National Geographic Announces Adventure Travel Initiative

National Geographic is jumping into the adventure travel arena in a big way and has announced 11 great itineraries for 2011. These new travel opportunities will fall under their National Geographic Expeditions umbrella, but will have their own Nat Geo Adventures brand.

Amongst the destinations for these inaugural trips are Nepal, Chile, Bhutan, Mongolia, and more. The trips are capped at just 16 travelers, which helps to keep it a more intimate affair, and accommodations will range from deluxe camping to cozy mountain inns and lodges depending on the location. The itineraries are also graded on their level of challenge, ranging from easy, moderate, and strenuous, all the way up to "Ultimate Challenge."

In putting these trips together, Nat Geo partnered with Mountain Travel Sobek, one of the top adventure travel companies in the world. Experts from both organizations worked diligently to craft a travel experience that is very different from what is offered elsewhere and that means good things for the adventurous traveler who is looking for something unique.

One of the more interesting options is a 14 day trip through Mongolia on horseback. Travelers will stay in traditional villages while exploring the countryside just like the nomadic Mongol tribes of the past. They'll also have the opportunity to spend some time with National Geographic hosts, anthropologist Carroll Dunham, and her husband, photographer Thomas Kelly, which is just a hint at how the Nat Geo Adventures will vary from other similar trips.

Personally, I think the move into adventure travel by National Geographic is long over due. These trips all look fantastic, and the Nat Geo trademark style is all over them.

For a full list of the tours, click here.

In Search of Shambala: The Search4Paradise Expedition

So many expeditions that we read about today are focused on visiting some remote place, usually in an effort to raise awareness (and usually funds!) for a cause. While those are certainly noble endeavors, and regular readers know that I don't shy away from writing about them, sometimes it's nice to see an expedition that is being undertaken for the exploration and sheer sense of adventure. The Search4Pardise expedition, led by Arita Baaijens, is a perfect example of just such a journey.

Baaijens is certainly no stranger to challenging journeys. Born and raised in the Netherlands, she spent much of her life caught up in the daily grind, just like the rest of us. However, in 1990, she quit her job as a consultant, bought a small caravan of camels, and began a nomadic life, spending most of the past twenty years wandering the Sahara Desert in Egypt and the Sudan. During that time, she has written a number of books, become an accomplished photographer, and a member of the Royal Geographical Society.

After spending the better part of two decades in the desert, Arita is turning her attention elsewhere. She intends to travel through Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia, on horseback, in search of the mythical and mystical Kingdom of Shambala, a place that holds deep meaning for Buddhists around the globe.

The legends that surround Shambala are fantastical to say the least. They speak of an idyllic place, hidden somewhere in the vicinity of the region that Baaijens and her team will be exploring, that is said to be a veritable paradise, although there is some debate, even amongst scholars, if Shambala is an actual place or a state of being. The Dalai Lama is one person who does believe it exists, but in order to enter this "Pure Land," one needs to have achieved an enlightened state. And like all good myths, there are accounts to back it up, including some explorers claiming to have found the place, hidden away in a maze of canyons and mountains somewhere in Inner Asia, although no one can ever seem to remember the route in.

Arita is in the process of finishing up a 10 week long reconnaissance expedition in advance of the real exploration mission that is set to go down in 2011, when she will return to the remote, and largely uncharted, Altai Mountains to really begin the search.

For centuries, man has tried to find "paradise" which is defined quite differently in many cultures. It is interesting that even now, in the 21st Century, we continue that search. It should be interesting to see if they find anything on their journey, as it is quite possible that the Shambala myth is based on some ancient, and mostly unknown, civilization that existed in that part of the world hundreds of years ago.

I'm definitely intrigued.

Ripley Davenport Announces Gobi 2011 Expedition

British Adventurer Ripley Davenport has announced his plans for 2011 by launching a new website in support of his expedition to trek across the Gobi Desert. This new endeavor will spawn a documentary film about the trek and the team's interactions with the indigenous people of the Gobi, while also inspiring others to pursue adventures of their own.

