In 2014 Eric Larsen and Ryan Waters made what they predicted would be the last unsupported trek to the North Pole. “Climate change is altering the landscape, melting the ice, making it impossible to cross the Arctic sea on foot,” Larsen told us^[1] after (barely) completing the feat.

MORE: Stunning Photos from Sebastian Copeland's 'Arctica'^[2]

Sebastian Copeland hopes to prove him wrong in 2017, when he embarks, in 9 months, on a 480-mile trek starting at Canada’s Ellesmere Island, aiming to reach the North Pole after two months of walking. Copeland and expedition partner Mark George will each tow a 325-pound sled packed with food, fuel, and supplies across the frozen Arctic sea, which is no longer the smooth ice sheets that polar explorers enjoyed in the past, but a fractured environment with pools of open water and giant ice “mountains” where the sheets have collided. In the past 10 years, only seven teams have successfully completed the journey. The failure rate is 80 percent.

Follow Sebastian Copeland's Training for The Last Great March^[3]

Following several seasons of record-high temperatures in the Arctic, there is less sea ice forming, as well as a shrinking window of winter, which decreases the time teams have available to make the crossing. Larsen and Waters' 53-day trek required swimming through giant breaks in the ice and struggling with southerly drift, which causes the sea ice to flow away from the North Pole, reducing each day’s progress by up to 20 percent.

RELATED: Will Anyone Ever Be Able to Repeat This Polar Expedition?^[4]

Another factor working against Copeland and George is that Borek Air, the sole service that rescues stranded explorers, discontinued their North Pole service after Larsen and Waters' trip, leaving adventurers to secure their own search-and-rescue plans with individual pilots. “I’ve been around the block enough to know that whenever someone calls something ‘the last,’ it’s not necessarily the case," says Copeland. “But I believe this will be the last. Not just because of the climate, but because of the cost. In the future, somebody will have to come along with some really deep pockets.”

Copeland and George have confirmed that they plan to go after the speed record — 49 days set by a Norwegian team in 2006 — but that it may no longer be possible to beat. “There’s no question that there’s more open water at the North Pole than probably ever before,” says Copeland. “The expedition is considerably harder to do now than it was 20 years ago. And most likely harder to do than it was in 2006. Either way, we’re going to find out.”

References

1. ^{^} Larsen told us (www.mensjournal.com)
2. ^{^} MORE: Stunning Photos from Sebastian Copeland's 'Arctica' (www.mensjournal.com)
3. ^{^} Follow Sebastian Copeland's Training for The Last Great March (www.lastgreatmarch.com)
4. ^{^} RELATED: Will Anyone Ever Be Able to Repeat This Polar Expedition? (www.mensjournal.com)

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Luke Manson hadn’t set foot in a barbershop in three years. Much of that was due to neglect, but for the last 10 weeks, Manson was volunteering far from civilization in Angola for the Okavango Wilderness Project^[1]. His first step back to city life was a cut-and-shave at Persons of Interest^[2] barbershop in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, while we filmed the cut and he talked about his adventures. 

Manson, a manager at New York’s Blind Tiger^[3], one of the world’s premiere beer bars, linked up with the Wilderness Project after meeting the expedition leader at a party. He jumped at the invitation to become part of a small logistics team in charge of setting up camps and cooking in a mostly undocumented part of the world. (Prior to the trip, his camping experience was limited to music festivals.) In Angola, his job duties included keeping the team fed, alive, and in good spirits, as well as assisting scientists and staying up late to update a trip blog.

RELATED: The Only Grooming Tips You'll Ever Need^[4]

During the expedition, Manson and team took boats down the Cuanavale River, paddling five to seven hours a day to document birds living in the region, research that is being compiled for a wildlife database to help the region establish conservation with a National Park designation. Civil war and conflicts during the last 60 years wiped out wildlife populations, and the team of scientists, engineers, and adventurers are now compiling the database in an effort to discover what wildlife actually still exists in the region, as well as gathering stories and opinions from locals who depend on the river system.

