12 Heroes of Our Time

Let’s look at the courageous people who deserve respect. Be sure to read the captions.

Ed Stafford
Achievement: He worked his way along the Amazon River from its source to its confluence with the ocean for 859 days.

While all the great expeditions have already taken place, a British traveler Ed Stafford undertook another. April 2, 2008, he began a journey along the Amazon River from its source to its confluence with the ocean. All the distance he walked and it was 6437 km. Over the way a researcher faced with hostile local zhitelemi, drug smugglers, disease, otsutviem food and a variety of dangerous animals and insects. Also, he found a companion, Jo Rivera, who joined him already on the way and went with him most of the distance. August 9, 2010, after 859 days, the journey finally ended when Stafford and Rivera have plunged into the Atlantic Ocean, ending one of the most dangerous journey of our days.


Matt and Mike Moniz
Achievement: Team climbers of a father and son won 50 of the highest points in the 50 states in record time.

12-year-old climber Mett Moniz and his father Mike had planned for this summer one goal – to conquer the highest points in all 50 states in 50 days. The report went when they climbed on Denali (6193-meters) – the highest peak in Alaska and part-time throughout North America. In the coming days, they conquered the point from 4421-meter Mount Whitney in California to the least complex Britton Hill in Florida, a height of only 105 meters above sea level. July 16, after 43 days after the launch, the climbing team of father and son reached the summit of Mauna Kea (4205 m) in Hawaii, in the process of setting a new record for speed climbing.
David de Rothschild
Achievement: Passed from San Francisco to Sydney on a yacht made from recycled plastic bottles 12000.

The intersection of sailing the Pacific may seem very strange expedition to the person who has earned a reputation subdue the South and the North Pole, and also still suffer from sea sickness. But the eco-traveler David de Rothschild will do anything to convey his message of environmental responsibility. That’s why he and his crew sailed from San Francisco to Sydney on the ship made entirely of plastic butylokbyvshih used. Calling the boat Plastiki in honor of the legendary Kon-Tiki Heyerdahl Tura, de Rothschild has used solar panels, wind generators and other renewable energy sources, which made one of the most environmentally friendly yachts sailing shipbuilding industry. Their 19,312 km journey included a stop and in the most contaminated areas of the ocean, such as a large Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch.
Mark Beaumont
Achievement: Take a bike to the Americas and conquered the highest peaks of the two continents.

In February 2010 shotlandsy cyclist Mark Beaumont completed the epic trip planned, which began in Anchorage, Alaska, and ended after 13000 km in Ushuaia in Argentina on the edge of South America. Along the way he found time to get the bike and conquer Denali (6962 m) – the highest point in North America. Later, he climbed on Aconcagua (6962 m) Aconcagua – the highest peak in South America. Despite the fact that it was deystvilno long and difficult journey, in the career of Beaumont, it only takes a second line: in 2007 he had clocked up over 194 days on a bicycle 29,446 km traveled almost all around the world.

Oh Eun-Sun
Successes: became the first woman to successfully break all the 14 eight.

In the coterie of climbing climbing 8000-meter peaks such as Everest or K2 is a great achievement, but the subjugation of the 14 highest peaks in the world afford only the best of the best. Until 2010, this achievement was in the account exclusively for men. That all changed on April 21 201o, when the O Yong Sun – climber from South Korea reached a peak Annapurn (8091 m), located in Nepal, and added his name to the elite.

Dave Hahn
Achievement: 12 times conquered Everest, setting a new record for climbers who do not use local guides.

Regarded as one of the best mountain guides in the world, Dave Hahn has further strengthened its reputation in 2010 conquered Mount Everest 12 times, also improved his record to climbers do not use the Sherpa (local guides). This happened when he worked as a guide for Vaytekera Lif, son of Jim Vaytekera, son of the legendary Jim Vaytekera – the first American conquered Everest. Han is a very impressive track record includes more than 250 successful ascents of Mount Rainier, 19 times he has visited at the peak of Denali, and a record 26 times on the Vinson Massif in Antarctica.

Roz Savage
Successes: became the first woman to overcome the Pacific Ocean at the oars.

June 2010 British grebchiha Roz Savage arrives in Papua New Guinea, completing the third and final phase of its solitary boat ride across the Pacific. The journey began in 2008, when she recovered from San Francisco and broke the oars 3740 km distance to Hawaii for 100 days. In 2009 she started the second phase, having spent 104 days and covering a distance of 5082 km between Hawaii and Tarawa, a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean. It took only 54 days to philous part in the 3618 km between Tarawa and Papua New Guinea. After completing his course, Savage became the first woman among those who single-handedly conquered the Pacific Ocean at the oars, and her campaign was dedicated to problems of health of the oceans of the world.

