If time and money and skill were no object, and if I definitely would not die, then these are some of the trips that I would love to do…
1. The first unsupported return journey to the South Pole
2. A first ascent of a big Himalayan peak: I don’t usually crave to be First, but there is something alluring about standing on a peak and taking in a view that nobody has ever seen
3. Round the world solo yacht race: for beauty, solitude, and the epic-ness of nature
4. Cross the Arctic Ocean, via the North Pole, by dog sled
5. Crossing the Empty Quarter by camel
6. Paddling the length of the Congo River
7. Cycling the Canning Stock Route (I still have a folder emblazoned with “Australia 2000”: a cautionary tale to me of how things simply never happen if you think, “I won’t do this right now [I did a postgrad course instead], but I’mll do it soon…”)
8. Walk to the four corners of the USA, but with enough money to eat in restaurants a lot and stay in the odd hotel
9. Walk and packraft the length of the Andes
10. Being the first man on Mars. If you doubt that Space is the greatest adventure of all then watch this film
What do you think of my choices? Agree? Disagree? What would your own impossible adventure be? Have your say in the comments…
You can also watch videos of some of my own adventures here.
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Al,
Walk, Packraft, Andes – let’s do it!
#4 is something I’d love to do too. Actually, crossing the Artic Ocean by any non-motorised means is something I’d love to take a stab at.
Another on my list is:
– Cycle the Eurasian Plate: North-South and then East-West.
they sound awesome, wouldn’t mind doing no 3 with you 🙂
im planning my first little micro adventure walking the north downs way, 157 miles in 60 hours. Is this possible?
Love these two:
9. Walk and packraft the length of the Andes
6. Paddling the length of the Congo River
Ah, I LOVE this list! I’d do more long-term solo travel. And hike the Appalachian Trail. I’ll get to them eventually!
2,6,7 and 9 appeal to me.
my next ambition is to run a continuous round of the munros…
Wilfred Thesiger is one of my heroes and Arabian Sands one of my favourite books.
Although I’d l’d like to traverse the Empty Quarter the reality is that life among the Bedu in Saudi Arabia will never ever be the same because of oil exploration and the ensuing wealth.
However, that’s what I love about Thesiger – the romanticism of a camel trek across a hot, inhospitable waste. Studying the locust breeding grounds seemed to take a secondary purpose!
In fact, this reminds me of Ranulph Fiennes’ stay in Oman when he was in the British Army. His description of life with locals is very evocative. I would love to explore the Jebel Akhdar range in Oman.
Much food for thought and daydreaming…
Number 6, 7 and 10 are on my list too! Was going to write a list of thirty things I wanted to do at 21 before I was 30 but might do the next ten adventures I want to do now.
10 “Impossible” Adventures? Impossible is temporary. 🙂
Ed – you’re more of a man than I am!
Congratulations on your amazing journey. Stay alert and stay safe right to the finish line.
Al
You know me…Number 5!
I also agree with the comment left by Simon Cox.
The Empty Quarter is still pencilled in on my bucket list of deserts but first the Atacama and Thar beckons.
Wilfred Thesiger, Jeremy Curl, Carla Perrotti, Frank Cole, Michael Asher, Robyn Davidson and Benedict Allen are a mere handful of my sandy heroes.
Enuff said…No doubt…For real.
4, 5 and 6 please!
Also – Across Asia on horseback…(but with a little less conquering than Genghis Khan!)
Andes. I love Chile and I have a thing for volcanoes. Many of them in those parts. This would be an amazing expedition.
As for the Empty Quarter… I’m in love with that desert – and I fly to Abu Dhabi on Monday for my third year at the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge. I dream the whole year of returning to those dunes rippled with red and golden sand. Sand so fine that it gets into everything – and stays there. One of our race stages is 36hrs on foot, in the desert, hunting compulsory and optional checkpoints. And the pans – flat as a pancake and hard. I love running down those huge dunes, down on to the pans. Sand makes an amazing deep rumbling sound. I call it ‘the sand monsters’. Such fun!
But sans camels. Did you know… out that way they’re chocolate brown in colour? I couldn’t believe it. Saw more dark brown than ‘camel’ coloured animals. Very funny 😉
I have a friend looking into an Empty Quarter crossing – that’s one helluva undertaking because of the issue of getting water. I’ve offered to tow his cart if he’ll take me.
Al, I was on the way through converting many of my own impossible dreams into reality since going blind back in 1998. Now, still in a spinal rehab unit I’m having to rewrite my list. You’ve got me thinking and given me inspiration for my next blog post! Thanks. Mark
Mark – let me know if you ever want to team up for a microadventure. It would be a privilege…
I’ve got one-living in Southeastern New Mexico as a junior high kid in a town of about 9000 and enjoying it immensely for 4 years!
Seems like you guys have helped draw up quite a nice new list:
Walk, Packraft, Andes…
Crossing the Artic Ocean by any non-motorised means
Cycle the Eurasian Plate: North-South and then East-West Walking the North Downs Way, 157 miles in 60 hours. Is this possible?
Hike the Appalachian Trail
Run a continuous round of the Munros
Explore the Jebel Akhdar range in Oman
Across Asia on horseback