Helly Hansen

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Everest Base Camp Trek Underway

Mountain Madness Everest Base Camp Trek is well on its way! After climbing to the top of the Monkey Temple for views of the city, watching the funeral rituals at Pashupatinath, sitting beneath the eyes of the Buddha at peaceful Bouddhanath Stupa, and meandering through monasteries, we packed up and headed for the mountains! A few days in chaotic Kathmandu, fascinating though it is, makes me long for the fresh breeze and quiet jangling of yak bells that we find on the trail.

Our flight into Lukla is always a thrill, but even more so this trip! The weather was extremely clear and we had sweeping views of the Himalayas before sliding into the airstrip. These Nepali pilots are accustomed to flying several flights a day into Lukla, and they navigate the looming mountains with professional ease. We sped in for a fast landing, the uphill runway immediately slowing us down. Stepping out onto the tarmac in the cool wind of morning, everyone was elated with the views, the village, and the start of our adventure!

In Nepal, however, everything starts with tea. So we made our way over to a sunny courtyard and sat down to enjoy tea, while our sherpas and portering team assembled our bags into even loads. After introductions, we all set off for a few hours of hiking along the Dudh Kosi, or Milk River, and a night in Phakding.

The following day we began to see waterfalls and snowy peaks, even as we hiked through forest and small villages. Crossing the Hillary suspension bridge high above the river, we made a steep climb for the rest of the afternoon until we arrived in Namche Bazaar. An old trading town, it's now filled with lodges, shops, and bakeries. Our whole group hiked strongly and is looking good!

Our group continues to be amazed by the magical and mystical scenery, constantly surprised that every turn is a more beautiful panorama than the last. This morning's acclimatization hike brought us to the famous Everest View Hotel. Aptly named, we could see a long way up the valley that we will trek through and staring us in the face were Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, and Taboche. Stunning!

We've also been getting to know each other and our Nepali staff, from the 6-time Everest Summiter to the Everest Marathon runner, from the Sherpa studying to be a Buddhist monk to the local village boy saving money for his family. We have a great group: Americans, Brazilians, and Nepali staff, and we're climbing higher tomorrow!

Deana Zabaldo, Team Leader

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Dispatch #2: Everest Base Camp Trek

From rhododendron forest to high alpine valleys, our days take us through local villages, past Buddhists deities painted on cliffs, past yak caravans loaded with supplies, and around large piles of stones carved with prayers. We arrived in Tengboche just in time to visit the monastery for the afternoon ceremony – monks chanting Tibetan scriptures and drinking steaming bowls of tea. Afterwards, we stayed to have some prayer flags blessed and ended up talking with the monks.

They were setting up for a big ceremony the next day and needed to move some heavy furniture. Handing back the prayer flags (and after chatting a bit in Nepali), the monk took a look at Brian and Geoff and figured they were pretty strong – and asked if we'd lend a hand with the rearrangement. Brian and Geoff were happy to help and were laden with a handpainted wooden throne (heavy indeed!), plus a few tables, for ceremony setup. Two weeks ago they never expected to be moving furniture with Buddhist monks, but here they were and fully enjoying it! You just never know what you're in for in Nepal.

From Tengboche to Dingboche took us above the tree line to high alpine valley. A few people opted in for the harder of two acclimatization hikes out of Dingboche this morning. It was well worth it. At the top of a steep, steep climb, we were rewarded with an exquisite turquoise blue lake gracing the foot of a massive glacier on the back side of Ama Dablam. The rest of the group curved up the valley towards Island Peak, with fantastic views of Lhotse, Nuptse, and a range of fluted, serrated mountains. Acclimatization complete, we're reveling in the last showers and internet for a while. Tomorrow we climb an alpine valley for one of my favorite days of the trek: sweeping views of the mountains, stone memorials perched high on a ridge top, and the dizzying arc of Taboche peak looming over us.

--Deana Zabaldo, Team Leader

Monday, October 26, 2009

Dispatch #3 Everest Base Camp Trek

These days are not easy, but they are powerful. Over 14,000 ft, our bodies struggle to breathe, struggle to recuperate from any minor infraction (respiratory trouble, stomach ailments). Nonetheless we climb...and we reap the rewards.

At Lobuche and beyond, the mountains become massive. No longer a distant sweep of peaks, they are now individuals confronting us and towering over us. Nuptse, which was once a ridge in the foreground of Everest, is now a shiny face of veined black rock, slick like a mottled mirror. We curve around its side, cross over the Chang-Ri glacier, and contour briefly along the 5-mile Khumbu glacier, its creaking and cracking making clear that the glacier is indeed moving.

Gorak Shep is the final outpost of shelter in this extreme world of rock and ice, and we spend two nights here. The first afternoon, Kala Patar lures us up to its rocky peak. At 18,450 ft, it's the classic viewpoint of Everest, the highest point of the trip, and a tough climb in the thin air (only about 50% of the oxygen at sea level). Strewn with prayer flags, the summit offers 360-degree views of mountains including a close-up of Everest and a long line of mountains as far as the eye can see. Thamserku and Ama Dablam. Lhotse and Nuptse. Lingtren and Khumbutse. Mountains even in Tibet. And of course, the rounded snowy peak of Pumo-Ri right behind us, so close and huge that it seems taller than Everest from where we stand. Wind whipping and sun streaming down, we feel on top of the world! It's hard to believe the summit of Everest is another 10,000 ft above us. Unfathomable.

The following day was a long hike out to Everest Base Camp with Pemba Gyaljen Sherpa. Pemba is a well-known Nepali climber with an impressive record, and it's been exciting to have him co-guiding our group. He has summited Everest six times; has summited K2, Cho-Oyu, Monte Blanc, and Ama Dablam; and has successfully rescued climbers on these mountains after avalanches, exhaustion in the dead zone, and other dangerous situations. Pemba is not only a famous climber however--he's also a friendly guy with an easy laugh and is great to trek with!

While other groups turned back at lower base camp, Pemba took our group on another 45 minutes to the regular base camp and found the "Icefall Doctors." The Icefall Doctors have some 20-years of experience and are specialists at detecting the safest routes through the ever-changing Icefall all the way to Camp 2. They were out on the glacier preparing to set the ladders and fixed ropes for upcoming winter expeditions. Also out at base camp were the remnants of spring expeditions--strands of prayer flags from when lamas come to bless the start of each group's climb and stone structures which serve as kitchens and staff shelters during the long two months of acclimatization. Pemba was full of stories and information ranging from the 1952 Swiss expedition that first reached 8500 meters to his own experiences over the last seven years climbing with international expeditions (Irish, British, South African, and Austrian). After lunch and lots of photos in the perfect weather, our group turned around and headed back down to the warmth of the lodge at Gorak Shep.

Now the hard days are behind us. We drop 3,000 feet to Pheriche, a small village on a wind-swept plain. Everyone has a chance to recuperate--14,000 feet feels low and comfortable now! Tomorrow we take the high trail to visit the oldest monastery in the region before contouring around to Phortse. Built into the side of the mountain, Phortse is a village few groups visit. We're looking forward to the quiet trail, the chance to see wild mountain goats, and a visit to the monastery, recently painted by one of Darjeeling's finest artists.

Watch out for the yaks--here we go!

--Deana Zabaldo, Team Leader

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Everest Base Camp Trek Wrap-Up

The trail to Phortse is one of my favorites, contouring high on the mountain and offering great views up and down the valley. As hoped, we run across a herd of ~25 tahr (wild Himalayan mountain goats) who are utterly at ease grazing on the steep hillside. We have left the main trail behind and find ourselves alone in the quiet of the mountain today. It's a welcome change not to see another tourist the whole afternoon.

The morning we leave Phortse, we drop down to cross the river and have a stiff climb up the other side. After 2 weeks of hiking, however, it's clear the group is generally stronger. At the top, we pause for some snacks and then cruise gently down to Namche through the afternoon. One more long day of hiking brings us to Lukla for a celebration with all our staff. Beers, sodas, and chocolate--before one last heaping plate of rice with chicken curry!

