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April 19, 2010
You Are a Wimp Compared To: Ed Stafford - 15
Outdoor Life correspondent Gayne Young looks to the past and the present to find the outdoor personalities that prove just how wimpy the rest of us really are.  As of this writing Ed Stafford is on day 745 of walking the length of the Amazon River. Yes, walking. And for those of you that are math challenged – such as I am - 741 days is a little more than two years. What have I done in the last two years? Other than spend about 2 months on hold with my internet provider, watched several days worth of Jonny Quest reruns with my kids, and cut my life expectancy through excessive beer consumption, pretty much nothing. Stafford began his journey in April 2008 and if all goes as planned, in August of this year he will be the first person to successfully walk the length of the second largest river on Earth from source to sea. One of Stafford’s stated goals of the expedition was, “To create an adventure so exciting that it can be used to make people feel that they have a connection to the Amazon.” He has done that as well as raise money for several charities through his website. Followers of his adventure have read of Stafford’s encounters with indigenous jungle tribes (some of which have threatened his life), leeches, swarming insects, snakes, and jungle rot. He’s traversed through pools of electric eels the size of his thigh, watched his native guide chop an anaconda to feed to his dogs, eaten fried turtle liver and the head of something resembling a raccoon, and done all of this while some days burning upwards of 6,000 calories while eating only 3,000. Although Stafford has walked the majority of his journey on occasion he has had to float across flooded areas utilizing an inflatable raft he carries on his person. Through GPS and satellite communication he is able to be resupplied at designated locations. These areas are also where he picks up the occasional journalist or photographer to accompany him on smaller stretches of his trip. Having hunted the rain forests of Papua New Guinea and the jungles of Mexico, I can attest that the jungle can be one nasty place. I can’t imagine spending two years in it let alone walking more than 4,000 miles through it. I doubt many people could. |
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Comments (15)
741 days? I say he has earned his badass badge.
As a former Grunt (Infantry, for the uninformed), I personally had ENOUGH walking while Uncle Sam was paying me!! I must be getting OLD, because this stroll sounds like FUN at FIRST, but THEN I remember how much FUN it was hiking with a heavy pack...Think I'll sit THIS one OUT!!
I agree with Charlie Elk. I could do this, but why would I want to?
On another note, Lewis and Clarke were not alone. As I recall, they leaned heavily on several native american tribes in order to ensure success.
I will take nothing away from the man. I have spent some time in swamps, with a ruck, with little food, and it was miserable. The guy is tough alright.
It's not Lewis and Clark. It's Ed Stafford. And if he has had the same guide the whole trip then he deserves the same amount of credit that Ed is getting! Way to go! That is one trip I will not me making myself.
That does not sound like fun
hes not lewis and clark.
You go English! Check out Ed's webpage. It's him and a guide walking - that's it. No camera crew
how is this dude not tough...he is WALKING the second largest river in the world! hes not just sippin bubblie on a boat down the river he is walking it! yes there are camera crews how else they gonna document it and yes there are doctors; if an electric eel the size of your thigh attacks well i would want at least one doctor on hand.
sorry this guy is not alone have you seen these survivor shows they have camera crews doctors and gps locators.this guy is no tough guy.
Could I? Oh yeah if I didn't have to raise my 4 kids!! Would I??? Maybee if they transplanted whitetail,elk & mule deer thats my passion. But more power to ed I dont understand his motives but respect his drive & heart for what ever his intentions are. imagine the women he gets by being the new guy in the village opps did I just write that.... & imagine how many villages he stops in threw his trip I think I figured out where the 6,000 calories are really going ;-) & no wonder why jungle men threaten him :-)
Thank you for bringing Ed Stafford to our attention (those of us who had never heard of him). This is great stuff. Keep it coming!
After you have taught roomfuls of hormonal teenagers day in and day out for 20 years, a stroll down the Amazon sounds like a cake walk! :) Just kidding! Seriously, Ed is awesome! I will be excited to see when he completes the trip. I hope he writes a book.
Dude, I'm a wimp.
You can't fathom that no one has made this trek before??? Did you just read the article? Leeches, snakes and jungle tribes that want to kill him. You're the man Ed.
This undertaking is unbelievable. It is hard to fathom that no one has made this trek before, but I'm really glad someone is doing it. Best of luck Ed!
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After you have taught roomfuls of hormonal teenagers day in and day out for 20 years, a stroll down the Amazon sounds like a cake walk! :) Just kidding! Seriously, Ed is awesome! I will be excited to see when he completes the trip. I hope he writes a book.
It's not Lewis and Clark. It's Ed Stafford. And if he has had the same guide the whole trip then he deserves the same amount of credit that Ed is getting! Way to go! That is one trip I will not me making myself.
You can't fathom that no one has made this trek before??? Did you just read the article? Leeches, snakes and jungle tribes that want to kill him. You're the man Ed.
Dude, I'm a wimp.
Thank you for bringing Ed Stafford to our attention (those of us who had never heard of him). This is great stuff. Keep it coming!
Could I? Oh yeah if I didn't have to raise my 4 kids!! Would I??? Maybee if they transplanted whitetail,elk & mule deer thats my passion. But more power to ed I dont understand his motives but respect his drive & heart for what ever his intentions are. imagine the women he gets by being the new guy in the village opps did I just write that.... & imagine how many villages he stops in threw his trip I think I figured out where the 6,000 calories are really going ;-) & no wonder why jungle men threaten him :-)
how is this dude not tough...he is WALKING the second largest river in the world! hes not just sippin bubblie on a boat down the river he is walking it! yes there are camera crews how else they gonna document it and yes there are doctors; if an electric eel the size of your thigh attacks well i would want at least one doctor on hand.
You go English! Check out Ed's webpage. It's him and a guide walking - that's it. No camera crew
I agree with Charlie Elk. I could do this, but why would I want to?
On another note, Lewis and Clarke were not alone. As I recall, they leaned heavily on several native american tribes in order to ensure success.
I will take nothing away from the man. I have spent some time in swamps, with a ruck, with little food, and it was miserable. The guy is tough alright.
This undertaking is unbelievable. It is hard to fathom that no one has made this trek before, but I'm really glad someone is doing it. Best of luck Ed!
That does not sound like fun
As a former Grunt (Infantry, for the uninformed), I personally had ENOUGH walking while Uncle Sam was paying me!! I must be getting OLD, because this stroll sounds like FUN at FIRST, but THEN I remember how much FUN it was hiking with a heavy pack...Think I'll sit THIS one OUT!!
741 days? I say he has earned his badass badge.
sorry this guy is not alone have you seen these survivor shows they have camera crews doctors and gps locators.this guy is no tough guy.
hes not lewis and clark.
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