Event Reminder: Boulderdash Holding ABS Sanctioned Competition Dec. 13th

The guys over at the Boulderdash indoor climbing center have sent out a reminder that they are hosting an ABS sanctioned ( American Bouldering Series) climbing event this Saturday.  Up for grabs will be $100.00 for the youth division and $300 in the adult division.  Registration will start at 9am sharp on Saturday morning, but you can always Pre-register over the phone.  Cost is $30 for members, $35 for non-members.

Boulderdash also asks that all youth taking part to please have a waiver signed by your parents before coming down to the program.  No Exceptions.  A better idea still?  Bring your parents with you and save the hassle.  Plus, they might like to see what you are doing on those ‘after school’ afternoons.  This competition is open to the public.

If you live in or around Thousand Oaks, California, be sure to stop in and checkout one of the Premier Indoor Climbing centers in the Nation.  You can get more information by following this link>>>

International Festival Of Mountaineering Literature Looking For Submissions

The 21st International Festival of Mountaineering Literature is to be held at the Shakespeare Centre in Kendal on the 21st of November 2008. The festival will draw big names in the climbing world - Steph Davies, Andy Cave, Andy Kirkpatrick and others will all be there, discussing the festival theme of ‘Partners - Who Needs Them?’.

UKClimbing.com are pleased to host the annual writing competition in conjunction with the festival. Entries must be on the festival theme of ‘Partners - Who Needs Them?’ and must be under 1500 words. UKC will be judging the entries and will publish the top three.

The winning entry will be announced at the festival and will be read by writer and photographer Ian Smith. The prize is £150 and will be presented at the festival by last year’s winner Jack Geldard.

Entries must not have been previously published. Deadline is 31st October 2008. Entries should be sent to UKClimbing.com via the Submit Article Function. Please include a name, address, phone number and email address with your entry and mark the title ‘Writing Comp’.

Click here to read last year’s winning entry Under The Black Cliff by Jack Geldard

For more info on the Festival: www.festivalofmountaineeringliterature.co.uk/

source:  UKClimbing.com

A New Epic Begins: Racing to the South Pole in 2008

 

Building upon the historical context of the great Amundsen-Scott Race to the South Pole in 1911, Adventure Racing fans the world over will be given the opportunity to take a crack at becoming the first person to reach the geographic South Pole in 2008.  This historic race will be the first of it’s kind in almost 100 years.  Here is more from the race site:

“After almost two weeks of intensive Polar Training in Antarctica, teams of 3 will set off to race from the edge of the Antarctica continent, to race over 370 nautical miles across the largest ice cap in the world to the Geographic South Pole.

The racers will face constant challenges throughout their journey: surving in temperatures as low as -50C, navigating and skiing while pulling a 70Kg. pulk (sled), climbing up to 9300 ft. to the South Pole and through everything, working together as a team.

The South Pole Race promises to be an awe-inspiring event. All competitors will receive extensive and first rate logistical, safety, media and administrational support provided by South Pole Race.

South Pole Race is more than just a race. It is the journey of a lifetime. This is an opportunity to live your dreams and push beyond the limits of your imagination ”

This race will take part in three legs.  The faster competitors should be able to finish the race in 30 days, with the slower teams coming in around 45 days.

This definately sounds like a cool race–it does make you wonder though if the South Pole just might become the next Mt. Everest Base Camp with hundreds of people showing up each year to take part.

One of the better aspects of this race though is the addition of a training period in the polar arctic weather, as well as logistics being provided by the race itself.  All of these things will be included in your entry fee.  Also included will be all equipment.  The teams will all be outfitted with the same materials, keeping all competitors from gaining an advantage on the field.

At least one impressive team has already signed up to be taking part.  James Cracknell and Ben Fogler–the team that has just finished rowing across the Atlantic Ocean–they are still searching for that perfect third member though, as all teams must have 3 members, as well as one of those members having previous Polar experience.  This team will be filming their experience for a 5 part television series and will also be posting daily reports on the web.

This race promises to be yet another highlight in the coming years, rivaling some of the greatest Expeditions.  Currently a tentative schedule for the South Pole Race 2008, is as follows:

-July 22nd 2007: Training Event 1, Team Building More Information
- January 2008: Training Event 2, Week of Polar Travel training in Finse, Norway
- September 2008: Training Event 3 (weekend or day event)
- November 2008: Depart for Antartica and begin Pre-Race Antartic Training
- January 2009: Return from Antartica after Race Finish

November to January 2008 Promises to be an exciting time as this race officially begins.  I will definately be marking this in my calander for the coming year and be bringing you more information as it developes throughout the rest of 2007 and 2008..going right in to 2009.  If you would like more information about this historic event or would even be interested in making a bid to join this race, it is highly recommended that you swing by the South Pole Race 2008 Website, for more information.