The following morning we slide off the side of the mountain on Lukla's inclined runway, and we're back in Kathmandu in an hour. The crumbling chaos has been transformed into a cosmopolitan metropolis after two weeks in the mountains. We can't wait to revel in all the comforts of the city before a final party to celebrate and close the trip! Strangers three weeks ago, we are now all familiar friends. Once you've walked in the Himalayas, you are forever changed--and you will always feel connected to the people who have been there with you!

Many thanks to all our Nepali partners and staff who made this trip possible--especially Kili, Sagar, and Shankar in Kathmandu and Pemba, Dawa, and Yubaraj on the mountain!! You've been amazing! As always. I'm already looking forward to the next trip!

--Deana Zabaldo, Team Leader

I arrive in Geneva at nine twenty AM.  Traveling for the last 24 hours has me bleary-eyed.  I have been working for the last month straight in the Caucasus Range of Russia where the mountain climbing is the easy part.  It is a constant struggle to present all the documents necessary to pass the checkpoints without hassle.  And that doesn’t include the difficulties of not speaking fluent Russian.  Luckily there was mountaineering success on both expeditions.  Most of the clients made it, but for those that didn’t they will have to brave the Russian culture again.
 
All I can feel is a sense of relief as I step off the plane and hear the stewardess say goodbye to me in French.  What a civilized language.  There is no time to waste.  I have to make it to Chamonix in order to meet my next group of clients.  Mountain Madness set me up with all this work with little rest, but I need it.
 
Chamonix, what a place.  The coffee is excellent when compared with the Russian standard Nescafe.  The mountains are right there.  Just a short walk through downtown has you on the Aiguille du Midi lift and in mind-blowing glaciated terrain that is punctuated by towering rock spires.  This is the venue for my next course.  A week long training that is to be capped by a climb of Mont Blanc.
 
I manage to get my equipment out of storage.  Luckily I find my Helly Hansen Converter Soft Shell.  That was a great piece for me to have left so accessible and will serve me well for my adventures in the coming weeks.  Once I have everything sorted out, there is enough time to take in the vistas and savor an espresso before I meet my clients.  In the evening I arrive at the four-star Albert Premier Hotel in time to catch a taxi to La Cabane, a fine dining establishment in Les Praz.  I am introduced to the whole family who are on holiday in Chamonix. Just the father and one of the sons will make the effort to climb rock and don crampons with me for the next week.  During the dinner we get a chance to sample some of the local Savoie fare including fine French wine.  After beet soup with cabbage and vodka, this is a more than welcome change and a perfect way to fuel up for the week.
 
The morning brings clear weather and we are off to climb in the Aiguille Rouge.  We hike to the base of the Crochues and make a nice rock traverse from west to east.  The clients and I admire the scenery from a birds’ eye view as we follow the ridge and wind through the gendarmes.  These sentinels of rock loom up in front of us and seem to guard against our passage, but usually allow us to pass on one side or the other.   After the summit, the descent takes us down by the azure blue of Lac Blanc.  The refuge there serves up croute au fromage to power our legs for the walk back to the Flégère tram.
 
Over the next two days we traverse the Entrèves and the Vallée Blanche.  The finish to the Vallée Blanche is an exposed snow ridge called the Arête de Peigne.  The slope starts up steeper and steeper until the ridge narrows to a two-foot wide track with a wild drop off to the left and a view all the way down to Chamonix on the right.  This is enough to make almost anyone think twice until they have done it and they realize that it is not too difficult.
 
The following morning we take a well-deserved rest before heading up the Aiguille du Midi and making the short descent to the Cosmiques Hut.  From here the view of Mont Blanc and the Trois Mont is phenomenal. From the balcony of the refuge you can stare up at the face of the Mont Blanc de Tacul and contemplate the route for the following morning.  Often times there is a queue of climbers toiling up or down the slopes that spread out in front of you.  The Tacul is the first of the three mountains you must tackle before heading to the summit of Mont Blanc.  Then comes the Mont Maudit and finally the Mont Blanc itself.
 
Breakfast at one a.m. leads to a one thirty or two o’clock departure for our climb of Mont Blanc. We mount the Tacul easily and then move on to the Maudit.  As we near the crest of the Maudit the slope steepens dramatically and we are forced to employ our crampons in a much more strenuous manner.  Luckily this section is over quickly and the grade eases some for the traverse to Mont Blanc proper.  I pull the hood up on my Helly Hansen jacket as the temperatures plummet to well below freezing.   The altitude begins to drain our energy as we slowly zigzag up to the crest and on to the summit.  During this time the sun rises and we get amazing views to the east of the Matterhorn and the surrounding skyline.
 
We finish our climb by traversing 7500 feet down the Goûter Ridge and return to Chamonix.  Once back in town we lounge on the hotel terrace and marvel at our accomplishments in the rich Chamonix air.
 
Geoff Unger
Helly Hansen Test Pilot
IFMGA/UIAGM Guide
Lead Mountain Madness Guide

The third Nissan Adventure Film Festival will be taking place between 15 and 23 September at Vue Cinemas around the country. Showcasing the very best short-form and feature-length films over five themed evenings, the festival will take arm-chair adventurers on a journey from the heights of Mount Everest to the shark-infested waters off the coast of South Africa. The festival - the largest adventure film festival in the world - will feature five themed evenings at Vue digital cinema sites nationwide as follows: * Monday, 15 September - Environmental Adventure * Tuesday, 16 September - Ocean Adventure * Wednesday, 17 September - Survival Adventure * Monday, 22 September - High Altitude Adventure * Tuesday, 23 September - Winter Adventure This year sees the introduction of a night dedicated to Environmental Adventure, demonstrating that adventurers can achieve the big thrill with a conscience. Featured films include 'Red Gold', a David and Goliath story of one man's battle against a mining corporation in Alaska^ 'Oil + Water', an epic 21,000 mile journey from Alaska to Argentina by a truck run on natural vegetable oil^ and 'Beyond the Horizon' documenting 2006 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Colin Angus' record breaking round-the-world trip - the first ever made entirely under human power. Other highlights include the world premiere of an episode of Discovery Channel's 'Deadliest Catch' (Tuesday 16th, Ocean Adventure)^ 'Stranded - the Andes Plane Crash Survivors', a haunting movie telling the story of the 1972 plane crash through the words of the survivors themselves, as made famous by the film 'Alive' (Wednesday 17th, Survival Adventure) and 'Sharkman', following South African Mike Rutzen's quest to overcome the negative perception of great white sharks by putting them into a state of 'tonic immobility', or hypnotic trance (Tuesday 16th, Ocean Adventure). Films start at 6.30pm each evening and tickets can be purchased online via www.adventurefest.co.uk, where there is also the chance to win a Nissan Navara, a Canon freecorder, an adventure holiday to Alberta 'home of the Canadian Rockies', and Helly Hansen apparel. Tickets are available from 22nd August and can also be purchased by calling 08712 240 240, or at participating Vue Cinema box offices. Tickets are priced at standard cinema rates. Check out http://www.adventurefest.co.uk

The shot rang out over Farwell Canyon as Shandro fired a round and missed... again. "Just try and lead it a little more," I said. He shouldered the twelve gauge once more and blasted three more misses. We were skeet shooting from our camp overlooking the Chilcotin River. We were three days in on a Bike Mag trip. Our mission: to explore an unknown area of northern British Columbia. Mitchell Scott was our storyteller and entertainer. Sterling Lorence was the fishing guide and photographer. Andrew Shandro was there to make fun of me. I was there to provide the artillery and redneck knowledge. We were all there to ride. Along the way we hit up the proven meccas of Williams Lake and Farwell Canyon. In the words of Sterling Lorence, the riding was, "epical firing singletrack perfection." It was awesome. We didn't find hidden stashes of great trails in Bella Coola. We didn't uncover a secret hardcore freeride community. But, we did pull some massive northern Cohos and a stunning Steelhead from the Atnarko River. We saw grizzlies across the river competing for the same fish. We had a wicked time! Matt

World renowned kayaker, Helly Hansen athlete Steve Fisher, has just launched his new website! Here you can find videos, pictures, gear reviews from all of his adventures. Take a look at http://www.stevefisher.com

Passion, snow, mountain, adventure: these are the principles that have inspired the action of Helly Hansen riders school, Whitexperience. This young affiliation managed by HH athlete, Ettore Personnettaz, involved a lot of riders and fans in the first freeride course, Carpe Diem, some beginners course and a nature trail on Mount Bianco. Whitexperience will be present also this summer by two snowboard camps: one in July at Les2Alpes in France and the other one in August at Zermatt in Switzerland. At the end of the summer there will be also some events of rafting, skateboard, down-hill and golf in Valle d'Aosta to advertise the HH school and this wonderful country. Helly Hansen marries the values of this affiliation (no drug, no alcol but wild mountain and snow) and it will dress the instructors starting from next july.

