Adventure in 60 Seconds: Obama, DOI Propose $50 Million to Get Kids Outdoors

Text by Tetsuhiko Endo

President Barak Obama and the Department of the Interior have proposed $50 million in new investments that would help children and families become more connected with outdoor activities. The initiative, dubbed the 21st Century Youth Conservation Corps, is included in the DOI’s 2010 budget proposal, with $30 million going to educating young hunters and anglers and $20 million destined to fund Youth Careers in Nature.

“This kind of interest in youth and the outdoors is fairly unprecedented,” said Patrick Fitzgerald, Senior Legislative Representative of the National Wildlife Federation. Fitzgerald also credits Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar’s upbringing in Colorado and his special interest in conservation as part of the impetus for the initiative. The main goal of the monetary infusion is to get a generation who spends half as much time outdoors as their parents interested in nature. According to information released by the DOI, they will do this by building on existing youth programs in the BLM, USGS, FWS, and NPS.

Money for the hunting and angling programs will be specifically targeted at rapidly growing, under-represented groups like Native American Tribes, who could receive $2.8 million. On the educational end of things, the initiative hopes to renew interest in outdoor service careers with a three pronged approach that includes engaging youth in public service, enhancing school science programs, and improving the curricula of national environmental education programs.

The program is ambitious and one hopes that it will survive the appropriations process in Congress without losing too much of its punch. After all, the stakes couldn’t be higher. As the report says: “the future success of resource conservation efforts and effective stewardship of public lands and resources is reliant on an engaged public that values nature.”

The ADVENTURE TOP 10: Summits in North America

Text by Steve Rollins, edited by Andrea Minarcek. See more Top 10 lists.

If you’ve been following coverage of this year’s Everest season—now in full swing—it’s probably put you in the mood to climb a challenging, brag-worthy peak of your own. Not everyone, we know, has the ability—or the time, or the cash—to bag the big guy, but thankfully there are plenty of worthy ascents in our own backyard.

We enlisted the help of climber Steve Rollins, of Portland Mountain Rescue, to put together a roster of the Top 10 Summits in North America. “I used my mountaineering experience to pick peaks and routes that I myself find challenging,” Rollins says. “So frankly, most of these climbs probably should be done with the help of a professional guide if you’re not very experienced.” With that in mind, then, here are our picks for the Top 10 Everests for the Everyman.

10. Mt. St. Helens, Monitor Ridge

Everest schmeverest. Try climbing an active volcano! Mount St. Helens—which last (catastrophically) erupted in 1980—is an excellent starter climb without significant rock or ice fall danger. Basic ice ax and crampon skills are appropriate for the snow sections, though during the summer you may be able to hike to the summit on bare ground. (“In the summer,” Rollins says, “it is one step up, three-quarters of a step down—very similar to climbing a sand dune.”) Upon reaching the summit rim, you’ll be treated to spectacular views down into crater and out into the blast zone.

Location: Washington
Altitude: 8,365 feet 
Elevation Gain: 4,600 feet
Required Time: 1 day
Difficulty: Walk up
Required Skills: Ice ax/self arrest, crampon technique, avalanche and navigation skills.

9. Mount Washington, South Gully, Huntington Ravine Route 

Home to some of the most extreme weather on the planet (231 miles-per-hour winds, anyone?) Mount Washington is the tallest peak in the Presidential Range. An ascent of the South Gulley requires ice ax, crampon, ice climbing, and rope/ protection skills. Most of the climb is on steep snow, though the gulley offers a short ice bulge crux. This route is definitely a step above the hiking routes to the summit, requiring genuine mountaineering skills.

Location: New Hampshire
Altitude: 6,288 feet
Elevation Gain: 4,300 feet (from trailhead to summit)
Time Required: 1-2 days
Difficulty: WI1+
Required Skills: Ice ax/self arrest, crampon technique, ice steep snow and ice climbing, roped climbing/ placing protection, avalanche and navigation skills.

8. Mt. Shasta, Hotlum-Bolam Ridge 

A fine line on an beautiful 14,000-footer, this is the second highest peak in Northern Cali’s Cascade Range.

Location: California
Altitude: 14,162 feet
Elevation Gain: 7,200 feet
Time Required: 1-2 days
Difficulty: Class 4
Required Skills: Ice ax/self arrest, crampon technique, avalanche and navigation skills. In late season roped climbing/placing protection may be required if the route is icy.

