National Geographic's 2010 Bucket List

Ultimate Adventure Bucket List 2010

WOW, we sleep in a tent for 4 days and feel like we have not had a shower in a month. These National Geographic bucket people are on their quests for immorality for 6 months. That is more time than a college semester. Some of my semesters felt like a life time.

Ed Stafford

Photograph by Keith Ducatel

Feat: Trekked for 859 days from source to sea on along the Amazon River
In a time when there are few great expeditions to still be completed, British adventurer Ed Stafford found one. On April 2, 2008, he set out to travel the entire length of the Amazon River, from source to sea, on foot, a distance of more than 4,000 miles (6,437 kilometers). Along the way, the explorer faced hostile locals, drug runners, disease, lack of food, and a host of dangerous animals and insects. He also picked up a companion, Cho Rivera, who joined him on the trail for much of the trek. On August 9, 2010, after 859 days in the field, the journey was finally complete when Safford and Rivera plunged into the Atlantic Ocean, bringing an end to one of the most difficult expeditions in modern times.

Matt and Mike Moniz

Photograph by Mike Monitz

Feat: This father and son climbing team reached the high points in all 50 states and in record time.
Twelve-year old climber Matt Moniz and his dad, Mike, began the summer with a single goal—to reach the highest points in all 50 states, in just 50 days. The clock started running when they topped out on the 20,320-foot (6-193-meter) tall Denali, the highest peak in Alaska, and all of North America for that matter. In the days ahead, they went on to knock off more high points ranging from the 14,505-foot (4,421-meter) tall Mount Whitney in California to the decidedly less challenging Britton Hill, Florida’s highest point, which stands at just 345 feet (105 meters) above sea level. On July 16, 43 days after setting out, the father and son climbing team reached the summit of Hawaii's 13,796-foot (4,205-meter) Mauna Kea, establishing a new high-points speed record in the process.

Eric McNair-Landry and Sebastian Copeland

Photograph by Sebastian Copeland

Feat: Spent 40 days snowkiting across Greenland to set a new single-day distance record
This summer polar explorers Eric McNair-Landry and Sebastian Copeland traversed the entire length of Greenland—1,400 miles (2,253 kilometers) from south to north—using just skis and kites. The two men harnessed the power of the arctic wind to make history: On June 6 they traveled an astounding 370 miles (595 kilometers) in a single day, setting a new record for the longest distance ever covered on skis in a 24-hour period

Alex Honnold

Photograph by Tom Evans

Feat: Set speed records on two iconic climbing routes in Yosemite—on the same day

For most rock climbers, conquering Yosemite’s Half Dome or El Capitan is the dream of a lifetime. For Alex Honnold, it’s simply another day at the park. On June 22, Honnold conquered both routes on the same day, setting two speed records in the process. The morning started with Honnold going up the regular route on the northwest face of Half Dome in just two hours and nine minutes, shaving a full 41 minutes off the old record. From there he proceeded to El Cap, where he also scaled The Nose in just six hours, giving him a combined time for both routes of eight hours and nine minutes. That impressive time also happens to be a new speed record for completing both routes back-to-back

Oh Eun-Sun

Photograph by Yonhap, AP

Feat: Becoming the first woman to conquer all 14 8,000-meter peaks
In climbing circles, bagging an 8,000-meter (26,247-foot) peak, such as Everest or K2, is considered quite an accomplishment, but summiting all 14 of the world's tallest mountains truly sets a mountaineer apart from the pack. Coming into 2010, the list of climbers who had completed that feat consisted only of men. That changed on April 27, 2010, when South Korean climber Oh Eun-Sun reached the summit of 26,545-foot (8,091-meter) Annapurna, located in central Nepal, and added her name to the climbing elite. (Some, including Spaniard Edurne Pasaban, who successfully summited all 14 peaks just days later, question whether Oh reached the true summit of Kangchenjunga in the Himalaya, as the photographic evidence is inconclusive. This climb remains disputed.)

