I read that editors of the Guinness Book of Records have a list of seven feats that have not been achieved, and that they consider to be exceptional, rather than the increasing number of novelty expeditions and hair-splitting records. If you’re looking for a challenge, here they are:
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First unpowered circumnavigation of the globe (Jason Lewis? Colin Angus?).
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First solar-powered circumnavigation of the globe (almost done: thanks Susie!).
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First to climb the highest peak in every country (Ginge Fullen is well on the way. Thanks Tim for the reminder!)
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First non-stop helicopter flight around the world.
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First to climb Everest walking from sea level (Goran Kropp‘s effort seemingly not sufficient. Tim Macartney-Snape bagged this one. Thanks Paul!).
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First to row around the world (good luck, Olly!)
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First to walk the extreme points of each continental landmass (basically my bike trip, but considerably more of a hassle).
What do you think? Do any exemplary feats remain? Have your say in the comments…
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5 Comments
My friend Kevin is attempting an apparent world first that’s not mentioned, so I thought I’d share, he’s running a solo run across the Sahara from north to south (From the Atlas mountains, Morocco finishing at Ayon El Atrous, Sub-Saharan Mauritania). It’s a 1000 mile journey and he’ll be running 26 miles a day for 40 days in a row. In my mind that’s pretty extreme.
He’s had quite a few set-backs along the way it would be great if you could mail him with some words of encouragement his site is http://www.26×40.com.
The last on the list sounds actually pretty tempting…
Ginge Fullen has been hard at work climbing the highest mountain in every country for years.
193 countries
149 highest mountains climbed
44 highest mountains to climb
Look at: http://www.gingefullen.com/peaksdatabase_table.html
Anyone contemplating walking from sea to summit for the Everest record might want to know that Tim Macartney-Snape did this in 1990.
Think these guys have nearly finished their solar circumnavigation. Depending on what the people at Guinness think it entails. x
http://www.solartaxi.com/mission/route/
How about the South Pole in Winter? From what I understand its never been attempted. Or all 14 of the 8000 meter peaks in Winter? The five in Pakistan have still not been successfully climbed in winter.