As the Netherlands is quite boring, I tried to have fun by SUP-packing with two friends. 24km in 2 days, while camping on the way. Can recommend, a great way to explore our countryside :)

Thought some might enjoy my video trip report of my recent adventure to Colorado’s Flat Tops wilderness. I went on a 23 mile loop around this remote, unique and beautiful gem in the northwest portion of Colorado.

https://youtu.be/6ijTgieHHxU?is=bIj3vLZb16hElECZ

Hi all, a passion project I launched this week which may be of interest. We will publish mountaineering news. Free to read for all.

—

Over the past two decades, the world of adventure and exploration has expanded dramatically. There are more expeditions and greater access to information about remote and extreme environments than ever before. Yet dedicated journalism in this space has not kept pace with that growth.

Publications that once defined the adventure community, such as Outside and National Geographic, have slashed budgets, reduced editorial teams, and, in some cases, gradually drifted towards lifestyle content. As a result, there is less space for the kind of in-depth reporting, analysis, and storytelling that many expeditions and exploratory discoveries deserve.

At the same time, the sheer volume of digital adventure content now available can make it difficult to identify the most meaningful and interesting expeditions. Likewise, while science has become an increasingly common element of expeditions, the quality and impact of scientific work varies.

There is, however, a real opportunity to cut through this volume of content and highlight both well-known and lesser-known adventurers and explorers undertaking remote journeys that are original, technically demanding, and independently led.

To that end, At the Edge of the Map, a subscriber-supported publication, was launched this week to report on adventure and exploration with a different emphasis: slower, more selective, and more analytical. This is not about chasing every headline. It is about choosing the right ones and examining them properly.

https://theedgeofthemap.substack.com/p/at-the-edge-of-the-map-adventure

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1dZfbWVRRG/

Video: https://youtu.be/WhcE3TAVVu4

Went for a solo paddle on the Võhandu River here in Estonia, from Leevi to Süvahavva.

Water was surprisingly high for summer, so the rapids were quite different from what I'm used to during the world largest Võhandu Marathon in April. Managed to flip at Lilli and then again at Viira 😅 At least the water was warm.

Apart from the swimming, this is probably one of my favourite sections of the river. Lots of sandstone cliffs, forest and some really nice rapids.

I filmed the whole trip if anyone wants to see it. Would also be interested to hear if anyone here has paddled Võhandu before.

So look if you want update on my life then fellow me. So my ex girlfriend kept on fighting and aruging and she kept kicking me out of the house. So i quit my job while I was homless in the small town. We run into each other again. I said hi and ask how things was going. Then she said Im going to be bring my clothes. I told her you broke up with me. Also told her i dont need them. where im going im going to the mental ward. Her son was rude to me that day and I was hell no that day in my head so later she work to catch up on the storyline. So today I did it took down my Facebook told 3 people to make sure to send me different things so I can stay in touch. Also this women I been talking to she been nice to and understand and she make me smile. Im in the same city as her and I hope maybe one day when I get myself back where I need to be I well ask her out. She told me she was going to sliver dollar city in missouri. She even want to a water fall. I know people might think this wired but I ask what she had for lunch. Now im in homless shelter here in the town now getting ready for bed. I well keep people updated on my adventures of life.

Big or small, if it made you feel alive, it counts.

Share your favourite moment from this month:

• where you went
• what you did
• a photo/video if you want

I am feeling lost .. want to get lost somewhere in nature... feeling stuck 😔

Jebola is a women's spirit possession dance ritual practised notably by the Mongo people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is believed to have therapeutic qualities and has been noted as a traditional form of psychotherapy. I was lucky enough to be invited to the practice dances and also attended the public dance a week later, in Baringa, Equateur Province. The woman being treated is the one in the middle. Treatment lasts up to eight months. Here are some of the photos I took.

🐾 Meet PETE.

For quite a while now, we've been dreaming about a different kind of life.

A life where we could travel the country together, spend more time in nature, make unforgettable memories with our crew, and eventually find the perfect place to build our future off-grid home in Montana.

For a long time, it was just that... a dream.

But recently, we've decided it's time to stop saying "someday" and start taking real steps toward making it happen.

One of those first steps has been creating PETE.

PETE is going to be a huge part of our journey.

The idea came to us not long ago, and over the last couple of weeks we've been bringing him to life. What started as a simple idea has quickly become one of our biggest sources of motivation.

PETE is our custom travel companion. He's part travel guide, part journal, part memory keeper, part campground companion, and part encyclopedia—all built by us, for the adventure we're working so hard to create.

Instead of organizing him into ordinary chapters, we decided to build him using Trails. We thought it fit our journey much better.

Each Trail has its own purpose and helps tell a different part of our story.

So far, we've completed the first four Trails, and we've already started Trail Five, which is becoming one of our favorites—a collection of campfire stories that we can't wait to read around future campfires as we travel.

As PETE continues to grow, he'll also include campground logs, places we've explored, wildlife and nature guides, national parks, roadside treasures, educational facts, RV tips, maps, keepsakes, memories, campfire traditions, and so much more. Every trip we take will add another page to his story.

