The first few days of 2012 were the earthlings’ collective wish-making time: some hoped the apocalypse wouldn’t come, others wished for a ticket on the ark… Save it. Rather than fantasizing about scenarios only achievable with CGI, why not listen to the New Year wishes of extreme adventurers, follow in their footsteps to see the world, and feel the limits of human will and physical endurance.
In the past two years, they have accomplished tasks that ordinary people could not. In 2012, their New Year’s wishes are absolutely extreme, thrilling, and sci-fi enough…
Cycling Legend: Vin Cox
Circle the Globe Again – Cut His Own Record by 23 Days
In 2011, British cyclist Vin Cox set a world record for cycling around the world solo: he completed the journey in 163 days, passing through 17 countries and covering a total of 29,000 kilometers. For 2012, Cox’s New Year’s wish is to challenge himself by breaking his own record. The new challenge will begin on February 18th, starting from the Prime Meridian line at Greenwich Park in London. Cox plans to complete the trip in 140 days, returning to the starting point 15 days before the start of the London Olympics to cheer on the games.
The global route is a loop, so there’s no issue of going the wrong way, but choosing which direction still matters. Cox carefully studied the route and chose to head east because this way he can catch more tailwinds along the way. Don’t underestimate wind direction — tailwind or headwind? On an ultra-long-distance global journey, it’s one of the key factors determining whether Cox can break the record. On the other hand, Asia generally has warmer climates than Europe, so traveling eastward from the UK allows Cox to enter warmer weather more quickly, which also helps maintain his performance.
Cutting the original record by 23 days is a significant leap. Cox has considered every detail, but achieving the goal still requires a bit of luck from the heavens. Last year, he encountered quite a few bizarre misfortunes that cost him precious time: contracting malaria in India and Libya; facing a sandstorm in Tunisia; being arrested and detained for several days as a suspected international spy in Egypt after taking photos of the Suez Canal near a checkpoint; and the most ridiculous incident — getting arrested by police in Indonesia after arguing with a bus driver on the road.
Disabled Soldiers: Hewitt & Goss
Climbing the Third Pole of the Earth Even with Two Missing Hands
Martin Hewitt and Jaco Goss are both British soldiers who returned from the Afghanistan war — one missing an entire arm, the other a forearm. In 2011, they joined the British Veterans’ Expedition Team to cross the Arctic, where Prince Harry was one of their supporters. This Arctic mission, called “Walking With The Wounded,” aimed to raise charitable funds to help disabled veterans in need. In 2012, Hewitt and Goss have set a new goal — to conquer the third pole of the Earth — Mount Everest (the other two poles being the South and North Poles). They plan to depart in March this year and attempt to summit Everest in May.
In the past, disabled Nepali mountaineers have successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest. But Hewitt and Goss are not professional mountaineers by training. The altitude, terrain, and thin air of Everest are all things they’ve never faced in the Arctic. What’s worse, climbing requires both hands — without trekking poles or ice axes, some sections become nearly impassable. Looking at the gap between ideal and reality, these two soldiers’ Everest bid might seem like just a beautiful dream. But Hewitt wrote in his blog: “I don’t want anyone to tell me — what is impossible.”
American Nurse: Helen
Marathons Not Enough – Now Running Across the U.S. Continent in Reverse
American nurse Helen Neville underwent three brain surgeries after being diagnosed with a brain tumor 20 years ago. After that, Helen decided to fight the disease by running. Having completed marathons in London and Boston, she now goes big.
In 2010, Helen ran from the U.S. West Coast in California to the East Coast in Florida, becoming the first woman to run across the continental U.S. horizontally. Helen took 93 days to run 4,000 kilometers, basically completing a marathon a day.
This April, Helen will start running again, heading south along the West Coast: departing from Vancouver, Canada, traversing California, USA, and reaching Mexico — a total distance of approximately 2,800 kilometers.
South African Ascetic: Kets
Skiing to the South Pole, Then Walking Around the Earth Along the Tropic of Capricorn
In 2010, South African Pete van Kets successfully kayaked across the Atlantic Ocean alone. Last year, Kets spent the whole year training intensively in the French Alps and Iceland. Early this year, he will head to Antarctica to begin a solo, unsupported skiing mission to the South Pole. Is this Kets’ New Year’s wish? No, that’s just part of it. If the Antarctic challenge goes smoothly, Kets will embark on an ultra-long expedition in the second half of the year: traveling around the Earth along the Tropic of Capricorn, climbing mountains and crossing seas as needed.
Such a global journey sounds tough, right? Kets has also set incredibly harsh conditions: no external assistance whatsoever, no cars or ferries, relying solely on his own energy — using hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, or windsurfing to complete everything. The goal of this ascetic-style journey is to raise awareness about the overuse of natural resources and global warming.
“As long as your dream is big enough, you’ll push yourself to tap into all your potential and perform at your best to complete the challenge,” Kets said.
Bomb Disposal Expert: Martel
Kayaking Across the Pacific – 10,000 Kilometers in 133 Days
Charlie Martel is a former member of the British Special Forces — specifically, a bomb disposal expert who served in the Middle East, Bosnia, and Northern Ireland. Since retiring, Martel’s undertakings have been no less dangerous than bomb disposal — last year, he skied to the North Pole and kayaked across the Atlantic Ocean.
In May 2012, when the typhoon season begins, Martel will start fulfilling his New Year’s wish: kayaking across the North Pacific, from Japan to the United States. Martel calls this adventure — “Climbing the Everest of the Sea.” Only one Frenchman has ever completed this suicidal sea expedition. Martel hopes to be the first Briton to achieve this feat. According to the plan, Martel must paddle 10,000 kilometers across the unpredictable Pacific Ocean in 133 days.
Martel has prepared his only “companion” for the trip — a 7-meter-long kayak named “Furious Bloom.” The kayak’s narrow cabin and anchor are completely incapable of withstanding towering waves. The only life-saving equipment on board will be a radio, maritime phone, and computer. One can imagine that in the middle of the Pacific, if trouble strikes, the bomb disposal expert will have to handle the crisis alone until rescue arrives.
