Aerial view of tiny islands in Micronesia

Where next for the world’s best explorers?

High Life sits down with some of the most intrepid explorers of our time to find out what 2021 has in store for them

01/11/2020

Close-up of a wave crashing gently in Vancouver Island — The rolling Pacific crashes on the shores of the adventure paradise of Vancouver Island (Offset)

Who? Levison Wood, epic walker

Where? Vancouver Island

I haven’t spent this long in one place my entire adult life so I’m not exaggerating when I say I’m looking forward to my next trip, especially having had so many cancelled in recent months. A place that’s been on my mind for a very long time is Vancouver Island. I just want to go and spend some time connected to nature – log cabins, lake swims and long hikes. It’s a bit of a mecca for digital nomads and modern hippies, with a thriving backpacker and arts community these days, and I can imagine myself whiling away a few weeks relaxing with like-minded friends after being locked down in London.

Aerial view of a tiny island in paradise — A Palau rock island (AWL). Opening image: the Republic of Palau archipelago sits in the belt of Micronesia, in the Western Pacific, near New Guinea and the Philippines (Getty Images)

Who? Jill Heinerth, cave diver

Where? Micronesia

I’m very excited to be planning a project in the Federated States of Micronesia. Home to some of the most stunning underwater vistas, this pristine part of the Pacific feels like a world lost in time. Inviting turquoise seas radiate with an intensity that draws you deeper to explore colourful reefs that are resplendent with life. Beneath the surface of these remote coral islands are unexplored caves that have grabbed my attention. I spend much of my life submerged in icy water in Canada, so a trip to the South Pacific will be a breath of fresh, warm air.

The Bear Grylls Explorers Camp in the parched wadi of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE (Murrindie Frew)

Who? Bear Grylls, survivalist and adventurer

Where? UAE

After a year of shifting schedules, I’m finishing up the year by completing the Netflix series You vs Wild in the UAE and Italy and then heading home for Christmas. I am really proud that during one of the most challenging times in decades, we launched the very first Bear Grylls Explorers Camp in Ras Al Khaimah, the northernmost Emirate in the United Arab Emirates. It’s located on the highest peak in region and is a world first for us, with accommodation on-site in the form of recycled containers. In the new world, we must all innovate and be ever more environmentally aware if we are to stay ahead.

Penguins standing on a sheet of ice in Antarctica — King penguins form an orderly huddle on a subantarctic island (Offset)

Who? Dwayne Fields, sub-zero hiker

Where? Antarctica

As an explorer, the most exciting part of any expedition is sharing the stories, experiences and journey with anyone who’ll listen. Hence, the expedition I’m most looking forward to in 2021 sees me and my teammate Phoebe Smith taking 20 young people from underprivileged backgrounds from across Britain on a first-of-its-kind carbon negative expedition to Antarctica under our WeTwo Foundation’s banner. I’m a living example of how the power of adventure and the outdoors can have huge impact in regard to changing lives for the better and I’m excited to see how journeys like the one we have planned to the great white continent can impact the next generation, encouraging them to go out and not just see, but experience the world in a socially and environmentally friendly way.

Fishing boat against a large cliff face in Newfoundland — A ship is dwarfed by the Torngat Mountains in Newfoundland (Offset)

Who? Mark Synnott, mountain climber

Where? Newfoundland

For as long as I can remember I’ve been a huge fan of Bill Tilman, the legendary explorer, mountaineer and sailor who spent the latter part of his life exploring the higher latitudes in his Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter named Mischief. In recent years, I have been following his model and looking for ways to combine my passions for climbing, sailing and exploring. My sailboat, a Stevens 47, is based in Maine, which is the perfect jumping-off point for a voyage to Newfoundland. I climbed and explored on the south coast of Newfoundland in 2011 with Alex Honnold but have never been to the north side of the island. A friend recently gave me a tip that it’s riddled with giant sea cliffs, so the plan is to use the boat as a floating base camp and pioneer some new routes. At the end of the season I’d like to leave the boat up there for the winter, and then pick up where I left off the next season and continue north into Labrador, the Torngats and beyond in 2022.

Icecaps and frozen ice bergs in the Arctic Ocean — A glacier forms an ice cave in the Arctic (Getty Images)

Who? Felicity Aston, solo skier

Where? The Arctic Ocean

The opportunity to ski across the frozen surface of the Arctic Ocean to the North Pole only occurs once a year during the month of April. It’s a mind-bending landscape that is constantly moving under the pressure of wind and ocean currents. The urgency in me to return goes beyond Covid – in as little as five years’ time it might not be possible to ski to the North Pole at all due to the rapid environmental changes taking place in the Arctic. My planned ‘Before It’s Gone’ [BIGnorthpole.com] expedition to ski to the North Pole will be to collect vital information about the sea ice while it’s still there.

A wooden rowing boat navigating its way through the Amazon river and rainforest — A wooden boat cuts through flooded Amazonian forest in Leticia, Colombia (Adobe Stock)

Who? Lee Spencer, rowing Marine

Where? The Amazon

In the August of this year, I hoped to be part of a team of eight wounded and injured servicemen who kayaked the length of the Amazon from Iquitos in Peru to Macapá and the Atlantic coast in Brazil. We wanted to celebrate the centenary of the Not Forgotten association and redefine what people with disabilities can achieve, but Covid has meant postponing the trip until August 2021. That disappointment has now turned to excitement as we start gearing up for what will be the adventure of a lifetime. We’ll be rowing up to ten hours a day in an effort to cover 70km. Our goals will be the same, but we hope to see first-hand how the indigenous communities have been affected by the pandemic.

Mountains and the sea in Chile — Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia embraces mountains, glaciers, lakes and rivers (Getty Images)

Who? Pip Stewart, adventurer

Where? Chile

During my pregnancy, so many people warned us we wouldn’t be able to enjoy adventure travel in the same way. They’re right in some respects but next year my partner Charlie and I are hoping to take our daughter Willow to Patagonia. We’re not planning on any high-altitude outings but will stick to manageable day hikes around Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park to see the towering granite peaks, glaciers, lakes and rivers. There are some gorgeous lakeside yurts we’re hoping to use as a base to explore from. We can’t wait to introduce Willow to the magic of the natural world – the best adventure we could give her.

View of Ama Dablam over Solukhumbu valley in a sunny day, Himalayas, Nepal — Mount Everest dominates the landscape in Nepal (Adobe Stock)

Who? Nims Purja, record-breaking mountaineer

Where? Nepal

As soon as I am able, I’ll be flying to Nepal. I’ve not seen my family, like so many others, for months now and I can’t wait to be reunited with the mountains that also feel so much like home. The climbing community in Nepal has been badly affected by Covid and I’ll be doing everything I can to support my brothers on the ground. If I’m lucky I’ll still get in my annual 11 November remembrance climb of Ama Dablam and I’ll be launching my book there…watch this space.

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Where next for the world’s best explorers?

Who? Levison Wood, epic walker

Where? Vancouver Island

Who? Jill Heinerth, cave diver

Where? Micronesia

Who? Bear Grylls, survivalist and adventurer

Where? UAE

Who? Dwayne Fields, sub-zero hiker

Where? Antarctica

Who? Mark Synnott, mountain climber

Where? Newfoundland

Who? Felicity Aston, solo skier

Where? The Arctic Ocean

Who? Lee Spencer, rowing Marine

Where? The Amazon

Who? Pip Stewart, adventurer

Where? Chile

Who? Nims Purja, record-breaking mountaineer

Where? Nepal

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