Stories

Wendy Searle and Expedition Foods - Hungry for Adventure Podcast

December 18, 2020

There's nothing we'd rather listen to than two awesome explorers discussing food.

Alex Mason, 38 year old British adventurer, has been well and truly on our radar since her incredible row across the Atlantic Ocean with Monkey Fist Adventures in 2020. She recently started her Hungry for Adventure podcast, talking to her fellow adventurers about food (and all things adventure), and having listened to an episode - we're already huge fans!

For the third episode, Alex talked to Wendy Searle. If you haven't heard of Wendy, then you should have! In January 2020, Wendy completed her epic solo crossing of Antarctica, becoming the 7th woman in history to complete Hercules Inlet to South Pole, solo and unsupported.

This podcast is brilliant - funny, interesting, surprising and full of useful information for current/aspiring explorers. Thanks, Wendy for the shout out (approx. half way through) - we love working with you!

You can listen to the podcast by searching 'Hungry for Adventure' on your podcast player, or clicking this link.

ExplorersWeb Gift Guide

December 02, 2020

If you're looking for gift ideas and inspiration for your outdoorsy loved ones, check out ExplorersWeb's Gift Guide for Polar Explorers.

They've included gifts across the range of prices and uses including wrist warmers, polar ski bindings, and, of course, Expedition Foods!

To take a look at the gift guide on ExplorersWeb click here. Or for a range of great gift options checkout our freeze-dried meal and our snack ranges on the Expedition Foods website.

Mark Wood - Solo 100

December 01, 2020

Speaker, author and explorer, Mark Wood is no stranger to cold extremes. His experience includes guiding film crews to the Magnetic North Pole, leading two expeditions to the Geomagnetic North Pole and completing solo expeditions to both the Geographic North and South Poles. He has been a part of major BBC and Channel 5 documentaries and over the years has trained and led people in the extremes of the planet.

We asked Mark about his life and his incredible upcoming SOLO 100 expedition.

Eco-Challenge Fiji - Team Checkpoint Hunters

October 27, 2020

Eco-Challenge Fiji consisted of 671km / 417 miles of mountains, rivers, swamps, jungles and oceans. With 31 Checkpoints and 5 legs, this is dubbed "The World's Toughest Race".

Bikepacking with Josh Ibbett - GBDURO Winner

August 30, 2020

The GBDURO links up six National Parks and three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, cutting a line across the British Mountains from Land’s End to John O’ Groats.

Camping with Expedition Foods

August 21, 2020

Campsites have re-opened following lockdown and unprecedented demand due to the "staycation" movement has meant new pop-up sites are opening everywhere. Whether you are on a site or if it's (leave-no-trace) wild-camping that interests you, Expedition Foods meals are perfect for camping.

What to Expect in the TWAC - With Sara from Row Off the Wall

July 13, 2020

Get insider info about the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge (TWAC) from Sara, experienced ocean rower from the TWAC2019 team, Row Off the Wall. The second in a two-part blog update from TWAC ocean rowers.

The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge - Atlantic Mavericks

July 13, 2020

Meet ocean rower Roy Dixon (Atlantic Mavericks), as he talks to us about the 2019 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, team dynamics, and their daily diet.

Section Hiker Review of Expedition Foods

July 10, 2020

We couldn't be more excited to share this link to Section Hiker's review of Expedition Foods meals, which they purchased in order to write this article.

Louis Rudd Endurance - Journey Across Antarctica

June 25, 2020

In 2018 Captain Louis Rudd MBE completed a journey that was previously thought to be impossible – a solo, unsupported crossing of Antarctica. We’re pleased to quietly report that Louis’ journey was fuelled by Expedition Foods.

The 1000-Mile Iditarod Trail Invitational

June 04, 2020

We caught up with Steve Cannon; adventurer, explorer, author, filmmaker, and Expedition Foods enthusiast. Steve was the first Iowan to complete the Iditarod Trail Invitational, the 1000-mile bike race from Anchorage to Nome on the iconic Iditarod Trail.

