Documentary Shorts

A trek to K2 base camp in Pak­istan’s Karako­ram Range, apt­ly called the Throne Room of the Moun­tain Gods, is in the world’s most spec­tac­u­lar moun­tain region. The fabled expe­di­tion and walk­ing route up the Bal­toro Glac­i­er to K2 offers tru­ly one of the world’s great­est treks, and jus­ti­fi­ably so. Sur­round­ed by six peaks over 25,919 feet / 7,900 meters and crowned by the mas­sif of K2, this is with­out ques­tion one of the most mag­nif­i­cent places on the plan­et. The list of peaks along the way is exten­sive and each holds a sig­nif­i­cant place in climb­ing his­to­ry.

This video recaps and highlights my once in-a-lifetime experience, to a beautiful world where few have explored. It's been 5 years since I've dreamed that one day, I'll be exploring the Table Mountains of Venezuela, and witness the power of Angel Falls.

3 more videos will be posted soon. Split into 3 different videos:

Caracas - Capital city of Venezuela, and not to mention, one of top 10's most dangerous city in the world,

Roraima - The table mountain where we camped and hiked for 6 days, surrounded by carnivorous plants, magnificent landscapes, rock formations, and living creatures.

Canaima - A large national park, protected by UNISEC, where the majority table mountains are formed. Home to a beautiful lagoon surrounded by waterfalls, plus the tallest in the world, Angel falls.

1st trailer for Standing In Motion.

A brief recap and of whats to come of my journey, from the adventures of my travels, treks, and life.

Always looking for higher ground and pushing the limits.

There's not much that needs to be said about the 200m high Helmcken Falls other than this: it is currently the hardest mixed-route ice and rock climb in the known world.

The fourth-highest waterfall in Canada is backdropped by a massive, upside-down amphitheatre of overhanging rock. Spray from the waterfalls hit the wall, covering it in a thick (and sometimes thin) layer of ice. But despite freezing ice spray from the waterfall, British climber Tim Emmett, and Klemen Premrl, from Slovenia, conquered the notorious ice climb through a new route, Interstellar Spice.

For this years overseas travel, I journeyed far from vancouver to a little known paradise called Christmas Island. Unfortunately I missed the main Red Crab Migration and spawning, but managed to catch them on their way back. From the week I've spent there, I've witnessed the beauty and unique world of what the island offers, and memories I will never forget.

Mount Roraima is one the most mysterious and alluring mountains in the world. An enormous flat-topped mesa, its sheer cliffs rise from one of the most remote areas of the Amazon rain forest. It is entirely appropriate that Conan Doyle used Roraima as the inspiration for the novel Lost World, a tale of modern dinosaurs.

The mountain is a vast heart-shaped plateau, with the area of the rolling summit area about 50 sq.km or 20 sq. miles. It lies in three countries, but Venezuela controls over 80% of the summit, with Brazil and Guyana owning much smaller slivers. The highest point on the massif, a rock called the "Maverick Stone", is in Venezuela, near the southwestern side of the plateau. Several kilometers northeast from this is the Triple-Country Point, a survey monument where the three nations meet.

In these days of popular adventure tourism, the ascent has become a relatively easy trek of about three to five days. There is a ramp on the southwest side of the mountain's mostly sheer cliffs that allows a non-technical route to the summit plateau, very close to the Maverick Stone. The start point for these trips is Santa Elena, Venezuela, and several tour companies arrange them, using native guides and porters.

Highlights from the top of Roraima includes the views from The Window, Maverick (highest peak), the Jazucci, underground caves, the amazon jungle, the neighbouring countries of Guyana and Brazil, and the crystal valley.

Canaima National Parkis a 30,000 km2 (12,000 sq mi) park in south-eastern Venezuela that borders Brazil and Guyana. It is located in Bolívar State, and roughly occupies the same area as the Gran Sabana region.

About 65% of the park is occupied by plateaus of rock called tepuis, which are a kind of plateau of millions of years old, with vertical walls and almost flat tops. These constitute a unique biological environment and are also of great geological interest. Their sheer cliffs and waterfalls (including Angel Falls, which is the highest waterfall in the world, at 1,002 metres (3,287 ft)) create spectacular landscapes.

The most famous tepuis in the park are Mount Roraima, the tallest and easiest to climb, and Auyantepui, the site of Angel Falls.

