Travel video news

A month or so back I told you about an all-start team of European climbers who were planning an expedition to Pakistan this winter to attempt a first ascent of K2 during that season. At the time, the group was still putting together their funding and making plans for how they would approach this epic challenge. Now, thanks to an interview with one of its members, we have a better idea of what their plans entail. ExWeb has posted an interview with alpinist Artem Braun who will be a part of the team that is made up of mountaineers from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. He indicates that the team has received its preliminary permits for the expedition and are now planning on starting the climb in January. Braun says that the squad is in its final preparation stages with everyone preparing to travel to Pakistan soon. To prepare Base Camp for their arrival however, a group of porters has already reached the mountain and is setting up a base of operations there. In the interview, Bra...

Just in time for the arrival of cooler weather, the team at Backpacker magazine have revealed their selections for the best new gear for winter 2018-2019 . As usual, the list consists of some of the best new jackets, packs, boots, and sleeping bags to keep us comfortable in the colder months ahead, when the weather doesn't dissuade us from going outside but just presents some new opportunities to enjoy our favorite activities.  All told, there are 16 different pieces of gear that make the cut this year, including the new Ortovox Swisswool Tec Stretch Zebru Jacket and the Therm-A-Rest Polar Ranger -20�F sleeping bag. Both products are perfect for those winter outings where temperatures could take a serious plunge. You'll also find Backpacker's  picks for the best ski bindings and boots, as well as a set of gloves from Outdoor Research and boots from Merrell.   I won't spoil the rest of the list because half the fun of these kinds of gear awards is discovering what th...

The autumn climbing season in Nepal continues to unfold at the moment, but some climbers are already looking ahead to the winter season. For the past two years Spanish climber Alex Txikon has made bold attempts to summit Everest during the winter without the use of supplemental oxygen, each time coming up a bit short. Speculation as to whether or not he will return for a third go is running high, but in a recent interview the climber shared the news that he is still deciding what his winter expedition will be. He also revealed that there may be a commercial team heading to Everest in the winter this year as well. Recently, ExWeb had a chance to sit down with Txikon and inquire about his plans. At the moment, the Spaniard is playing his cards close to his vest and isn't sharing many details about what he plans to do this coming winter. He says that Everest is still on the table but he's considering several other options as well, including a potential attempt on K2, the only 80...

If you're looking for some interesting reading today, check out Explorers Web's great interview with climber Denis Urubko , an extremely talented mountaineer who also has a bit of a controversial side. The Russian-born climber, who is now a Polish citizen, is known for his blunt approach to dealing with teammates and the press. Last year, as part of the Polish Ice Warriors team that made a winter attempt on K2 he also famously went AWOL when he disagreed with team leader Krzysztof Wielicki's approach to the expedition, striking off on his own for the summit. That bid ultimately failed, and Urubko was dismissed from the squad and went home. Now, he's telling his side of the story while sharing wisdom from his numerous expeditions. For those not familiar with Urubko, he has climbed 8000-meter peaks on 21 different occasions, including two in the winter. Most of his expeditions are done without supplemental oxygen as well, and he is amongst the strongest alpinists in the ...

If you're in need of new gear to keep you warm, dry, and moving during the cold months of winter, then you'll definitely want to head on over to Outside Online , the website for Outside magazine  A few days back the publication posted its 2019 Winter Gear Buyers Guide , and as usual it offers a cornucopia of new products to sift through as we inch closer to that season here in North America. This time out, the team at Outside  sifted through hundreds of pieces of outdoor gear to narrow down their buyers guide to a mere 331 items. They've conveniently broken down those products into a few broad categories to make it easier for the rest of us to pour over. For instance, readers will find a Ski & Snowboard section that is further subdivided not only into the actual skies and snowboards themselves, but also boots, bindings, poles, helmets, goggles, and more. Similarly, there is a Layers section that contains jackets, base and mid-layers, ski pants, and even a category for...

The autumn climbing season in the Himalaya isn't even officially over yet and already we're turning our attention towards the winter. The harshest season of all requires a tough, determined team on pretty much any mountain, but when it comes to climbing the last 8000-meter peak to be summited in winter, it demands a higher level of focus and the ability to endure plenty of suffering. ExWeb is reporting that a team of all-star climbers from Eastern Europe are preparing to travel to Pakistan in December to make an attempt on the first winter ascent of K2. The squad will be led by Vassily Pivtsov from Kazakhstan who has summited all 14 of the 8000-meter peaks. He'll be joined by fellow Kazakhs Vitaly Akimov and Ildar Gabbasov, as well as Russians Roman Abildaev, Vitaly Akimov and Eugeny Glazynov of Russia, and Mikhail Danichkin from Kyrgyzstan. The group is filled with veteran climbers who have not only spent a lot of time on big mountains all over the world, but have endured...

A couple of weeks back we shared the news that our friend Louis-Phillipe Loncke had completed his first-ever winter traverse of Tasmania. This was an epic journey that left him exhausted, pushed to his limits, and 15 kg (33 pounds) lighter than when he set off. The video below is from a new report aired in Australia that caught up with the Belgian adventurer just as he was crossing the finish line, providing some insights into what this journey was like.