Category: Whatnot (Page 10 of 12)

Odds and Ends

French explorer Alban Michon plans to ski and dive along the Northwest Passage

2018-01-16 / Downshift

Canada’s Northwest Passage is seeing an increase in traffic. The French explorer hopes to raise awareness to the risks of environmental damage posed by the increased shipping activity and climate change.

Levon Sevunts, writing for Radio Canada International:

French explorer Alban Michon plans a solo skiing and diving expedition along part of the fabled Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago to raise awareness of risks facing the fragile northern environment due to climate change.

The Northwest Passage or rather the passages (there are several possible routes through the archipelago) connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and has become increasingly ice-free during summer months, attracting a growing number of ships taking the polar shortcut.

The 2017 was a busy shipping season in the Canadian Arctic that saw 31 complete and 14 partial transits through the Northwest Passage.

You can find out more about Michon’s planned journey on his site.

NYTimes Opinion: Keep Our Mountains Free. And Dangerous.

2018-01-15 / Downshift

Francis Sanzaro, writing in the New York Times:

Mountains are inherently dangerous. But just as free speech makes a place for disgusting speech, wild places need to make a place for irresponsible activity. It is our life, after all. Right? Not really. Our right to life doesn’t always include our right to risk it. If that thought doesn’t feel strange to you, think about it again. It should.

Fodor’s: Look at the Beauty of These “Sh*thole” Countries

2018-01-15 / Downshift

Fodor’s put together images to counter recent comments by an elected official. Good for them.

What is attracting pensioners to scale the Himalayas?

2018-01-15 / Downshift

Mick Conefrey, writing for the Financial Times:

The big surprise for me, though, was that among this group of hardened walkers and climbers, I was the baby. The oldest member was 75, the second 74 and the average age 65. Today trekking is no longer the domain of the student backpacker; the so-called “grey pound” is as visible in the Himalayas as it is in the Lamborghini showroom.

The trek we were in the midst of was a 30-day marathon, whose goal was to make a circuit of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-tallest mountain, taking in both the north and south base camps. Unlike well-known treks to Everest and Annapurna, Kanchenjunga has not been ravaged by mass tourism and remains enticingly remote.

It has always played a secondary role to Everest, even though Kanchenjunga is only 262 metres lower, and arguably a greater challenge. First climbed in 1955 by a British team, it’s highly regarded among mountaineers but less well known to the wider public.

Sahara Desert 4×4 Sand Recovery 101

2018-01-14 / Downshift

Watch this video on YouTube

Note: Clicking the above image will load and play the video from YouTube.

Chris Scott filmed this some 16 years ago in south-eastern Algeria — but uploaded the footage to YouTube just yesterday. While the kit may have changed over the years, the techniques are still the same.

Best Adventures for 2018 according to CNN

2018-01-14 / Downshift

They include:

Mongol Derby — the toughest horse race in the world
Swimming with whale sharks, Maldives
Heli-exploring the Canadian Rockies
Rhino trekking in Namibia

For the others, check out Joe Minihane’s article on CNN.

Road-trip Canada on a budget

2018-01-14 / Downshift

Benedict Walker, writing for Lonely Planet:

The Trans-Canada Highway is one of the world’s longest roads, spanning 8030km from St John’s, Newfoundland, to Victoria, British Columbia. The route spans all ten provinces and flirts with the Atlantic and Pacific oceans at its limits. It crosses four islands, passes through tundra, boreal forests, national parks and prairies, glaciers, a few thousand lakes and twists beneath the shadows of vast peaks. But you need more than wanderlust to hit the road; you need a car, a plan and what’s that about winter tyres? Never fear, this practical guide will see you zooming across Canada in no time.

Category: Whatnot (Page 10 of 12)

French explorer Alban Michon plans to ski and dive along the Northwest Passage

NYTimes Opinion: Keep Our Mountains Free. And Dangerous.

Fodor’s: Look at the Beauty of These “Sh*thole” Countries

What is attracting pensioners to scale the Himalayas?

Sahara Desert 4×4 Sand Recovery 101

Best Adventures for 2018 according to CNN

Road-trip Canada on a budget

Bonjour. Hello. Hej. Olá. Hola. Привіт. مرحبا

Do What’s Right

Latest Posts

Subscribe

Be.

Note