Overcoming temperatures that reached more than 100 degrees, Hal Koerner, 33, of Ashland, OR, defended his men’s title while Anita Ortiz, 45, of Eagle, CO, made a smashing 100-mile debut to win the women’s race during Saturday’s 35th annual Western States 100-mile Endurance Run.

Koerner, who won the race in 2007, ran 16 hours, 24 minutes and 55 seconds for his second win at Western States. Tsuyoshi Kaburagi, 40, of Japan, was second in 16:52:06. Jez Bragg, 28, of England, was third in 16:54:26.

Koerner broke the race open with a sizzling 58-minute split from the race’s 55.7-mile checkpoint at Michigan Bluff to the 62-mile Foresthill checkpoint. Continue Reading

“Catchin´ Out” or freight-hopping has been said by some to be the last red-blooded American adventure. A cultural phenomenon that tailed the Civil War as America pushed westward and saw it´s hey-day during the Great Depression when migrant workers hopped trains seeking work, adventure, and better times to come. Nowadays, few rail riders are seeking work, but plenty are seeking adventure and a free ride.

As the economy changed and seasonal agricultural work fell into the hands of immigrants, riding the rails briefly became province to thrill-seekers. Though, after some well publicized violent crimes were attributed to a freight gang in the early 80´s known as the FTRA (Freight Train Riders of America); the rails were deserted until the anarchist-punk scene revitalized the rail riding community with people brazen enough to defy the dangers and the laws of the state.

It is highly illegal, extremely dangerous, and not recommended to anybody who doesn´t know what they´re doing.

Freighthopping is a timeless urban adventure that can take you from the sludge covered industrial sectors of Chicago to the snow capped Rocky Mountains; through the same tunnels and along the same tracks that built the industrial revolution and America. And when you find yourself looking out the boxcar doors at the expansive countryside, you just might find yourself singing the tune, “Hallelujah! I’m a bum, Hallelujah bum again..”

Here are a few videos about modern day freight-hopping.

Continue Reading

Unfortunately, the update on Fredrik Ericsson´s quest to ski K2 is a tragic one.
Reports out of Pakistan indicate that Michele and Fredrik were skiing the lower section of K2, from Camp 2 back to base camp on the Cesen Route when Michele´s skis slipped on a patch of ice at around 6400m sending him into a rocky section where he fell about 1000 meters. The expedition team is currently working on recovering the body. Our thoughts and support go out to the friends of family of Michele and the expedition team still out there.

“There are 4 expeditions here – total of 18 climbers – Japanese, German, Swedish/Italian and us. The Swedish/Italian pair had already pushed up to Camp 2 yesterday. Camp 2 is vertically above the base of the route situated at about 6700m. Swedish extreme skier Fredrik Ericsson and Italian Michele Fait were attempting to be the first to ski down K2. This morning, the weather was perfect – which was of no benefit to Fait. On the descent, the worst scenario possible happened – Fiat plummeted. Ericsson was skiing lower down the slopes and after he had seen Fiat fall, began to haul upwards to get to him. At Base Camp we watched, unsure if the fall had been fatal or not. We started to construct a make-do stretcher and prepare to assist with the rescue effort. Our leader Fabrizio headed out back up the middle of the glacier and we watched as Ericsson and Fabrizio reached Fait’s limp body 20 minutes later and began to lower him down to the base of the route. The slopes are avalanche prone and as the pair descended, Fabrizio then approached them from below. There is no way to safely recover Fait’s body today…he is secured on the slope. Fabrizio and Ericsson descended to base camp and we will attempt to recover his body tomorrow at first light.

In our camp, the mood is obviously very glum. Truthfully, it would be wise to return home. But K2 has a powerful presence and attraction; and we intend to continue our attempt to reach the top safely.
It’s snowing right now. May Michele Fait rest in peace.”

Quoted from Sean Wisedale´s Blog

Continue Reading

Honza Rejmanek will be representing the USA beginning July 17th at the Red Bull X-ALPS
500 Mile Hike & Fly Competition!

The X-Alps is the worlds toughest and longest hike and paraglide endurance race covering over 500 miles of mountainous terrain. It lasts for over two weeks. (17 days in 2007).

The rules are simple: Fly or hike carrying your glider around set turn points all the way across the Alps to Monaco! The whole event can be tracked live at www.redbullxalps.com.

It is the premier spectator event for paraglider pilots in the world. If you weren’t “tuned in” last race(2007), you will be this year.

Honza came from behind to do very well at the last X-Alps 2007. He has been training full time ever since. Not only is Honza one of the finest XC pilots around, he is a graduate student of meteorology. Honza has been intensely training for this event and also fund raising for the US team’s 2009 mission. Raffle tickets supporting the 2009 US X-Alps team are available for purchase on line at www.honzair.com. Raffle takes place during the event with the winners posted on line at the USA team blog daily.

