|
|
Rules and Definitions
Verifications and Disputes
How to verify and dispute
The rules and definitions are
Mountaineering (high altitude)
Polar
Ocean Rowing
Ocean Sailing
Around The World Solo Sailing
Around the World
Verifications and Disputes
Contact Adventurestats.com with verifications or disputes in adventure achievements. Pls follow the guidelines below.
How to confirm an exploration achievement
The Explorer is believed to be telling the truth. It is considered a point of honor which most explorers hold higher than the success of the expedition.
No proof other than the explorer's word is required, one or several of the following methods of verifications are however suggested:
Summit picture identifying the explorer, the summit features and surroundings.
Video as above.
Picture of GPS display showing altitude and position.
Uploaded automatic tracking information (Argos or similar).
Detailed log.
Witnesses.
The explorer is encouraged to officially publish any evidence without delay on personal website, to authorities and/or other media. Due to geological features leading to mistaken summits in the past, verifications are strongly suggested for summits of Broad Peak, Shisha Pangma and Cho Oyu. If possible, climbers could fasten a small personal effect on the summit should the above verifications prove difficult to obtain.
Disputing an exploration achievement
Questioning an Explorer's achievement should follow these guidelines:
The question should be in writing and motivated in detail.
The questioned explorer should be offered to answer without delay.
Adventurestats will evaluate and either confirm the achievement - or label it "disputed". If evidence is overwhelming the label will be "unsuccessful".
If an explorer has a history of incorrect descriptions of his/hers achievements, he/she should be prepared to provide evidence of all his/her claims. Without proper evidence the achievement might be labeled "unconfirmed" even though it is not disputed.
Responsibility of the Explorer
Proper acknowledgement of previous explorers is essential. False claims spread worldwide over internet may harm the reputation of others (defamation). The risk of legal consequences is great if the offender had knowledge that the claim was false, or if the information was reasonably available.
Before claiming firsts and other records it is the responsibility of the explorer to carefully research historical similar feats. Ignorance is no excuse.
Explorers should not separate themselves from PR companies, film crews and others associated with the explorer. It is the responsibility of the explorer to ensure that his/hers website, press releases, etc are fair and correct.
Mountaineering Rules and Definitions
Adventurestats will publish the Mountaineering Rules shortly.
Polar Rules and Definitions
Assist
Assist refers to the outside help received by an expedition. The most common form of polar assist is air-resupply.
Labels:
Unassisted
Assisted - resupplies
Assisted - emergency (this category also applies if one or more members leave an ongoing expedition)
Support
Support refers to external power aids used for significant speed and load advantage. Typical aids are wind power (kites), animal power (dogs), or engine power (motorized vehicles). Only human powered expeditions are considered unsupported.
Usage of human powered equipment such as skis, snowshoes, and sleds are not considered support. Usage of navigation aid such as compass and GPS are not considered support. Usage of safety aids such as radios, satellite phones and location beacons are not considered support.
Labels:
Unsupported
Wind Support
Dog Support
Motorized Support
Style
Style refers to other characteristics of the expedition.
Labels:
Unguided
Guided
Solo
The style label “solo” requires that the explorer is alone and receive no outside assistance. A solo performance thus requires the assist label “unassisted”.
Start/End Point
Below refer to overland or oversea North Pole or South Pole expeditions.
Travel to the South/North Pole
The start point has to be from the boundary between land and water - the coast line. Permanent ice is considered part of the ocean, not the land.
If the coast line is not obvious due to permanent ice, the start point should be according to mapped outline of the coast.
Partial travel to the South/North Pole
Any start point that is not at the edge of the continental land mass, but at least 1 degree from the Pole itself. This covers "Last Degree" Expeditions as well as Patriot Hill starting points.
Traverse
A Polar Traverse applies to expeditions traveling across a geographical feature. Example of features is continents, oceans, glaciers and mountain ranges.
A traverse has different start and end points.
An Antarctic or Arctic traverse has to traverse the full continent/ocean. The start and end points have to be from the boundary between land and water - the coast line. Permanent ice is considered part of the ocean, not the land.
If the coast line is not obvious due to permanent ice, the start point should be according to mapped outline of the coast.
Return trip
A return trip has the same start and end point.
Proximitiy
The proximity refers to accepted margin to valid start/end point.
If the start/end point is determined by an obvious natural feature like the sea, or by a man/made object like the South Pole marker it should be touched.
If the start/end point is determined by a GPS position like the North Pole, it should be verified by a GPS reading within a 30 meter margin
If the start/end point is determined by a map like the Hercules Inlet, the point should be within the error margin of the source.
Ocean Rowing Rules and Definitions
Adventurestats cooperates with The Ocean Rowing Society for rules and regulations.
ORS Rules
Ocean Sailing Rules and Definitions
Adventurestats support the rules set by the World Sailing Speed Record Counsil.
WSSRC Rules
Around The World Solo Sailing Statistics
Adventurestats support the rules set by SoloCircumnavigation.com.
Solo Sailing Circumnavigation Definitions
Around the World Rules and Definitions
True Circumnavigation
A true circumnavigation of the Earth (around the world) must:
Start and finish at the same point, traveling in one general direction
Reach two antipodes
(Antipodes = two diametrically opposite places on Earth)
From the above follows that a true circumnavigation must:
Cross the equator a minimum of two times
Cross all longitudes
Cover a minimum of 40,000km or 21,600NM (a great circle)
Assist
Assist refers to the outside help received by an expedition.
Unassisted (no outside help received during the circumnavigation)
Assisted
Support
Support refers to external power aids
Human powered (rowing, paddling, bicycling, walking, etc.)
Wind support
Animal support
Motorized support
Style
Continuous (the circumnavigation is uninterrupted)
Stage style (the explorer makes the circumnavigation in stages)
Solo
Human powered circumnavigators sometimes deviate from their track (to visit with friend en route or go home for a while). This is accepted custom by these adventurers as long as the explorer returns to the point where he last stopped and continues the trip from there.
|
|
|
