Adventure Travel News

The Wenger Patagonia Expedition Race is not over, but is won. 14 teams raced across the baron wastes of some of the most in hospitable terrain on earth in Chilean Patagonia. The race still continues for 8 teams who battle the elements to finish before the 17th February cut off point.

The British team lead by Nicola MacLeod took six and half days to cross almost 600km on Kayak, mountain bike and Trekking. They lead from early on in the race and continued to push through and increase their lead as they showed the endurance, courage and determination that the race demands.

With a 30% finish rate last year, it was no surprise this year when another British team dropped out just after the half way point due to health issues in the team. It was not long before 4 more teams dropped out of the race due to health and exhaustion. Race organisers claim tho however that to even reach half way is a massive accomplishment.

Well done to the British team HELLY HANSEN-PRUNESCO!!

For more information visit; http://www.patagonianexpeditionrace.com/index.php

NEW! This year, the Ocean Rowing Society are giving entrants the opportunity to race other teams around the coast of England, Scotland and Wales in a race that is an estimated 2010 miles long.

In 2005 4 men broke a Guiness World Record when they finished the same route in a startling 26 days 21 hours and 14 minutes. The team that broke it was put together on behalf of the British Army. Now however, if any team beats the army’s record in the 2010 race, they are being offered £30,000 for the new record along with a further £30,000 for finishing first.

The race organisers continue to process applications and give useful advise on experience required and what kind of equipment you are expected to need.

The race will support the Help for Hero’s charity that provides after care for injured services personnel.

A race which encompasses navigation, trekking, mountain biking, paddling and climbing is always going to be more than a test of skill. For the brave participants in this years Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race every ounce of strength, determination and grit will be needed to finish this epic adventure.

On the 10th February this year, the teams started out from PRIMERA ANGOSTURA, Chile. The first of 18 legs was meant to start on sea kayaks. However, was cancelled due to extreme winds.

All 14 teams have been through extensive training and a rigourous selection process before taking part in this battle within one of the harshest places on earth. Some times teams will go hundreds of KM with out seeing a single soul.

When talking about the race this year, race organisers were quick to reassure the press that this year will be full of new challenges; ‘The land is diverse, the challenge real, the adventure untamed’.

For more information on the race go to; http://www.patagonianexpeditionrace.com/

29th January 2010: After 11 days of sheltering from the elements the pair behind the first attempt to circumnavigate one of the most hostile areas in the world, by sea kayak, have called it a day.

New York based paddlers Marcus Demuth and Biff Wruszek had planned to complete the 1,100 mile expedition in 60 days. However, after using up precious time and resources sheltering from the elements, Demuth and Wruszek made the decision to return home.

The area in question is one of the harshest and most exposed wildernesses on Earth. Classified as a sub-polar oceanic climate, it rarely sees temperatures above 9 degrees C and it frequently snows in summer. Couple this with gale-force winds and you have a challenge of epic proportions.

One of the main aims of the trip was to make up $2,000 in donations for Achilles International, a charity which aims to enable disabled people to participate in mainstream athletics. We are delighted to report that the pair exceeded their goal, despite their setback.

Source: http://tierradelfuego2010.blogspot.com/

Ed Stafford is walking from the source of the Amazon river in South America to where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. His journey started on the 2nd April 2008 and is expected to end in August of this year.

The expedition started over a year a go in Camana on the West coast of Peru at the source of the river Amazon. He will follow a further six rivers before finally joining the Amazon again and finishing his trip over two years later.

After spending just under two years on the road, Ed has travelled over two thirds of the way there. He is the first man ever to attempt and looks good to succeed in this epic journey. He is not entirely unsupported, and is joined along the way by hundreds of guides and a few old friends to.

This truly is one of the last greatest adventures yet to be conquered.

See Ed’s site here: http://www.walkingtheamazon.com/

The daring British duo of Ben Fogle and James Cracknell have announced an expedition to cross Australia on foot.

The pair will follow in the footsteps of a Victorian expedition which failed to finish. The unsuccessful attempt in August of 1860, saw a similarly adventurous pair fail. Englishman William Wills and Irishman Robert Burke successfully accomplished the 2000-mile first leg of the journey only to expire on the return journey following abandonment by their support team.

However, the challenge has been completed subsequently; 5 months being the quickest time to date. The pair will have to brave severe heat, deadly creepy-crawlies and dingoes. They will employ the services of camels to carry vital supplies of food and water.

Like any of the best explorers, the pair are doing it because it’s a great idea and no other reason.

Good luck chaps.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Few people have ever completed the gruelling 2,800 mile run from one coast of the United States to the other. However, after the recent catastrophe in Haiti, Abe Clark has been inspired to help out by attempting this mammoth task on the 15th February this year. Abe will attempt to raise $100,000 in order to repair 500 incapacitated hand pumps.

His journey will take about 136 days and, if completed, he will be the 12th person ever to succeed in this coast to coast epic.

He will push all his supplies in a baby jogger, and has appealed for somewhere to stay and people to run with him. His attempt with be in aid of providing water for the survivors of the Haiti earth quake still struggling with basic services.

Find out more and support Abe Clark at http://www.runningwater.cc/

Australian born Adventurer, Mark Kalch, has just completed a journey that even the most hardened travellers would consider a serious undertaking. Mark was travelling in an area that is the centre of some serous political debate and controversy. Mark arrived at his destination on the 18th January 2010, 60 days and 1700km later.

Mark Kalch trekked the entire length of the Republic of Iran from the coast of the Caspian sea in the north, to the Persian Gulf in the south. This epic journey was across mountain and forest under the persistent sun of the middle east. Mark is a professional explorer and adventurer but for him this journey was a kind of protest.

Mark set out across Iran to discover its people, culture and attitudes toward the outside world. He was welcomed into every village with open arms and found startling similarities between the west and the every day Iranian that he met.

Read more at http://www.markkalch.com/

Abby Sunderland is now 6 days into her mission to become the youngest person in history to circumnavigate the globe. At 16, Abby will be the first, male or female, to accomplish such a feat.

Abby isn’t taking the easy route either; she will be alone, unassisted and plans to never take refuge on land. Following her departure on the 23rd of this month, she aims to complete the circumnavigation by June.

The route will take her through some extreme conditions, but the young adventurer seems unfazed. Her Day 5 blog makes it very clear that, despite failing equipment, she is having enormous fun, surfing big swells and making the most of the strong winds.

Good luck Abby!!

Adventure Travel News from beouthere.com will be reporting on Abby’s progress throughout her voyage.

See Abby’s website and blog here: http://www.abbysunderland.com/

eTurboNews has recently reported that up to 2,000 tourists have been left stranded in the village of Machu Picchu Pueblo after heavy rain and mudslides blocked the train route. The route runs from the city of Cuzco to the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu.

According to one tourist, many of those affected have run out of money and are begging for food or water for their children or accommodation. 20 elderly and ill tourists have already been evacuated by helicopter.

Machu Picchu Pueblo sprung up following the growth in tourists to the region and consists largely of hotels, hostels and restaurants, scattered around the railway track leading to the ruins.

Torrential rain has battered the area for three days. The Tourism and Foreign Commerce Minister Martin Perez, stated that similar weather conditions haven’t occurred for 15 years.

Source: eTurboNews