Death Valley preparations and equipment

28 October
It is today I wanted to start the expedition but it is hard to find a way to get to DV (Death Valley). I take a bus Las Vegas (8am) to Beatty (Nevada) and then I'll hitch hike to Furnace Creek (DV) where my Clif Bar package is and where I'll meet the rangers. Normally in the afternoon I'll meet with Farabees Jeep Rentals and try to find a way to get to the start during the evening or early morning on Friday as I want to start at 5am.

27 October
I just flew from NYC to Las Vegas. What to do today? Shop for food, prepare the maps, read the GPS manual and insert GPS points. And find a way to get to DV tomorrow. Find also a way to be dropped at the Northern part of the National Park for the start at 5 am on the 29th.

26 October
I found and bought a 630gram and high tripod and visited the Freedom tower. At 8 am I called the rangers and at 6 pm I attended a lecture at the Explorers Club. Clif Bar just accepted to send me bars for the expedition and that is really great. Another company that believes making a difference in this expedition.

25 October
It's midnight in NYC and my day isn't finished. I spent the morning checking some info about the hurricane Patricia. During the afternoon, the sun came out and it was time for training: walking with a heavy backpack in NYC which is very enjoyable because I actually visited at the same time and walked in areas of New Jersey and Wallstreet. I took a ferry to Staten Island and back to see the statue of liberty. I entered a shop and bought some extra small electronics.

24 October
Finally some sleep. this morning I went to visit my cousin (works for OMEGA). He showed me his office and we talked expeditions, NASA, Bertrand Piccard and James Bond (all sponsored by OMEGA). During the afternoon, more preparations. Next shop in a pharmacy and buy a lightweight small tripod.

23 October
After a long night to prepare my pack and a 30 min sleep, my alarm clock told me it was time to go to Brussels airport and fly to New York. In big Apple my first stop was the Explorers Club where I got my packages arrived: tent, trekking poles, sleeping mat, satellite phone SIM card (activated successfully). No idea there was a drink for members on Fridays and a reception for Oceans protection and leading explorer Anne Doubilet, who I was happy to meet again. During the evening I was invited at a friend's place and my smartphone "died" again. No way to turn it off again. I think I know why and perhaps in 24h it will work again.


22 October 2pm.
I worked 19 hours straight yesterday. My brain was painful I had to sleep. Makes me understand I need more sleep and during the trek I'll need to sleep 6 hours the first 2-3 nights otherwise I will become a zombie -not being able to think properly- and make deadly decisions. Sleep deprivation is my biggest fear in this challenge. The accumulation of stress will be so intense.
I ordered/bought a new tent & sleeping mat. Thanks to a good discount from CascadeDesigns. A new MSR and a new Thermarest. I trust these products eyes closed as I have already older/heavier models used in all my expeditions Australia expeditions and treks.
I ordered an Iridium SIM card +75min and all my stuff should arrive in NYC (like me) tomorrow.
Hotels booked. Still need to find transport, a light tripod and to replace my stolen GoPro.
I'm off to buy new hiking trail shoes and socks. My parents come to see me later today.
I even had a job interview this morning. Seriously, I might be the only person in the world doing job interviews 24h before leaving for another continent. Crap. How am I gonna get to the airport by the way ?
I went to decathlon to by some small equipment including a new pair of trekking shoes. I'll use them in NYC.

21 October
My Millet equipment has arrived. To celebrate this here is a 360 photo of my room. On the table I'm like "what electronics and cables do I need?". Next finding a hotel, transport to get to DV and by socks and new trekking shoes. Re-contact several brands for more items and print maps. Another big day with a JCI event tonight to network and eat well.

20 October
LEKI USA was very reactive and will ship to me a new pair of carbon trekking poles. For those who never walked with (carbon) poles, well, if you find your own pace you can increase your speed a lot. In my case it's speed increase and safety. First the pain in my knees will be less but with a heavy pack, having a total of four legs prevents you many times per day to fall. And in the washouts, canyons and down the mountain at the start of the trek, it can just save my life. No LEKI, no go. Simple.

