Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic are the expedition kayakers. Over the past decade, the duo have made first descents of over 120 rivers in wildly remote locations across 36 countries and 6 continents. In 2016, Ben and Chris traveled to Myanmar to complete a source to sea descent of the Irrawaddy River. 

The both say it was the first time they failed completely to accomplish their objective--and also one of the richest experiences they've ever had. 

"Had we floated freely down the Irrawaddy, I don't know that we would've learned nearly as much about what actually was going on," says Ben. "The corruption that's occurring in that area stopped us from running the river. It wasn't just a side note. It was directly in front of us." 

Today we, bring you a story about the intersection of politics and adventure, and about the richness in failure. 

You can read more about Ben and Chris's trip to Myanmar here.