Team Wilsa Helly Hansen took home a great second place in the world championship series in Ireland. To read more, please check out www.sleepmonsters.com and www.theturas.com Congratulations to all team memebers! Well done!

Rowing the Main River The impetus behind this journey is to connect our ancestral homelands, which is the main reason we planned our route to traverse Germany. My mother grew up in the land of bratwurst, and to a certain extent so did I. I went to kindergarten in Germany and every summer my mom and I would return to visit my relatives in Meppen. But now it's been seven years since my last visit and I was anxious to see my aunts and uncle again. My family lives a short distance from our route along the Rhine and Main Rivers so it was necessary to take a side trip by rail. My mother, who was also visiting, and my Uncle Herbert picked us up from the train station and so began a whirlwind three-day visit mostly centred around food. We dined on meals of smoked halibut, roast beef, and cured meats invariably followed by puddings or rhubarb strudel, each hearty meal designed to fuel us for a week. Second helpings were mandatory. My disused German slowly improved and Colin quickly learned a few key phrases like, "Ich bin zat" - I am full. Tracing my maternal family heritage was much quicker than Colin's as we could only go back two generations. All the records were lost in World War II when my family fled the Russians in East Prussia taking with them just what they could carry. My mother's family tree is flush with war-inflicted tragedy and it is an era they are happy to leave behind, instead focusing on the more comfortable lives they've built in Western Germany. Yet it is these hardships that have moulded them, instilling hardworking ethics and a "waste not want not" mentality that nowadays is called environmentalism. My Uncle's backyard is crowded with plum, cherry and pear trees. A verdant garden fertilized by household compost provides onions, shallots, rhubarb, and lettuce. The clothesline trumps the drier and lights are used sparingly. Interestingly, these thrifty attitudes are quite prevalent in Europe and Europeans emit less than half the CO2 emissions of North Americans, while living comfortably and healthily. We returned to our boats considerably more rotund that when we left. We departed from the historic city of Mainz situated at the confluence of the Main and Rhine Rivers and began paddling up the Main River against a current made negligible by frequent weirs made navigable by giant locks. We approached these behemoth gates with apprehension, nervous that we'd be yelled at and turned away as had happened all too frequently in France and on occasion in England and Scotland as well. But when I called the lockkeepers on the VHF radio and asked in my rusty German if we could pass the answer was invariably yes. One gregarious lockkeeper even emerged from his lofty tower to meet us and give us information on the upcoming locks. After a day and a half of peaceful paddling on the Main River we reached Frankfurt, a city that looks every bit the financial hub it's reputed to be. Modern glass buildings tower beside beautiful stone architecture from centuries prior. Fit people sip cappuccinos at waterside cafes, while others leisurely dangle fishing rods into the river. It was of the greatest coincidence that Frankfurt turned out to be another home away from home. Our good friends from Calgary-based Wallace and Carey happened to be in Frankfurt on the day we passed through and we were able to get together for an enjoyable evening. Human-powered boats are no longer a rare sight and we passed many 'rudder' (rowing) and 'kanu' clubs in the next few hours. Rowers would wave from their boats or docks, ask an array of questions in excellent English, and then invite us in for a coffee, snack, or even shower. Although we've been thrilled at how well-suited Germany is for long distance paddling, the bigger surprise is that more foreign tourists aren't doing this. I cannot imagine a more perfect way to see this country of rolling vineyards, forests, picturesque timber frame buildings and riverside bistros. We're now in Fechenbach in a riverside campground that serves amazing schnitzel and tomorrow we'll continue travelling towards the Danube River. See our photos from the week http://www.rowedtrip.com - Julie

"The Bimbache Race in Spain went on from May11th to May 18th. Team Wilsa HELLY HANSEN rose to the occation and won. "It was hard, difficult - 4 days without sleeping - but we won!" -said a happy team captain, Karine Baillet, after the race! Congratulations! For more information, please take a look at http://www.sleepmonsters.com"

