2 skiers defy death in descent of Yosemite's Half Dome
In this photo provided by Jason Torlano, Zach Milligan is shown on his descent down Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Two men climbed some 4,000 feet to the top of Yosemite's Half Dome in subfreezing temperatures and skied down the famously steep monolith to the valley floor. He specializes in using ropes to work in high-altitude and dangerous settings. AdHe said he tried to ski down Half Dome each of the past three years, but called it off after finding unsuitable snow. This year, an early February storm filled Yosemite with fresh powder, including about 2 to 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) of snow at the peak of Half Dome.
Sierra Club calls out founder John Muir for racist views
FILE - This 1907 photo provided by the U.S. National Park Service shows naturalist John Muir in Yosemite National Park, Calif. The Sierra Club is reckoning with the racist views of founder John Muir, the naturalist who helped spawn environmentalism. The San Francisco-based environmental group said Wednesday, July 22, 2020, that Muir was part of the group's history perpetuating white supremacy. Executive Director Michael Brune says Muir made racist remarks about Black people and Native Americans, though his views later evolved. (Courtesy of U.S. National Park Service via AP)
โDouble Rainbow Guyโ Paul Vasquez has died
The world may never have known him if not for a spectacular double rainbow. Vasquez, the portly man whose cries of exaltation at a double rainbow turned him into a viral star, died at 57 on Saturday. "Oh my god, it's a full-on double rainbow all the way across the sky!" "When you live alone like this, you connect to nature on a deeper level," he told CNN nearly five years ago. CNN caught up with Vasquez in 2015, five years after the viral success of his double rainbow clip.
This website rounded up all the places where you can โvirtuallyโ travel, explore
Either way, traveling, especially out of the country, is pretty much off the table right now. Luckily for you though, Conde Nast Traveler -- which is a pretty cool website anyway, filled with great travel stories and features -- rounded up a list of webcams. Trevi Fountain, RomeConsidering Italy remains on lockdown, this might be a great time to see the historic fountain. Laikipia County, KenyaโWelcome to the watering hole at Mpala Research Centre in the highlands of central Kenya!โ the site says. "Watch elephants, hippos, giraffes, Grevyโs zebras, gazelles, crocodiles, leopards and many other species take a drink (or a quick dip).