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Adventurers of the Year Index

  • Adventurers of the Year
  • People's Choice Winner
  • Meet the Adventurers
  • Photo Gallery
  • Video
  • Honorees 2006-2013

2013 Adventurers of the Year

  • Picture of Renan Ozturk during the Meru Expedition

    Artist Renan Ozturk

  • Picture of Felix Baumgartner

    BASE Jumper Felix Baumgartner

  • Picture of climber David Lama

    Climber David Lama

  • Picture of Mike Libecki climbing Mashanig Tower, Yemen

    Explorer Mike Libecki

  • Picture of Shannon Galpin visiting a classroom at the Afghan National School for the Deaf

    Humanitarian Shannon Galpin

  • Picture of Steve Fisher near the Congo River

    Kayaker Steve Fisher

  • Picture of skier Josh Dueck

    Skier Josh Dueck

  • Picture of skier Jeremy Jones

    Snowboarder Jeremy Jones

  • Picture of Ramon Navarro holding a surfboard

    Surfer Ramon Navarro

  • Picture of Lizzy Hawker

    Ultrarunner Lizzy Hawker

People's Choice Winner

  • Picture of Felix Baumgartner jumping from above the Earth during the Red Bull Stratos project

    Felix Baumgartner Free Fell From the Edge of Space

Video: Adventure Lives

  • Picture of climber David Lama

    Watch the Video

Photo Gallery

  • Picture of Ramon Navarro surfing in Fiji

    Photo Gallery: They Did It!

2012 Adventurers of the Year

  • Photo: Alastair Humphreys

    Adventurer Alastair Humphreys

  • Photo: Portrait of Cory Richards

    Climber Cory Richards

  • Photo: Portrait of Jennifer Pharr Davis

    Hiker Jennifer Pharr Davis

  • Photo: Portrait of Jon Turk and Eric Boomer

    Kayakers Jon Turk, Erik Boomer

  • Photo: Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner climbing K2

    Mountaineer Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner

  • Photo: Danny MacAskill

    Rider Danny MacAskill

  • Photo: Nick Waggoner

    Skier Nick Waggoner

  • Photo: Portrait of Travis Rice

    Snowboarder Travis Rice

  • Portrait of Carissa Moore in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico, on 3 September 2011.

    Surfer Carissa Moore

  • Photo: Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa and Sano Babu Sunuwar

    The Ultimate Descent: Sano Babu Sunuwar, Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa

People's Choice Award

  • Photo: Sano Babu Sunuwar and Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa in a paraglider above Everest

    See the Ultimate Descent

Photo Galleries

  • Photo: Snowboarder Travis Rice in the Kootenay Mountains

    See Photos of the Adventurers of the Year

  • Photo: A man free climbs a mountain in the Dolomites, Italy

    View Your Fellow Adventurers' Photos and Submit Your Own

2011 Adventurers of the Year

  • Photo: Leven Brown portrait

    Oarsman Leven Brown

  • Alex Honnold solos The Nose on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California.

    Climber Alex Honnold

  • jamie-mitchell-surf-paddleboard.jpg

    Paddler Jamie Mitchell

  • Photo: Portrait of Matt Moniz at base camp

    Kid Climber Matt Moniz

  • EDURNE PASABAN ON THE HIMALAYAS

    Alpinist Edurne Pasabn

  • Photo: portrait of David De Rothschild at sea

    Voyager David de Rothschild

  • Photo: Portrait of Roz Savage in her boat

    Rower Roz Savage

  • ed-stafford-amazon-river-walk.jpg

    Explorer Ed Stafford

  • SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 07:  16-year old solo sailor Jessica Watson poses alongside her yacht Ella's Pink Lady during the official launch of her Solo round the world voyage on October 7, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. Watson is attempting to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world non-stop and unassisted, an estimated 23,000 nautical miles expected to take her around 230 days at sea, despite her earlier collision with a coal tanker less than 24 hours into her voyage and the ongoing controversy over the ability of the 16-year old schoolgirl.  (Photo by Sergio Dionisio/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jessica Watson

    Circumnavigator Jessica Watson

  • Photo: Martin Wikelski

    Tracker Martin Wikelski

People's Choice Award

  • Photo: Edurne Pasaban hikes in mountains

    Video: People's Choice Winner

Watch the Video »

Photo Gallery

  • Photo: Edurne Pasaban summits Everest

    See Climbing Photos of Edurne Pasaban

Enter the Gallery »

Your Turn

  • Photo: Man skydiving from airplane

    What Was Your Best Adventure of 2010?