16 October
I received good news today Millet agreed to give me a PROLIGHTER MXP 60+20 backpack and a LTK600 (gram) sleeping bag. This weekend is the last one I will email potential partners to get equipment that is lighter to help in this Death Valley expedition crossing.

I just received a sample of fabric that a new company called Outback Logic. They are crowdfunding on Kickstarter for a new tent that is able to reflect most of the sunlight and keep you cool inside. See my test with light and laser beam below.

German adventurers in Friedrichshafen

EN: For my third time in at the Outdoor Show, I focused more on meeting people and and trying to find the best expedition gear for the next challenges. I saw the seakayak goddess Freya Hoffmeister and discussed with Joe Vogel.

FR: Pour ma troisième visite à l'Outdoor Show. j'ai mis plus l'accent sur la rencontre avec des personnes et la recherche du meilleur équipement pour mes prochains challenges. J'ai vu la déesse du kayak de mer Freya Hoffmeister et j'i discuté avec Joe Vogel.

Café de l'aventure Paris

EN: Like last year, I gave a small lecture about expeditions in Paris at the Zango bar but this time about potential future projects. The Heard Island Expedition 2015 is surely cancelled so perhaps 1 or 2 small 1 week expeditions to do in the next 12 months. My friend Simon Dubuis was also there talking about his long march in the Andes.

FR: Comme l'année dernière j'ai donné une petite conférence à Paris au bar le Zango. J'ai parlé de projets futurs. L'expédition sur l'île de Heard 2015 est annulée donc j'ai quelques idées de 1 ou 2 petites expéditions d'une semaine à faire sur les 12 prochain mois. Mon pote Simon Dubuis a lui parlé de son expédition dans les Andes.

KayaClean CSR Corporate Community day

EN: The Jane Goodall Institute Belgium organized another KayaClean (part of the Roots and Shoots program) action with a corporate company. I was present to lead and explain how the action started, why it was important and safety guidelines. The sun was present and participants did an excellent job, a real clean-up army! They clearly experienced the fact that removing trash out of the water isn't an easy task and that we only see the tip of the iceberg when paddling a river like the Lesse. It's when you approach the bank river and look closely that you find all the small trash lying in the mud or in shallow water. Trash is even found hanging in the trees. 

FR: Le Jane Goodall Institute Belgique a organisé une autre action KayaClean  (fait partie du prgramme Roots and Shoots) avec une société. J'étais présent pour mener, expliquer la génèse de l'action, pourquoi c'est important et des règles de sécurité. Le soleil était au rendez-vous et les participants ont fait un excellent travail, une vraie armée de nettoyeurs! Ils ont pu clairement expérimenter le fait que retirer des déchets de l'eau n'est pas une opération facile et quo'n ne voit que le sommet de l'iceberg lorsqu'on pagaie une rivière comme la Lesse. C'est en approchant les berges et en regardant attentivement qu'on trouve les petits déchets cachés dans la boue ou en eau peu profonde. On trouve même des déchets accrochés en haut de branches.

Long distance attempt across the Atacama desert

EN: I went to Paris to meet Charles Hedrich who will attempt a very long traverse of the Atacama desert on foot and unsupported with Sylvain Bazin. I gave a couple of weeks ago a few desert expedition advice and also a few comments (FR). It's very hard to determine the extend of the Atacama desert. My point of view is different (from the Guiness book) but for sure it's an interesting desert expedition to follow.
UPDATE: He went solo and did succeed but not on the entire distance he announced at the start.

FR: J'ai été à Paris rencontrer Charles Hedrich qui va tenter une longue traversée du désert d'Atacama en autonomie complète avec sylvain Bazin. J'avais donné quelques conseils il y a 2 semaines et aussi commenté leur trajet d'expédition dans le désert. Ce n'est pas simple de déterminer l'étendue du désert d'Atacama. Mon point de vue est différent (du Guiness book) mais c'est certainement une expédition intéressante à suivre.
UPDATE: I a été en solitaire et il a réussi mais pas sur la distance totale qu'il a annoncé au départ.