"This unique travel series is begins airing on National Geographic Adventure in September to over 100 million homes worldwide and is premiering Monday March 17th on Canada's Outdoor Life Network reaching nearly 10 million homes coast to coast http://www.tsn.ca/oln/feature.asp?fid=11375 . "Departures" is ready for another break-out year. The show documents the real-life travels of two friends who set out in search of culture, adventure, people and the true travel experience. We are excited to be a part of this opportunity for Departures to use Helly Hansen's products and stay protected with whatever Mother Nature throws their way. Ever dreamt of white water rafting in New Zealand, tearing across Canada in only 10 days or stepping on sacred ground in India? Best friends - and Brantford, Ontario, natives - Scott Wilson and Justin Lukach do just that, and more in OLN's new original Canadian production, Departures. Accompanied by their friend and cameraman, Andre Dupuis, Departures showcases the revelations of two travellers who strive to find themselves and new perspectives while trekking across the globe. Their experiences unfold before a moving camera and daily "diary cam" entries reveal their interpretations of the events, people and places they discover along the way. Set against a backdrop of stunning vistas and incredible landscapes, the series chronicles the unforgettable friendships, personal successes and sometimes crushing disappointments that befall them on their journey. Each episode illustrates Wilson and Lukach's personal evolution as they are pushed to their utmost limits. From hiking through the ancient ruins of Petra in Jordan, to surviving a monsoon in the middle of the Indian Ocean, to facing off against a professional kick boxer in Thailand, to living off the land in Cambodia, join these best friends as they challenge themselves and their attachments to home on the trip of a lifetime There are no prizes and no contests - just real adventures with no safety net. Canada - Ocean to Ocean Mon., March 17 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT Before they can appreciate the countries they are about to visit, Wilson and Lukach set out to appreciate their own country first. They rent an RV in Halifax and hit the road with only 10 days to cross the country. After dipping their fingers in the Atlantic Ocean, watch as they explore Peggy's Cove, visit friends in Ottawa, go fishing in Northern Ontario and hit the beach in Manitoba. Before ending their trip on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, the friends go white water rafting and tour the Rocky Mountains by helicopter. Watch as camping across the country prompts Wilson and Lukach to reflect on what they are leaving behind and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime. Jordan Mon., March 24 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT Wilson and Lukach head to Jordan to attend their friend Ibrahim's wedding. After arriving in Amman, Ibrahim serves as their tour guide for the trip - in between wedding plans! Follow the group as they head out to the Wadi Mujib, a gorge that is one of the lowest nature reserves in the world. While there, watch as they trek through the region's rugged terrain and water trails. Next, join the travellers as they visit the alleged tomb of Moses, spend a night in the desert with the Bedouins, hike through the ancient city of Petra, visit the Roman ruins in Jerash and enjoy some water sports on the Red Sea... all just in time for a traditional Jordanian wedding. India - Sacred Ground Mon., March 31 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT After a long flight to India, Wilson and Lukach meet up with their friend Monica in New Delhi and take a gruelling train ride to the desert just outside of Jaiselmer. Following a camel excursion into the desert, they head off to Varanasi to witness the daily mayhem of a bustling Indian city. Wilson and Lukach develop a new appreciation for the depth of India's different religions before flying to New Delhi for the annual festival of lights, Diwali. India - Quest for Himalayas Mon., April 7 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT In this episode, join Wilson and Lukach as they travel through the more untouched parts of India, a journey that challenges both friends to their utmost limits as they suffer from altitude sickness and food poisoning. From the majestic Himalayas to the tropical heat of Goa, their experiences prove to be more unexpected than they ever imagined. Watch as they are caught off guard by a monsoon and struggle to survive a record-breaking lightning storm while on the water. Ascension Island Mon., April 14 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT Next on their journey, Wilson and Lukach board a military plane from England and head to Ascension Island, a little explored location in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean. While there, the friends stay in a cottage atop the highest mountain. From hiking through the lush forests full of land crabs and trekking through rocky landscapes to snorkelling and fishing for tuna, witness their determination to experience all aspects of the island. But, despite the tranquil setting, the boys deal with problems of isolation as they have trouble communicating with the outside world, accessing money from banks at home and saving personal relationships. Japan - The Future Mon., April 21 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT While navigating the extensive train systems in Japan, Scott manages to get them around while Justin struggles with language barriers and very different food. From shops and fish markets in Tokyo, to Geishas in Kyoto the guys finally make their way to Osaka to meet up with a good friend Neel and explore the Japanese night life. Things finally settle down when they rent a car and leave the city behind to search for the more natural side. Japan - The Past Mon., April 28 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT Continuing in Japan, Scott and Justin seek the peace of nature by driving through the Ise-Shima Peninsula, staying overnight in a temple in Koyasan before taking a late-night ferry to the island of Miyajima and try to find camp amongst the hundreds of native deer, ending it all with a flight to the island of Okinawa. Cook Islands Mon., May 5 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT Heading to the Paradise Islands (Cook Islands) Scott and Justin arrive in Rarotonga to find that their luggage is missing - clothing and some camera equipment, not to arrive for another three days. As rain pours down outside, they guys realise that it is the heart of cyclone season. They fly to Mangaia and find that the whole island is out of power so head to the ocean for some sunshine and bamboo pole fishing with locals. Continuing on to Aitutaki, they kayak out to their own private island to set-up camp, drink from coconut shells and hunt crabs for dinner. Scott is tested about his commitments to the year trip while Justin's learns from the locals how to live off the land, that is until his love for animals is challenged in Atiu by "the head hunters" - the local school boys, when they are taken on a traditional pig hunt. New Zealand - Risks & Rewards Mon., May 12 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT Adventure in New Zealand does not come without consequences, especially when Scott and Justin meet up with their "larger than life" kiwi friend Ellis. They head to Auckland for Bungee jumping, go fishing in Kapity, absailing near Cheviot, and to earn their keep they sheer alpacas at Ellis fathers' before rafting on Buller River. They say goodbye and leave to find their own adventure on Mt. Cook. Justin's competitive risk-taking side takes over, while Scott deals with his own fears. New Zealand - Untouched Mon., May 19 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT Continuing in New Zealand, the boys get a bit of Ellis' spirit and step up the adventure. They spend Christmas together in the remote beauty of Milford Sound, then head to Wannaka on their way to Tasman Glacier before hitting the extreme sports in Queenstown. Finding adventure and uninhabited landscape reminds them of how long they've been on the road and of all the family and friends waiting for their return. Thailand Mon., May 26 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT Nearing the end of the trip, Scott and Justin fly to Thailand looking for unique experiences outside of traditional tourist stops. Arriving in Bangkok, they travel to the hill tribes in the north, then head south to the islands, ending their trip with Justin facing off against a Thai kick boxer in-front of hundreds of locals in a sun-drenched ring of Puket. Cambodia Mon., June 2 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT Scott and Justin meet up with their friend Sarorn and his family who show them the untouched parts of Cambodia. They visit the Hill Tribes in Ratanakiri where a traditional sacrifice introduces them to the real side of the country. Next they make their way by road to the majestic temples of Angkor, then on to capital city Phnom Penh and south to the remote region of Takeo. There, they live off the land in a stilt house, taking part in local activities, ceremonies and games. The guys find new purpose with their travels and commit to another year-long trip. Canada - Pushing North Mon., June 9 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT A year out, Scott and Justin arrive back on home soil, but can't part ways without one more challenge. An epic adventure which takes them from Vancouver, through Dawson City, Whitehorse, past the Arctic Circle, and to the very end of the road. Still not ready to go home, they hop in a cargo plane to fly above and beyond the north shoreline seeing the most remote areas that Canada has to offer."