Share Now »

2010 Adventurers of the Year

  • Photo: Albert Lin on horse

    Albert Lin, Explorer READERS' CHOICE WINNER

  • Photo: Khadija Bahram

    Khadija Bahram, Educator

  • Photo: Stephen Bouey and Steven Shoppman

    Stephen Bouey, Steven Shoppman, Road Trippers

  • Photo: Maya Gabeira with surfboard

    Maya Gabeira, Surfer

  • Photo: John Grunsfeld

    John Grunsfeld, Astronaut

  • Photo: Marc Hoffmeister

    Marc Hoffmeister, Veteran READERS' CHOICE WINNER

  • Photo: BASE jumper Corey Rich in air near the Eiger

    Dean S. Potter, Sky Flier

  • Photo: Louie Psihoyos

    Louie Psihoyos, Filmmaker

  • Photo: Diane Van Deren running

    Diane Van Deren, Ultra Runner

  • Photo: Katey Walter Anthony

    Katy Walter Anthony, Scientist

2009 Adventurers of the Year

  • Rob Gauntlett and James Hooper, Adventurers of the Year
  • Maroy Correa Estenos and Sam Stime, Amazon Trekkers
  • Gretchen Bleiler, Snowboarder
  • Ben Skinner, Journalist
  • Pemba Gyalje Sherpa, Hero
  • Kelly Slater, Surfer
  • Ashley Clements, Humanitarian
  • Deia Schlosberg and Gregg Treinish, Andes Hikers
  • Emma Stokes, Biologist
  • Francois Bon, Sky Flyer

2008 Adventurers of the Year

  • Andrew Skurka, Adventurer of the Year
  • Steve Bogaerts, Robbie Schmittner, Sam Meacham, Cave Champs
  • Trip Jennings, Whitewater Visionary
  • Tim Cope, Horse Whisperer
  • Sarah and Eric McNair-Landry, Arctic Royalty
  • Angelika Brandt, Sea Scout
  • Børge Ousland and Thomas Ulrich, Polar Pioneers
  • Mike Fay, Wilderness Prospector
  • Colleen Hardy, Mortal Hero
  • Andrea Palos and Gabor Rakonczai, Wave Runners

2007 Adventurers of the Year

  • Colin Angus Julie Wafaei, Adventurers of the Year
  • Dan Mazur, Hero on Everest
  • Anousheh Ansari, Citizen Spacewalker
  • Eh Kalu Shwe OO, People's Provider
  • Ben Stookesberry and Jesse Coombs, Rulers of Class V
  • Stephanie Sinclair, Frontline Photographer
  • Bruce Beehler, Modern-Day Darwin
  • Greg Stone, Ocean Defender
  • Olav Heyerdahl, Heir to Kon-Tiki
  • Jamilah Star, Soul Surfer

2006 Adventurers of the Year

  • Ed Viesturs, Adventurer of the Year
  • Matty McNair, Polar Explorer
  • Juré Robic, Biking Across America
  • Ellen MacArthur, Speedy Circumnavigator
  • Josune Bereziartu, Climber
  • Greg Hill, Ski Mountaineer
  • John Ackerman, Cave Explorer
  • Michael Reardon, Free Soloist
  • Daniel DeLaVergne, John Grace, Tommy Hilleke, and Tobin MacDermott, Kayakers
  • Andreya Wharry, Solo Kiteboarder

Video

  • Biking from Durango to Moab

    America's Best Adventures

Field Expedition: Mongolia

  • Photo: Albert Lin stands in front of a huge wall of data screens

    Join the Expedition


Adventure Favorites

  • Spring/Summer Gear Guide
  • Extreme Photo of the Week
  • Adventurers of the Year
  • Adventure Bucket List 2013
  • 20 Epic Trails
  • World's Best Ski Towns
  • World's Best Surf Towns
  • Best U.S. Adventures

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Top National Geographic Adventures Trips

