EPISODE 9 - DIMITRI KIEFFER

Guest: DIMITRI KIEFFER

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In episode 9 we hear from a titan of human powered adventure, Dimitri Kieffer. Dimitri is possibly the most adventurous employee Microsoft ever had!

He is currently embarking on an epic expedition circumnavigating the globe by human power alone. Nexus Expedition began in February of 2005 at Knik Lake in Alaska. Dimitri competed in the Iditarod Invitational Race, traveling 1,100 miles in 37 days by foot and snowshoe from Knik Lake to Nome.

To this day, Dimitri has covered 24,215 kilometers (15,414 miles) from Anchorage, Alaska to Tala Bay, Aqaba (Jordan).

At first, trekking, swimming, skiing and rowing across Alaska, the Bering Strait and Chukotka (Russia).

Then cycling in company of his wife Gulnara Kieffer through Far Eastern Russia, Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran. Dimitri then kayaked across the Strait of Hormuz from Iran to Oman and cycled further across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

As of December 1st 2017, Dimitri is working with the Jordanian and Egyptian authorities to secure permissions to kayak across the Red Sea from Jordan to Egypt and cycle towards the southwestern coast of Africa, where the row across the Atlantic Ocean will begin.

Take a listen. Get inspired. Form your own plan. And go for it!

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Show Notes

Intro
Rapid response questions
Journey into adventure
Ultramarathons and adventure racing
Borneo Adventure Race - http://www.sabahadventurechallenge.com/
Becoming the first non South African to finish the 2300km month long ‘Freedom Challenge’ adventure race - http://freedomchallenge.org.za/
Dimitri’s toughest race - 50 competitors, only 2 finishers
True isolation - 30 days to the nearest person
BBC documentary - walking and swimming the Bering Strait with ex-paratrooper Karl Bushby - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlRgHZu-Tkw&list=PLEOb18KS9xQfyuJo7-2vOfdVA8AkR5m-x

Photo credit: Karl Bushby

Karl Bushby - walking 36,000 miles around the world from Chile back to England - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/humber/4872348.stm
5,000km by foot through Alaska and Russia
Travelling the Stans
The bureaucratic nightmare of obtaining visas in the Middle East
Crossing the Red Sea by kayak
Why do this by human power?
The legendary hospitality of the Stans

Photo credit: Saber Moster Alyami

Detained for 55 days in Russia upon arrival
Travelling in Russia
The effect of population density
A close call whilst pulling a sled, completely alone through the Russian Arctic
What would you do differently next time?
Advice for those embarking on a big trip
The key to getting sponsorship
Adventuring with a partner
The Tartars - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatars
What do you do for fun other than adventuring?
Favourite documentaries

River Blue -

http://riverbluethemovie.eco/

I Am Not Your Negro -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNUYdgIyaPM

Proof of Loyalty -

http://proofofloyalty.com/

Causes close to Dimitri’s heart

International Rescue Committee (IRC) -

https://www.rescue.org/

OXFAM -

https://www.oxfam.org/

Dimitri’s amazing photo collection on Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/nexusexpeditions/sets
One second per day in Iran - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=857M8vkjcTE
Dimitri’s heroes

Fedor Konyukhov -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fedor_Konyukhov

Aleksander Doba -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksander_Doba

Jason Lewis -

http://www.jasonexplorer.com/

Erden Eruç -

http://www.around-n-over.org/projects.htm#6SP

Sarah Outen -

http://www.sarahouten.com/

Julie and Colin Angus -

https://angusadventures.com/

Are heroes born or made?

BBC DOCUMENTARY - CROSSING THE BERING STRAIT

About the Author

George Beesley

Adventurer & Founder of Call To Adventure

George just bloody loves a bit of adventure! Imagine someone who not only hikes up mountains for breakfast but also bikes across continents. Got a case of wanderlust? This guy's been to over 50 countries and comes back with stories that'll make your grandma want to go bungee jumping.