Armchair Explorer: Travel and Adventure Inspiration - Below Another Sky: A Himalayan Adventure in Search of a Lost Father with Mountaineer Rick Ridgeway

Below Another Sky: A Himalayan Adventure in Search of a Lost Father with Mountaineer Rick Ridgeway

12/22/21 • 40 min

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Armchair Explorer: Travel and Adventure Inspiration

Follow legendary mountaineer Rick Ridgeway on the most profound adventure of his life, a journey through the Himalayas in search of a lost friend.

In 1980, while climbing a remote peak in eastern Tibet, Rick and his three climbing partners were hit by a devastating avalanche. Rick survived but as he pulled himself out from under the snow, he saw his best friend Jonathan Wright lying on the ground not moving. He gave him mouth-to-mouth, he stroked his hair, he held him in his lap, but it wasn't enough. Jonathan died a few minutes later in his arms.

As he died, Rick made a promise. Thousands of miles away Jonathan's baby daughter, Asia, was taking her first steps. He promised he would be there for her and watch over her as she grew. 18 years later, Asia turned up on his doorstep with a favor to ask. She wanted to go find her father's grave to pay her respects, and she wanted to Rick to take her. This is the story of the adventure.

"A life worth living is lived at the edges where it is wild"

- Rick Ridgeway

But it is also the story of one of the greatest mountaineers of all time. Rick's latest book is called 'Life Lived Wild: Adventures at the Edge of the Map'. It is a beautiful memoir of a life lived to the full, immersed in the beauty and adventure of the natural world. Through this episode we will also hear some of Rick's other favorite tales of adventure and learn the wisdom those wild places have given him. More info at www.patagonia.com

Highlights include

Getting lost while sailing across the Pacific Ocean in search of Tahiti
Taking the famous newscaster Tom Brokaw to the summit of Mount Rainier with legendary climbers Yvonne Chouinard and Doug Tompkins.
Nearly dying of hypothermia while kayaking across a frozen lake in Chilean Patagonia.
Discovering what it feels like to be trapped in an avalanche facing certain death
Following the journey of Rick and Asia through one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world
Learning the wisdom of a life spent in the wild and how nature can be our greatest teacher

Join the Community

If you're enjoying the show please consider showing your support by buying me a pint! The show is free but it takes many hours to produce and almost all of it is done singlehandedly by me. The sponsors cover costs, but not my time. If you like what you hear and think that two episodes a month is worth the price of a single frosty beverage then please go to www.patreon.com/armchairexplorerpodcast.

From just $5 per month you will get you ad free episodes and access to our explorers community with exclusive travel discount vouchers delivered right to your inbox each month. Buy me a pint! ... the next round will be on me.

Thank you Sponsors!

Today’s episode is sponsored by Wayfarer Vans - the backpacker’s version of camper vans. Kick-ass van conversions at literally 1⁄4 price of other people, that are designed to de-clutter your adventure so you can be in the moment, taking in the wild spaces your van has delivered you to. www.wayfarervans.com

Let's Hang out

Follow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Follow legendary mountaineer Rick Ridgeway on the most profound adventure of his life, a journey through the Himalayas in search of a lost friend.

"A life worth living is lived at the edges where it is wild"

- Rick Ridgeway

Highlights include

Getting lost while sailing across the Pacific Ocean in search of Tahiti
Taking the famous newscaster Tom Brokaw to the summit of Mount Rainier with legendary climbers Yvonne Chouinard and Doug Tompkins.
Nearly dying of hypothermia while kayaking across a frozen lake in Chilean Patagonia.
Discovering what it feels like to be trapped in an avalanche facing certain death
Following the journey of Rick and Asia through one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world
Learning the wisdom of a life spent in the wild and how nature can be our greatest teacher

Join the Community

Thank you Sponsors!

