Follow extreme bikepacker Cat Jaffee as she competes in the Silk Road Mountain Race - the toughest mountain bike race on the planet. 1,200-miles long, with over 115,000-feet elevation gain, athletes traverse the high mountain passes and remote valleys of Kyrgyzstan for 14 grueling days. Traveling completely unsupported, wild camping along the way, only a handful of riders attempt it and a fraction of those reach the end. 

But the racing is only part of the appeal. For centuries, The Silk Road operated as a network of trading routes connecting China and the Far East with the Middle east and Europe. It was responsible for spreading some of the most important ideas, culture and economics throughout the world and its effects still resonate across the world today. 

The mountains of Kyrgyzstan, which the race passes through, traces one of the central routes of the Silk Road, used by traders and wanderers throughout the Middle Ages, and the nomadic culture which still grazes their sheep in these high alpine pastures today has remained largely since those days. 

It had always been Cat’s dream to bikepack the Silk Road. But on the cusp of that dream coming true she came back from an assignment in Africa to the news that she had contracted malaria, dengue fever and had ovarian cancer. It was devastating news. She spent a year undergoing chemotherapy and Stage 4 cancer treatment. 

Most of us would have given up on the race. Most of us would have struggled to even get out of bed. But Cat kept training throughout it, riding 100s miles each weekend all day and through the night. Then a year later, despite her illness, she found herself on the start line of the toughest mountain bike race in the world. 

This is a story about that adventure, but it’s also a story about the power of determination to beat the odds and follow your dreams no matter what stands in your way. Get ready to ride the Silk Road.

Highlights:

·    Find out what it takes to compete in the toughest mountain bike race in the world

·    Explore the spectacular mountains and ancient culture of Kyrgyzstan’s high mountains

·    Be inspired by Cat’s story of determination and survival in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Cat is also an award-winning podcast producer. Her latest series, Guardians of the River about the Okavango Delta Wilderness Project, which was recorded on location in Angola and Botswana over four months, won the Tribeca Film Festival’s prestigious Best Podcast award. Find out more here: https://www.houseofpod.org/featured-productions/guardians-of-the-river ... Connect directly with Cat on Instagram: @naturevert

Thanks to Wondrium for sponsoring this episode. Wondrium is the new name for The Great Courses Plus, now expanded with more content: documentaries, world-cinema, tv shows and lots of new courses. You can check it all out for free for one month by heading over to www.wondrium.com/armchair

To find out more about the Silk Road Mountain Race go to www.silkroadmountainrace.cc / cover image courtesy @silkroadmountainrace

Follow @armchairexplorer podcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode.

“These are the days in our lives that we remember. It's not all

the days that went so well. It's the days when you're miserable, when

you think you can't go one more step, and then you swear at somebody,

and then you keep going. Those are the days that form our spines. They

have formed my spine.”

- Kris Tompkins

Kris Tompkins has spent a lifetime fighting tooth and nail to protect wild lands. In

1993, she stepped down as CEO of outdoor apparel brand Patagonia, and moved

to the edge of a windswept road-less fjord in the northern end of Patagonian

Chile with her late husband Doug Tompkins (the founder of North Face).

There, they began to dream up one of the most audacious conservation visions

ever conceived. It would culminate, more than 25 years later, in the largest private

land donation in history, the creation of one of the most spectacular national parks

in the world and the launch of the wildest road trip on the planet: the Route of

Parks. This story is about the realization of that vision. 

But it’s also a story about wild nature, and living a wild life. Bruce Chatwin called

Patagonia: “The furthest place to which Man has walked from his place of Origin.”

Patagonia is one of the world’s last frontiers, a place where your fantasies of

adventure are dwarfed by the staggering immensity on every bend. 

Kris’s story will inspire you connect more deeply with the planet, fight for what

you believe in, and explore the jagged spires and turquoise rivers of the Route of

Parks for yourself.

"There is no question that when you put yourself out into these very extreme

circumstances, or places on earth, you are changed for the rest of your life. And

half the time, you can't explain in any language, what's happened to you. And

I think that's actually a good sign, because you're seeing things through a lens

that's so raw that it brings out genes in us that are most ancient, the most

fundamental. And that's why I like it so much, because I don't really want to have a

simple life. I'm not interested in going on vacations and sitting by the sea … I like

to go to places that make you feel unbelievably tiny.”

