A 63-year-old multi-millionaire and world aviation record holder Steve Fossett has been reported missing since Monday evening in Nevada. He took off from an airstrip near Yerington for a short flight in a single-engine plane but failed to return. The Civil Air Patrol started the search as soon as Mr. Frossett’s family reported him missing. Three aircrafts have been sent to look for him in area of rugged terrain. More aircrafts are likely to join the three that are already in the air. Nevada state rescue official Gary Derks said: It’s kind of like looking for a needle in a haystack right now, but we have got an awful lot of resources out there. We are going to keep looking until we find him. Steve Fossett is known for his penchant for world records, including for the fastest circumnavigation of the Earth as a sailor, solo balloonist and solo airplane pilot. Over the past two months, he has been preparing his attempt to best the land speed record in Nevada. He is a great pilot and knows how to fly gliders so perhaps we can hope, he is well and will be back soon. Image Credit Source: BBC News
I’m sure y’all know about water skiing, the most amazing feats in water sports. Latest in water skiing is a record breaking attempt by water-skiers in Germany. 33 water skiers have smashed the world record for most water skiers skiing behind one single boat. Jostling for position, the skiers stood on their feet as they were pulled down the river. A speedboat named Heidelberg was used for this record-breaking feat that was undertaken on the Mosel River near Poelich. Source: Spluch
George Mallory and Andrew Irvine at their camp as they prepare to climb Everest in June 1924. We all know Sir Edmund Hillary as the first man to climb Everest. Right! But Graham Hoyland, a producer with the BBC claims that British mountaineer George Mallory was the first person to reach the summit of Mt. Everest and not New Zealander Edmund Hillary. Graham Hoyland has spent eight years of his life going on expedition to Mt. Everest and researching and researching before finally concluding that Mallory and Andrew Irvine were the first men to conquer the Everest in 1924, three decades before Sir Hillary reached there in 1953. Hoyland is all set to expose the accepted theory that Sir Edmund Hillary was the first to conquer Everest as untrue. He will present his findings to the Royal Geographical Society in a lecture. Source: Telegraph
For the very first time this year, London will host a daring, adrenalin-fueled competitive event. Named Rat Race Urban Adventure, this eagerly-anticipated event will take place on 29-30 September. The streets and architecture of the city of London will be transformed into an urban adventure playground with an epic event promised. Scheduled to take place in some of London’s most famous landmarks, the Rat Race will include an array of challenges including by bike, foot, kayak, rope and various other forms of transport. The event is being sponsored by Trinidad and Tobago, Ellis Brigham mountain sports and Columbia sportswear. Adventure Class and the Mean Streets are the two classes you can enter. Adventure class takes place over Saturday evening’s Prologue and Sunday’s all-day main event and will set you back £99 per person. Mean Streets is confined to the three-hour Saturday night prologue which will take you through the city street with the aim of accumulating as many checkpoints as possible within the three-hour limit. This is an extremely daring project and for those that take up one of the places, there is bound to be an amazing experience in store for them chinabuye. The details of locations, challenges and landmarks to be scaled remain top secret but a true spectacle is guaranteed. Enjoy the weekend that is sure to be a colorful and eye catching extravaganza Technology Blog.
Canoeing/kayaking can be great fun. It’s challenging, relaxing, exhilarating and fun. It can offer every outdoors man or woman fun, excitement, exercise and enjoyment. But before you grab a paddle and hit the water take the some time out to learn the basics. A few simple rules can help you avoid the kinds of situations that otherwise might cause discomfort, injury or even death. �The most important factor to safe sea kayaking is having the knowledge and experience to judge the level of potential danger. �You should not kayak alone, minimum three people are recommended. �If you are a novice then kayaking/canoeing classes are highly recommended. �Avoid taking risks. Know your ability and limitations. Remember the risks you take not only place you in danger but also those who have to come to your rescue. Avoid situations that are beyond your boating and swimming ability. �Be aware of local hazards, the weather, tides and currents. Plan your outing with these natural elements in mind and know how to use them to your advantage. Check weather forecasts for the area. �Be suitably prepared and equipped: Carry proper footgear, sun protection, raingear, spare dry clothing, rescue line, extra paddle, duct tape, first-aid, map, knife along. Wear clothing that suits prevailing weather conditions and don’t forget to carry adequate spare clothing. �Learn necessary techniques such as forward and reverse paddle strokes, an Eskimo roll, and other self rescue tips. �Beware of cold water and weather extremes. Dress appropriately. �Be sure your craft is in good repair. �Have a safety plan. Understand your responsibility to help your partner and other members in your group. �Keep boats a safe distance apart. Allow the boat in front of you to clear a potentially hazardous stretch before you enter it yourself. To conclude, it is hard to find a more exciting natural workout than kayaking/canoeing. Little care and awareness can make this sport wonderful and offer you the most pleasurable experience. Image Credit Source: Guardian