Jordan Romero
Achievement: Having conquered Everest in 13 years, he became the youngest person to climb the peak.

22 May 2010 13-year-old American, Jordan Romero came to the summit of Everest (8848 m), becoming the youngest person ever to winning the highest point of the planet. But this is just one step on the path to its core ambitious goal: to become the youngest conqueror of alternating seven highest peaks on seven continents (Seven Summits). This fall, Romero will go to Antarctica, to continue his quest and climb to the very highest point – Mount Vinson Massif (4892 m).

Alex Honnold
Achievement: Established two speed records during the day at two legendary climbing routes on Yoshimite

For the majority of climbers conquer peaks Half Dome and El Capitan in Yosemite is the dream of their lives. For Alex Honnold this is just another walk in the park. June 22 Honnold conquered both of these routes in one day, setting a course record two high-speed ascent. Honnold morning went to conquer the Half Dome Regular route north side. On this he took 2 hours and nine minutes, which is 41 minutes better than the previous record. From there he went to El Cap, where he reached the summit in just 6 hours. Thus on the conquest of the two peaks, he spent an impressive 8 hours and 9 minutes.

Andrew Skurka
Achievement: 7563 km on foot, ski and rafting on the remote areas of Alaska and Canada

Of covering huge distances on his two no longer a novelty for Andrew skins. At age 29 he passed for more than 40 000 km on the most inaccessible areas. But his latest ekspiditsiya perhaps the most ambitious of all. In March 2010 Skurko departed Kottsebui in Alaska, to pass more than 12,5 thousand km including 6 American and two Canadian national parks. Along the way he crossed two mountain ranges – Alaska and Brooks, two of the most remote and pristine wild places on earth.

Lewis Gordon Pugh
Achievement: sailed very long distances at high altitudes in history, to draw attention to global warming.

British swimmer and environmentalist Lewis Gordon Pugh went to the Himalayas in May 2010, in an attempt to swim the longest distance, which for many seems impossible. May 22, clad only in a suit Speedo, cap and goggles for swimming Pugh plunged into the icy waters of Lake Pumori, Everest, located at nt distance of 5400 meters and swam a mile, setting a record for the longest mountain navigation. The most famous of swimming in the icy water at the North Pole in 2007, Pugh overcame his mountain sickness, calling it “the most horrible day” for his career. He hoped that his achievement will help raise awareness for the reduction of Himalayan glaciers.

Jessica Watson
Successes: became 16 years old the youngest of those who committed a single round trip on a yacht.

While most teenagers suffer from homework and extra-curricular assignments, and with all the activity immersed in social life, 16-year-old Jessica Watson, most of the time in the past year has spent walking on the seas battling with storms and 9-meter waves. In October 2009, avstralisky teenager sailed away from Sydney on board his yacht her’s Pink Lady, with intent to commit a single non-stop circumnavigation. When she returned in May 2010, just three days before his 17 th birthday, she set a new benchmark for all young people who want to repeat this achievement. Watson became a celebrity in his native country even before he returned to Sydney. As a result, its return was a major media event and the port it was greeted by thousands of fans and millions more watched on television.

Lei Wang
Achievement: Completed Adventure Grand Slam, reaching the summit of Everest.

Conquering the 24 May 2010, climber Lee Wong has made what could boast only a few people on the planet – he completed the Adventure Grand Slam, which includes the ascent to 7 highest peaks on seven continents, as well as North and South Poles. Lee grew up in China and on top was not even thinking about what his life will be associated with great adventures. But after he finished studies in computer science and then received stepe MBA at the prestigious Wharton School, he went on a trip to Ecuador. While there he conquered the summit of Cotopaxi (5896 m), well, and the rest is history … Now he has joined the list of honor of all the nine people who resigned Adventure Grand Slam

Lance Mackey
Achievement: 4 wins in a row in the most prestigious race on the Iditarod sled sobachh.

In Alaska, there is nothing significant and prestigious than victory on the Iditarod. In the past 40 years, length 1800 km race earned a reputation as one of the most debilitating and severe competition in the world. And only in recent years, it managed to dominate one man – Lance Makei. In March 2010 Mackey made his fourth consecutive title at the Iditarod, setting a record for consecutive victories. And he remains to this day the only person who knew how to win the Iditarod in one year and other prestigious race on the sled-Yukon Quest (1600 km), which to him seemed impossible. But still, despite all these accomplishments, perhaps his greatest victory was in 2002 when he beat throat cancer.

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