National Geographic

#BlackLivesMatter, Adventure Activism, Climbing, Diversity, National Geographic, Rock & Ice / 23.03.2014

At the young age of 14 Kai Lightner is doing amazing things in the world of sport climbing. In the spring of 2013 he ascended exceedingly difficult routes that included Southern Smoke (5.14c) and Transworld Depravity (5.14a) in the Red River Gorge of Kentucky. On the same two-week road trip he climbed Proper Soul (5.14a) in the New River Gorge of West Virginia. I wrote about him in the August/September issue of Rock & Ice magazine. And in August of last year Kai took his fourth champion title...

Adventure Media Review, BASE Jumping, Breaking News, Film preview, Film Review, Fun Film Friday, Highlining, Life Out Loud, National Geographic / 07.03.2014

Within a few weeks of an unsuccessful attempt by French adventure athletes, “Sketchy” Andy Lewis and a small crew of daredevils put up and walked the world’s highest highline. At more than 4,000 feet off the ground this amazing feat was achieved with the dramatic assistance two hot air balloons. As part of a remarkable display organized by arial artist Jona-Marie Price above the desert near Las Vegas Nevada, this high altitude highline walk included an exhibition by Cirque de Soliel entertainer Michael Lipari, acrobatic BASE jumps from...

Adventure Media Review, Destinations, Diversity, Expedition Denali, Life Out Loud, National Geographic / 03.03.2014

“The lure of the arctic is tugging at my heart. To me the trail is calling! The old trail, the trail that is always new.” ~Matthew Henson This story was excerpted from the forthcoming work of narrative nonfiction The Adventure Gap by James Edward Mills to be published this fall by the Mountaineers Books In 1909 a team of six men on dog sledges made their way to a single point at the center of vast Arctic wilderness. It was a block of ice 413 nautical miles off the coast...

Adventure Activism, Adventure Media Review, Environmental Journalism, Environmental Protection, Film preview, National Geographic, Photography, Podcast / 14.02.2014

Adventure photographers and filmmakers give us a unique view of the world. And throughout his long career taking pictures and telling stories for major magazines Peter McBride has offered up an exciting perspective, most often from the air. When he was in his 20s he flew a World War I biplane called the Vickers Vimy from London to Cape Town to reenact the first time an airplane traveled across Africa in 1920. "I think that really gave me an interest in the aerial perspective," he said in an interview...

Adventure Activism, Adventure Media Review, Cool on Kickstarter, Diversity, Environmental Journalism, Film Review, National Geographic, National Parks / 07.02.2014

At the heart of every great adventure there is a love story. And for National Geographic Young Explorer Juan Martinez, the long journey from the streets of Los Angeles to the craggy peaks of the Grand Tetons took a romantic turn on the day he met National Park Ranger Vanessa Torres. Both dedicated to introducing a new generation of American citizens to outdoor recreation Juan and Vanessa have begun a life together in service to the wild places they cherish as well as members of their community whose...

Adventure Media Review, National Geographic, Photography / 10.12.2013

[caption id="attachment_374237" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photograph from the making of the film Mission Antarctic, which will be available on iTunes this week[/caption] As we head into the winter months our adventures will likely take many of us into high mountains or across vast plains covered in ice and snow. Whether you’re riding skis, a snowboard, or a dogsled, taking pictures is pretty much a given. Unfortunately fridged temperatures at this time of year offer a special set challenges that can make even a simple snapshot a daunting task. But with...