While Africa’s Okavango Delta is protected, its headwaters are not. "Had the armies not wiped out massive populations of animals for food, over 150,000 elephants, they could probably handle the current hunting pressure,” Manson says. “But the animals haven’t had the opportunity to re-populate, so that pressure is just too large. If we are successful in establishing a national park encompassing the whole area, animal populations will rise."

FEATURES: The Security Analyst Taking on Big Ivory^[5]

While wildlife was not abundant, it was certainly still a danger. Locals informed Manson and his team that they were camping near a lake that was home to a pride of eight lions, though he never saw them. “When you go out at night, lions are mostly nocturnal — and you're aware of that," he says. And his crew did have a run-in with a Gaboon viper, a venomous snake, that struck a camera that was photographing it, leaving a trace of its venom and fangs on the lens. While staying alive and out of the way of lions and the like, grooming wasn’t a primary concern of Manson’s. Not that he had access to running water, toilets, or beds. “I did not shave, or get a haircut, or see a shower, bed, or toilet for that whole time,” he says. “Let me tell you, if you think showers, beds, or toilets are over-rated, you’re wrong. They are awesome"

Back in Brooklyn, head barber Scott Cowan gave Manson a classic cut with a modern twist, leaving some length on top.

“I gave him a haircut that was clean, but had a slight edge to it, meaning he could easily wear a suit and look good, but also work at a bar and fit in nicely. It’s the best of both worlds,” says Cowan.

Before he was spun around to see his new look for the first time, Manson said it felt like he got a pound of hair cut off his head and face. And after a few days sporting the new look, he's getting positive feedback. “People say I don’t look like a caveman, homeless person, or member of the Taliban mostly,” he says. “It was time. My face was so damn hot.”

References

1. ^{^} Okavango Wilderness Project (intotheokavango.org)
2. ^{^} Persons of Interest (www.personsofinterestbklyn.com)
3. ^{^} Blind Tiger (www.blindtigeralehouse.com)
4. ^{^} RELATED: The Only Grooming Tips You'll Ever Need (www.mensjournal.com)
5. ^{^} FEATURES: The Security Analyst Taking on Big Ivory (www.mensjournal.com)

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The odds of dying from a skydiving accident hovers at a 0.0007 percent chance that you won't make it, according to the United States Parachuting Association^[1], and their 2010 findings that there are an estimated 3 million jumps per year, and the fatality count is only 21. Additionally, reports show^[2] that the probability of your airplane going down is one in 11 million. So what were the odds that a group of 17 skydivers could come out of a plane crash without so much as a scratch and capture the entire event on camera?

RELATED: Skydiving For the First Timer^[3]

Last week, just that happened when a Cessna 208B carrying 17 skydivers and the pilot had engine trouble soon after takeoff from the Lodi Airport in California, the hub for the Lodi Parachute Center. According to reports, the pilot attempted to land in a nearby grape field, but a wire from a vineyard vine caught on the wheels. The aircraft nosedived, nicked a truck in the field, then flipped over before finally coming to an upside-down halt.

Federal investigators are currently looking into the crash to determine the cause. The Lodi skydiving operation has been cited twice in by the FAA over possible aircraft violations since 2010.

All 18 passengers survived the crash, and the only injury sustained was a bloody nose for the pilot. And impressively, one of the skydivers was able to tame his nerves enough during the event to capture the entire incident on his helmet camera. "We never panic," Sebastian Alvarez, a professional skydiver and former military pilot, said in a report from CBS News^[4]. "We put our seat belts and helmets back on and be ready for an emergency landing. You realize, 'Oh wow, it's like, wow, this just happened. I'm alive, and everybody's alive.' "

It was a fortunate ending to a scary incident, but accidents involving aerial sports often don't end so well. There are harrowing stories ^[5]of parachutes that don't open, aerialists who crash into terrain, and plane crashes that don't complete a safe landing.

That's why pros such as Géraldine Fasnacht^[6], a BASE jumper and skydiver, do whatever it takes to ensure that an accident won't happen. Fasnacht has plenty of experience in adventure risk management. She was the first person to wingsuit off of the peak of the Matterhorn^[7], made the first BASE jump in Antarctica, opened the first drop zone on Le Droit in the French Alps, and was the first woman to BASE jump in Iran.

