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ExWeb interview with Ripley Davenport: Preparing for Mongolia with a big list of “to do’s”, “might do’s” and ”have done’s”

02:28 am CST Nov 18, 2009
With less than five months before his Mongolia trek starts, Ripley Davenport has been preoccupied with organising logistic support and searching for a title or premier sponsor.

“This business of searching for sponsors, I should explain, is a very time consuming duty,” said Ripley to ExWeb’s Correne Coetzer who caught up with him during his preparations.

ExplorersWeb: With less than five months to go, what major preparations have been ticked off?

Ripley: That’s a big list of “to do’s”, “might do’s” and ”have done’s”.

As I draw ever closer to the expedition I will begin to check off certain items but at present I like to keep my options and responsibilities open.

I think it’s very important to not close the deal on anything until the last minute because your going to find out, sooner or later, that you missed something or forgot something and then all hell breaks loose.

Preparations are in progress and the planning is always in motion and what could seem like a tick in the box today can change tomorrow.

ExplorersWeb: What is still on your to-do list?

Ripley: I have many outstanding things to do. It never ends. This stacked on top of my fitness program, which has been compiled by Ray Zahab my personal trainer from i2P, is consuming most of my time.

Equipment is beginning to arrive at the doorstep from sponsors, which gives me sufficient time to become acquainted with the equipment, train with it and modify it accordingly.

I am arranging the logistics within Mongolia, which has thrown many spanners in the works but the creases are slowly getting ironed out.

Next year I have the dreaded full medical and I will be subjected to up to 9 vaccinations such as Diptheria, Tetnus, Polio, Hep C, Hep B and many more.

Of course, as we arrive within spitting distance of the expedition it will be time to arrange the food. I have already drawn up a list of the foods and I will be preparing my meals myself.

ExplorersWeb: Have you tested your trailer with a full load? If yes, how does it feel?

Ripley: The sketches and models have been on going for near enough 8 months and the design has changed drastically. Over the last few weeks the so-called blueprints have solidified and my concentration has shifted 100% towards the design and fabrication of the custom made trailer.

Understandably there have been repetitive troubles concerning the design and fabrication of such a sturdy contraption but it’s not as straightforward as it appears.

By consulting with several engineers, welders and other adventurers that have designed and fabricated trailers for expedition use I have managed to select a depiction and design for the trailer commendable enough of supporting my complete life for up to 3 months.

The picture has been in my head for months but the lack of technical knowledge has limited my ability to scribble it on paper.

I have relentlessly researched nearly 12 different expedition trailers / carts and scrutinised their weaknesses and strengths and laboured on combining many factors.

The trailer – I have named “Molly Brown” – has been fitted with the finest materials and weighs in at 27.7kg.

Molly’s Hubs are Custom made, specialized cassette, 36 hole, and anodised sealed cartridge bearings with a solid 20 mm axle. Her spokes are14-gauge stainless steel rods with brass nipples. Her rims are black, 36H high-grade aluminium. Strength was paramount.

Her tires are specialized Greentyre puncture proof 20 inch 20 X 2.2125, 700g Blizzard and coloured green, non carcinogenic, CFC free and they release no harmful toxins to the atmosphere.

I have tested the expedition with a full load. In fact the trailer was tested with a weight of 680kg. However, I in no way intend on hauling that weight! I have tested the trailer with 250kg, which is near enough the weight I am looking at hauling and she handles superbly.

Molly is extremely well balanced and sturdy and with the aid of a specially made harness from Ed Bouffard (Ed's Wilderness Systems, LLC), Molly feels just like an extension of my body. I am putting her through some trials over the coming weeks to iron out any weaknesses but I am confident she up for the job.

Once I am 100% confident with her performance then I’ll release images. Maybe!

ExplorersWeb: What has been our greatest challenge to date regarding this expedition?

Ripley: Well everything has been a challenge up to now but real challenges I have enjoyed. The design of the trailer has been a great hurdle but I am glad I’ve come out of that segment with one cracking Molly Brown.

Another challenge has been finding that delicate balance between wife, kids and family and the expedition.