7. Dallas Peak, East Ridge Route 

Reported to be one of the most difficult 13,000-foot peaks in Colorado to climb. Mixed scrambling and easy technical climbing are required to make the summit, as well as two rappels involved with the descent.

Location: Colorado
Altitude: 13,809 feet
Elevation Gain: 4,500 feet
Time Required: 1 day
Difficulty: 5.3 (YDS)
Required Skills: Navigation, technical rock climbing

6. Mt. Rainier, Ingraham Glacier Direct Route 

 “Some Everest veterans have said the Ingraham Direct route on Rainier reminds them of the Khumbu Ice Fall on Everest, though not as long or with the extremely high altitude challenge,” Rollins says. Expect views of stunning seracs and numerous crevass-crossings. The guide services even construct ladders across some crevasses similar (but much smaller) than the ones you’d find on Everest.

Location: Washington
Altitude: 14,411 feet
Elevation Gain: 9,000 feet
Time Required: 2 days
Difficulty: Grade 2
Required Skills: Ice ax/self arrest, crampon technique, glacier travel, crevasse rescue, snow camping, avalanche and navigation skills.

5. Grand Teton, Owen Spalding (Original Route)

A classic American alpine climb. People travel from around the world to climb this mountain.

Location: Wyoming
Altitude: 13,770 feet
Elevation Gain: 7,000 feet
Time Required: 1-2 days
Difficulty: 5.4 (YDS), Grade III
Required Skills: Ice ax/self arrest, crampon technique, moderate technical rock climbing including placing anchors and rappelling, navigation.

4. Forbidden Peak, West Ridge 

The name is an irresistible challenge; who wouldn’t want to claim a Forbidden Peak? This excellent (and popular) climb offers a 1,500 vertical foot ridge of easy to moderate technical rock climbing.

Location: Washington
Altitude: 8,815 feet
Elevation Gain: 5,600 feet
Time Required: 1-2 days
Difficulty: Grade III / 5.4-5.6 (YDS)
Required Skills: ice axe/ self arrest, crampon technique, glacier travel, technical rock climbing, avalanche and navigation skills

3. Athabasca, North Face

One of the better known mountains in Canada, climbing Mount Athabasca’s North face involves several roped pitches of 45-50 ice and a crux rock climb near the top for good meaure. “This is not the easiest route up,” Rollins says, but “it would certainly be an entertaining and rewarding adventure.”

Location: Alberta, Canada
Altitude: 11,453 feet
Elevation Gain: 4,942 feet
Time Required: 1 day
Difficulty: AI3 M4/5, Grade III, 5.5 (YDS)
Required Skills: Navigation and avalanche skills, glacier travel, technical rock and alpine ice climbing skills

2. Mount Robson, Kain Face

This is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies and perhaps the best known. All routes to the summit are technical, and even the standard routes present objective hazards.

Location: British Columbia, Canada
Altitude: 12,972 feet
Elevation Gain: 10,000+
Time Required: +-4 days
Difficulty: Grade IV, some low 5th class climbing
Required Skills: Ice axe/ self arrest, crampon technique, ice climbing, avalanche and navigation skills, alpine camping.

1. Denali West, Buttress Route

Many Everest vets claim Denali is more difficult than Everest itself, due to the Alaskan peak’s severe weather and minimal support available. It’s certainly a noteworthy achievement: You’ll reach the highest point in the Northern Hemisphere—and get a leg into the “7 Summits” club.

Location: Alaska
Altitude: 20,320 feet 
Elevation Gain: 13,120 feet
Time Required: 15+ days (according to normal ascent schedules and depending on weather)
Difficulty: Grade II
Required Skills: Ice ax/self arrest, crampon technique, glacier travel/rescue, avalanche and navigation skills, winter mountaineer/camping, expedition experience, self-sufficiency!