RELATED: Watch Skydivers Jump From 33,000 Feet Over Mont Blanc^[8]

"Accidents are always stupid,” Fasnacht says. “I don’t know any intelligent accident because they can all be prevented. Really amazing athletes have died during stupid accidents that could’ve been avoided." Three of Fasnacht's closest friends — including her late husband, Sebastien Gay — died on the same flight. The leader of the flight flew the wrong path and all three jumpers died after crashing into a cliff. "In everything, you have to be exactly sure," Fasnacht says. "You must take the right margin of error. Or don’t do it.”

References

1. ^{^} United States Parachuting Association (www.uspa.org)
2. ^{^} reports show (www.ibtimes.com)
3. ^{^} RELATED: Skydiving For the First Timer (www.mensjournal.com)
4. ^{^} said in a report from CBS News (www.cbsnews.com)
5. ^{^} harrowing stories (www.mensjournal.com)
6. ^{^} Géraldine Fasnacht (geraldinefasnacht.com)
7. ^{^} Matterhorn (www.mensjournal.com)
8. ^{^} RELATED: Watch Skydivers Jump From 33,000 Feet Over Mont Blanc (www.mensjournal.com)

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Jared Leto, the actor, director, musician, and singer-songwriter, has a new aspiration: rock climber. He met up with Alex Honnold^[1] this past weekend in Yosemite National Park^[2] to try his hand at some serious walls in the climbing capital of the world. On Friday, the two scaled the East Buttress of Middle Cathedral, a 1,100-foot route that’s considered one of the 50 classic climbs^[3] of North America. They took a “casual day” on Saturday, climbing a trio of shorter, easier routes on the 600-foot Manure Pile Buttress. On Sunday, they went big, tackling the East Buttress of El Capitan, a 1,500-foot ascent that took a half-day to complete.

FEATURE: The Radical Calm of Alex Honnold^[4]

Leto posted a selfie on Instragram on Sunday with Honnold, as well as mountaineer and photographer Jimmy Chin^[5], which quickly racked up more than 200,000 likes. Shortly after, he posted a photo of the Nose on El Capitan, an audacious 3,000-foot climb following the cliff’s massive prow. “There she blows. El Cap. Tempting huh?” Leto wrote, alluding to the fact that he was considering the challenging climb in the future.

ALSO: Jimmy Chin's Toughest Feat^[6]

We spoke to Alex Honnold about his Hollywood encounter, and he played it as cool as Leto in Fight Club. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Jared climbs the Nose at some point,” says Honnold. “He’s a legitimately good climber; for sure the best A-list climber in the world.”

References

1. ^{^} Alex Honnold (www.mensjournal.com)
2. ^{^} Yosemite National Park (www.mensjournal.com)
3. ^{^} classic climbs (www.mensjournal.com)
4. ^{^} FEATURE: The Radical Calm of Alex Honnold (www.mensjournal.com)
5. ^{^} Jimmy Chin (www.mensjournal.com)
6. ^{^} ALSO: Jimmy Chin's Toughest Feat (www.mensjournal.com)

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Credit: Terry Manier

On his nightly walk home from Portland State University, in Oregon, where he is an adjunct professor, Cameron Smith often puzzles through the countless engineering details that will ensure his space suit is airtight. An archaeologist by training, the 49-year-old has learned the hard way that glued seams do not hold air pressure. In fact, they blow out every time. "It's a real thrill to be walking down the street and say, 'Eureka! I've got the solution.' " What usually follows is a stop at Ace Hardware to pick up a pie tin or a mechanical valve. "If I'm looking for something, they'll occasionally ask, 'What are you trying to do with it?' " Smith says. "Then I have to go into the whole spiel."

Smith's homemade space suit, which he's building in the living room of  his apartment, began as a rubber dry suit for scuba diving that was retrofitted with hose attachments. Then he stitched in custom-fitted thermal long johns webbed with cooling hoses. Now in its fifth iteration, the suit holds air, removes carbon dioxide, and is outfitted with communications equipment. Smith has tested it as high as 17,000 feet in a helicopter. This summer he plans to ascend to 40,000 feet, dangling beneath a massive hot-air balloon that he recently picked up secondhand in Flint, Michigan. Eventually he hopes to go even higher.