Unlike his attempt to cross Mongolia on foot, which took place earlier this year, Ripley won't be going solo this time out. While he will serve as expedition leader, he'll be joined photographer and filmmaker Emmanuel Berthier, Christopher Schrader, who is a young endurance athlete and the youth ambassador for the expedition. The three men plan to set out on May 24th of next year, and expect the expedition to take approximately 60 days to cover the 1000 mile route through the Gobi.

One important element to this new adventure is that the team hopes to connect with a number of schools and encourage them to incorporate the expedition into their curriculum. In return, Ripley, Emmanuel, and Christopher hope to provide inspiration to the students by allowing them to gain insight into Mongolian culture, while also gaining an understanding of the importance of being responsible and engaged citizens of the planet. The team also hopes to instill a sense of adventure in the students as well, encouraging academic achievement to achieve their goals. For more on the Gobi 2011 School Project, click here.

The team is also looking for other adventurous people to join the fun, so if you have an interest in being part of the expedition, click here.

The Gobi is the fifth largest desert on the planet, spreading across northwest China and southern Mongolia. It is a land of extremes, and the expedition could face everything from heat stroke to freezing blizzards, with conditions changing very rapidly. It will be a test of their stamina for sure, but considering Ripley spent some time crossing the Gobi this year, it should feel like home when he arrives in 2011.

Good luck guys!

Mongolia 2010 Expedition: Injury Halts Expedition

Rough news for everyone who has been following Ripley Davenport on his Mongolia 2010 Expedition. Late yesterday afternoon, a post went up on the expedition's Facebook page that said that Ripley had been injured while trekking in Mongolia, severely spraining his ankle, and causing him to call an end to the trek.

Just a few days back, Ripley passed a major milestone when he completed 1000 miles on his planned solo, unassisted, trek across Mongolia. But apparently while he was scrambling up a steep slope, he lost his footing, and slid back down the rocky hill with the full weight of his cart rolling over his ankle while he was still strapped into it. The ankle had already been causing him problems before this incident, but now it is simply too damaged to allow him to continue.

The heavy cart has been Ripley's lifeline throughout the journey. He designed it to survive the rigors of a long distance trek across some of the harshest environments on the planet, and after some early issues that caused him to refine the design, it seems to have worked quite well. The cart contains all of Ripley's gear and supplies, including food and water.

According to a more recent update to the Facebook page, Ripley is already back home and is in good spirits. As you can imagine, he is recovering from a month and a half spent in the wild, and while he is nursing that bad ankle, he is also proud of his accomplishments. The final stats for the expedition has him covering 1012.4 miles across the Eastern Steppe, the Gobi Desert, and the Altai Mountains. An impressive feat indeed.

I want to congratulate Ripley on undertaking such an impressive trek. Get well soon Rip!

Mongolia 2010 Expedition: The Altai Mountains Loom

Long distance solo trekker Ripley Davenport is closing in on another milestone on his epic trans-Mongolian march as the Gobi Desert begins to give way to the foothills of the Altai Mountains, and an entirely new set of challenges.

Regular readers will recall that Ripley is in the midst of his Mongolia 2010 Expedition, in which he is attempting to walk solo and unsupported across the entire length of that country. He has already left the Eastern Steppe behind, and crossed the Gobi as well, and according to his most recent blog report, the Altai Mountains are looming in his path. That change in terrain will make it difficult for him to pull his custom built cart, which carries all of the adventurers gear, but he seems more than up to the task at the moment.

As of today, Ripley has covered more than 853 miles on his planned 1700 mile expedition. If he is successful in completing that trek, it'll be the longest solo and unsupported walk in history. Reading his updates from the field, it seems that he remains in good spirits and upbeat about the challenges ahead, even as he knows that he is just halfway to the finish line.

An update to the expedition's Facebook page today tells us that the former British military man has moved into some rather steep canyon areas, with the gorges there providing a respite from the sun. The temperatures have been a bit cooler, but the narrow passages are filled with scree and other obstacles.