  • Photo: Grand Canyon

    Grand Canyon Hike

  • Photo: View of Machu Picchu

    Machu Picchu Hike

  • Photo: Rafts of people in Alaskan waters

    Alaska by Sea Kayak

  • SwedenDogSled201200512_60x45.jpg

    Sweden: Dogsledding to the Icehotel

  • Photo: Man walking in English countryside

    England on Foot

  • Picture of a kayaker in Belize

    Belize

  • Photo: Camels in Morocco desert

    Morocco Camel Trek

  • Photo: Croatia

    Croatia by Kayak

  • Photo: expeditions tanzania

    Tanzania Safari

  • EverestSign201200512_60x45.jpg

    Everest Base Camp Trek

All Upcoming Trips »

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More From Adventure

  • Picture of Everest alpinsts

    Everest at 50: Celebrating the Greats

  • Picture of Smith Approach sunglasses

    Gear of the Year Spring/Summer 2013

  • Picture of a skier on the Banana Chute in Mount Ogden, Utah

    Top Emerging Ski Towns

  • Picture of Felix Baumgartner jumping from above the Earth during the Red Bull Stratos project

    People's Choice Winner

  • Picture of two children playing in a river, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

    Best National Park Adventures for Kids

  • Picture of a sailboat near the Great Bear Rainforest, Canada

    Adventures That Give Back

  • Pictures of the National Geographic 2013 Adventurers of the Year nominess

    Adventurers of the Year

  • Picture of Zeal Ion HD Camera Goggles

    Holiday Gear Gift Guide 2012

  • Picture of Danny MacAskill biking in Raasay, Scotland

    Adventure Bucket List 2013

  • Picture of Smith Recon Goggles

    Fall/Winter Gear Guide

  • Photo: A hiker walks along the Santa Cruz Trek, Cordillera Blanca, Peru.

    World's Best Hikes

  • Photo: A surfer rides a wave in Biarritz, France

    Best Surf Towns

  • Photo: Hikers on the South Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park

    Best Park Day Hikes

  • Photo: Climbers headlamps are seen near the peak of Everest at night.

    Mount Everest

  • Photo: Pivothead Durango Camera Glasses

    Gear of the Year - Spring/Summer 2012

  • Photo: Michael Wardian running on a trail in Marin, California

    Ultimate Running Guide

  • Photo: Sano Babu Sunuwar and Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa in a paraglider above Everest

    People's Choice Winners

  • Photo: Hikers in a snowcovered glade in Hampshire, England.

    Your Adventure Photos

  • Photo: A skier in backcountry near sunset at Fernie Resort in British Columbia

    World's Best Ski Towns

  • Picture of Dean Potter highlining against a full moon at Cathedral Peak in Yosemite National Park

    Extreme Photo of the Week

  • Photo of tourists on boat's bow in pack ice

    Travel Favorites

  • Photo: Racers bike in Chile during the 2011 Patagonian Expedition Race

    Great Races in Amazing Places

  • Photo: Divers with whale shark in Ningaloo Reef in Australia

    Best Adventure Destinations for 2012

  • Photo: Explorers

    Adventurers of the Year

  • Photo: Men hike along the Kungsleden Trail in Sweden

    Best Hikes Guide

  • Photo: Lynsey Dyer skiing at Mustang Powder in British Columbia

    Ultimate Adventure Bucket List 2012

  • Photo: Oakley Sunglasses

    Fall and Winter Gear Guide

  • nols-winter-160.jpg

    Outdoor Skills From NOLS

  • Photo:

    World's Best Hikes

  • Krissy Moehl Fringe Elements Forest Run

    Fringe Elements Video Series

  • Photo: Steph Davis free climbing El Capitan

    Ultimate Adventure Bucket List

  • Photo: Man climbing rock face in Cordoba Argentina

    Your Climbing Photos

  • Photo: kayaking Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area Minnesota

    Best U.S. Adventures

  • Photo: Mountain biker in grass

    Adventure Towns

  • Photo: Osprey Backpack

    Spring/Summer Gear Guide

  • Photo: Skier jumping in the air

    Your Skiing and Snowboarding Photos

  • Alaskan adventure outfitters

    Outfitters Guide

  • Photo: Glacier National Park

    National Parks

  • Photo: Family on cliff of a canyon

    Family Trips

  • Photo: Fairplay, Colorado

    Best of the Southwest

  • Adventure: How to Survive Almost Anything

    How to Survive (Almost) Anything


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