LABOR DAY WEEKEND - END OF A SEASON

Photo - HSA

The End of Summer is Here

Labor Day Weekend is upon us; the traditional North American weekend that, for all intents and purposes, signifies the end of summer.
While the calendar may say otherwise, for most school children, parents, and vacationers the season is done.

The long weekend is the last opportunity for many to enjoy one last day at the beach, one last weekend camping, or some other adventure before the fall season will be upon us.

While Fall and Winter have their own grandiose adventure opportunities such as skiing, snowboarding, winter hikes and such, it is Summer that has always allowed many of us the most joy.

So as we say goodbye to a spectacular season, HSA asks everyone to do something fun this weekend... do something challenging... give yourself a reason to say that you enjoyed the summer...

In fact, it could be a perfect opportunity to take us up on the HSA Challenge... either way, leave a reply to this post, or hit us up on our Facebook page and tell us what you did with your Labor Day Weekend.

As we here at Human Spirit of Adventure are quite fond of saying, "What Will You Do???"

 

WARRIOR WOUNDS...

Photo: HSA

Warrior Wounds - Post your Pics

Warrior wounds... we all get them. To an adventurer, its just part of the lifestyle. Cuts, bruises, blisters, and broken bones, while painful at the time, eventually remind us of the things we've done and the places we've been. Scars serve as a trophy for pushing ourselves to go farther and higher.

I got this one while sending a little boulder in one of the city parks on Padre Island. It seems someone had fun breaking beer bottles at the top of the boulder...

HSA would love to see pics of your warrior wounds!

Post pics of your wounds on our Facebook Page and tell us how you got them... It's not adventure without a little blood!

www.facebook.com/Humanspiritofadventure

What Will You Do???



TIME WARP TUESDAY - HURRICANE IKE

Video From The Vault: Aftermath (Hurricane Ike 2008)

Today's Time warp Tuesday takes us back to 2008 and Hurricane Ike.

This video from HSA predecessor Texas Surf TV, shows some Texas waves and the destruction left along the coast by that massive storm.


Watch and Enjoy!!!



Aftermath from Sirfur Productions on Vimeo.

TIPS AND TRICKS: FOOT CARE FOR ADVENTURERS

Photo Courtesy: takealonghike.com

Take Care of Your Feet

There is no tool or equipment more essential to an adventurer than their feet. If your feet are not healthy, it rips the fun out of any adventure.

No matter the sport, if you hike, ski, swim, bike, surf, or anything else, your feet are essential to achieving your goals. 

When I was going through Army basic training at Ft. Benning GA and the first 20 mile road march was coming up, the Drill Sergeants gave us all plenty of good advice about preventing and managing blisters. They suggested keeping our feet clean and dry, wearing two pairs of socks, using mole skin on the hot spots, changing socks during the march, and finally (believe it or not) wear pantie hose. Yes, pantie hose.
Naturally, a bunch of testosterone-filled, infantry trainees were going to have no part of wearing pantie hose... till the second road march came along. As it turned out, pantie hose help considerably in preventing blisters and also improve circulation to the legs.

These days however, technology has much improved socks, boots, and other things that will help prevent blisters on your feet, but certain needs still must be addressed... like proper fitting footwear and keeping your feet clean and dry.

BMC out of the UK has a great article on their website about help with foot care on the trail. 

Their article explains some of the painful details about friction blisters, risk factors, prevention, treatment, complications, and more...

Check it out at the link HERE... Warning: Graphic pics ahead

Take care of your feet adventurers... they are an essential resource!


ROAD TRIP: SOUTH PADRE WRAP UP

Photo: HSA

Road Trip Wrap Up: South Padre Island

As mentioned in our earlier post, we found ourselves on a road trip to South Padre Island for a little fun and adventure. It was a nice getaway.

We set out on Friday around noon on the 3 hour drive to our destination. When we arrived we were greeted by the beautiful blue water of SPI's end of the Laguna Madre. Traffic wasn't too bad as we crossed the Queen Isabella Causeway and ventured into town to check in at the hotel.

