Archive for the ‘Extreme Vacations’ Category

Some time ago, we did an article on the Borneo Eco-Challenge adventure race. This was in the early days when we were just discovering adventure racing as an extreme sport. The Borneo eco-challenge was obviously a popular event as we have subsequently received many requests for further information.

This event has not had a recent re-run. However,  ESPN STAR Sport Event Management and associates have come up with a new event:  the Perak Amanjaya Eco Race 2009.

This is rather a last minute alert, but the whole race is a little bit last-minute anyway, which is why this year it is invitation only. However, the organisers intend this to be an annual event so bookmark it now for next year…

The race is due to begin on the 2nd December, completing by the 6th December, 2009 and promises to be an adventure race classic. It will include such disciplines as Trail Running, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, In-line Skating, Abseiling, Canyoning, Rapelling and Swimming… and the state government of Parak, Malaysia, will be hosting the event.

Location, location, location. Don’t we hear that so often? Well, this event is definitely in a beautiful location. It begins in the Royal Belum State Park (rainforest) which is the largest continuous forest complex in Peninsular Malaysia and which crosses into Southern Thailand. It is estimated to be as old as 130 million years, making it older than the jungle of the Amazon or Congo – sorry, I can never resist a little history! Needless to say, some areas of this magnificent forest are being plundered by loggers… when will we ever learn?

This region receives about 2,200 cm of rain per annum – so expect it to be wet! It also has its fair share of big cats, venomous snakes, elephant, Sumatran rhino’s plus a whole host of other bird and wildlife.

Banding Island as seen from Tower House

The race starts at Banding Bridge which is the gateway to Royal Belum Rainforest. A quick run across the bridge and then an abseil down to the lake sets the event off to an exciting start. You then swim to a pontoon, get a kayak and paddle across to the lake shore where you will have to carry your kayak along a jungle trail to the next stretch of water where you will kayak back to the island, leave the kayak and run back to the bridge. An in-line skate across the bridge will bring the first day to a close.

Day 2 starts at the foot hill of Taiping Hill where there will be a trail run to a waterfall. After canyoning down the waterfall competitors will run to Taiping Lake Garden (the first public garden established during the British rule in Malaysia), and in-line skate under the Golden Raintrees. From here there will be a mountain bike ride to the Kampung river mouth for another kayak to Kuala Sepetang and final run on the boardwalk to finish at the jetty of Kuala Sepetang.

Day 3 will be a rest day but also a transfer from Taiping to Pasir Salak where the race will continue.

Pasir Salak is the place where modern Malaysia took shape. It is where the independence movement against the British began and where the first British  resident of Perak, James W.W. Birch, was murdered on 2nd November, 1875. The rebellion of 1875 in Pasir Salak sowed the seeds of nationalism, which manifested itself in the form of opposition to colonialism, and to the formation of a Malayan Union, which ignited the flame of independence.

Today Pasir Salak is an historical site whose purpose is to remind the younger generation of the events there and the fight against colonialism in Perak, and also to remember the struggle and the sacrifice of the warriors to uphold the dignity of the race and country.

So, after yet another history lesson from me, I shall continue with the matter at hand – the eco-challenge adventure race:

Day 4 kicks off with a mountain bike ride up to the beautiful Ulu Geruntum, which is the raft starting point. From here you white water raft down to Kampung Jahang…

run to the cave entrance to start the caving section…

and finish with a run to the finish line at Kampung Tengah.

Day 5, the final day, starts at Pasir Salak with a mountain bike ride to Teluk Batik, kayak to Teluk Segadas at Pangkor Island, rapel down the rock, run to Teluk Dalam beach, swim in the sea in front of Teluk Dalam and finally finish at the beach of Teluk Dalam.

For 2009 this event is open to teams of 2 persons only – male, female or co-ed; only 20 teams are invited and again, for this year, it is an ‘invitation only’ event. Teams are coming from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macao, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, USA and Finland.

