What is life but one grand adventure?
Next up: Mongol Derby 2022
The Mongol Derby is touted as the “longest and toughest horse race in the world”. It is put on every year by The Adventurists who select 40 riders worldwide to compete. We take 7-10 days to ride 1000km (~620 miles) across the steppe of Mongolia, stopping every 40km (as the crow flies) to switch horses. We are allowed to ride for 14 hours of the day. Our mounts are the semi feral Mongolian horses who live on the steppe. Mongolians are known for their horsemanship and can ride these horse bareback and bridleless. We’ll be lucky if we can stay on and attempt to steer or regulate their speed…
We were supposed to complete this feat in 2021 but the world had other plans so fingers crossed for July 2022!
This site is meant to be part blog, part gear reviews, and overall a place for people to follow along on whatever challenge or journey I’ve taken up next.
Why the Mongol Derby?
This is probably the question I get asked most after “what is the mongol derby” or “where IS Mongolia”?
Donate
The official charity of the Mongol Derby is Steppe and Hoof, an organization whose objective is to support the herders and their animals and work to save the unique traditions that are part of the Mongolian nomadic lifestyle as it comes under fire from climate change and urbanization. Kristin (my teammate) and I are raising at least $1000 for Steppe and Hoof as part of our Derby adventure. The nomadic way of life in Mongolia is steeped in tradition and is an incredible culture that has survived a millennium. We’d like that to continue. Any little bit you can donate helps!
Sponsor
If you want to back my journey in return for me proudly wearing your logo (there are a LOT of pictures taken during the race), using and reviewing your product, or otherwise, please reach out! I’m sure we can figure out a symbiotic relationship.
“I do not want to get to the end of my life and find that I just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.”
— Diane Ackerman
Past adventures:
Backpacking through Patagonia for 10 days as part of a NOLS course
Exploring Chile for 21 days straight with friends
Solo trip across Europe for 10 weeks (but are you ever really solo when you make friends along the way?)
Hiking Half Dome
Visiting my friend in the Peace Corps at her campo in the DR - the trip was amazing, the getting back to the airport alone was an adventure
PNW excursions
Norway and France - remind me to tell you about the baguette vending machine…