VIDEO: “Busting for a leak on Everest”
“A LOT OF people talk about the feeling of relief they have when they get to the top of that mountain,” said Australian adventurer Jon Muir, as he recounted his record-breaking unsupported 1988 Mount Everest expedition on Tuesday night at the Australian Museum.
What follows is a characteristically funny and irreverant anecdote from the renowned Aussie trailblazer, with nothing but serious adventure accolades under his belt: along with climbing Everest, he and expedition parter Eric Philips were the first Australians to trek to both poles; Jon has also paddled a kayak more than 5000km along remote coastlines and later across Lake Eyre.
But perhaps Jon’s greatest challenges have involved crossing Australia’s deserts alone, without resupply or external support. In 2001 he made the first-ever unassisted crossing of Australia from Port Augusta to Burketown, covering 2500km in 128 days. In 2007, he completed a solo walk to the geographic centre of Australia and last year he was at it again, attempting to make the first unsupported crossing of the Gibson and Little Sandy deserts.
Jon was the 2002 Australian Geographic Society Adventurer of the Year and has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to mountaineering.
Jon spoke at the Australian Museum on Tuesday, 17 May as part of Trailblazers Talks, a 21-week series of inspirational events, bringing together Australia’s greatest living explorers. The talks are currently being held weekly, until 14 July 2016, alongside the museum’s Trailblazers exhibition.
Upcoming Trailblazers Talks
- 02 June – Dr Julien Brugniaux: Adapt to survive
- 16 June – Dr Jason Held and Chris Wilcock: The world’s first space beer
- 23 June – Sherpa screening and Q&A with director Jennifer Peedom
- 30 June – Gaby Kennard’s world flight
RELATED:
- PODCAST: Tim Cope on recreating Ghengis Khan’s journey
- PODCAST: An evening on Everest with Greg Mortimer
