Modern-day explorers – top 5

Mark Kalch — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:31:39 +0000

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. Mike Horn - just google to check his resume and credentials. From his solo descent of the Amazon on a hydrospeed, winter north pole crossing 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. Børge Ousland - sometime expedition partner of Mike and likes to mix it up between polar expeditions and 8000m peaks. Like Mike - hard man.

3. Benedict Allen - 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 here too. I want crocodile pattern scars so bad!

4. Wong How Man - 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. Ed Stafford - 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.

Mark Kalch » Børge Ousland

Modern-day explorers – top 5