The Teluride Air Force - Hang Gliding Over Colorado

I came across this video last night. It was posted by one of my colleagues over at Gadling.com and features a serene hang gliding experience over Tellurate, Colorado. There is nothing like floating through the sky with snow-capped mountains in the background. At least, I'm guessing there is nothing like it, as you'd never catch me on one of these things. ;)

Beautiful video none the less. Enjoy!

Die Überfischung der Meere

Keeper of the Mountains: A Film About Elizabeth Hawley

Anyone who follows climbing in the Himalaya knows the name of Miss Elizabeth Hawley, the woman who keeps the definitive record of who climbed what mountain and who actually reached the summit. But not everyone knows Miss Hawley's story, which is why plans are in the works to create a documentary of her life.

A new film called Keeper of the Mountains is in the early stages of production and will chronicle Miss Hawley's journey around the world, eventually settling in Nepal, where she began her career chronicling the climbs of the big mountains there. That was 48 years ago, and she's been doing it ever since.

Back in mid-July, the filmmaker behind his project created a Kickstarter page to seek funding to complete the film. They reached their target goal, and are now ready to move ahead with producing the film. That page has more information about the project and Miss Hawley herself. You can also view the teaser trailer for it below.

Can't wait to see this one!

PIZZA VERDI

Director, Producer Gary Nadeau

Tackling The Tooth Traverse

I'm kicking things off this morning with another beautiful video from Renan Ozturk, who traveled to Alaska with friends Freddie Wilkinson and Zack Smith during a time of mourning and healing after the loss of friends Jonny Copp and Micah Dash, who died while climbing in China back in 2009. The trio took on what they call the "Tooth Traverse" in Ruth Gorge in what looks to be a pretty amazing project.

The video serves as a trailer for a bigger film project to come, which looks to be quite intriquing. Check it out below and then read Renan's thoughts on the subject on the North Face Never Stop Exploring Blog.


The Tooth Traverse from Camp 4 Collective on Vimeo.

Tackling The Tooth Traverse

I'm kicking things off this morning with another beautiful video from Renan Ozturk, who traveled to Alaska with friends Freddie Wilkinson and Zack Smith during a time of mourning and healing after the loss of friends Jonny Copp and Micah Dash, who died while climbing in China back in 2009. The trio took on what they call the "Tooth Traverse" in Ruth Gorge in what looks to be a pretty amazing project.

The video serves as a trailer for a bigger film project to come, which looks to be quite intriquing. Check it out below and then read Renan's thoughts on the subject on the North Face Never Stop Exploring Blog.


The Tooth Traverse from Camp 4 Collective on Vimeo.

Inside The Explorers Club

The Explorers Club is an organization dedicated to adventurers and explorers from around the globe. Today, the Huffington Post gives us an inside look at the club in both this article and the video posted below. The EC is usually closed to non-members –and membership is exclusive– so this may be your one and only chance to see what the place is like. I know I'm still waiting on my invite to visit!

Inside The Explorers Club

The Explorers Club is an organization dedicated to adventurers and explorers from around the globe. Today, the Huffington Post gives us an inside look at the club in both this article and the video posted below. The EC is usually closed to non-members –and membership is exclusive– so this may be your one and only chance to see what the place is like. I know I'm still waiting on my invite to visit!

A Morning with Paul Smith

THE GODDESS GUIDE

Near-Death BASE Jumping Experience

I would think that the last thing you'd want to do while BASE jumping is run into problems with your gear, aka the parachute that keeps you from plummeting to your death. Especially while riding something called "The Death Swing." But that's what happens in the video below, which I present as Exhibit A in the Case For Why I'll Never Go BASE Jumping.

Thanks to the Goat for sharing!



BASE Jump Chute Failure, Miracle Save! from Rock & Ice on Vimeo.

Near-Death BASE Jumping Experience

I would think that the last thing you'd want to do while BASE jumping is run into problems with your gear, aka the parachute that keeps you from plummeting to your death. Especially while riding something called "The Death Swing." But that's what happens in the video below, which I present as Exhibit A in the Case For Why I'll Never Go BASE Jumping.

Thanks to the Goat for sharing!



BASE Jump Chute Failure, Miracle Save! from Rock & Ice on Vimeo.

Christian Maurer wins Red Bull X-Alps 2011

While I've been mostly occupied with the Raid the North Extreme this week, another event was taking place in Europe that is definitely worth a mention as well. That's where the Red Bull X-Alps 2011 was taking place, which is a very unique race that is a demanding test of endurance, skill, and nerve as well.

For those who haven't heard of it before, and I'm one of them, the X-Alps is an event that pits endurance athletes on a non-stop race through the Alps, starting in Salzburg, Austria and ending in Monaco. Participants in the competition, and there were 31 of them, must travel either on foot or by paraglider. Yep, you read that right, foot or paraglider.  So, as a result, you have athletes running through the mountains, carrying their paragliding gear with them, while also scrambling to higher heights, so that they can launch themselves into the air and use their gliders to make progress.