For those of you who would like to enter but wonder what on earth your better half (!) is going to do whilst you’re battling your way through the jungle (if your better half isn’t battling through it with you) … remember that glancing reference I made above to the type of fauna to be found in the Royal Belum National Park?  Well, I then came across this little list – and please bear in mind it is not a final list, of what sort of flora and fauna can be seen and enjoyed in the Royal Belum Rainforest:

247 species of birds
100 species of mammals
170 species of butterflies
251 species of moths
51 species of land snails
36 species of aquatic and semi aquatic bugs
25 species of cicadas
24 species of amphibians
21 species of lizards
23 species of snakes
23 speices of freshwater fish
7 species of freshwater and land turtles
62 species of moss
64 species of ferns
46 species of palms
30 species of gingers
3000 species of flower plants
3 species of freshwater decapod
44 species of wild fruit trees

Apart from that there is the Taiping Lake Garden which, at 222 acres, is the biggest urban parkland in Malaysia, designed and built about 130 years ago in the remains of an old tin mine. It has beautifully laid out ponds, lakes, and reputably, the best zoological gardens in the whole region. And then there’s the spectacular beach of Teluk Dalam and the beautiful island of Pangkor. Just a few of things one might see and do out there. No-one could possibly be bored…

Eldorado Springs is in Boulder County, Colorado and the Eldorado Canyon State Park (20 minutes from downtown Boulder) is famous for the many classic North-American climbing routes that are found here. It has some of the best trad. climbing in Colorado.

It is a town that once lay claim to the largest swimming pool in the country, but now boasts the best-tasting water in North America – as judged at the 1996 International Festival of the Water’s, Toast to the Tap Contest.

Eldorado Canyon has been a magnet for adrenaline junkies for decades – dare-devil Ivy Baldwin demonstrated his heroics by crossing Eldorado Canyon on a tight-rope suspended high above the canyon floor. Guest lists included such famous names as Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower, actor Douglas Fairbanks and heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey.

However, it’s the wide variety of spectacular rock climbing that we are here to talk about…

Eldo is made up of steep, beautiful conglomerate sandstone walls of up to 700 feet high, in brilliant shades of red and gold. The rock quality, although sandstone, is more similar to granite than to the soft sandstone found throughout much of Utah and Arizona.

The largest cliff, Redgarden Wall, is a few thousand feet wide; it boasts several spectacular summits and an incredible collection of classic climbs.

photo courtesy of Ron Olsen

I know many places claim to have the “finest rock climbing in the country”, but this is something pretty special – with names like Freight Train, Iron Monkey, The Naked Edge (5.11), Grandmother’s Challenge (5.10c), Anthill Direct (5.9), Over the Hill (5.10.b), Bastille 5.7/5.8),  Scary Canary (5.12), Eldorado Canyon has over 500 established routes to offer. 5.13s are fairly rare, due to bolt restrictions, but some historic classics such as Desdichado and Rainbow Wall do exist. It has something to offer every standard of climber…

This is truly amazing for a canyon this small; indeed the entire park covers an area of only a half square mile.

Eldo has long attracted the best climbers worldwide who come to defy gravity on cutting-edge face climbs, steep cracks, and exposed, gutsy roof routes. The mere mention of such classic climbs as Rosy Crucifixion (10a) and The Naked Edge (5.11) inspire respect and anticipation in the hearts of rock climbers everywhere.

Top ropes and exclusively bolted leads are rare in Eldorado. The Eldorado sport routes start at 5.11.

Bolts, pitons, and other fixed gear are not maintained by the park. While technical climbs do not require registration, it is your responsibility to make sure someone reports your absence if you happen to be overdue.

photo courtesy of Stacy Bender

“Eldorado is one of the most intensely used rock climbing places in the U.S.,” said Tim Metzger, the Park Manager. “It’s a very historic sight. People have been climbing here since the ’50s. We now attract over 70,000 technical climbers each year.”

Just look at this face – Bastille Crack (5.7/5.8) with climbers on pitch 2:

photo courtesy of Stacy Bender

What better way could you possibly pass a weekend? Hmm, having said that, weekends are of course free for everyone and it can be a bit of a bun-fight there – to avoid crowds it might be better to try going in the middle of the week sometime – this will not ensure solitude but will at least give you a better chance of finding it.

