Adventure Links of the Week
A collection of adventure links from the past week, featuring skiing in Uganda, surfing, research on decision-making, and more.
When Ugandans think of skiing, the Rwenzori Mountains don't immediately come to mind. However, these mountains are home to Africa's last remaining equatorial glacier powder.
Reaching the glaciers involves a five-day trek through cloud forests, bamboo, and high-altitude terrain. Both the Margherita and Stanley glaciers are above 4,500m, and fresh snow can transform the upper Margherita Glacier into a short, steep powder run. Edison Kule is among the first Ugandans to ski the mountain. Part of Ski Club Uganda, he and his partners are combining ski tourism with conservation and community projects.
ExplorersWeb's writer Ash Routen has left the publication after nine years to set up his own adventure substack. Ash covered many non-climbing adventures for ExplorersWeb, especially polar travel, which he is personally drawn to. He hauled a sled the length of Lake Baikal before the Ukraine invasion, hiked the Arctic Circle Trail in Greenland, and has skied/sledded in Scandinavia.
World champion surfer Caitlin Simmers discusses the similarities between surfing and dance. For Simmers, surfing means using movement and instinct to respond to each wave. Every wave is unique, so no manoeuvre can ever be exactly repeated, and she believes mistakes and unexpected movements can create the most memorable rides.
Research suggests that when it comes to decision-making, having more information does not necessarily lead to better choices, particularly in high-stakes outdoor situations. Psychologist Samantha Kleinberg argues that simple, targeted information produces better decisions. In the context of paddling, this means that constantly checking weather and swell forecasts - and worrying about sticking to an itinerary or reaching a particular campsite - introduces irrelevant pressures and makes it harder to identify which information genuinely matters.
A river runner on the San Juan River in Utah arrived at a campsite they had reserved only to find it occupied by a large group who had not obtained permits. The following night he encountered the same problem at a different campsite. Mark Sundeen argues that while the legal and ethical position may be straightforward, the practical situation is not simple. Visitors are not responsible for enforcing tribal rules, and confronting a large group could create a more serious problem than losing a campsite.
A science teacher and his wife decided to take a year-long sabbatical to climb and travel around the world. They spent 18 months saving and figuring out the most cost-effective ways to accomplish their plans. Surprisingly, the couple spent less than their budget at home. Spending at least a month in most destinations and following the best climbing seasons rather than trying to visit as many places as possible, they visited Colorado, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Kentucky, Mexico, Texas, Spain, and France.
In September 2025, Greg Barrett and Nick Baggaley made the first ascent of the long east ridge of Stutfield Peak East (3,422m) in the Canadian Rockies. They named the route No Fiesta, No Siesta (1,200m, TD- 5.8) after Baggaley’s Ford Fiesta broke down en route and it emerged he had forgotten his sleeping pad. The ridge involved a mixture of scrambling, fourth and fifth-class terrain and pitches of 5.8 climbing. Despite the relatively modest technical grade, the route was demanding because there was so much loose and unstable choss.
Scientists say that social media influencers will do anything for the perfect photo. They are increasingly seeing videos of influencers swimming alongside, touching, and even riding sharks to capture dramatic footage. Though shark attacks are still rare, a number of these incidents have led to serious injury and even death.
Technology increasingly helps search and rescue (SAR) teams quickly locate and reach people, while also reducing the risk to rescuers. Summit County Rescue Group recently used a drone to locate two boys caught in a thunderstorm. Using drones is not new for SAR, but these drones were equipped with a speaker, allowing rescuers to communicate with the boys. Other emerging technologies make the physical side of rescue easier. Electric exoskeletons can help rescuers climb steep terrain with heavy equipment, and the devices can be transferred to injured or exhausted people to help them walk out.