Lewis Gordon Pugh

Photograph by Michael Walker

Feat: Completing the highest altitude long-distance swim ever in an attempt to raise awareness of global climate change
British swimmer and environmentalist Lewis Gordon Pugh traveled to the Himalaya in May 2010 to attempt a long-distance swim that many thought was impossible. On May 22, wearing just his customary Speedo, swimming cap, and goggles, Pugh plunged into the frigid waters of Lake Pumori, located not far from Mount Everest at 17,700 feet (5,400 meters), and swam one kilometer, setting a new record for the highest altitude long-distance swim. Best known for swimming across the geographic North Pole back in 2007, Pugh overcame altitude sickness—and what he called “the most frightening day” of his swimming career—to complete his task, which he hopes will help raise awareness for the shrinking Himalayan glaciers

Roz Savage

Photograph courtesy Roz Savage

Feat: Becoming the first woman to row solo across the Pacific Ocean
On June 3, 2010, British ocean rower Roz Savage arrived in Papua New Guinea, completing the third and final stage of her solo row across the Pacific Ocean. The journey began back in 2008 when she set out from San Francisco and rowed the 2,324 miles (3,740 kilometers) to Hawaii in 100 days. In 2009, she returned for stage two, spending 104 days covering the 3,158 miles (5,082 kilometers) between Hawaii and Tarawa, a tiny island in the South Pacific. It took her just 45 days to row the final 2,248 miles (3,618 kilometers) between Tarawa and Papua New Guinea. By completing her journey, Savage became the first woman to row solo across the Pacific, while also campaigning regularly to protect the health of the world’s oceans

Mark Beaumont

Photograph courtesy Mark Beaumont

Feat: Cycling the length of the Americas and climbing the highest mountains on two continents
In February 2010, Scottish cyclist Mark Beaumont completed an epic cycling journey that began in Anchorage, Alaska, and ended more than 13,000 miles (20,921 kilometers) later in Ushuaia, Argentina, at the very tip of South America. Along the way, he made time to get off his bike and climb Denali, the tallest mountain in North America at 20,320 feet (6,194 meters). Later he topped out on 22,841-foot (6,962-meter) Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South America. While this was certainly a long and challenging ride, it ranks as only the second longest in Beaumont’s illustrious cycling career: Back in 2007 he rode 18,297 miles (29,446 kilometers) around the world on his bike, completing that journey in just 194 days.

Jessica Watson

Photograph by Daniel Munoz, Reuters

Feat: Sailing solo nonstop around the world at 16, becoming the youngest to do so
While most teenagers struggle with homework, extracurricular activities, and trying to maintain a social life, 16-year-old Jessica Watson spent much of the past year navigating the high seas while battling massive storms and 30-foot (9-meter) swells. In October 2009 the Australian teen set out from Sydney aboard her ship, Ella’s Pink Lady, in an attempt to sail solo nonstop around the globe. When she returned in May 2010, just three days shy of her 17th birthday, she set a new mark for the youngest person to accomplish that feat. Watson was already a celebrity in her home country even before her return to Sydney Harbor. As a result, her arrival was quite the media event, with thousands lining the dock to welcome her home, while millions more watched on television.
Since competing her voyage, the World Speed Sailing Record Council has said that her route did not meet the necessary circumnavigation criteria. Rules and regulations aside, Watson did successfully sail solo, non-stop around the world. Fellow 16-year-old solo-sailing contender Abby Sunderland, who faced several set backs during her voyage, was not as fortunate: She was rescued in mid-June after her boat took a serious beating during storms in the Southern Ocean.
In the Field: October 18, 2009, to May 15, 2010

Dave Hahn

Photograph by Michael Brown, First Ascent

Feat: Reaching the summit of Everest for the 12th time, setting a new record for non-Sherpa climber
Considered one of the best high-altitude mountain guides in the world, Dave Hahn added to that reputation in 2010 by reaching the top of Everest for the 12th time, extending his record for most summits by a non-Sherpa. It was all in a day’s work for Hahn, who happened to be guiding Leif Whittaker, the son of Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Everest. Hahn’s very impressive mountaineering resume also includes more than 250 successful summits of Mount Rainier, 19 more on Denali, and a record 26 trips to the top of Antarctica's Vinson Massif. All those summits together equal a lot of time spent in very thin air.