Everest Video Update: Viesturs, Whittaker, Norton "Standing on the Top of the World"

At about 8 a.m. Kathmandu time, Ed Viesturs, Peter Whittaker, Jake Norton, John Griber, and Gerry Moffat radioed Everest Base Camp from 29,035 feet, the highest possible place on Earth. "We're standing at the top of the world," declared Peter Whittaker, clearly overjoyed to have joined his uncle, Jim, the first American to summit peak, on Everest's summit. As for our pal Ed Viesturs, who was gunning for his seventh summit, he simply reported, "Hey, I'm on the top." We are thrilled for the First Ascent team, and now await their safe return to Base Camp. With both Jake Norton (expedition photographer) and Gerry Moffat (head of the video production team) topping out, we can look forward to some spectacular imagery from this climb. Stay tuned!

Follow the dispatches here >>

Extreme Tech: Everest Filmmaking with Final Cut Pro, Solar Power

Text by Mary Anne Potts; Video still courtesy of First Ascent

Update: The team made it to the summit May 19 at 8 a.m. Kathmandu time. Watch the video.

Any hour now, weather permitting, mountaineers Ed Viesturs, Peter Whittaker, and other members of the First Ascent team will take on the summit of Everest. And even though we have not yet donned our down jackets, we've been there every step of the way—through the avalanches, illnesses, and one of the largest storms of the season. This is thanks to the daily, three-minute video dispatches produced right from the world's tallest mountain. The carefully choreographed process begins with the video getting back up on an Apple MacBook Pro from high on the mountain. It's then carried on solid state memory cards down to Base Camp. Once there, the footage is loaded on to another MacBook Pro and edited for public viewing in Final Cut Pro (watch a video of how it's done). 

Here First Ascent video editor Tom Grimshaw, stationed at Base Camp at about 18,000 feet, explains how the team gets the job done, from dealing with batteries in frigid temps to filming an avalanche for maximum drama.

See the First Ascent expedition videos and photos here >>

ADVENTURE: Can you tell us about where you actually do the editing? Is it comfortable?
Tom Grimshaw: We do all the editing in a dome tent situated at Base Camp. The tent is a good size and is remarkably comfortable, considering where we are. We have chairs, tables, and can bring in a heater if needed. Power is supplied in the day by solar panels. Then we have a generator in the evening. All in all it works very well for our needs.

About how many hours of footage do you review for each video? How long does it take to cut it together?
The amount of footage shot each day can vary, it ranges from as little as 30 minutes up to a couple of hours. Logging isn't a long process and the edit takes one to two hours. We're pretty organized when it comes to the video dispatches and have a clear idea each day for what the content will be. This helps greatly when it comes to cutting it together, as we're not trying to find a story in the footage.

How many computers do you all have out there, including backups?
We have two new, solid state Macbook Pros, one of which is the main edit machine, the other is the backup. On top of this, we have an older Macbook Pro as a secondary backup and a new Macbook for communications such as email and uploading and downloading files.

Is the cold much of problem for the technology? How about for you?
The main issue with the cold and the technology we are using is the ability to charge batteries. The laptop batteries won't accept a charge if they are too cold so we have to warm them up for 10 to 15 minutes before plugging them in, after that it's not a problem. Every thing else is functioning very well at low temperatures, which has been a relief! As for the cold on a personal level, it really isn't that bad. We have enough First Ascent gear to keep us all warm even in the coldest of nights.

How are you dealing with battery life at nearly 18,000 feet?
Battery life has been excellent. The Sony EX1/EX3 camera batteries have been performing very well, and we have a range of Stuart Cody expedition batteries that are designed to function in these kind of conditions. While power and battery life are a major consideration on trips like this, the systems we have in place have meant that it hasn't been an issue.

You have footage of a couple avalanches. What’s the trick to filming those?
There isn't a specific trick to filming avalanches, it's often more down to luck. They happen so quickly—and are often finished equally as quickly—that you don't have time to grab your camera and start filming. The footage we do have is mainly down to having a camera poised and ready to go at a moments notice. We shoot at 60fps [frames per second] and slow it down in order to show the true power of an avalanche. They are awesome to watch and it's important to reflect this in the footage.

See the First Ascent expedition videos and photos here >>

More from National Geographic ADVENTURE: 

Spring Buyer's Guide: Explore the great outdoors in all new ways this year—with a recycled tent, water-resistant camera phone, super-hi-res GPS, and more. See the products >>

Adventure in 60 Seconds: This Week in Exploration

Text by Tetsuhiko Endo

SPACE

Today, the seven man team of the Atlantis space shuttle is floating somewhere a few miles above our heads, trying to fix the Hubble telescope. They completed the first of their five space walks on Thursday by replacing the telescope’s 16-year-old camera. Although the procedure was not without its difficulties, they got the job done. One down, five to go. (nytimes.com).

