The Latest Adventure News: March
Image by Ben Tibbetts
Your latest outdoor adventure news from around the world
It's a big internet out there. We’ve collected just a few of the coolest adventure things we stumbled on this month that we think you might want to see.
See this as your monthly goody bag of digital outdoor musings, cool adventure articles, events news, and other mountain stuff we have an inkling you'll like.
Race results that had us cheering
Freeride World Tour
This year's Freeride World Tour Fieberbrunn Pro results were a success for the North Americans with three of the top medals adorning the necks of Americans and Canadians:
Arianna Tricomi (IT) took home the gold medal in the women's ski
Andrew Pollard (US) won the men's ski
Katie Anderson (CA) claimed gold in the women's snowboard
Jonathan Penfield (US) won the men's snowboard
Coast Mountain Trail Running
Coast Mountain Trail Running's Run Ridge Run 25km and 13km trail running races in Vancouver offer challenging climbs, descents, and technicality. The 13km course skirts around Sasamat Lake on the Buntzen Ridge Trail and glimpse Buntzen Lake. The 25km course continues on to attack the Diez Vistas Ridge before following the Lakeview Trail, and then grazing Buntzen Lake before the final climb back up and over to the finish at Sasamat Lake.
On February 25th, Meredith Wilson won the overall women's 25km in 2h43m, and John Dean won the overall first place for men in 2h18m.
As for the 13km race, Alexandre Ricard completed it in 53m30s, claiming his gold medal for the men, and Christy Drever won the women’s in 1h12m.
events for your 2023 calendar
Alpkit Big Shakeout
Do you want to climb, hike, ride, cycle, slackline, cave, run, sail, swim, kayak, bushcraft, listen to live music, hear inspirational talks, watch adventure films, and more all in one weekend? Then the Alpkit Big Shakeout in the Peak District is for you.
“The Alpkit Big Shakeout is a weekend of adventure and entertainment. The format is simple, be active during the day and be entertained in the evening. If you have a taste for adventure, want to be inspired, and try something new the Big Shakeout is for you. It's a not-for-profit festival run by Alpkit staff with all proceeds donated to the Alpkit Foundation.”
Where: Peak District, UK
When: September
How: For more information, click here
Love Trails
The world's first music festival for trail runners and adventure seekers - Love Trails - in Wales is the place to be this summer. Think: tons of trail running, rock climbing, ice baths, adventure talks, and more.
“During the day you can enjoy non-competitive trail running adventures, trips to the beach, wellness and adventure activities, talks, great food, and laid-back music selections. At night, three stages host a cherry-picked selection of DJs and live acts that will keep you dancing under the stars till the early hours of the morning. Expect a wide range of quality music, blissful days on the trails, an intimate atmosphere and the best crowd.”
Where: Gower Peninsula, Wales
When: 6 - 9 July, 2023
How: For more information, click here
Highlander
Join the leading long-distance hiking event series in the world, Highlander, which combines hiking with an outdoor festival. Big bonus: it takes place in various locations across North America and Europe!
Backpack a few days through breathtaking nature, and at each checkpoint, feel the festival vibe of the event by joining educational lectures, yoga classes, stargazing, documentary screenings, or simply sitting under the starry night sky listening to live music playing into the night.
With four formats to choose from, ranging from a 15-mile two-day hiking journey to a 100-mile five-day journey, there’s something for all levels of hiker. Just take a look at the video above for some exciting inspiration.
Where: Across Europe and North America
When: From May to October
How: For more information, click here
Adventure destination guides
Photo by Elyse Turton
#1 ~ originally published in Mpora
Home to more than 13,000km of coastline, Nova Scotia is the kind of adventure destination that everyone should add to their list. Packed full of fun activities, this Canadian province offers a rich tapestry of natural beauty, where hidden gems can be discovered around every corner and no two days are the same.
Things for your to-do list in Nova Scotia:
Hiking: Even though the travel season runs from May to October, you can hike in Nova Scotia all year long - just make sure to have the right gear. Think: Seaside trails, forest paths, mountain tracks… Some hiking gems include: the Celtic Shores Coastal Trail, Cape Split Provincial Park, and New Trail at Kejimkujik National Park.
Cycling: Whether you’re keen for a challenge, want to see as much seriously inspiring scenery as possible, or are amused by the idea of following in the footsteps of old rum runners, you’re bound to find a trail here that will make you grin: Cabot Trail, Harvest Moon Trail, and Rum Runners Trail, to name a few.
Tidal Bore Rafting: Try something new while there, like tidal bore rafting, which all boils down to the fact Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy is home to the the world’s highest tides. As these tides turn, they transform the Shubenacadie River into an incredibly fun, unique, and natural rollercoaster. Ride waves that can hit heights of four metres in an inflatable raft and down rapids caused by an incoming ocean reversing the flow of the river. Serious outdoor fun.
