Ash Dykes Explained

Ash Dykes
Birth Name:Ashley Philip Dykes
Nationality:Welsh
Occupation:Adventurer, extreme athlete
Years Active:2007–present
Known For:Three world-first records for trekking across Mongolia, Madagascar and The Yangtze River

Ashley Philip Dykes is a Welsh adventurer and extreme athlete.[1] [2] He achieved two official world-first records, trekking across Mongolia and Madagascar, before the age of 25. In August 2019, he achieved his third official record, becoming the first person to walk along the full 4000abbr=offNaNabbr=off course of the Yangtze, the longest river in Asia.[3]

Personal life

Dykes grew up in Old Colwyn, Wales. and also attended Ysgol Bryn Elian situated within the town.[4]

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 1500miles 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 1600miles 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]

He recounted his adventures in Mongolia and Madagascar in Mission Possible: A Decade of Living Dangerously, published by Eye Books in 2017.[8]

In August 2018, he embarked on another world-first record attempt, to walk the 4000miles course of the Yangtze river.[9] The successful completion of his year-long mission earned him celebrity status in China.[10]

Awards

He won the 2016 Welsh Adventurer of the Year Award. He has been named the seventh-coolest person in Wales[11] and was described as "one of the world’s most fearless outdoor men" by FHM magazine.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Old Colwyn adventurer Ash Dykes arrives in China for final expedition preparations. North Wales Pioneer.
  2. Web site: Old Colwyn's Ash Dykes begins world record mission down the Yangtze River. North Wales Pioneer. 2018-10-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20180819160831/http://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/16585314.old-colwyns-ash-dykes-begins-world-record-mission-down-the-yangtze-river/#. 2018-08-19. live.
  3. News: Mohdin. Aamna. British explorer is first person to complete 4,000-mile Yangtze trek. 2019-08-12. The Guardian. 2020-03-24. en-GB. 0261-3077.
  4. Web site: St Asaph adventurer and extreme athlete Ash Dykes partners up with Lord. Rhyl Journal. 2018-08-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20181017203028/http://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/15769769.St_Asaph_adventurer_and_extreme_athlete_Ash_Dykes_partners_up_with_Lord/#. 2018-10-17. live.
  5. Web site: Solo Mongolian trek breaks record. BBC News. 2018-10-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20181024093704/https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-wales-28707310/solo-mongolian-trekker-ash-dykes-breaks-world-record#. 2018-10-24. live.
  6. Web site: Adventurer completes Madagascar trek. 16 February 2016. www.bbc.co.uk. 2018-10-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20181024103615/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-35587330#. 2018-10-24. live.
  7. Web site: War on malaria: on the brink of a breakthrough?. 18 April 2018. www.telegraph.co.uk. 2018-08-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20180807012515/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/the-war-on-malaria/#. 2018-08-07. live.
  8. Web site: Mission: Possible by Ash Dykes - Eye Books. eye-books.com. 2018-08-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20180819045459/http://eye-books.com/books/mission-possible#. 2018-08-19. live.
  9. Web site: Adventurer's Yangtze River record attempt. 7 March 2018. www.bbc.co.uk. 2018-10-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20181012150306/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-43286920#. 2018-10-12. live.
  10. Web site: The Welshman who's plastered all over billboards in China. Lewis. Anna. 2019-08-15. walesonline. 2020-03-24.
  11. Web site: The Cool List: The 50 coolest men in Wales. Rachel. Mainwaring. 27 November 2015. 2018-08-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20170908055139/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/cool-list-50-coolest-men-10495495#. 2017-09-08. live.
  12. Web site: Ambassador Ash Dykes - Craghoppers Community. 2018-08-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20170704045215/http://www.craghoppers.com/community/ambassadors/ambassador-ash-dykes/#. 2017-07-04. live.

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