Mission possible
At the age of just 26 explorer and author Ash Dykes has done more than most of us will achieve in a lifetime. He explains where it all started
Madagascar and Mongolia with adventurer Ash Dykes
How did you first get into exploring? Was there one key experience that made you think, ‘This is what I want to do with my life’?
From a young age, I was always curious about the world, travel and adventure. I’d hear stories and this would fuel me to want to create my own stories. I just felt that it might not be possible – as the normal route is continuing your education through university.
It was when I was 17 and in college, studying an outdoor education course that I started focusing more on making something happen. The rest of the students were looking into university and the military, whilst I was researching what job I could get that would provide me with the best opportunity to save money and leave.
I found work as a lifeguard, sold my car, bought a bicycle and cycled the 16 miles to work every day, working 240 hours per month. I was saving a lot of money at this point, whilst planning my travel and gaining my scuba diving qualification, hoping to work abroad whilst travelling.
At the age of 19, I set off for China with a friend, and while this was just incredible, after a month, I found I was very much on the beaten track and decided to mix things up. Due to us wanting an adventure and the shoestring budget we were both on, we decided to purchase the cheapest bicycles we could find and cycle Cambodia and the length of Vietnam. It was quite a reckless cycle – with no gears, suspension, helmets, pumps or puncture repair kit and only two minutes on Google planning the route – we set off.
We were hit by mopeds, dodged by lorries, chased by dogs, cycled 39 hours straight during one stint, but after 1,130 miles and the bikes breaking 17 times between them – we made it. This was the catalyst to all the adventures to come. I was hooked and didn’t want to stop… so I didn’t.
I crossed through the jungle from Thailand to Myanmar and learnt how to survive thanks to a Burmese hill tribe. I trekked the Himalayas, cycled a part of Australia, hitchhiked and much more, before settling down as a scuba diving instructor and Muay Thai fighter in Thailand for the next two years.
You’ve completed amazing treks across Mongolia and Madagascar. What was the scariest moment on each trip? Did you ever think that you wouldn’t make it?
Whilst trekking Mongolia, I faced a number of challenges. I was hit by snow blizzards, sand storms and was told by the locals that I’d be eaten alive by the grey wolves hunting up ahead of me. But the scariest moment in Mongolia was when I ran really low on water. I had been walking alone for weeks in the Gobi Desert and was now suffering severely with heat exhaustion and dehydration. It was 40C, with no breeze and no shade and I found myself hallucinating and became quite delirious. I would hide from the sun underneath the 120kg trailer I was pulling behind me. It was at this point I realised that if I didn’t keep getting up and pushing on, I could quite easily die. I broke my goals down and decided to walk 100 metres and rest for five minutes under the trailer. I continued to do this for four days until I made it to a nearby settlement where I was off the radar for seven days trying to recover before pushing on.
In Madagascar, there were even more obstacles, from crocodileinfested rivers and bandits, to being held at gunpoint by the military, trekking the highest mountains on the island in the cyclone season, and hacking through almost impenetrable jungle whilst being eaten alive by the leeches. But the scariest thing about this expedition was when I almost lost my photographer on a night time river crossing during the cyclone season. Or perhaps it was when I contracted the deadliest strain of malaria and had to get to a nearby settlement and from there to a city – potentially hours from slipping into a coma. Fortunately I made a full recovery after taking the right medication and was able to complete the expedition.
You inspire many young people, who inspires you?
I’d say I’m inspired by many different individuals from many different walks of life, people who achieve great things, people who are motivated, who go out and do something regardless of the odds being stacked against them. I like to take inspiration from all of this and more, then try to apply it to what I do.
What led to you getting involved with the charity Malaria No More?
Once I had made a full recovery from malaria, I couldn’t help but notice just how many other people were suffering from the disease. It devastates lives, rips families apart
I was hit by blizzards, sand storms and told by the locals that I’d be eaten alive by the grey wolves hunting up ahead
and prevents people from working or gaining an education.
When I returned from my expedition, I was contacted by Malaria No More UK and I was inspired and amazed at everything they are doing to save lives from malaria. I really wanted to help in any way that I could after experiencing it first hand and witnessing the chaos that this disease causes. I fully stand by what they are doing and believe we can end malaria in our lifetime.
As the “seventh coolest person in Wales” (source: wales Online) what advice do you have for people who want to go on expeditions, but feel constrained by money/a job/time?
I’d say go for it! It’s a big and beautiful world and there is so much to see and do. Sometimes the thought of dropping everything and leaving can be daunting, so what I did was break everything down into small and manageable steps so that it seemed realistic. I’d tick off each step as I went and before I knew it, everything was in place, I was ready to leave and I will never regret the fact that I truly threw myself into it all. I’m 26 and have experienced so much more than I anticipated; I like to think it has developed me in every possible way.
What’s next for you?
I have a lot planned and it’s all starting to snowball – but I can tell you that I’m only just getting started. I’m currently planning my next world first expedition and can’t wait to reveal it, but until then my book
Mission Possible is out, which I’m really excited about. It has everything from all of my previous adventures, how it all began, the motivation and determination behind it all and my two latest world first expeditions across Mongolia and Madagascar. I have many talks coming up in India and China and will be leading a trip for Charity Challenge back to Madagascar.