MY. CURRENT. - top 5 (that is all). Things change, so don't take my choices as set in stone. It's a fine line in modern times between the definition of explorer and adventurer. Hell, I am seriously considering putting this divide into the too hard basket. The definition upsets one camp or another. For the purposes of my top 5 I have blurred the line a little and considered modern-day explorers to be a hybrid of both explorer and adventurer. I do not want to use this post to begin the endless argument over who is and who is not an explorer these days.
ex·plor·er
[ik-splawr-er, -splohr-] –noun
1. a person or thing that explores.
2. a person who investigates unknown regions: the great explorers of the Renaissance.
ad·ven·tur·er
[ad-ven-cher-er] –noun
1. a person who has, enjoys, or seeks adventures.
2. a seeker of fortune in daring enterprises; soldier of fortune.
3. a person who undertakes great commercial risk; speculator.
4. a person who seeks power, wealth, or social rank by unscrupulous or questionable means
*Both definitions from dictionary.com. It's not the Oxford English Dictionary but at least it's free!
My list is biased, one-eyed and no doubt differs from yours. I have definitely missed more than a few worthy "explorers" - scientists in the field, astronauts etc. I suppose my list contains those who I consider my peers, undertaking similar life journeys as mine (that explorer/adventurer hybrid I mentioned above). I have included both those who have been around a good long while and those that are in the process of establishing themselves (ie. on expedition right now!). Let me know who you think I have missed.
In no particluar order (except for number 1!)
1. - just google to check his resume and credentials. From his solo descent of the Amazon on a hydrospeed, and onto Pangea, he has more than earnt his stripes. I do understand I have a massive bias due to our shared exploits on the Amazon but, hey, what can you do?
2. - sometime expedition partner of Mike and likes to mix it up between polar expeditions and 8000m peaks. Like Mike - hard man.
3. - before going all "Hollywood" with Expedition Africa and Last Man Standing (kidding!) Benedict just went massively hardcore in South America, PNG and Borneo among other places. He actually manages a pretty descent explanation of modern day explorers too. I want crocodile pattern scars so bad!
4. - this chap is the real deal. In an era of pretenders, Wong is a shining light. While he has confined most of his expeditions to China he has accomplished much and is considered his country's greatest living explorer. Not bad to be number one amongst 1.3 billion eh?
5. - What can I say about this nutter? Almost 700 days and counting now! Ed and Cho have been hacking their way through the Amazon for so long now I wonder how Ed is going to handle being back in the UK! Not quite in the same league (experience wise) as the other 4 but I am really enjoying Ed's trials and his determination.
I know, I know - I'm crazy. I left out so and so. How could I forget whatshisname? Sorry Ran.
Talk about a can of worms post!!
A couple more:
- Karl Bushby – for the same reasons you picked Ed Stafford
- Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Edwin Collins – without doubt the greatest adventure / expedition / journey in the history of man
- Heinz Stucke –
- Helen Skelton – the first person to ever paddle the whole length of the Amazon!! Solo!! And Unsupported!!
Helen Skelton ? Are you kidding? I don’t think solo and unsupported means “there will be four men on the other boat – producer, cameraman, doctor and fixer – watching me all the time” .
It a big challenge what she is doing, but all the thing about the solo paddling world record in the media just pisses me off. I hardly believe she hadn’t heard about Freya.
Hey Marin,
Its cool! Inside joke between me and Al. Trust me, I feel your pain! I am sure Freya is not to stoked about the whole thing either.
Hehe
, OK, Alastair looks like a nice fellow, I don’t want to spoil this image 
.
Just two more:
- Sir Edmund Percival Hillary
- Tenzing Norgay
for ‘that mountain’
How about this guy:
Amyr Klink:
He crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 100 days on his own by rowing a small boat with his arms in 1984 from Africa to the state of Bahia in Brazil.
He has circumnavigated the Antarctic continent on his own, in 79 days.
He did a trip around the world through a maritime path that had never been explored before: the Arctic Circle.
Hi Mark
Ever heard of a guy called Riaan Manser. Google him his exploits are also quite cool and definitly solo and unassisted.
Cheers
Ja, Riaan is hardcore! Followed him all around Africa and on his more recent kayak expedition round the big ol’ island. Def. up there with the best, easily.
+1 to Amyr Klink!
I love Africa recently went to the Kruger and was not a disappointed. Loving this blog keep it up