Nat Geo Picks the Best Adventure Films of 2015

2015 was a good year for adventure filmmakers. Over the course of the past 12 months we've seen some of the best outdoor and travel focused films ever, and thanks to a proliferation of excellent tools � such as low-cost, high-quality cameras and affordable drones � it looks like this trend of fantastic guerrilla filmmaking won't end anytime soon. With that in mind, National Geographic Adventure took a look back at the very best adventure films from the past year, and revealed their picks for the seven best.

The subjects of these films vary wildly, with some focusing on climbing and mountaineering, while others are all about exploration, skiing, dogsled racing, and even our complex relationships with our canine friends. Some of the short films that earned a spot on Nat Geo's list include A Line Across the Sky, which documented Tommy Caldwell and Alex Honnold's historic climb of the Fitz Traverse in Patagonia, as well as The Great Alone, which takes us into the Alaskan wilderness with Iditarod champ Lancey Makey, and Unbranded which features an epic journey across the U.S. with wild mustangs.

Of course, one of the most high profile adventure films of the year was Meru. This stunning mountaineering film follows Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk as they climb the Shark's Fin on Mt. Meru in India. This is one of the few movies of this type that actually had a theatrical run, which makes it stand out all the more. Check out the trailer below, and try to catch it on DVD or iTunes if you can.

I'm sure 2016 will bring even more interesting adventure films. I can't wait to see what is in store for us.

Video: The Day Everest Shook

Without a doubt, one of the biggest events of 2015 was the earthquake in Nepal. That seismic event rattled the entire country, and continues to have an impact on that nation months after the tremors have died down. This video is a full-length documentary film that takes us to the Himalaya to show us what happened on the day of the quake, demonstrating the forces at work there. It also contains some sobering footage of the mountains, and the impact of this disaster, which will take years to fully recover from.

7 Important Archeological Discoveries Made in 2015

We continue are look back at 2015 today with an interesting article from National Geographic that takes a look at the seven most important archeological discoveries of the year, some of which were quite important in expanding what we know about our own history, and the world around us.

Tops on the list is an item that I've mentioned a couple of times on The Adventure Blog, which is the potential discovery of hidden chambers inside King Tut's tomb in Egypt. It is believed that those chambers could actually lead to the burial site of Queen Nefertiti, who was an influential figure in Egyptian history, but whose final resting place has remained a mystery. Ground penetrating radar has uncovered what could be passages that lead to unopened chambers, which could hold treasures to rival the boy-king himself.

Other major archeological discoveries made in the past year include a lost civilization that was uncovered in the Honduran rainforest, the un-looted grave of a wealthy Greek warrior, and a vast treasure hidden inside a sunken Spanish galleon. Each of these discoveries have given us a look into our past, revealing a bit about our history and culture that helps us to learn more about where we came from a civilization, and how our ancestors lived.

I always enjoy these types of year-end wrap ups, as they are a good reminder of all of the things we are still discovering in various part of the world. It makes you wonder what else is still out there, waiting to be found, and what pieces of the puzzle they can provide in help us to better understand man's journey across our planet. 2015 was a good year for archeologists, and something tells me 2016 could be just as important.

Video: Nat Geo Looks Back at Science and Exploration in 2015

Men's Journal isn't the only outlet that is reviewing the events of 2015. In this video, National Geographic takes a look back at the year that has passed, sharing some of the big stories from science and exploration. As you would expect with a video from Nat Geo, the visuals are spectacular with some great scenery from all over our amazing planet. It was indeed a busy and exciting year.

Video: Yellowstone in Winter

It's no secret that Yellowstone National Park is one of my favorite places on Earth. With its unique geothermal formations, wonderful wildlife, and enchanting landscapes, it is a place that every outdoor adventurer should visit at least once. But as great as it is during the summer, it is even more amazing in the winter, when the place is nearly empty, and blanket of fresh snow covers everything. To get a sense of what that is like, check out this video which takes us around the park to examine some of the sights during the cold, snowy winter months. Simply beautiful.

National Geographic Explores the Lure of K2

K2 may not be seeing any climbers this winter, but the world's second tallest mountain is never far from the thoughts of the mountaineering community. Last month, a new book called The Ghosts of K2: The Epic Saga of the First Ascent was released. It is written by a man named Mick Conefrey, who helped make a BBC documentary about the mountain . While making that film, Conefrey was fortunate enough to meet a number of the climbers who have taken on K2 over the years, and from those interviews and interactions, he decided to forge ahead with the book, which not only recounts the tale of Italian climbers Achille Compagnoni and Lindo Lacedelli reaching the summit for the first time, but previous attempts to climb the mountain as well.

Earlier in the week, National Geographic posted an interview with Conefrey about his books, the lure of K2, and why it is held in such high regard amongst the top mountaineers in the world. In that interview, he talks about how the mountain got its name, what makes it such a dangerous place, and the strange first attempt to climb it by oculist Aleister Crowley back in 1902. If you think K2 is tough now, imagine what it must have been like more than a hundred years ago, when the gear used by climbers wasn't anywhere close to what was used to finally summit the mountain in 1954, let alone now.

Conefrey goes on to talk about the legendary American expedition � led by Charlie Houston � in 1953, as well as the ways K2 tests climbers, both physically and mentally. He also touches on the "curse" of K2 for women climbers, and what the author learned about the mountain by talking to survivors of numerous K2 expeditions.

