conducted by the Mayo Clinic, on how altitude effects performance. The Clinic is also posting updates on the expedition on their blog as well.

Most people would come off of Aconcagua, which stands 22,841 feet in height, and be exhausted. These ultra-fit athletes are using it as a warm-up for a bigger test. Crazy.

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Great Kayaking Video From Chile

Check out this excellent kayaking video shot in Chile, where paddlers Stephen Forster and Jake Greenbaum look like they were having amazing time on some amazing water, including everything from Class IV/V to waterfalls with drops ranging from "not too bad" to "Oh my god!".

Thanks to Dave Hoffman from The River Lifestyle for the tip. I picked it up from Dave's Twitter feed, which can be found here.

IR Update in Chile from stephen forster on Vimeo.

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Walking The Amazon Update: Ed and Cho into Manaus

It's been far too long since we checked in on the Walking the Amazon expedition. You may recall, this is the unbelievably ambitious project in which British adventurer Ed Stafford, along with his companion Cho Sanchez Rivera, are attempting to walk the entire length of the Amazon River, something that has never been accomplished before. When they've finished this herculean task, they'll have covered more than 4000 miles through thick, oppressive jungle, often referred to as The Green Hell.

Ed and Cho have recently reached the Brazilian city of Manaus, which is the largest city along the Amazon. With more than 1.8 million people, this is a town where they can rest, recuperate, and resupply before returning to the wild. Considering the long days and weeks the pair have spent slogging through the rainforest, it had to have been quite a shock to see an actual large, thriving metropolis for the first time in months. Most of the other settlements they've come across while trekking have been mostly very small villages, although there are occasionally towns of decent size along the river.

According to their most recent blog post, Manaus was indeed a bit overwhelming. Ed writes:

Cho and I wanted a place to recover and rest before our last push to the Atlantic - but Manaus isn’t that place for us. The prices are over double that outside the city limits and the industrial sprawl (now electronics assembly) is dirty and hectic.

Because of this, he and Cho have hopped a bus to another near by town, which is smaller and much slower paced. They'll spend some time there repairing their rubber boats, used to ford streams and rivers, while they regain their strength and prepare to make the final push towards the Atlantic Ocean, which is roughly 900 miles away yet.

At this point, Ed has spent 667 days on this journey, having begun on April 2nd, 2008. I know that the original plan was to end sometime early this year, but the boys have been running a bit behind schedule, and the journey ahead of them will not be an easy one. I suspect they'll be out on the trail for awhile yet.

As I've said before, this expedition continually boggles my mind. It's such a massive undertaking, it's hard to not be impressed with the sense of exploration and adventure. I hope the last long leg of the journey goes well for both Ed and Cho.

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Climbing In Patagonia Caught On Helmet Cam

While we're on the subject of cool videos, check out the one below that shows climber Colin Haley making an impressive climb in Patagonia. Colin was wearing a helmet cam on his ascent of Aguja Guillaument, one of the peaks he's using as a warm-up to some bigger walls once the weather improves. He's planning on being in Patagonia for three months, and has already taken on some of the peaks in the Fitzroy Group, with even more ambitious climbs on the schedule.

Thanks to the Goat for this one!

BD athlete Colin Haley wears a helmet camera during a solo ascent of Aguja Guillaumet in Patagonia from Black Diamond Equipment on Vimeo.

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Solo Sailing Update: Jessica Survives The Horn, Storms

Last week I noted that the Around The Americas crew was clearing Cape Horn on their attempt to circumnavigate North and South America, but it turns out they weren't alone in sailing those treacherous waters. Jessica Watson, who is in the midst of her attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world, has also recently cleared the Horn, and is currently facing storm waters off the Falklands.

The 16-year old Australian girl cleared the cape back on January 14th, and then proceeded on to the Falkland Islands as she heads out onto the open waters of the Atlantic. In her recent posts to her blog, she noted that winds have been light, but steady, for the most part, and she has been happy with her progress since rounding the southern most tip of South America, which required four very long days without much sleep.

Things got even more interesting over the weekend when a storm moved into the area, tossing Jessica and her ship, the Ella's Pink Lady, around like a model. In fact, in her blog post from yesterday, the teenager says that her ship has experienced four "knockdowns", which essentially means the winds and waves have knocked the boat on to it's side, including one that she describes as "the mast being pushed 180 degrees in to the water." Scary stuff!

The winds were so bad at one point that Jessica recorded them at 65 knots (roughly 75 mph!) That was before losing her wind instruments in one of the knockdowns. As a result of these conditions, Jessica battened down the hatches and stayed below decks, allowing her electric autopilot to keep her on course, downwind from the storm.

The post is quite the harrowing read and a bit of an insight into what it is like out there on the open waters. This girl has even more respect form me than she did before, as I'm sure I'd be limping into the nearest port, and booking the next plane ticket home. Jessica seems nonplussed by the activities though, and will continue on as planned.

In related new, Adventure World Magazine is reporting that Abby Sunderland has set sail on her attempt to sail solo around the world as well. Abby, who is also just 16 years old, set out on Saturday. You can read her thoughts and updates on her blog as well. Good lucky Abby!

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Around The Americas Update: Heading For The Horn!

The Around the Americas Expedition has been continuing these past few months, mostly crossing through smooth, calm waters as they made their way down the Eastern Coast of the United States, across the Caribbean, and continuing down along the coast of South America as well. But things are about to get more interesting for the crew of the Ocean Watch, who have made their way to the Falkland Islands, and will soon be braving the tempestuous weather of Cape Horn, and the Beagle Passage.

You may recall that this is the sailing expedition that is attempting to become the first to make a complete circumnavigation of North and South America. The ship set sail from Seattle last May, and promptly turned north. During the summer months, the ship made its way through the Northwest passage, then broke into the Atlantic Ocean, where it has been sailing ever since.

But soon, the Ocean Watch and her crew will be returning to the Pacific, but first they'll face some of the most dreaded waters that any sailor has ever have to face. The region is marked by high winds, strong ocean currents, and powerful waves. Throw in some of the craziest storms on the planet, and the possibilities for icebergs, and you begin to see the challenges of sailing around the Horn.

Once the ship clears the area however, they'll begin their long voyage back north. They hope to return to Seattle later this year, most likely in the summer. Upon their return, they'll begin analyzing the data that they've collected over the course of the journey, in which they've been exploring the health of the oceans, and taking a number of readings about conditions along the coasts of the two continents.

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Cycling The Americas Update: Mark Summits Aconcagua!

Long distance cycler Mark Beaumont completed another milestone in his ride from Alaska to the southernmost tip of South America this weekend when he reached the summit of Aconcagua. The mountain, which is the tallest in South America at 22,841 feet, is his second successful summit since beginning the journey last year. He also topped out on Denali, the highest peak in North America at 20,320 feet, last June.

Mark set aside his bike about two weeks ago, when he joined the climbing team in Argentina. At the time, he mentioned how he needed to get his legs use to trekking a mountain again, as they has spent many consecutive weeks on a bike. It seems he found his legs though, as he and the rest of his climbing group, reached the summit on Friday afternoon. While the Scottish cyclist hasn't posted anything about the climb on his blog yet, there are some photos from summit day that you can check out now.

After a bit of a rest, Mark will now return to his bike and resume his journey southward. If he stays on schedule, he's expected to finish up the ride in February, and the BBC has been filming the expedition for an upcoming documentary as well. Congrats to Mark on the successful climb of Aconcagua. Enjoy the rest of the ride and stay safe.

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