Explorers Connect

Traversing Madagascar

CommunityBelinda KirkComment

A North Wales explorer recently crowned the UKs adventurer of the year via the public vote, has exclusively revealed his next world-first challenge.Ash Dykes, from Old Colwyn, will attempt the first solo walk from north to south across Madagascar, scaling the country's five highest peaks on the way.

The 24-year-old, who became the first to walk the breadth of Mongolia solo last year, will try to be the first to complete a solo ascent of Maromokotro, the largest mountain on the island at 2,876m. Apart from the desert, jungle and mountainous terrain he will face on his trek across the worlds fourth largest island,Ash could also come up against some rather unpleasant inhabitants - the local crocodiles.He said: You have got some nasty diseases out there, but the crocs are the big things to look out for.I will be walking by rivers a lot, so I don't want to get trapped between a river and one of those boys.The trek, which will start in September from Cap d'Ambre in the north and go to Cap Sainte Marie in the south, is expected to last four months.