Issue 109 | Lord Howe Island

Plus: Searching for red pandas, descending into a volcano and more.

 

 

 

In partnership with

This week’s issue is sponsored by Monk Manual. Bring timeless wisdom into everyday life.

 

 

Happy Friday! This is Adventure Fix, the weekly email that pays tribute to Earth’s power, energy, and extraordinary biodiversity, immersing you in the captivating beauty of the untamed natural world.

Here’s what we've got for you today:

  • Remote Places: Lord Howe Island, Australia

  • Wildlife Experiences: Searching for red pandas in the Himalayas

  • Natural Wonders: The Maldives’ Sea of Stars

  • Extreme Experiences (new section): Descending into the heart of a volcano

 

 

WILDLIFE EXPERIENCES

Searching for the Firefox in the Himalayas

Photo: Shantanu Prasad

Deep in the mountains and jungles of Nepal, India, Myanmar, and China lives a fast, nimble, and adorable creature - the red panda.

It’s a rare and mysterious animal with only a few left of its kind in the wild.

Up until recently, an encounter in the wild was considered nearly impossible because they live in dense bamboo forests at high altitudes. As more conservation and research organizations began tracking red pandas, the opportunity for tourists to spot them is also increasing.

At the foothills of the Himalayas at the Nepal - India border, you can be guided through the forests to search for this elusive ‘firefox’ as many locals call them.

The hours spent trekking through rough terrain pay off when you catch your first glimpse of these expert climbers scrambling along the branches of a massive tree. Watch them go about their day as they play fight with their siblings, jumping and rolling around then getting their energy back by sunbathing while munching on bamboo leaves.

Even researchers who have spent years living amongst red pandas say if you encounter them in the wild it feels like a miracle every time.

Explore more:

 

 

TOGETHER WITH MONK MANUAL

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If you’re feeling stuck, Life Atlas will give you the tools you need to direct your energy and creativity around your most meaningful work.

Best of all, with Life Atlas, you can set your own pace for the course training. Whether you prefer a 2-day intensive sprint or a more gradual 2-week journey, the program can be tailored to fit your needs.

Ready to stop letting life pass you by? Order Life Atlas today.


 

 

REMOTE PLACES

Lord Howe: Australia’s treasure island

Photo: Lord Howe Island Tourism Association

Imagine a place packed with species found nowhere else on Earth.

No, it’s not the Galapagos, it’s Lord Howe Island - a unique microcosm between Australia and New Zealand with plants and animals that have only just begun to be researched.

Here is the only place you’ll find creatures like the flightless Lord Howe Woodhen (Gallirallis sylvestris), once regarded as one of the rarest birds in the world, and the Lord Howe Island Phasmid (Dryococelus australis), the world’s largest stick insect that was feared extinct until its rediscovery on Balls Pyramid.

Rising up from the depths of the ocean, this isolated island group is the remnants of ancient volcanoes, which slopes and cliffs create some stunning and dramatic landscapes.

Wander through the rainforest trails, watch rainbow-colored fish swirl around you as you snorkel the world's southernmost coral reef, stroll white sand beaches, and discover rocky coves teeming with magnificent birdlife.

There are only around 300 people living full-time on the island and only 400 visitors are allowed at any one time, making the opportunity to explore Lord Howe even more special.

If you’re looking to be immersed in nature, spot one-of-a-kind wildlife, and escape the crowds of mass tourism, Lord Howe should be on your radar.

Explore more:

 

NATURAL WONDERS

The Maldives’ shimmering Sea of Stars

During the late summer months in the reefs of The Maldives, a beautiful phenomenon takes place. When you combine bioluminescent phytoplankton and crashing waves, you get a glowing sea of stars - an incredible shimmering effect.

One of the best places to see this light show and feel like you are in the whale scene from Life of Pi is Vaadhoo Island.

Explore more:

 

 

 

 

Garmin Instinct 2 Solar GPS Watch

$459 $349.99 (22% OFF)

Looking for a smartwatch that’s tough enough to keep up with you? The super-rugged Garmin Instinct 2 Solar could be a great choice.

When it comes to tracking your adventures and monitoring your body, this watch is a winner. It’s packed with features like a 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter. The Instinct 2 is water-rated to 330 ft and the face is made of scratch-resistant glass.

Our favorite thing about this watch is that it is solar rechargeable so you don’t need to plug it in every few days like you have to with normal smartwatches. Snag this sweeeet deal now.

 

 

 

EXTREME EXPERIENCES

Descending into the heart of a volcano

Photo: Inside the Volcano

Ever wonder what it’s like to take a journey toward the center of the earth?

In Iceland, you can turn that curiosity into reality at the dormant Þríhnúkagígur volcano.

Normally when a volcano erupts, the magma cools, solidifies, and fills the cone. But after Þríhnúkagígu erupted, the magma disappear, leaving a uniquely preserved cavity, making it ripe for exploration.

To experience this geological oddity, all you need to do is go on a hike to the crater’s edge and have the guts to be lowered 400 feet to the bottom in an open cable lift.

As the elevator lowers you deeper and deeper you can see the different layers of the volcano. When you reach the last stop, you can walk around huge boulders and incredible formations.

Explore more:

 

 

QUICK FIX

Animals: How do dolphins use echolocation to navigate the deep seas?

Awareness: Mezcal is more popular than ever - why that’s bad news for bats.

Which one are you?: Day hiker vs thru-hiker.

Science: How genetics rescued the Florida panther.

Fearbuster: There are no demons of the sea.

 

 

THE COMPASS

Where in the world

Wanna flex your adventure geography skills? Guess where this pic was snapped!

Stumped? No worries. The answer is at the end of this email.

 

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“For deep time is measured in units that humble the human instant: millennia, epochs and aeons, instead of minutes, months and years. Deep time is kept by rock, ice, stalactites, seabed sediments and the drift of tectonic plates. Seen in deep time, things come alive that seemed inert. New responsibilities declare themselves. Ice breathes. Rock has tides. Mountains rise and fall. We live on a restless Earth.”

Robert Macfarlane, Underland: A Deep Time Journey

 

 

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-Amanda & Antonio

The team behind Adventure Fix

Camping in the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia.

 

 

 ANSWER: Wanaka Tree, New Zealand