Pick your adventures for 2022!!🤩
there's a high probability that this letter includes typos, because I hate proofreading 💩
The Adventure Calendar
Lately, I've been planning my adventures for 2022 and creating a list of adventures. I thought it would be a great idea to share it with you guys!
The aim here is not to give you a comprehensive list of adventures that can be done in 2022. Rather, I'm listing a variety of adventures to show that the potential for adventure is enormous. At least for me, just glancing at a list like this is motivating: it gives me butterflies and gets me hyped.
So I hope that this list can do the same for you :)
Adventure ideas are in italics and events are underlined. The list is weighted towards adventures in Europe, as that’s what I’ve been researching the most.
(the links are not affiliate links btw..)
Grab some coffee before continuing, it's gonna be a long list!
January
Cycling/e-biking/traveling 2022km to celebrate 2022
Traveling to the coldest city in the world (Oymyakon town in Russia) - The average temperature drops to -50 degrees celsius (-58 F) while the coldest temperature ever recorded at -71 degrees celsius (-95.8 F). Here's how one traveler described it:
"Practically everything you can imagine freezes at that temperature. Mercury freezes at -38.83 degrees celsius. So locals use alcohol thermometers. The cell phone battery drains out in less than 30 seconds. To click a photograph, you have to keep the batteries and phone in your inner layers, quickly swap them, click photos and repeat. Touching anything metallic without gloves means your skin would peel off. Cars that cannot be parked in heated garages have to be kept running nonstop all night." Source:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3g3k7/how-to-budget-travel-to-the-coldest-town-on-earth
Montane Adventure Race - A wintery adventure race in Denmark.
February
Baikal Ice Marathon - The world's only marathon ice course laid between two opposite shores of the planet's deepest lake.
The Ice Mile - Swimming a mile in water temperature of 5.0C / 41.0F unassisted, with a silicon cap, pair of goggles, and standard swimming costume. These events are held worldwide around the world. It's not for the faint-hearted!
The Ice Ultra - 230k footrace in freezing temperatures across Swedish arctic wilderness. The only downside is the high price tag: £3000 per athlete. The high price is due to the extreme safety measurements that have to take place in those conditions.
Polar expedition training camp - One day I’d love to reach both Poles, and a training camp like this would be an excellent starting point. It’s expensive, for sure: $4,500 for two weeks of training. But I bet it would be worth the investment. Also, a polar expedition in itself can cost upwards of $100,000, so in that perspective, $4,500 isn’t that much. But again, there are more accessible adventures available for sure :D
March
Vasaloppet - The classic Swedish cross-country ski race. It is the oldest cross-country ski race in the world, as well as the one with over 15,000 participants each year. The event sells out extremely fast, so you need to be quick when the registration opens.
Arctic Circle Race - 160k ski race across Greenland. Three days of sweat and survival. Magnificent!!
Arctic Triple Lofoten Skimo - ski mountaineering race offering one extreme (4000+) and one normal distance (1000+). It is one of the few entry-level skimo races I found in Europe.
April
Hardangervidda solo unsupported crossing - Hardangervidda in Norway is known to be an excellent location for polar expedition training. For instance, Shackleton traveled to Hardangervidda for expedition training and described it as Antarctica in miniature.
Patrouille des Glaciers - an extreme 57k ski mountaineering team race.
Göteborg Enduro - Enduro mountain biking has been gaining popularity, and it’s something I really want to try! Göteborg Enduro is one of the few enduro series that has easier tracks for beginners.
May
Venediger RUSH - More like an extreme guided tour than an event. 140 km with a bike. 40 km uphill and downhill with running shoes and touring skis. Over 4,000 meters in altitude in total.
Rafting the Grand Canyon - Supposedly one of the best river trips in the world. Rafting 227 miles in 3 weeks in the remote desert wilderness with some of the most dramatically stunning scenery in the world. WOW!
