“Have you spent the winter climbing at your local climbing wall? Are you keen to get outside on warm rock for the first time this year? Heading outdoors can seem intimidating – all that extra kit, finding a crag and a partner and avoiding getting hurt – but don’t be put off, climbing outside will open up a lifetime of experiences. Here’s some advice on making the transition.”

“Eric Larsen and Ryan Waters are on the home stretch on their journey to the North Pole. Over the weekend, they were pushing the pace a bit more in an effort to reach the top of the world before they run out of food, and as such they have been putting in some very long days. But, as the new week begins, they are now poised to become the first team in four years to complete a full-distance expedition to Pole, although even in these final stages, the Arctic is finding ways to test them.”

“So you like the idea of really getting out into the wilds by starting to backpack? Its a pastime that more and more people world wide are starting to embrace and for good reason, just look at a few of the pictures in this article and you will see why.”

“We enter a steep, claustrophobically narrow gully, looking up at boulders that appear barely glued in place by a mortar of dried mud. Ready to rain sandstone jihad upon us, they send a silent message that we have taken a wrong turn in this unnamed side canyon in the wilds of southern Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park and should retreat—immediately. This seems about as likely to be our route as we are likely to run into a fish plucking a harp out here in the high desert.”

“Yes, I write about gear for a living, I have access to the most sophisticated toys and tools in the outdoor world, and I’m constantly geeking out over tech details. But I’m keenly aware of the fact that the gear does not make the athlete. I was a much better paddler when I was using hand-me-down equipment, living out of my truck, and spending 200 days on the water every year. Don’t get me wrong, I love gear. My obsession with the lines on a pair of skis is borderline creepy. Proper safety equipment, and knowing how to use it, saves lives. But I also love the stories of athletes rising above catastrophic gear failures and still completing their missions. Here are six of my favorites.”

“May is National Bike Month, and what better way to celebrate than by supporting the U.S. Bicycle Route System? We’ve had an exciting spring so far…”

“Chamonix-based Jeff Mercier and Korra Pesce have made the first free and possibly only the second overall ascent of a little known Chris Bonington route on the west face of the Aiguille du Plan.”

“When one mentions the term “boat trip,” visions of the Mentawais and swaying palm trees fill the minds of surfers. Well, most surfers. For a certain dedicated bunch, a boat trip is a chance to scour un-surfed coastline in a region better known for heli-skiing than surfing. Meet Alaska-based surfer and photographer Scott Dickerson. Dickerson and his pals have turned their focus away from palm-fringed beaches and toward soaring bald eagles and snow-covered peaks that dip into the Gulf of Alaska. Aboard the good ship Milo, these guys are on the front line of surf discovery in Alaska. Here’s their story.”

“There are not many adventurers who are living legends, but Mike Horn is one of them. He’s circumnavigated the globe along the equator, swum the Amazon, trekked to the North Pole in winter and recently taken to climbing 8,000m mountains for relaxation. Just before setting off on his latest expedition to Makalu, he explains why the slow slog of high altitude mountaineering agrees with him and what to do when a polar bear sits on you.”

“The community of New Smyrna Beach, Florida welcomed Aleksander “Olek” Doba with a salute of gun shots, when he appeared on the horizon in his yellow kayak, OLO. He has now crossed the Atlantic twice, this time on the route between the farthest points situated on the shores of Europe and the United States. The salute signaled the end of his extraordinary expedition, resulting in a historical first achievement.”

“If you want to see a mermaid, go to Korea. Only don’t expect to see any shell bras on these ladies; the “mermaids” living on Jeju Island off the coast of Korea are actually haenyeo, female freedivers who swim down to 60 feet on one breath to collect clams, shellfish, and seaweed from the bottom of the ocean. And if you think that’s impressive, just wait until you meet Mandy-Rae Krack.”

“There are hikes, and then there are hikes. You know, the once-in-a-lifetime treks that are equally chal­leng­ing as they are inspir­ing; the ones that you’ll remem­ber for years to come; the ones that will ignite an instant con­nec­tion when you’ve met another per­son who has done the same trek. The West Coast Trail is one of those hikes. Located on the West Coast of British Columbia’s Van­cou­ver Island, the “WCT” requires seri­ous plan­ning and prepa­ra­tion. In return for your hard work, it will reward you with one of the best expe­ri­ences you’ll ever live. Here are six rea­sons to check out the West Coast Trail.”