Expedition Foods (EF): Tell us about the Iditarod Trail Invitational, what does it involve?

Steve Cannon (SC): The ITI is a 350-mile or 1000-mile self-supported race across Alaska in the middle of winter. Athletes can attempt it on foot, ski or Fatbike.

EF: Have you always been a cyclist? Tell us a bit about yourself, how and when did you get started?

SC: No. Adventure racing was my first love, then ultra running, kayaking and endurance cycling.

I was a late bloomer for sure; a troubled youth and early adult years had me in BIG trouble.

EF: When did you decide to compete in the Iditarod Trail Invitational?

SC: The ITI is not a race just anyone with a desire and a bank account can do.

Everyone has to qualify through a handful of 100-mile winter ultras. I’d say by my second or third winter race, the idea of it started really tugging at me.

Eventually I’d go all in, moving to Alaska for an entire winter to train. I lived outside of Fairbanks in a dry cabin (no running water) and started riding and learning the craft from those that had done the race previously and called Alaska home.

EF: When did you start training for the Iditarod Trail? Can you tell us how you trained each week for the Iditarod?

SC: The 1000 Miles to Nome was the culmination of many years training / adventuring. It’s SO much different than, say, running a marathon, where you have this one discipline (running) and to get ready you just do that one thing... a lot.

This race addresses many, many variables and if you suck at any of them the race will find it. Fitness, nutrition, perspiration control (sweat can kill), bike maintenance, sleeping at -30F, when to wait out a storm, and when to push on.

You can be great 90% of the time... or at 90% of these skills and that might not be good enough.

EF: How did you prepare your nutrition for the race? Do you have a list of what you ate each day? What worked for you and what did not work for you?

SC: Nutrition obviously is key. It’s impossible really to reach 6000-8000 calories a day consistently. You burn calories at such a high rate in the cold. I liked my coach’s advice: “If it ain’t nailed down, eat it.” Which was to say, eat everything and often.

I use a combination of dense homemade bread and power bars, happy foods like peanut M&M’s, and the giant peanut butter cups, and for my meals always the Expedition Foods 1000kcal meals. They are perfect for this type of challenge: Lightweight, easy to make (just add water), diverse in choices and high-calorie. I love all the options the menu offers. Even high-cal desserts.

EF: How did you manage to stay hydrated? Did you just drink water or did you add electrolytes to your drink? Did you re-hydrate with anything special at the end of each day?

SC: Hydration is also key and not just for the reasons everyone is aware. Hydration plays a BIG role in staying warm. Dehydration makes you colder and can lead to a much quicker onset of hypothermia in extreme cases. It also plays a big role in performance. Output drops dramatically if we don’t keep the fluids topped off.

A great friend, Wes Wagner, introduced me to a company he represents called Arbonne. I have had great results with their during-and-after workout powders. I didn’t drink anything ever that didn’t have some sort of caloric / performance benefit to it.

At the end of the day or night I would mix up a double / sometimes triple dose of post-workout and protein powders to drink with my Expedition Foods meal so that while I slept, the body could do its work recovering.

EF: Did you cycle in the day or at night, or both?

SC: The weather and the trail are challenging so while the getting is good... you go and sometimes that means through the night. This is also a tricky game because if you push too far into sleep deprivation your pace becomes way too slow and it opens the door for poor decision making.

EF: Tell us about the gear you brought - what was your best piece of gear and your worst piece of gear?

SC: It’s a self-supported race, meaning we carry everything so with that in mind, keeping in mind you really can’t do without any of it... Camelback, stove, favourite socks, parkas, beaver mittens, you get the picture. I’d have to say the -40F sleeping bag is “best” because if everything else goes to sh*t I can get in that thing and survive.

There is no “worst” piece of gear. Everything on “Black Betty” (bike's name) has a tried and tested purpose. Nothing is packed hoping or thinking it “might” be a good idea.