David de Rothschild

Photograph by PLASTIKI

Feat: Sailing from San Francisco to Sydney on a boat made of 12,000 recycled plastic bottles
Sailing across the Pacific Ocean seems like a strange expedition for a man who earned his reputation traversing the North and South Poles—and freely admits to getting seasick easily. But eco-adventurer David de Rothschild will go to great lengths to convey his message of environmental responsibility, which is why he and his crew are sailing from San Francisco to Sydney in a ship made entirely of post-consumer plastic bottles. Dubbed the Plastiki in homage to Thor Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki, de Rothschild's ship sports solar panels, wind generators, and other renewable energy sources, making it one of the most eco-friendly vessels to ever set sail. Their 12,000-nautical-mile (19,312-kilometer) voyage includes stops at ecological hot spots, such as the Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch. Follow his expedition at his blog.
In the Field: March 20, 2010, to July 2010 (Expected)

Lei Wang

Photograph by Justin Merle

Feat: Completing the Adventure Grand Slam by reaching the summit of Everest
By reaching the summit of Mount Everest on May 24, 2010, climber Lei Wang achieved something that very few adventurers can claim—she had completed the Adventure Grand Slam, which consists of climbing the Seven Summits and reaching both the North and South Poles. Growing up in China, Lei never dreamed she’d one day lead a life of adventure, but after completing her undergrad with a computer science degree, then adding an MBA from the prestigious Wharton School, she took a trip to Ecuador. While there, she climbed the 19,344-foot (5,896-meter) Cotopaxi, and the rest is history. Now she joins just nine others on the Adventure Grand Slam honor roll.
In the Field: Completed May 24, 2010

Lance Mackey

Photograph by Bob Hallinen, Landov

Feat: Dominating the Iditarod dog-sledding race for four consecutive wins

In Alaska, winning the Iditarod isn’t everything—it’s the only thing. For nearly four decades, the 1,100-mile-long (1,800-kilometer-long) race has forged itself a reputation as one of the most demanding endurance events on the planet. But over the past few years, it has been dominated by one man, Lance Mackey. In March 2010 Mackey claimed his fourth straight Iditarod title, setting a record for consecutive wins, and he remains the only man to win both the Iditarod and the 1,000-mile-long (1,600-kilometer-long) Yukon Quest in the same year, something that was previously thought impossible. Despite all of these feats, his biggest victory may have been in 2002, when he beat throat cancer. His dog teams all come from his aptly named Comeback Kennel.

In the Field: March 2010

Jordan Romero

Photograph by Team Romero, AP

Feat: Reaching the summit of Everest at 13, becoming the youngest to stand atop the rooftop of the world
On May 22, 2010, 13-year-old American Jordan Romero stepped onto the 29,029-foot (8,848-meter) summit of Mount Everest, becoming the youngest person to reach the highest point on the planet. Climbing from the north side of the mountain, he became an inspiration for young and old alike, but for the kid from California it was just one more step toward his ultimate goal: to become the youngest to climb the highest mountain on each of the seven continents, collectively known as the Seven Summits. This fall, Romero will travel to Antarctica to complete his quest by climbing the 16,050-foot (4,892-meter) Vinson Massif.
In the Field: May 2010

Andrew Skurka

Photograph by Andrew Skurka

Feat: Skiing, hiking, and packrafting 4,700 miles (7,563 kilometers) of remote Alaskan and Canadian backcountry
Covering vast distances on foot is certainly nothing new for Andrew Skurka. At 29 years old, he has already hiked more than 25,000 miles (40,234 kilometers), including a 7,778-mile (12,517-kilometer) transcontinental trek across North America. But his latest expedition may be his most ambitious of all. In March 2010, Skurka set out from Kotzebue, Alaska, on a 4,700-mile-long (12,517-kilometer-long) journey that will see him crossing through six U.S. and two Canadian national parks. Along the way he’ll traverse both the Alaska and Brooks Mountain Ranges, two of the most remote and untouched wildernesses on the planet. If all goes according to plan, he’ll come full circle in October. Follow his blog posts here.
In the Field: March 15, 2010, to October 2010 (Expected)

