Exploration & Survival
ArchiveChris Davenport and a team of skiers, who just spent a few weeks ski mountaineering in Antarctica, returned Stateside yesterday, but not without some eye-catching bounty. Here are the latest pics of the team's first descents from Davenport's point-and-shoot. The Sphinx, center, is a 1,700-plus-foot smooth face varying…
In this month's issue, we've got the scoop on Shackleton's whiskey, but according to the AP, more frozen food has been discovered in the Arctic: two blocks of New Zealand butter, to be exact. The butter was found in…
Explorer Eric Larsen, who aims to be part of the first expedition to travel to Mount Everest, the North Pole, and the South Pole in one year to draw attention to climate change, is steadily logging…
Sure, it's great to see amazing feats of agility and speed in surfing videos, but sometimes you just want to see some wicked wipeouts. Luckily, TransWorld's got it covered with some cringe-worthy crashes from the…
On Sunday, a German man who was about to board a flight from New Zealand was found to have 44 lizards stashed in his underwear, reports TreeHugger. The man confessed to being an endangered species dealer, and expected to get $1,500…
The inaugural adidas TERREX Adventure Race will be held in Lake District, in northwest England, August 27-30, according to the Adventure Blog. Registration for the event begins December 15th. The registration fee for a team of four will be £1350. For those who aren't up to the…
The Rim of Africa, set to open to the public in October of 2010, will be the first long distance hiking trail on the African continent. Influenced by the Appalachian trail and the Continental Divide, the trail will wind along the gorgeous landscapes of…
Homer, the dummy, has been taking one on the chin—and everywhere else—for you.
Photo: Anne Mustoe from her website By Mary Catherine O'Connor For some people, the only kinds of bike rides to go on are the epic kind. Such was the opinion, it seems, of Anne Mustoe,…
Like free throws or music scales, survival skills can be practiced. If you repeat the exercises needed for a life or death situation you can increase your chances of survival—whether you’re a father perfecting a friction fire in the backyard or a soldier simulating an…
Yves Rossy will attempt to become the first person ever to complete an intercontinental crossing via jet-wing on November 25. He plans to take off in a Pilatus Porter aircraft from Morocco, ascend to a height of 2,000 meters, then exit from…
Two mountain guides were acquitted this week by the Swiss military court in the death of six Swiss soldiers recruits who were killed in an avalanche on Mount Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps in July of 2007. According to SwissInfo, defending accusations…
The Seattle couple Christopher Miller and Brandy Meissner, along with their two dogs, were recently rescued from their 38-foot fishing boat in 40-foot seas by Princess Cruises' Golden Princess, according to Vagabondish. It's one of the largest cruise ships in the world. The couple had been…
The Wildlife Conservation Society and Birdlife International have released the first atlas of the Patagonian Sea, and it's all thanks to penguins, albatrosses, and other marine animals, reports…
Marco di Lauro photographs the relief effort in the war-torn nation of Chad.
Travis McMahan was found alive after getting lost and spending 14-days alone in the Big Horn Mountains, according to the Billings Gazette. After losing his way in a snowstorm near his campsite at the Buffalo Creek Campground area, McMahan, who had been out scouting for elk, estimates…
In our new complete survival guide we include our best survival stories, tips, and features. We've even included some video tips. We'll do more, but first we want to hear from you. ext_script = "https://www.surveys.mariahmedia.com/poll.ashx?p=6427440A0B4D2C2F"…
Eric Larsen is now in Chile, preparing for his expedition to the South Pole as part of his Save the Poles project, which will involve a year-long expedition to the ends of the Earth and the summit of Mount Everest to raise…
Researchers have found that as the number of Americans using hot tubs has risen, hot-tub, whirlpool, and spa-related injuries have increased 160 percent in the U.S. from 1990 to 2007. Slips and falls caused half of the injuries, 15 percent were “hits and scrapes,” and 11 percent were caused by…
Last week on Outside's dog blog, OutsideK9.com, readers guessed the breeds that make up Assistant Editor Carr's dogs, Rio and Odin. Results from the Canine Heritage Breed test were in transit from the lab. Today, the results are revealed. Head…
63-year-old Richard Moreau allegedly killed a man and injured two others at a bar in Vail Saturday night, according to the Desert News. Police say he let loose a volley of shots when the bar manager tried to toss him out. –Dave Costello.