The room was not quite ready when we arrived so we stopped in at a local B&G for a cocktail and chips with salsa while we waited. The weather was hot and breezy with the taste of excitement in the air.

After checking in, we cruised around town seeing the sights and eventually made our way to Isla Blanca Park for a little beach time and a healthy swim. Afterward we returned to the hotel for showers and proceeded to dinner at Louie's Backyard. We were seated at a perfect table to view the regular Friday night fireworks display, which was fairly impressive. We enjoyed the outdoor dining atmosphere and ate our fill on the all-you-can-eat seafood buffet.
I highly recommend Louie's if you are ever in South Padre.

After dinner and a few more drinks, we went back to the hotel to rest up for the next day.


On Saturday we awoke ready for breakfast. We ate a nice little breakfast at a quaint little outdoor spot with a beach view and a total island vibe.
Afterward we made our way back to Isla Blanca for a day at the beach. The original plan had called for surfing, but the tropical disturbance that had been brewing in the Yucatan had fizzled by Saturday morning and the waves were not to be had. So we made up for it with a day of relaxing on the beach, drinking Sangria, and enjoying the beautiful blue waters of the southern Gulf of Mexico.

Sunday morning called for us to pack our bags for it was the last day there. But not all adventure was lost. After breakfast we boarded a catamaran and set off into Laguna Bay for a snorkeling adventure.
The bay had amazing clarity and we were able to enjoy the abundance of sea life. See a couple of screen grabs below...


It was a great trip for a weekend getaway. I lead an island lifestyle regularly, but it was great to get away from my regular beaches for a bit. Adventure is around every corner... all you have to do is look!








Photo: HSA

ROAD TRIP: SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

Courtesy - Mexicotime.net

Time to Hit the Road...

I love a good road trip! Hitting the road to a destination that will bring fun and adventure is a part of the human spirit. 
The road calls us. It beckons us. Indeed it is etched in our spirit just as it is etched into the landscape.

This weekend a road trip will lead me to South Padre Island for a weekend of fun and adventure on the white sandy beaches of South Texas. Adventure awaits with a decent surf forecast, blue waters for snorkeling, and maybe even parasailing if the opportunity presents itself.

Will update later with pics and a wrap up of the trip...

Mahalo!


TIME WARP TUESDAY: VIDEO FROM THE VAULT - Liners 2010

Video From The Vault: Liners - 2010

It is time for Time Warp Tuesday... this is where we at HSA do a throwback kind of thing and post up something from past adventures.

Never heard of it?
That's because this is our first time...

Today we are posting a video from HSA's forerunner, Texas Surf TV. This video is appropriately titled "Liners".  It features a fun little bit of surf... Texas style! Filmed at Packery Channel in Corpus Christi TX during the Spring of 2010.

ENJOY!


Liners from Sirfur Productions on Vimeo.

TAKE THE HSA CHALLENGE: What Will You Do???

Take the HSA Challenge!!!

What is the HSA Challenge you ask? Well, simply put, We here at Human Spirit of Adventure challenge our blog readers, our Facebook followers, and indeed the world, to put a little adventure into your lives. All too often people are bound to their desks, chained to their cell phones, or glued to the TV. Many of those people say to themselves, "If I only had the time I would do ______." Yet, for some reason, they never do.

In comes the HSA Challenge...

We challenge you, our readers and fans, to add some adventure to your lives and document it for the world to see. Here is the concept...


  • Pick at least one day each week to do something adventurous
  • Document the adventure with photos or video
  • Share the adventure with us on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Humanspiritofadventure)
  • And (most important of all)... HAVE FUN
That all there is to it...

Pics do not have to be professional quality... they can be shot with a cell phone in the crappiest conditions. Vids don't have to be professionally shot or edited... this is NOT an editing contest.

This is about human beings breaking away from self-imposed bondage and servitude by injecting fun and adventure into their lives. It's about rekindling that spark down deep within all of us. It's about showing the world that the human spirit is still alive.

I hope that you will all join us in this endeavor...