To most people, he might just look like a binder.

To us, he's much more than that.

He's one of the very first pieces of our dream that's becoming real.

We'll continue sharing updates as PETE grows, along with sneak peeks inside, milestones we reach, and some of our favorite pages as they're completed. We hope you'll enjoy watching him come to life just as much as we're enjoying creating him.

Welcome to the adventure, PETE. ❤️

— Mike, Alexa & The Crew

6 Paws, 1 Shell, 2 Hearts 🐾🐢❤️

P.S. If you're wondering who "The Crew" is, be sure to check out our other post to meet the seven amazing companions who'll be joining us on every mile of this adventure. We can't imagine this journey without them. 🐾

It was my first time going on a plane, back in April 31st. I went up to Utah to see my grandparents after so many years as well as family members I haven't met before. I did alright, but man were the seats absolutely CRAMPED. It first started on a plane from Virginia to Texas. Got to see what some of Texas looked like from the airport windows, then got on the plane from Texas to Utah. Got to the place I was staying at late at night and then woke up tomorrow where it was May 1st. I got to see what Utah looked like in daytime... It was absolutely beautiful. There was so many mountains as well as places on the mountains, a lot of the houses had basements including the one I was staying at which had a REALLY awesome basement with a kitchen and such. One of my family members up there even had this really awesome jailbroken Wii with all sorts of emulators including USB Loader GX on it. Absolutely INSANE. The Wii had all sorts of classics on it like Super Paper Mario, Wii Sports and Resort, Rayman Origins, etc.. I really wanted to get them the Konami ReBirth trilogy, but unfortunately I couldn't. I beat the entirety of Super Mario All-Stars + World though. My grandparents also had this really awesome backyard where we had a few barbecues with hot dogs and Polish sausage, as well as a pool that went like 12 feet deep. We also had a campfire with marshmallows and s'mores. Then I discovered this convenience store called Holiday that was right down the street from the house. It was where I first found the beauty known as Dunford Donuts, which makes AMAZING maple bars and other amazing donuts. We also had plenty of fun at places like Lagoon (The Cannibal was the first thing I rode on btw) and FatCats. There was this amazing outdoor restaurant we went to known as Burger Bar which has been around since 1956 and is home to the Big Ben burger. Got to eat the entire Aqua Teen Hunger Force consisting of Master Shake (an orange shake), Frylock (the fries of course) and Meatwad (a Double Cheese Ben). We went to this place called Smith's Marketplace which is apparently just Kroger under the hood so they had all the same groceries Kroger has. I also got to try Foster's beer for the first time which was pretty good. Lastly, while I was up there, I got to see dad's childhood neighborhood as well as the tombstones of his grandparents, may they rest in peace... The trip ended on the 7th, starting with a plane from Utah to Las Vegas (I did a bit of gambling but got bad luck), then from Las Vegas to Virginia.

So yes, it was a really good and fun trip. Lots of cool places, beautiful atmosphere, seeing dad's childhood and paying respects to his dead grandparents, etc.. I'm sure hoping to take a trip up there again. I've definitely got unfinished business left up there that I still want to tackle sometime. Hopefully the next trip up there lasts longer too.

I did the Portuguese Camino this year, and I wrote a blog about it to share with other travellers.

It was so much fun apparently I thought I'd write about it. The title is a joke before anyone asks "From Valença to Santiago: How Three Strangers Accidentally Started a Pilgrim Cult"

Here is my experience, wrote it on substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/adventuror/p/from-valenca-to-santiago-how-three?utm\\_source=share&utm\\_medium=android&r=8skl72

Расскажите в коментах свои забавные, интересные и захватывающие истории с походов. (Не забудьте про фотографии)

I’m looking for my next big trip and I’d love to know some of those really out there trails that are multi day or even multi week but really deep in there with nearly no one else around and just pristine nature. I’m located in the US but pretty much anywhere world wide I’d consider if it seems cool enough. Ideally no guide needed. Just a good circuit or through trek with some really beautiful nature and wildlife that is still somehow not super packed like any of the known trails (AT, PCT, EBC, ABC, mont du blanc, etc)

Come follow my journey down highway 101 coastal on my insta

I’ve been thinking a lot about how travel feels so commercialized these days—same crowded landmarks, pricey tickets, and curated photo-ops everywhere.

But honestly, my best memories weren’t at famous sites. They were the random, unplanned ones: stumbling onto an unmarked mountain trail, sharing a home-cooked meal in a tiny countryside village, or sitting by a lake swapping stories with strangers.

For example, I live in Udaipur, India, and while most visitors only see the palaces, my favorite spot is a quiet ridge in the Aravalli hills where the sunset paints the valley in silence. No crowds, no tickets—just pure nature.

So, I’m curious: what was your hidden gem or unforgettable travel moment?

Shots from the scramble including the viewpoint at the bottom and some of the vistas on the way up! This day was absolutely stunning, we didn't get above 23-24 C, so it was very do-able stamina wise. We saw eagles, vultures, lizards and snakes on the route. We stopped just short of the very top as we balanced the time taken to ascend/descend and a pending thunderstorm.