Russian BASE jumper Valery Rozov was successfully rescued from a botched jump in the southern Pakistan city of Karachi after his parachute opened and became entangled with an adjacent building, according to English Russia.The accident is being blamed on high winds. No one was hurt. –Dave Costello…
The Adventure Racing World Championship will take place in Portugal, November 8 to 13. Competing teams will have four members–one of whom must be female–and they will trek, mountain bike, and paddle through 700 to 800 kilometers of gnarly terrain to get to…
To gear up for their Expedition Week, National Geographic is letting you choose which conservation-focused expedition they will sponsor next. The two contenders are Trip Jennings, who wants to save elephants from the ivory trade; and Ben Horton, who wants to stop shark poachers…
An oil rig 150 miles off the northwest coast of Australia, which has been leaking an estimated 400 barrels of oil a day since Aug. 21, has now caught fire, according to msnbc. Rig operator, PTTEP Australasia, claims it does not know how the…
In our November issue (on newsstands now) we feature “The New Rules of Survival“, a comprehensive guide to dealing with life or death situations…
Forget severed hands and hooks; the real scary story is feet. Tuesday, yet another foot was found on the beach in British Columbia, reports the Vancouver Sun. This is the seventh foot that has been found on the coast…
19-year-old Taylor Mitchell died after being attacked by two coyotes in Cape Breton highlands National Park, Canada, according to CBC News. She was attacked Tuesday afternoon while walking alone on a popular hiking trail. Park officials say that other hikers managed to scare off the coyotes…
Swimmers are being warned to stay out of the waters near Stradbroke Island, Australia, after a 10-foot great white shark, which had been caught on a drum-line, was nearly ripped clean in half by what is being estimated to be a 20-foot great white. The…
The planet is smaller than ever, but that just means there's a host of new dangers out there—and a new set of solutions. These days, a text message or the right travel-insurance policy might just save your bacon. So study up—your life may depend on it.
The pilot of a small plane that crashed in Denali National Park Wednesday, October 14, has been found alive after walking 20 miles through the back country, according to KTUU. After receiving severe burns from the wreck, Daniel McGregor, 35, made his way from the crash…
A recent study on cycling injuries presented at the 2009 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons found that injuries at one trauma center had increased significantly over the past 11 years, reports Medical News Today. Even…
Todd Carmichael, who planned to cross Death Valley in a move that would challenge three world records, called off the expedition yesterday after much deliberation. Carmichael had hoped to complete the longest open desert self-supported manhaul solo in history, with no outside help. That's…
Belgian cyclist Frank Vandenbroucke, whose once promising career was repeatedly derailed by doping scandal, drug and alcohol problems, and depression, was found dead today. AFP has the story here. John BradleyTwitter: johnwbradley…
What may be one of the 20 largest diamonds ever found was recently discovered in the Cullian mine in South Africa, according to National Geographic. The 507.55 carat gem weighs just over 100 grams, and is estimated to be worth close to $20 million. The Cullian mine…
Police in Polk County, Florida, are on the lookout for five raccoons who attacked and injured an elderly woman who tried to shoo them away from her door. USA Today's blog reports that the woman was so severely bitten and scratched that she…
By Stephen Regenold Beginning in the 1940s, the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Mapping Program was tasked with the immense cartographical feat of surveying the entire country to create a series of more than 50,000 topographical maps. Widely-available and mostly accurate, the 1:24,000-scale government maps canvas…
When feet started floating into the dark, coastal bays of British Columbia, it wasn’t hard to imagine the worst, especially when the Mounties went silent. Even paradise has an underbelly.
But beneath his foul language and outrageous antics, the Czech photographer is the greatest living observer of human suffering and spirit.
Quotes from Stranded (now out on DVD; $30, zeitgeistfilms.com), a gripping new documentary about the survivors of the 1972 Andes plane crash depicted in the film Alive.
Luanne Freer talks about saving lives in the world's highest emergency room.
I went to a school and was promised I would be able to track a mouse across a cement floor after a week. I couldn't. Is it possible to get that good, that fast?
Ben Sherwood talks about the secrets and science that can save your life.
If a shark doesn't kill you, shallow-water blackout or a giant propeller might. But the spearfishermen freediving the oil rigs off Louisiana's coast don't let that get in the way of the hunt for fresh tuna.
Times are tough, but growing and killing your own food isn't the answer.
He snuck a parachute up the Empire State Building under a fat suit. He says he knows how to fly. Crazy? Maybe. But Jeb Corliss is sure fun to watch.
Every hour of every day, behemoth container ships cruise the highways of ocean commerce, loaded with stereos and lobster and plastic air fresheners. And during the winter storm season, massive waves from out of nowhere can wreck these arks of global trade.
If I go off the beaten path at a ski resort and get lost, what should I do? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
Survivorman LES STROUD talks about venturing into the world's harshest environments alone, and the importance of a good harmonica.
Deserts tend to be, well, dry. But there's still sometimes water to be found—if you know where to look.
My 12-year-old daughter gets very cold at night when we’re camping. We are backpackers and tend to camp just under treeline between May and October. She currently uses a junior polyfill bag with an inflatable pad and some good long underwear. What could we do to keep her warm and give us a peaceful night’s sleep?
Karl Stanley is a stubborn, unconventional big talker with some powerful enemies. He's also a fearless mad genius who's reinvented DIY exploration in his homemade submarine. Ready to climb aboard?
