Rab - For the most extreme conditions in the world | Mark Kalch

Mark Kalch

 

Mark Kalch is a professional adventurer and explorer as well as a writer and motivational speaker.  He specialises in undertaking small team and solo, unsupported expeditions into the wilderness. In the last thirteen years he has walked along the Omo River in Southern Ethiopia, rafted down the mighty Amazon River from its source in the Peruvian Andes to the Atlantic Ocean, trekked in the Andes of Peru, forged trails through dense jungles in East Africa and walked solo across Iran.

 

 

 

Mark's journeys are driven by his desire to discover and explore extreme environments, people and cultures that are otherwise little seen.  He strives to open up these worlds to others through his website, filming, photography, writing articles and speaking to schools, corporates and other groups. 

In 2010, he walked solo, over 60 days and 1000 miles across the entire Islamic Republic of Iran from its northern border on the Caspian Sea to its southern border in the Persian Gulf.  A journey to gain a greater understanding of this misunderstood and misrepresented country. 

In 2008, supporting Amazon Watch, he successfully completed a human-powered, source to sea paddling descent of the Amazon River, spending 153 days covering 4300 miles from the Andes in Peru to the mouth of the river off the coast of Brazil, battling grade 5/6 whitewater, narco-terrorists, tropical cyclones and even pirates along the way.

Mark's latest project is 7 rivers, 7 continents - source to sea paddling descents of the longest river on each continent.

Amazon River (South America) – 6937 km (4300 miles) – completed 2007/2008
Nile River (Africa) – 6650 km (4132 miles)
Yangtze River (Asia) – 6300 km (3916 miles)
Missouri-Mississippi River (North America) – 6275 km (3912 miles)
Volga River (Europe) – 3645 km (2266 miles)
Murray-Darling River (Australia) – 3370 km (2904 miles)
Onyx River (Antarctica) – 40 km (25 miles)

In 2011, Mark will attempt to complete the next river of his project, the 4000 Missouri-Mississippi River in North America.  Walking, packrafting and kayaking alone from Brower's Spring, Montana he will cross almost the entire continent as he paddles to the sea and the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana.  He is supporting American Rivers who work to protect and restore the nation's rivers and the clean water that sustains people, wildlife, and nature.

Follow Mark on Twitter @MarkKalch or his website www.markkalch.com

Rab recently caught up with Mark between trips to ask him a few questions.

Where were you born and where’s home now?

I was born in Queensland, Australia, have spent the last 10 years all over the place but a lot of time in Africa.  I currently live in south-west France near Biarritz.  Beautiful place, close to the mountains, rivers and surf.

Tell us about your work?
I make a living through undertaking difficult expeditions in extreme environments, whether that be rivers, mountains, jungle or desert.  The journeys are all independent and unsupported in small teams or solo.  I am fortunate to have sponsors such as Rab who support me in these endeavours.
 

How long have you been expeditioning?
In some form or another for the last 10 or so years, but as a professional for the last 3 years only.
 

Describe your very first expedition.
A difficult one.  Possibly the first really extreme expedition where I thought that being a professional and skilled adventurer was necessary was in Southern Ethiopia, in the Omo Valley.  We spent a number of weeks following the Omo River and it’s tributaries.  Getting lost, running out of water, lions and hyenas outside the tent, AK-47 toting, nude tribesmen, crocodiles and hippos were just some of the highlights.
 

What are your most memorable expeditions?
It would bit a little unfair to single out a finite “most memorable”, but paddling the length of the Amazon River was certainly a life changer for me.  It was an amazing journey full of amazing and kind people.  It also helped put my name on the map (relatively speaking!) which in turn has helped my career progress.
 

What do you do when you’re not on expedition?
I spend far too much time on a laptop planning the next expedition, working on my website, speaking at schools, but definitely make time for kayaking, surfing and grappling.
 

What’s your proudest moment?
That would be the birth of my son, Modi.  Born in France, with an Australian/Austrian father, English/Belgian mother and with a British passport.  I am working on fixing that last part!
 

Who or what at inspires you?
I am inspired by anyone in any field or part of life who continually try to better themselves and the world in which they live. 

Do you carry any regrets?
No way! Any mistakes I have made along the way have made me who I am and helped me to continually learn.
 

What are your future plans/goals?
Over the next 10 years I will complete the 7 rivers, 7 continents project - source to sea paddling descents of the longest river on each continent. Around 35 00km or 20 000 miles of paddling.  All my expeditions are independent. You cannot book a place with an outfitter and run these rivers. Not possible. From start to finish I must plan, implement and execute every single part of the descents – transport, logistics, mapping, customs, risk, equipment, teams, safety, marketing, media, website, photography, filming etc. Oh not to mention actually running the rivers!  Already the Amazon is done and next up is the Missouri-Mississippi. 

What are your favourite pieces of Rab kit?
Tough questions as every piece of Rab kit I have comes into it’s own for whatever use it was intended.  Because I find myself in a range of environments; hot, cold, dry, wet, windy etc. versatility of kit is important.  My Rab Vapor-Rise Stretch top is perfect for keeping me comfortable across this whole spectrum of extremes.
 

How else do you train?
My training regime is a little off beat and compared to other adventure athletes might seem a little strange.  I like to mix up my training and use a variety of methods that are not exactly related to my expeditions.  The core of my conditioning work comes via Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or grappling.  3 x 2.5 hour sessions per week of fighting is a good way to keep strong and used to pain.  Around this I arrange sand-bag conditioning and circuits, as well as kayaking and surfing.  All this variety, at least for me, seems to come together very well to prepare me psychologically and physiologically for any tough expedition.

How do you think your friends would describe you?
I would like to think they might see me as a pretty relaxed bloke who is switched on enough to be following his dreams and passion and someone who cares about his family and mates.  Or quite possibly just some loud, lazy bum who has managed to avoid a real job and standard life for the last decade or so!  One of the two! Quick fire questions!

Mars or Snicker? Easy. Snickers.
 

Beer or wine? I don’t drink. I am a teetotaller!
 

Tea or coffee? Strong, sweet coffee is an expedition winner.
 

Carrot or ginger cake? Mmm...both?
 

Favourite book? Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa - a book that is more powerfully motivating than anything Tony Robbins can come up with.
 

Favourite music? Pretty much anything.
 

Pie or salad? Why would I choose just one?
 

Bivi or B&B? It would have to be a Bivi (but secretly B & B)
 

Hot or cold? Hot - it means surfing just in boardies!
 

Cat, dog or goldfish? Dog
 

Car or bike? Bike
 

Radio 1 or 2? Radio 1
 

Long haul or short haul? Long haul - it generally means you are going somewhere exciting!
 

Facebook or email? Email.  Facebook is evil.
 

Christmas or New Year? Christmas.  New Year is overrated.
 

Film or theatre? Film.  I am an uncultured babarian.
 

Favourite stand up? I dig Jimmy Carr.
 

Favourite time of day?  Surf o’clock
 

Favourite joke?
"Hedgehogs - why can't they just share the hedge?"
 

Favourite quote?
“Your measures not found in how much time you have on this earth, but what you do with the time you have”.