CONNECT

Learn more about Kris and her work at Tompkins Conservation on their website,

TompkinsConservation.org. Patagonia recently released a beautiful book,

called Patagonia National Park: Chile, and it includes essays and photos from Kris,

the former Chilean president, Patagonia's founder, and more. Find it wherever

books are sold or at patagonia.com.

SOCIAL

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @armchairexplorerpodcast. Want travel

tips and advice? Questions about this episode? Message me! Sign up for the

monthly newsletter at armchair-explorer.com.

CREDITS

This episode was produced by Armchair Productions. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com. Jenny Allison did the guest booking and wrote this

episode, along with host and producer Aaron Millar. Charles Tyrie did the audio

editing and sound design. Theme music written by the artist Sweet Chap (on IG

@the_sweet_chap).

Dinosaurs and dark skies have a lot more in common than you'd think...and Utah happens to be one of the best places in the world to experience both of them firsthand.

In this episode, join host Aaron Millar as he explores Utah through both time and space. From coming face to face with a wall of dinosaur bones to stepping onto a top-secret active dinosaur dig site and behind the scenes at the fossil preparation lab, you'll learn about how dinosaurs lived in the past -- and still exist today -- firsthand from the experts.

Then, dive into dark skies with NASA-strength telescopes and some of the world's most prominent Dark Sky activists, who'll help us to not only see the stars...but to see the planets too. Yes, even Pluto.

Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode:

If you want to learn more about experiencing the sights and attractions featured in this episode, go to VisitUtah.com or follow along on social media @VisitUtah. International listeners can also book this itinerary directly as a package, with lots of other bonus experiences too -- just visit AmericanSky.co.uk/Utah-Holidays or learn more about all the incredible destinations around the state at VisitTheUSA.com or on social media @VisitTheUSA.

This show was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Brian Thacker managed pre-production. Jenny Allison was the in-field producer and wrote the episode. Jason Paton did the recording, mix and sound design. Aaron Millar hosted and served as executive producer.

Conrad Anker is renowned throughout the world as one of the greatest living mountaineers. Follow him to the Himalayan peaks of northern India to climb the ‘Shark’s Fin’ of Mt. Meru, a sheer 1,500-foot wall of blank granite, one the hardest, most dangerous and beautiful routes on the planet. 

For 30 years the best mountaineers in the world had attempted to climb Mt. Meru and for 30 years one-by-one they were spit off. It was thought that perhaps no one would ever reach its summit. Sacred to four religions, Mt. Meru is known as the abode of the gods. Perhaps it wasn’t meant to be climbed. Perhaps it was impossible. But impossible is a word that Conrad doesn’t understand. This is the story of that climb. This is the story of the adventure of his life.

But it’s more than that too. Coming up as a young climber, Conrad was mentored by a man called Mugs Stump, another legend of his day. For Mugs, Mt. Meru represented the pinnacle of mountaineering. Climbing it would be the greatest achievement of his career. Conrad and him made a promise, they vowed that no matter what they would one day reach the top together. 

But, tragically, Mugs died before his dream could be realised. After that, climbing Mt. Meru became more than just a mountain or Conrad, it became an obsession. It became the culmination of his life’s work. He put a team together, Jimmy Chin – the renowned mountaineer and filmmaker – and a young climber called Renan Ozturk. Together, they travelled to northern India and began the long journey to the summit. 

This is a story about what it takes to achieve the impossible. This, is the story of Mt. Meru.

Follow the world’s best climbers pitch-by-pitch up the hardest climb on the planet.

The documentary of this climb is called Meru, shot and directed by another legend Jimmy Chin. You can rent it on Amazon, You Tube and elsewhere. You can also follow Conrad on Instagram/Twitter @conrad_anker and on Facebook @conradankerofficial. His website is simply www.conradanker.com 

If you enjoy this episode, please check out some of the conservation projects, which Conrad is involved with and support them if you can: www.himalayan-foundation.org and www.alexlowe.org

Thanks to Wondrium for sponsoring this episode. Wondrium is the new name for The Great Courses Plus, now expanded with more content: documentaries, world-cinema, tv shows and lots of new courses. You can check it all out for free for one month by heading over to www.wondrium.com/armchair

Follow @armchairexplorer podcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode

Pub crawls, wine tasting, a distillery or two. The only thing better than summer travel, is summer travel with a drink in hand. That’s what this episode is all about. We’re calling it Liquid Tourism and it’s going to be a lot of fun.

