Issue 85 | This ain't your granny's safari

Issue 85 | Dec 16, 2022

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Happy Friday! This is Adventure Fix. The only email that makes you excited to check your inbox. Let’s see if we can make your week a tad bit more adventurous.

Here’s what we got for you today:

• Diving with the largest snake on Earth

• Thru-hiker lingo

• Trekking to the foot of the Savage Mountain

• An ode to the quiet ones

Let’s do this

K2 Basecamp Trek

Want to be teleported to a mountain wonderland with soaring peaks, glaciers and raging rivers?​Then head to the Karakorum range in Pakistan.​There are many hikes in the area but the most popular is the K2 base camp trek.​The rocky trail winds up to the Baltoro Glacier, passing though sky-scraping summits. After days of walking at uninhabitable altitudes, trekkers reach the base of K2. The only taller mountain out there is Everest.

Watch this: Wanna see why people travel to this remote area of Pakistan to do this hike? Here’s a video by Eva Zu Beck that will inspire you to pack your bags and set out to hike to the foot of the world’s second highest mountain.

At the Foot of the Savage Mountain

At 28,251 feet (8,611 meters), K2 is the second highest mountain on Earth. Its extremely difficult ascent and high fatality rates earned K2 its name as the ‘Savage Mountain’.

As the name implies, on the base camp trek there will be no summiting, which makes it much more accessible to us mere mortals. The basecamp is where all the mountaineering expeditions stay to prepare and wait for the perfect opportunity to climb to the top.

Even just getting to this point is quite the journey.

The trek is 124 mile circuit across rocks, glaciers and snow. It takes over 2 weeks to complete and is considered one of the most challenging commercial hikes out there.

Are you up for the challenge?

Plan This Adventure

Getting there: Most tours start from Skardu which can be reached by plane or road from Islamabad. Many trekking companies offer to arrange this transfer.

Seasons: The official trekking season runs from mid-June through mid-September. July and August are considered the best months.

Length: 12-16 days depending on the weather and your group’s itinerary. Some opt to tackle the Gondogoro La pass which cuts some days from the schedule.

Guides: The government of Pakistan makes going with a registered trekking company mandatory. Even the most experienced hikers will appreciate the support and expertise of the guides and porters.

Insider tip: Bring trekking poles, even if you normally don’t hike with them. They will save your knees while walking for days on loose rocks.

Is This Adventure For You?

This trek is one of the most exciting and beautiful hikes on our planet. It’s a unique alternative to the crowded trails of Nepal and should be on any serious hiker’s radar. To enjoy this challenge you gotta be in excellent shape and well acclimatized.

In the video we shared before, Eva does a great job of not only showing the beauty of the mountains but also the reality of what it’s like to hike for 2 weeks straight. She shows you life around camp and answers some questions you might have, like what’s the toilet situation.

Hey Joe Safari, Moab, Utah

Looking for a weekend bikepacking trip to see some of the best bits of western Moab?​The Hey Joe Safari might be your ticket to ride.

This 98 mile, almost completely unpaved route follows jeep tracks, taking you from slickrock slabs and sandy roads to winding singletrack.

Riding this trail in winter will give you awesome views of the La Sal Mountains covered in snow. The contrast with the red desert is stunning to say the least.​​Read this: Hey Joe Safari Route Profile @ Bikepacking.com to find out all the info you need to plan this adventure.

Goldilocks’ Favorite Jacket

Are you tired of having to drop your heavy pack on the soggy ground to strip off a layer while your hiking buddy gives you that oh not this again look?

Well, meet the jacket you’ve been waiting for… Helly Hansen’s Odin Stretch Light Insulator.​Unlike a traditional down jacket, this one has a seemingly magical power to give you just the right amount of warmth you need.​You won’t feel all clammy while tackling uphill climbs thanks to the underarm panels and high quality fabric.

When the wind picks up and the clouds roll in, the jacket’s technical synthetic insulation will keep you cozy and warm.

Not too hot, not too cold, just right.

