Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Incredible pictures of Burma the feline adventurer who spent 2 years scaling America's most iconic peaks

(and became a social media star along the way)

Now that's a wild cat!

  • Burma, the two-and-a-half year old cat from Oregon has ventured up peaks from California to America's East Coast
  • A huge 26,000 people follow the feline on social media - which has so far shared more than 1,300 pictures of Burma 
  • The cat was adopted aged eight-weeks from a homeless woman and joined owner Stephen Simmons on his travels

This feline has gone places most humans can only dream of. 
Instagram-famous, Burma the cat, has spent two and a half years scaling some of America's most iconic peaks alongside owner Stephen Simmons and dog companion, Puppi.
The two-year-old cat has racked up a huge 26,000 followers on social media during his adventures through snow, wind and rain.
Burma the adventure cat strides along a log in the Grand Teton National Park in north west state, Wyoming, with peaks in the background
Burma the adventure cat strides along a log in the Grand Teton National Park in north west state, Wyoming, with peaks in the background
The cat (pictured on Cascade volcano in Oregon) doesn't know the difference between 14,000ft  and the ground says owner Stephen
The cat (pictured on Cascade volcano in Oregon) doesn't know the difference between 14,000ft and the ground says owner Stephen
Pictured on the Ruby Mountains in Nevada, Burma the cat is the inspiration behind the Adventure Cat Instagram hastag
Pictured on the Ruby Mountains in Nevada, Burma the cat is the inspiration behind the Adventure Cat Instagram hastag
This feline is a real fan of MEOW-tineering - scaling some of Americas most scenic peaks
Burma has taken on snow, wind and rain - even going swimming en route
The two-and-a-half year old feline wanders through snow in Oregon (left) and across rocks and sand (right) towards owner Stephen 

He carried the cat on a short walk into the forest before setting him - where surprisingly, the moggy appeared extremely comfortable.
Since then, the pair - along with Puppi - have documented their travels from peaks in California and Oregon to across the East Coast. Burma has even paid a visit to Central Park.
Burma treads carefully as he scales the Siskiyou Mountains - a coastal mountain range in the northern Klamath Mountains in California
Burma treads carefully as he scales the Siskiyou Mountains - a coastal mountain range in the northern Klamath Mountains in California
Stephen has documented Burma's travels from California and Oregon to  the East Coast - Burma has even visited Central Park in New York (above)
Stephen has documented Burma's travels from California and Oregon to the East Coast - Burma has even visited Central Park in New York (above)
The original 'adventure cat' settles down at sunset in Oregon after a long day or climbing with partners Stephen and Puppi the dog
The original 'adventure cat' settles down at sunset in Oregon after a long day or climbing with partners Stephen and Puppi the dog
Pictured in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, the cat has racked up a huge 26,000 followers on social media during his adventures
Pictured in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, the cat has racked up a huge 26,000 followers on social media during his adventures
Shortly after the launch of '@burmaadverturecat' Stephen began hastagging 'adventurecat' - a trend which soon caught on and saw thousands clicking follow to join the trio on their journeys. 
Stephen said: 'It was my way of life and that's all I had to offer him.
'Running and climbing mountains had become an escape and something I needed, something that was good for me.
'Burma doesn't seem to know the difference between the top of 14,000ft steep summit spire and a more common place, like a simple trail through the forest.' 
Stephen revealed Burma has been interested in mountaineering since a very young age. Pictured on the Juan mountains in Colorado
Stephen revealed Burma has been interested in mountaineering since a very young age. Pictured on the Juan mountains in Colorado
Burma the adventure cat strolls casually along Mount Tuke in Utah. He has a massive 1,350 images of him on Instagram
Burma the adventure cat strolls casually along Mount Tuke in Utah. He has a massive 1,350 images of him on Instagram
He added: 'Initially Burma's 'adventurecat' hashtag was unique to him and our lifestyle, and it's my belief that's where the title Adventure Cat started.
'Back then, if I clicked the hashtag, Burma's pictures were the only cat pictures that came up - with the occasional rare exception.
'Then it started catching on in the next year with other cats being referred to as adventure cats.'
In the southwest desert, Burma leaps from rock to rock as he hikes under the watchful eye of thousands of fans
In the southwest desert, Burma leaps from rock to rock as he hikes under the watchful eye of thousands of fans
Stephen said: 'It was my way of life and that's all I had to offer him. Running and climbing mountains had become an escape and something I needed, something that was good for me.' (Pictured running through the snow in Oregon)
Stephen said: 'It was my way of life and that's all I had to offer him. Running and climbing mountains had become an escape and something I needed, something that was good for me.' (Pictured running through the snow in Oregon)
Pictured in the Oregon wilderness. 'Initially Burma's 'adventurecat' hashtag was unique to him and our lifestyle'
Pictured in the Oregon wilderness. 'Initially Burma's 'adventurecat' hashtag was unique to him and our lifestyle'
This month, a website is set to be launched dedicated purely to Adventure Cats, offering information on leash and harness training and outdoor safety tips for cat owners.


Adventurecats.org say that they have already spoken to owners from the likes of Sweden, Russia, Australia and across North America.
Laura Moss, editor and co-founder of AdventureCats.org, said: 'I think there have always been people who take their cats on walks or hikes, but now it's just become more well-known because of social media, especially with photo-sharing sites and apps like Instagram.
Stephen connects the cat to a lead when they are climbing up high peaks - such as Mount Tuke in Utah (above)
Stephen connects the cat to a lead when they are climbing up high peaks - such as Mount Tuke in Utah (above)
Bravely jumping across sky-high rocks, Burma has travelled and claimed some of Americas most scenic peaks
Bravely jumping across sky-high rocks, Burma has travelled and claimed some of Americas most scenic peaks
'Back then in 2013, if I clicked the hashtag, Burma's (pictured in Oregon) pictures were the only cat pictures that came up'
'Back then in 2013, if I clicked the hashtag, Burma's (pictured in Oregon) pictures were the only cat pictures that came up'

'While outdoor excursions are great ways to exercise your cat or to address behavioural issues caused by boredom, I think one of the most positive things that can come out of Adventure Cats is busting stereotypes about cats and their owners.
'Often, cats are thought of as lazy and aloof - seeing cat owners engage with their animals in the great outdoors is a wonderful way to change people's minds about what it means to be a cat owner.
'I've interviewed people who take their cats on all kinds of adventures from camping in Canada to rock climbing in Colorado and surfing in Hawaii.'
Stephen, 49, adopted eight-week-old Burma (pictured scaling the canyons in Utah) from a homeless woman during the winter  of 2013
Stephen, 49, adopted eight-week-old Burma (pictured scaling the canyons in Utah) from a homeless woman during the winter of 2013
Burma the adventure cat does not look impressed as the tide comes in at York beach in Maine (pictured above)
Burma the adventure cat does not look impressed as the tide comes in at York beach in Maine (pictured above)
This month, a website is set to be launched dedicated purely to Adventure Cats, offering information on leash and harness training and outdoor safety tips for cat owners
This month, a website is set to be launched dedicated purely to Adventure Cats, offering information on leash and harness training and outdoor safety tips for cat owners


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