On another note, Ripley is also falling pray to another malady that often befalls explorers on long distance journeys like this one. His toenails have started to fall off! One of his large nails is already gone, while others have turned black and are threatening to follow suit soon as well. If that wasn't enough, he's also dealing with a very sore and swollen ankle that has been bothering him for some time. Still, he soldiers on and keeps making great progress.

Mongolia 2010 Expedition: Ripley Is In The Gobi!

It's been about a month since we checked in with Ripley Davenport and his Mongolia 2010 Expedition. At that time, he was just returning to Mongolia to resume his 1700 mile trek across that country that would see him traveling the entire length, east to west, while going solo and completely unassisted. To accomplish that feat, the former British Army officer is pulling all of his gear and supplies behind him in a cart, which had to be redesigned to handle the rigors of the trail following a major malfunction back in April.

Since he's resumed his mission however, Ripley has been progressing quite well. As of yesterday, he had completed 536 miles of the journey and is now well into the Gobi Desert, one of the harshest environments on the planet. It is warm, dry, and incredibly remote, with little to break up the monotony. The ground is sandy and difficult to hike through, let along drag a cart that is loaded with nearly 400 pounds of gear and supplies as well.

Still, reading Ripley's updates, he remains incredibly up beat despite spending more than a month in field, dealing with warm temperatures, and having feelings of isolation from his friends and family. He reports that the Gobi is a place of beauty and wonder, and is filled with life, notting that there are a variety of lizards practically everywhere that he goes. Ahead of him is another 1200 miles of trekking, and probably two more months of toil, but he is relishing in the challenge thus far.

If you haven't been following Ripley's adventure so far, I urge to check it out. He makes some interesting observations and offers unique insights into what it is like to be on a long distance expedition where you are self supported and completely alone. It makes for some really interesting reading, even as we know that he is working hard and suffering mightily out there in the wilderness.

Mongolia 2010 Expedition: Ripleys Back On The Trail!

Ripley Davenport has returned to Mongolia and has resumed his Mongolia 2010 Expedition, as planned. He'll now continue his very long trek across that country, covering more than 1700 miles through the Eastern Mongolian Steppe, Gobi Desert and the Altai Mountain Range. He hopes to complete one of the longest solo and unsupported treks ever, by carrying all of his supplies and gear, including food and water, in a specially designed cart that he'll pull the entire way.

The British adventurer first set out back in April, but just a few days in, he was forced to abort that attempt when a design flaw in his cart caused the wheels to seize up, preventing it from going further. He then returned home, rested up, regrouped, and fixed the problem, and two days ago he returned to the exact spot that he stopped a few weeks back, and began once again.

Ripley is keeping us all updated with his progress by posting regularly to his blog. So far, he's been making good progress, covering 48km (30 miles) on the first day out, which is a heck of a pace considering the load he is pulling. Speaking of which, he also reports that the cart, nicknamed Molly, is performing well so far on her return voyage, navigating over gullies and rocks just fine. Hopefully that will continue to be the case in the many days that are ahead.

In his entry for today, Ripley shares one of his experiences that are so sublime that they only take place in remote places like the one he is currently hiking through. He says that at 4AM he was awoken to the sounds of footsteps and snorting just outside of his tent. When he went to take a peek, he found that he was surrounded by a herd of wild gazelles, who fled at the sight of him, even before he could snap a photo.

Let's hope that the rest of his journey provides similar experiences.

Mongolia 2010 Expedition: Ripley To Resume Trek On May 25th

While I was away in Nepal, Ripley Davenport was launching his Mongolia 2010 Expedition, in which he was planning to trek across Mongolia, pulling all of his gear and supplies behind him in a specially designed cart. Unfortunately, that cart ground to a halt due to a design flaw bringing the journey to a premature end just two days into the trek. Undaunted however, Ripley has announced that he will return to Mongolia in just a few weeks time, and that he'll resume his journey from the exact spot that it came to an unceremonious conclusion, on the 25th of May.

