“The first night of the 22nd Piolets d’Or, Kazakh climber Denis Urubko summed it up: Mountains (and oceans) are the last wild places on Earth. We go to these places to remember we are humans in nature, to seek lessons from the wild, and to get away from the trappings of human civilization. But as humans we are social beings. When we return we like to speak with like minds and share our experiences. So every spring there is a four day celebration of the spirit of alpinism held in Chamonix, France and Courmayeur, Italy, the Piolets d’Or.”

“In 2012, when Joby Ogwyn, a climber and BASE jumper from Santa Barbara, California, dropped from a plane at 27,000 feet and flew past Mount Everest in a wingsuit, eventually landing at Base Camp, observers were impressed. But that was just a warm-up. This May, 39-year-old Ogwyn will climb Everest, then perform a wingsuit jump from the summit in a made-for-TV spectacle torn from the Felix Baumgartner playbook.”

“Last November Jim Coffey and his team from Esprit Rafting went to the Alseseca River in Mexico where he canoed the 60-foot La Cascada de Truchas.”

“The hill just kept on going, and going, and going. Because that’s what hills do in the Himalaya. And the hill was headed my direction—down—through one of the deepest canyons in Nepal and some of the most extravagantly beautiful vistas in the world. And I was ripping through the landscape fast enough to make my eyes water.”

“Every country in which hiking is popular has its best-known trail; its mascot that anyone with even the slightest inclination to long-distance walking will know about. For America it’s the Appalachian, for Canada you might say it’s the West Coast Trail, and for Spain and France it’s almost definitely the Camino de Santiago. For Britain, for most people, it’s the Pennine Way.”

“Lone Dutchman Yuri Klaver resumes 5,000-mile journey from Alaska to Greenland.”

“Catch a glimpse of the Alps in Wales, see a mysterious double sunset, and climb the Yorkshire summit said to be more impressive than K2. Spring’s here, and it’s time to hit the hills.”

“Western North Carolina’s Rocky Broad is a river that gets up and goes, making up in spirited descent for what it lacks in length.”

“Parks Bonifay and three other wakeboarders use icebergs on Lake Argentino in Patagonia as natural ramps from which to do tricks and slide on”

“While it isn’t for everyone, solo travel can offer a unique way to see more and expand your comfort bubble considerably. I didn’t make it all the way through my first solo trip, which was supposed to be an overnight in Denali National Park. I wasn’t comfortable being alone with my thoughts, which got incredibly loud when I found myself alone in one of the most profoundly quiet places I’ve ever been. Friend Patrick Gensel, however, is an expert solo traveler.”

“Last year, Kori Feener filmed her first full-length documentary and attempted to hike the 2,200-mile length of the Appalachian Trail at the same time. A Charlottesville audience saw the result Friday evening at the world premiere of her film, “Hard Way Home,” at the Virginia Film Festival.”

“Lesser know factoids from “America’s Best Idea.” Still no word on Big Foot”