Archive for the 'Mountain Climbing' Category
2014 was an incredible travel year for ArcticTropic. We explored Myanmar ( Burma), European Russia,Siberia,Mongolia,China,Japan,British Colombia,Canada,Singapore,Philippines and Panama. Here’s 184 clips in 11 minutes. This version is natural sound,a musical version will be uploaded soon.
Final edit of Go-Pro footage of ArcticTropic’s exploratory voyage across Russia in early Summer 2014. Five days in Moscow , then to Irkutsk,Lake Baikal and Ulan Ude , before crossing into Mongolia.
From Europe,to Asia back to North America, British Columbia was the last stop on ArcticTropic’s Round The World Adventure. After a long flight from Tokyo,via Manila , we settled into Vancouver to readjust to North American life, then ventured North of the city.
Fjords begin just out of Vancouver and stretch thousands of miles up into Alaska.
Glaciers overlook the Pacific.
A young Miamian enjoys the summer snow.
Mysterious life forms in the rainforest.
Road signs in First People’s Native Language of Tsihqot’in.
Enjoying the northern sunshine.
Back across the Date Line.
And finally – Home !
Coming down 1050m ( 4000 ft) Table Mountain in Cape Town on a beautiful spring morning n November,2013. Cape Town had just exited a long cold winter that saw snow on top of the mountain for the first time in many years Edited footage will soon be available.
The GoPro headmount is a great way to capture the reality of a walk along the Great Wall at Jingshangling.
On Sunday, June 30th we climbed the Great Wall of China at Jingshangling , about 100 miles ( 160 km) Northwest of Beijing. Though the weather was misty the views were great. The Great Wall was fascinating for my 12 year old son. This area of the wall is unimproved and difficult to access – recommended only for fit and adventurous travelers,
Today’s Day of Adventure took us 3020 Meters ( 10000 feet) to the top the Engelberg Glacier. After donning crampons and harnesses we rappelled 15 meters inside a vertical cave in the ice.
It was difficult to shoot and hang on to the line at the same time. Reminder to get the GoPro !
The scenery is incredible.
We then climbed up a 15 meter ice wall in a crevas. My first time !
Rappelling down is easy;
The Engelberg Glacier never melts. Today’s temperature was in the 20s F ( -5 C) while in the valleys below it was in the 60s.
In March of this year ArcticTropic and family took an excursion to Germany. While hardly adventurous, it is where the Director as young boy lived while the family was transferred for work. It was in Germany where the quest for worldwide adventures began. We flew from MIami to Munich via London and went immediately to Garmisch in Bavaria and ascended the Zugspitze.
On top of the Zugspitze – Germany-Austria border.
The frozen Elbsee ,below the Zugspitze.
Sunrise over the Zugspitze – highest peak in Germany. After 3 days enjoying the snow, we headed North to Berlin.
Explora Parques , led by Ramón Ossa Federico took ArcticTropic on an adventurous excursion to Parque Nacional El Leoncito. The first activity was dry land sailing on Barreal Blanco, a dry lake bed located at the foot of the Andes. The video above was taken as we drove at 100 mph ‘160 kph across the lake bed.
The lake bed is parched as it rains or snows only a couple of times a year.
No sound except for the wind.
The wind dies down, so the sailing is a bit slow.
The technique is not much different than water sailing.
Entrance to the giant park.
A valley oasis.
Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (CASLEO), where we will vist at sunset.
A cooling waterfall. There may well be gold in the rocks.
Will almost no rain,these rocks take eons to form.
Springtime in the oasis.
Some rare clouds.
The park is near the Chilean border – the mountains offer huge mining potential as well.
As darkness fell around 8 PM we arrived at Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (CASLEO). There are three times as many stars to view in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere. The high Andean deserts in Chile and Argentina offer the best viewing in the world due to high altitude,clear air and a total lack of light pollution due to being one of the more remote areas of the world. Even with some volcanic dust in the air from Peyhuehe the viewing was incredible. Above is a photo taken with a radioteescope.
Comet Halley in 1986.
Planet Venus in the West.
The radio telescope is for the astronomers only. We were treated to views from a smaller but very powerful telescope outside. The roof above retracts.
ArcticTropic was the guest of Doña Pipa Cabañas in Barreal, Calingasta in western San Juan Province for two nights and a day. The Inn is owned by two brothers , Ramón and Diego Ossa Federico. Ramón runs many eco and adventure tours through Explora Parques – which leads excurions to four National Parks spread out over thousands of square miles – some of the trips last several days. ArcticTropic made use of limited time by going to nearby Parque Nacional Leoncito.
The Posada is comfortable and casual – reminiscent of being in the Western United States, but with delicious Argentine food and wine.
THe rooms are simple and quiet – bu there is wifi !
ArcticTropic took a bike ride up one of the dirt roads in town on a beautiful spring morning.
Riding is also offered – with Western saddles.
A healthy and tasty dinner awaits in the restaurant – welcome protein after a long day trekking and riding. It is open till midnight.