Ed Stafford is currently WALKING THE AMAZON. He is an expedition leader and friend, who we’re supporting as much as we can on his epic journey. We’re chuffed to bits that Ed has found the time to write a guest blog for us – good luck with everything Ed, we’re behind you 110%!

The “last great feat of exploration”.

If I see the above line again describing an expedition I might just keel over from sheer exasperation.

From circumnavigations to pole attempts, the amount of people claiming to be doing the “very last” expedition before everything is tamed, manicured and utterly explored is comical.

Unlike many I do still think that men and women who brave the elements to drag themselves and their sleds to the poles are explorers. They are pushing back the boundaries of human achievement with every new record attempted and they deserve to be up there with the famous names of yesteryear for their achievements. They are wondrous and inspiring people, who make me want to leap up from the sofa, throw my TV remote vehemently into the waste bin, and attack all my previously unresolved problems with renewed vigour.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m not talking about those who enter organised races across oceans or over icecaps. These men and women, commendable though they are, do fit better in the more generic category of “adventurer”. I’m talking about people who are slowly chipping away at the boundaries of possibility.

I read recently that due to the fact that ocean rowers don’t meet new people or cultures that they shouldn’t be called “explorers”. What?! Such an anthropogenic stance completely ignores pitting oneself against nature and fighting for one’s very survival. If its never been done before – how can it not be exploratory?

Recently I received a nice support message from Sarah Outen. She was at sea for 124 days and in 2009 became the youngest woman to row solo across any ocean. She conceived, organised and conducted the expedition herself and she succeeded. Is she an explorer? Too bloody right she is.

As long as the human brain is free to imagine and dream there will always be new expeditions, new adventures and new world-firsts to be attempted. Lets stop trying to draw a line under each one to pretend it’s the last. As a race we are not nearly as close to completing all that is possible to achieve on this planet as we think.

Long live exploration and all it embodies.

Ed

While the modern conveniences we enjoy are much appreciated by all, they can also tend to box us in and to disconnect us from the natural world around us. For this reason, it is important for everyone to give up their “home comforts” every now and then, have an outdoor adventure for a while and experience the wonders of a world outside of civilization.

1. De-Stress and Rejuvenate

Most people in the 21st Century live very busy lives, replete with responsibilities and constant demands on their time and attention. All of this can add up to serious stress and depletion of energy and positive perspective.

Getting out of the routine trappings of life and into the elements can serve as a natural de-stressor and can help you to replenish yourself by breathing in fresh air and living out in rustic surroundings that allow one to forget about their daily obligations. Living in the dirt, surviving off the land and sleeping out under the stars can help your body to release the toxins that have built up over time and can bring a fresh wave of invigorating life and joy to any man or woman.

2. Gain New Perspective

When you are caught up in the rat race of office politics and amassing creature comforts, you can lose perspective on what is most important in life. When people leave these comforts behind for a time and step out into a rustic setting, their perceptions and values can begin to shift dramatically.

Many people become more spiritual in natural settings than they do in man made surroundings. In addition, most people report that when they have a good outdoor adventure and get ‘back to basics’, they begin to feel their hearts and minds settle to the point where they can ‘hear themselves think’ and cultivate their inner lives instead of focusing primarily on the external trappings of life.

3. Gain Global Awareness

When you leave behind your own culture and comfortable surroundings, you may be shocked and delighted by the wealth of beauty and knowledge that becomes available to you. Each country boasts differing ecosystems, traditions, and geographic distinctives that will expand the horizons of the traveler.

Much of the world lives a great deal more ‘in tune’ with nature than does the average westerner. Experiencing this truth first hand can help men and women to gain a better understanding of how the rest of the world lives. In some cases, individuals will gain compassion for certain tribal groups that do not enjoy the necessities of life. In other cases, travelers will come to understand that many cultures that live basic lives are far richer than western cultures in a multitude of different ways.

Taking time to break out of natural surroundings and have an outdoor adventure can be beneficial for every man and woman on the planet. In fact, it is a necessary part of maintaining a balanced and full life.

A couple of generations ago children were everywhere. Whether they were in a city or not, they explored every inch of their surroundings. They rode bicycles around town, purchased groceries alone for their parents, went on weekend camping trips with no adult supervision, and were not afraid to go anywhere.

Modern parents would be terrified to let their children have that level of freedom. However, this attitude also keeps children from maturing as quickly and keeps the children from gaining independence. Children are statistically fatter and less capable than ever before, and this probably has something to do with it.

The danger to children is not completely imagined. There do seem to be more chances of children getting hurt than in the past. However, this does not mean that they cannot ever explore. Exploring is in the heart of most children, and the ability should be given to them whenever possible. There are several practical ways that children can be allowed to explore safely.

If you live in the country your children have the best chance for exploration. There are fewer people in the country which makes it safer for children. Start slowly. Allow your children to travel perhaps up to half a mile away. You can give them a cell phone in case they get into trouble. If these trips go successfully, then you can allow them to have more freedom. Make sure they pack appropriate supplies such as water and healthy snacks. A compass can be handy for such trips.

Living in the city makes exploration much harder, but it can still be done. Plan family vacations based around exploring and outdoor activities. Most children love such activities as biking, canoeing, hiking, and fishing. You could even plan a family exploration adventure.

At home there are ways to promote exploration in your children as well. Allow them to research different kinds of exploration and camping. Let the children plan what they want to do on their adventure and what they should bring. Parents should make sure they have all necessary supplies, but the children can plan the majority of the trip and supply list. It can be a great learning experience for everyone.

Allowing your children the freedom and independence to explore the world around them will enable them to have more maturity, responsibility, and confidence.

Although this is somewhat hard to back up with hard evidence, it is fair to say that with every square foot of untouched territory we discover as a species, we become more worldly and knowledgeable. Just look at explorers such as Christopher Columbus – without the journey that inevitably ended in the discovery of America, who knows when the country would have ever been found? Discoveries of the past have always served as a catalyst for change and innovation, which is why one should never underestimate the importance of exploration.

Many people think that because we have become so advanced and familiar with the majority of the planet that there is no longer any need to explore. This couldn’t be more false and is extremely unfortunate, as it has caused a bit of lethargy for many people when it comes to heralding new expeditions. The fact is, there are still many areas on the planet that have literally never been touched by human footprints. Thus, it is impossible to make an educated decision as to what we may have to learn from these areas. This is precisely the reason why it is extremely important that we continue to explore, just like in days of old.

If exploration was to stop completely, then it is safe to say that the evolution of our society’s culture would one day (perhaps soon) become stagnant to the point of boring. The notion that there is nothing left on earth to be discovered is depressing to say the least, and can be extremely discouraging. Who knows what interesting discoveries may lay in these areas that we have yet to explore? Perhaps there are elements that are yet unknown by the human race, some of which may even hold the cure for common ailments such as cancer. The problem is, most people dismiss these possibilities as being very small and not worth the risk or money that would be required to field such expeditions.

Fortunately, there are still a fair amount of individuals that believe in the importance of continuous expeditions. Perhaps if we can unify these people into a single, cohesive group, it would be possible to convince the naysayers that exploration still holds an immense amount of importance, no matter who you are or what part of the world you call home.