China
August 2019 – Ash became the first recorded person ever to walk the length of the Yangtze River, in China - the longest river in the world to flow through a single country, trekking 4,000 miles in 1 year.
The severity of this 6,437km challenge was not to be underestimated.
Throughout Ash's estimated 8 million step exploration, he came across some of natures most intimidating experiences. From being in close proximity to snakes and bears, wolves to asian hornets - the isolating weather-ranging and isolating challenge pushed all of Ash's strengths to the limit.
Examining the sheer length, difficulty of terrain, isolation, climate, and multitude of dangers made this concept for a mission highly intense and engaging to follow. To read more on #MissionYangtze, click here.
Madagascar
February 2016 – Ash became the first recorded person ever to traverse Madagascar’s length, through its interior taking on eight of the highest mountains on the fourth largest island in the world, trekking 1,600 miles in 155 days.
He contracted the deadliest strain of Malaria, was held up by the military, dodged bandits, received nasty spider bites, built a raft for a dangerous river crossing, was almost washed away - at night - by another ferocious, crocodile-infested river and had to hack his way through near-impenetrable jungle, among much more.
He partnered up with the Lemur Network Conservation & met up with different conservationists along the way, in order to spread the incredible work being done to protect & preserve Madagascar’s unique biodiversity.
Ash also partnered up with the tourism of Madagascar, to help spread awareness of Madagascar’s unique beauty, the fact that over 80% of all plant life and wild life found in Madagascar exist nowhere else in the world and that it’s the place to go if you’re looking for adventure!
He was recently announced as the UK Ambassador for Madagascar Tourism.
Walking Mongolia
On the 5th of August 2014, Ash Dykes became the first recorded person to complete a solo & unsupported walk across Mongolia.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes: – “I applaud every endeavour to achieve an adventuring ‘first’, a feat which is becoming harder all the time. This young man’s completion of a ‘first’ solo trek across Mongolia, from the Altai to the Steppe, will have proved both physically & mentally challenging & is an example of great determination”.
From West to East, Ash trekked 1,500 miles over the Altai Mountains, through the Gobi Desert & across the Mongolian Steppe, all whilst pulling 120kg (18st) of survival supplies on a homemade trailer.
From Grey Wolves, Snow blizzards, Sandstorms, severe heat exhaustion, Snakes, Semi-wild dogs & loneliness, to name a few; Ash battled on through the elements, across the second largest land-locked country in the world, in just 78 days; knocking a staggering 22 days off his predicted time.
Ash became known to the locals as “The Lonely Snow Leopard”, due to the Snow Leopard being the only predictor to walk alone & the Wolves keeping a respectful distance from them, as they did with Ash.
Ash filmed & blogged his expedition & had people following his journey from all over the world, he hit major news, BBC World News, ITV News etc & the news articles were shared globally & translated into a number of different languages. On completion of his expedition, he was also interviewed on seven different T.V channels within Mongolia & was in the Magazines & News Papers, before his return to the U.K.
Ash raised funds along the way, to help locals during the extreme winter conditions due to climate change that is slowly changing the ways of the Nomadic life, Ash helped to spread awareness on this, not only whilst traversing the country, but also on his UK Theatre Tour.
Ash won the Welsh Adventurer of the year award 2015 & The National Adventurer of the Year Award – public vote”. He was also invited to 10 Downing Street, in order to meet the Prime Minister.
It doesn't end there...
Other endeavours Ash has faced are:
- Cycling Cambodia & the length of Vietnam (1130 miles – 15 days, on £10 bikes)
- Trekking the Himalayas in North India
- Cycling a part of Australia (700 miles – 13 days)
- Escaping the outback’s of Australia after a nasty break down in the wild
- He learnt how to survive in the jungle with a Burmese Hill Tribe
- Cycled the length of Britain for charity (985 miles – 7days)
- Walked 200 miles across Wales in the dead of winter
- Trekked alone through the Alps during winter & was just missed by a landslide
- Worked as a scuba diving instructor for two years in Thailand
- Trained & competed against the locals, in the local martial art of Muay Thai (Thai Kickboxing)
Want More?