Information in this article was obtained through PlanetFear as well as TheSouthpoleRace.com.

Backcountry Survival: Do you know what to do?

Many of us often get side-tracked with our exploring.  That trail ahead just looks mighty boring compared to the rugged rocky peak that lingers right off the path…Come on now, we have all done that.

Would you know what to do if you actually lost your way though?  The Outside Blog is currently running a few pointers over the course of three days, if you would indeed find yourself in this situation.

The first tip they have offered if you are lost is to stop.  Give yourself time to relax.  It seems that getting lost makes us lose our sense of what is going on around us.  It also makes our heartrate go haywire.  In order to get our minds back to where they need to be–which is thinking rationally, they suggest stopping for a half hour or so, drinking some water, and then think about what is going on.  This will give your body the chance to calm down, as well as relax the mind a bit. 

I think that is a good idea.  Any of us who have been caught in this position can relate..we want to find the quickest way out possible, yet, almost always, we just get more frustrated and even more lost. 

Their second segment  talks about a few of the biggest killers known to the Outdoor Adventurer…that is right, Bees, Wasps, Spiders, and Ants.  For some reason we all here about the killer bears, but never the Bees, Wasps, Spiders, and Ants that tragically kill more people in a year than has ever been killed by bears in the wild.

Actually I did learn something with this information that I did not know.  Did you know that a Bee sting actually carries Pheromones that attracts other bees?  This is where the trouble begins.  One Bee hits you then before you know it, your swatting at a slowly gathering swarm.  The safest thing to do for Bees and Wasps is to either get inside, get covered, or Go underwater.

Also, it is noted that a Bee or Wasp sting can bring up a highly alergic reaction which could cause Anaphylactic Shock.  If you are aware of any allergic reaction to this type of sting, it is recommended that you carry an Epi Pen (which is available by perscription only) with you anytime you are out and about.

As far as Spiders go, they only attack when they feel threatened.  There are close to 50 different Spiders that are known to bite people in the US–with the feared Brown Recluse being the most dangerous.

The Brown Recluse Spider can deliver a devastating bite that will actually start dissolving your tissue and can lead to death in severe cases. 

The best advice they give for a spider bite of any kind is to get away and seek medical attention as soon as possible. 

In order to tell if it is actually a Brown Recluse or not, you will have to look at the spider’s back.  There is a tell-all sign–the weird marking that actually looks like a violin found on it’s back–even if that little sign is there, don’t fret to much if you discover the bite right away.  In most cases you will not die and it can be treated.

Here is a real life example:  I work with a lady who was working on her farm.  She tripped going into their grain silo and landed on a whole nest of Brown Recluses.  She got bit close to 200 times.  She did not die, but she does have some nerve damage from this unfortunate event.  Needless to say, the best advice is to seek medical attention for any kindof spider bite.  For the most part, you will not even know what got you, as spiders tend to hide pretty well.

As The Outside Blog posts more to this ongoing series, I will update you.  There is definately some good information, and who knows, perhaps one of these tips could just save your Life.

Conrad Anker and Apa Sherpa Joining Forces?

Conrad Anker, the man who became world famous for discovering George Mallory’s body on Mt. Everest, will be teaming up with his wife and Apa Sherpa to host a special “An Everest Evening.”  This event, scheduled for August 9th will take place in Snowbird, Utah.

Apa Sherpa, who holds the record for climbing Mt. Everest the most times, 17, will be discussing his recent success with the SuperSherpas Expedition this year.  Conrad Anker will also be talking about his own success on Everest this year as a part of his reenactment of the 1924 Everest Expedition of George Mallory and Andrew Irvine.

The two have decided to come together to support The Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation (ALCF).  The ALCF is holding the fundraiser to bring attention to the high-altitude workers of Nepal as well as raising money for the Khumbu Climbing School.

Presentations and slide shows of both previously mentioned expeditions will be taking place, as well as a few more surpise speakers.  The ALCF will also be holding a charitable silent auction.  Up for bids will be a donated Grivel wood ice ax signed by all Everest summiters in attendence.

This event will take place at the Cliff Lodge in Snowbird, Utah on August 9th, with things kicking off around 6:30 pm.  Tickets for this event will be $50 a piece.  For information, reservations, or tickets, you may call (800) 933-2147.

This looks to be a great event with alot of big names in Everest history taking part–and besides that, it is for a great cause.  If you are going to be in the Utah area the week of the 9th, why not take a sidetrip to Snowbird?