Matt's Homepage

Spitbank Fort and No Man’s Fort are some unique properties for sale. The sea forts were 2 armor-plated forts completed in 1878 off the British coast. They defended the Portsmouth dockyards during WW 1 and WW 2. It must have been rough, because it was reported that “Life on site was grim; those serving were deliberately chosen for their inability to swim, to avoid any attempt to escape.” Ouch.

After 1956, they were decommissioned and sat empty until they were turned into a museum in 1982-2009. Spitbank was reportedly purchased for more than £1m in 2009 for and converted into a luxury hotel that folded during the 2020 corona virus pandemic. In late 2020, Pendulum live broadcast a concert from Spitbank.

Now they’re both for sale.

Check out their websites for the cool sales information.

This is what New Years looked like in Paris this year.

Paris New Year's Eve celebrations spark backlash as no one is living in the moment https://t.co/jCeB7Mu2Vu pic.twitter.com/wKESqOtDZP

— The Independent (@Independent) January 2, 2024

https://twitter.com/RaclureOne/status/1741764677003018616

Game shows aren’t just a US phenomenon; but it seems we don’t see the game shows from other countries like movies from other countries. I think game shows reveal tons about a country since they involve pretty ordinary people.

Nobody has crazier game shows than the Japanese; but Europe had some interesting gameshows too. I previously had known about Knightmare (wikipedia) in which kids would play through an adventure in front of a green screen and directed by their friends.

I recently learned about 2 new ones. Fort Boyard and The Crystal Maze. Both were aired during the 90’s and 2000’s and were created by Jacques Antoine.

Fort Boyard was originally a French gameshow. It soon spread to multiple countries and multiple languages, ultimately airing over 1,800 episodes during the 90’s and 2000’s. The game consisted of a team of 5 players completing a number of timed puzzles and physical challenges to collect word clues. When they collected enough word clues, they had to find the connection between the words and if correct would be given a short time to collect as many gold coins before the gate to the arena closed.

The Crystal Maze was a British game show that was based upon Fort Boyard. A team of contestants would complete a number of timed puzzles and physical challenges to collect crystals in 4 themed areas (Aztec, Industrial, Futuristic, and Medieval). When the time was up for the challenges, they added up the crystals which were converted to time in the crystal dome. The team would enter the crystal dome and they had to collect as many gold paper tokens being blown around and put them into the center letter box before the time expired. If they got over 100 tickets, they won the grand prize. 50-100 tickets they won some pretty decent secondary prizes. Less than 50, and you got nothing.

The puzzles seemed more diverse than the ones on Fort Boyard.

The Northwest Passage is a sea lane between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America. For centuries, such a trade route to Asia was sought.

A northern route was discovered in 1850 by the Irish explorer Robert McClure. Scotsman John Rae explored a more southerly area in 1854 through which Norwegian Roald Amundsen made the first complete passage in 1903–1906 (yes, it took 3 years since they would be frozen in the ice all winter). The passage was known for its many disastrous expeditions. Despite the incredible feat, nearly year-round ice pack made this traversal impractical.

In recent years, however, artic sea ice has been receding. In 2013, a Chinese shipping line successful made passage by the 73,500 ton Nordic Orion. The company expressed interest in continuing the route more frequently as winter sea ice recedes.

But it’s not just big companies, you can now take one of these trips yourself – if you have the money. In just the last few years, tour companies are starting to make regular trips through the Northwest passage. Costs range from around $10,000 – $50,000.

Read about what to expect on such a voyage here.

Tour companies now offering cruises through the Northwest Passage:

• Lindblad Expeditions (National Geographic sponsored tour)
• Eyos Expeditions – more upscale yacht travel
• Seabourn
• Hurtigruten
• Another World Adventures / Classic-Sailing – traverse the passage on the 124′ long Tecla – an actual wooden sailing ship. It must be popular, the 26 night 2023-2024 winter trip is sold out.
• Adventure Canada offers partial tours through the Northwest Passage

Back in 2019, I wrote about Sasha from Pyramiden. At that time, Pyramiden, located in Svalbard, was essentially abandoned except for a few caretakers like Sasha.