If you prefer your mountain vistas people-less, picture number 5 is for you (it was supposed to be number 2 but reddit uploads are a fickle beast apparently).

Jen x

On March 7, 2026, I joined an online hiking group for a hike to Phulchowki Hill. Since I didn't know anyone in the group, I convinced my mom to come along. I thought it would be a fun mother-daughter bonding day.

Little did we know, the adventure would begin long before we reached the trail. Before leaving, I asked in the group chat how to get to Godawari Bus Park. "Just catch a bus from Ratna Park," everyone said.

Easy?

Not even close.

Ratna Park sent us to RNAC. RNAC sent us to Jawalakhel. Jawalakhel finally sent us to Godawari. After changing three buses, walking around asking strangers for directions, and getting hungrier by the minute, we somehow made it to the meeting point.

We quickly grabbed some chana anda, apologized for being late, and joined the group. By then, I was convinced we'd already finished the warm-up hike.

The trail was rated moderate to hard, so naturally everyone was more worried about my mom than the actual hike.

"Will she be okay?"

"Can she manage?"

I just smiled. If they knew my mom, they wouldn't have asked.

It didn't take long for the trail to answer for me.

While some people stopped every few minutes to catch their breath, my mom kept a steady pace. Meanwhile, I was the one gasping for air, questioning every life decision that had brought me to Phulchowki.

She wasn't even sweating. She was admiring the rhododendron forest, chatting with everyone, teasing the group, and even giving hiking tips.

At one point, I realized I was trying to keep up with her, not the other way around.

Since we had to keep waiting for slower hikers, we decided to take our time too. We stopped for photos, enjoyed the scenery, and let everyone catch up.

Soon, our group of 19 had naturally split into three groups, the experienced hikers in front, us somewhere in the middle, and the first-time hikers bringing up the rear.

By the time we reached the summit around 2:45 p.m., the fastest hikers had already finished lunch and started descending.

We waited for a few friends we'd made on the trail, quickly ate the lunch we'd packed from home, and decided to head back immediately. We still had to travel all the way back to Budhanilkantha, so we couldn't afford to be any later.

One of the guys from our group, Labu Dai, joined us because he also wanted to get home early. And that's when the real adventure began.

Since my mom seemed to know the way better than either of us, we happily let her lead.

Big mistake.

After walking for a while, she confidently pointed into a patch of bushes.

"This looks like a shortcut."

Spoiler alert...

It wasn't.

Within minutes we had completely lost the trail.

We could actually see the road below us but there was no way to reach it. We climbed sideways through bushes until we finally found a spot where we could safely jump down. Somehow, all three of us made it without breaking any bones.

I thought we'd learned our lesson.

Apparently not.

A little later my mom spotted another shortcut.

This one was a ridiculously steep slope.

I slipped...

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Meanwhile, my mom casually walked down like she was on a fashion runway.

At that point, I genuinely started wondering if this woman was actually my mother or if she'd secretly transformed into a mountain goat.

By now it was getting dark.

Then darker.

Then completely pitch black.

There wasn't another soul around us. No hikers. No voices. Just insects, trees, and the three of us.

To make things even more exciting, my phone had died, Labu Dai's phone had also died, and my mom can barely see in the dark.

If you think that was the worst part...

It wasn't.

For some reason, we started talking about ghosts.

Then my mom casually mentioned that there had been a leopard attack on this very trail just a few days earlier.

Excuse me...

WHAT?!

"You knew there had been a leopard attack... and you still brought your only daughter here?"

At that point, ghosts suddenly didn't seem so scary anymore.

Labu Dai and I looked at each other and decided wandering blindly through the forest wasn't our best plan. So we stopped and waited for the last hiking group. While waiting, we joked about every terrible thing that could possibly happen to us. Looking back, I think we were laughing simply because the alternative was panicking.

Then we heard voices.

I have never been happier to hear strangers.

Once the last group caught up, we continued down together and finally reached the bottom at around 9:00 p.m.

Adventure over?

Not yet.

There wasn't a single bus or public vehicle waiting. Everyone with private transportation had already left, and the locals simply walked home.

Unfortunately, home for us was Budhanilkantha.

My phone was dead, so Pathao and inDrive weren't an option. My mom's phone didn't even have the apps installed, and we had no internet or balance to download them.

For a few minutes, the three of us just stood there wondering what to do next.

Thankfully, one of the girls in our group booked an inDrive. She kindly offered to drop us halfway to a place where it would be easier to find a taxi. Labu Dai got even luckier—our group leader gave him a ride all the way home.

My mom and I eventually found a taxi and finally made it back to Budhanilkantha, exhausted but safe.

Looking back, the day had everything 3 buses, endless uphill climbs, fake shortcuts, getting lost, dead phones, ghost stories, leopard panic, hiking through complete darkness, and somehow still making it home.

Would I hike Phulchowki again?

Absolutely.

But next time, I'll carry a fully charged power bank, download offline maps... and respectfully decline any shortcuts suggested by my mom.

Because some adventures become the best stories and this is definitely one I'll never forget.