warrior dash

Adventure Quickies: Warrior Dash Out of Business, Jet Crashes in Death Valley

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By: Kraig Becker
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Each week there are far too many news stories, gear reviews, and adventure travel deals that come through my email inbox for me to possibly post them all. To help remedy that, on Fridays I like to post a round-up of some of the things that might have flown under the radar or gone unnoticed altogether. With that in mind, here are this week’s Adventure Quickies:

  • Warrior Dash Shuts Its Doors: A few years back the booming obstacle course business saw several companies, such as Spartan and Tough Mudder, rise to prominence, amongst others. One of those companies has shuttered its doors, as Warrior Dash made the surprise announcement that it was cancelling all races and ceasing operations. Will others soon follow? GearJunkie has the scoop.
  • F-18 Fighter Plane Crashes in Death Valley: A few days back an F-18 fighter jet crashed in Death Valley National Park, possibly injuring several people. The aircraft was reportedly flying near Father Crowley Overlook (aka “Star Wars Canyon”) when the incident occurred. The status of the pilot has not been reported, but Outside has more on the story.
  • Greenland Experiencing Near-Record Summer Melt Off: In environmental news, it seems Greenland is experiencing the same heat waves that the rest of us have been dealing with this summer. But in this case, it is having a detrimental effect on its ice caps, creating a near-record melt off that could raise sea levels. National Geographic takes look at what is happening.
  • Woman Dies Hiking to Into the Wild Bus: The bus that Chris McCandless lived in, and eventually died in, was made famous by the Jan Krakauer book Into the Wild. So much so that many still make the pilgrimage to the abandoned vehicle to honor his memory. This week, one such hiker was killed while trying to cross the Teklanika River to get to the iconic destination.
  • IAATO Announces Antarctic Fellows: The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators has announced its list of Antarctic Fellows for 2019. The awards are designed to shine a spotlight on those who are striving to increase our knowledge of the Antarctic and protect that fragile place. This year’s winners include Martina Mascioni from the University of La Plata, Argentina, and Daniela Cajiao Vargas from the Autonomous University of Madrid. Find out more about their efforts here.
  • Mountain Madness Offers Discount on Kilimanjaro: If you’ve been dreaming of a Kilimanjaro trip but have been waiting for the right time, your patience may have just paid off. Mountain Madness is offering $725 off its Kilimanjaro itineraries, bringing the savings to as much as 10% depending on the length of your trek.
  • Get 40% Off a Zenbivvy Bed: Not so much a sleeping bag as a whole sleep system, the Zenbivvy Bed will change the way you sleep in the backcountry. Recently, the company found itself with a bit of extra fabric left over, so it decided to make a few beds from the excess material. The result is a product that looks a little funky, but performs just as well as the original. It also happens to be available at 40% off the regular price.
  • Columbia is Holding a Big Summer Sale: Speaking of bargains on outdoor gear, Columbia is currently holding a big summer sale with discounts of up to 50% on select products. If you’ve been holding off on getting a new piece of gear, now might be the right time to grab it.
  • Visit Peru On The Cheap!: For an outstanding bargain on a seven-day trip to Peru, check out this deal from Travel Zoo. For $999, not only do you get to visit Machu Picchu, you’ll get your international airfare included for just $999. That’s tough to top and the bookings are already selling fast, so check it out ASAP.
Kraig Becker
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