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 discovered this week.
How an Amateur Diver Became a True Crime Sensation: Brandy Hathcock’s mother disappeared before her brother’s sixth birthday. Years later, she contacts a group of divers who are trying to solve cold cases.
Adventures with Purpose searches lakes and rivers for missing people. The founder started out as a treasure hunter, but after finding two guns on a dive and going viral on YouTube, he decided to pursue research full-time.
Animal Obsession Has Turned into a Binge-Worthy Podcast: Tooth and Claw is one of the most popular wildlife podcasts. Created by three animal-obsessed brothers, they discuss the dangerous interactions between humans and wildlife. Each episode delves into one of these conflicts. They discuss what happened, the pain of the ordeal, and offer survival advice.
The father of the modern backpack: Colin Fletcher landed in Normandy on D-Day. Having survived the deluge of bullets and shells, he struggled to thrive after the war. Finally, he decided to walk long distances.
Fletcher became the father of the modern backpack. He traveled all of California 33 years before the PCT existed and solo hiked through Grand Canyon National Park.
Colin Fletcher. Photo: Adventure Journal
The Trans Dinarica Trail
Two thousand kilometers through eight Balkan countries: In 2024, a new cycle path will open in the Balkans. The 2,000km Trans Dinarica Trail will span eight countries and pass through mountains, forests and national parks.
Pete Whittaker on Crown Royale: Pete Whittaker answers questions about his first ascent of Crown Royale, a new trad route on Profile Wall, Norway. Describing it as one of the most difficult sections of trad climbing he has ever done, Whittaker details the climb.
Mont Blanc shrinks by more than two meters: Mont Blanc has decreased by 2.2 m since 2021. It now stands at 4,805.59 m. Over the past two years, the mountain has also lost 3,500 cubic meters of ice.
Glaciologists point out that this is not representative of global climate change and that they hope the mountain will increase in height again.
Mont Blanc. Photo: Shutterstock
Better weather mapping for ocean expeditions
Open Ocean Weather: Olympic sailor Jon Bilger created a weather forecasting platform for sailors. With a team of meteorologists, he initially designed it for those who participate in elite races and undertake major expeditions. The system brings together six leading weather models, enabling real-time updates and forecasts for mariners.
Yosemite climber dies at El Cap: On September 28, a climber died at El Cap. The Korean climbing guide was descending The Nose when he fell. He was with a group of students and was going down to secure the mooring lines to the bridge when he abseiled from the end of his rope.