Kayaking: From the dramatic cliffs and arches of Northern Cape Breton and Cape Chignecto to the more sheltered waterways of Prospect and Tangier, Nova Scotia really does need to be seen from the water. Paddle along waterfronts with a tangible sense of history, meet local fishermen, or traverse the waterways of the Mi’kmaq; these are just some ideas to get you started.
Stargazing: Opt for a more relaxed activity while in Nova Scotia with some impressive night sky gazing. The region is home to Acadian Skies and Mi’kmaq Lands, the first designated dark sky destination in North America.
Image by Duane Mendes
#2 ~ originally published in The Outdoor Journal
There is another side to the Emirates than Abu Dhabi and Sharjah’s opulent lifestyle or Dubai’s shimmering and mind-bendingly high skyscrapers - Hiking in the Hajar Mountains and Ras al Khaimah.
This article takes us on an adventurous hiking journey in the northernmost emirate of Ras al Khaimah, a hidden hiking gem. The trail goes through the western side of the rocky Hajar Mountains’ mountain range on a donkey track that had been used for decades by the mountain tribes of Ras Al Khaimah. We hike alongside the author, all the way up to the United Arab Emirates’ highest peak, Jebel Jais, which sits 1,934 metres tall, on their three-day, 55km, Highlander UAE hiking challenge.
Be prepared for descriptions of a tough, dry, and desolate place with spectacular and rugged mountains towering high over the emirate that are home to nimble mountain goats, shy mountain foxes, camels, wildcats and the rare Arabian leopard.
Sensational Adventure Achievements
Rowan Gormick
Thirteen-year-old Rowan Gormick completed the Spearhead Traverse in Canada. Yes, a 13 year old, and it's already his 11th season skiing and his fourth full season touring. Rowan is a beast on skis, clearly loves everything about skiing and being in the mountains.
Rowan trained with and went on this adventure with Whistler-based guide, Jonathan who said “Over the past two seasons, we started to do some multi-day tours, and decided that this season he would have the right combination of fitness and skill to set a pretty lofty goal: the Spearhead Traverse.”
Just take a look at their series of short videos (below) that captured the project: Rowan’s prep, planning, general feelings along the way (both positive and negative), and of course, the three-day traverse.
Mountain Tribe
Film collective, Mountain Tribe completed a whopping 420km and 32,000 vertical metre mission this month to Cross Tyrol, starting from the east end in Fieberbrunn all the way to St. Christoph am Arlberg.
Just take a look at their complete route below and jump here to see their day-to-day routes.
The team also recorded their entire Tyrolean mission on its Instagram page, showcasing stunning mountain shots and inspirational videos.
Annie Ford
Australian Annie Ford set the mountain bike world record for descending the most vertical metres on a bike, which added up to 42,030 metres total descent, 100 laps, 313km, and all in 18 hours 53 minutes. What a mega-ride!
She accomplished this feat on her 27.5” Santa Cruz Nomad enduro bike, averaging 9.5 minutes per lap. The insane stat of all is that she set her fastest lap time twelve hours into the event!
The incredible feat took place at Coronet Peak in Queenstown, New Zealand, which Annie described as “Maybe the best feeling in the world. I have the biggest heart, and sorest body.”
”A truly epic day,” she continued. “Coronet Peak chairlift ran at almost double the normal speed, and a bunch of friends and I got to ride, squeal, and laugh down one of the best trails on earth - the Coronet National DH Track.”
”I’ll never forget looking up at the stars, overcome with joy, 50 laps deep. I’ll never forget the support, the perfect dirt - followed by the slipperiest mud, the teeth-gritting arm pump.”
your march movie hit-list
In Norwegian skier and filmmaker, Nikolai Schirmer's sixth episode of Topside he (skier) and his friend Krister Kopala (snowboarder) have a blast going at 100km/h in Tignes.
This speed bromance has you holding your breath to the very end: After turning around on some dangerous snow, Nikolai and Krister find three beautiful couloirs that are extremely skinny and cruxy. It takes them a few deep breaths to work up the courage to drop in - watch it above to see why.
Marion Haerty’s record on the Freeride World Tour is legendary. But now she’s zeroing in on legacy. Her movie DIDI follows her as she travels to Nepal to meet Dawa Yangzum Sherpa, the first Nepali woman to become an international mountain guide, to combine forces on a two-part mission.
Watch as Marion attempts her first 6,000m peak alongside Dawa, as they celebrate women who, despite the difficulties, have carved out a different destiny for themselves.
The riding / skiing dream team of Nikolai Schirmer and Krister Kopala is back, this time slaying it down The Fingers crux couloir in Tignes!
Watch the guys have some fun in fresh powder before they head up to the couloir, where it's touch-and-go for a minute. Then, feel as though you're gliding straight down with them on a perfect run.
See you out there!
Team FATMAP