During the last two weeks our crew had an amazing time at Thompson Pass, Valdez. The weather was so good that we were actually hoping for downdays at some times because we were so worn out by all the kiting, flying, skiing and sledding. With all of the great local support we got some great footage of the place and were able to access even remote places in the Backcountry. Nevertheless, if we would say we knew one quarter of the place by now we would be lying. It is huge! The possibilities for snow kiting, skiing and flying are just endless.

Right now another system is hitting the pass to the visibility is gone and it rains / snows at higher altitudes. The long awaited reset of all the lines and faces. Unfortunately time is catching up with us and we have to leave the pass tomorrow or the day after to start preparing the last and final part of the project, the ascent of Mt. Marcus Baker with kite support.

Let’s keep the fingers crossed that the conditions will allow the climb. With a time window of around three weeks camping out on the glacier we would need to be really unlucky to not get the right winds…

Stay tuned for more pictures and news!

Sebastian

Stay tuned for more updates from T Pass,

The Ataraxia Crew

The Eklutna traverse presented the ideal opportunity for the Ataraxia crew to warm up for upcoming challenges, further weld together the team, get amazing footage and have a great experience of 7 days in the Alaskan outback.

Everything went well, from the helicopter dropoff with Alpine Air Alaska to the crossing itself and the last big hurdle, belaying the crew and their sleds down the icefall at the tow of the Eklutna glacier. Only the wind did not cooperate. On top of the Whiteout glacier the crew just had enough wind to pull up one of the SPEED3 12m they brought along, but not to kite. The consequence was as easy as demanding … walking more than 50 kilometers as a roapteam. Many cereal bars and melted snow helped them to estimate the scale of the mountains and icefields in Alaska better. Everything looks like a walk in the park, until you’re there…

Apart of the wind the crew was very lucky with the Alaskan weather. Only the Whiteout glacier fully lived up to its name and forced the crew to stay at Huns’ Hut for another day. The last hurdle of the traverse was by far the most challenging. Belaying 3 heavy sleds and the crew members down the icefall of the Eklutna glacier. Crampons and ice axes helped them to get down a 10 meter wall of blue ice to a safe spot between crevasses, where the sleds could be secured and the rope set up for the last bit of glacier travel until the very end of the glacier.

Staying out there in a never ending white landscape you realize how much you depend on professional gear and equipment. Once again the Ataraxia crew would like to thank all of their sponsors for supporting the project and the amazing equipment.

Today the RV will be picked up at Great Alaskan Holidays and loaded up to the top with gear and groceries so the team can head out to Thompson Pass tomorrow. Acro paraglider Marvin Ogger will join the crew for this section of the adventure and already got in his first tumbles over the wing yesterday.

Throughout this trip the crew will have better internet access, so stay tuned for updates!

The Ataraxia Crew

Marvin will join us for the roadtrip section of Ataraxia and throw down some sick moves on the paraglider. Be prepared for additional stunning action in our documentary!!

Please back our project and increase the quality of the documentary to an even higher level! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/599302383/the-ataraxia-project/

]]> http://www.sebastianbubmann.com/2012/02/20/we-welcome-acro-paragliding-pilot-marvin-ogger-to-our-crew/feed/ 0 http://www.sebastianbubmann.com/2012/02/19/new-trailer/ http://www.sebastianbubmann.com/2012/02/19/new-trailer/#comments Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:42:18 +0000 Sebastian Bubmann http://www.sebastianbubmann.com/?p=868

Hey everyone, check out the new trailer of Ataraxia 2012 on Kickstarter and become a part of our project!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/599302383/the-ataraxia-project

For a long time I have disappeared behind my desk now to finish my studies. Nevertheless I am still not yet 100% finished as I am writing the last pages of my thesis in the next week or so.

But … in the meantime of course I didn’t forget about kiting and planned a hell of a trip. From March until June I will be in Alaska attempting a world record together with our mixed german-american crew to snow kite mountaineer a 4000m peak. We chose Mt. Marcus Baker, the highest summit of the Chugach Mountains for this outstanding undertaking.

Please check out our project page, where you will from now on find regular updates on what’s going on and how we are progressing with everything. Also we are using a new way of financing – crowdfunding via Kickstarter. We really like the concept. But don’t worry … it’s all gonna go down, the budgets are signed off and the flights are booked. Less than a month until we finally hit the road and I can leave endless days of typing on the keyboard in the library behind to discover a new and beautiful place of this world – Alaska. So, why should you still support us then? The question can be answered easily – it will improve the quality of our documentary to an even higher level. Throughout the entire trip we will be accompanied by a professional cinematographer who will put all the drama and all the action on record. Become a part of it and benefit from an exclusive download link to the whole thing! We would love to welcome you on-board!!

Ataraxia Page: http://ataraxia2012.com/
Kickstarter: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/599302383/the-ataraxia-project
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Ataraxia2012
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ataraxia-Project/219454198087106

Please spread the word, become a part of it on Kickstarter or feel free to follow us on Twitter during these upcoming three months of action in the far North of America!

Sebastian

Peter Müller on the Speed 3 special edition!

It was hard to get on top of the Marmolada but flying around Sella, Pordoi and Langkofel is a unique experience and the landscape is AMAZING! Now I’ll get back to my Bachelor’s Thesis and plan for a trip towards the end of the month.

Stay tuned!

Sebastian

All pics shot via GoPro

Winds were gusty as hell, weather changing and the water about ankle – deep. But still we could throw down some nice loops. Liked that session!