Let's Hang out

Follow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

Waypoints: A 1,000-mile Walking Pilgrimage through West Africa with Travel Author Rob Martineau

Follow travel author Robert Martineau on a 1,000-mile solo trek through West Africa. Travelling through Ghana, Togo and Benin, sleeping in villages or on the side of paths he will cross deserts, rainforests and mountains, he will encounter voodoo ceremonies and witches camps, and meet shamans, priests, herdsmen and kings.

But this is more than just a long walk. This is a modern day pilgrimage, a young man’s journey in search of a new life, and an escape from the monotony and aimless floating of his old one.

At the age of 27 and trapped in a job he hated, Rob ran away from a successful career as a lawyer to spend five months in the African bush. He sought answers and guidance, a freedom and connection to nature he had lost and long craved. But he also discovered hard truths about himself and his place in the world.

This is an extraordinary account of his adventure, but it is also a story of his inner journey and the wisdom he learned along the way.

Highlights include:

· Taking part in a traditional voodoo ceremony

· Visiting a ‘witch camp’ in northern Ghana

· Witnessing a traditional Adae festival in the Ashanti heartlands

· Discovering the fascinating culture and beautiful landscapes of Ghana, Togo and Benin

· Being inspired to change your life and go on your own modern-day pilgrimage wherever that may be

The book of this story is called Waypoints: A Journey on Foot, which was recently cited by the Washington Post as one of the best travel books of 2021. You can also connect with Rob directly on instagram, twitter and facebook at @rob_martineau

Become a Patron of the show and get ad-free episodes and membership to the exclusive Explorer’s Club with monthly travel vouchers sent directly to your inbox and much more. The show is free but costs time and money to produce. If you enjoy it and think that our message of love for the outdoors, caring for this planet and living your life to the full is a message worth spreading then thank you for whatever you can do. https://www.patreon.com/Armchairexplorerpodcast

Today’s episode is sponsored by wayfarer vans - the backpacker’s version of camper vans. Kick-ass van conversions at literally 1⁄4 price of other people, that are designed to de-clutter your adventure so you can be in the moment, taking in the wild spaces your van has delivered you to. www.wayfarervans.com

Follow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next Episode

Hitchhiking to Pamplona with Comedian Andy Smart

Between 1977 and 1982 comedian Andy Smart hitchhiked 72,000 miles across Europe – the equivalent of crossing America coast-to-coast 24 times. This is the story of his greatest ride ever.

At 20-years of age Andy sold everything he owned and left his home in Liverpool to move to London and pursue his dream of becoming a comedian. But before he did, he had one hitch, one last great adventure, left. It was the World Cup and England were playing France in Bilbao, Spain on his birthday. He planned to hitchhike through UK, down the length of France and into Spain to watch the game.

It wouldn’t be easy. He carried a hammock, a piece of tarpaulin and some string to sleep by the side of the road. He had a small backpack, hardly any money and barely more than a change of clothes. But as he stood on the East Lancs Road on the edge of Liverpool, thumb out waiting for his first lift he knew, somehow, that this was a pivotal moment, that his life would never be the same again. He was right, but he never could have anticipated what a wild ride it would be.

Highlights include:

· Hear about one of the greatest hitchhiking adventures of all time

· Catch a ride to the Council of the Universe (well, sort of ...)

· Take part in an insanely violent game of medieval soccer

· Run for your life in the festival of San Fermino

Join the Community

If you're enjoying the show please consider showing your support by buying me a pint! The show is free but each episode takes about 40hrs to produce. The sponsors cover my costs, but not my time. If you like what you hear and think that two episodes a month is worth the price of a frosty beverage then please go to www.patreon.com/armchairexplorerpodcast.

Thank you Sponsors!

Today’s episode is sponsored by Wondrium. Wondrium is like Netflix for your brain, an enormous encyclopedia of mind-blowing audio and video content designed for curious people just like us. I love it and i think you will too. Go to www.wondrium.com/armchair to get a 22-day free trail with access to thousands of hours of audio and video content, from travel guides and documentaries to courses taught by the world’s greatest professors. All for free, no strings attached. Check it out!

Let's Hang out

Follow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices