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Thank you to our outdoor enthusiasts for sharing unique stories about your outdoor expeditions and adventures. Winners have been chosen to receive a sleeping bag filled with POLARGUARD® synthetic insulation. Below are excerpts from the winning Adventure Story entries received from August 2007 through January 2008.
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Marcus Demuth - Excerpts from "Circumnavigation of Ireland by Sea Kayak, June - July 2007"
Excerpt 1: The most time I could get off from work was 60 days, and since past Ireland circumnavigations took somewhere between 36 and 92 days, I set out paddling within a solid framework and with a clear goal: paddle whenever the weather permits, and as long as you physically can, to close the circle. After averaging only 20 miles per day during my last trip along the South and West Coast of Australia, I felt there was very little room for non-paddling days caused by bad weather during the 1,050 mile trip around Ireland, and probably little time for leisurely explorations.
> Read more
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Mark Woodward - Ice Climb
It only took Ross 50 feet on the ice after he took the lead to find his first crevasse. When he found it, he was not pleased. Of course, I was thrilled. He fell right through the snow bridge and found himself in an awkward half-in, half-out position, one foot dangling in the abyss. Kyle and I heard no plea for assistance because his cry was camouflaged by ten adrenaline-fueled minutes of the most vulgar insults I, a military man, had ever heard.
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Kathy Borrell - Backpacking in Yosemite
I'm part of a hiking club that has some members that enjoy backpacking. This past summer I took my first long backpacking trip with them, and it happened to be in Yosemite National Park. We backpacked for 10 days, first doing the high Seirra Camp Loop and then going from the high country to the valley. While in the back country, I saw views of nature that I would have never seen just walking in the typical places. It's so hard to put into words the beauty of this wonderful park. It's not until I show my pictures that people understand why it's hard to put into words. It was a wonderful experience and one I hope to repeat some day.
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Robert Hogrefe - The Lone Whale
Our family fishes the late summer King and Silver salmon run in Juneau, AK every year. The weather at that time can vary from sunny to full time rain. We boat fish, therefore we are also exposed to the ocean variables of waves and cold temperatures. Every day is an adventure on the water depending on weather, ocean and the fishing. Polarguard is a mandatory layer every day and is as essential as fishing poles.
> Read more
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James Morrow - Conquering My First Mountain
Its four o'clock in the morning, my parents are still sleeping, I hear my friend Clifford climbing through the doggie door. I am six years old; my buddy Clifford is eight. We had recently realized that both of us had a love for the outdoors and adventure. We were lucky enough that our parents instilled trust and responsibility at a very early age.
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Previous 1st Place Winner
Chris Sawyer - Recent Journal Entries from Bolivia > View page
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Previous Honorable Mention Winners
Elizabeth Rose - Desperate Times on the Mormon Tundra > View page
Katie Mattson - Journey through Arizona, Utah and Nevada > View page
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Your photos amazed us. You sent us dramatic, artistic, and adventurous photographs. Thank you to all entrants. Our winners received an iPod® MP3 player and iTunes® Gift Cards. Below are the winning photographs.
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Diego Saiz-Ruiz - Snowdonia, Northern Wales, United Kingdom; click on the photo below to enlarge
 When the weather can turn around in seconds, you need to find your balance between packing light yet being prepared for the unexpected. I do both.
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Randall Fowler - Hiking the Guadalupe Mountains; click on the photo below to enlarge
 While hiking the Guadalupe Mountains, I told my buddy that I needed to get on this jettisoned rock and really look around – I'm glad I did. |
Scott Borger - Sunset Climb of Mt. Antero (14,269 ft.), Sawatch Mountain Range, Colorado; click on the photo below to enlarge
 I recently hiked to the summit of Mt. Antero (14,269 ft.) in Colorado's Sawatch mountain range. My goal for the trip was to shoot the sunset from the summit. With two hours until sunset, I reached a soft and deep snowbank on my pre-planned route that could not be crossed. At that point, I still needed to hike another 1,500 vertical feet before sunset. Determined to reach the summit in time, I spent the next hour traversing boulder after boulder until I was able to continue on my way.
I reached the summit completely exhausted from lugging my heavy camera gear up the side of the mountain at a strenuous pace. While on the summit, I watched as a clearing storm met the last rays of light. The combination created a magnificent lightshow that I will not soon forget. The peaks featured in this photo are two other fourteeners, Mt. Shavano and Tabeguache Peak. |
Jason Silver - Yosemite National Park, California; click on the photo below to enlarge
 This was a cool, breasy day in October. We just
finished our hike and squated for a little rest. I
looked over at half dome and had to take this shot.
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