Issue 88 | Swimming with the fastest fish in the sea

Issue 88 | Jan 6, 2022

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Happy Friday 😎 This is Adventure Fix. The weekly email that will make you feel like you've stumbled upon the most epic party ever – except instead of small talk and awkward introductions, you'll get to sit back and listen to the most interesting and exciting outdoor adventures.

Here’s what we got for you today:

• Swimming with ocean cowboys

• Hiking to sacred peaks

• Surf camp for grown-ups

• Say goodbye to blurry photos

​Let's do this 🤙

Finding Hiking Nirvana in China

Looking for incredible hiking routes around the world? Here's a clue: sacred mountains.

These holy mountains are so mighty and beautiful that there's no wonder why people revere them for being the home of the mystical and divine. China's Yading Nature Reserve centers around not one but three sacred peaks. Chenrezig (compassion), Chana Dorje (power), and Jampelyang (wisdom) – represent bodhisattvas in Tibetan Buddhism. To see these snow-capped cathedrals, you'll hike through forest filled valleys, past crystal-clear rivers, and vivid blue glacier-fed lakes.

There are tour buses that take day trippers to the reserve, but if you opt for one of the longer routes, you'll quickly ditch the selfie stick crowd. The brain pounding 16,400 ft (5,000m) mountain pass pretty much guarantees it 😉

Watch this: Wanna get a glimpse of what hiking in this part of the world would be like? Here’s a video of two friends who hiked around 仙乃日 (a.k.a Chenrezig) the highest peak in the reserve at 19,790 ft (6032 m).

Swim with the Fastest Fish in the Sea

Baitballs = pure magic.If you've never seen one, they are created by swarms of sardines swimming in tightly packed formations as a last-ditch defensive measure when they're threatened by predators. Watching the schools of small fish is interesting enough but the main event is seeing what is causing them to panic.In Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the star of the show is the sailfish.

These swift hunters team up in groups of a dozen or more to corral the sardines. The pack forces them to the surface as round 'em up by swimming in circles.The sardines try to get away but they are no match for the fastest fish in the world, who can reach speeds of up to 68 mph (110 km/h)!When the moment is just right, the master hunters slash their prey with their sharp bills.

Usually sailfish cruise around with their sail down but when they attack the sardines, they lift it up, making the show even more spectacular. Finding words to describe this encounter seems impossible, but if we had to choose just one, it would be electric. There is all this energy going around and there is so much action you don't know where to look.

The best time to try to dive with these ocean cowboys is from December to March.

Watch this: Sailfish Run in Mexico, to get an idea of what being in the thick of the feeding frenzy would be like.

Why Should the Kids Have All the Fun?

New year, new adventures! Is learning to surf on your 2023 #goals list? The quickest way to gain confidence and progress quickly is to head to a surf camp. If bunk beds and instant noodles aren't your style, we've got just the place for you. At Puro Surf Hotel & Performance Academy, roughing it is not on the schedule. Stay in a boutique hotel, eat gourmet meals, and take pro led surf lessons.

The founder Marcelo Castellanos is one of the world’s best surf coaches. He's developed a holistic program that involves training your body and mind to become a wave magnet.

We're talkin' roadmaps and formulas. It's not all about being on the board in the water. There is plenty of yoga, breathwork, and swim training as well. There are even some skateboard sessions and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu night.

The best part?

Puro Surf is in El Salvador, where the warm water and consistent waves make for the ultimate surfing paradise.

So why wait? Become a surfer dude (or dudette) @ Puro Surf this year.

Pedal Through Pure Arctic Wilderness

Did sipping all those pumpkin spice lattes and binge watching holiday movies leave you craving some challenge and adventure in your life? Bikepacking in Iceland should give you your fix. Pedal your heavily laden bike through deep sand while being battered by relentless headwinds.

Be tested by infuriatingly slow progress. But, wait, there's more! Feel your feet burn with the cold as you make your way across an endless maze of riverbeds.

Like all great adventures, the rewards outweigh the challenges. Imagine the thrill of hearing the rumble and cracking of a giant glacier, spotting an adorable puffin or seeing magma ooze from a volcano.

And as you watch the golden Arctic twilight wash over the landscape, you will know that all that struggle was worth it.

Read this: A Game of Rivers. It's a long form article with stunning photography about a three-month long bikepacking journey into the most remote areas of the Icelandic Highlands.

Finally Say Goodbye to Blurry Photos in 2023

Bleepity bleep bleep f'n &#%!@?! Ah, the sounds of another frustrated photographer who can't get the foreground in focus.Sound familiar? Forget about losing weight or learning a new language, here's a better New Year's resolution for you, take perfectly sharp landscape photos.

Have you tried a million techniques but still end up with soft and fuzzy backgrounds or foregrounds? Bet you haven't tried focus stacking.

Not sure what that is? Don't worry we didn't either until we watched this video 👇

Focus Stack for Perfectly Sharp Landscape Photos. It's a tutorial by Mark Denny, YouTube's most helpful photographer where he explains focus stacking from start to finish so you can say finally say goodbye to blurry photos in 2023.

25% OFF: Therm-a-Rest Sleeping Pad

If you are looking for a sleeping pad that packs down small but will keep you cozy and comfortable on chilly nights, this would be a great choice.

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm is the go to mat for backpackers who value a good night's sleep outdoors.

It's one of the pricier options out there, so when we saw it went on sale, we couldn't wait to share it with you.

💰 Snag this sweeeet deal now 💰

🤔 Why are YETI coolers so popular?

🔥 Insane hydrofoil ride in the French Alps.

🖖 Spock explores the Great Barrier Reef.

🏖️ Adventure vs vacation.

💆🏻‍♀️ Soothe those achy muscles after a long day of adventuring with this massage gun.

Do you like what you’re reading and want to contribute?

Where in the World

Wanna flex your adventure geography skills? Take a guess at where this pic was snapped! Stumped? No worries, the answer is at the end of this email.

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ANSWER: Sunwapta Falls, Canada