Video: "Hobo" Monkey Goes to the Edge of Space

Back in November of last year Australian indie band Skipping Girl Vinegar and a team of "cowboy scientists" joined forces to launch a stuffed toy monkey by the name of Baker to the edge of space. They attached a giant weather balloon to a model rocket and added a small video camera to catch all the action. The results can be seen in the video below, which shows Baker going up into the stratosphere for some spectacular views, before plummeting back to Earth where he was recovered – apparently little worse for wear.

Lucky monkey!

Ultrarunners Set To Run The Planet

Two ultrarunners, one a legend in the sport, the other a neophyte, are set to launch an ambitious new television show entitled Run the Planet, which will send them to a variety of locations across the globe, where they will take part in a series of long distance running challenges.

Starting February 25th, New Zealander Lisa Tamati and Australian Chris Ord, will start the first of those challenges by attempting to run 126km (78.2 miles) between Hermannsburg and Alice Springs, in Australia. Along the way, they'll cross that country's famous Red Centre, where temperatures will routinely approach 40ºC/104ºF.

Lisa and Chris' run will follow a famous route that was taken back in 1922, when an indigenous stockman named Hezekiel Malbunka covered the same distance in order to save the life of a missionary by the name of Carl Strehlow. At the time, Strehlow was in desperate need of medical attention, and someone needed to go to the telegraph station to request assistance. It was agreed that Malbunka could get there faster on foot than by horse, and he did so – in just a day and a half. Once he had completed his mission, the runner then turned around, and ran back to where he started, besting his old time by completing it in just a day. Fortunately, Tamati and Ord won't have to make the return trip.

Their new show, Run the Planet, will put Tamati at center stage. As an ultrarunner, she has already completed some impressive runs, including traverses of most of the major deserts of the world. It is estimated that Lisa's runs have covered enough distance to send her around the globe four times. Her partner, Ord, on the other hand, is new to the sport of ultrarunning, and over the episodes of the series, you'll see him learn from Tamati, while building his own skills and level of endurance. In any given episode, the duo will be attempting runs of anywhere from 80km (49.7 miles) to 350km (217.4 miles), across a wide variety of terrain and under a host of conditions.

Exactly when the new show will begin airing is still up in the air, but my friends in Australia and New Zealand should definitely keep their eyes peeled. No word on whether or not it'll cross the ocean to North America yet, but I'd certainly tune in.

Antarctica 2011: Milestones

This past Wednesday, which marked the 100th anniversary of Amundsen first reaching the South Pole, was a major milestone in the 2011 Antarctic season. For several teams, it was the end point of their expeditions, as they had hoped to make it to the Pole in time for the celebration. For other skiers, it was a day to reflect, take stock of their progress, and consider all of the brave men and women who had traveled this route before them.

For one team, the Antarctic 1911-2011 squad, Wednesday was most definitely the end of the line. After having two team members airlifted to the Pole to take part in the ceremony, the remaining two members, Vegard Ulvang and Harald Dag Jollie, did complete their ski expedition, albeit a bit late to join the festivities. Now, the four men are headed home, bringing a close to their Antarctic adventure.

Another skier who feels like he's achieved a milestone is Mark Wood, who is now 25 days into his solo and unassisted journey to the South Pole. Mark managed to cover 16 nautical miles (29km) today and feels like he has turned the corner in terms of feeling good, acclimatizing to the environment, and finding his rhythm on his skis. He still has plenty of distance to go of course, and when he's done in the Antarctic he heads directly to the Arctic, but he now feels that his first goal, the South Pole, is a tangible destination.  The expanse of white that is the Antarctic continent can be a bit tiresome though, as he noted in an audio broadcast today, during which he equated it to that scene in The Matrix, when the characters were standing in an all white environment with no points of reference.