Today, we’re going to Yolo County, California. You may remember it from the documentary we made about the Slow Food movement up there. It’s a beautiful rural landscape filled with vineyards, small farms and almond blossoms blowing in the breeze.

It’s also a superb place for Liquid Tourism. But this episode is a little different from our previous On Location episodes. Instead of producing it as a single documentary style piece, host Aaron Millar and producer Jason Paton – in the spirit of liquid tourism itself –sit down for a couple beers and a yarn about their travels, and then we cut in some of our favorite highlight clips throughout.

We hope this episode captures a glimpse behind the scenes into the fun Jason and Aaron have making these shows for you. Plus, we get to show off a cool part of the world and a new liquid style of travel that I’m sure you’re going to love.

So, pour yourself a frosty one and join Jason and Aaron down the virtual pub reminiscing about one of their booziest trips.

If you enjoy this episode, check out the full series we made about Yolo County. It’s called Yolo County: Indulge in the Authentic.

Follow Armchair Explorer on Instagram and Facebook.

Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com

Benedict Allen has made a name for himself, not necessarily for what he does, but for what he does not do...travel with modern technology.

For the last several decades, Benedict has explored some of the most remote corners of the planet, from crossing the Amazon basin to the deserts of Namibia. And instead of navigating those highly complex journeys with modern technology, he's chosen instead to embed himself with local cultures, relying solely on the goodwill and guidance of native people to survive. And today, we're following along as he recounts some of his most epic -- and occasionally terrifying -- adventures.

From living in a 'crocodile nest' in Papua New Guinea for six weeks to narrowly avoiding being gunned down during a mountain crossing deep in the jungle, Benedict has some truly wild stories to share. But his story isn't solely about adventure...it's about the humanity we all share. 

As of May 2024, Papua New Guinea is experiencing devastating landslides. If you feel inspired by the stories of Papua New Guinea's people in today's episode, please consider donating to organizations such as Papua New Guinea's Red Cross or IOM relief efforts.

Learn more about Benedict and his many adventures on his website, benedictallen.com. You can also find him on social media @benedictallenexplorer. The book from this episode is called Explorer: The Quest for Adventure and the Great Unknown, and you can find it anywhere books are sold.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @armchairexplorerpodcast. Want travel tips and advice? Questions about this episode? Message me! Sign up for the monthly newsletter at armchair-explorer.com.

This episode was produced by Armchair Productions. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com.

Jenny Allison did the guest booking and wrote this episode, along with host and producer Aaron Millar. Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Theme music written by the artist Sweet Chap (on IG @the_sweet_chap).

If there's one word that defines Utah, it just might be adventure. From the adrenaline-pumping to the meditative, the outdoors in Utah is a veritable playground for exploration. In Part One of Uniquely Utah adventures, we spent the morning fly fishing on the teal waters of Flaming Gorge, followed by an afternoon of mountain biking, chasing sharp turns with a pro rider.

In Part Two, follow along as we ride on muleback to trace the steps of ghostly gunslingers through narrow slot canyons, rappel over the sides of redstone cliffs (sometimes directly into mud), and finally attempt the legendary 50-foot ski jump directly into a pool at Park City's Olympic Park.

Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode:

If you want to learn more about experiencing the sights and attractions featured in this episode, go to VisitUtah.com or follow along on social media @VisitUtah. International listeners can also book this itinerary directly as a package, with lots of other bonus experiences too -- just visit AmericanSky.co.uk/Utah-Holidays/Self-Drive-Experience-Utah-Life-Elevated or learn more about all the incredible destinations around the state at VisitTheUSA.com or on social media @VisitTheUSA.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @armchairexplorerpodcast. Want travel tips and advice? Questions about this episode? Message me! Sign up for the monthly newsletter at armchair-explorer.com.

This show was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Brian Thacker managed pre-production. Jenny Allison was the in-field producer. Jason Paton recorded, wrote, mixed, and sound designed the episode. Aaron Millar hosted and served as executive producer.

