Video: China Jam - Big Wall Climbing In The Tien Shan Range

Back in October, I posted a story about an expedition to China to climb big walls in the Tien Shan Range that was dubbed China Jam. In a nutshell, three Belgians, Sean Villanueva O'Driscoll, Nicolas Favresse and Stéphane Hanssens, and one Frenchman, Evrard Wendenbaum, traveled to the Chinese-Kyrgyz border to put up the first ascent of Kyzyl Asker, a 5842 meter (19,166 ft) tower with a 1220 meter (4000 ft) exposed face. It took the team two weeks to complete their objective, but eventually they were successful.

The team is now hoping to complete a documentary of their climb and they recently attempted to raise funds on Indiegogo to help complete the project. Unfortunately, those efforts did not succeed, but they aren't giving up just yet. A new site for taking contributions has popped online, giving us all another chance to help fund the film of this expedition. For a sample of what the footage looks like, take a look at the very impressive images in the video below. It looks stunning and I'd love to see this film get completed.

China Jam - Trailer from Evrard Wendenbaum on Vimeo.

Video: Adventure Is A Way Of Life

The title of this video pretty much sums up how I feel. Adventure is most certainly a way of life. The clip below, which comes our way courtesy of Garchois Films, features some stunning images that are sure to inspire a sense of adventure. Welcome to 2014!

adventure is a way of life, welcome to 2014 from Laurent Jamet on Vimeo.

Video: Kayaking The Zambezi River

Looking for a healthy dose of adventure to jump start your week? Then look no further than this video, which follows kayaker Mat Dumoulin as he paddles the amazing Zambezi River in Africa. The scenery is quite spectacular and the white water looks insane. What more could you ask for?

Kayaking the Zambezi river - Mat Dumoulin from Dumoulin mathieu on Vimeo.

6 Great Soft Adventures For 2014

If you missed my list of 10 Big Adventures for 2014 or your looking for something a bit less demanding for your own escape, then you'll want to checkout the 6 Best Places for 2014 as selected by Richard Bangs. Richard, who hosts the television show Adventures with Purpose, posted his selections to HuffPo last week, offering travelers a great selection of destinations for the year ahead.

The list is actually a series of videos which don't actually reveal the destination outright, but instead give viewers clues to exactly where Richard is as he shows off the attractions there. At the end of the video, we can then click on an object in it to reveal the exact location. For an example, check out the clip below, and then start making your plans to travel later this year.

Video: Dreamscapes In Timelapse

If you're looking for a beautiful and inspirational way to kick off a new year, than look no further than the video below. It features some amazing landscapes captured in timelapse and the results are nothing short of spectacular. Definitely a great way to start 2014.

Dreamscapes from Jonathan Besler on Vimeo.

Video: Paragliding The High Atlas Mountains

In April of 2013, two friends set out to traverse the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco by paraglider. The video below is a short film of that journey, which took 13 days to complete. The dialog of the film is all in French, which makes it difficult to understand much of the time, but the footage more than makes up for it with stunning scenery along the way. This is a great example of a unique adventure and a very cool way to explore a new region.

Traversée du Haut-Atlas en "Vol-Bivouac" from Guigui on Vimeo.

Video: Alaska - The Last Frontier

This video is a collection of wonderful images from the Alaskan wilderness. It also serves as a great reminder of just how beautiful and demanding an environment the state actually is. Really impressive stuff.

ALASKA from Issimo on Vimeo.

Video: Insight Into Adventure

I'm sure more than a few of you will be spending some time on the slopes over the holiday period. If you're looking for a little inspiration before heading out, check out this beautiful ski video. It features skier Aidan Shehan, who uses meditation to prepare himself for the challenges of flying down a slope covered in untouched powder.

Aidan Sheahan - "Insight" from Vital Films on Vimeo.

Video: Team MTN Qhubeka: An African Bicycle Dream (Episode 3)

Over the course of the year we have seen a series of great videos that have followed the progress of the new MTN-Qhubeka Pro Continental Cycling Team, the first all-African cycling squad to compete on an international level. The team continues to make solid strides in its first year of development and in the third episode – which you'll find below – we get footage from the Tour of Rwanda, which the riders recently competed in. The team has done so well in this first year of existence, that they are in the running to receive an invitation to the Giro d'Italia next year. If that happens, they'll become the first African registered team to ride in a Grand Tour. That would be a big step forward for the sport in Africa.

If you like this video, check out Episode 1 and Episode 2 as well.

Video: Norway - Home Of The Northern Lights

The only thing you need to know about this video is that it was shot in Norway and captures the Northern Lights in spectacular fashion. That pretty much says it all. Enjoy!

Home of The Northern Lights - NORWAY from Ole C. Salomonsen on Vimeo.

