British explorer and extreme athlete Ash Dykes has announced his upcoming expedition, which includes attempts at three world records. This will add to the three world-firsts he already holds. On Monday, July 15, 2024, Dykes revealed that he will be embarking on his fourth major expedition to Suriname, one of the most unexplored regions and greenest countries in the world.
Suriname, located on the coast of South America, is known for its 94% rainforest and dense jungle, making it one of the last truly wild and pure places on Earth. Dykes will spend 50 days traversing the most unexplored tracts of rainforest left on the planet, while also attempting to scale the country’s two highest peaks and kayak from the source of the Coppename River to the sea. However, the journey will not be without its challenges.
The source of the Coppename River has only ever been mapped by satellite due to the thick jungle canopy, resulting in inaccurate recorded coordinates. Previous attempts by explorers dating back to the 1800s have been unsuccessful due to disease and dangerous wildlife. Dykes is now working with international societies to officially map the source for the first time.
The expedition is being sponsored by Free The Wild, the charity co-founded by global pop-icon and animal advocate, Cher. Dykes and his support team of three will document local wildlife, highlighting the importance of protecting natural environments around the world.
During his journey, Dykes will have to hunt, fish, and gather his own food. At night, he will sleep in a hammock between trees. Carrying around 40kg of equipment, including his inflatable kayak, he will face dangerous and isolated environments inhabited by 20-foot anacondas, electric eels, piranhas, caiman hunting jaguars, and uncontacted indigenous communities.
The 50-day expedition will begin by helicopter, with Dykes jumping into a remote area of the river as there will be nowhere to land. His first world-first attempt will be to ascend the challenging 1280m mountain, almost the same height as Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, in the fastest time ever recorded.
Dykes will then paddle upstream for approximately a week to the base of the country’s second-highest peak, attempting another Guinness World Record for the fastest ascent of the country’s two highest peaks.
The most challenging part of the journey will be locating the true and unmapped source of the Coppename River, followed by a 100km paddle through challenging rapids to Raleigh Falls and eventually reaching the coast. This will mark Dykes’ third world record on this expedition, and his sixth in total, as he becomes the first person to kayak from source to sea on one of the most remote rivers in the world.
Speaking about his upcoming expedition, Dykes said, “This may not be my longest expedition, but it’s set to be my most intense due to the remote and uncharted nature of the area. In case of any emergencies, it will be extremely difficult to find and access us. It’s a journey that will require one hundred percent focus, 24/7. The jungle doesn’t give you time to rest, so my preparation is very intense. It’s going to be a real challenge, but one that I’m excited to take on – it may be one of the last remaining firsts left to claim globally.”
Follow Ash’s daily updates on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn leading up to his departure in September. For more information, visit https://ashdykes.com and https://ashdykes.com/expeditions to learn about Dykes’ previous expeditions. This news story was distributed by Pressat.co.uk.