VIDEO: "LIFE RECLAIMED" Trailer 1

Here it is! The first trailer from the HSA Documentary "Life Reclaimed". "Life Reclaimed" is an inspirational adventure documentary based on the premise that "Nature is Greater than Therapy". It covers the story of a man who lost everything he worked a lifetime to aquire and his fight to reclaim his life from depression, devestation, and lonliness by getting back to his roots in adventure sports.






 
HSA Trailer1B from Sirfur Productions on Vimeo.



GET EARLY PREVIEW OF "LIFE RECLAIMED" TRAILER

GET EARLY PREVIEW OF "LIFE RECLAIMED" TRAILER

The first trailer for the HSA adventure documentary "Life Reclaimed" drops on August 1, 2013.

HSA is offering an early preview of the trailer and it's easy to get.

All you have to do is go to our Facebook Page, "Like" us, and send a message requesting to see it... we will send you a link to view it. 

That's all there is to it folks. So hit us up and we'll hook you up!

Mahalo!


HSA DOCUMENTARY TRAILER TO BE RELEASED...

HSA Documentary Trailer to be released August 1...

HSA is happy to announce that we will be releasing the first trailer of our adventure documentary on August 1, 2013.

Although filming is still ongoing, we thought we would release a little teaser for you soon.

No plot spoilers though...

Stay tuned to our blog and Facebook page for chances to get an early viewing.


FOUR DAYS TILL THE IGW2013 RELEASE - An Early Look

Graphic Courtesy of GoWorld GoPro Project

IGW2013 - An Early Look

With 4 days remaining till the release of the IGW2013 movie, we here at HSA were lucky enough to get a sneak peak of the completed project.

All I can say is WOW!

This is a great piece of work from Adventurer/Filmmaker Mike Cook and Negative4 Productions.

This film features GoPro video from approximately 127 contributors from around 30 countries all shot on the same weekend. It has everything from biking, to wingsuit flying, to rollercoasters... and much, much more.

The GoWorld GoPro Project is doing a limited number of early viewings for the fans... send an email to GoProWeekend2013@gmail.com to be included in a drawing for an early viewing... You won't regret it!

Watch it, and then get ON it!



INTERVIEW: 10 QUESTIONS WITH IGW FOUNDER MIKE COOK

International GoPro Weekend Founder Mike Cook

Interview - IGW Founder Mike Cook

Today marks the release of Trailer #2 of the upcoming IGW2013 movie. International GoPro Weekend movies have become a great benchmark in adventure films and we here at Human Spirit of Adventure are fortunate enough to score an interview with IGW's founder Mike Cook.

Mike is an adventurer/filmmaker out of Colorado who we at HSA consider ourselves lucky enough to have developed a friendship with over the last several months... Read the interview and see the new trailer below...

  1. Tell us, what is the IGW? In a nutshell, IGW is an annual 3-day event where GoPro fanatics from around the world capture something with their camera during this 72 hour window. They then submit their footage and I make a movie that shares our concurrent experiences from this one weekend… International GoPro Weekend. IGW is the most central event of our community, the GoWorld GoPro Project. Our community is here to have fun together, all while sharing our stories with the world using GoPro cameras. IGW is one of those avenues.

  1. What inspired the IGW? In 1986 David Elliot Cohen made a book called “A Day in the Life of America.” The theme: photographers, professional and amateur, all take a photograph on the same day. He then complied the photos and made a book showing what was going on in America on this one day. It was a really simple premise, but it always struck me as powerful. That, and well, I’m actually in one of the pictures. My older sister submitted a photo that made the final cut. I decided to borrow this theme, only using GoPro cameras. As for this theme of sharing concurrent experiences during a specified duration of time, it has gone on for a while. In 2011 Ridley Scott, YouTube, and National Geographic made an online movie called, “Life in a Day”, that had this same theme, but using video. “Life in a Day”, hmmmmm, I wonder where they got that name and idea?