Video: Skiing Through The Trees

Speaking of ski movies. Check out this great little video that was captured with an action cam of some sort and features skiers Candide Thovex and Aziz Benkrich zipping through trees at high speed. They're definitely braver (not to mention more skilled!) than I am. The POV camera certainly enhances the sense of anxiety you can get in close proximity to these trees. I run like this one would probably leave me in the hospital.

Video: Epic Skiing From 'Days Of My Youth'

With winter now just officially a day away, I'm sure we'll be seeing plenty of great skiing and snowboarding videos soon. The clip below is the trailer for just such a film, entitled Days of my Youth, and featuring a plethora of professional skiers. It isn't scheduled to come out until next fall, but judging from what is shown here, it looks like it is going to be amazing. Still, Fall 2014 is an awful long time to wait. For now, we'll have to just settle for what we've got here.

Video: KUOTA - A Passion For Cycling

The video below is essentially a commercial for Kuota bikes, but it might as well be an endorsement of why we love to ride as well. It is beautifully shot and manages to capture the spirit of a great ride in just two-and-a-half minutes. It definitely makes me want to get out on my bike today, which is fortunately possible with the nice weather we're having here in Austin. I hope it inspires you some too. Enjoy!

KUOTA | Kom 2014 from Valerio Musilli on Vimeo.

Video: Winter Technical Mountain Biking

The video below is the fifth in a six part series called Ultramontane. The short films focus on mountain biking in the winter and in the case of this particular video, it is all about the technical riding, which becomes even more difficult when there is a little snow on the ground. Still, this looks like an amazingly beautiful place to ride, no matter what time of year it is, although the addition of some snow definitely adds a new element.

Thanks to Adventure Journal for sharing this.

Ultramontane No.05 from nsmb.com on Vimeo.

Video: Julia Roberts On The Importance Of Clean Cookstoves

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know that I have a strong respect and admiration for the work that is being done by my friends at the Himalayan Stove Project. For the past few years, they have been delivering and installing clean cookstoves to the people of Nepal, where they have already changed the lives of thousands of people. A clean cookstove translates into better, healthier living, and the HSP is having a direct and immediate effect where ever they install their new stoves. Don't believe me? Take a look at the video below, which features Academy Award winning actress Julia Roberts, who is part of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. In the two-minute clip, she outlines exactly why this is an important cause.

In this season of giving, if you're looking for a great cause to contribute to, consider the Himalayan Stove Project. Your money will go directly to saving lives in the Himalaya, a part of the world that is practically the epicenter for adventure.

Video: Wingsuiters Fly Incredibly Close To The Ground

Just how close can a wingsuit pilot fly to the ground? That seems to be the question on a lot of people's minds these days. This video gives us a frightening look at how far some are willing to push the envelope. It shows Brian Drake flying off the top of the ENSA Couloir near Chamonix, France and zipping down a gully just a few meters off the ground. Harrowing was the word that came to mind while I watched this.

Thanks to EpicTV for sharing.

Video: The Lunch Ride With Yeti Cycles

One of the traditions for anyone that works at Yeti Cycles is the daily lunch ride. The office shuts down between 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM so that everyone can hit the local trails to blow off a little steam. This not only gives Yeti employees a chance to try out new bikes and components, but it keeps them in tune with what their customers want and need from their bikes. The video below gives us a glimpse of what those lunch rides are like, as well as the culture around the office. After watching this, I want a show of hands on who now wants to work at Yeti Cycles?

Our Process: The Lunch Ride from Yeti Cycles on Vimeo.

Video: Peaks Of Life - A Mountain Biker Bounces Back From Adversary

Tom Wheeler was a downhill mountain bike racer who crashed in a race 2011, which resulted in an injury that rendered his left arm paralyzed. That hasn't stopped him from wanting to ride however, so he's been going to great lengths to try to find ways to continue to pursue his passion. The video below gives us some insight into Tom's story and his drive to get back on his bike and continue doing the things he loves.

Peaks of Life | Tom Wheeler Documentary from Aspect Media on Vimeo.

Video: Ueli Steck Talks Solo Annapurna Summit

For my money, Ueli Steck's solo summit of Annapurna earlier this fall is the most audacious climb of the year. The 28-hour round trip journey could probably only be completed by a handful of mountaineers at best. In the video below, Ueli is interviewed by Hervé Barmasse about the climb, where his motivations come from , how he prepares for such an expedition and more. As always, "the Swiss Machine" is as interesting and engaging as ever.

Video: Winter LIfe In Super-Slow Motion

Since the official start of winter is now just a few days away, I felt this video was very appropriate. It beautifully captures some stunning images of wildlife during the cold and snowy season. There are some really amazing shots here with only the slightest of movement going on. Amazing stuff.

Winter Life - Super Slow Motion from Subfocus Filming & Production on Vimeo.