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Bering Strait: Karl Bushby's longest way home
09:00 am CST Feb 20, 2006
(ThePoles.com) Seven years ago, British Karl Bushby began the longest walk we'd ever heard of: From the southernmost point of South America back home.
The so-called Goliath Expedition has taken him along the entire American continent and reached as far as the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Karl hopes to be able to walk across the Bering Strait which freezes up in winter. The task, however, is anything but simple: Drift and underlying currents create open water channels between the ice making this stage of the trip a challenging and hazardous adventure in itself.
Karl’s father and press agent Keith Bushby spoke to ExWeb on the walker’s immediate plans. Here's Keith's report:
Update on Karl's Goliath Expedition
Within the next few days Karl Bushby is expected to reach Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska and will then attempt a crossing of the Bering Strait on foot. Making the attempt with him will be Dimitri Kieffer, an experienced endurance racer whom Karl met in Alaska last winter when their trails crossed. Reaching Wales will be a momentous occasion for Karl as it's taken him seven years to get there.
Seven years in America
On November 1, 1998, at Punta Arenas in southern Chile, Karl, now 36, took those first steps on a 36,000 mile long path that will lead him home.
At that moment the dream became reality and Karl began a journey that will become the longest continuous walk ever. It is possible to journey by foot from the southernmost point of South America back to England and leave behind you an unbroken trail of footsteps. This incredible journey will cross 4 continents, 25 countries, a frozen sea, 6 deserts and 7 mountain ranges. It is estimated this will take around 12 years to complete.
Russia, here we come!
His route lay through the America's and into Alaska, where he is at present, 17,000 miles into the journey. Here he will cross the Bering Strait into Siberia. Heading southwest he will walk through Russia and towards Western Europe before finally making his way back into England, using the Channel Tunnel.
With no outside assistance - other than footwear - at the beginning Karl decided that to wait for sponsorship would be to wait forever and gritting his teeth 'went for it', burning a good number of bridges along the way. Everything he owns is with him now.
Last winter, Karl was making his way across Alaska from Fairbanks to Unalakleet on the coast when he met up with Dimitri who was taking part in a race on foot over the Iditarod trail. They walked together for a couple of days and Dimitri decided he would attempt a Bering Strait crossing with Karl. This winter Karl walked up to Nome where he met up with Dimitri and they are now a short distance from Wales.
I wish there were a tunnel…
Neither of them is under any illusion as to just how difficult an attempted crossing will be. They understand that the odds are stacked against success. However, they are well equipped and motivated. Karl in fact is attempting the crossing simply because it is part of the route home. If there were a bridge or tunnel then no one would be happier. If required, any further attempts may move the starting-point further north in Alaska.
British Karl Bushby, a 36 year old ex-paratrooper, hopes to complete an unbroken round the world walk.
Karl’s journey will take over twelve years to complete. It will cover over 36,000 miles.
He set off on 1st November 1998, and has completed over 17000 miles. With over 19000 miles left to walk, maintaining his current speed, he should return home to Hull (UK) in 2009. Karl has already walked through South, Central and North America, Alaska and will soon cross the Bearing Strait.
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