Indonesian Digital News Archive

Back in July I posted about the Brazil 9000 Expedition which will see adventurers/filmmakers Aaron Chervenak and Gareth Jones attempt to cover more than 9000km (5592 miles) across the wild and remote places of Brazil. At the time, the boys were still in the final planning stages leading up to the start of their journey, but now they're off to South America and preparing to embark.

The expedition will begin on the mountain of Monte Cabural, which falls on the border of Brazil and Guyana. They'll first begin traveling south by canoe through the Amazon before eventually transitioning to foot in the Caatinga Forests, covering thousands of miles along the way. Finally, they'll finish up their epic adventure by riding their bikes along the Brazilian coastline, eventually ending in the town of Chul on the border with Uruguay.

Aaron and Gareth are currently in Brazil and intend to get started soon. Once they do, they'll be posting updates to their Facebook page and Twitter account to keep us all informed of their progress. Before they left, they made a beautiful short film called Leaving Los Angeles that introduces us to their adventure and shares why they're so drawn to the culture and history of Brazil. You'll find it below.


Brazil 9000: Leaving Los Angeles from The Skeeto Lounge on Vimeo.

Well heeled travelers looking for an amazing adventure next year need look no further than the new whitewater rafting excursion from Mountain Travel Sobek. Their new Six Continent Whitewater Adventure, which was announced yesterday, promises to take travelers to the ends of the Earth to quench their thirst for adrenaline.

The 25-day, round-the-world expedition runs from May 9 through June 2 of 2013 and begins in California. The 8-12 participants on the trip will get their feet wet, literally and figuratively, with three days of rafting in the Sierra Mountains. From there they'll jet off to Ecuador for two days of rafting before proceed on to Spain to take on the Noguera Pallaresa in the high Pyrenees. Nairobi, Kenya is the next stop on the journey for three days of rafting on the Athi River, which mixes in great wildlife viewing along with Class II and III whitewater. The Tons River in India is the next stop as the lucky travelers take to the water in the Himalaya, not far from the spectacular peak Nanda Devi. Finally, the trip will wrap up on North Johnston river in Australia, one of the more remote and challenging whitewater runs on that continent.

Whew! Sounds like quite a trip and after reading the press release on it yesterday I immediately wished I were going. At $8695 (without airfare!) this is a bit pricey for my blood, but it was too good of an adventure travel opportunity to not share. And if the itinerary wasn't enticing enough on its own, co-founder of Mountain Travel Sobek John Yost, who has led plenty of river expeditions, will be the personal guide on this adventure. Sounds absolutely fantastic and I'm very jealous of those who get to go on this trip.

Patagonia is one of the most strikingly beautiful and wild places on our planet. Tucked away at the southernmost end of South America, its very name inspires thoughts of adventure. It also happens to be a destination that is perfect for climbers looking for new challenges. That's exactly what Cheyne Lempe and Scott Bennett were hoping for when they traveled there earlier this year with the hope of scaling the massive 2000 meter (6561 ft) North West Ridge of Aguja Mermoz into The North Pillar of Cerro Fitz Roy. The video below captures some of their experiences on that climb, which was a harrowing one for a number of reasons.

Thanks to Alpinist for sharing this.

Viva Patagonia - First Ascent from Cheyne Lempe on Vimeo.

Earlier this summer a team of climbers from AlpineAdventures traveled to the Peruvian Andes to attempt a new route on the 5440 meter (17,847 ft) Puscanturpa Este. After three weeks of working the mountain, they finally managed to summit the tricky North Face. They named their new route Poco Loco.

The team captured plenty of video of the climb and they plan on releasing the full film down the line. The trailer for the film, which you'll find below, gives you a good idea of what the climbers had to overcome to stand on top. The rock climbing elements alone look challenging, particularly at altitude.

Dutch Peru Expeditie 2012 Trailer from vincent van beek on Vimeo.