OCEANS

If anyone has been counting the days lately, it’s the people rowing in the Indian Ocean Rowing Race, which has already lost more teams than a cycling race that enforces its drug ban. The process of scraping barnacles off the boats has begun. Never the easiest task, when the boat is still moving and someone has to spot for sharks (indianoceanrowingrace09.com/).

Having a slightly easier go of things is the intrepid Sarah Outen, who you will recall is endeavouring to become the first women to row across the Indian Ocean. Check out her blog to hear her thoughts on food, solitude, and how to surf 12-meter waves (sarahouten.co.uk/blog/).

MOUNTAINS

Finally, as was reported yesterday. The Everest teams are on the move in order to get in place for their summit bids. According to the Adventure Blog, some estimates have as many as 60 people heading for the summit on Monday. All of this begs the question: Just how big is the summit of Everest? (theadventureblog.blogspot.com).

"Design For a Living World" - High Fashion and Design Meet Conservation in New Photo Exhibit

Photograph courtesy of Ami Vitale

Photographer Ami Vitale has motored the highest pass in Kashmir, dodged rampaging elephants in India, and photographed the spirit lions of Tanzania. She has tracked snow leopard in Nepal and watched sea lion clubbing in Oregon. But until recently Vitale, one of our favorite photographers (and ADVENTURE contributors), had never ventured into the high-stakes world of fashion and design. That all changed on Wednesday night, when Vitale’s latest endeavor, “Design for a Living World,” a project conceived and executed by The Nature Conservancy, debuted at the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York City. The initiative paired famous designers with sustainable products from around the world. Fashion designer and TV personality Isaac Mizrahi traveled to Alaska and designed a runway-worthy dress out of salmon leather, a material used by Lewis and Clark (it’s three times stronger than cow leather!). Jewelry designer Muehling transformed Micronesian vegetable ivory and ocean-harvested black and Keishi pearls into a series of bracelets and necklaces. Maya Lin, who designed the Vietnam Memorial, worked with Maine timber. Yves Béhar went to Costa Rica. And Ami was there to capture it all. The project, a year in the making, will run in New York until January 2010, before traveling the country.

Everest Video Update: Base Camp Summit Bid Launches

The weather has broken on Everest and after 12 long days of waiting, Ed Viesturs and the First Ascent team are making a move. They left base camp about fifteen hours ago and should be getting close to Camp 2 by now.

“I’m a little bit nervous,” admitted Melissa Arnot, who is trying to become the first American woman to summit Everest without supplemental oxygen “But mostly just excited to get up there and get climbing.”

Teammate Peter Whittaker echoed her sentiments. “It’s awesome to be putting the final touches on our preparations. We’ve been sitting down here for 12 days—a tough 12 days—just resting and waiting for the weather line up. We’ve got a forecast that we like and we’re going for the summit.”

They hope to reach the highest point on planet earth on the 18th.

Read daily dispatches, view photos and video, and see detailed Everest maps at adventure.nationalgeographic.com/everest

Adventure in 60 Seconds: "First Out, Last Back" Caitlin Arctic Survey Completed

Text by Tetsuhiko Endo

It wasn’t the most smoothest expedition to ever traverse the Arctic, but after 75 days at the top of the world, Pen Hadow, Anne Daniels, and Martin Hartley of the Caitlin Arctic Survey are off the ice and headed home. They were picked up at 85 degrees north latitude earlier this morning.

“It seems that we are the last out here,” wrote Hadow in one of his final blog posts, “so I guess we can claim to be the first out and last back this year!” For a man who has endured -50 degree days, repeated equipment failure and 10 day food shortages, he is in pretty high spirits.

And why shouldn’t he be? He’s getting flown off a giant sheet of ice that is beginning to become dangerously unstable due to it’s annual summer melt. Although the team did not reach the North Pole, their mission was always more about research than glory. Hadow and Hartley have been measuring the thickness of the ice as they move north in an effort to provide definitive data relating to climate change. Since their GPS-enabled measuring device broke, they have been hand drilling core samples.

