Most weeks there are more stories to share than time or space provides. Because of this, I routinely write a column that I call "Adventure Quickies" that is posted on Fridays. It contains a brief summaries of these stories, along with links to where you can find out more. Here is this week's line-up of things that you may have missed elsewhere.
- Another Himalayan Expedition Announced for Fall: A few weeks back we shared the news that Imagine Nepal had announced "guaranteed" expeditions to Dhaulagiri and Manaslu for the autumn climbing season. Now, the company has added yet another expedition to its list, this time to the 7000-meter tune-up peak of Himlung Himal.
- NASA Want to Build a Better Space Toilet: It's no secret that NASA is planning to go back to the moon. But before it even considers making such a journey, the American space agency has put a call out for assistance. The newly-launched Lunar Loo Challenge is seeking the best new designs for doing our business while in space, with $35,000 in prize money awaiting the top pick.
- A COVID Mask Designed for Cyclists: In these strange times that we now find ourselves living in, wearing a mask has become proper etiquette for trying to keep ourselves and other safe. But that isn't always easy when you're out running and cycling, when breathing through a piece of cloth while physically pushing yourself can be a challenge. Thankfully, there is a mask that is now available that was designed specifically with cyclists in mind.
- Siberian Forest Fires Release Record Levels of Carbon: It has been a strange year in Siberia, where temperatures have been setting records over the past two months and forest fires have been raging out of control. So much so, that scientists now believed that those fires have released a record level of carbon into the atmosphere, potentially fueling global warming and climate change.
- Paradise Lost in Nepal's Gokyo Region: Who says progress is always good? In a sobering article from the Nepali Times, Ang Rita Sherpa laments the changes that he has seen in the Gokyo region of Nepal over the past three decades. During the time, Goyko has seen an increase in the level of development, the amount of traffic from outsiders, and the impact of climate change.
- 1981 Expedition to Chinese Peak: magazine has an amazing short documentary about a team of American climbers who traveled to China back in 1981 to climb Mount Siguniang during an era when tension between the two countries was still running high. Their story is an intriguing one about alpinists going rogue in a remote and potentially unfriendly country. Watch it here.
- Adventure Racing World Championships in Paraguay Cancelled: At this point, it should come as much of a surprise, but earlier in the week the Adventure Racing World Series announced that its World Championship race in Paraguay has been cancelled. After already seeing much of the rest of the season decimated by the coronavirus lockdown, it just doesn't seem likely that another big event could take place in September. Hopefully, 2021 will bring better things.
That's all for this week. More Adventure Quickies next Friday!