The Queen of the Kayak, Freya Hoffmeister, is set to resume her epic journey around South America tomorrow as she returns to the water once again in Valparaiso, Chile. The woman who has already circumnavigated around Iceland, New Zealand's South Island and Australia, is hoping to become the first to paddle completely around South America as well.

Freya set out from Buenos Aries, Argentina last September and spent the next eight months covering roughly 8000km (4970 miles) following remote coastlines. First heading south, she was successfully able to paddle through the notoriously tricky waters of Cape Horn, which are well known for their turbulent seas and nasty storms, before turning north. In May she reached Valparaiso and elected to take a break and return home to Hamburg, Germany. There she was able to rest, resupply and take care of the logistics that will see her through the second stage of the journey.

The plan now is to return to the water and cover another 8000km, paddling past Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela before taking another break in Georgetown, Guyana. To reach that point she'll have to kayak through the Panama Canal, dodging heavy shipping freighters along the way. If all goes as planed, she'll complete this second stage by April of next year. Stage 3 will then begin in September of 2013, when she'll finish the circumnavigation and arrive back in where she started in Buenos Aires.

While she's out on the water, Freya posts regular updates to blog that help chart her progress and experienced along the way. You can find that blog by clicking here.

Thanks to ExWeb for the tip!

The last time we checked in on the progress of Davey du Plessis he was negotiating some rather challenging sections of the Amazon River on an inner tube. At that time he had been out of contact for a week or so and everyone was eagerly awaiting word on how things were going. Since then things have improved for the South African who is traveling the length of the Amazon from source to sea. Not only has he climbed inside his kayak for the first time, he is also posting regular updates to his blog as well.

For those who haven't been following Davey's adventure thus far, he set off in June on an epic journey that will eventually cover as much as 7200km (4474 miles). He began his journey high in the Peruvian Andes at the most distant source of the Amazon. After climbing and trekking through the mountains, du Plessis climbed aboard his bike and rode along the Apurimac River for about 1500km (932 miles) to where it meets the might Amazon itself. It was at that point that he entered the water to start the third and final leg of the journey – a 5700km (3541 mile) paddle to the sea.

The start of the river portion of the adventure ended up being more challenging than he expected. The water was faster and higher than anticipated and as a result Davey elected to use a tire to float past the more difficult secitions. Even that wasn't easy however as he nearly lost all of his gear, which he pulled behind him in a kayak, on more than one occasion.



Yesterday du Plessis posted a big update to his blog. In it he talks about how his foldable kayak finally cleared customs, allowing him to truly start paddling. On his way from Lima back to the river however, he met a German couple whose son drowned while kayaking the section that Davey is now passing through. That left him a bit unsettled to say the least.

An update on his Facebook page also says that he received a military escort yesterday to meet the local chief of the indigenous tribes. Once that introduction has been made and Davey's plans made clear, the tribes will grant him safe passage along the water. If this bit of diplomacy didn't take place, it is likely that he would be met with hostility and suspicion along the way.

The river seems to still be the main threat to his safety however as he is still encountering plenty of challenging whitewater and his little kayak was not designed for those kinds of conditions. He estimates that he'll need to get another 50km (31 miles) down stream before the river widens out and slows its descent. After that it'll be calm, flat paddling for thousands of kilometers.

I spent some time on the Amazon River in Peru a few years back and it was far from difficult to paddle. That said, I was way down stream on the river proper where it spreads out for kilometers in all direction . It is a massive waterway in scope and scale with hundreds of tributaries and backwater to be explored and while there are settlements along its banks, there are also plenty of incredibly remote areas with few people as well.

For Davey, this adventure is just getting started and he will have so much to experience as he makes his way to the Atlantic Ocean over the months ahead.

In the first week of July I posted a story about South African adventurer Davey du Plessis, who was about to embark on an epic Source-to-Sea journey along the Amazon River. That journey, which is expected to cover 7200km (4474 miles), began with a trek to the summit of Mount Mismi a 5597 meter (18,363 ft) peak that marks the headwaters of the river. From there Davey would hike back down the mountain and then climb aboard his bike for a 1500km (932 mile) ride to his kayak put on. The third and final stage of the expedition is a 5700km (3541 mile) paddle to the sea. The first two stages are now complete and du Plessis is out on the water, but according to his Facebook page it has been a challenging go so far.