Ideally, a traditional climber’s road trip to Boulder should include a day at Eldo followed by a day at Lumpy Ridge (45 minutes from Boulder). Both offer fantastic climbing, but it is hard to imagine two more different styles. Lumpy Ridge is mainly highly technical granite that requires solid footwork compared to Eldo’s sandstone.

One can climb in Eldo at any time of year, though summer is piping hot, while winter is inconsistent. It is always always popular, and 20 minutes from downtown Boulder, ‘far from the madding crowd’ it is not…

Because Eldo is such a small area with such a wealth of climbs it can be a little confusing. The best guidebook for the region is  Richard Rossiter’s comprehensive “Rock Climbing Eldorado Canyon”. However, Fred Knapp’s “Classic Boulder Climbs” is about a third of the cost, and still has most of the best routes as well as other great routes around Boulder.

On an environmental note, please remember that the walls at Eldorado Canyon are also crucial breeding areas for birds of prey which are extremely sensitive to human disturbance during their nesting and roosting cycle.To protect nesting and roosting sites of falcons, seasonal raptor closures are in effect from February 1 – July 31, 2006. Routes include: The Naked Edge (last 3 pitches only), the Diving Board, Centaur, Redguard (last 3 pitches), Red Ant, Semi-Wild, Anthill Direct (last 3 pitches), and the Sidetrack…. However, please contact City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks at (303) 441-3440 to make sure you are able to climb where you want to, when you intend to…

My thanks for the use of these wonderful photographs.

This amazing mountain bike riding adventure awaits the courageous. Dubbed “The World’s Most Dangerous Road” by the Inter-American Development Bank in 1995, it has claimed more than 150 lives a year since opening in the 1930s.

The ride begins at La Cumbre Pass, 45 minutes northeast of La Paz, in Bolivia — the world’s highest large city with more than 1 million residents. Herds of llamas and an occasional alpaca trek the mountain slopes near the pass.

Cyclist deaths are not uncommon; two were killed on this road in August, and at least 15 have died since 1998. Shattered wrists, broken legs and other severe injury are not unusual.

The video from vosgym shows you what you will encounter.

Norman Pillsbury, a professor at Cal Poly State University completed the ride in early Setember and had this to say of his experiences:

‘…… onto the bikes, with special goggles and face muffs in place we were off, single file, for the 15-mile paved section. Sailing at eye-watering speed down the mountain, it was like waking from a dream. Flanked on either side by treeless, snow-capped peaks of the Andes, rough and majestic, windswept and towering, I heard myself say, “I can’t believe I’m really doing this!” It was both magnificent and surreal. I was barely aware of the canyons below as I raced down steep pitches of road, concentrating instead on the edge of the road I claimed as mine.’

This downhill route starts at 15,250 feet and drops to 3,850 feet in 40 miles, a whopping 11,400-foot descent. Altitude is not the only factor – the temperature could easily range from well below zero at the top, with wind chill factor to boot, to a more temperate 30 degrees C – 90 degrees F – when you get to the bottom.

You can do this fantastic journey with www.gravitybolivia.com who continue with the story:

‘…….. after a brief undulating section of road we enter the jungle itself and the most challenging part of the ride. This infamous narrow dirt road is cut precariously into the side of the mountain and descends 2,000m (6,500 feet). With 1,000m+ (3,300 feet) sheer drops off to our left and hulking rock overhangs and cascading waterfalls to our right, we ride through mist, low cloud and dust……’

Its a great website and will give you all the information you need on how to get there, where to stay, clothing to bring, insurance etc. Top quality bikes are provided and the booking will cost you in the region of $85 and will take you 4 to 5 hours to complete – it does look like an extreme adventure.

Photo courtesy of www.gravitybolivia.com

Yesterday we blogged about swimming with the world’s largest fish – today we turn to the land and report on riding the African elephant – planet earth’s largest land mammal.

Photo courtesy of Dana Allen and Wilderness Safaris

Riding an elephant has long been associated with the Indian elephant but only relatively recently have their African cousins been used for transporting people. www.southafrica.info takes up the story.

‘In 1997 a three-month-old elephant bull was found stuck in a silt dam near Hoedspruit in Limpopo. Discovered by Lente Roode, founder of the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre and now owner of Camp Jabulani, the exhausted and malnourished elephant calf was immediately taken to the centre.’