"This past weekend was the first of this years Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race Series presented by Helly Hansen. There were over 200 athletes that took part including Team Helly Vancouver and their rival Team Helly Vancouver Island and our very own Daina Carmichael from our marketing dept. Below is the days event blogged out by Gary Robbins who has become somewhat of a celebrity in the blog world, as far as adventure racing goes. Gary always has a lot to say which is great as he covers off pretty much everything that happened that day so enjoy! Before doing MOMAR Gary was away doing a 100km running race in Miwok. Good on you Gary for doing MOMAR as well! So after getting back from Miwok and feeling completely crippled for three full days I was wondering if I'd be able to race the Squamish MOMAR Adventure Race at all. I spent the entire week between the two events popping Amino Acids like candy and just trying to suffer my way through a few short runs. On Wednesday I told Todd he was going to have to race it solo, then on Thursday I said I might race solo myself, just so I could take it easy and enjoy the course without having to beat my already battered body up any further. I went to bed on Thursday with absolutely no aspirations of actually 'racing' the MOMAR on Saturday. When I awoke Fri morning, I again headed out for a 1hr run, but amazingly, I was finally starting to feel good again. I opened it up a bit on some downhill sections and after telling myself that I still had one full nights rest to go before the race, I e-mailed Todd and told him that we were going to be able to race as a tandem and try to defend out title at the MOMAR. Todd and I had managed a sweep of last years MOMAR races, and something else that I was reluctant to blog about, until now, was also the fact that Todd and I, as a team of two, had yet to lose a race. We were 6-0 since teaming up to tackle adventure races together in December of 2006. This included three MOMAR wins, two BEAST victories, an one Suburban Rush title. Even after all the success we had enjoyed, we knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Justin Mark and Jeff Reimer of Team Helly Hansen Vancouver Island would be pushing us to our limits out there all day long. The Squamish MOMAR not only ended up being one of the toughest MOMAR courses to date, it also ended up being a true race between both Helly Hansen teams to make that finish line first! The race started at just after 9am, and we were off on a 2km 'Le mans' running start back to our mountain bikes. We began just behind local Squamish Team 'Live To Tell', and after less than 100 feet of running Graham Schulz lost some gear off of his backpack. I tapped him on the shoulder and notified him of this, then watched in horror as Graham had to turn back and face head on, a stampeding field of over 200 racers! He later accused me of 'removing' his gear for him, and I guess since I was laughing when I told him of this originally, I could see why. For the record I didn't, but wish I had!! After a few minutes of running I knew that although sore, I'd be able to race at 100% on the day. I jumped to the front of the pack and tried to set the pace. Justin followed right along and together we lead it out back to the bikes, with our teammates falling in just behind us. We hit the transition, and were off and climbing up the Mamquam Forest Service Road. A group of us quickly settled in at the front and worked away at the terrain. As we cut left onto a rough single track trail Justin and Jeff were able to put a few seconds into the rest of us. This initial bike ride was only a few km as well, and then we transitioned back to our running shoes for a navigation section of about 10km. Todd and I had a bit of a slower transition here...but in the end it didn't matter for as I raised my head to start running and try to track down the teams in front of us, it became all too evident what was about to happen. There was a pack...literally A PACK of people standing around and watching us while we transitioned. Everyone knows that Todd is the best navigator at most of these events. Team HHVI, having lost over ten minutes to us on the nav section at Suburban Rush just two weeks prior, were not about to make the same mistake again. The funny thing was, Todd and I fully expected this to occur and had discussed in great detail what our plan would be in a situation such as this. We slowed the pace down a bit and were whispering options to each other at the front of this group. Eventually one or two racers decided to go their own route, and then we watched with envy as Shane Ruljancich and Garth Campbell of team 'Pain Is Temporary', went cruising by unchallenged. Todd and I know that these guys can navigate as good as anyone out there, but it seemed no one else recognized them as a 'draft worthy' team! I kept suggesting to Todd that we had to make a move, and he kept telling me to relax for a minute. I could not see the map and did not know exactly what he had in mind. Once I realized that Todd was looking to make a break, I vocalized that my shoes were bothering me and stopped to fix the lacing on them. As I did this Todd made eye contact with me and basically told me to just keep up. He immediately bolted back the way we had just come from, and like a wild Sasquatch he devoured a section of bushwhacking like it had been sporting a strip of pavement down the middle. I just tried to hold on, knowing that we can move faster than most through rough terrain such as this. We hit an intersecting trail within a few hundred feet and then ran as hard as we could for a few hundred meters until we rounded a corner. As I did a quick shoulder check I spotted Justin and Jeff walking in circles a few hundred meters back. I spoke with Justin after the event and he said they came into the bush behind us, and it seemed as though we literally disappeared into thin air. Justin and Jeff thought that Todd and I had to be hiding on them somewhere and their conversation went something like, "They have to be in here somewhere! They're hiding, they have to be, they can probably hear us right now!" Todd and I were fully aware of the fact that we had to hit the bikes with a decent lead as this particular race would definitely favor a strong biking team. We came into transition just ahead of Shane and Garth and with a good transition were out of there quickly. We had another steep climb on the bikes, and this lead us into some of my favorite Squamish trails, the Pseudo Pseuda's (however that's spelled), and then eventually The Powerhouse Plunge, Crumpit Woods and The Farther Side. I know these trails inside out and once we hit the technical downhill riding I was in heaven. Todd wasn't far behind for most of these sections, but as the terrain became rougher, his bike became slower. We were both hoping he would have received his full suspension bike for this race, but it got delayed a few days and left him still riding his hard tail, which I should mention is the only bike I have ever seen Todd race on and we have managed all of our success with this ride. By the time we hit The Plunge however, Todd's body was screaming at him and he came off of his bike a few times in the rougher sections. I knew this was costing us valuable time to team HHVI and tried to verbally let Todd know what was coming around each turn so that he could prepare for it. We hit the bottom of The Plunge still in the lead, and without another team in sight, but as we were turning into Crumpit Woods, just a few short minutes later, we spotted Justin and Jeff charging hard from behind. They had closed our gap of almost five minutes from the trekking stage and I knew we were in for a full on battle to the finish line. As we transitioned onto the final run of the race, that would lead us into our rappel, Justin and Jeff departed right before us. Todd and I caught up to them after about 1km and although we put in a push to try and distance ourselves from them before the rappel we effectively hit the ropes at the exact same time. Todd was clipped in first, and Jeff, on a separate rope second. There was only one rope per team, and although we were first on, we were last off in a big way. The luck of the draw gave us a stiffer rope set up and I was literally using both hands to filter the rope through the damn harness to actually let gravity to its job. We hit the ground running, knowing that there was very little race course left to cover. As we made our way into the final transition back to the bikes we watched Justin and Jeff departing up ahead of us. Unfortunately, we had our absolute worst transition of the entire race as my fingers seemed to fumble with everything. Onto the bikes and hammering on the peddles for all we were worth to try and catch the lead team. All I wanted was a glimpse of them in the hopes of setting off some form of adrenaline within my body to help deaden all the pain I was feeling from head to toe! We blasted through the last sections of the race, and as we rounded the corner to the finish area at Quest University, we peered up and could see Team HHVI about to snag their first victory. I mumbled to Todd, one last gasp of hope for us to win, "Maybe they'll trip and break a collar bones..." We crossed the line in a time of 4hr05m50s, or 1m42s too slow on the day! If we had to lose, and we both knew it would happen sooner or later, I am certainly glad that it was to Justin and Jeff, especially Justin, as he's been racing the MOMAR's for years now and was kinda like the Ray Bourque of the series, always right there at the top of the standings, but never quite exactly where I know he wanted to be, and with a possible semi-retirement on the way as his incredible wife and former racer Carey Sather is now pregnant with twins! Future MOMAR champs in training I'm sure! Special thanks, as always to Bryan Tasaka and the entire MOMAR crew. Jen Segger-Gigg worked long and hard to come up with a completely new course this year, and certainly did not disappoint! Congrats to each and every racer who came out to try their hands at a MOMAR event, hopefully you'll out be out for the next one as well."

Husband and wife team, Julie and Colin Angus rowed from Dover, England to Calais, France earlier today. The four-hour-fifty-six-minute voyage crossed the busiest shipping lane in the world, and the couple experienced swells of 2-3 metres. The Angus's rowed individually in single rowing shells that they built and designed themselves, and reached the shores of France simultaneously. They voyaged a total distance of 41 km, averaging just over 8 km/hr. The record for the fastest crossing of the English Channel in a single rowing shell is three hours fourteen minutes held by Olympic Rowing Gold Medalist Guin Batten. Earlier this year another Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell attempted to beat the record in a custom-built carbon fibre vessel, and made the crossing in just over six hours. Julie and Colin Angus are on an expedition rowing from the northern tip of Scotland to Syria, and the Channel crossing is one leg of this seven-month, seven-thousand-km journey. They are using specialized vessels capable of carrying bicycles and boat trailers for amphibious human-powered travel. During their crossing of the English Channel they were carrying their bicycles and trailers inside the rowing boats. Before departing on the voyage at 4:00 am, Julie Angus admitted feeling apprehensive, "There are so many variables beyond our control. The weather and shipping congestion can slow us down significantly or even necessitate aborting our attempt." The weather forecast called for less-than-ideal conditions with winds blowing force 3-4 and gusting up to force five. With a stiff breeze blowing through the Port of Dover, Julie and Colin departed before dawn in an effort to complete the crossing before wind conditions intensified. The team were escorted by a safety vessel, as required by local regulations. Timing of the crossing began when they departed from the pontoons in Dover marina and finished when the couple stepped onto the sandy beach fronting the ferry port of Calais. The couple are believed to be the first Canadians to row across the English Channel. The Canadian duo will continue their expedition by rowing through the French canals to the Rhine and Danube Rivers. They will voyage through Eastern Europe, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean before completing their expedition in Syria. Both Julie and Colin Angus are adventure authors and were jointly awarded the 2007 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year award. A book, Rowed Trip, outlining the expedition will be released through Doubleday in 2009. More information on the expedition can be found on the website www.rowedtrip.com.