Growing up in Kenya, Chris Carter fell in love with Africa's wilderness -- with forests and grasslands, mountains and waterfalls, lions and giraffes. But after spending several years backpacking the long-distance treks of the US, he returned to his home country only to realize that Kenya had no comparable established backpacking trails. So naturally, he decided to create one.

Chris partnered with the Kenya Wildlife Service to map, plan, and create the country's first long-distance backpacking trail. The location was Aberdare National Park, a 4,000 square mile sanctuary of hidden waterfalls, volcanic peaks, and tropical forests shrouded in mist and teeming with wildlife. 

The only issue? Mapping the route meant bushwhacking through some insanely dense and dangerous wilderness. And Chris would find all sorts of surprises hiding in the bush...

Follow along with Chris' adventures on Instagram @Chris.Cart.Er or check out his YouTube channel at ChrisCarterMedia. If you're interested in visiting Kenya or Aberdare National Park, go to kws.go.ke.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @armchairexplorerpodcast. Want travel tips and advice? Questions about this episode? Message me! Sign up for the monthly newsletter at armchair-explorer.com.

This episode was produced by Armchair Productions. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com. Jenny Allison did the guest booking and wrote this episode, along with host and producer Aaron Millar. Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Theme music written by the artist Sweet Chap (on IG @the_sweet_chap).

Welcome to Utah: Life Elevated, the documentary podcast that will take you all around Utah on an unforgettable road trip. Today, we're diving into some of Utah's unique adventures...because if there's one word that defines Utah, it just might be adventure! 

From rappelling down canyon walls to churning up dirt on a mountain bike, there are so many ways to get a taste of the outdoors in this great state. Join us for some unforgettable experiences, from fly fishing in the pristine Flaming Gorge to riding mules through slot canyons to braving a 50-foot ski jump...directly into a pool.

Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode:

PLAN YOUR UTAH TRIP

If you want to learn more about experiencing the sights and attractions featured in this episode, go to VisitUtah.com or follow along on social media @VisitUtah. International listeners can also book this itinerary directly as a package, with lots of other bonus experiences too -- just visit AmericanSky.co.uk/Utah-Holidays or learn more about all the incredible destinations around the state at VisitTheUSA.com or on social media @VisitTheUSA.

SOCIAL

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @armchairexplorerpodcast. Want travel tips and advice? Questions about this episode? Message me! Sign up for the monthly newsletter at armchair-explorer.com.

CREDITS

This show was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Brian Thacker managed pre-production. Jenny Allison was the in-field producer. Jason Paton recorded, wrote, mixed, and sound designed the episode. Aaron Millar hosted and served as executive producer.

Writer Tim Moore is no stranger to the unusual and unique. In his early days as a travel writer, he rode a container ship to Iceland, biked across Italy in a period costume, completed the Camino de Santiago with a donkey as his only companion, and more. So when Tim got a call out of the blue one day from his editor, asking if he'd consider biking the length of the newly established Iron Curtain Trail, he had two thoughts.

One was that he was absolutely not in shape to embark on this journey. First of all, nobody had ever done it before. Nobody could tell him whether it was five or six thousand miles long. It also wound through some slightly uncertain parts of the world which, in Tim's mind -- having grown up during the Cold War -- were inextricably tied to nuclear annihilation.

But two...was that he was absolutely going to do it.

Follow along for an adventure that will take you from chaotic Russian streets to frigid Finnish backroads, through dive bars and ancient ruins and military checkpoints. Along the way, Tim's wit and humor gives a fresh perspective on a part of the world that is still struggling to define itself and write its next chapter.

CONNECT

Tim's book featured in this episode is called The Cyclist Who Went Out in the Cold: Adventures Along the Iron Curtain Trail, and you can find it wherever books are sold. Tim has also written several other books, so we recommend checking those out too. You can also follow him on X / Twitter @mrtimmoore.

SOCIAL

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @armchairexplorerpodcast. Want travel tips and advice? Questions about this episode? Message me! Sign up for the monthly newsletter at armchair-explorer.com.

CREDITS

This episode was produced by Armchair Productions. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com. Jenny Allison did the guest booking and wrote this episode, along with host and producer Aaron Millar. Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Theme music written by the artist Sweet Chap (on IG @the_sweet_chap).