ExplorersWeb: How does your typical day look like look five months before the expedition?

Ripley: My typical day. Where do I start?

Having young children helps me wake in the silly hours of the morning so I am geared up to go about my daily routine by first light when the kids have gone to kindergarten.

My day starts with one hell of a pungent coffee while checking and responding to mail. This basically devours my time for a couple of hours.

Each day varies with regard to physical training but it normally takes a total of 3 to 4 hours of yoga, running and light-weights but 4 times a week I am caught in my much-loved form of exercise, which is dragging the car tires around the forest. I am dragging 3 large car tires while wearing a 20kg backpack and talking to myself – more than I normally do!

The late afternoons and evenings are parked in front of the computer planning the logistics and other expedition formalities. Most of my sponsors and contacts are in an earlier time zone so this works in just snug for Skype meetings and telephone conversations.

My day ends when it ends after some light stretches and I normally tumble into bed about 23:00. It starts all over again at 05:00!

ExplorersWeb: How do you feel at the moment?

Ripley: I am very excited and eager to get moving and taking those first steps on the Mongolian dirt and sand. I am looking forward extremely to the solitude and the Mongolian landscape and clicking into the expedition routine and concentrating everything on moving forward one step at a time.

I’m not worried or nervous as I have every confidence in my capabilities and equipment. Continually checking and double-checking only develops one’s state of mind.

Mentally I am primed and in many ways so is my physical condition. It’s just a matter of staying in top form and not doing anything silly. The human body has a remarkable way of forewarning you of impending injury and I pay attention to my bodies signals. If I feel I need a rest day then so be it.

Yoga, I find, is a great way of arranging my mind for Mongolia and it helps me to channel my concentration on what I have to do to make this expedition succeed.

Expedition Overview courtesy of Ripley Davenport:

"It stands to become the longest solo and unassisted walk ever completed," according to Ripley.

The Mongolia 2010 Expedition (M2010X) is a great challenge. British Adventurer Ripley Davenport will attempt the first recorded solo and unassisted traverse across the vast landmass of Mongolia, on foot from east to west, starting in April 2010.

This effort to push the frontiers of human capabilities, challenge ecological values and inspire youth to reach beyond their perceived limits and engage their dreams.

The Expedition will involve walking 1700 miles / 2750 km’s across the Eastern Mongolian Steppe, Gobi Desert and the Altai Mountain Range, while hauling provisions and equipment weighing in excess of 200kg in a wheeled trailer, specifically designed for the journey, in 90 days or less.

M2010X will test the limitations of mental and physical human endurance and inspire others to pursue their ambitions.
The three aims are:
1. To raise awareness about human and environmental sustainability and act with strong consideration for the environmental; social and interpersonal impact of one's actions.
2. To inspire, educate and create optimism as well as encourage youth to engage their dreams and get active.
3. To raise funds and awareness for two charities that support children: Hope & Homes for Children and UNICEF.

Biography courtesy of Ripley:

Ripley Davenport is a renowned adventurer, humanitarian, and motivational speaker and best known for his demanding expeditions to the isolated areas of the world, notably accomplished solo and unassisted without any machine or animal but on foot by hauling or carrying all his equipment.

He avoids the worn tourist paths, and eminent landmarks, favouring instead to position himself unaided in potentially hostile environments. Without any film crew, Ripley can continue to pioneer the filming of his genuine experiences authentically in unforgiving surroundings as his journey develops.

In 1998, Ripley completed a solo trek across the Karakum Desert in 21 days with one water resupply. Then in the same year, Ripley successfully crossed the Namib Desert, solo and unassisted, with two camels in 82 days.
In 1999, he spent two weeks in the company of the Air Tuareg of Niger. The purpose was to learn about desert living and their culture.

Since then Ripley has been fixated with desert exploration and adventure and he intends on traversing several of the world's largest and isolated deserts.

The list doesn't stop here. Ripley has completed several other expeditions in addition to raising thousands of pounds for childrens' charities.
He has recently joined the i2P - impossible2Possible team as an Inspirational Ambassador and remains loyal and dedicated in supporting UNICEF and Hope & Homes for Children.