black bear

Adventure Quickies: Man Fends of Black Bear with a Hatchet and Other Stories

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By: Kraig Becker
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It’s Friday, which means its time for another round of Adventure Quickies. This week we have the usual line-up of outdoor news, travel deals, and gear sales, along with some other interesting stories the are worth your attention. So, without further ado, here’s some of the stories I didn’t have time to share elsewhere this week.

  • Man Uses Hatchet to Survive Bear Attack: This story comes our way courtesy of Outside magazine and is one of those tales that we all dread on our backcountry adventures. Alex Woods was hiking in British Columbia when he was attacked by a large male black bear. Thankfully he had his father’s hatchet with him and used it to fend off the animal. In the end, Woods got out alive, but the bear wasn’t so lucky. The entire story is a harrowing one and a good reminder to be careful when in the wilderness. Check it out here.
  • How Tom Evans Improved Western States Performance: Last weekend, British ultrarunner Tom Evans took third in the Western States 100, finishing in an impressive 14 hours, 59 minutes, 44 seconds. How did he become a more efficient long distance runner? According to this article, he went to East Africa, trained at altitude, and with the Kenyans. Naturally!
  • Concerns of Over Crowding on K2: This past spring, overcrowding and long traffic jams were an issue on Everest, but could the same thing happen on K2 the summer? While not as many people will be on that mountain –– just 160 compared to 1100+ –– there are definitely bottlenecks (Ha!) on the route that are a cause for concern. Alan Arnette breaks down those challenges here.
  • The North Face is Running a Summer Sale: Looking to save some money on some high quality outdoor gear? The North Face is running a summer sale with up to 40% off select items. Check out what it on sale here.
  • IAATO Names New Acting Executive Director: The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) has named Dr. Terry Shaller as its acting Executive Director. The organization that helps oversee regulations and restrictions for travel in the Antarctic, is currently searching for a permanent ED, but Shaller brings years of experience in polar travel to the table to help govern the IAATO in the interim.
  • Arrive Gear Rental Company Partners with Reserve America: Arrive is a gear-rental company with a sustainable approach that allows outdoor enthusiasts and adventure travelers to rent the gear they need for their adventures. The products can even be shipped anywhere within the U.S. for pick-up prior to the start of the trip. This week, the company has announced that it is partnering with Reserve America to create a one-stop-shop for not only discovering great campsites, cabins, lodges, and yurts to book a stay in, but also the gear you need for an active journey.
  • PitchUp.com Makes Booking Even International Campsites a Breeze: Speaking of searching for, and booking, campsite, check out what Pitchup.com has to offer. The site offers more than 10,000+ locations across the world, including Europe, Australia, the U.S., and even Africa. In fact, the site features more than 90 bookable sites in Africa lone, making it a unique place to find a place to pitch your tent on your next adventure.
  • Go Trekking Through Spanish Mountains: Looking for a new adventure to spark your interest? Natural Habitat Adventures has just announced a new five-day itinerary that sends travelers hiking through the Picos de Europa region of Spain. The scenic expedition takes travelers between the central and western Massif crossing the Cares Valley to a seldom-visited and enchanting realm hidden in a remote area of Europe.

That’s all for this week. I’ll be back with more Adventure Quickies news briefs next Friday. Enjoy the weekend!

Kraig Becker
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