All in all, an interesting read about a mountain that casts a very large literal and figurative shadow over the mountaineering world. And if you'd like to learn more about it, the BBC documentary that Conefrey made can be watched in its entirety below. It is an eye-opening film, even for those of us who know a few things about K2.

Nat Geo Presents Holiday Gifts for the Adventurer in Your Life

Now that December is here, the holidays are just around the corner, which probably means that you're searching for the perfect gift for the outdoor enthusiast or adventurer in your life. Why not let National Geographic help you find just the right thing to put under their tree this year?

Nat Geo has just published it's holiday shopping guide for 2015, with some great suggestions that are sure to be popular with your outdoor explorer. Some of the products that get the nod include the Pace Norviz Reflective Top from Helly Hansen, which is zip-necked activewear top that becomes highly reflective in low light conditions. The Danner Jag Steel boot is recommended for its retro look, comfort, and lightweight, while the Filson Meridian duffle is a great option for use on those short, weekend escapes. Other gift options include new running shoes from New Balance, a down-insulated pull-over from Patagonia, and an ultralight stuff pack from Osprey.

You'll find items on the list for every budget and lifestyle, ranging from high end watches and cameras, down to simple � but highly useful � items that don't cost much at all. Most of the items on the list will definitely be highly coveted by the outdoorsman or woman in your life, and will provide them with something that will be of use for many years to come.

If Santa is reading this blog post, I'd certainly enjoy finding the new Suunto Traverse under my tree this year. That, and a puppy.

Video: The Best of Olympic National Park with National Geographic

Yesterday I posted a video that shared the best of Yosemite National Park, and today we have another video from National Geographic that puts yet another one of America's national parks in the spotlight. This time we travel to the Pacific Northwest, where we take a visual tour of Olympic National Park, which is a truly spectacular wilderness setting. These videos serve as promos for Nat Geo's upcoming special on the national parks, which is set to debut on December 6. Enjoy.

Nat Geo Presents the Best Trips of 2016

As the year begins to wind down, it is time to start looking ahead to 2016, and making plans for some adventures of our own. To help us out with that process, National Geographic Traveler has announced their picks for the 20 best trips for the year ahead, with some classic places earning a nod alongside some surprisingly new destinations as well.

Some of the more adventurous places that earn a spot on Traveler's list include Eastern Bhutan, Greenland, South Georgia Island, and the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Some of the other destinations don't necessarily qualify as adventure travel per se, but they do still offer plenty for visitors. Locations like C�te d'Or in the Burgundy region of France or Bermuda for instance. But then again, travel is an adventure in and of itself, so just about any one of these places will help satiate your wanderlust to a degree.

Each of the entires on the list not only include a brief description of why that destination earned a spot in this exclusive travel club, but also offers good travel tips for anyone heading there. Those tips include the best places to stay, what to eat and drink, and how to efficiently get around. There are also cultural tips, suggestions on what to buy, and even movies and books you should watch or read before you go.

If you're looking for some suggestions on places you should visit in 2016, The Traveler list is a great place to start. Not only will it remind you of some classic places that may have fallen off your radar, it will also provide some fresh new suggestions that you might not have thought of before. For me, the Okavango Delta remains extremely high on my places to get to, as I can never get enough of Africa, and the landscapes and wildlife found there are said to be unbelievable.

So? What's your 2016 travel bucket list? Where would you most like to go next year?

Video: The Best of Yosemite National Park with National Geographic

On Sunday, December 6, National Geographic will premiere a new show dedicated to America's National Parks. In preparation for that debut, Nat Geo has started release shorting videos of some of the more famous, and beautiful, parks. This one takes us to Yosemite and gives us glimpse of the very best that park has to offer, including El Capitan, giant sequoia trees, and epic views of one of the most spectacular valleys on the entire planet.

National Geographic Announces 2015 Adventurers of the Year

It is that time again. National Geographic has announced their picks for the 2016 Adventurers of the Year, with some familiar faces earning a spot on the list. Many of these men and women are people that we've followed here on The Adventure Blog, with some surprise picks to go along with those that are a bit more obvious and expected.

Falling into that latter category, I'm sure no one will be surprised to hear that Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson made the cut. After all, these two men held the world spell bound last January as they climbed the incredibly difficult Dawn Wall in Yosemite. Their climb took 19 days to complete, and for much of that time rock climbing gained widespread mainstream media attention, something that doesn't happen very often.

Others who earned the title of Adventurer of the Year in 2015 include a female team of cyclists in Afghanistan who are breaking new ground, long-distance kayaker Freya Hoffmeister, who completed her circumnavigation of the South American continent, and skies Chris Davenport, and Christy and Ted Mahon, who became the first people to make ski descents of all 53 14ers in Colorado. Scott Jurek also made the list for his speed run along the Appalachian Trail, as did Ben Stookesberry, Chris Korbulic, and Benny Marr for their first descent by kayak of a river in Papua New Guinea.

As usual, these men and women are incredibly inspiring, and demonstrate a commitment to pushing the limits of what we believe we are capable of accomplishing. They are climbers, paddlers, explorers, conservationists, cyclists, and so much more. You can check out the entire list here, and vote for your pick for the People's Choice Adventurer of the Year by clicking here. The winner of that category will be announced in February.

Also get a look at these amazing people in the video below.