Also now in their 25th day on the ice, are Dixie Dansercoer and Sam Deltour, who are continuing to explore the continent via kite skis. Since enduring a horrible start to their journey, which forced a restart, the boys have managed to really chalk up the mileage. Yesterday alone, they covered 115.3km (62 miles),  which brought their total distance up to 1246.5km (673 miles) so far. Their latest dispatch reports that they are very much enjoying the steady and strong winds that are allowing them to make this kind of progress, and they hope to be at the South Pole sometime early next week. But again, this is just the start of their journey as well, since they intend to be on the ice for more than three months and cover 6000km (3239 miles) while they are there.

The two teams in the Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race are still plodding along, despite challenging conditions. The Amundsen squad now has 271 nautical miles (501km) to cover before they reach the Pole, while their compatriots on the Scott Team are facing 346 nmi (640km) before they get to their destination. Both teams are dealing with rough terrain at the moment, with the lead team hoping to put the Axel Heiberg glacier behind them this weekend, while Scott squad battles the Beardmore Glacier and all of its crevasses, stastrugi, and other assorted issues.

Finally, Cas and Jonesy continue to be media darlings back in their native Australia. The latest news report on their expedition, which you can see below, says that the boys plan to reach the Pole in the first week of the new year, although they'll barely have time to celebrate. Once their, they intend to turn around and ski back to Hercules Inlet in an attempt to become the first to go solo and unsupported to the Pole and back. Thats still a very long way to go, with the clock ticking against them.

Local Team Wins 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

I mentioned the Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge last week when it got underway, but I completely forgot to update the final standings yesterday. The five-day event, which was a stage-based adventure race through the wilds of Tasmania, covered more than 350km (217 miles) and featured plenty of trekking, mountain biking, and paddling with some climbing, navigation, and other challenges sprinkled in for good measure.

The fifth, and final stage, took place on Sunday, with the teams crossing the finish line in Hobart. Local boys Mark Padgett and Mark Hinder, collectively known as Team Iron House, claimed first place in the Van Diemen Cup - Elite category, with a commanding lead over the competition. Behind them in second was Team Tasmania, consisting of Guy Andrews and Darren Clarke, while Team Pure Tasmania, made up of Emma Weitnauer and Jarad Kohlar, took third. The Enthusiast category, which is made up of mere mortal athletes like you and me, was won by Team Xtech (Tim Robinson/Dean Hemborrow). The complete results for the event can be found by clicking here.

By all accounts, this was a fantastic event, which was revitalized thanks to adventure racing fan and F1 driver Mark Webber himself. The race has signed a three year contract, which means it is likely to be around for the next few years and anchor down the end of the adventure racing calendar in 2012 and 2013 as well.

Congrats to the winners and everyone who took part in the race.

The Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge Is Underway

One of the last big adventure races on the calendar for 2011 got underway today in Australia, where the Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge is taking place. The 350km (217 mile) stage-based event will run for the next five days, culminating with a final leg to crown the champion on Sunday.

As the name implies, the race will take place in the wilds of Tasmania, one of the more remote and untamed places on the planet. Each of the five stages will feature mountain biking, trekking, and paddling sections that will challenge the competitors in new and unique ways each and every day. And at the end of the stage, the teams will return to a pre-set base camp, where they'll have the opportunity to rest and prepare for another grueling challenge the next day.

The first stage of the event, which took place today, with racers starting with an early morning kayak leg before transitioning to a trek that took them to the summit of Mt. Amos. That was followed with a 50 meter rappel back down the sheer cliff face, before continuing on a bush trail that would eventually lead to the first mountain bike section. For video highlights from the opening stage, check out the video below.

At the end of the day, Team Iron House, consisting of Mark Padgett and Mark Hinder, were out in front, with Team Pure Tasmania and Team Tasmania in second and third respectively.

It looks like this should be a fun and competitive event over the next few days, and a great way to wind down what has been a very active adventure racing season. Follow the Tasmanian Challenge on the official website by clicking here.

Trail Run Magazine Issue #2 Available Online

Way back in July I posted a story about a new online e-zine called Trail Run Magazine that was being put together by some friends of mine in Australia. At the time, I thought the content was fantastic and that the magazine was off to a great start, and judging from some comments that I heard, a number of you thought so as well. Now, the second issue of the magazine is out, and delivers even more great content.