Fast forward and Pyramiden has seen a little rebirth. The hotel has been renovated and reopened with a restaurant, bar, and post office.

The movie theater was also restored and even hosts an annual Pyramiden Cinema Festival in September (facebook page). Even more amazing is that the movie theater housed an archive of over 1000 Soviet era films that sat quietly on the racks when they were abandoned.

Want to take a trip there? It’s possible! Grumant Artic Travel offers 4 day/3 night trips to Pyramiden where you’ll stay at the hotel and enjoy the sights. Or, if you are even more adventuresome, you can sail the entire Northwest Passage.

Cecilia Blomdahl takes us on a trip there and gives us a little tour.

Via ferrata routes have been around for more than a century in Europe. They original had been developed in WWI to move troops and supplies through the mountains but continued to be a popular, beginner-friendly (provided you’re not afraid of heights) way for people to spend time in the mountains. Today, more than 1,000 via ferrata routes spider across the Alps alone.

Afar has a great article on how that experience has come more and more to the US.

Amangiri Via Ferrata, Utah

Guests of Amangiri and Camp Sarika, two ultra-luxurious properties in Utah, can use any of the seven resort’s via ferrata’s. The most stomach-tightening course arguably involves the Cave Peak Stairway, a 200-foot-long steel bridge that spans from one peak to another 400 feet above jagged rock.

Tordrillo Mountain Lodge Via Ferrata, Alaska

The via ferrata completed by Tordrillo Mountain Lodge features a network of metal rungs, 1,200 feet of cable, and two suspension bridges, which all together help guests gain 900 feet of elevation. Throughout the course, climbers can see the 28-mile-long Triumvirate Glacier and Tordrillo Mountains which includes Mount Spurr, an active volcano.

Only guests of the lodge are allowed to use the via ferrata—and it would be challenging to sneak a climb on it otherwise, as it starts on a rocky shelf only accessible by helicopter, 4,000 feet above sea level.

Cloud Ladder Via Ferrata, Estes Park, Colorado

Cloud Ladder at Estes Park Colorado is billed as the steepest via ferrata in the United States, it’s roughly 600 feet of vertical climb. Two tightrope-style suspension bridges, one of which stretches 45 feet across a 200-foot chasm. However, from the top (roughly 9,200 feet in elevation) are views of Rocky Mountain National Park and the Mummy Range.

Quarry Trails Metro Park Via Ferrata, Columbus, Ohio

One of the first urban via ferratas in the U.S., the Quarry Trails via ferrata is found in Columbus and opened in May 2023. The route stretches 800 feet horizontally across a limestone cliff and includes two aerial walkways, a 54-foot steel staircase, and a 90-foot suspension bridge that hangs 105 feet above a pond.

Telluride Via Ferrata, Telluride, Colorado

One of only three, free, and open-to-the-public trails in the United States, the Telluride Via Ferrata has been operational since 2007. Nestled into the eastern end of the box canyon on the southern-facing wall below Ajax Peak, this route is technically 2.2 miles long, but only 1,600 feet of it has cable—the rest is a single-track trail. However, that trail is very exposed—it’s on a ledge of a more than 12,000-foot mountain.

Rutledge said what he likes most about the route is how it differs throughout the seasons. “In the spring, you’ve got Bridal Veil Falls, the tallest waterfall in Colorado, just gushing right next to you. And in the fall, you’re above this sea of gold and amber trees.”

Taos Ski Valley Via Ferrata

In the sub-alpine forest of Kachina Peak, a popular ski area, is a collection of Toas Ski Valley via ferrata routes for beginners and advanced climbers alike. The climbs start at about 11,500 feet. The routes include a 100-foot sky bridge suspended 50 feet above the ground, a double cable catwalk, and views of the Rio Honod and Wheeler Peak Wilderness area.

Switzerland is Life takes you on a cogwheel train that transports passengers to the top of Switzerland’s Mount Pilatus at 6,983′. It starts getting quite hair-raising around minute 10