June
Trekking Europe's hardest trek (Corsica GR20) - Twisting and turning 112 miles along Corsica’s recognizable granite peaks and pinnacles, the GR20 is one of the toughest long-distance hikes in Europe. Check out the guide here: https://outsider.ie/challenges/hiking-the-gr20-everything-you-need-to-know/
Fastpacking across a country - Fastpacking is another sport that provides some great adventures with minimal gear (I mean, the lighter you are the better). I have this dream of fastpacking across my home country, Finland, which would be over 1000 kilometers from South to North.
Arctic Triple Lofoten Ultra Trail 100-Mile Race - A 100-miler in the extremely beautiful landscape of Lofoten (and with over 7,000m of elevation).
July
Crossing the world's largest salt pan - A subscriber actually suggested that we do this next summer. The aim would be to cross the Makgadigadi pans in Botswana, which are the largest salt pans in the world. A 200km mission (across and back the pan), unassisted. We’ll see if we can make it happen!
Must be pretty weird when you can only see dry flat desert land everywhere you look!
August
Ironman Finland - Yep, it’s about time for me to attend this Ironman! First year it was postponed due to Covid, then I had to postpone it myself next year due to the 100k run. Hopefully, I can make it this year :D
Tour Divide - 4,418km (2745mi) of cycling along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. The most recognized off-pavement cycling route in the United States, if not the world. The best part: it’s an “underground” event, meaning it’s self-supported with no official start list, no finish line banner, no prizes, and no press. And it’s FREE.
The Arctic Triple Lofoten Triathlon - Another triathlon. Completing all the three races of The Arctic Triple gets you into their hall of fame!
Climbing Kilimanjaro - Kilimanjaro is considered to be a stepping stone to higher peaks. It’s a rather easy climb that requires minimal mountaineering experience, but the high altitude (5,000+ meters) lets you know how your body reacts to high altitude. A YouTuber friend of mine does guided expeditions up Kilimanjaro, if you’re interested🤫
September
Lost in Kainuu AR - An adventure race in my home country. I don’t have a team though. Anyone want to team up for this? :D
The “Wine Marathon” - Here’s something different! Dress up and run through the magical region of Margaux near Bordeaux, tasting local wines and enjoying plenty of snacks, as you run! The field is limited to 8,500 runners and sells out quickly, so runners have to enter early to guarantee their spot.
Dragon's Back Race - 380km in 6 days with 17,400m of elevation. A legendary multi-stage, ultra running journey down the spine of Wales. Supposedly the world’s toughest mountain race.
October
Marathon des Sables - six-day, 251 km (156 mi) ultramarathon, which is approximately the distance of six regular marathons. The longest single stage is often over 90 km (56 mi) long. And it’s all done in the grueling heat of the Sahara Desert!!
100-Mile Ruck March - Here’s something to test your limits. You can check out Nick Bare’s example. I love the idea. It’s simple, requires minimal equipment and it will push you to your limits.
November
The Yak Attack - The world’s highest mountain bike race, climbing to the dizzying heights of 5416m above sea level, hosting the highest timed downhill enduro section – from 5416m down to 2800m above sea level over 8km!
Traveling to the most remote place in the world (Tristan Da Cunha) - 2810km from Cape Town, Tristan Da Cunha is the world's most isolated community. The only way to travel to Tristan is by ship from Cape Town, but only a limited number of berths are available. Permission is required to land, and visits should be planned and booked well in advance.
December
Desert Dash 2022 - Here’s another suggestion by a subscriber! 24-hour, 393km mountain bike challenge. WOAH! What do you think, should I accept the challenge?
Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge - 3,000-mile row across the Atlantic. Extremely expensive, yet extremely rewarding. Maybe one day!
One more thing!
I'm thinking of creating a more comprehensive list and publishing it on my site.
So, if you know some adventurous events or have some awesome adventure ideas, please send them to me at jonne@unlazyway.com! OR you can suggest an adventure for us to do together!!
I'd love to hear from you :)
Go be unlazy!