SpaceX’s Bid to Get Rid of Astronauts^[1]

"It is an extreme environment," he says. "It's not being in orbit, but my objective all along was to fly as high as I could with something that I built."

The mission may sound a little harebrained, but it's also a throwback to a more heroic, bootstrap era of space exploration. The space race of today is among a boyish herd of tech billionaires — Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Richard Branson — clamoring for the heavens, competing to offer the first commercial flights. But amateurs whose passions run deeper than their pockets are making serious attempts to slingshot things, often even themselves, into orbit.

Smith is on the fringe of that DIY set. A serial explorer by nature, in 1998 he helped a friend launch a balsa-wood raft from Ecuador in an attempt to sail along the northwest coast of  South America. The pair's expedition ended a thousand nautical miles later, the waterlogged raft ravaged by sea worms. In 2000, Smith attempted to cross the Vatnajökull ice cap in Iceland. After three tries, he finally made it in 2004, in the dead of winter. It was the first such crossing.

Being out on the glacier under the glow of the moon felt otherworldly and inspired Smith. "I thought, 'I need a space suit here.' " The idea revived his childhood dream to reach the stars — at a planetarium, he would gaze up for hours. "I could not get that out of my mind," he says. "I wanted to go there. I wanted to see."

As a kid, he wrote to NASA astronauts, begging them to let him board a shuttle mission. Eventually he decided that he needed to make the trip himself. But this was not intended as a whimsical voyage, as if he were the Huck Finn of space travel; it would be a trip with a sense of purpose. Pacific Spaceflight^[2], as he calls the project, will prove that space is accessible for anyone with a clear aim, an intrepid spirit, and a spare bedroom.

ALSO: Watch NASA's First GoPro Footage of a Spacewalk^[3]

After eight years of late nights and weekends, he now has an all-volunteer crew on board — a few students, a former Formula One engineer, and the friend who coordinated the Pacific raft adventure. True space is 62 miles up. Smith's goal is simply to surpass the Armstrong limit of 63,000 feet. At that altitude, the atmosphere thins out into so-called space-equivalent conditions. Temperatures plunge to –70 degrees, and exposed body fluids begin to boil. A sudden loss of pressurization would spell almost certain death. "I would hear a hiss, my ears would pop, and then, pretty much, I would black out," he says. "So I am doing everything I can to make sure that this suit is absolutely airtight."

Smith hopes to linger up there for a couple of hours and then, ideally, lower his balloon back to Earth. As a contingency plan, however, he's packing a parachute and a personal flotation device. "I could have just hopped in a balloon. I could have been crazy about it, but we're going step-by-step," he says. "This is exactly how NASA did it back in the '60s."

Indeed, there's a long history of DIY solutions in some of engineering's most challenging projects. And not all of today's results spring from Houston or Cape Canaveral. "Oftentimes these garage inventors come up with pretty innovative solutions that escaped others," says Robert Braun, a professor at Georgia Tech and former chief technologist at NASA. "Space is a big place, and there are still a number of challenges to be solved. It's not clear to me that all of them will be solved by your traditional organizations using traditional means."

For Smith, he just relishes the satisfaction of bending copper tubes into coils or hand-stitching a space suit instead of staring vacuously into a glowing screen. He's never been married, has no kids, and doesn't really date. So his free time is devoted to the suit and the goal of making space more accessible for all of us, not just billionaires.

Admittedly, he's also motivated by competition. The thought of mailing Elon Musk one of his space suits has crossed his mind. Smith says that he would ask the SpaceX team, " 'How many do you want? What color do you like?' I want to reveal a five-kilogram, thousand-dollar suit, just for the hell of it." As Smith sees it, the amateur space race is already well under way. "It's this crazy Wright brothers era of people trying out all sorts of things," he says. "Most of them are going to fail. But some of them are going to work!"

References

1. ^{^} SpaceX’s Bid to Get Rid of Astronauts (www.mensjournal.com)
2. ^{^} Pacific Spaceflight (pacificspaceflight.com)
3. ^{^} ALSO: Watch NASA's First GoPro Footage of a Spacewalk (www.mensjournal.com)

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