Now that they are off home, the big news is what their findings will reveal about the state of the ice on the North Pole, stay tuned for the results.

Read our interview pre-departure interview with Hadow here.

Deal of the Week: Spring Preview of Grand Teton and Yellowstone

Photograph courtesy of Hotel Terra

As a gateway town to two of our greatest national parks, it’s no wonder that tiny Jackson Hole explodes with visitors every summer (3.4 million to be exact). But if you want to skip the crowds—and peak hotel rates—you should go now. Eco-conscious Hotel Terra is currently offering a “Passport to the Parks Package,” which gives you four nights in one of its chic, LEED-certified rooms at a 20 percent discount, four breakfasts for two at its on-site Terra Cafe (arguably the best breakfast hole in Jackson), and a pass to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. All told, it’ll cost you $540 for two people—or less than half the price of a high-summer visit.

THE CATCH: From now through May 20, rooms with the parks package discount start at $135 a night (or $540 for four nights); from May 21 - June 17, the starting room rate with the parks discount is $173, bumping the total bill to $692 (still an excellent deal). Late-spring weather in Jackson is unpredictable–you might score sunny bluebird days in the 70s, chilly afternoons in the 50s with clouds and rain, or both.

I’M IN: Contact 800-631-6281 or hotelterrajacksonhole.com

Snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler on Olympics 2010, Getting Hitched, and Updating Her Signature Trick

Text by Catharine Livingston; Photograph courtesy of Oakley

Yesterday we had the good fortune to catch up with one of last year's Adventurers of the Year. Halfpipe queen Gretchen Bleiler dropped by our offices to show off her latest Oakley line of ski and snowboard apparel, which hits stores this fall. The 28-year-old Olympic Silver medalist and three-time X Games Gold medalist stuck around for a few extra minutes to chat about her summer plans (including her wedding in Costa Rica next month) and, of course, Vancouver 2010.

Post-nuptials, what’s on tap for the summer?
The Winter Olympics are coming up in February, and our Olympic qualifiers start in December. There are five Olympic qualifiers, two in December and three in January. So this summer is going to be all about training. But I’m taking a different approach going into these Olympics than I did for 2006. In the past, I’ve had such tunnel vision. This time, instead of spending the whole summer in the gym, I’m going to mix it up a little bit. I’ll still do some weight training, because that’s important for injury prevention and overall explosiveness, but I’m also going to try some yoga, pilates, and dance. I’m a big surfer, too.

You’ve got a lot going on—wedding, Olympics, your new Oakley line…. Is it tough to manage everything?
Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed, but I feel like if I can organize it all and put each thing into its little compartment, it’s manageable. I’m pretty much in constant contact with Oakley over the winter while I’m competing. Right now we’re making final decisions for next season’s line. And I’m working with my other sponsor, K2 on board boots and bindings. So yeah, it’s a full life. But it’s a lot of fun.

You made a big push to get more eco-friendly fabrics and technologies into the latest Oakley collection. You’ve also been a spokesperson in the climate change realm for a few years now. When (and how) did the environmental advocacy become such a big part of your life?
After the Winter Olympics in 2006 I realized I had a platform to speak about causes that were important to me—and people would listen. As a professional snowboarder, my livelihood obviously depends on snow. And for me traveling around the world, chasing the snow, I see the effects of climate change first hand. You can tell the difference. Events in the middle of January have been canceled because of lack of snow. We almost got rained out of our World Championships a couple of years ago in Switzerland. In the middle of January. So it’s really easy for me to talk about it.

How are you feeling about Vancouver 2010? Any butterflies?
Yeah, a little bit of the butterflies, but I’m also just really excited. My experience in Italy in 2006 was so amazing. I love how snowboarding is like no other sport out there—I mean, some of my best friends are my biggest competitors. And we just cheer each other on. It’s a very supportive sport.

What moves are you working on?
A couple of weeks ago, the US team had a training camp at Buttermilk in Aspen. We had a 22-foot halfpipe, which is what the Olympic pipe is going to be, and the conditions were perfect. I worked on a new combination that I had never done before. My signature trick is a Crippler 540, so now I’m rotating an extra 180 degrees. So it’ll be a Crippler 720. So you’re landing switch and going into a cab 720. No other girl has ever done it before. Every year I push myself to do something different—and push the boundaries a little bit more.