In 2002 Roode bought 12 trained elephants from Zimbabwe and introduced them to the the calf who had been called Jabulani – meaning ‘happiness’ and now 5 years old – and he became part of the herd. This was the start of safaris on elephant back in South Africa.

South Africa is not alone as a destination for safaris on elephant – two of the more famous locations where you can go on elephant back safaris are the Okavango Delta in Botswana and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

The great advantage in viewing from such a vantage point is that the game is not frightened by the approach of an elephant with a strange lump on its back and so you can observe the animals in their natural environment.

In the video below from jonisea you can see how unperturbed the giraffe are as the elephants walk past. This video is shot in Zambia. At Jabulani Camp – named after the 3 month old elephant stuck in silt and saved –  in South Africa there is a chance of being able to see from your elephant Africa’s ‘Big Five’ – namely the lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino – now that would be an extreme ride.

If this is all that’s missing in your life then that can be easily remedied. All you have to do is sign up to the The Adventurists Club and partake in a few of their weird, wonderful,wacky and extreme adventures – or, if pressed for time, or lacking in decision, you need only attend one of their parties, whether it be the Christmas one, the tea party or a picnic. Here you can rub shoulders with those who HAVE done some of the crazy things that The Adventurists throw together… and then make up your mind.

Like what you might ask?

Well, two of them we have already reported on: The Mongol Rally (charityrallies) and The Mongol Derby .

Both were huge successes this year.

THE MONGOL RALLY

The Mongol Rally is already fully subscribed for 24th July, 2010 but there is an operating waiting list and there might still be a chance for you to do this crazy race. All around the world people are already sourcing their tiny car (any car with more than 1000cc of umph is strictly forbidden), approaching sponsors, and choosing their own charities to support.

Having said that The Adventurists are bending the rules slightly by allowing a 1.2 l engine. This is only in the interests of the beneficiaries at the other end. Am I making no sense?

Ok, here’s the deal. One of the final charities you can support on this race is the Mongolians themselves. You can donate your car to them at the end of the race. However, in the interests of longevity, the Mongolian government has kindly requested that any cars donated be younger than 10 years old. And it is now quite difficult to find a car in this catagory of less than 1 litre. Sooo, 1.2 is acceptable…just.

There are only 3 rules for the Mongol Rally: once over the start line you are entirely responsible for yourself; you have to raise £1,000 per team for the  official rally charities, and the car size.

Apart from that, and in the immortal words of The Adventurists: “Other than these rules you are free to sneak, bribe, cheat, connive and generally out-wit the world to get yourselves to the end. In fact you will probably have to. If you get to the finish line without some good stories to tell, then the Mongol Rally has failed its mission. Which it won’t.”

THE RICKSHAW RUN

This one happened very recently and I kept my eye on it, but didn’t, I’m afraid, report on it at all – however it looks like a whole lot of outrageous fun and it’ll be happening again next year.

“With no preparation and less luggage one flies to the Indian Subcontinent and does one’s damndest to force 150cc of Indian engineering over thousands of miles of questionable terrain in around two weeks.”

This race is so popular that it now happens 3 times a year!

The Winter Run, 2010 starts on New Year’s Day and finishes, with a bit of luck, on 16th January.

The Spring Run begins on 28th March and ends 11th April.

The dates for the Monsoon Run are not yet in  – but it will be in September.

And don’t for a moment think that constancy creates familiarity – the route changes every time, each time having its fair share of huge mountains, dirt tracks, tropical jungle and in September the extra attraction of monsoons.

The Adventurists aim to please and the only way they can ensure this is to make sure there is plenty of opportunity for adventure.

What exactly is the venerable transport that is being offered?

The Rickshaw has three wheels, half a horse power and guarantees more fun than any other vehicle on planet earth in a race like this. “It is undoubtedly the ultimate long distance, off road machine, despite being designed for short distances on road,” promise the organisers.

The £1,000 rule, as above, applies – 1000 quid per team to go towards the chosen official charity…

THE MONGOL DERBY

“This will be no ordinary horse race. The Mongol Derby is not a test of the horse’s speed, but the rider’s skill, endurance and the toughness of the skin between their legs,” say the Adventurists.

