One of the biggest mysteries in the American Southwest, the 1934 disappearance of wanderer and artist Everett Ruess, has been definitively solved. Remains found on Comb Ridge in southern Utah have been positively identified as the 20-year-old free-spirited wilderness lover, thanks to a team from National Geographic Adventure.
From the monthly archives:
April 2009
Lost Adventurer and Artist Everett Ruess Found and Identified by National Geographic Adventure
6 responses
It seemed like a good idea at the time. No, it was a pretty freakin’ stupid idea. It’s one thing to clear a little brush, it’s another to clear a forest. Well, karma catches up: Two misguided backcountry skiers from Vermont have been sentenced to 18-36 months (suspended) for cutting an illegal trail near Jay Peak in the northern part of the state.
I have been searching for the perfect adventure vehicle for years. Pickup trucks with camper shells, SUVs, Sportsmobiles, pop-up trailers…none of them have been right for me. Then I discovered the Volkswagen Westfalia Syncro van. Forget everything you know about VW vans—this extremely rare model has a military-inspired chassis and full-time four-wheel-drive with locking differential. It sleeps four, has a fridge, sink, and stove, fits in the driveway, and will go anywhere.
Artist James Jarvis is an obsessive runner, which explains much. His art led to a tremendously popular toy line, Amos, and now it takes this form of a charming, knowing, even inspirational little bit of animation.
It was a classic spring weekend in the most popular backcountry skiing spot in the East, Tuckerman Ravine, high on the slopes of Mt. Washington: Dogs, sunshine, beer, slush, t-shirts…and, oops, three avalanches, two of which were caught on video.
Here’s one that doesn’t need a fancy intro: Music. Action sports. Rock stars. Who doesn’t want to know what they’re listening to? I got ahold of climber Steph Davis as she was leaving for Slovakia, skier Seth Morris waiting for the weather in Haines, Alaska, and skater Tony Hawk running between L.A. and San Diego. Here’s what’s in frequent rotation on their iPods right now.
Specialized Bikes is recalling 17,000 mountain and road bikes in two separate, voluntary recalls. Handlebars on 14,000 mountain bikes can break, which could kind of be a problem. Also, 3,000 Roubaix road bikes have an issue with a cable stop, which can come loose.
Times have changed for the Jackson Hole Air Force. This is a crew that ducked ropes and broke laws and violated the resort’s strict boundary policy for years. A gang of scofflaws that eavesdropped on the ski patrol’s radio channels, built on-hill huts to hide from prying eyes, and led their nemeses on dangerous high-speed chases…catch it all this Saturday in a new documentary at the Newport Beach Film Fest…CONTINUE>
Some things are simply too good to keep to yourself.
This week really wasn’t planned to be an all-pot kind of week, it’s just working out that way. (Oh–and I got to thinking, today’s the stoner new year, but if you’re stoned isn’t every year basically 1976?) Regardless, in Los Padres National Forest, California, two pot farmers scared off some campers in a high-speed dirt road rally that ended with arrests and confiscation of $26 mill in herb. The Santa Barbara County sheriff’s report reads better than I could rewrite it, so here it is in its entirety.
On this 20th day of the fourth month, it seemed appropriate to ponder the meaning and derivation of the number “420”. You can’t spend more than a day around a ski hill, bike park, or college without hearing it; indeed, last time I checked, Jackson Hole’s Village Cafe was located at the fictional address of 420 Teton Village Drive. Anyway, it’s likely that anyone born since the ’60s, which probably means most everyone reading this, has a more than passing familiarity with the stoner slang, but I learned long ago not to assume. So I dug a little deeper and in my search for meaning and origin I also learned that an etymologist named Marina Orlova has already done the work for us.
You never know what you’re gonna see out there. One night in the Grand Canyon, after 20-plus miles of hiking, my buddy Dave and I convinced ourselves—for about 10 minutes—that we were being following by a UFO. If only we’d had this dope UFO identification chart.
Having a bad tax day? Bummed about the economic implosion? Spending all your waking hours worrying about the future of journalism in the online age? Remember, it could be worse. And for you it gets better, cause whoever writes the best caption for this photo wins.
The April/May issue of National Geographic Adventure just hit newsstands and I’m super-stoked to report it features the annual fall travel and apparel guide shot in South Africa a few months ago.
By almost any standards, it’s been an eventful early season for pro cycling. Despite cold and rain on its first three days, the Tour of California saw a whopping 2 million spectators. Since seven-time Tour de France champ Armstrong came out of retirement (and then fell down and got hurt), it’s been a media Lancefest, with near-daily headlines. And though it’s been somewhat lost in all this, Floyd Landis has returned to pro racing.
60-Second Expert: How to Manage Your Climbing Skins
‘Pillow Line’ Is A Charming Stop-Motion Winter Delight
Telluride Contest Has a Winner: Home-Made Video Grabs the Loot
8 Days of Climbing + 10 Pounds of Tequila = New 1,100-Foot Tepui Route
The Gallery of the OIdest Living Things in the World
60-Second Expert: How to Make a Skiing Kick Turn
And the Oscar For Best Use of Sheep Goes To…
Clothes Make the Man…And They Make A Difference for Nepal’s Women
Surviving A Massive Earthquake and Tsunami: What It Feels Like
Waves That Will Make You Say ‘Hurry Up, Summer’
The New Snow Test That Could Save Your Life
Earth’s Day Shortened, Axis Tilted By Chile Earthquake
The Greenest Job? Might Be Professional Tree Climber
60-Second Expert: The Right Way to Clean Your Goggles
Before There Was The Hurricane, There Was the Double Daffy