  1. When is the IGW2013 film set to debut? July 15, 2103


 READ MORE AND SEE THE TRAILER AFTER THE JUMP


  1. What was the response to the first IGW film?  The response was really good. Better than I had imagined. From what I remember within a few days of posting it, it had several hundred views, both on Vimeo and YouTube. It racked up a few hundred more in the months that followed, and close to 1,700 combined views once promotion for IGW2013 started. I think since IGW2012 was the first go around, the viewing audience was specific to contributors, and maybe 2 or 3 degrees of separation beyond that. The movie was upwards of 40 minutes. So the fact that many viewers were willing to dedicate that amount of time to an internet video said a lot. It was also during this time that the GWGP Project and IGW started to snowball, something that surprised me and had not planned for. Much of that snowball effect had to do with the release of the IGW2012 Official Trailer and, of course, the final film. Non-participants who had seen those two videos started inquiring, asking how they could get involved and when the next IGW would take place. The release of the final film was supposed be the end of the journey for the GWGP Project. Instead, it was just the beginning.

  1. How has IGW grown since its inception? IGW (and its community, the GoWorld GoPro Project) are only 18 months old, and in that short time both have grown substantially. For IGW2012 I think I had about 38 contributors from 12 countries… This year I had 127 contributors from around 30 countries (I haven’t done a final country count yet). The numbers tripled. Also, when promoting the actual IGW2013 weekend I didn't have to reach out to people individually, asking them if they wanted to take part. GoPro was “liking” the promo videos on YouTube, henceforth 1,000's of people were viewing them and discovering what I was doing. That was definitely not the case for IGW2012. For that one I had to send a lot of messages to GoPro enthusiasts on Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, etc… it was a lot of work. Also, in that short 18 months GWGP Project videos have been viewed over 100,000 times, we have over 1,100 fans on FB, and over 200 contributors from 40 countries submitting content. And now, because of demand for participation I've initiated other GoPro “projects” such as Far Side Project and GoPanoramic (also, keep your eyes pealed for Through Our Eyes and IGS Montage.) The Project has also caught the eye of GoPro. I've been in contact with them about supporting our community. As you might already know, they hooked up a bunch of awesome stuff to give out to the fans of the Project.


  1. How did you get into making adventure films? I've been fond of video editing for over 10 years… long before I ever knew I’d become a video editor. I always thought it would be cool to make skiing films of my buddies and me. But back then the appropriate technology was only accessible to people who could afford it, and things like social networking/media were nonexistent. Thanks to the explosion of digital technology, hardware and software that once would have cost tens of thousands of dollars is now only a few 100. And with platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, you can easily make your content available to the masses.

  1. Who are your influences as a filmmaker?  I’m fanatical about Stanley Kubrick, Oliver Stone, Christopher Nolan, Seb Montaz, and the Cohen Brother. Quentin Tarantino is up there, too, as is my sister Katie Cook. However, I've never really noticed if my videos have trace elements of any of these fine people. Maybe more so in the Far Side Project videos? Those videos have creative editing techniques as well we emotional overtones that are intended to be heavy, powerful, and sometimes unsettling. Actually, come to think of it, Seb Montaz has been a direct influence with some of my videos, specifically with musical flavor. Seb directed "Flight of the Frenchies" which was this visually stunning documentary about some French BASE jumpers. I watched that movie several times for inspiration while editing the IGW2012 movie.

  1. Who is your favorite professional adventurer? Luke Hively. You may not have heard of him yet, but you will… trust me. Luke has contributed to the Project in the past. He’s an aspiring BASE jumper, jumping with his team DBC (Dallas BASE Crew). Because of the Project, I developed a relationship with him and have even gotten to meet him in person. On all levels, Luke’s one of the most grounded, insightful, and inspiring people I've ever met. He’s got a lot to offer, both as an athlete and as a human being. I really hope to see him on top of the game, and soon. (If you want to see him and his team in action, check out “Lucid Dreams 2” on YouTube. It will drop your jaw. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0OEblw70OA).

  1. What do you personally like to do for adventure? Skiing, snowboarding, telemarking, biking, hiking, a little skydiving, and the occasional beer or five.

