Video: Official Trailer for Kissing the Rock - Documentary About the Hardrock 100 Endurance Race

The Hardrock 100 is considered one of the toughest ultramarathons to take place in the U.S. each year. It is run on a 100 mile (160 km) loop through Colorado's San Juan Mountains that is well known for its difficulty. Because of this, the race has garnered quite a following, with many endurance athletes seeing it as a bit of a throwback event that requires more grit and determination to overcome.

The video below is a trailer for a new film called Kissing the Rock that is scheduled for release in early 2016. The documentary will take us behind the scenes of the Hardrock, giving us insights into its origins, what it takes to run the event, and what makes it special. Judging from the trailer, this film is going to be special too.

Gear Closet: Eddie Bauer Kara Koram 0� Sleeping Bag

We're living in a golden age of sleeping bag technology. Not only have our bags gotten lighter, warmer, and more packable, they now come with a wide variety of insulation types designed to perform better in difficult situations. Case in point, is the 0� Kara Koram sleeping bag from Eddie Bauer, a comfortable, well made product that is designed for cold weather expeditions where space is at a premium and getting a good night's sleep is crucial.

The Kara Koram line of sleeping bags continues Eddie Bauer's recent trend of creating high quality outdoor gear designed for use in the mountains. The company originally made a name for itself back in the 1940's and 50's by making great outdoor gear that was made for use on expeditions to remote places. But over the years the brand became more consumer focused, moving away from the rich heritage that it had in exploration and adventure. However, a few years back, the company launched its First Ascent line of gear, which was an attempt to get back to its roots. That gear was extremely well received, and got rave reviews from those who used it. In fact, some of my favorite pieces of gear that I own are from the First Ascent line, and I have loved everything that I've used. This sleeping bag is a continuation of Eddie Bauer refocusing on the outdoor market, and it delivers on the promise of high quality gear that is built to perform well in demanding conditions.

One of the first things that struck me about the Kara Koram bag was just how well it is built. Every aspect of the sleeping bag screams high quality, from the fabrics used on the outer shell, to the zippers, inner lining, and even the stitching that holds it all together. This feels like a product that can accompany you on many adventures, and come back in perfect shape. That kind of confidence is difficult to find in a lot of outdoor gear, but you'll feel it here.


Packed with 850 fill down, the Kara Koram is incredibly warm and comfortable, while still maintaining the ability to pack down to a surprisingly small size. That means it won't take up much room in your pack, but will still provide plenty of warmth on those cold nights in a tent. I haven't been able to test it at temperatures approaching its 0�F (-17�C) rating just yet, but I can attest to the fact that it has exceeded my expectations at every temperature range that I've used it in so far. I have every confidence that it would perform very well at the stated temperature rating, and possibly even lower should the need arise.

We all know that down is warm and provides great packability, but that it becomes all but useless when it it gets wet. That's why the Kara Koram features StormDown, which is Eddie Bauer's name for the water resistant insulation that comes from DownTek, the company that pioneered the hydrophobic down movement. Essentially, the down that is included in this sleeping bag has been treated with a water resistant coating that allows it to repel moisture, while maintaining its loft and ability to keep us warm. It is truly a revolutionary product, and I'm happy to say that it is put to good use here. For this bag to fail in the same manner as older down sleeping bags, conditions would have to be incredibly bad.

Getting a good night's sleep is imperative to enjoying your time in the backcountry, and this bag will help you to do jus that. Its interior is very comfortable, and while it does feature a mummy-cut design, I never felt cramped or claustrophobic inside. The designer at Eddie Bauer were even thoughtful enough to include an interior pocket for storing your electronic devices. This has the two-fold benefit of keeping those items close at hand for when you need them, as well as keeping them warm in cold conditions � something that can help with maintaining battery life and protecting LCD screens.

As with any mummy bag, the hood plays an important role in keeping you warm throughout the night, and the Kara Koram is no different. Fortunately, I found it easy to cinch up the hood, and still sleep very comfortably. But if you're the kind of person who finds this style of sleeping bag confining, you may have issues here.