Difference between French and English adventure books

 

EN: I just noticed that a book from a French publisher was constructed in another way of the English ones. If you want to pile the books horizontally to read the title on the side of the cover, for an English book, the cover is facing up and for an French book the back-cover is facing up. Of course if you want to store your books vertically with the cover on the "right", then you'll read the direction of the title differently (bottom-top for French; top-bottom for English).

FR: Je viens de remarquer qu'un livre publié en Français était construit d'une autre façon qu'un livre publié en Anglais. Si vous empilez les livres horizontalement pour lire le titre de l'ouvrage, la couverture de devant du livre en Français est dessous et elle est dessus pour un livre Anglophone. Et donc forcément, si les livres sont montrés verticalement, on lis le titre en Français de la tranche de bas en haut et inversément pour l'Anglais.

Adventurers in London

 

EN: I went on Saturday and Sunday to the London Outdoor Show. I watched the talks of several speakers (David Hempleman-Adams, photo) and discussed with brands for future expedition ideas. In 2012, I had met Ed Stafford (walking the Amazon) and bought his book, now I quickly introduced myself to Levison Wood who walked along the Nile. I'm wondering if in 3 years I'll buy a book called "Walking the Yangtze" ? I was recognized by Pete Casey who I'm in touch with since lake Titicaca with Cho Gadiel Sanchez Rivera. We spent several hours talking about his next expedition.

FR: J'ai été samedi et dimanche au London Outdoor Show. J'ai assisté aux conférences de plusieurs aventuriers comme David Hempleman-Adams et parlé avec les marques au sujet des expéditions futures. En 2012, j'avais rencontré Ed Stafford et acheté son livre "Walking the Amazon". Cette fois j'ai acheté le livre "Walking the Nile" de Levinson Wood. Vais-je acheter dans 3 ans un livre titrant "Walking the Yangtze" ? J'ai été reconnu par Pete Casey avec qui je communiquais depuis le lac Titicaca avec Gadiel Sanchez Rivera (Cho). Nous avons discuté longement de sa prochaine expédition.

Brompton factory in London

 

EN: I visited the Brompton factory, you know the best foldable bike in the world. I have an idea of a challenge to be done on a Brompton, reason why I visited them. I haven't done anything "adventurous" on a bike in 22 years since we toured the provence in France with the boyscouts so getting back on a bike is appealing. Above 2 of the very old prototypes / models.

FR: J'ai visité l'usine Brompton, vous savez le meilleur vélo pliant du monde. J'ai une idée d'un challenge à faire sur un Brompton et c'est pour cel que j'ai été les voir. Je n'ai rien fait d'aventureux sur un vélo en 22 ans depuis le tour de la provence avec les scouts. Revenir au vélo est donc assez attrayant. Voyez au dessus 2 modèles / prototypes du Brompton.

ISPO new products

 

EN: For the fourth time I went to ISPO Munich to discover new outdoor products & hunt sponsors.
FR: Pour la quatrième fois, j'ai été à ISPO à Munich pour découvrir les nouveaux produits outdoor et chercher des sponsors.

Isabelle Austissier

EN: I'm back from Liège where I listened to navigator Isabelle Autissier who in 75 minutes highlighted the issues facing the Oceans. She spoke about water pollution, ocean temperature raise, marine biodiversity issues ... and of course that there is hope. I liked the end of her talk. She said that as a sailor in the storm you can be pessimistic about it and do nothing, optimistic about it and do nothing or realistic and change direction. It's indeed what humanity must do.

FR: Je reviens de Liège où j'ai écouté la navigatrice Isabelle Autissier qui pendant 75 minutes à mis l'accent sur la problématique des Océans. Elle a parlé de pollution des eaux, d'augmentation de la température mondiale des Océans, des dangers pesant sur la biodiversité marine... et évidemment du fait qu'il reste de l'espoir. J'ai aimé la fin de son discours où elle a dit que comme un marin en pleine tempête, on peut être pessimiste et ne rien faire, optimiste et ne rien faire ou être réaliste et changer de cap. C'est évidemment ce que l'humanité doit faire.