The Natioal Geographic's 2011 Bucket List

Ultimate Adventure Bucket List 2011

Here they are. The 20 most extreme, hair-raising, legendary adventures on the planet, daunting even for the world's elite athletes. If you've got the mettle, add these to your lifetime to-do list. Not quite ready? Check out the 20 next-best adventures—and start planning.

1 of 20

Summit Everest

Himalaya, Nepal, China

Ever since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first proved in 1953 that standing atop the world's tallest peak was possible, the mountain has been synonymous with challenge and adventure. Now, each spring, despite the storms, avalanche hazard, bitter cold, and challenging technical climbing, dozens of people–from 13-year-olds to the blind and amputees–clamor to reach the summit and clinch a new record. Despite the hubbub, the mountain remains the pinnacle of mountaineering achievements, and standing on the top is indeed, quite literally, standing on top of the world

2 of 20

Wingsuit Fly off the Eiger

Switzerland

"Eiger" translates to "ogre" in German, which seems a fitting moniker for the 13,000-foot (3,962-meter) beast of limestone, gneiss, shale, and ice that towers over the resort town of Grindelwald in the Swiss Alps. Its unpredictable weather, loose rock, and steep slopes have claimed the lives of more than 60 climbers, and yet its iconic 5,905-foot (1,800-meter) north face still proves irresistible. Now a new set of adventurers, wingsuit fliers, are not only climbing it but launching off it. Dean Potter (pictured) clinched the most heralded descent in 2009: After free soloing up the north face, he stepped into thin air for a four-mile, 9,000-vertical-foot (2,743-vertical-meter) flight that took two minutes and 50 seconds. The extreme sport is unquestionably one of the most dangerous on Earth, but perhaps that's the allure: It's the closest humans can get to true unadulterated flight.

3 of 20

Surf Big Waves at Shipsterns Bluff

Tasmania, Australia

On the far southern coast of Tasmania, jutting into one of the Earth's most unpredictable and tempestuous seas, lies a point break so remote and isolated it's reachable only by boat or an hour-long wilderness trek. This is Shipsterns Bluff, a cold and dangerously unpredictable break where waves start crashing at eight feet (two meters) but can top 20 feet (six meters). The waves' characteristic steps trip even expert surfers–recently such as Kelly Slater and Ryan Hipwood (pictured)–and swing perilously close to rock fields, but the rush of lassoing the goliath of all waves beneath the coast's dwarfing black cliffs keeps surfers returning. "The scariest part is seeing the wave and committing to catching it," says local surfer Charles Ward. "But once committed, it all tends to feel surreal and I forget about everything except what's right in front of me."

4 of 20

Photograph by Kip Evans

Hike the Triple Crown

United States

The length of the United States' three longest trails combined–nearly 7,700 miles (12,391 kilometers)–is enough to stretch nearly a third of the way around the globe, which might explain why fewer than a hundred people have clinched this Triple Crown. Walking the Pacific Crest, Appalachian, and Continental Divide Trails generally takes years and multiple pairs of boots, as hikers hoof over some of the country's grandest features, from the Appalachians to the Rockies and Cascades. But the payoff is a rare intimate knowledge of unfathomably diverse and wild parts of the country. Between the Atlantic and Pacific, hikers take in wave-battered coastlines, primordial forests, snowcapped peaks, volcanoes, rain forests, the otherworldly geology of the desert, and, above us all, huge skies that change like moods, such as this one above Bishop Pass in California's Sierra Nevada.