  1. Would you like to give any shout outs? Absolutely. First off…Sébastien Barrier. He was originally a contributor to the Project, but soon teamed up with me to take on all of the editing for IGW2013 (which there was a lot). To all the people who are a part of the GoWorld GoPro Project community, past, present, and future… THANK YOU. You really don’t know how much your enthusiasm means to me. Also, to the people who said they've been inspired by the Project… the pleasure’s mine. Just remember to pay that inspiration forward. An FYI, I enjoy communicating with the fans more than anything else. Please don’t hesitate to drop a line. It may take a few days for a reply, but I always reply. I would also like to give a shout out to all of the people who have inspired me as well as helped me navigate the difficult times. Lastly, I want to thank GoPro for their continuing support and for hooking up the gear to give out to the fans! GoWorld, GoWild, GoPro!!!





DESTINATION: ADVENTURE - Recap

Photo: HSA

HSA Expedition Recap


Our adventure to the Oklahoma outback was exciting, fun, beautiful, and at times, quite grueling.
We started off leaving our home in Corpus Christi at about 2:00PM on Friday June 14 and drove straight on through to our destination in the Arbuckle Mountains.

We arrived at approximately 1:00AM and slept for a few hours in the jeep waiting for first light to set up our camp. As the first signs of light began to glow, just before the yellow ball peeked it's head above the horizon, we sat up our base camp and prepared for a long hike to the waterfall.

After several hours of hiking we reached our destination. There we found a beautiful 77' waterfall with an inviting natural swimming hole. As it was extremely hot out, I took a dip in the hole while 2 of my companions waded in the shallow stream created by the overflow.

After the swim, we ate lunch and began the trek back to base camp... all the while capturing footage for the HSA documentary. The hike back to camp was equally grueling. Once we were back, we sparked the fire and began cooking our dinner before laying our weary heads to rest.

The following morning, I sat out on an extreme hike to find the source of the creek that eventually lead to the waterfall. It was an arduous journey, full of rugged and steep cliffs, rocky ledges, and thick overgrowth that I had to climb and bushwhack my way through. The end result was worth the 3 day round trip as I was left with a sense of accomplishment, blessed with beautiful scenery, and the euphoria that can only come with being at one with nature.

On the 5th day, it was time to restock supplies and recharge the electronics. Shooting footage for a documentary deep in the middle of nowhere poses certain challenges, like hiking certain areas 2 or 3 times in order to place cameras, get the proper footage and angles. Afterward a break was much needed With my Dad living in Oklahoma, it was a natural choice to rest at his house before embarking upon the second part of the adventure.

READ MORE (and see photos) AFTER THE JUMP...

Phase 2 had us planning for boating, fishing, snorkeling, and various other water sports at Lake Eufaula. Lady Luck would only be with us up to a point however, as the recent heavy storm activity and rain run off filled the lake with Oklahoma's famous red clay.

There was no visibility for snorkeling and the runoff affected the fishing as well. We were still able to catch a couple of good blue cats and enjoy leisurely boat rides along the lake.

After 2 days at the lake, we returned to my dads house to rest up for the long drive back to Corpus.

It was a great adventure. One that left me craving more. As I drove down the highway Monday morning on my way to work in my coffin of glass and steel, I realized how much I miss being in the wild and at one with nature... it hasn't even been a week since my return... gotta get back out there... soon!


Base Camp - Photo: HSA


















My son and daughter at base camp - Photo: HSA



















Me at the falls - Photo: HSA























My Companions at the Falls - Photo: HSA






Base Camp at Nightfall - Photo HSA





























Chilling on the Boat - Photo: HSA

























Catch of the Week - Photo: HSA
























Another good fish - Photo: HSA

DESTINATION: ADVENTURE - Update

Photo: Human Spirit of Adventure
After 4 long days in the rugged backcountry, we are back to civilization for a day. We need to restock supplies and recharge all of the electronics... shooting footage for a documentary deep in the middle of nowhere poses certain challenges. It has been a great experience so far and looking forward to the rest of the journey.

Thus far we have hiked miles and miles of rugged terrain, done 4 river crossings, and been bitten by every bug known to mankind. Tomorrow we should reach our final destination and enjoy the serenity and watersport action of Lake Eufaula.
We will have a full journey update upon our return, so stay tuned...