Granted, Trail Run has a definite slant towards running in Oz and New Zealand, but that said, there are plenty of good articles for trail runners and adventurers everywhere. For example, the second issue has shoe reviews, as well as gear previews, that will be popular with runners of all types. The magazine's athlete profiles are also interesting to read, and their regular columns for improving performance and shaking off injuries are welcome as well. I particularly took note of the article on ankle injuries, as I've been suffering with one for a month now, and it has severely hampered my running.

Trail Run Magazine continues the high quality that was set down with the first issue, and I continue to be impressed with how beautiful it looks. The images are fantastic and the writing is top notch as well. It is clear that this is a labor of love by people who live and breathe trail running and have a passion for sharing with their readers. Give it a glance and I think you'll find that you enjoy it as much as I do.

Thule Adventure Team Wins AR World Championship

I was so busy last week trying to catch-up on work that it completely slipped my mind that the Adventure Racing World Championships got underway in Tasmania. The race actually started last Wednesday and will continue through Thursday of this week, and while a lot of teams remain out on the course, the three podium finishers have crossed the finish line. The winners of this year's ARWC is the very talented Thule Adventure Team, with Team Silva and Seagate taking second and third respectively. As of this writing, they are the only three teams to complete the full course.

Apparently, Team Seagate dominated much of the race and were in front most of the time, but they suffered a four hour penalty for leaving the SPOT tracker behind at one of the checkpoints. As a result, they had to sit out that penalty, which ultimately led to the other two teams passing them by. Indications are that they could have won the race going away if it weren't for the penalty, which seems like a very stiff one.

The race began with 79 of the best AR teams from around the globe, although six of those were forced to retire and another 11 are currently proceeding as unranked. The teams have been racing non-stop since the middle of last week across a very tough course that is more than 700km (435 miles) in length and offering them plenty of trekking, mountain biking, and paddling. More teams will continue to straggle across the finish line in the next few days before the event officially wraps up.

The 2011 edition of the ARWC seems like it was another great event and a great way to cap what has been an excellent year for the sport of adventure racing. While there are still a few good races on the schedule, lets hope 2012 continues the trend of great events.

7 Summits For Alzheimer's Update: Next Up, Carstensz Pyramid

Alan Arnette continues to check off mountains on his quest to climb the Seven Summits for Alzheimer's. Having already knocked off Mt. Vinson in Antarctica, Aconcagua in South America, Elbrus in Europe, Kilimanjaro in Africa, and of course Everest in Asia, Alan has now set his sights on Carstensz Pyrmid, the tallest mountain in Oceania.

Carstensz stands 4884 meters (16,024 feet) in height and is seen as a bit more of a technical challenge than some of the other Seven Summits. Located in a remote region of Papua New Guinea, it takes several days to trek into Base Camp, where climbers are faced with the start of a rocky and challenging ascent that features an exposed approach to the summit.

Alan set off for New Guinea last week and of course it requires considerable travel time just to get to the island. Since then, he's had to wait on some logistical hurdles to be cleared so that he could actually begin the expedition in ernest. You can read about those issues on his always well written blog, and today's update indicates that he is en route to the Pyramid at last. Considering Carstensz is the one peak in the Seven Summits that I know the least about, I'm particularly looking forward to reading Alan's thoughts on the climb.

Once he's done in New Guinea, he'll next fly off to Australia, where he'll take a stroll up Mt. Kosciuszko, the tallest mountain on that continent at 2228 meters (7310 feet). Depending on your definition of the Seven Summits, which is to climb the highest peak on each of the seven continents, Kosciuszko is often included on the list. Most climbers going for this achievement climb both Carstensz and Kosciuszko just to have all of their bases covered.

After these two climbs are complete, Alan will have just one mountain remaining on his list. That is of course Denali, the tallest peak in North America. He attempted to climb that peak in July, but bad weather denied Alan the summit. We'll have to wait to see if the mountain is a bit more accommodating next summer.