Ash Dykes

Ashley Philip Dykes (born 1 November 1990) is a Welsh adventurer and extreme athlete.[1][2] He achieved two unofficial world-first records, trekking across Mongolia and Madagascar, before the age of 25. In August 2019, he achieved his third unofficial record, becoming the first person to walk along the full 4,000-mile (6,437km) course of the Yangtze, the longest river in Asia.[3]

Ash Dykes
Born
Ashley Philip Dykes

(1990-11-01) 1 November 1990
St Asaph, Denbighshire, Wales
NationalityBritish
OccupationAdventurer, extreme athlete
Years active2007–present
Known forTwo world-first records for trekking across Mongolia and Madagascar

Personal life

Dykes grew up in Old Colwyn,[4] where he attended Ysgol Bryn Elian. He then went to Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, where he studied Outdoor Education.

Career

He worked as a lifeguard to finance his first trip to China. He walked solo and unsupported across Mongolia in 2014, aged 23. The 1,500-mile journey over the Altai Mountains and across the Gobi Desert took 78 days. He became known to locals as the "lonely snow leopard".[5] In 2015 he completed the 1,600-mile trek across Madagascar via its eight highest peaks, another world first.[6] Along the way, he contracted the deadliest strain of malaria and was close to death. As a result of the experience, he is now a special ambassador for the charity Malaria No More UK.[7] In August 2018, he embarked on another world-first record attempt, to walk the 4,000-mile course of the Yangtze river.[8] The successful completion of his year-long mission earned him celebrity status in China.[9]

He recounted his adventures in Mongolia and Madagascar in Mission Possible: A Decade of Living Dangerously, published by Eye Books in 2017.[10]

He was featured on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast on 14 January 2020.[11]

Awards

He won the 2016 Welsh Adventurer of the Year Award.[12] He has been named the seventh-coolest person in Wales[13] and was described as "one of the world’s most fearless outdoor men" by FHM magazine.[14]

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References
  1. "Old Colwyn adventurer Ash Dykes arrives in China for final expedition preparations". North Wales Pioneer.
  2. "Old Colwyn's Ash Dykes begins world record mission down the Yangtze River". North Wales Pioneer. Archived from the original on 2018-08-19. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
  3. Mohdin, Aamna (2019-08-12). "British explorer is first person to complete 4,000-mile Yangtze trek". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  4. "St Asaph adventurer and extreme athlete Ash Dykes partners up with Lord". Rhyl Journal. Archived from the original on 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  5. "Solo Mongolian trek breaks record". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2018-10-24. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
  6. "Adventurer completes Madagascar trek". 16 February 2016. Archived from the original on 2018-10-24. Retrieved 2018-10-17 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  7. "War on malaria: on the brink of a breakthrough?". 18 April 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-08-07. Retrieved 2018-08-07 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  8. "Adventurer's Yangtze River record attempt". 7 March 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-10-12. Retrieved 2018-10-17 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  9. Lewis, Anna (2019-08-15). "The Welshman who's plastered all over billboards in China". walesonline. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  10. "Mission: Possible by Ash Dykes - Eye Books". eye-books.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-19. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGLgfGT032s
  12. "Ash Dykes - Motivational Speaker - Champions Speakers".
  13. Mainwaring, Rachel (27 November 2015). "The Cool List: The 50 coolest men in Wales". Archived from the original on 2017-09-08. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  14. "Ambassador Ash Dykes - Craghoppers Community". Archived from the original on 2017-07-04. Retrieved 2018-08-07.


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