The expedition will cover more than 1700 miles, traveling east to west, across one of the most challenging environments on Earth. Ripley will face weather extremes ranging from blizzards and sub-zero temperatures to very hot and dry conditions as he crosses the Eastern Mongolian Steppe, the Gobi Desert and the Altai Mountain Range al on foot. All the while, he'll be pulling his gear in a new, and improved, trailer, that will allow him to go independently and unsupported on this adventure.

When I returned from my recent trip, one of the first things I did was check on Ripley's progress, and I was saddened to hear about his difficulties with the cart. It seems like he has worked out the kinks in his project now however, and I'm excited to hear that he is going back so soon. I'm sure he is eager to resume the journey as well, and I look forward to updates from Mongolia again soon. I wish Ripley the best of luck on this second outing. Hopefully it'll be much more successful this time.

Mongolia 2010 Expedition: One Week To Mongolia

It has been a couple of months since I posted my interview with Ripley Davenport, the man who is about to embark on the Mongolia 2010 Expedition, during which he'll be attempting to make a solo and unsupported trek across that remote country.

According to his most recent blog post, which came last week, Ripley is busy taking care of the last minute details before his boots hit the ground in Mongolia a week from today. As you can imagine, those details are pretty consuming at the moment, as he prepares to leave the U.K., not to mention his wife and kids, for a three month long adventure that will test his stamina, both physical and mental.

The journey will cover more than 1700 miles, beginning in the Eastern Mongolian Steppe, crossing the desolate Gobi Desert, and continuing through the Altai Mountain Range. To accomplish this monumental hike, he'll need to carry all of his gear and supplies with him, in a specially designed cart that was built from the ground up for this trip. Ripley will be pulling that cart, along with more than 400 pounds of gear, behind him across Mongolia. And he hopes to complete the entire expedition in less than 90 days. A tall order indeed.

Watch Ripley's website closely starting next week, as I'm sure we'll be getting more updates on his progress soon, especially once his SPOT is activated and we can begin tracking his progress in real time. I know he'll be in Mongolia for a few days before he heads out, and once that happens, he'll be dealing with every kind of terrain and weather imaginable. This is going to be one tough expedition, but having spoken to Ripley directly, I know he's up for the challenge.

Good luck Rip!

National Geographic Announces 2009 Adventurers of the Year

After three months of voting, during which more than 20,000 ballots were cast, National Geographic Adventure has announced their selection for the Adventurer of the Year, with a tie giving the award to two very deserving winners.

The winners of the award are explorer Albert Yu-Min Lin and soldier/climber Marc Hoffmeister. Lin earned his honors for leading an expedition to a remote part of Mongolia, where he has been searching for the missing tomb of Ghenghis Kahn, which was hidden by the Kahn's followers upon his death back in 1227. For his part, Hoffmeister was recognized for leading a team of Iraq war vets up the West Buttress Route of Denali. A number of those vets, including Hoffmeister himself, were injured in that conflict, with some even losing limbs.

Both of the winners expressed their gratitude for winning the award, but also were quick to note that they are just part of a much bigger team. Each of them also continues their adventures, with Lin continuing his search, while working to maintain the heritage of Mongolia, while Hoffmeister has gotten into whitewater rafting, adventure racing, and more climbing, summiting Kilimanjaro. To read Lin's reaction to wining, click here and for Hoffmeister's comments, click here.

The announcement of these awards continues the return to prominence of the Adventure Blog, which I recently noted had sprung back to life in recent days. It's nice to have it back, and it's nice to see the tradition of the Adventurer of the Year awards continuing.

Mongolia 2010 Expedition: An Interview With Ripley Davenport

In just a few short months, Ripley Davenport will set out on his Mongolia 2010 Expedition, in which he'll attempt to become the first person to trek solo, and unsupported across the entire country. Traveling from East to West, he'll cover more than 1700 miles from the Mongolian Steppe, through the Gobi Desert and onto the Altai Mountain Range, all the while pulling a cart behind him that will contain all of his supplies and gear. If successful, this will set the new standard for trekking, becoming the longest solo and unsupported walk in history.