In just over seven weeks we have travelled more than 1500 km with our amphibious rowboats from the northern tip of Scotland to the south of England. We have travelled on canals, lakes, shorelines, inlets, rivers and roads. From here we will continue across the English Channel, up the Rhine watershed, and then down the Danube River to the Black Sea. Check out a great slideshow at: http://www.angusadventures.com/gallery/9/slideshow.htm?1

"The Suburban Rush Adventure Race, which Todd and I would be competing in as a team of two, was amazingly salvaged for us the night prior by a rather random act on my part. I was thinking about the race, and guessing (completely ignorantly) that the terrain would be easier, flatter and faster than most AR's that I had done. With this in mind I proceeded to my mountain bike and decided to up the tire pressure, which I really never, ever touch. I put an additional 10psi in each tire and went about putting together the rest of my gear and hitting the sack for the night. When I was loading my bike onto my car the following morning I was greeted with a flat rear tire. Weird I thought, but whatever, I could replace the tube in Port Moody before the event. Once we arrived at the race start area we went about fixing the flat when Todd noticed that I had a torn sidewall, which is a gash in my actual tire that leaves a hole in it and exposes the enclosed tube! Todd went to work slicing up the old tube and with the ever handy roll of duct tape created a band-aid for my bike. This is pretty standard in this type of situation, but the tire was now compromised and could blow another tube much easier. Todd was confident in his repair and I pretty much forgot about it as there was nothing else I could do now anyways. Had I not inflated my tire the night prior, the tube would not have popped in advance, and we would surely be left dealing with this at some point during the race itself. Being a shorter event of around 30km, it would have all but ended our chances at a top finish. I was very thankful for the randomness of my action and my complete misconception of what this race would entail! Todd and I had both agreed that The Suburban Rush Adventure Race was a beginners A.R. and that we didn't quite feel right about going out to race and try to win the event. It wasn't until we learned that our Helly Hansen Vancouver Island counterparts Justin Mark and Jeff Reimer were making the trip over that we started to give the race serious consideration. I know Todd would confirm, that after enjoying an incredible and challenging race yesterday, we were both wrong, very wrong in fact, in every single one of our assumptions about The Suburban Rush! As a testament to this statement, the race, as always, had sold out at 200 racers with many more left wanting in from the outside. Everyone was treated to the nicest day of the entire year with temps getting up in the high teens, not a cloud in sight and for the first time in awhile, no wind. For a sprint race where we guesstimated our time to be around 2hr, we wanted to get a warm up in as redlining right off the start, and from scratch on the day can create an overload of lactic acid in a hurry. We decided to bike up to the bike drop and run back down, plus I was able to get Roxy a pre-race run and since it was a flagged course we could legitimately see what was in store for us on the run. As we were running down I turned to Todd and commented on what a great climb this was going to be and how it was already shaping up to be a tougher course than I had envisioned. We got back down with 15min to spare, but after I fumbled about for a bit, changed my clothes and subsequently lost my bib number, Todd and I ended up sprinting through traffic to barely make the official start as they were counting down. For the record here, my watch said I still had 3min to spare Dean! (which of course means my watch is five minutes slow) The race started and with our heart rates already racing Todd and I worked our way to the front of the pack. We knew that a good 25min straight uphill climb awaited us, and with our race plan centered mainly around the other HH team we figured we needed to gain a lead on the run as they are both very solid bikers. Todd and I hit the transition with about a 1min lead and were departing just as Helly Hansen Vancouver Island started to change into their biking gear. Even after almost a half hour of uphill running our climbing had just begun. We seemed to match this elevation gain again on our mountain bikes. As Todd and I followed the flagging up the never ending climb we came to a major intersection that was all of a sudden devoid of any flags or flagging tape. In a bit of a panic we turned back around and doubled back to our last know flag, which temporarily looked like it could jut off in another direction. This cost us our 45sec lead and with HHVI knowing the area fairly well they hit the intersection, cut left, and were gone. Todd and I did not want to make any hasty decisions as we've seen all too often what an ill timed decision can lead to. Once the next team of two caught up to us, who ended up being the winners of the previous two editions of S.R. we realized that we did indeed need to take the left, and once again continue climbing. We went to work trying to catch up to the now lead team of HHVI and managed to close the gap as we came into a short 'off the bike to run to a CP n back section'. The Suburban Rush course was covering some similar terrain to Diez Vista did just a few weeks prior. In my two runnings of the Diez course I had yet to see a single view. As we grabbed this out n back CP I was startled to see how incredible the scenery around the area was. No wonder the D.V. is such a renowned course! It made much more sense to me now as otherwise I just figured it to be a super tough 50k trail! After this we were finally riding some downhill terrain and I started to feel bad for Todd as there were pretty large strewn rocks all about. I was getting bucked around on my full suspension, yet Todd still rides a hardtail bike! (he assures me that his new full suspension in in the mail) I was very impressed at Todd's ability to keep a decent pace over this terrain as I personally would have either bailed or submitted to the constant bashing on the body to act as the main shock absorber! From here we hit up some sweet single track riding and HHVI managed to distance themselves from us again as the terrain was rough and did not lend itself to hardtail riding. Once we hit the more open and faster section of the bike leg we hammered on the pedals to try and once again close the gap. The bike leg lead us into what was listed as a bushwhack, but was 90% on packed runnable trails. We arrived before HHVI were able to depart and with a quick transition managed to catch and pass them within a few hundred meters of running. As a foursome we all blew right past the first CP, which was hanging off to the side of the trail. We were under the assumption that the CP's would be on the main route and it was not until we ran back down an embankment that we were able to determine that we had to backtrack. HHVI had continued past us and stopped a few hundred meters down the trail. We yelled at each other and indeed confirmed that neither of us had found the CP. Todd and I decided to turn around, while HHVI continued on with the intention of snagging the missed CP on the way out. As Todd and I ran back up hill to find our first CP on the trek we were passed by the previous years winners, sporting the 'leaders yellow jerseys'. At this point I recognized one of the racers from a random training encounter in Wash State in 06 and immediately knew that there was now a solid three way battle for the lead happening. Once Todd and I realized that the CP's were somewhat hidden Todd went into his 'superhuman dialed into the maps mode' and I knew that we were in a position to make up some serious time on the other teams, "Let's be the first back to the bikes Todd, we can win this thing out here right now!" With the exception of one additional CP that we overshot and dropped about forty five seconds searching for, the stage went like clockwork and we ran a solid pace back to the bike transition. A quick scan allowed me to see that everyone elses bikes were still in place and we made out of there like bandits in the night trying not to be spotted from any potential teams coming back into the transition area behind us. Once up the hill and around the corner I figured there to be about thirty minutes of racing left, and knew that barring any serious issues or cramping, that we should be able to maintain our lead. Todd faced some minor cramping issues that did not seem to slow him that much and I prayed that my torn sidewall would continue to hold. We bombed down some nice open flowing single track and upon reaching the finish area has to crawl under some netting to cross the line in 2h08m and claim the 2008 Suburban Rush win! The 2007 winners crossed the line about ten minutes later and Justin and Jeff of HHVI claimed third. The day had only gotten nicer and we all enjoyed the social atmosphere and incredible weather. Suburban Rush is a top notch adventure race. The organization was second to none, the volleys, as always, were amazing and the energy around the event superb. We had a stellar day and after heading in with so many misconceptions about this race we were both happy to have educated ourselves a bit better and opened up our eyes to another staple event on the adventure racing scene in B.C. Thanks to Dean Wutke, Shawn Leclair, the entire Suburban Rush crew, and Bryan Tasaka of Mind Over Mountain Adventure Racing as he was the one who constantly told us that we were completely wrong in our assumptions and insisted that we come out and try it for ourselves. I'd also like to thank Cap's Westwood Cycle for their very generous prizing donations, along with all other sponsors as well of course! Todd will vouch for the fact that we had some incredible customer service at Cap's Cycle. My brain was shutting down and I was surprised at how tired I found myself after the event. I created what could only be described as the longest and most confusing transaction in the history of retail, and the girl behind the till handled it all in stride and with an actual genuine smile upon her face. I personally would have snapped on someone attempting 1/2 of the mess that I had created! Six days till Miwok, thirteen till MOMAR, fourteen till the hangover of the year for me! GR"

Thursday night was the Vancouver premiere of the Collective's new mountain bike movie Seasons. We are always looking for a reason to throw a party so we had a little social get together before the premiere. Some industry people including staff from the Collective, athletes from the movie came by including our own Andrew Shandro and Cam from NSMB, Radek from Pink Bike and Sterling Lawrence just to name a few. After a couple hours of drinking, eating, chatting and getting pumped up on watching ROAM (Collective's last movie) we headed down to the Commadore to a packed house. I have to say that this movie was worth every day of waiting from ROAM for me, the Collective puts out the best mountain bike movies hands down. I only know this because my buddies and I haev seen them all! After the show I think that everyone there wished they had their mountain bike outside the theatre so they could go rip it up! If you haven't seen this movie make sure that you get to a location that is showing it or buy the DVD after May 15. Until next time. Marc Campbell Sports Marketing North America Helly Hansen