After a one-year hiatus due to fires, the world’s most prestigious 100-mile trail event returns deeper and better than ever.

The Western States 100-mile Endurance Run returns on June 27, 2009, when more than 400 athletes from around the world toe the starting line in Squaw Valley, CA. Their journey will finish following 100 miles of running and more than 40,000 feet of climbing and descending through the Sierra and the California Gold Country at the finish line at Placer High School in Auburn, CA.

This year’s Western States 100 marks the return of the world’s oldest and most prestigious 100-mile trail running event. In 2008, only days before runners were prepared to start in Squaw Valley, the 35th annual run was cancelled due to severe smoke and major fire that had been sparked by a series of Northern California lightning strikes. The cancellation was the first in race history.

A year’s hiatus, however, has ensured that this year’s event has become even more eagerly anticipated. A year off has also helped make an already deep and talented field that much stronger. Due to the race’s partnership with Montrail and the Montrail Cup (a series of top-level ultra events held throughout the country where the top-three finishers earn a coveted spot in Western States), the field now has two full years of Montrail Cup qualifiers, as well as many of the runners who finished in the top 10 in 2007.

Continue Reading

RED BULL X-ALPS 2009 ATHLETES REVIEW: WHO ARE THE TOP FAVORITES?

There’s no doubt that this year’s Red Bull X-Alps contains the strongest field yet seen at this biennial adventure race. On the start line on July 19 in Salzburg’s Mozartplatz will be some of the world’s best pilots and endurance athletes, raring to begin their 818km journey to Monaco.

Here’s a look at how five of the top favorites rate, with a verdict from respected and seasoned Red Bull X-Alps editor and expert, Hugh Miller.

The Champion: Alex Hofer (SUI)
Just how does one go about beating this guy? The two-time champion is yet again the number one favorite, and the canny Swiss is bound to have some cunning strategies up his sleeve. His flying skills are unquestionable and his large frame makes him a natural athlete.

The 32-year-old, who lives and works in China, describes the route as “fantastic” and anticipates “a thrilling race.”
Continue Reading

And if you ski down one 8,000 meter mountain, why not try a few more? Fredrik Ericsson, a Swedish “ski-adventurer” recently made it to the base camp at K2, beginning an epic project to be the first person to ski the world’s three highest mountains: Mount Everest, K2 and Kangchenjunga. With an ultimate goal to ski all 14 of the world´s 8,000 meter peaks.

His project continues in fall 2009, when he plans to ski down Kangchenjunga (8586m) and then Mount Everest (8850m) the following year. Previous ski descents he has under his belt are Peak Somoni, Shisha Pangma, Gasherbrum 2, Laila Peak and Dhaulagiri

K2 has been dubbed “The Savage Mountain” due to it´s extremely high death rate: for every four people who have reached the summit, one has died trying. The mountain has been climbed on 10 different routes and only around 200 people have summited. So far no one has made a complete ski descent from the summit of K2. We are excited to see Eric become the first!

His ski descent of K2 is the highlight of a two-month expedition and is expected to take about five hours with a vertical drop of almost 3600 meters.

Follow his progress on this ambitious adventure at Fredrik Ericsson´s Website
Continue Reading

The 2009 REEL ROCK Filmmaking Competion is now accepting submissions! Check out their site for information and “enter your exciting, original, hilarious, or inspiring short film”. The best films in each category will be featured on the 2009 tour and will win prizes from their sponsors: Windstopper, The North Face, Petzl, and more. As long as it´s no longer than 2 minutes and somehow related to climbing, they want to see it!
Deadline for Submissions: July 20, 2009

In the meantime, check out last years winners.

Some quality carnage clips of rafts flipping, colliding, surfing, etc on the Gauley, Zambezi, Black, Moose and many other rivers. Plenty of rapids you´d prefer to not swim. About 5 minutes of footage collected over 8 years and definitely worth checking out.

Since reading Edward Abbey‘s fictional work for the first time in 1986, I have longed to see it come to life on the silver screen. It looks as if I my wish may soon be a reality. Slated for 2010 and with a cast of character names such as Richard Dreyfuss, Jack Nicholson, Matthew McConaughey, John Goodman and Elizabeth Shue.

For those that do not know the plot of this cult classic…here is a brief overview. The book’s four main characters are in some regards environmental misfits. There is George Hayduke (ex-green beret and Vietnam veteran), Bonnie Abzug (nurse), Seldom Seen Smith (Mormon river guide) and Doc Sarvis, M.D. The four run around the desert southwest destroying and sabotaging (“monkeywrenching”) construction equipment with their ultimate goal of bringing down the Glen Canyon Dam thus releasing the Colorado River to run wild.

If you have yet to be introduced to this literary classic…we urge you to do so before the movie comes out next year. Then, read his other works. You too will become a lifelong fan.

Image at top is t-shirt design from Dream Garden Press.