Ripley will leave for Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia in April, but he was kind enough to answer some questions about his upcoming adventure for us, even as he is working hard to prepare for the rigors of the journey.

Adventure Blog: With less than 90 days to go, how is your training going?

Ripley Davenport: Very well. I am well passed the level of fitness as I was back in my military days and I can feel it. My thanks and gratitude go out to Ray Zahab from i2P for his professional advice and tailored training programs. My physical training is at its highest tempo. The tractor tires are still being used on the odd day but now I am focusing on using the expeditiion trailer with near enough the eqivalent weight I’ll be hauling in Mongolia for prolonged periods of time. It stems to 4 hours a day at present but every week I am increasing by 30 minutes and adding weight.
Aerobics, yoga and stretches every day and some serious iron man excerises such as tire lifting and and 100m burst tractor pire pulling. Having two active kids that need 24 hour attention helps the fitness (more mentally) in some ways!

AB: The deadline is looming closer and closer, what do you still need to get done before you leave for Mongolia?

RD: I am finishing up on several small items connected with the expedition and going about searching for, perhaps, a title sponsor or some well needed financial support. Up until now all the funding has come from my own pocket. Although a relatively low budget expedition, far from any polar or climbing adventure, it has taken a healthy chunk from a small family.
We, as a small family, have made many sacrifices and decided to move to a smaller house and sold our second car to allocate funds for the Mongolia 2010 Expedition. The Endurance Trust, has been extremely supportive with allocating some funding for the expedition.

AB: What is the biggest logistical hurdle that you still need to face? Is there something that you're glad is behind you?

RD: I have done all the expedition planning myself. Website, sponsorship searching, logistics, fabrication of the trailer, speaking and fund raising. It has been an experience in itself and, more importantly, I have gained invalueable knowledge and taken onboard a few lessons. The expedition is not just the actual event but the planning and preparation that leads up to it. It’s been a big hurdle.

The construction of the expedition trailer has been a hurdle but with the help of a sound engineer, Louis Phillipe Loncke and 12 different trailer / cart designs, I have spawned a trailer worthy of such a journey. I am grateful to my engineer Poul and to Louis for his experience and sound knowledge.

I think I will be gald most of all of getting out there and doing it and taking a break from all the planning and preparation. It’s where the metal will meet the meat.

AB: As you finish up your preparation, what to you think will be your biggest challenge while on the trek?

RD: The biggest challenge was getting my head around completing this. Walking across a country so large and over such terrain, over such time offered unlimited challenges. Sandstorms will be an ever constant phenomenom and April / May is renowned for sudden sand storms that blot out the sun so I guess I will have to walk in the shade (yep, a line from the movie 300), and plough on through it all. Of course, servere icy winds and unrelenting cold will hamper my first weeks but the temperatures should climb slowly throughout my journey. I will experience sub zero temperatures and desert heat, more than likely in one day. Water is another cause for concern. I will be taking 150L of water and carrying a water purification system from HTIwater, which works on the Osmosis system. Drinking water from nature. This will enable me to use any water, and I mean any rancid, foul smelling mud that I can find and replenish my supplies as I cross the country. I have acquired several Russian military maps that have numerous watering holes and wells marked.

AB: We know about your physical training for Mongolia, how are you preparing mentally for the challenge?

RD: I believe in it and practice it like a religion. I rate it higher than the physical aspect. It’s your mind that will determine if you will succeed. It is the mind that keeps you moving forward even if you are moving backwards and slightly to the side.

I have already walked across Mongolia, in fact, several times in my head. I constantly visualise the walk and myself immersed in various situations. I act out each senario and think of different ways that I can handle it. My focus is on performance enhancement through various techniques, including relaxation, tension and stress management, visualisation and focusing skills.

Over time I have been taught how to reduce and eliminate tension and stress, which helps in laying the groundwork for my ongoing mental preparation. Visualisation or what I call ‘mental rehearsal’ is a proven and effective way to help the feeling that I am in control of my performance.