As an avid mountain biker, cruiser rider and now a road rider (just for commuting) I try to stay up on what's going on in the bike world through any bike mag I can get my hands on, this usually happens at variety stores, grocery stores or my favorite magazine shop while my wife is getting her nails done. I was reading this months Decline and read a great article on the new Remedy and there was our boy Shandro sporting H/H all over. In this months Decline there was an ad for Shandro's Gravity Camps in Whistler and Hunter in a Collective ad. If you want to see Shandro and Matty in action you can go to the Whistler Bike Park website, http://www.whistlerbike.com/index.htm , to see Shandro getting some air and you can click at the bottom to see them both ripping it up on B Line. Keep up the great riding guys, I love the pics and vids! Makes me want to leave my desk and get out there everytime! Marc Campbell Sports Marketing Helly Hansen

Following on from the continued success of the 2007 Helly Hansen Adventure Series, organisers TrailPlus have added two additional venues to the 2008 line-up. Dates for the Helly Hansen Adventure Challenge Series 2008/09 are 21 September, 19 October, 7 December, 1 February (09) and early spring (09). With adventure racing becoming an increasingly popular sport, the two new venues have secured the Helly Hansen Adventure Challenge Series as the UK's biggest one-day adventure race team event. The five one-day races can be entered individually or as a series. Blending physical challenge and teamwork , they are designed for teams of three, who must stay together throughout the race. Each adventure race features a three-way mix of trail running (10k), challenging mountain biking (25k) and canoeing on flat water in an inflatable kayak (1.5k). The fastest teams are likely to compete the course in under three hours, with most coming in within five hours and a and a few crossing the finish line in seven hours. 2008 dates and venues are: o Sunday 21 September: Cannock Chase, Staffordshire o Sunday 19 October: Longmoor Camp, Hampshire o Sunday 7th December: Hawley, Nr Camberley, Surrey o Sunday 1 February (2009): Pirbright, Surrey o Early spring 2009: Cumbria - location TBC The order of activities is revealed on the day, and disciplines may be split, plus competitors will face a few testing challenges thrown in between circuits. However, the route is marked, so navigation skills are not necessary. The team entry price is £135 per event - an early entry incentive will be offered and discounts are available for clubs or organisations entering five or more teams in any one race. There will be team prizes for race winners and for pole position in the overall series. The spirit of adventure, fun and excitement, combined with the multi-sport action makes the Helly Hansen Adventure Challenge accessible to all - attracting those new to the world of adventure and die hard adventure racers, whether male, female or mixed teams.

"We wish you a happy spring. Julie and I are currently on the West Coast of Scotland having spent the past three weeks on the start of our expedition travelling from Scotland to Syria entirely by human power. We've reached a major milestone - my Aunt Avril and Uncle Tom's house in Largs, Scotland - and are enjoying a good pampering after our weeks of toil. We are travelling with rowboats and bicycles which allow us to explore the landscapes we are travelling through more thoroughly, and enable us to follow routes that would otherwise be impassable by boat or bicycle alone. So far we have journeyed almost 500 km from the NE tip of Scotland (John o' Groats) to Largs (near Glasgow). Our route has been about 50/50 on land and water and we have travelled along lochs, inlets, shorelines, canals, farm tracks, and quiet country roads. Over the weeks we have received many questions regarding the logistics of this journey, and in this newsletter we will answer some of them in Q&A form below: How did you get your rowboats out from Canada? The 18' boats were too big to be sent as accompanying luggage by plane, so we transported them by surface from Vancouver to London. They travelled by train to Montreal and on by freighter to London. The cost was quite reasonable - $1200 for the two boats. From London we rented a van to transport our boats and the rest of our equipment to John o' Groats. Do you have a support vehicle to transport your gear? No. Our system is designed so that Julie and I are completely self-sufficient. All our gear and equipment fits in the rowboats which we tow behind our bicycles when on land. We then carry all our gear in the rowboats while in the water. We purchase food supplies and other necessary items when we reach villages and towns. What do you do with the bicycles and trailers when you're on the water? The bicycles and boat trailers disassemble and fit inside the boats while we travel on the water. Many people find this hard to believe, but it all fits through the middle hatch on the boat. Our camping gear and the remainder of our equipment fits into the bow and stern compartments. Why are you rowing instead of using paddles? Our boats are beamier (wider) than sea kayaks to accommodate the bicycles and trailers^ therefore it is more efficient to row. We also prefer the comfort and efficiency of a sliding-seat rowing system for long-distance travel. Why don't you both voyage in a single larger boat? There are many logistical reasons why we chose to use two boats. A boat capable of carrying the two of us plus our bicycles and gear would be much heavier and unwieldy. It would be difficult, if not impossible, for one person to pull such a boat (fully loaded) behind a bicycle, and towing in tandem would not work. From a safety perspective it is advantageous having two boats. We have also designed our boats to catamaran together to create a camping and lounging platform - something which can't be done with a sole boat. What happens if you capsize? So far we've been in very rough seas, and the boats have not capsized. They are very stable vessels, and with bottoms shaped like dories they handle well in big waves. If they do capsize, however, the boats can be manually righted. They are designed so that all water drains from the cockpit in the righting process, and can be underway again within seconds of capsizing. How about hypothermia? The danger of the waters around Scotland at this time of year can't be taken lightly. Hypothermia will occur in minutes, and death will follow shortly after in the event of immersion. Whenever we do any open crossings or the weather is turning bad, Julie and I wear full-body dry suits. Why are your boats named Tantalum and Niobium? Tantalum and Niobium are two adjacent elements on the periodic table. Tantalum is a semi-conductor and is commonly used in the electronics industry as a capacitor. Niobium is used to strengthen steel. Unfortunately, much of the world's supply of tantalum and niobium come from sources tied to negative politics. Our lead sponsor, Commerce Resources, is dedicated to producing ethical supplies of these minerals, and our boats have been named after them. Where do you camp? We are always able to find places to camp along the water or the road. Typical camping sites include farmer's fields, forests, open moorland, on beaches above the high-water line and on islands. We often look for a stream for a water source, or we carry water to our campsite in collapsible water jugs. In Scotland "wild" camping seems to be encouraged, and we have never had troubles with people asking us to move on. Often the locals are enthusiastically directing us to the best camping spots. Once a week we try to find a hotel in a village or town to clean up, organize our photos, and write our weekly update. How about repetitive stress injuries? This is always a concern, and we try not to overexert ourselves too quickly at the start of an expedition. Both Julie and I are experiencing mild tendinitis in our wrists from over usage. Julie's injury is more severe, and we will try immobilizing her wrist for the next leg. Where is the Best Haggis? This is a tough one. Here in Scotland there are many varieties and most have been pretty good. My two Haggis experiences in Canada have both been bad, so I would definitely recommend coming to Scotland if you want the best Haggis. Below we are including the updates we post weekly on our website. For more information on our journey and to see photos, maps, etc, please visit www.rowedtrip.com. - Colin"

