Adventure Links of the Week » Explorersweb

When we’re not outdoors, we get our adventure fix by exploring social media and the web. Here are some of the best adventure links we’ve discovered this week.

Mountain Biker Rides Kilimanjaro: Daniel Cristancho (22), a mountain bike guide and up-and-coming rider, hiked up Mount Kilimanjaro just so that he could ride back down. The catch: you have to carry the bike to the top. After four days hiking with filmmaker friends through the five distinct climate zones, they topped out. What followed was a “spectacular as it was brutal” 26km descent.

Climbing mentors

Why Climbing Mentors Still Matter: Paulina Peña found her climbing mentor when she was 10. Her first coach introduced her to multi-pitch climbs, competitions, and the climbing community. She reflects on the importance of mentors. Mentors turn daunting firsts into memories, offer encouragement, and remind us that climbing happily matters just as much as climbing harder.

Eugene Espy Has Died: Eugene ‘Gene’ Espy passed away on August 22 at 97. He was the second person to thru-hike the entire Appalachian Trail, and at least one historian thinks he may have been the first person to complete the trail in full.

In 1951, when Espy departed from Mount Oglethorpe, the trail did not exist as it does today. There were few route markers, thick undergrowth, and he could go a week without seeing anyone. He made it to the north terminus in 123 days, an impressive time even by today’s standards.

Solo hiking versus hiking with a partner

Here’s What I Learned on My First Solo Trip: After years of trekking and more than 17,000km covered with his wife, Grayson Currin decided to set out on a solo challenge. He wanted to complete the 340km Tahoe Rim Trail in under a week. Without his usual partner to lean on, every detail fell on him.

Currin wondered if solo hiking would be more meaningful than thru-hikes with a partner, or if it would change his perspective on the hobby. It didn’t, and he realised they are completely different activities. He liked proving he could do it alone, but also couldn’t wait for his next thru-hike with his wife.

14-Year-Old Saves Paddleboarder: In April, paddleboarder Gavin Bowden (60) wiped out on a powerful wave at Saunton Sands in Devon, UK. The board whipped around and struck him above the forehead, briefly paralysing him.

Oscar McCrae sprang into action. A member of the local life-saving club since he was six, 14-year-old McCrae hauled Bowden onto his board and then held him there in rough waves. Unable to get to shore, they had to wait half an hour for a rescue boat.