The idea of the race was thought of about four years ago by The Adventurists,  “we do a lot of work in Mongolia, and because the horse is sacred over there we decided to try a horse race,” said the spokesman. “It is based on Genghis Khaan’s ancient postal system, where riders crossed Mongolia to Eastern Europe in about 14 days changing horses at urtuus–horse stations–along the way. It’s a massive logistical challenge.”

100 people applied to take part in the first Derby run in August this year and 26 entrants were chosen. This is a race that covers 1,000 km stopping at 25 stations, ride 25 different horses, picked on a first-come, first-served basis. the selected 26 were all experienced horsemen with polo players, endurance riders, eventers, and amateur point-to-point jockeys amongst them.

The Mongolian horses are semi-wild and between 12-14hh.

The Mighty Africa Rally

This race is about to happen – 13th December

On top of the 3 rules that apply for the Mongol Rally – there is a very important 4th one for this race – the left hand drive rule...

The race begins in Europe and ends in Cameroon. In October 2008 the law in Cameroon changed to state that right-hand drive cars were from henceforth illegal. As the cars are auctioned there for charity at the end of the race, Cameroon’s law must be respected…

You can head through Africa to Cameroon in any number of ways… as always with The Adventurists’ races – the choice is entirely yours. You could head west through a gaggle of coastal countries before heading inland through Mali, Niger and Nigeria. Or perhaps feast on Pecorino and Prosecco in Italy before going south through Tunisia and the Algerian Sahara.

The same rules apply:

1. Charity - raising huge sums of cash for awesome projects
2. Vehicles - 1-litre, Left Hand drive and completely unsuitable
3. The route - there isn’t one
4. On your own - there’s absolutely no back up, it interferes with your adventure like a nasty rash so there is none…

Mad dog an Englishman… need I say more?

THE MOTOTAXI JUNKET

And then there’s this one -

With three wheels, a throbbing heart of 124.01cc, steering that works faultlessly in straight lines, and brakes that slow you down gently, The Adventurists feel that the Mototaxi is the perfect vehicle for thundering across some of the most remote terrain on the South American continent, crossing the Andes and driving along the most dangerous road in the world.

The Stats…

Starting in the deserty hills of Huancayo, Peru, you and your Mototaxi will go through the high Andes – a ridiculous feat for a machine already ill-equipped for the flat. After that the choice of routes is yours. Lying in wait is everything you could ever want from an adventure. Squelch right through the Amazonian rainforest on dirt tracks, float across the biggest salt flats in the world, thunder through the driest desert in the world, through the highest capital city in the world, along the most dangerous road in the world, and through one of the most remote wildernesses in the continent, the Chaco. A place so vast and empty they have a prison without walls since there is nowhere to escape to…

The aim of this race, as with all the others, is to ensure that you have an adventure. For this reason you are forbidden to take your Mototaxi on any highways and you have just 2 weeks to complete the race.

But be assured that there will be a party to end all parties in Asunción in Paraguay some 4000km later.

If these races stir something in the deeper recesses of your soul, then I suggest you head over to the official site (www.theadventurists.com) and see which one you can sign up for… or follow the links below:

Mongol Rally – London to Mongolia in tiny cars

Mongol Derby – World’s longest multi-horse race 1000km across Mongolia

Rickshaw Run – Goa to Pokhara in auto-rickshaws

Mototaxi Junket – Three wheeling from Peru to Paragu

I know this isn’t exactly extreme sport – but it’s an extreme variation of adventure and well worth reporting on!

It will be fun – of that you can be certain.

Having just explored Cornwall’s rock climbing regions I thought I might just duck across into another of our favourite topics – kitesurfing – and see what Cornwall has to offer here…

Needless to say – it looks fantastic. Cornwall has the largest area of coastline in England, nine river estuaries and about 300 beaches… not bad, not bad. Whether you’re a first time flyer or a sponsored pro, there is something to challenge everyone.

As with most beaches in the UK, high tide in Cornwall can be a problem and it is not advisable to kite at least 2 hours either side of it at any of the beaches. And, as with many beaches all around the world now, some  have restrictions so you do need to check this out about before launching. It is this sort of thoughtless error which is resulting in more and more restrictions being put into place…

Watergate Bay,near Newquay.