5 of 20

Ski K2

Karakoram Range, China, Pakistan

In comparison to Everest, K2–the world’s second tallest mountain at 28,251 feet (8,611 meters)–is more remote, has more unpredictable weather, and is statistically more deadly. Naturally that makes it one of the world's most coveted prizes for top pro ski mountaineers, who in recent years have raced to tag the summit and jump-turn back down. Still, the hazards are fierce: furious winds, avalanches, and inadvertent falls are just the start. American high-altitude ski guide Dave Watson (pictured) skied from 820 feet (250 meters) below the summit in 2009 and Swedish mountaineer Fredrik Ericsson died trying in 2010. The full feat has yet to be accomplished.

6 of 20

Photography by Jimmy Chin

Free Climb Yosemite's El Capitan

California, United States

Two times the height of New York City's Empire State Building, El Capitan towers over California's Yosemite Valley like a fortress. It was precisely this taunting impressiveness that lured early climbers and established Yosemite as the birthplace of climbing in the United States. One of the most storied routes is The Nose, a beautiful schnoz of rock that has become a prize for avid climbers. Warren Harding's first ascent of the route took 45 days in 1958, and Lynn Hill cemented her legendary status with the first free climb, previously thought impossible, in 1993. Now, speed climbers race up it in hours, but most mortals take between three and five days to sweat up the 30-plus pitches of up to 5.14. They come for the hard granite, some of the most beautiful cracks in the world, and, perhaps most of all, to follow in the footsteps of legends.

7 of 20

Cross the Sahara Desert

North Africa

The world's great sea of sand, the Sahara Desert, stretches 3.3 million square miles (8.5 million square kilometers) across North Africa, nearly 3,000 miles (4,838 kilometers) long from the Atlantic to the Red Sea. A great challenge, it has lured many explorers, who have braved dust storms, hostile tribes, thirst, and intolerable heat to experience a frontier of epic proportions. Nowadays, the bravest of adventurers cross it on foot, camel, or 4-by-4 vehicles, outfitted with plenty of emergency survival gear, but there is still little help out there if something goes wrong. Only a handful of outposts and nomads punctuate the dunes, and explorers can go days without seeing anyone or anything but desert

8 of 20

Set a New Kayak Waterfall Record

Washington, United States

Attempting a new waterfall record in a kayak requires a lot of scouting, an acceptance that you'll probably get at least a little hurt, and, perhaps most important, an unquestionable belief in one's own immortality. And yet, in recent years, waterfalls have proven an irresistible, if dangerous, frontier for young-gun pro kayakers seeking eternal bragging rights. "The motivating factor for all of this was just that I thought it was possible," says Tyler Bradt, who clinched the record in 2009 with a 3.7-second freefall over 186-foot (57-meter) Palouse Falls in eastern Washington (pictured). "I wanted to do it, I guess, because I can."

9 of 20

Descend Into an Active Volcano

Vanuatu, South Pacific

As a general rule, lava is best seen from a great distance. That is, of course, unless you're a group of daredevils who, led by Kiwi adventurer Geoff Mackley, descended 640 feet (195 meters) into Vanuatu's Marum Volcano to witness the explosive bowels of the Earth firsthand in 2010. The resulting video, in which a man in a heatproof suit came within 300 feet (91 meters) of a viciously boiling lake of lava, went viral. It's pretty clear that live volcanoes are unpredictable and their craters offer all sorts of inhospitable challenges: toxic gas, extreme heat, tumbling rocks, and unwarranted explosions. Just because it's insane doesn't mean that it's impossible

10 of 20

Climb, Swim, or Surf the Poles

Arctic, Antarctica

In an age of dwindling frontiers, seeking new territory to explore has spurred more adventurers to the extremes of the Earth–and in particular, the Poles. In recent years, a six-person expedition explored the huge winter waves off Norway's Lofoten Islands by surfboard (pictured), cold-water swimmer Lewis Gordon Pugh freestyled a kilometer across the North Pole in nothing more than a Speedo, and pro skier Chris Davenport took a team of athletes to ski unnamed peaks in Antarctica. These are places where an explorer must chart his or her own course and goals. What drives them is something immaterial. Perhaps it's the thrill of braving some of the world's coldest places, the heady feeling of isolation, or simply the innate human love for accomplishing what hasn't been done before.

