Most weeks I have extra stories to share, but not always the time and space to shine a spotlight on them. Right now, in the midst of a global pandemic, there aren't a lot of adventures, travel, or expeditions happening, so there is actually a dearth of things to talk about. Still, there are some smaller, more low-key news briefs that are worth a look, and that's what we have in our "adventure quickies" for this week.
Here are a few things that you may have missed that you might find interesting.
- Tourist in Yellowstone Attacked by Bison Two Days After Park Reopens: The title of this one says it all. Yellowstone National Park reopened a few days back, and just two days after visitors were allowed to return to the park, a woman was attacked by a bison. It took just two days for someone to think it was a good idea to wander too close to a wild animal of that size and strength. We don't need a lockdown because of coronavirus, we need one for stupidity.
- Matador Debuts Impressive New Travel Duffel Bag: Travel may seem like a distant memory at the moment, but we'll get back to it again soon. And when we do, we'll want to carry the new Matador SEG42 Travel Pack with us. This awesome new duffel bag features some handy and convenient features that will leave you wondering how you ever lived without them I the past. Don't believe me? Read the Gear Junkie review here.
- Temperatures Hit 80ºF in the Arctic This Week: Yes, spring is here and the weather is warming up. But in the extreme north of the Arctic, it should still be relatively chilly this time of year. That isn't the case however, as this week alone the temperatures in that part of the world climbed above 80ºF (26.7ºC). Worse yet, the melt-off the ice extant has been alarmingly quick and forest fires are already breaking out. Pandemics, a plaque of locusts, and plenty of heat? Sounds rather biblical to me.
- SpaceX Prepares Crew Dragon for Launch: We're now less than a week away from an historic space launch. Not only will the May 27th blastoff of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule be the first manned mission to take off from American soil in years, it will be the first time a private company has sent humans into space too. Weather permitting, we'll be able to watch it happen next Wednesday
- Ski Resorts Reopen: Just as America's national parks are starting to reopen, so too ate some of the major ski resorts across North America. The Adventure Journal has a round-up of some of the places that are allowing skiers and snowboarders to return for some late-spring runs.
- Virtual Everest Teams Struggle: Just as in the real world, which has seen poor weather scuttle several summit bids on Everest this season, the virtual Everest team that Alan Arnette has been chronicling is also struggling. Arnette has been writing a fictional account of an Everest expedition all season long to fill in for the lack of real teams on the world's highest peak. But the story is based in real-world facts and the current spate of bad weather is impacting the results. Get caught up on all of the action here.
- BLM Proposes New Rules for eBikes: eBikes are a hot topic when it comes to their inclusion trails that fall on public lands. Some riders don't have an issue with the battery-powered bikes, while others fear they do too much harm to the trails. While the Bureau of Land Management sorts through these challenges, it has posted some new proposed rules governing the use of the controversial bikes. These rules are open for comment until June 9.
- ESPN Debuts New Lance Armstrong Documentary: Hot on the heals of The Last Dance, ESPN is ready to debut a new 30 for 30 documentary entitled Lance. This two-part, four-hour doc delves deep into controversial cyclist Lance Armstrong, who plays an active role-and is reportedly grilled heavily-in the protection. magazine has an early look that includes a trailer.
That's all for this week. Have a great weekend!