This is just an incredible story. Chris Waddell was a promising skier at Middlebury College when an accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. Unwilling to give up his passion, he went on to become the most decorated male skier in Paralympic history. Now Chris is attempting to become the first paraplegic to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. Watch CBS News Videos Online It is looking as if he will make the actual...

One of the easiest of the Adirondack High Peaks to hike, Cascade Mountain is often considered a good starting point for those looking to experience a summit in the area. Along with the accessibility of its trailhead, the low round-trip mileage of this half-day hike has helped make it one of the most frequently climbed in the park. However, despite its popularity – or maybe in some ways because of it –...

Episode 1 of Ken Burns’ new documentary “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” aired several time yesterday, but in case you missed it (and forgot to set your DVR) you can watch the video over at PBS Online: http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/watch-video/#872 The video will be available until October 9th. Subsequent episodes will also be available the day after they air. Image from...

Starting Sunday, September 27 at 8:00pm ET/PT, PBS will begin airing the the six-part documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. Nearly a decade in the making, the documentary features stunning footage from some of America’s most pristine wilderness, including Acadia, Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. The six two-hour episodes are scheduled to air as follows: 1. The Scripture...

Eastern Mountain Sports launched their new website today. While not a drastic change in terms of branding or overall aesthetics, they did streamline the site and improve upon its navigation and usability. My guess is that most visitors will notice something has changed, but will probably have a hard time pointing to something specific. A lot of the user experience improvements are subtle. Things like enhanced...

From 9,000 vertical feet. With a flight time of just about 3 minutes. Landing almost 6 kilometers away. Dean Potter continues to push the boundaries of BASE jumping and seems to be flirting with the realm of human flight. In late August, Dean climbed up the west ridge of the Eiger and found his new jumping spot, almost 2,000 feet higher than the one other jumpers had been using. This amazing video captures...

Attempting to summit all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000 foot peaks comes with its own rewards. Along the way you visit little-known sections of the White Mountains, you get to experience remote wilderness and the exhilaration of climbing a mountain, and you can take in some of the most spectacular views in the North East. However, 27 year old Tim Evans has another reward in mind. Giving back to an organization...

The Chubb River has always been a bit of an Adirondack landmark for us. Reaching it signaled that we were close to finishing our Northville Placid thru-hikes. However, we recently had the opportunity to enjoy the river in another way… by paddling it. A small tributary of the Ausable River, with quick and easy access from Lake Placid, we found the Chubb to be a perfect afternoon adventure.

The fallout continues for SIGG. Amidst reports that their water bottle liners included the controversial chemical BPA (bisphenol A), some outdoor vendors are pulling the bottles from their inventories. Patagonia has even terminated its relationship with the company. REI has joined in on the fun. I received an email from REI Public Affairs in response to my questions about the topic, and in it they state that...

I’ve driven by the trailhead more times than I can count, yet never stopped to actually climb Giant Mountain. With such an accessible trail, and mileage that fits nicely into a day hike, I was saving it for a time when I was feeling less ambitious, or when my schedule was less flexible. That day finally arrived on our most recent Lake Placid vacation. Feeling motivated enough to get out for a hike, but...