EF: Do you have any races planned for the future? If money or time was no object, which race would you most like to compete in?

SC: I very much look forward to going back to Alaska again for this race but there are also a couple of others that have my imagination.

There is a bike race I’m entered in late this summer (if it happens) in Kyrgyzstan called The Silk Road Mountain Race which is 1000 miles, also self-supported. The Marathon des Sables would be a hoot to take a run at as well!

Our movie about the race, “1000 Miles to Nome”, as well as our other movie and books are all available on our website expandyourpossible.com

We also have a “Year on the Road” series. The bus stays well-stocked in Expedition Foods meals and desserts.

Siberian Husky Team - Solo Expedition to the Eastern Alps

April 21, 2020

Five days were spent exploring parts of a natural reserve in the Eastern Alps. According to the rhythm of nature, time flowed through day and night. Light and dark. Sun and stars. Adi, Tulku, Indi, Ciuk and I moved around with a sled (a toboggan), each day finding a different place for overnight camping. I owe my dogs a lot, maybe I owe them everything: the bond we share is strong and it becomes even stronger during these kind[s] of experiences.

Fra Indi

Humans have an inborn desire for knowledge and discovery, a deep attraction to what is hidden beyond the horizon. Nowadays, “old-style” explorations have been in some way overcome by the speed of social networks that allow [us] to see and visit places in no time. However, exploring a new place with the desire for self-growth is still possible. Being immersed in Nature, in an unfamiliar place, is the first step to reconnecting human souls to the spirit of the Earth. A place can be protected and valued only by living and experiencing it with profound respect. This is the spirit that brought my dogs and me to the mountains and their hidden valleys and trails. The sled was stowed with the bare essentials: food supply, clothes, sleeping bag, tent, stove, water, spare dog-lines. Nothing more is needed in [the] wilderness. It’s like a game: trying to leave useless loads behind, including lots of the things we consider fundamental in everyday life. Are these things really important? I feel rich and peaceful when I have a shelter, the starry sky above and the ancient mountains around. Mundane thoughts vanish: nothing is more important than the present moment. When I’m alone with Nature and her forces, I just feel in the right place.

Snowscene

Humans are going through a sort of atrophy: cities are cages for their bodies and souls. This was an environmental exploration, as our ecosystems are facing a very delicate situation. We lived through [the] experience with the sled, sliding up and down the valleys leaving nothing but soft traces in the snow. It felt like home: isn’t the Earth our only home? It was a climate exploration, in full harmony with the Adventure Natural Project. I was at 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) when I noticed that the Cold was the “great absent”: we barely hit -12°C in a place where -20°C should be easily reached. Good snow could be found only over 1,800 meters. Daytime temperatures rose constantly a few degrees above zero. I definitely noticed the effects of climate change: warmer temperatures, snow-scarce winters. I keep wondering: will there still be winter here in a few years?

Huskies and EF

A small detail caught my attention: the higher the altitude the greater the respect for the mountains. I met people trekking, snowshoeing, mountain skiing. Some of them paused along the way just to gaze at the mountains. I will never forget a young couple with two children: they were enjoying the view all together, quietly. They stopped to truly experience a natural place, they lived the present moment in harmony with Nature. I reckon that the future for us will be going back to the natural rhythm of Time. This is the way to live an authentic existence.

Sled and Tent

My Siberian Huskies pulled the sled with no hesitation. My spirit ran with theirs along the same track. They were mentally prepared and they never gave up, not even during the most challenging passages in which I totally relied on their instinct. I trust my dogs and I can feel they trust me too. This exploration was also an inner voyage: even if lots of questions will still remain unanswered, I am grateful for the vast meaning derived along the way to find the answers. I thank my sled dogs for being part of this journey.

Fra Indi
Jaranga Siberian Husky Team

Website: www.fraindi.com
Instagram: @jaranga_siberian_husky_team

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