THE LONELY SNOW LEOPARD
Getting into the spirit of adventure for 2016, the Welsh Year of Adventure, Luke Owain Boult speaks with Ash Dykes, the first person to walk across Mongolia, about his current attempt to be the first to walk across Madagascar.
“On average, I cover around 13-15 miles each day but can sometimes hit 20 plus miles if the conditions are good,” starts Ash Dykes, from Old Colwyn in Clwyd. “I walk for around 10-12 hours each day. On occasion, I’ve been forced to skip meals as rations are low. Those are the toughest days as it’s hard to muster the energy to carry on.” And yet he does.
At the age of 19 Ash jumped on a plane to explore the unexplored, and has since cycled the length of Vietnam, trekked the Himalayas, walked across Mongolia and more. Named the UK Adventurer of 2015, Ash is currently traversing the entire length of Madagascar, a whopping 1800 mile long expedition across mountains, jungles and deserts in a country over twice the size of the UK. From the southern tip of Cap Sainte Marie to the northern point of Cap D’Ambre, Ash will need to be aware of everything from crocodiles to malaria, which he just recovered from, as he raises awareness for the Lemur Conservation Network and Madagascar’s unique natural beauty.
“Mentally, I tell myself to expect the worst in every scenario,” continues Ash. “Physically, I train hard. It takes a lot of motivation to keep going but it’s something I’m truly passionate about. Before leaving for Madagascar I trained for three hours daily. This involved Muay Thai and body weight training as my feeling is if I can handle my own body weight, it should prepare me for almost anything”.
All of Ash’s hard work and training has certainly been a help, and inspirationally, it seems to have allowed him to continue where others would have likely turned back. “The biggest stopper has been catching malaria. At first I mistook it for heat exhaustion and soon enough I was in a bad way and was rushed to the nearest city for urgent medical attention. Luckily it was caught in time and I’ve made a full recovery but it was touch and go for a while. That really made me question a lot of things.”
Living in such a rich and vibrant world, I wondered why he had chosen Madagascar to be the location of his latest adventure, and what drives him in general. “I search for the places that very few people talk about and that I know very little about so I learn and share stories that might otherwise never be told. With Madagascar, I knew it would be a very unique experience given the number of endemic species and I’m extremely proud to partner with the Lemur Conservation Network to help raise awareness for the lemurs, rainforests and other wildlife in Madagascar. My previous adventures have always inspired me to move onto the next. The reward of succeeding always outweighs the dark times and makes me want to seek new challenges. It’s very humbling to witness and be part of other cultures and see how they live in remote and often extreme environments. It’s the physical and mental challenge combined with a passion for exploration and learning about the world we live in.”
Undertaking a journey that many would be envious of, Ash revealed the highlights of his expedition. “One of the biggest highlights would be today. I saw four different species of lemur as well as endemic frogs and plants whilst visiting the Ranamafana national park. I also stumbled across a coastal community where it was the first time some of the youngsters had ever seen a white person – that was pretty special. I was surprised by how diverse Madagascar is. It’s incredible to be walking one day in desolate and arid regions to then be surrounded by forest, plantations and vegetation. It really is a beautiful thing to experience at a walking pace.”
I wanted to know what made Ash so determined and how he kept his spirits up. “We all lack motivation from time to time but you have to make sure you’re disciplined. This is what will keep you going and it will all be worth it in the end. When I want to unwind, sometimes I’ll play some travel tunes, relax and drift back thinking about earlier expeditions, travels and memories. This also really helps to motivate me and makes me realise how far I’ve come. I believe we learn best by first-hand experience so I’ve always been focused on self-improvement and been quite disciplined with it. I’d say I come from a pretty driven family too which helps. I have many mantras, and one that inspires me through the hard times is ‘the further your journey takes you, the more dangers you will encounter’. The more you dare, the more you win!”
Before travelling to Madagascar, Ash became the first person in the world to complete a solo and unsupported walk across Mongolia, facing blizzards, sandstorms, dehydration, extreme heat and cold, wolves, snakes, and loneliness, all while pulling a 120kg trailer filled with provisions and equipment he’d need to survive. Ash completed the 1500 mile trek in just 78 days, and was dubbed ‘The Lonely Snow Leopard’ by locals.
“Sometimes it got to me,” says Ash about the loneliness in Mongolia. “Especially after being with the locals who were so kind and hospitable – it was hard leaving them and not knowing how many days it would be before seeing another person. Other times I’d embrace it and tell myself it’s rare to cover such distance over land and be far away from humans for a long time – so enjoy it, as it won’t last forever.”
Having only recently celebrated his 25th birthday, Ash has accomplished more than many do in a lifetime. I wanted to know where he saw himself in 25 years’ time. ”Big question! I’d like to be the face of adventure and an inspiration to those also wanting to push themselves and help good causes. Only time will tell, but if nothing else I hope to have many more world firsts racked up.”
“There is so much incredible work being done to save the wildlife, protect and regrow the rainforest and educate locals in Madagascar,” says Ash when asked if there was anything he felt the world should know following his travels. “I’ve been visiting different conservationists and I’m amazed by the dedication and passion that goes into these causes that help this country. One thing that really sticks with me is that although there’s endangered species that need protecting, there are still new wildlife discoveries being made on an almost weekly basis.”
Ash Dykes is an inspiration and encapsulates the spirit of adventure that the country will be celebrating in the coming year, and you can track his remarkable progress through Madagascar on his website. He is proof that all manner of exciting adventures await, and they all begin with a simple step out of your front door.
Ash Dykes, Info: www.ashdykes.com
The Lemur Conservation Network, Info: www.lemurconservationnetwork.org