DESTINATION: ADVENTURE... 5 DAYS AWAY

5 Days and Counting...

In five days, we here at HSA will set of on a week long adventure. An adventure that will encompass multiple adventure sports.

On the agenda is miles and miles of rugged backpacking,  hiking, climbing, cave exploration, and freshwater snorkeling... topped off with rivers, waterfalls and spectacular views.

This adventure will be filmed on GoPro cameras as part of HSA's upcoming documentary tentatively titled "Life: Reclaimed"

We are gearing up and beginning the final week of preparation for this adventure. We will try to post some photo's along the way on our Facebook page and have a full blown recap right here on the blog upon our return.

See you then!


DOUBLE DISAPPOINTMENT... BRITAIN'S OMM CANCELED


Photo: prlog.org

Original Mountain Marathon A NoGo...

STORY BY: MICK LORD

Last weekend I was all packed, tent, rucksacks packed with the lightest gear I could find, car ready to go bed early on Friday evening for a very early start Saturday to arrive at the Original Mountain Marathon Lite early on Sat morning ready to go.

Checked the website for any last min stuff as I got up on the Saturday to find the following message posted on the site:-

Dear Friends

It is with great regret we announce the cancellation of this weekend's OMM Lite and OMM Bike.

We will provide a full refund to all participants, however, for those of you who wish to join us the camping is free for the weekend and the meal for Sunday is also free. Hopefully you can then enjoy this beautiful part of the country as individuals rather than as an organised event.

All of us at OMM are incredibly disappointed that this has happened and wish to extend our sincerest apologies to all of you who have been inconvenienced.

We are in he process of personally calling all entrants to fully inform them of the situation. If you have any questions then please place a comment and we will answer as soon as possible.

Thank you for all your support

The OMM family,

Andy, Tom, Matt, Stu, Iain and Giles


We were really disappointed, but know that cancelling any event is not an easy decision, so we were left with a free weekend at the last moment.

On the Sunday we went to participate in a 3hr navigation trail race in the South Yorkshire Hills so all was not lost, we covered a very hilly 22k and would have been a bit more had it not been for a big dog that didn't want to let us through his field. Our course for the 3hr event http://connect.garmin.com/activity/314915831.

I had also arranged during the week to take a flight in a hot air balloon but this was also cancelled due to the high winds :(

Myself and Jack have another 2 day mountain marathon coming up in early July in the beautiful Lakedistrict area of the UK, we will let you know (hopefully) how we progress on that one. http://www.slmm.org.uk/ We will be doing the BEDAFELL CLASS for parents and their children.



OUTLOOK: 2013 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON

NOAA Predicts Active Hurricane Season

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an "Active to Extremely Active" Hurricane Season for 2013.

As a surfer on the Texas Coast, hurricane season is a chance for world class waves. As an Emergency Manager (my day job), hurricane season is a nightmare. So I'm torn between two worlds here. Nonetheless, with warm water temps, no El Nino, and the African monsoon, it could get interesting one way or the other.

NOAA is giving a wide prediction of 13 to 20 named storms, 7 to 11 of which could become hurricanes, with 3 to 6 becoming major storms rated Category 3 or bigger.


Who knows what will happen... but one thing is sure, we will put a "Hurricane Tracker" on the blog when the season starts so you can keep up to date and stay prepared... for either surf or evacuation.

Peace Out!



PRAYERS GO OUT TO OKLAHOMA...

Photo Courtesy AOL Weather

Prayers Go Out To Oklahoma Tornado Victims

HSA would like to extend our prayers to the victims and survivors of, what is being touted as "The most destructive tornado in human history", that ripped through Oklahoma on Monday.

Oklahoma holds a very personal sentiment for me as my father and several other family members reside there... fortunately none were in the path.

As a kid I grew up fishing, camping, and hunting with my cousins in the blackjack oak groves and rolling hills of Oklahoma. Swimming in the cold waters of Turner Falls and Sulphur. Later, I was stationed for a time at Ft. Sill and learned to water ski on Lake Latonka.

