An intrepid British explorer who has spent an astonishing 27 years traversing the planet on foot has pinpointed the two most frightening locations from his epic journey.
The Goliath Expedition
Karl Bushby, a 56-year-old former paratrooper from Kingston upon Hull, embarked on his monumental 36,000-mile Goliath Expedition in 1998, starting from Chile. His ambitious goal is to become the first person to complete a continuous, unbroken walk around the world.
His incredible trek has seen him swim across the Caspian Sea and walk the entire lengths of the American and Asian continents. After nearly three decades on the road, he is now finally approaching his hometown of Hull.
Confronting a War Zone
One of the most harrowing experiences Bushby recalled was navigating the Darién Gap, a notorious 60-mile passage that connects Central and South America. He described finding himself in the "middle of a war zone".
This treacherous stretch of land, spanning Panama and Colombia, is considered one of the most dangerous migration routes on Earth. Bushby told CBS News that beyond the inherent peril of the landscape, there is "a whole layer above that of cartels and drug plantations, and then really, really tough jungle."
The dangers of the Darién Gap are numerous and severe:
- Extremely difficult terrain featuring mountains and dense rainforests
- Oppressive heat and heavy rainfall
- Rivers requiring dangerous crossings
- Deadly wildlife including crocodiles and venomous snakes
- Rampant criminal activity such as human trafficking, extortion, and robbery
A Polar Bear Encounter on the Ice
The second location that stood out for its sheer peril was the Bering Strait, the frigid passage separating the Pacific and Arctic Oceans between Alaska and Russia.
It was here that Bushby had a terrifying encounter with a polar bear. He emphasised the extreme environment, stating, "You're in a very serious world that will kill you in 20 minutes if you mess up."
Despite the grave risks, Bushby successfully crossed the strait in 2006 alongside American companion Dimitri Kieffer. The duo navigated treacherous ice flows and swam through areas of open water, only to be arrested by Russian authorities upon arrival in Siberia for illegal entry and subsequently deported.
The Challenge of Coming Home
As of early November, Bushby was nearing Budapest, closing in on his final destination. He has admitted that returning to Hull after so long will feel "very strange".
He confessed that finally concluding his monumental journey is a "positively scary" prospect and will be "going to be hard." Having consulted other long-distance walkers, he knows the difficulty of reintegrating into normal society. His strategy is to immediately "throw myself into another mission, to have another goal."
Despite facing immense dangers, Bushby retains a positive view of humanity, asserting that "99.99% of the world is good" and the planet is not as frightening "as you might think", even in regions where one might not expect kindness.