11 of 20

Photograph by Wolfgang Rattay, Reuters

Ski the Hahnenkamm Downhill Race

Austria

Nowadays, liability lawyers would never let a race like the Hahnenkamm Downhill happen. But in 1931 race organizers paid no heed to potential lawsuits when they created what would become arguably the most hair-raising downhill course on the planet. Over two miles, the run drops 2,800 vertical feet (853 vertical meters) with gradients of up to 85 percent and off-camber turns that buck even the toughest racers. Those who stay upright have been clocked speeds up to 87 miles an hour (140 kilometers an hour). Of course, qualifying is one of the hardest parts–the race now attracts the world's top skiers–but spectating is an extreme sport unto itself. Some 85,000 Swiss and Austrian fans, waving flags, blowing horns, and ringing cowbells, crowd the course and, come evening, compete for beer in one of Austria's most storied winter bacchanals

12 of 20

Megatransect the Amazon

South America

Despite its obvious perils–from jungle-borne diseases to leeches, jaguars, baseball-size tarantulas, and prehistoric river creatures–the Amazon has attracted a who's who of luminous adventurers, such as Percy Fawcett, Theodore Roosevelt, and, of course, Indiana Jones. It continues to do so today: Brit Ed Stafford, who finished his more than 4,000-mile (6,437-kilometer) trek along the length of the mighty river in 2010, was the most recent. Nowadays, it's perhaps not so much the lure of Inca treasure or the lost city of El Dorado that draws adventurers, but the promise of pure adventure that lies in one of the last great frontiers

13 of 20

Climb the Seven Summits

All Continents

Humans are perhaps the only species that self-impose challenges, and standing at the highest point on every continent, such as Russia's Mount Elbrus (pictured), has long been a coveted one to conquer. Accomplishing this requires serious mountaineering skills, time, money, and guts. But those who succeed share the honor with a few hundred people, depending on which seven peaks you consider the highest, which is debated with regard to Oceania. Still, since the first titles were clinched by Dick Bass and Pat Morrow in 1985 and 1986, respectively, the Seven Summits have attracted climbers from all walks: 17-year-olds and 73-year-olds, skiers and climbers, Japanese and Latvians, Kuwaitis and Chileans. Perhaps the lure of mountains is indeed universal

14 of 20

Photograph by Wes Skiles, National Geographic

Dive the Blue Holes

Bahamas

When vacationing divers dip into the upper levels of Bahamas' blue holes–flooded inland caves formed originally from limestone–to take a look around, they are unwittingly close to some of the world's most dangerous diving. Farther below lies a kingdom of passageways that holds fossils and ancient formations. The very few who pass through the layer of toxic gas to reach these lower levels find pinhole passageways where a technical failure or wrong turn could spell doom and one errant fin could obliterate 10,000-year-old rock structures. But those who do venture into the watery veins of the Earth discover whole ballrooms full of tightly packed stalactites, prehistoric human remains, and fossils of now extinct crocodiles and tortoises. These caves are, quite literally, another world.

15 of 20

Road Bike from Alaska to Argentina

The Americas

Between Alaska's Prudhoe Bay and Argentina's Tierra del Fuego, there's some 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers) of highway, two of the world's steepest mountain ranges, and more than a dozen countries. Biking such a distance takes upwards of two years, making it not so much a trip but a lifestyle. The challenges are formidable, from flat tires in remote areas and wild South American drivers to long, lonely stretches of Alaskan highway. But the upshot is that riders gain an intimate knowledge of scenery across North and South America, from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia (pictured), and meet a remarkable diversity of people along the way. "I knew this challenge would be tough, I knew I would see incredible places. I knew I would experience fear, sadness, loneliness and sometimes delirious happiness," wrote Dominic Gill, who rode a tandem, picked up passengers, and filmed his experience for the documentary Take a Seat. "What I didn't expect was to have my faith in humanity so massively reinforced over two years of trusting in people."

