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The latest in adventure

Legendary Ski Mountaineer Hilaree Nelson Dies on Manaslu

Tragedy struck the outdoor and adventure community on the 26th of September, as renowned ski mountaineer Hilaree Nelson lost her life in an accident on Manaslu in the Himalayas.

Nelson was reported missing after she, along with partner Jim Morrison, summited the world’s eighth highest mountain in ‘tough conditions’. Nelson was swept off her feet and carried down a narrow snow slope by a small avalanche that was triggered as she followed Morrison down the mountain. Rescue efforts were initially hampered by bad weather, and Nelson’s body was found two days later at around 6,700m on the south face of the 8,163m peak.

Nelson became the first woman to summit both Everest and Lhotse within 24 hours in 2012, made the first female descent of Makalu Couloir in 2015, and in 2018 was awarded the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year award for the first ski descent of the Lhotse Couloir, accompanied by Morrison.

She leaves behind two children, a loving partner in Jim, and a hard-earned, impressive legacy on the highest mountains on Earth.

Surfing Prescribed by the NHS

Trials by academics from University College London are underway to determine the effectiveness of social prescribing in combatting mental health issues. NHS Mental Health Trusts in 10 parts of England will offer activities including surfing, dancing and gardening to 600 young people aged 11 to 18 who are currently on their waiting lists for further care.

Dr Daisy Fancourt, the UCL mental health expert leading the trial, believes that social prescribing has ‘enormous potential’.

‘Young people’s mental health is one of the greatest challenges facing the NHS,’ she said. ‘Currently many young people referred to child and adolescent mental health services face long waits, during which time more than three-quarters experience a deterioration in their mental health. Social prescribing has the potential to support young people while they wait, by providing access to a range of creative and social activities that could enhance their confidence, self-esteem and social support networks.’

Jasmine Harrison Becomes First Woman to Swim the Length of Britain

On October 18, 23-year-old Jasmine Harrison arrived in John O’Groats having completed the 900-mile swim along the entire west coast of Britain. Setting off on July 1st, Jasmine spent more than 110 days in the sea, swimming approximately two kilometres from the shore.

Spending as much as 12 hours in the water at a time, the maximum distance she swam in a shift was 14 nautical miles. The most distance she covered in a day was a staggering 27 nautical miles (31 miles or 50km).

Harrison endured multiple painful jellyfish stings to her hands and face, hair-raising night encounters with whales, navigated her way through busy shipping lanes and avoided military exercises during the swim. She experienced painful blisters caused by chafing in her wetsuit and a condition known as salt mouth, where salt builds up in the mouth, throat and on the tongue, eventually stripping skin from the areas.

Cycling UK Launches Rebellion Way Bikepacking Route

In October, Cycling UK launched its sixth route, the Rebellion Way. The 232 mile tour of Norfolk starts and ends in the city of Norwich covers a varied mix of country lanes, bridleways, byways, cycle paths and forest tracks.

The charity has designed the route as an entry point for people interested in multi-day bikepacking trips and should be suitable for anyone with reasonable fitness on a variety of bikes, but believes experienced bikepackers will also be pleasantly surprised by the variety and challenges the route presents.

Designed to be ridden over four to six days in one go, the route can also be comfortably split in half at King's Lynn with easy onwards transport links.

Scotland Snow-Free For Fourth Time in Six Years

Located in the east of the Cairngorms, Garbh Choire Mór is the snowiest corrie in Scotland. Carved out by a glacier during the last ice age, today it’s home to a stubborn patch of snow historically understood to be the last standing in the UK.

Situated beside a climbing route known as The Sphinx, it’s believed to have only completely disappeared nine times in the past 300 years. After the sustained heatwaves of this summer, likely to be a result of climate change, 2022 became the fourth year the snow has melted completely in the last six, with scientists warning of a bleak future for Scotland’s snow.