In his most recent update, which came last week, Davey indicated that the white water was faster and more difficult than he had expected and as as a result, he capsized his boat and nearly lost all of his gear. On his first day on the water he managed to cover an impressive 70km (43 miles), but spent some time running the more precarious rapids in an inner-tube while dragging his boat behind. At one point, the kayak struck a rock, which was the cause of it capsizing and that was an indication that perhaps it wasn't entirely well suited for running the early rapids of the Amazon. Fortunately the white water doesn't last for long and by now he should be on relatively flat water, with a good current, that spreads out for miles in all directions.

Since that update last Wednesday there has been no word out of Davey. Hopefully all is well and he's simply having some issues getting his communication systems to work. He obviously still has a long way to go before he reaches the ocean and it would be great to get regular updates on his progress.

Thanks to Lisa De Speville for keeping me in the loop on Davey's expedition progress.

Earlier today I posted a story about paddler West Hansen's attempt to make a solo-speed run of the Amazon River, which he is calling the Amazon Express. In that story I mentioned that he would have to run the Acobamba Abyss, a notoriously treacherous stretch of white water that is amongst the toughest in the world. What exactly will that entail? The Abyss is roughly 40 miles (64km) in length and features Class V+ rapids nearly the entire way. It also runs through steep slot canyons that don't allow for any kind of retreat once paddlers enter the section. The water is too fast to paddle upstream and the walls are too difficult to climb, which means there is only one way to go – down!

For a better idea of what it's like, check out the video below that shows some rafters running through the Abyss a few years back. Looks like a wild ride!

While we're on the subject of South America and The Amazon today, it appears that another major paddling expedition is about to hit the water there. Texan West Hansen will soon be attempting to become the first and fastest person to paddle the entire length of the Amazon River, source-to-sea, completely solo and in record time. He calls this expedition The Amazon Express and if all goes according to plan, he'll be getting under way in a matter of days.

Hansen will begin the journey at the headwaters of the Amazon, which start in the Peruvian Andes on Mount Mismi, which gives birth to the Apurimac River, one of the tributaries that helps form the mighty Amazon itself. In those early days he'll be navigating dangerous Class III-VI+ rapids as he descends through Black Canyon and the legendary Acobamba Abyss, one of the most difficult sections of white water anywhere in the world.

That section of the journey will cover approximately 425 miles (684km) before the water begins to even out and slow down dramatically. From there, it is another 3800 miles (6115km) to the sea, all of which West intends to run as quickly as possible, going night and day to the finish line to the best of his ability. All told, the entire expedition will cover 4425 miles (7121km).

West is currently in South America and preparing to start his epic paddle. He has secured his visas and is in the final stages of getting his gear and supplies ready. He'll have a support boat that will resupply him along the way, but he'll be doing all of the paddling completely alone. If all goes as planned, he should hit the water as early as next week.

It should be noted, and Hansen acknowledges this himself, this isn't the first kayaking expedition to run the Amazon. His "firsts" include doing it solo and fast. Seems like it's going to be one hell of a journey and I wish him the best of luck, and not just because he lives in Austin, my place of residence. This will definitely be one amazing adventure.

Follow along at TheAmazonExpress2012.com.

In September of this year, adventurers Aaron Chervenak and Gareth Jones will embark on an epic journey that will cover more than 9000km (5592 miles) across the Amazon Jungle in South America. Along the way they intend to document their travels through photos, video, web updates and film production as they introduce their audience to the diverse and unique people and landscapes of Brazil.

Aaron and Gareth call their expedition Brazil 9000 and it will begin at Monte Caburaí, a 1465 meter (4806 ft) mountain on the border of Brazil and Guyana. From there, they'll travel south by canoe through the Amazon, then by foot across the dense Caatinga forests and along thousands of miles of coastline, before finishing the final stage of the journey by bike, eventually ending in Chuí, a small town on the border with Uruguay.



