Overcoming temperatures that reached more than 100 degrees, Hal Koerner, 33, of Ashland, Ore., defended his men’s title while Anita Ortiz, 45, of Eagle, Colo., 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.

“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.

Check out these videos about modern day train hoppers.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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 cash/gear prizes As long as it´s no longer than 2 minutes and somehow related to climbing, they want to see it!

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 …