If Goldilocks were a hiker, we’re pretty sure the Odin Stretch Light Insulator would be her favorite jacket.​What’s even better is this super versatile jacket is on sale. Get 35% off now.

Diving with the Largest Snake in the World

Deep in the swamps and marshes of the rainforests of Brazil lives the largest snake in the world…the green anaconda.​These massive reptiles are pretty sluggish on land but when they slither into the river, they become stealthy and sleek.

Divers from all over travel to the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul for the chance to get up close to these giants in crystal clear rivers.​​Watch this: Don’t believe anyone is crazy enough to get in the water with a 550 pound snake? Here’s a video of just that. Who knows maybe you’ll even want to give it a try after watching.

Tracking The Queen of the Jungle

Despite being as long as a school bus, anacondas are tricky to spot. Local experts look for signs and patterns that will lead them to these snakes. The best way to see them is to go on an organized tour with specialists.​Wondering about how safe it is to get in the water with a snake that’s as thick as a tree trunk and powerful enough to squeeze the life from a human?​As you can see in the video we shared above, anacondas are not aggressive and violent man-eaters. They are calm and peaceful around divers.​This area of Brazil is a biodiversity hotspot known as the Pantanal, the largest tropical wetland in the world.​Aside from anacondas, you can also spot jaguars, giant anteaters, river otters, capybaras and caiman.

Plan This Adventure

Getting there: The closest airport is Campo Grande Airport. From there, it’s a 4-hour bus or shuttle ride to Bonito.

Seasons: The best time of the year to dive with anacondas is the dry season, from May to November. It’s not recommended to visit during the wet season because heavy rain run-offs make the clear waters turn a muddy brown.

Length: Trips tend to be between 5-7 days. Allow for enough days as these snakes are tricky to spot.

Where to stay: Accommodation is typically arranged by tour companies.

Trips: As you can imagine, this experience isn’t a mass tourism kinda thing. You’ll need to find a specialized guide who knows these snakes well.

Recommended Reading: Pantanal Wilderness guide

 Is This Adventure For You? 

This isn’t your granny’s wildlife safari. Tracking and diving with anacondas is an intense and exhilarating adventure. If you’re looking to share a surreal moment with an enormous jungle predator, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Silence

If you’re looking to kick off your weekend with something beautiful and inspiring, this short film might hit just the spot.

​Silence is an ode to the quiet ones, those of us who are perfectly happy in without any distractions.

Shot in the Swiss Alps, this film encapsulates the drawl of hiking, the escape from the noise of modern life, the feeling of not being interrupted and the smells of the forest, the wind, the water.

The narration and the scenes are tightly interwoven, making it one amazing piece of art.

UP TO 30% OFF: REI Holiday Warm Up Sale

Winter is on its way but that doesn’t mean it’s time to hibernate on the couch.​Layer up and get outside. Don’t have the gear to make that happen?​No worries. REI’s Holiday Warm Up Sale is the perfect time to save big on top-notch gear for you and the adventure junkies in your life.​

Here are some of our favorite deals:

Beat the chill with this Mountain Hardwear Ghost Shadow jacket (30% off) Make a hot cup of joe with AeroPress Go Coffee Press (25% off) Keep those toes cozy with these TNF ThermoBall Eco Traction booties (30% off)​Shop REI’s Holiday Warm up sale going on until this monday, December 19th.

Snag these awesome deal and more. Get up to 30% off @ REI now.

🇲🇽 Have you heard of Mexico's monarch migration?

🥾 Thru-hiker lingo.

🐋 Why whale songs are like pop songs.

🧐 The difference between North Face and Patagonia.​

🎁 Stocking stuffers for adventure junkies.

Do you like what you’re reading and want to contribute?

Where in the World

Take your best guess: where in the world was this photo taken? Find the answer at the end of this issue.

Living from the Ocean

Check out this video where the Back to Basics crew digitally take us out to explore Australia’s most remote tropical atoll.

There’s some amazing marine life encounters in this episode with dolphins, manta rays and sharks all making an appearance.

ANSWER: Cerro Torre, Argentina