Ash Dykes was nominated as a National Adventurer of the Year when he broke world record after he walked across Mongolia unsupported. We’re so proud to have Ash on board as Tinggly ambassador.
It took him 78 days to walk solo from Mongolia’s westernmost city Ulgii to the easternmost – Choibalsan. The length between two points is 2295 km (1426 miles). Ash had to climb through Altai mountains, face hot Gobi Desert sun and experience infinite Mongolia Steppe. An expedition was expected to take 90 days, but he made it faster! He was pulling 120 kg cart to carry all his clothes, food and other travel gear. Local were calling him ‘The Lonely Snow Leopard’ as Ash escaped wild dogs and wolves attacking him while he was sleeping alone in the wilderness.
For sure there are things to learn from such an endeavour and great example of determination! So we decided to make a short interview with Ash.
What are the essentials of proper long journey planning? What can we learn from you when planning our ordinary vacation or trip for shorter period of time?
Well – I have always been a big believer in not planning too much, it’s an adventure and you can sometimes put yourself off by over planning and over thinking things. All my previous adventures had seen me going across countries with the absolute bare minimum, for example – cycling over 1000 miles across Vietnam and Cambodia with not even a pump or puncture repair kit!
With the Mongolia expedition that I recently undertook however, this was different – a small error could have proved fatal, especially with the water points through the Gobi Desert. I had to plan a lot with this, it took 14 months, to plan and train all together.
Travelling alone for 78 days is a tough challenge. When it was the hardest time when walking in Mongolia? How do you motivate yourself to move on? What you do when you feel down?
The three different terrains I faced (Altai Mountains, Gobi Desert and Steppe) all offered their own unique challenges, the snow blizzards, wolves and steepness of the Mountains in the Altai. The extreme heat, sandstorms and lack of water in the Gobi Desert, the storms’, navigation and snakes in the Steppe.
The toughest of these three, was the Gobi Desert, my wheels kept sinking into the sand, making it extremely difficult to pull 120kg through it, I also suffered extremely bad from dehydration, slipped into heat exhaustion and was very fast going into heat stroke, I was convinced at that time, that if I didn’t continue – I would have died.
I would motivate myself in many ways, I didn’t want to fail, I had a few people tell me it wasn’t possible, so this always stayed in my mind and pushed me forward, sometimes – I didn’t have a choice, it was a very low budget and old school expedition, so my back-up was the cheapest available in which it would take 2 – 3 days before someone could reach me.
You were all alone almost all the time. But there we times when you met people. What you have learned when dealing with locals? What can you share with the readers that they can learn from you next time they go on a trip in a foreign country?
Yes – I came across small settlements, cities and local Nomads along the way. The locals are so incredibly hospitable and friendly, although there was a huge language barrier – we would always go to the effort to try and understand each other, we would always smile, respect and learn about each other. I have been dealing with locals all over for the past 5 years and for me – there’s nothing better than experiencing the way the locals live and in different parts of the world.
Do you have some tips on how to be safe when travelling? You’ve met strangers, somebody even robbed you. I mean not everyone can learn Muay Thai to protect themselves.
This topic can often stress people out too much; I would say be aware and stay vigilant.
I was approached by local Nomads, who were so friendly, I had all my gear still on the outside of my tent, in which one of them slid my solar panel under my tent when I wasn’t looking, then came back for it later that night when I was asleep. There was no aggression involved.
I let my guard slip, but – I had a great evening nevertheless and cracked on the next day with a back up.
Correct – I do know my Muay Thai, hopefully I should never need to use it, but I suppose it’s always there should things turn nasty!
Who are the bigger threat: people or wildlife animals like wolves and dogs?
In a lot of countries, it is often the people, it depends where you are and what state the country is in at that time. However – with Mongolia, there was never any threat from the people towards me, they were just welcoming throughout the expedition and wanted to help in any way they could. The wildlife I had to keep an eye on, I was told I would be attacked by the wolves and often the semi-wild dogs guard dogs would get too close for comfort. There were also the snakes, I came across a good amount.
Long expeditions are not about gourmet food. But there are times when we want something to indulge. What food did you like best and what was the most uncommon to you in Mongolia? You were eating and buying food from the nomads, right?
I actually took along with me, 5.5 weeks’ worth of dehydrated ration packs; I didn’t take enough and lost 10kg of weight! These ranged from Chicken Tikka Massala, spaghetti bolognaise and similar, I was only taking in 1,600 calories a day, which is very poor. I messed up on a big stretch and didn’t have any money on me to buy snacks, so became extremely hungry.
My favourite meal of the ration packs were the Chicken Tikka ones, my favourite local food, was the Mongolian Traditional Khuushuur.
You were pulling cart for almost three months. So you are the best expert in light packing. What are the tips for packing light? How to know what we will need and what will be just excess in weight?
Many people like to take their home comforts with them, on this expedition – there was no choice, I had to take only the things that were beneficial, in order to keep the weight to a minimum. I carried food, water, gasoline, cooking equipment, sleeping equipment, filming equipment, clothing and protective gear. If you’re looking at an item and you have to think about whether or not you need it, then you probably don’t.
We all have our own battles to fight. Sitting in the office or walking solo in Mongolia. Tell us a bit the skills or hacks you have learned during your travelling that can be used on the daily basis by ordinary people?
I have found, with all adventures or work that I have done, there has always been a purpose or a goal involved, this drives the human being. We strive to succeed and improve, in whatever field we’re in, it’s about staying focused and determined to see it through and continue to climb “the ladder”. The biggest strength I think that can see you through many battles and difficult times is being and staying enthusiastic, this has helped me many of times with whatever it is I’m doing.
Whats next, Ash? What’s on your thoughts? What next challenge awaits you?
I’m now planning my next big adventure which is another world first expedition, I will be announcing this very soon. Those wanting to follow, please visit my website www.ashdykes.com
I’m also leading two expeditions in Mongolia on July 2015; do contact me if you’re interested in joining a two week trek in Northern Mongolia!