Matterhorn is the most recognized mountain on the European continent, which offers the thrilling adventure experience. Climbing the Matterhorn is not an easy task. It’s a risky enterprise that requires experience and fitness. Nestled in the Swiss Alps, the Matterhorn stands over the town of Zermatt and is nearly steeple-like in both structure and magnetism. You need to be prepared for the technical ascents for which you are given the training. With each climb, the intensity of difficulty increases as one moves from the Riffelhorn to Pollux to the Rimpfischhorn and finally to the Matterhorn. In Alps, there are about 82 summits. The easiest of them all is the Breithorn, the Matterhorn’s snowy next-door neighbor. The region nearby is comprised of lush meadows and pristine landscapes. The combination of scenic beauty, superb lodging and the ability to challenge oneself by day and live in luxury by night, makes climbing in Switzerland a rather comfortable alpine experience. The Matterhorn expedition is not cheap. You have to shell €793 to hire a guide for the nine-hour climb. The required training climb costs €300 and the accommodation in the valley can be eye-wateringly expensive. If you are fit walker and want to experience some of the thrill of Alpine climbing without taking on the Matterhorn, then Zermatt is an ideal place to have a go. Image Credit[1][2] Source: Guardian
If you are an ardent adventurer and plan to head over to Tahoe this weekend then I have great news for you. Tahoe’s true colors will shine Saturday, September, 22 with the Big Blue Adventure Race. It’s a series that comprises adventurous multi-sport races and outdoor, off-road events and various other adventurous activities such as kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking, trail running, navigation, high ropes skills, back country and nordic skiing and snowshoeing. Defined by both the incredible beauty of Lake Tahoe and the towering peaks of the High Sierra, Lake Tahoe is one of the world’s most famous sporting playgrounds. The region has endless variety of spectacular mountain biking trails, adventurous hikes and waterborne activities on the Lake Tahoe is sure to make your weekend enthralling. The race is open to teams of two, three or four all male, all female as well as individuals. Teams can register through September 21, with late fees. Prizes will include products from Merrell, Salomon, Clif, National Geographic Adventure, Northstar-at-Tahoe, Tecnu and Tahoe Mountain Sports. Have a thrilling adventurous weekend! More Info. Image Credit Source: Tahoe World
It’s natural people expect their soul to ‘rest in peace’ at least in their death. But whether that truly happens or not is another question. If you happen to visit the Cliffs of Sagada in Phillipines you will be surprised to see to what extent people go to ensure that their souls rest in peace. You will find hundreds of coffins hanging down the cliffs or jutting out of a rock and these have been around since 2,000 years when you scan the higher areas of the cliff. People carved their own coffins before death and the corpses were smoked to preserve it throughout the 5-day pre-burial feast. Why did they do this? People probably believed that higher your body is laid the close they are to ‘heaven’ and mountains were held in high esteem those days. Another reason might be to protect the bodies that could have destroyed because of natural disasters like earthquakes and floods. If you just have a look at the surrounding area, you will wonder how they managed to get bring the corpse through such an unpopulated area and manage to settle these coffins that high even when they grieved the loss of their loved one. They probably used ropes to lower the coffins down the cliff or used timber scaffolding to raise the coffin high up. Have a look at this video of the cliffs and you’ll know that death is really an adventure! Via: Deputy Dog
We often use the epigram Where there is a will there is a way but extreme sportsman Joel King went step ahead proving it. Few years back Joel dreamt of racing the jet-powered street luge and today he has become a world record holder with a breathtaking display of speed. He clocked an average speed of 110mph (181.4km/h) on a jet-powered skateboard, beating the previous record of 98 mph (158 km/h). Laying horizontally just 2inches (5cm) off the ground, he strapped a small 90,000-rpm jet engine to the two-meter board, which gave him up to 80lbs of thrust. Sharing his experience, Joel King said: It was just holding on and going on as I accelerated down the runway. The sensation of the speed was second to none, you’re so exposed with the tarmac whizzing past and you’re always just on the edge of control. Then when you’ve finished you turn the engine off and use your feet to brake, which at over 100mph is quite interesting. We applaud Joel King’s heart-stopping feat! Source: Gizmodo
Ballooning is a fun activity for those who are not quite adrenaline junkies. This is for tourists mostly. Cappadocia gives ballooning a different dimension. If you are looking forward to exploring the skies, this is your chance. Here’s a brief description of Kevin Blake’s experience. Even before I get into the intricate details of ballooning, let’s talk about the costs. Kevin booked a balloon trip for only 210 Euros along with a 5:30 ish pick up to the spot from his hotel. The Kapadokya balloons do a pretty good job of flight seeing. There are other balloon tour operators as well. The most unique thing about this ‘sport’ or mode of transportation, is the fact that you don’t feel the motion. Basically, you look around from the safety net of the basket. Cold air is used to inflate the balloons a little bit. Hot air makes this balloons go up. The balloons can travel at an average height of 15000 feet. I think that’s pretty high. With Cappadocia nestled between the cities of cities of Nevsehir, Kayseri and Nigde, the views from 15000 feet are fabulous. The valleys down below and the deep canyons are what makes the flight worth it. The tranquility you experience is great. Kevin calls it a ‘brilliant experience’. So, come and experience it for yourself. Image Credit: Kapadokyaballoons