I interviewed Johnny Ward in Mauritania, and we met again in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where he lives. I've put all 8 of the WanderLearn Show episodes on this page that feature him.
At the start of each episode, I update you on the state of his April-May 2023 Mt. Everest climb.
Subscribe to my podcast and YouTube channel!
Enjoy all 8 episodes below.
Follow Johnny Ward on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.
Visit his OneStep4Ward.com website.
#1 Rowing Across the Atlantic Ocean With NO Experience!
Today (April 19, 2023), Johnny Ward is on Mt. Everest, aiming to summit by the end of May!
Between now and his summit day, the WanderLearn Show will cover Johnny's climb up Earth's highest mountain!
I'll begin each episode with an update on Ward's Everest climb, and then we'll feature an excerpt from my interview with him when we were together in Chinguetti, Mauritania.
I interviewed him when I dropped in on one of his guided Mauritanian adventure trips. Later, we reunited in his adopted hometown, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
About this episode
Johnny Ward had no rowing experience, yet he rowed across the Atlantic Ocean with three men he had never met!
Learn about his adventure!
Watch it on YouTube, which features 3-minutes of BBC footage of his row!
Listen to the podcast
April 18, 2023 Ward update on Everest
2 weeks into our Everest expedition, and sh*t is starting to get real.
We finally ventured off the lovely Everest Base Camp trek to tag a 6100m (20,000 feet) Himalayan summit, Lobuche. For our Everest climb, this is simply a warm-up. For me personally, it’s the 3rd highest mountain I’ve ever climbed! Very grateful for @luckydavewatson guiding our crew. It’s been a brilliant 3 days, challenging but brilliant.
Climbing Lobuche is a privilege and makes me so confident I choose the right operator in @furtenbachadventures. Climbing it alone can cost $3k to $4k, but these guys add it to the expedition to avoid another rotation through the dangerous (and sometimes deadly) Khumbu icefall.
The team is going strong. We’ve all trained hard, dedicated the best part of the last year of our lives to this expedition. Tomorrow we finally reach base camp.
April 19, 2023 Ward update on Everest
Day 15 on our @furtenbachadventures Everest climb and feeling truly gratefulWe trekked from Lobuche to Everest Base Camp, and from here the climb truly begins.I had 3 beers last night, maybe it was the altitude but the hike today was a tad tougherIt’s at base camp that we say goodbye to the tourists and hello to our new home for a month as we go up and down the mountain, through the Khumbu icefall, acclimatise, and then eventually, hit out summit attemptI CANNOT WAIT TO SHARE THE @furtenbachadventures BASE CAMP SET-UP! Possibly the best basecamp in the world - ill show you guys tomorrow. Stay tuned
#2 How many countries are there?
We begin this WanderLearn Show with Johnny Ward's update. Afterward, he tries to answer the troublesome question of "How many countries exist?"
April 25, 2023 update
On April 25, 2023, after 6 days of acclimatization on Mt Everest's base camp, Johnny is starting the climb in earnest!
Climbing to Everest's summit is like a yo-yo hike. You go up and down the mountain many times to spur your body to produce the red blood cells you need to survive above 8,000 meters.
Johnny is starting the first of several yo-yo hikes. He'll go to Camp 1 and 2 and then back down to base camp to recover.
On April 24, 2023, he wrote:
After weeks and months of nerves, I feel ready. Confident and keen to try my best. We're hoping to take on the infamous Khumbu icefall tomorrow night as we make our way to Camp 1 and Camp 2, but it’s weather dependent.
6 days at our @furtenbachadventures base camp has our acclimatisation going well, and @luckydavewatson has us all feeling like we can do it. The mental game is such a big part of these huge undertakings and it feels like we are in a good place. We’ll know what’s up in the next 4 weeks, one way or another
Watch the video:
Ric Gazarian of Counting Countries made a nuanced video to tackle this thorny topic
#3 Lessons from North Ireland & Everest Update with Johnny Ward
Irishman Johnny Ward shares what it's like to have grown up in Northern Ireland when a mini-war dragged on for decades.
What lessons did he glean from his childhood that he can apply to current conflict zones?
At 7:10, we jump to his April 29, 2023 update from Mt. Everest.
He explains why it pays to enjoy modest luxuries on Everest.
Watch it on YouTube or listen to the audio-only WanderLearn podcast Subscribe either way!
Subscribe to get updates on Johnny's progress up the world's highest hill!
#4 Reality vs. International Economics Degree with Johnny Ward
Johnny Ward has a degree in International Economics. He's also traveled to over 205 countries.
How does his academic instruction compare to the reality on the ground?
Listen to his answer:
#5 Why Traveling in Africa Can Suck - Johnny Ward’s Highs and Lows
In 2 trips, Johnny Ward visited every African country.
He shares what it's like including:
Timeline
00:50 How he afford to travel
02:20 Buses departures
04:00 Africa time
05:00 Passport woes
07:10 Everest update
Watch it all on YouTube:
Podcast
#6 Arrested in Africa for Sneaking Across a Border
Johnny Ward is currently freezing his ass off on the South Col of Everest, so he might prefer to be in a jail cell in Cote D'Ivoire.
Listen to this episode to hear about Johnny's stubbornness.
He'll need that stubbornness today to climb Everest!
Podcast
Video
#7 Why Mauritania's Iron Ore Train Experience is One of Johnny Ward's Top 10 Travel Experiences
Johnny Ward wrote a viral article about the world's longest train, Mauritania's iron ore train.
You can ride it for free!
He takes his tour group on this epic, unforgettable adventure in his Top 10 must-do travel activities.
Video
Podcast
#8 Johnny Ward Summits Everest & Explains Why He Did It
Johnny Ward summited Everest on May 17th, 2023!
Watch him reflect after base camp.
Later, listen to explain why he keeps pushing himself, and why you should too.
Podcast
Video
More info
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