From the inspiring to the tragic, ‘Adventure News of the Week’ presents a wrap-up of top news in the world of exploration and adventure.
BIKE: Cyclist of Color Attempts Underground Railroad Ride. John Shackelford, a 25-year-old NYC bicycle messenger, will traverse 1,114 miles on a bicycle along a road route known as the Underground Railroad.
“This is a black cycling story told through activism and adventure. The mission is to stay positive, empower, and inspire,” reads Shackelford’s project page. Learn more here.
LEARN: Arc’teryx’s Annual Climbing Academy Is Now All Online. This year, Arc’teryx’s Climbing Academy may be virtual, but it’s still a big event. The brand is offering six clinics, two film premieres, a panel discussion, a two-part seminar series, daily giveaways, and entertainment.
Everything will be online. The climbing clinics (led by Arc’teryx athletes) cost $45, but there are a lot of other free activities during the multiday event as well. Learn more and register here.
HIKE: College Student Shatters White Mountains Speed Record. Will Peterson, 21, has set a pretty impressive new FKT for the White Mountains Direttemissa. He hiked and ran over 48 mountains (all of New Hampshire’s 4,000er peaks), with an average of 40-45 miles per day and a total 80,000 feet of elevation gain.
He also did it unsupported — in a record 5 days, 13 hours, 5 minutes. This crushes the old record by almost 11 hours, a record held by Andrew Drummond for 4 years.
CLIMB: Climber Falls into Crevasse on Grand Teton Glacier. Tyler Willis, 34, was climbing with a partner on Mount Owen when he fell into a narrow ice crevasse on the descent. His friend and nearby climbers helped pull him from the crevasse and facilitate the rescue. Read more here.
RUN: 75-Year-Old Sets Age Group Record for Fastest Mile. Lynn Rathjen of Grand Island, Nebraska, has been a runner for 40 years. He’s also a retired cross-country coach. This past weekend, at the age of 75, he set a new age group record, running a road mile in 5:59.18.
OBIT: Legendary Provincial Park Ranger Janice Matichuk Dies at 66. Matichuk, who served at Quetico Provincial Park’s Cache Bay Ranger Station for 35 years, died of brain cancer last week. She was known for her local knowledge, kindness toward visitors, and daring rescues. Read more about Janice Matichuk’s story here.
