Adventure-Crew.com

Here's a contest that I wasn't sure I really wanted to share with anyone. As a bit of an amateur photographer myself, I always appreciate good gear, and especially something that helps me carry my DSLR's and lenses a bit easier, which is why the packs that Clik Elite offers are so intriguing to me. The company makes some great looking packs that are not only designed for use on the trail, but also for protecting your precious camera equipment while you're out there.

Next week is the start of the Summer Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City, Utah. And to celebrate the event, Clik Elite has decided to give away some cool swag, and they've made it exceedingly easy for us to sign up for the contest. All you need to do to enter is sign up for their online newsletter, start following their twitter feed, or become a Clik Elite Fan on Facebook. Simple huh?

After that, all you have to do is sit back and collect the free stuff. Over the next three weeks, they'll pick a winner each week, and will be giving away two of their Compact Sport packs and one of the Medium Nature bags. They'll also be giving away t-shirts, accessory pouches and more.

If you're not familiar with the Click Elite packs, and you're into photography at all, I'd recommend checking them out. The packs offer space for carrying your gear, but also have designated compartments for your camera equipment, with extra padding to protect your DSLR, lenses, and other photography gear. The packs have all the other features you would expect as well, like hydration sleeves, water bottle holders, and a well designed harness system. They seem to be well designed for the outdoor enthusiast who doesn't leave home without his camera.

Good luck in the contest. If you win, at least thank me for sharing! ;)

Journalism Award: Five years in bondage It was near the front lines of the Sudanese civil war, in 2003, when journalist Benjamin Skinner met his first slave. His name was Muong Nyong, and he had run barefoot for two weeks across the burning desert to free himself. As Nyong told his story, Skinner decided to do what few had done before: uncover what it was like to be a slave in the 21st century.

Heroism Award: Savior on K2 On August 1, 2008, at just about 8 p.m., a massive serac cleaved from a glacier near the summit of K2, the world's second highest mountain, and barreled down a section of the Cesen climbing route called the Bottleneck. In an instant, one climber was dead, key safety lines were swept away, and 17 climbers were trapped above 27,000 feet with little chance of escape.

Culture Award: Trekking the forgotten Andes Two years. 7,800 miles. No roads. That was how Deia Schlosberg, 28, and Gregg Treinish, 26, vowed to trek the length of the Andes. They had no idea what they were getting into.

Imagine this. You climb Mount Everest by the time you're 19. And that's tame. You want to try something outrageous, something never before attempted. How about traveling from geomagnetic pole to geomagnetic pole in one frantic dash?