For those who are concerned about how much their packs weigh when setting out on an adventure, the Kara Koram tips the scales at 2 lbs. 12 oz for the regular version, and 2 lbs. 15 oz for the long. While that doesn't make it the lightest sleeping bag on the market of course, those are still impressive numbers for bag that is rated for 0�F. Winter gear is always heavier and bulkier than what we can get away with during the warmer months, but all things considered, this sleeping bag provides excellent performance for its weight and size.

Of course, any piece of gear that offers this level of performance tends to come with a steep price tag, and the Kara Koram 0� is no different. MSRP for this sleeping bag is $549, although it can be found online for less if you search hard enough. That price will probably be enough to put some people off, but good winter gear always costs more, and you'll be hard pressed to find a bag that performs this well for less.

As you can tell, I'm highly impressed with this bag. If you need something for cold weather adventures, I'd recommend it highly.

NASA is Now Accepting Applications for Astronauts!

Have you always dreamed of becoming an astronaut? Do you see traveling through space  as the ultimate adventure? Well, today just might be your lucky day, because for the first time in more than four years, NASA has begun taking applications for prospective astronauts to join the U.S. space program, potentially making a lifelong dream come true for a few lucky people.

You can read the full job description � and start the application process � by clicking here. As you can imagine, there is a lot of interesting information to be found there. For instance, did you know that the salary range for an astronaut candidate is between $66,026.00 and $144,566.00 per year? And of course, the "openings" for this position are in Houston, Texas, which may be viewed as a downside of this job. Still, if accepted you could be in line to go into space and potentially live aboard the International Space Station or take part in another manned mission at some point.

The application indicates that there are now more manned spacecraft in development in the U.S. than at any other time in history. In fact, astronaut candidates could travel not just on the ISS, but two commercially developed spacecraft, as well as NASA's very own Orion deep-space exploration vehicle which could one day take us to Mars.

Obviously the competition for the few astronaut positions that are open will be tough, and the vast majority of us have no chance. But, you never know what kind of people NASA will be looking for to take part in the next phase of manned space flight. Those with backgrounds in science will obviously be best suited for the job, but those with experience in technology, aviation, exercise physiology, and nursing are also encouraged to apply.

There is a lot more to the job description and application process, so if you're interested, I'd encourage you to read more about the requirements. Even if you know you're not bound for space, it still makes for an interesting read.

Antarctica 2015: One Skier Calls It Quits, Vinson Team Heading Home

It has been another busy couple of days in the Antarctic since we last checked in on the progress of the explorers and adventurers who are making their way across the frozen continent. Most of the teams continue to battle difficult conditions as they make their way towards the Pole, with some making steady progress towards their goals. But realty has set in for one skier, while a group of stranded climbers is now on its way back home.

We'll start today's update with the Madison Mountaineering team. The group of five climbers, which includes team leader Garrett Madison, reach the summit of Mt. Vinson back on December 7. But when they attempted to descend the mountain they found themselves pinned down by high winds, and were forced to stay at High Camp for three days while they waited for conditions to improve. They were finally able to descend on December 10, and flew back to Union Glacier the same day. They remained at the ice camp there for an additional four days before catching a flight out to Punta Arenas yesterday. They are all now safe back in Chile, catching their breath, and preparing to head home. The expedition was a very successful one, even if the weather extended the schedule by a few extra days.

Meanwhile, South Pole skier Khai Nguyen has revealed that he will be abandoning his attempt to reach 90�S. Over the weekend he posted a dispatch that indicated that while he had prepared for the difficult journey, it was proving to be more challenging than he had suspected. In fact, he found that he couldn't keep up the pace and still have a hope of reaching the finish line before the final flight out of the season, which takes place on January 27. So, rather than slow down his teammates � guide Carl Alvy and fellow skier Emma Kelty � Khai has decided to go home. It appears he was picked up on Sunday, and very well may have caught the same flight out to Punta Arenas that the Vinson climbers did. For her part, Emma reports that the team is now approaching their first degree, and that they are picking up the pace and finding a good rhythm.