In the beginning, the visualisation is geared toward skill development or mechanical improvements in one or more areas such as walking, running or pulling the car tires. Once I “see myself” or can effectively mentally rehearse a skill, it can be done within seconds of performance. I was taught visual rehearsal back in the military. You walk through the task, over and over, until you can perform the duty in your sleep or blindfolded.

The bottom line: truly believing in yourself, your ability, and your goals is a vital element of mentally preparing to succeed. If you can actually see yourself doing it and succeeding in it, then surely you must be able?

AB: After all of the planning and preparation, how eager are you to get started?

RD: I am very eager to get started. It’s been a long wait but still worthwhile. It’s important to be rational about anything of this magnitude and plan well in advance considering many factors. Launching straight into something, so demanding and precarious, without careful consideration for every evetuality only brings dire consequences. Mongolia has been a plan since 2001, so you could say I’ve waited nearly nine years, but it’s only the last 2 years when I’ve sunk all my teeth into making this happen. I am just as excited about starting this as, I think, most people are. It’s been a long time and finally, very soon, a dream will become reality.

AB: What else would you like to share?

RD: At this time I would like to thank a few people, without whom, this road would have been far more bumpy and problematic.

Burmaa Zunduisuren the Managing Director from Visit Mongolia, who has assisted beyond the call of sponsorship duty in dealing with the paperwork involved in securing permission to make this expedition happen.

Gareth Garvey partner from B-innovation and member of the The International Rotary Club and British Chamber of Commerce in Copenhagen who continually stands by my side in sourcing help.

Matt Nelson of the Endurance Trust, for providing some well needed financial support, help and general friendship.


I'd like to thank Ripley for sharing his thoughts and insights on his upcoming expedition. You can rest assured that we'll be following along and tracking his progress. This is going to be an amazing adventure, and real proof of some of the great things that we can do when we put our minds to it. Good lucky Ripley!

ExWeb Interviews Ripley Davenport

I've mentioned Ripley Davenport on more than one occasion on the blog. He's the British adventurer that is preparing to trek across Mongolia on foot next year, solo and unsupported. He'll be crossing more than 1700 miles of some of the harshest terrain on the planet, including the Gobi Desert and the Mongolian Steppe, while pulling all of his supplies in a cart behind him. He expects to complete the journey in just three months time.

Today, ExWeb has posted an excellent interview with Ripley, who with just five months to go, is hurriedly putting the finishing touches on his expedition. In the interview, Ripley talks about the logistics of his preparation, what he's done to prepare and what else needs to be done before he goes. He's been working hard on his physical conditioning, testing and modifying the gear he'll use, and arranging for his travel in Monoglia as well. He also talks about the design and construction of the trailer he'll use along the way, his biggest challenges to date, and plenty more.

All in all, this is a good read, with some nice insights into what it takes to put together an epic solo expedition such as this one. There are so man behind the scenes things that go on that you never think about, that it is fascinating to get a peek behind the curtain sometimes.

I've been fortunate enough to chat with a number of amazing adventurers in recent months. People who are climbing big mountains, going to the Poles, or on expeditions like Ripley's, and there has been a common theme amongst many of them, which is "how do I get a sponsor?" With the economy still sluggish, sponsors are being very careful about how they spend their money, and Ripley talks about that a bit at the beginning of the story too, mentioning how time consuming it can be just to make contacts and have the opportunity to present to potential sponsors.

Let's hope the economy improves in 2010 so that more great expeditions like this one can get underway.

Training For A 1700 Mile Solo Expedition

Last week I mentioned that British adventurer Ripley Davenport was getting ready for his Mongolia 2010 Expedition, in which he'll go solo and unsupported across 1700 miles of harsh terrain. When I posted that story, Ripley was being featured on Adventure World Magazine, and now he's back with the first of an ongoing feature about his training methods for the journey.