Highlights from Canaima National park include the 4 hour boat ride to the base of angel falls, and hiking towards the viewpoint. We stayed adjacent in a small lodging area, sleeping in hammocks and waking up to the distance sound of Angel Falls, clear in view. We first stayed in Canaima at the lagoon, surrounded by spectacular waterfalls, and was also a filming location for Jurassic Park.

Caracas is a city with a population over three million, crammed into a valley in northern Venezuela. Over 2000-2010, Venezuela's oil revenues did not compensate for mismanagement of the city. The city's infrastructure deteriorated and Caracas residents are increasingly entrenched in slum areas. As of 2011, there was still no clear plan regarding how crime, poverty and severe traffic problems could be eradicated from the city.

The city of Caracas receives preferential treatment in Venezuela's economy, as Venezuela's oil-generated revenues are used to subsidise the city's development. Caracas' population growth is driven entirely by natural increase, as the city is too packed to accommodate further immigration. Housing in Caracas accounts for a relatively small share of the household budget but for damaging reasons. The majority of dwellings in the city are located in the slum areas, which are cheap.

Set on a wide plain near the foot of the Andes, Santiago boasts one of the most dazzling backdrops of any capital city on earth. Chile's capital is a dynamic, modern city where colonial mansions sit among soaring skyscrapers, folk art becomes fashion and Latin and European cultures intertwine. The city is reinventing itself, with arts, nightlife, and restaurant scenes that have never been better, making this thriving and sophisticated metropolis into the civic, cultural, and historical nucleus of the country. Enjoy it all while gazing up at the peaks of snow-dusted Andes range surrounding the city's extremities.

The views onto the towering cordillera after a rainstorm clears the air are magnificent, especially in winter, when the snow-covered peaks rise behind the city like a giant white rampart against the blue sky (though smog, unfortunately, often obscures such vistas).

Santiago is divided into 32 autonomous comunas, most of them squat, flat suburbs stretching out from the centre. The historic centre, in contrast, is compact, manageable, and has a pleasant atmosphere. Part of the appeal comes from the fact that it’s so green: tall, luxuriant trees fill the main square, and there are numerous meticulously landscaped parks.

You can get round many of Santiago’s attractions on foot in two to three days. A tour of the compact core, centered on the bustling Plaza de Armas, should include visits to the Palacio de la Moneda, the excellent Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino and the evocative Museo Colonial, followed by a climb up Cerro Santa Lucía.

North of downtown, on the other side of the Río Mapocho, it’s an easy funicular ride up Cerro San Cristóbal, whose summit provides unrivalled views. At its foot, Barrio Bellavista is replete with cafés, restaurants, bars and clubs, plus the former home of poet Pablo Neruda, now a wonderful museum.

"In the middle of the Great Ocean, in a region where no one ever passes, there is a mysterious and isolated island; there is no land in the vicinity and, for more than eight hundred leagues in all directions, empty and moving vastness surrounds it. It is planted with tall, monstrous statues, the work of some now vanished race, and its past remains an enigma."

- Pierre Loti

Easter Island is a Chilean island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeastern most point of the Polynesian Triangle. Easter Island is famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapa Nui people. In 1995, UNESCO named Easter Island a World Heritage Site, with much of the island protected within Rapa Nui National Park.

The name "Easter Island" was given by the island's first recorded European visitor, the Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen, who encountered it on Easter Sunday 1722. The island's official Spanish name, Isla de Pascua, also means "Easter Island", while the local population called it "Rapa Nui".

The Rapa Nui are Polynesian descendent's who, according to the most recent studies, arrived at the island some time around the 8th century. Legend has it that it was King Hotu Matu'a who first arrived here on a double-hulled canoe with his extended family; researchers believe they most likely came from the Marquesas, Cook, or Pitcairn islands. The population flourished and created a society characterized by a written language and megalithic art, including moais and petroglyphs. But it all went horribly wrong when the Rapa Nui deforested the island and population exploded, bringing about war and starvation. The first Europeans here found a culture in decline. Many were carted off to work on the guano islands in Peru in the 19th century or died in epidemics. Catholic missionaries came next and destroyed much of their cultural art, including their Rongo-Rongo written tablets; and experts have been unable to decipher the few that remain. Nevertheless, the Rapa Nui are experiencing a cultural renaissance, and they take great pride in their culture and native language, which they habitually speak among themselves, in addition to Spanish.

Of course, the island's famous Moai sculptures that stand like mute sentinels are the first thing that you'll think of when you picture Easter Island, but really there is so much more here: 20,000 archaeological sites, a rich culture of truly beautiful people, dramatic views of volcanic craters, scuba diving in crystalline waters, white-sand beaches, and that unmistakable hang-loose island vibe that makes you want to throw your agenda away after day one.