"'The Endless Summer' ... it sounds like a cliché, even an endless dream - not even possible, but believe it or not, it exists. My endless summer first came in the form of an annual season of kayaking and rafting on the Zambezi river in Zambia, in between my adventures in the northern hemisphere's summer months. But in 2002 I visited Uganda for the first time. Imagine a river exiting Africa's largest lake, already big enough to offer some of the world's best big-water and freestyle kayaking. At times half a mile wide, the river braids into countless channels flowing in between islands and forming over thirty rapids that have drawn paddlers from all over the world. That river is the White Nile - at its source. Look at a map of Africa and you'll quickly spot lake Victoria central and slightly to the east. From its north end, the Nile exits and begins its 6000 Km journey to Cairo and then Alexandria, Egypt on the Mediterranean - The world's longest river! During the first time that I paddled on the Nile I was just starting to get malaria and stopped on a small island for a break. I thought, "Wow that's a pretty cool island!" The 40 km stretch of river offered such good paddling that I ended up returning at least once a year after that. Three years ago I bought the very island where I'd stopped on that first day. The price wasn't high but I was required to propose how I'd help the local rural community with my presence. The idea worked great and I've now created what I consider to be the ultimate paddling paradise. I'm typing these words as I sit on a white beach with palm trees, a hammock, a small house and the river passing by. After this I'll jump on my inflatable motorboat and fly up the rapids and channels to all the best 'play spots' for paddling. That makes it a great spot to rest from my world travels and go paddling every day. In addition to this particular stretch of river, Uganda also has a lot more to offer. It turns out that there're a number of unexplored rivers in the mountains to the east and more white water on the Nile River to the North (down stream). One key stretch is from Karuma falls to Murchison falls in the famed Murchison falls National Park. My 5-day descent was the forth on this rarely run section. The white water is spectacular with many massive technical rapids, but what makes every descent feel like a first is the dangerous and unpredictable wildlife. The run boasts the highest concentration of hippos in the world (20 000 in 80 km) and many crocs over 17 ft, not to mention elephants, buffalo, lions etc. all of which can kill you in a heartbeat. Whilst our team made it through in one piece, the trip wasn't without incident: Our support raft flipped four times^ I was approached by seven different crocs in the water and got scared off by a hippo in the jungle whilst scouting a rapid. Those were just a few of the stories that came from our adventure. By the time we made it to the end it was one of the best pieces of river that I've ever done, and the best part is...it's just in my back yard! But although Uganda is a great country with some of the friendliest people to be found in Africa, it's not all perfect and rosy. Over 50% of the population of 28 million is under the age of 15 years old. The average birth rate is 6.1 children for every female. That's a population explosion of note and, in terms of the environment^ this tiny country is struggling to handle that explosion, especially given that 98% of families use only an open fire as a form of energy. I've never been a particularly active environmentalist but after watching almost every tree along the river banks vanish over the last few years it's prompted me to at least try to do something. It's a loosing battle for sure but a few residents along the Nile, including myself, have been replanting trees along sections of the bank. The difficulty is that unless you own or lease the land first you have no control of the maintenance or regeneration. So we've bought up small pockets and next we plan to establish environmental education centers and arrange policing of the sound environmental laws that already exist. Hopefully we'll at least preserve a few small pockets of what used to be. Yet another good reason for me to keep returning to what used to be known as 'The pearl of Africa'. Over the previous two 'winters' much of my time in Uganda was occupied with building my island pad and getting generally set up in Uganda. This year was the first time that I arrived back to a home all ready to go. After settling in, the first order of business was the Nile Freestyle Kayak festival. About sixty paddlers from all over the world turned up for the event. I was nervous: Being that it's my 'backyard wave' about 300 yards from my house I'm always expected to win any event there. But it's tricky business. Obviously anything can happen on the day and there are definitely more than a few guys who are keen to take me out. In addition to that comes the pressure where, when you're expected to win, you must explain if you lose, but if you do win, well then it's just taken for granted. But I guess overcoming those mental games is all a part of the satisfaction. With up and coming paddler Sam Ward of the UK hot on my heels throughout the event the finals turned out to be the most awesome I've ever witnessed. We kept pushing each other higher and higher until eventually I squeaked ahead by the narrowest of margins. It was awesome but I would have been just as satisfied with 2nd place because the score sheet was ridiculous - We basically did every move in the book. For those who don't know, a freestyle kayak event takes place on a stationary wave in the river. Unlike in the ocean where the water stands still but the wave moves, in the river the wave stands still whilst the water passes under you. Other than that the concept is similar and you're able to perform various tricks on the wave. In the case of the 'Nile Special' wave down here, those tricks are fast and aerial - sometimes 3 feet off the water. The kayak festival continued with two races over the following day but I had to leave the country on my next quest - a scout trip to the Congo. For years I've had my eye on the Congo River - Africa's largest. It flows through the gnarliest of jungles and through a country where civil unrest and battles have raged on for years. We headed off to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of planning a future expedition on this mightiest of rivers. Apart from it being one of the toughest expeditions on earth, the amount of red tape, permitting and planning is mind-boggling. After a few weeks and dozens of meetings with government officials we're now a bit closer to launching on the world's wildest river. One of accomplishments was flying over some of the key sectors of the river as well as hiking in for a better look at the rapids from water level. Over flight and hiking in to the river was not only to get a look at the river but also to test ourselves and our permits gained so far to see that logistically we can in fact move around safely in what can easily be considered to be seriously hostile terrain. Watch this space! Once back in Uganda is was time for a well-needed Christmas break. This is where Uganda has always excelled for me over places like the Zambezi where it's slightly harder to go out and do other activities when you're not kayaking. Fishing for example. I've actually measured twenty steps from the water's edge to my stove where I can cook the fish I catch. Between paddling missions I dab a line in the river quite regularly and have also done a few trips on Lake Victoria. But the prime spot for sport fishing here is in Murchison falls national park. The fish get huge and it all takes place amongst spectacular wildlife. I did two trips down there this season and got to snap a few awesome pics of the surrounding wildlife as we fished. This year I also brought back my paraglider to check out the flying potential in Uganda. Over the last year I've been using a powered paraglider to help me with finding and scouting rivers. But the free flying is what I enjoy most. It turns out the conditions for flying are epic in Uganda. The area around the source of the river is a bit flat but you don't need to go too far to find awesome mountains with awesome air: Sipi falls and Mount Elgon to the East, and the Rwenzori's to the west with a great escarpment to the north along Lake Albert. Those spots will definitely become more a part of my future seasons spent here. All in all a great winter spent on the equator with out having to have an off-season as such. Now it's time to hit the airways to the next destination. The schedule for this year is packed with the next stops in South Africa, Swaziland and Zambia. From there I'll be off to Canada to catch the flood runoff from one of the biggest snow packs in history. Later in the year I will of course also stop off at the home of Helly Hansen - Norway, which also happens to be one of the best white water destinations on the planet! Steve Fisher"

Julie (33) and Colin (36) Angus from Vancouver Island, British Columbia have departed today from Britain's north easternmost point, John o'Groats and are travelling 7,000 km to Syria. The duo is using amphibious rowboats for the journey and will follow an interconnected route of canals, rivers, lakes and coastlines through Britain, Continental Europe, and the Middle East. The two 18 foot vessels were designed and constructed by the team, each able to carry a bicycle and boat trailer. Although most of the journey will be on water, the team has the option of travelling overland pulling the boats behind their bicycles. Over the next seven months the Angus's will pass through four seas, three major rivers and sixteen countries while only travelling by human power. Colin Angus' family is from the far north of Scotland and Julie's is from Germany and Syria. The journey will link these three countries, and a key component of the expedition is to explore their ancestral roots. The other focus is to promote active living and environmental stewardship in schools and an adventure learning program based on the expedition has been developed (details at www.rowedtrip.com). Julie and Colin departed from the coast near John o'Groats at 10:30 GMT pulling the boats behind their bicycles. They will cycle until Inverness and launch their boats in the Caledonian Canal. When asked of their decision to cycle instead of row for their first leg, Julie replied: "There's a gale hitting the coast of Britain tomorrow. I think we'll make better progress on land." A small crowd of well wishers, mostly extended family who still live in the region, waved the duo goodbye as they pedalled into stiff west winds. If all goes according to plan Julie and Colin Angus will pedal and row into Aleppo, Syria in mid-September. The journey will end at Julie's family's olive farm on the outskirts of the city. The team will be posting weekly updates, video logs, and pictures on the expedition website www.rowedtrip.com. Enjoy the trip, guys!!