An indication of the quality of this 2 and a half mile long beach for kitesurfing is that in 2002 it was chosen as the perfect site for the first European Kitesurfing Championships.  It is now used annually for the BKSA tour and it is probably the most famous kitesurfing beach in the UK. There is plenty of room for everyone to fly and, with a variety of winds, something for everyone. The beauty of this beach is its safeness (apart from high tide). There is a prevailing SW, but if it veers W, NW or even N it is still safe to stay out. Big Atlantic swells do come in quite often, so you need to be ready to turn quickly if trying to get out the back. However, it is still safe to stay on the inside and play on the large flat sheets of water where it remains shallow – although you stand the risk of being beached.

The main dangers are a small strip of rocks, just to the right of the beach when looking out to sea, and the high cliffs that effect the wind if you get too close.  There are no restrictions on this beach, but you are expected to walk up the beach to the more quiet areas before setting up.

Marazion, south coast and near the island St. Michael’s Mount

The sand on Marazion is coarse so it would probably be a good idea to wear protective booties. There is a small concrete wall separating the road from the beach and although this is useful – it can be a hazard for a kite surfer! Swells are smaller on the south side, but the S, SW or SE winds can still generate messy breaks for you to contend with. There is an outlet pipe further up the beach towards Penzance and also Longrock beach. Some kitesurfers will head over there for flatter conditions but there is the odd small rock and thick kelp so it is adviseable to seek local knowledge.

The main hazard here is getting the tide right because when the waves hit the steeper bank they create a lovely shore break that totally destroys kites! Restrictions are coming into place to stop people kiting above Red River near the town end of Marazion and to prevent any kiting activity near to the road and sea wall.

Sennen and Gwenver

Sennen Cove – also great for climbing, is NW facing. It is just 2 miles round the corner from Lands End and is suitable for all levels of kiteboarding. It has excellent access from the car park. Even at high tide there is usually a sand bank in the top corner where you can rig, launch and land in safety. The waves here are frequently monsters, making Sennen a favourite beach in anything from SW to N winds. Beginners should not attempt this beach at high tide, or in heavy surf. Also be careful of the rip currents outside the lifeguarded zones. These can be ferocious. If you are not confident in rip currents, don’t go out.

But when the lemmings have gone at the end of the day, then Sennen comes into its own – surfers and kiteboarders do battle in style.

Hayle Towans on the north coast in the bay of St. Ives

Hayle, otherwise known as The Bluff, is regarded by some to be the best place to kitesurf in Cornwall, but you can only go there when the wind is N, NW or NE. It is a river estuary providing flat shallow water as well as some swell where the water deepens. It is a great place for working on new tricks. However, as with all river mouths, there are strong currents so keep in the shallows where you can stand up to launch your kite and retrieve your board. Boards are often lost here, so a retractable leash is advisable.

No kitesurfing is allowed in the river when the water is above knee depth or boats are present. Fishermen are making complaints about kitesurfers and this is jeopardising the future of kitesurfing at Hayle. Enjoy it while it lasts…

Gwithian Bay in St. Ives

This is the longest continuous piece of sand in Cornwall but it is named differently depending upon where you park. It is NW facing and is an excellent wave riding spot with N, NW, W, and SW winds. There is easy access from the cliff top carpark and there is generally plenty of space. The beach sand is hard which makes it perfect for buggies and mountain boarding too. There are a couple of big rocks that you need to pinpoint before the water covers them and the water tends to come right up to the cliffs on big tides so watch out.

This beach can get busy with holidaymakers and surfers. There are no restrictions on this beach as yet so make sure you stay in the clear area and then with a bit of luck there will never be restrictions…

That should keep you busy for a bit… there are a lot more beaches down there – 300 didn’t I say? but we have picked out a few on both the north and south coast. Once you start exploring Cornwall you will no doubt be bewitched by a beach I have neglected to mention…

Just one more thing.

It is adviseable to have valid insurance of at least £5m.The BKSA (British Kite Surfing Association) offers worldwide cover which covers all kite activities, even snow-kiting. It costs £30 and can be bought online from the BKSA.