 South at the 28th Spring from The Skeeto Lounge on Vimeo.

Try saying that title three times fast!

Alan Arnette is about to embark on his next expedition, this time setting his sights on the 5947 meter (19,511 ft) Alpamayo in Peru. According to his blog, which has some great information about the peak and the logistics of climbing it, he'll set out this week for Lima, where he'll join a team guided by the Altitude Junkies.

Located in the Cordillera Blanca range of the Andes, Alpamayo is an iconic mountain for its shape and appearance. The peak features two very sharp summits that are connected by a precarious ridge with an ice cornice stretching between them. Alpamayo also has a unique fluted face that gives it a look unlike nearly any other peak and has earned it the distinction of being called "the most beautiful mountain in the world."

It is also a challenging technical climb that will test the mountaineers. As Alan notes in his blog post, on summit day the team must negotiate a 457 meter (1500 ft), 6-pitch wall that is located directly below the summit itself. It is a steep final ascent and a dangerous one.

If you're familiar with Alan's blog posts and Everest coverage, you know he always does a great job of keeping us updated from the field and sharing his progress and thoughts on the climb. I expected that this will be a similar experience and even has a page dedicated to his Alpamayo updates. If you want to follow along, simply click here.

As usual, Alan is climbing to raise money and awareness for the Cure Alzheimer's Fund, a cause that is very near and dear to his heart.

Good luck Alan and enjoy the climb!

Earlier today Swedish explorer Christian Bodegren completed an epic paddling expedition across South America when he reached the beach not far Buenos Aires, Argentina. Over the past nine months or so, he has beeb navigating his way south along numerous rivers, often paddling upstream, in an effort to explore the rich biodiversity that inhabits the continent.

Bodegren's journey began last September when he started paddling up the Orinoco River in Venezuela, which eventually led him to an interconnected series of other waterways that included the Guainia River, the Rio Negro, the Amazon, the Madeira, and more. Eventually he reached the Rio de la Plata, which led him all the way to the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Argentina, where he sent his triumphant dispatch proclaiming the completion of the expedition this morning.

That final dispatch is a good one to read as it shares not only his joy in being done but sadness in leaving behind the jungles and rivers that he has paddled over the past few months. He'll be returning home to Sweden shortly and will once again enjoy the comforts of modern living. But it is clear that he'll miss this adventure and that it will only be a matter of time before he sets of again.

Christian's little paddling excursion was certainly a challenging one, both in terms of logistics and the things he encountered while on the water. Crocodiles, piranha, biting insects and a host of other critters were constant dangers along the way and the dense jungles of South America are not easy places to visit for months on end. On top of that, he spent weeks paddling up river and often didn't have the luxury of having the current work in his favor. That had to be incredibly challenging at times when progress was slow and he was physically drained.

Congrats to Christian for completing this amazing journey.

I'm always a sucker for a good long-distance cycling adventure and it seems riders Dom Smith and Andy Robinson are prepping for one of their own. The two men plan to set out in September on a 10,000 mile (16,093km) bike ride from Los Angeles to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Naturally they've called their little expedition the Ride To Rio.

Dom and Andy's journey will take them through 12 countries, including the U.S.; Mexico; Guatemala; Honduras; Nicaragua; Costa Rica; Panama; Colombia; Ecuador; Peru; Bolivia and of course Brazil. They expect it will take roughly six months to complete the ride, which they'll be filming for a documentary that they'll make upon their return.

The duo have just launched their new website, which is a great place to learn about their plans, and they'll be posting updates to Facebook and Twitter in the weeks leading up to their departure and of course on a regular basis while they're actually on their ride. As of today, they're still 133 days from departure, but once they get underway, it should be fun to follow along with their adventures.

Oh, and by the way, neither of the guys speaks much Spanish, which should make for some interesting experiences considering that is the primary language in almost all of the countries they'll be visiting along the way.