In prehistoric times, much of North America was a lush subtropical habitat embracing a vast inland sea. This is where the dinosaurs roamed 70 million years ago. Fast forward to present-day central and southern Alberta where their bones now rest in ancient riverbeds, framed by the maroon-striped canyons of the mysterious Canadian Badlands. Find yourself a little bit out there. I travelled to two popular destinations: Drumheller, and Dinosaur Provincial Park.

There's not much that needs to be said about the 200m high Helmcken Falls other than this: it is currently the hardest mixed-route ice and rock climb in the known world.

The fourth-highest waterfall in Canada is backdropped by a massive, upside-down amphitheatre of overhanging rock. Spray from the waterfalls hit the wall, covering it in a thick (and sometimes thin) layer of ice. But despite freezing ice spray from the waterfall, British climber Tim Emmett, and Klemen Premrl, from Slovenia, conquered the notorious ice climb through a new route, Interstellar Spice.

Celebrating Christmas on Christmas Island. Who would have thought of that, from a foreigner from far across the ocean? After 4 flights and over 24 hrs of travel, I spent a week on Christmas Island to explore the beautiful wonders of what the island could offer, from the annual crab migration, the majestic beaches and waterfalls, hiking in ridiculous humidity, and enjoying spending my time with the locals.

This journey through Egypt packs in the best of culture and adventure in 1 week. We explore the ancient sites along the Nile and discover the most famous of them all, the Great Pyramids of Giza. Embrace the culture and meet remarkable people as we sample some traditional fare with a Nubian family in a local village. Feel the buzz of vibrant bazaars in Aswan and Luxor, but still manage to relax and watch life unfold as you sail the Nile in a traditional felucca.

Get ready to immerse yourself in the wonder of the Great Everest Himalayas. The Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the most beautiful as well as famous trekking journeys of Nepal. Together with the beauty of the Himalayas, the trek is culturally enticing which makes it the trek of a lifetime for the trekkers. Experience the Khumbu’s many majestic features, go through amazing mountain valleys and revel in the region’s awe-inspiring hallmarks. Similarly, observe the legendary Sherpa Culture of the Khumbu region. Embarking a journey that was first done by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa in 1953 is a matter of immense pride and glory. Brace yourself for the most exotic and beauteous journey of your lifetime!

The Machame route, also known as the "Whiskey" route, is the most popular route on Kilimanjaro. Machame’s draw is in its scenic beauty. However, the trail is considered difficult, steep and challenging, particularly due to its shorter itinerary. Therefore this route is better suited for more adventurous folks or those with some high altitude, hiking or backpacking experience.

The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the south, beginning with a short drive from Moshi to Machame Gate. The path leads hikers through the rain forest to Shira Plateau. Here, many of Kilimanjaro’s routes converge. Then the route turns east and traverses underneath Kilimanjaro's Southern Ice Field on a path known as the Southern Circuit before summiting from Barafu. Descent is made via the Mweka route.

Aconcagua, “The Sentinel of Stone” is the highest peak outside of the Himalaya. Located in Western Argentina - the heart of the Central Andes, it is South America’s highest peak and one of the much sought after Seven Summits.

While it is a very physical climb, it is one of the more achievable Seven Summits. An ascent of this eminent Andean Peak is a perfect choice for those wishing to experience high-altitude expedition mountaineering and is often undertaken as a preparation climb for the big mountains in the Himalaya.

ABOUT THE ROUTE

Stand on the highest spot of the Southern Hemisphere and observe the magnificence of The Andes The normal route is technically easy. The hard part is the altitude. The approach to Plaza de Mulas is a long distance of about 40 km. We are took an acclimatization trek to Plaza Francia, the Base Camp of the Southern Wall. It takes us three days to get to Plaza de Mulas. To reach a better acclimatization and to enjoy a unique view of the Aconcagua we will make a trekking to Mt Bonete (5000m) . After that, we start our ascent towards the summit.

The Berg Lake Trail is a world-renowned backcountry hiking trail. Gaining just under 800 metres in 23 kilometres, the trail traverses three biogeoclimatic zones.

This trail takes hikers to some of the best scenery in the province. Beyond Kinney Lake, the trail enters the Valley of a Thousand Falls. Fed by the massive Mist, Berg and Robson glaciers, visitors often see huge sections of ice break off or “calve” into the blue/green, silt-laden waters of Berg Lake.