16 0f 20

Solo Sail Around the World

Magellan didn't at first intend to circumnavigate the planet; He was simply looking for a shortcut to the Spice Islands. Now the journey is taken in its own right, and, most recently, by a growing number of teenagers competing for the title of youngest solo circumnavigator. Still, the seas are just as tempestuous as they were centuries ago, with the ever present danger of unexpected storms and 100-foot (38-meter) rogue waves capable of snapping masts like crostini. Done alone, the experience verges on spiritual, offering an intimate understanding of the true vastness of the world and the minuteness of our humanly existence. That is perhaps why a successful solo sail feels less like a conquest and more like an allowance of passage by the grace of the sea

17 of 20

Swim With Great White Sharks

South Africa

Thanks to the Jaws movie franchise, entire generations of otherwise adventurous people mortally fear great white sharks. Except for a few brave souls, that is, who have swum with them cageless and unharmed, such as adventurer Jeb Corliss, whose team is pictured off Mexico. Those few have figured out that even though the apex predators are some of the world's largest sharks, humans aren’t their natural prey. "We swim less than a foot away and it just passes by," says Amos Nachoum, a big-animal photographer who runs trips to see megafauna in the wild. Swimming with great whites takes patience, vigilance, the humility to retreat quickly, and, perhaps above all, guts. But, says Nachoum, "it is a spiritual experience. It's the unbearable lightness of being, seeing the beauty of such a creature

18 of 20

Run the Mont Blanc Circuit Ultramarathon

France, Italy, Switzerland

Running 100 miles (161 kilometers) anywhere could be called superhuman, but the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc between France, Italy, and Switzerland adds a few mind-fraying twists to the challenge. Be prepared for more than 30,000 feet (9,144 meters) of total climbing, hour-long scrambles up dishwasher-size boulders, and knee-busting descents. But there are reasons runners keep going; among them, the views of Mont Blanc and heartening cheers from villagers at every turn. "At the finish, they were stacked six people deep on the fence lines, leaning in, taking pictures, high-fiving," says Seattle-based runner Krissy Moehl, who won the women's division in 2003 and 2009. "I felt like a baseball or football star."

19 of 20

Paddle the Bashkaus River

Siberia, Russia

Even in a land known for extremes, Siberia's Bashkaus River stands out. In a remote backwater near Mongolia, it tumbles 32 feet (8 meters) per mile for 130 miles (209 kilometers). (By comparison, the Colorado River drops eight feet (2 meters) per mile through the Grand Canyon.) The gradient churns up a maelstrom of rarely run rapids, jagged rocks, and traps known as siphons, all sandwiched between stunning but inescapable gorge walls. "It was the toughest and most rewarding experience that I have ever been through," says pro kayaker Sam Sutton, part of a 2010 Adidas-sponsored expedition (pictured). Of the few who attempt it, those who succeed reach the fabled riverside memorial built for six expert kayakers who perished there in 1976. Inside lies the Book of Legends, inscribed with the names of those who've faced one of the world's most difficult rivers–and lived to tell the tale

20 of 20

Photograph by Mark Watson, Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race

Complete the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race

Chile

The Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race is much more of an expedition than a race. Often stretching more than 350 miles (563 kilometers), it takes teams of four up to ten days to travel through some of the roughest and most remote corners of Patagonia. Here, there are no topographical maps, and racers use satellite images to navigate as they trek, climb, mountain bike, and kayak on a course that changes every year. The clock never stops and many teams net just a few hours of sleep. But along the way, they see places few humans have seen: skyrocketing peaks in the Torres del Paine, vast expanses of the Southern Continental Ice Field, and the raw, turbulent waters off notorious Cape Horn.

Now I ask , are your bucket list items exciting, and adventurous or just for the armchair explorers.