An ambitious new expedition is about to get underway in the next few weeks that if successful, will set a new standard for human powered journeys around our planet. Adventurer Angelo Wilkie-Page is about to attempt a double-circumnavigation of the globe, first going east to west, and then north to south. He has dubbed this amazing endeavor Expedition 720 Degrees, as he’ll not only pass through all lines of longitude in his travels, but latitude as well.
The 29-year old South African will start his journey in Los Angeles in just a couple of weeks, and he’ll first head north by bike across the U.S. and Canada, before arriving in Anchorage, Alaska. From there. From there, he’ll travel by sea kayak across the Bering Strait, then ride his bike once again across Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Hungary, Austria, Italy, Monaco, France, and Spain, before eventually arriving in Lisbon, Portugal.
On the third leg of the journey, Angelo will row across the Atlantic Ocean from Portugal to Brazil, where he’ll then ride out of Rio toward the southernmost tip of South America, before turning back north toward his starting point in L.A. When he reaches that point, he’ll then be halfway finished with the expedition.
The next phase of the journey will start in New York City, with Angelo traveling north into Canada, and eventually on to the North Pole, before turning back south and arriving in Norway. This stage will be completed by bike, rowboat, and on foot, as the South African attempts to complete the very difficult task of reaching 90ºN under his own power.
Once he has reached Norway, he will then cycle across Europe and Asia, turning south into Thailand, where he’ll once again start rowing through Malaysia, past Australia, and eventually ending in New Zealand. From there, he intends to hop across the Southern Ocean, and begin a traverse of the Antarctic via the South Pole. When he has completed that arduous leg, he’ll cross over into Ushuaia, Argentina, and ride his bike back to New York City, completing the final leg of his journey.
Angelo estimates that he’ll cross through 48 countries on this expedition, covering a total distance of 115,000 km (71,457 miles) along the way. He’ll row or paddle across four oceans, and nine seas, while also crossing six deserts, including the five largest in the world. Along the way, he hopes to set a new record for east-west circumnavigation, and become the first person to complete a Pole to Pole circumnav that crosses four antipodal points and four Equator crossings.
He also is looking to become the fist to complete both circumnavigation attempts under his own power, and set a record for the most distance covered along the way too.
At the moment, Wilkie-Page is getting ready to launch the expedition, and will be in the U.S. soon to start his amazing journey. While he is of course looking forward to the adventure, he is also making this attempt for a cause as well. Angelo hopes to raise $1 million for Heifer International, a nonprofit looking to stamp out poverty and hunger in developing nations around the world.
You can follow Angelo’s progress on his website and Facebook page. This will certainly be one incredibly undertaking. Good luck!
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