In this story, the intrepid explorer says that his physical training for next year's expedition actually began nearly a year ago in October of 2008. His approach to the training is to get outside, work hard in the elements and the natural conditions. As Ripley puts it, working out in a gym isn't very helpful when the conditions he'll be dealing with won't be comfortable and easy.

He also discusses the areas he is focusing his training on, such as muscular composition and flexibility. These are obviously important factors for anyone who will be challenging themselves physically. But Ripley also lists mental training as part of his preparation, and personally I think that is the area that separates those who are successful and those who are not.

This looks like it'll be a great ongoing series, and should prove to be very insightful. ASW has a winner here, and I think we'll all enjoy it.

Ripley Davenport's Solo, Unassisted Mongolia Trek

Adventure World Magazine has posted a story about Ripley Davenport, the British Adventurer I've mentioned a few times in the past who is planning a solo and unassisted trek across Mongolia in 2010.

Ripley plans to get underway in April of next year, and will travel more than 1700 miles on foot across the Mongolian Steppe, Gobi Desert and the Altai Mountain Range. He'll be completely self-sufficient, carrying all of his gear with him, with the help of a specially designed wheeled trailer that will serve as a desert sled not unlike those used in the Antarctic. If successful, this will be the longest solo and unassisted trek ever completed.

As you can imagine, the training and preparation for such an expedition can be quite demanding. Ripley has been working on the logistics and physical training for months, and Adventure World notes that he'll be contributing his expertise on preparing for this journey on their website and print magazine. Expect the former British special forces officer to discuss the gear he'll be using, the physical and mental preparations he is undergoing prior to his departure, and more. It should prove very insightful for anyone interested in what it takes to make a solo expedition of any type.

The Mongol Derby is Underway!

I've posted about the Mongol Rally before. That's the road race that begins in London and runs all the way to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. But as that country continues to emerge as one of the top adventure destinations in the world, even more people flock to its remote interiors, looking for an adventure of their own.

Take the 26 riders taking part in the Mongol Derby for instance. They set out on Sunday to ride nearly 1000 km (620 miles) across the Mongolian high plains on horseback in a unique race that is more of a testament to the skill and endurance of the rider, rather than the speed of the horses that will carry them.

They'll follow a route that was established by Genghis Khan and used as part of his postal system, delivering messages from throughout the empire. The race got underway from Kharkhorin, and the riders must report to a series of horse stations called Urtuus, which are situated about 40 km apart throughout the countryside. At these stations, the riders will change out their horses in favor of a new one, and be able to pick up supplies and other equipment.

The course has been designed from the ground up to keep the horse's health in mind. Not only are the riders forced to change ou their horses at each Urtuus, vets on hand at each station will also ensure that the animals are being well cared for before they rider is issued a new one. In addition to that, the trail wanders through regions with plenty of water, making sure that the horse, and rider, are never far from a drink.

This modern day, long distance horse race looks like it's a lot of fun, and what an amazing way to see the countryside. Be sure to check on the website regularly for progress on the riders and to see what kind of adventures they've come across in their journey.

The 2009 Mongol Rally is Underway!

The 2009 Mongol Rally got underway on Tuesday, when 400 teams of drivers set out simultaneously from England, Spain, and Italy on a road race that will span more than 10,000 miles as they drive toward the finish line in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

This is the sixth edition of the Mongol Rally, and each year it grows a bit in size and stature. The race is run for a variety of charities and the vehicles driven to Mongolia are donated to a charity there as well.

The rules of the race are simple:

1) Teams are on their own, there is no support of any kind.
2) The race is run for charity, and all teams need to raise a minimum of £1000 or roughly $1650.
3) Teams can only drive cars with an engine that is 1.2 liters or less.
4) The car must also be ten years old or less

In addition, teams are allowed to choose any route they want, and in the past they have ranged as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as Afghanistan. You can see some of the previous routes that have been taken on this map, which illustrates how free form the trip can be. You can also read updates on the teams as they travel on the Live Updates Page as well.