This summer, Oklahoma is one of the filming locations of the upcoming HSA adventure documentary.

So, to all Oklahoman's... Our prayers are with you. Stand strong. We will see you this summer.



MICK LORD AND SON TO RUN BRITAIN'S MOUNTAIN MARATHON...

Mick Lord and son Jack

HSA Blogger Mick Lord and Son Jack to Run Britain's Original Mountain Marathon

Featured Guest Blogger Mick Lord returns... this time Mick and his son Jack will take on England's Original Mountain Marathon.

Here is Mick's take...

"This weekend 18th-19th May will see myself and my son Jack taking part in the 2 day Mountain Marathon in the Peak District National Park in the heart of England.
This is (by us) being looked at as an entry level multi-day Mountain Marathon as Jack who is 15 (nearly 16) has never run one, it is seen as an entry level because we don't have to carry all our gear with us there will be a static over night camp, we just have to carry the essentials, water, food, spare clothes and waterproofs.
We have entered the short course, this is 5 hrs Saturday and 4 hrs Sunday to visit as many check points as possible during that time, this is a step up for Jack as the longest race he has taken part in before has been 3 hrs so we will need to conserve some energy, and get our eating and drinking right.
I will send a short write up after the event to let you know how we get on."


The OMM Lite is a 2 day pairs event that will provide a good season opener for experienced competitors and more accessible entry to Mountain Marathon running for newcomers to the sport. Sharing an event center with the OMM Bike,competitors returning to camp will only need to carry navigation and safety equipment.

Here is a link to the OMM... http://theomm.com/event-series/omm-lite

Get ON it Mick... We look forward to your write up after the event!



POLL: BEAR vs LES... YOU DECIDE

Image courtesy: thelulznews

Poll: Bear Grylls or Les Stroud

For several years now, there has been an ongoing, sometimes heated debate about televisions ultimate survivalist. Is it Bear, or is it Les? This debate is not without merits on both sides, and will go on as long as either of them has any significance in today's modern TV era.

The only way to truly end the debate would be to drop them both, buck-naked, together into an extreme situation, with no cameras, no water, nor anything else, and see who makes it back alive. Even still, if either is the survivalist we all think them to be, they would quite likely band together and return with both alive.

You've all heard the arguments... you've all heard the rhetoric... You all have your opinions. So for the sake of doing it one more time, who do YOU think is better?

Vote in the poll below, then leave your comments, but please keep them clean.


VIDEO: FREE-DIVING IN THE CAVES OF OAHU...

Free-diving in Oahu's North Shore

Cave diving has always produced amazing imagery in photo's and video.
The light plays beautiful games with the shadows and colors to create something that always feels surreal... maybe even alien... to the eyes of the viewer.

Below is a video shot by Makai Creative that definitely gives us a wonder view of the underwater world of Hawaii's North Shore.

You've seen the North Shore is many a surf video, now experience it's splendor and beauty from below... 



The Ocean Is My Playground: Cave Diving from Makai Creative on Vimeo.



HSA's FACEBOOK GRAB BAG GIVE AWAY...

Help Us Reach 250 Likes on Facebook...

Did you know that Human Spirit of Adventure has a Facebook page?

HSA is trying to reach a goal of 250 "Likes" by August 1.

If we reach this milestone, HSA will give away a grab bag of goodies to one of the 250 fans. The fan will be chosen at random.

"What's in the grab bag..." you ask?

We keep adding things to it all of the time, but currently we have included such things as a surfboard key-chain  a couple of bars of surf wax, a bunch of different stickers, a koozie, and a flashlight... there will be much more accumulated before the August 1 deadline.

Will you be the lucky winner? The only way to have a chance is to "Like" our Facebook page.

Get ON it!