GPS units in hand, obsessed adventurers are roaming the world to claim a new set of firsts: 16,232 places where major lines of latitude and longitude intersect. Sound geeky? Not when your sweet spot is at 17,000 feet on the side of a remote Bolivian volcano.
In the January 2008 issue of Outside, writer Alan Prendergast investigates the death of Peter Absolon, the Rocky Mountain Director of NOLS. High in the Wind River Range of Wyoming, in a flash of catastrophic bad luck, Absolon lost everythingwithout making one wrong move. In this mountain tragedy, nature was…
Ever wonder how it feels to get attacked by a shark? Spend seven weeks lost in the jungle? Get buried by multiple avalanches? Brace yourself for 10 of the hairiest survival stories ever told—and the life-saving tips you can learn from them.
What happens when two brothers plunge through the ice of a frozen Wisconsin river? One refuses to give up, the other refuses to die, and each has a very different story to tell.
Bear Grylls has endured Everest, the North Atlantic, and, for his hit show Man vs. Wild, many a ghastly meal. So can he survive being called a fraud? This is not a man to bet against.
On road trips to remote places, other than a set of jumper cables and a quart of motor oil, what else do I need to keep in the car in the event of a mishap? In other words, what are the essentials for road safety/survival? Jeff Los Angeles, California
Did our November 2007 feature package "The Good, the Bad, & the Just Plain Lucky" get you squirming for more thrills? Here, check out our archive of past tales of woe, plus instructional videos from the Wilderness Medical Society's annual conference.
In early September, shortly before departing London to begin filming the new season of his hit Discovery Channel series Man Vs. Wild, Bear Grylls granted Outside an exclusive e-mail interview. It was the first time he'd communicated directly with the press since allegations surfaced in July that he'd slept in hotels during the filming of s
Introducing a master's course in adventure, fitness, gear, sports, sex, and so much more. Because it's a big world out there—and you need to be prepared.
For the July 2007 feature story "Me. By Myself. For a Long Time. (Very Long.)", we sent Thayer Walker to the uninhabited island of Isla Pargo with little more than a dive mask, a knife, and the clothes on his back. Here, see video diary segments from his time on the island, a gallery of his photos, and hear a podcast interview with the man himself.
...to travel smarter, go faster, dress better, eat right, work less, and play more.
I’m trying to build up a comprehensive survival “grab-bag” of sorts, with items such as a compass, medical supplies, and emergency food. What are your recommendations for essential supplies that should be in such a kit? Colton Chaska, Minnesota
Alive survivor Nando Parrado reveals the untold harrowing account of the 1972 plane crash in the Andes and its terrible aftermath
An exclusive conversation with the hero of one of the greatest survival stories of all time.
In Outside's May 2006 issue (on newsstands April 11), Nando Parrado finally reveals the untold horrors of the Alive survivors’ suffering—and the courage and faith that got them out alive. Here’s a sneak preview of our exclusive excerpt from Parrado’s book Miracle in the Andes, to be published by Crown on May 9.
Hurricane Katrina transformed the Gulf Coast into a surreal, swiftly changing landscape of devastation and survival. In the days that followed, a photographer and a Mississippi writer traveled along the coast to New Orleans, documenting the impact of the biggest natural disaster in American history.
They've done it! Here, view the final entry from the Adventure Philosophy team. They’ve successfully completed the first circumnavigation of South Georgia Island.
Here, view the journal entries of the Adventure Philosophy team as they attempt the first circumnavigation of South Georgia Island.
For decades, no one had traversed the entire length of the Wakhan, following the old Silk Road from the northward bend of the Panj River. We had no idea if it could be done.
Here, view the journal entries of the Adventure Philosophy team as they attempt the first circumnavigation of South Georgia Island.
Here, view the journal entries of the Adventure Philosophy team as they attempt the first circumnavigation of South Georgia Island.
Here, view the journal entries of the Adventure Philosophy team as they attempt the first circumnavigation of South Georgia Island.
Here, view the journal entries of the Adventure Philosophy team as they attempt the first circumnavigation of South Georgia Island.
Here, view the journal entries of the Adventure Philosophy team as they attempt the first circumnavigation of South Georgia Island.
ENOUGH WITH SILLY STUNTS on tropical islands—Survivor is so yesterday. For the real deal in white-knuckle reality TV, check out Survivorman. Each episode of the new Science Channel series—premiering September 16 at 9 p.m. EDT—finds 43-year-old survival expert Les Stroud alone in one of the planet’s harshest environments, from the…
Adventure, big and small, is all about risk. The risk that things may go terribly wrong. That danger will finally cut off your credit and hit you with a hefty bill. That luck will flee the scene as the dark tide rises. In the tales of calamity that follow, our 13 unlucky writers hold forth on their personal odysseys into the land of nightmares.