I've written about the Mongol Rally a few times in the past, and I remain intrigued by the "race". It sounds like so much fun to me to hit the open road with good friends on an epic roadtrip across two continents. Talk about an adventure! Most teams will cross through a dozen countries along the way, and see some amazing things. Maybe next year I need to put together a team! :)

Ripley Davenport Joins i2P as Inspirational Ambassador

British Adventurer Ripley Davenport has joined the impossible2Possible team as an Inspirational Ambassador according to the latest post on his website. impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to inspire young people to take an active role in protecting the planet through the use of adventure and education.

If i2P sounds familiar, it is because I wrote extensively about their expedition to the South Pole Quest expedition during the last Antarctic season. That team consisted of Ray Zahab, Kevin Vallely, and Richard Weber, who went on to set a speed record to the South Pole from Patriot Hills. The three men are also integral to i2P, with Vallely and Weber acting as advisors, and Zahab the founder of the organization. Check out the entire i2P team by clicking here.

The i2P website offers plenty of information about their ongoing efforts and includes educational materials for lesson plans, news on youth expeditions and leadership training camps, and background information on past and future expeditions, including their upcoming "World Expedition" set to get underway in August, and a North Pole journey scheduled for 2011.

As for Ripley, he is busy preparing for his trek across Mongolia in 2010, when he'll cover more than 1700 miles of Gobi Desert in what will be one of the longest solo and unassisted treks ever. You can follow Ripley's preparations and get the latest news on his preparation on his Mongolia 2010 website.

Adding Ripley to the i2P team seems like a great, natural fit. Congrats Ripley! And in case you missed it last week, be sure to check out this video of Ray Zahab discussing his journey to the South Pole. Really great stuff, and Ray is an excellent speaker.

Kiting Across Mongolia's Gobi Desert

Brother and sister team Eric and Sarah McNair Landry are 30 days into an epic expedition that has them kiting across the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. Dubbed the Pittarak Expedition, the plan is to go from Altay in Western Mongolia, and head east to Saynshand.

I'm a bit late in joining this expedition, but they have been posting updates to their blog for the past month, and now roughly three days from reaching their goal. Eric and Sarah have been using three wheeled buggies and large kites to catch the wind and pull them across the open expanses of the Gobi. Of course, the siblings have honed those skills with a lot of time spent in the Arctic, where they have extensive experience, even at the ages of 22 and 20.

In their most recent blog update, they note that they have covered roughly 40km each of the past few days, and with just three days to go until they wrap up the journey, they still have to cover 130km to reach Saynshand. In that same entry, they report that spirits are low, and they are in desperate need of good winds to help them along, but so far they are being buffeted with headwinds instead. Without wind, they are dragging their buggies, and gear behind them, and making slow progress to say the least.

Lets hope they get the wind they need. Sounds like they are a bit low on supplies and are desperately in need of getting to the finish line. Seems like a cool expedition, and I'm bummed that I haven't been following it more closely. Better late than never though, right? :)

Thanks to ExWeb for the story on this.

Announcing Expedition: Mongolia 2010

Here's another great expedition that is set for next year, in which former British solider Ripley Davis will set out on a solo, unsupported trek across Mongolia in an effort to raise funds and awareness of the Hope and Homes for Children project, and UNICEF.

The expedition is slated to get underway next April, with Ripley pulling all of his supplies behind him in a wheeled cart. He anticipates that he'll be towing more than 100kg (220 pounds) of gear over a 3000km (1865 miles) course between 47º and 50º north latitude. The journey is expected to take roughly 90 days.

Ripley has just launched his website for the expedition with plenty of news and information on his plans. On the site you'll find more details on the route he'll be taking, recent news on his preparations, as well as links to the charities he'll be working for and sponsorship opportunites for becoming part of the project. Youc an also learn more about Ripley himself and his previous adventures as well as read an FAQ on his latest endeavor.

This is going to be an amazing adventure to follow next year. A trek across Mongolia is no small feat, as the vast majority of that country is still very remote and rugged. Good luck Ripley! We'll be pulling for you all the way.