COAST TO COAST - Part 2... Adventures of Everyday People

A Breezy Start

Coast To Coast - Part 2


BY MICK LORD

Way of the Roses 3rd-6th May 2013
We set off from Morecombe on the West Coast of the UK at 11am on Friday 3rd May, myself and my wife Julie had in reality not really done much training for this. We were enthusiastic to share a small adventure and explore some of our fantastic countryside that we had not been to before.
The route should have been 270km however some slight mistakes found us doing just 20km further our total route 290km, our total route can be accessed here:- Way of the Roses by mick2991 at Garmin Connect - Details

Fri 3rd 11am we start from a cool and breezy Morecambe on the flat following the river Lunn out to Lancaster and then begin to climb out onto the Forest of Bowland. We were so busy chatting at this point that we missed the turning adding the extra 20k onto the route, not a good start.
We cycled up into the hills along quiet country roads and lanes passing through beautiful villages and countryside, stopping at a couple of tea shops along the way. Our aim that day was to get to Malham just the other side of Settle where our B&B was for the evening, we were tired as we got to Settle 5 or 6 hrs of up and down hill riding.
As we got into Settle thinking wow about 10k till we can rest at Malham we saw the hill that we had to get up "it was huge", we set off up in the saddle but quickly realised we had to get off and push for 45mins till the top, once at the top we had a nice freewheel into Malham for a quick bite to eat and then flop into bed exhausted. READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP...


Sat 4th and we were up fed sorted and on the road for 10am, Julie says this was the hilliest and hardest days riding on the route, we passed through some stunning areas through the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Nidderdale are of outstanding natural beauty, Julie was getting worried about the steep descent off Greenhow Hill as someone had unfortunately died in a bicycle crash on the hill. At the top of the hill you could look out and see the flatish Vale of York the view was absolutely superb with the moors on either side of us running down into the Vale.

The descent down Greenhow Hill was indeed steep with some sharp bends and lots of traffic, I think we both had our brakes on most of the way down, with one smaller hill in or way today and then flat all the way to Bridlington, that small hill after a long days cycling appeared massive burning our legs to get up and over.
We then spent the next hour fixing a puncture on the flattest smoothest part of the whole ride typical! At this point as well not being used to 6-7hrs riding it felt like torture everytime I had to get back on the bike and settle into the saddle, any opportunity to stand up was a welcome relief.

Sun 5th The weather was super riding along the river into York a friend had joined us for this part of the ride, "does a bank holiday weekend get any better than this?" We passed over old Toll Bridges, through villages having celebration weekends, through the bustle and history of York and out on some old Roman Roads, we passed through the historic Stamford Bridge where an historic battle took place just before the battle of Hastings. We were really becoming hooked on cycling as a way of travelling as you see things that you dont normally notice as we speed past in our car, we stopped to speak with lots of people about what we were doing, and had a shared sense of achievement.

Mon 6th our shortest day with a 40k run from Pocklington into Bridlington, we felt good, even my bum was feeling goodish or was it the thought of not having to sit on the saddle tomorrow. The weather was scorching nice relaxed riding as we closed in on the East coast we could feel the cool sea breeze, we both felt elated, pleased with our achievement, overall a better than average weekend away. We arrived in Bridlington and had ourselves a celebration bag of Fish and Chips. Our thighs were aching, we smelt a bit, but we loved it, Julie is already thinking "what shall we do together next?"


We did learn some lessons, of patience with each other, working together, get your bum used to sitting on a saddle, ride a bike with smoother narrower tyres, however we loved it.

Our next adventure for myself and Jack (my son) is the OMM Lite mountain marathon on 18th-19th May.

  

-- 
Many Thanks


Mick Lord








SAILOR DIES, ANOTHER INJURED DURING AMERICAS CUP PRACTICE...

Photo: Associated Press

Sailor Dies in America's Cup Practice

One sailor has died and another was injured as an Artemis Racing sailboat capsized in San Francisco Bay while practicing for the America's Cup race.

36 year old Andrew "Bart" Simpson died after being trapped and held under the catamaran for approximately 10 minutes. Rescuers were unable to revive him after he was brought ashore.

"The entire Artemis team is devastated by what happened," CEO Paul Canyard said in a statement posted on the team's website. "Our heartfelt condolences are with Andrew's wife and family."

You can read the full article HERE
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