The race got underway on Sunday, July 17th, and yesterday the first competitor crossed the finish line. That was Swiss athlete Christian Maurer who managed to glide the final 60km (37. miles) to the finish and land on a floating platform especially created for the event.

The rest of the competitors are expected to filter in between now and tomorrow, bringing a close to the race for 2011.

To find out more about the event, and see Maurer's winning ride, check out the video below.


Red Bull X-Alps: Day 12 from Planetmountain.com on Vimeo.

Christian Maurer wins Red Bull X-Alps 2011

While I've been mostly occupied with the Raid the North Extreme this week, another event was taking place in Europe that is definitely worth a mention as well. That's where the Red Bull X-Alps 2011 was taking place, which is a very unique race that is a demanding test of endurance, skill, and nerve as well.

For those who haven't heard of it before, and I'm one of them, the X-Alps is an event that pits endurance athletes on a non-stop race through the Alps, starting in Salzburg, Austria and ending in Monaco. Participants in the competition, and there were 31 of them, must travel either on foot or by paraglider. Yep, you read that right, foot or paraglider.  So, as a result, you have athletes running through the mountains, carrying their paragliding gear with them, while also scrambling to higher heights, so that they can launch themselves into the air and use their gliders to make progress.

The race got underway on Sunday, July 17th, and yesterday the first competitor crossed the finish line. That was Swiss athlete Christian Maurer who managed to glide the final 60km (37. miles) to the finish and land on a floating platform especially created for the event.

The rest of the competitors are expected to filter in between now and tomorrow, bringing a close to the race for 2011.

To find out more about the event, and see Maurer's winning ride, check out the video below.


Red Bull X-Alps: Day 12 from Planetmountain.com on Vimeo.

Currents TV Heads To The Hood River

The Hood River in Oregon is a world class destination for paddlers looking for all kinds of unique challenges. That's exactly what the folks at Currents TV discovered when they visited the area recently. They also found some good news in the form of a dam removal. The Condit Dam is scheduled to be demolished starting in October, which should help to ensure the health of the river in the future as well.

Enjoy the latest episode from the good folks at Canoe & Kayak and Five2Nine Productions.


Currents v2_2: Hood River, Oregon from Five2Nine Productions on Vimeo.

Currents TV Heads To The Hood River

The Hood River in Oregon is a world class destination for paddlers looking for all kinds of unique challenges. That's exactly what the folks at Currents TV discovered when they visited the area recently. They also found some good news in the form of a dam removal. The Condit Dam is scheduled to be demolished starting in October, which should help to ensure the health of the river in the future as well.

Enjoy the latest episode from the good folks at Canoe & Kayak and Five2Nine Productions.


Currents v2_2: Hood River, Oregon from Five2Nine Productions on Vimeo.

Australian Pro Cycling Team

This Speed-Riding Video Will Have You Holding Your Breath!

Speed-Riding is an interesting activity that combines both skiing and paragliding into one exhilarating experience. Usually, speed-riders start off by skiing down the side of a mountain and as they pick-up speed, they also start to catch big air. Eventually they'll leave the mountain behind altogether and go soaring through the air, before eventually returning to Earth, hopefully on their skis once again.

The video below, which comes our way via the Adventure Journal, does a good job of showing off the sport. Caught on helmet cam, the video starts out with a typical skier out for a downhill run. But eventually that skier runs out of snow, which is when things start to get a bit interesting. I couldn't help but hold my breath as I waited for him to gain some altitude, and I can't be the only one to watch this video and fear for the safety of those skis.



Speed Riding Chamonix 3 juillet 2011 GoPro HD 960

This Speed-Riding Video Will Have You Holding Your Breath!

Speed-Riding is an interesting activity that combines both skiing and paragliding into one exhilarating experience. Usually, speed-riders start off by skiing down the side of a mountain and as they pick-up speed, they also start to catch big air. Eventually they'll leave the mountain behind altogether and go soaring through the air, before eventually returning to Earth, hopefully on their skis once again.

The video below, which comes our way via the Adventure Journal, does a good job of showing off the sport. Caught on helmet cam, the video starts out with a typical skier out for a downhill run. But eventually that skier runs out of snow, which is when things start to get a bit interesting. I couldn't help but hold my breath as I waited for him to gain some altitude, and I can't be the only one to watch this video and fear for the safety of those skis.



Speed Riding Chamonix 3 juillet 2011 GoPro HD 960

LYTRO WITH COCO ROCHA

LYTRO - Behind The Scenes from Coco Rocha on Vimeo.

COCO ROCHA

Paragliding Mozambique

I caught this beautiful video this morning while catching up on the National Geographic Adventure Blog. It is a wonderfully serene scene from Mozambique, where adventurers Gavin McClurg and Jody MacDonald became the first people to paraglide above the deserts there.

The duo discovered this place while on their five year long Best Odyssey that has seen them sailing the world while looking for the absolute best places to kiteboard, surf, paraglide, and sail. Their journeys have taken them to the ends of the Earth, but they have found some amazing places to enjoy the activities they love.

What more can you ask for?



The Dune Discovery- paragliding where no one has before from Offshore Odysseys on Vimeo.