British polar explorer Henry Worsley continues to press ahead, despite whiteout conditions and increased sastrugi. He has now been out on the ice for more than a month, and is methodically knocking off the distances he needs to complete his solo traverse of the Antarctic continent. He has now passed the 86th parallel and seems to be picking up speed. As of yesterday, he has skied 333 nautical miles (616 km/383 miles), which is a very respectable distance. But considering how much further he has to go yet, it seems inconsequential to the man who actually has to cover those distances.

The international team of Devon McDiarmid, Stew Edge, Mostafa Salameh, and Shahdom Abdullah were the last team to hit the ice, and have only been skiing for about five days now. They're taking the Messener Route to the South Pole, and so far have found it rough going. Whiteout conditions the first few days have taught them how to navigate by compass in the Antarctic, while sastrugi have slowed their progress to a degree. Still, they are all in good spirits and enjoying the challenge so far, although they know that they are already on a tight schedule due to their late start. Salameh and Abdullah will ski to the Pole and fly back to Union Glacier, while the other two members of the team hope to kite ski back to their starting point.

Speaking of kite skiers, Italian explorer Michele Pontrandolfo has finally found some wind. He has struggled with his attempt to traverse the continent by kite ski almost from the start mostly due to a lack of wind to help pull him along. Progress has been very slow over the past few weeks, but it appears that things could be improving. Michele indicated that the weather is good, and that he is enjoying winds that now approach 40-50 knots (74 km/h /46 mph). Those are some strong winds, but if his kite can handle them, he should be able to make up some serious distances while they last.

American solo-skier Doug Tumminello has had a lot of pain in his feet almost since his expedition started. That has limited his distances each day as he wrestled with hot to improve the situation. Even applying bandages only brought a small amount of relief. But yesterday he removed the insoles from his boots, and discovered that it helped immensely. With that problem solved he was able to ski 11 nautical miles (12 miles/20.3 km), and now hopes to pick up the speed even further.

Finally, Scottish solo-skier Luke Robertson is also making good progress. His dispatches don't include a lot of information, but a few days ago he managed to ski more than 18 miles in a single go. That is excellent speed for the Antarctic, and should have him covering the distance to the South Pole in no time. He has now been out on the ice for 10 days, and seems to be enjoying the experience immensely.

That's all for now. More news soon!

Video: We Are Canyoneers

If you've never been canyoneering before, this video will certainly inspire you to want to go. It is a beautifully shot short film that takes us deep into some extremely beautiful gorges and canyons as we get a first-hand look at what the sport is all about. Equal parts hiking, climbing, and repelling, canyoneering gives us an opportunity to explore places that few other people have ever seen, and as you'll see from the clip below, those places can be amazing.

WE ARE CANYONEERS from Jake Huddleston on Vimeo.

Video: Frozen Highway Trailer - Mountain Biking Through the Himalaya

Earlier this year, two Indian adventures � Rajesh P Nayak and Sharath Vishnu � attempted a winter crossing by mountain bike through the Himalaya. The two men decided to ride their bikes along the frozen Zanskar river through the highest motorable passes of Khardung La and Chang La in the Ladakh region, covering some 600 km (372 miles) in the process. A documentary team came along with them to capture their efforts, and that footage is now being turned into a film called Frozen Highway. The video below is a trailer for that film, and gives us a brief glimpse of what it was like for Rajesh and Sharath out on the trail. To say it was a challenge would be an understatement, as you'll see below.

Video: Behind the Scenes on an Adventure Photography Shoot

We've seen some pretty impressive videos recently that follow adventure photographers as they head out into the wild to capture the perfect shot, and today I have another one for you. This latest short film comes our way courtesy of my friend Wouter Kingma, who works with with adventurers and outdoor athletes to capture them doing the things they love most. On a recent photoshoot, he traveled through the UAE and into Oman with a group of athletes who hiked, climbed, mountain biked, road cycled, camped, went trail running, and so much more. This video shows us how it all came together, and what it is like behind the scenes for an acclaimed adventure photographer. Those of us who are aspiring photographers ourselves will certainly enjoy the clip.