Mahaweli Challenge

Having never set foot in a canoe or kayak before, I am setting off at the end of August to hike and paddle the longest river in Sri Lanka from source to sea. With a length of 208 miles (335 km) the Mahaweli Ganga or Great Sandy River is a similar length to the Londons River Thames. The journey will take me, and my inflatable kayak named Challenge, through many of Sri Lankas landscapes.

Beginning at the country'third highest peak  -Totapola Kanda. I will travel through tea plantations to the ancient kingdom of Kandy before joining the boundary lines of little visited national parks that are home to leopards and elephant. Eventually I will reach the island's east coast and the Bay of Bengal just south of Trincomalee. Always interested in making each adventure as different from the one before as possible, I will be attempting his descent with a teammate, Kerim Morris, fellow adventurer and blogger, engineer (and former coffee shop manager).

London Adventure team going to Base Camp Festival & Microadventure

Hello people, a few of us from London are going to the Base Camp Festival and we thought why not make a trip of it! So the idea is for us to rent a car/people carrier and escape London Thursday night, find somewhere awesome and wild to micro adventure and hopefully find a lake/river on route Friday to take a dip explore somewhere new and then head to the festival in relaxed style with a like minded group.

We can sort out times for coming home Sunday once we've got the group sorted unless we all decide to take the Monday off and do a day in Snowdonia or something similar.... We will be renting a vehicle so costs will be split equally and if you can drive that might make life easier for us all. This is a great chance to meet new like mined people, and keep the cost to the festival nice and cheap, we all know us adventure types are always stink! AND have an adventure getting to the adventure! FEW! If you've got any questions please drop me a email or tweet me! Russ russell79smith@gmail.com @Hikebikerun2014

Best Resources to help plan an expedition?

Dear Fellow Explorers Adventurers,

I was hoping you could point me in the right direction for quality resources to help plan and execute a full scale 2-3 week expedition?

A bit vague I know but a steer in the right direction would be much appreciated.

Many Thanks,

Gregor

Across the Alaskan Tundra

Married couple, early 30s. One 100% Belgian, the other prefers to be referred to as Earthling (but has to write down in official documents Belgian/Mexican). First time home owners playing Bob the builder since the last 4 years during most of the holidays and available spare time. Both photography aficionados, sharing life with two cats and two Alaskan Malamutes. We have created a blog/journal (http://acrossthealaskantundra.wordpress.com/)to keep a record of the preparation for this once in a lifetime journey: A trip to the Arctic for a trek of about 150 km across the Alaskan Tundra guided by Joe Henderson and his amazing team of Alaskan Malamutes. (We are not that brave to do it just on our own ;) ) At the same time we will be raising funds not only for the expedition, but also for the Alaskan Malamute Club of Belgium and Malamute Matters, with the main aim to help dogs in need.

For this purpose, we have created Chip in packages: Minimum Chip in amount: EUR 1 Chip in as of EUR 10 or more - Shout Out on our Blog. And the satisfaction you are helping dogs in need. Estimated delivery: immediate Chip in EUR 25 or more -Shout Out on our Blog. The satisfaction you are helping dogs in need, and a photo of your name(s) written in snow (sent via email). Estimated delivery: July 2015 Create your own reward -Woo Woo! Get that creative juices flowing and suggest any reward you want in exchange for a fair contribution.Let us perform an interesting task, either during training or during the expedition. Whatever the world is your playground!(Disclaimer alert: However, we as the trip owners can either accept or reject your request). We hope you join us, whether reading, commenting, re-posting and/or donating (donations can be done via PayPal using the donate button on our blog)

Johan Tessa "

The Pan-American Rally

Dearest Adventurers,

I come to you now, asking you to join me in 2015 for the first annual Pan-American Rally. This is a new take off an old idea. The expedition, if you choose to join us, will be to drive small cars and motorcycles the entire length of the Americas, for charity.Ever heard of the Mongol Rally? If not, check out The Adventurists great work at theadventurists.com. I participated in the event in 2011 and fell in love. After much deliberation, and attempting to join in the great work they do, I have decided to create my own. Just as big, just as ridiculous.Starting June 14, 2015 brave explorers and their idiot friends, will set off from the crossroads of America, Freedom, Indiana, USA and head south. The eventual finish line will be Buenos Aires, Argentina. Each team will be responsible for raising $1000 for the official charity, Reforest Patagonia.

This is not an intelligent rally to attempt. This will not be easy. This will be extraordinarily dangerous. This could kill you. But if you're like me, and you're not a afraid to get a little dirt in your eye every once in a while, I ask you to join us. This could be the greatest thing you have ever done.Ask any questions you may have.

Michael Waterford is my name. Email: Info@TheMountainFolk.com.

See more at www.TheMountainFolk.com.Yours in Philanthropic Adventurey Goodness,The Mountain Folk Adventure Series - Freedom Exploited.

1000 Mile Unsupported Walk

I want to grab this summer by the nuts.

The plan is to do an unsupported solo walk, the distance of 1000 miles. Ideally the trek would be in a temperate climate. I qualify unsupported as having no direct assistance from start to finish apart from with a water supply.

I imagine pulling a sled with wheels to be the most appropriate means to carry the gear and I hope to raise awareness for a charity during the event. Does anyone have any suggestions, ideas, thoughts or comments?

patrickdavis89@msn.com

Mont Blanc

So I'm about to set off on the biggest adventure of my life. Some people out there belittle Mont Blanc as adventure tourism. At times I feel like I shouldn't be allowed to climb it, the media finding experts to damn the guides and the tourists who crawl all over the mountain like inexperienced ants - leaving me feeling like some sort of gullible tourist parasite. But then I satisfy myself with the fact that this world and all it's dangerous, beautiful places belong to all of us and when we are in these places, and our bellies dance with fear and awe and we are at one with Mother Nature, adventures belong to us and we are free to nourish our souls with them. I am female, British and 46 years old.

I spend my spare time in the wild vastness of Britain. My spirit thrives there alongside my soulmate Richard. We have wild camped next to cliffs in Orkney and tarns in the Lake District. We have traversed beautiful snow ridges in Glen Coe and ice climbed gullies on Helvellyn. We've walked the 3 peaks of Yorkshire and climbed the ice walls in Kinlochleven. We've kayaked in sea lochs and coasteered into the ocean at Cornwall. Just for fun, to feel insignificant and like a kid - we have loved adventure for the past 9 years together.

In May this year, we climbed the infamous Napes Needle from Wasdale, full of amazement at topping out, Richard took a box out of his chalk bag and proposed to me on the shoulder - incredible and amazing. I said yes of course! So now we are 12 days away from our trip to Mont Blanc and the butterflies are fluttering in my stomach - that familiar excitement and fear that comes from doing what we love. Do I deserve to be on that mountain? Hell yes. I know I am getting on a bit and I have tendonitis that's giving me gip and I've never climbed in the Alps so I am nervous mostly about being too slow. But I have a Scottish Winter pedigree and true British grit that will see me to that summit. Fingers crossed.

Comparison of the Best Camping Mats

A comparison of all the different types of camping mat and sleeping pad: Foam roll mats, self-inflating pads and inflatable mattressesComplete with detailed comparison tables listing the sizes, weights and costs so you can make an informed choice between them all.

http://thenextchallenge.org/camping-mats/