No Way Around It

The Dirtbag Diaries

Duct Tape Then Beer

Sports, Wilderness

4.8 • 2.6K Ratings

🗓️ 2 September 2016

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic are the expedition kayakers. Over the past decade, the duo have made first descents of over 120 rivers in wildly remote locations across 36 countries and 6 continents. In 2016, Ben and Chris traveled to Myanmar to complete a source to sea descent of the Irrawaddy River. The both say it was the first time they failed completely to accomplish their objective--and also one of the richest experiences they've ever had. "Had we floated freely down the Irrawaddy, I don't know that we would've learned nearly as much about what actually was going on," says Ben. "The corruption that's occurring in that area stopped us from running the river. It wasn't just a side note. It was directly in front of us." Today we, bring you a story about the intersection of politics and adventure, and about the richness in failure. You can read more about Ben and Chris's trip to Myanmar here.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Of course, like every other teenage kid, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.
0:06.0	When I was 16 years old, I took off and drove across the country to Wyoming,
0:11.0	went into the Wind River Range and discovered mountains.
0:15.0	In 1973, Yvonne Chinard founded Patagonia.
0:19.0	I never wanted to be a businessman.
0:23.0	All I wanted to do was do my craft and climb mountains.
0:30.0	So then I had to figure out a way to where I was going to be a businessman,
0:35.0	but I was going to do it completely on my own terms.
0:39.0	Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm,
0:44.0	inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.
0:48.0	Join us at Patagonia.com
0:54.0	You're listening to The Dirt Backdaries, a production of duct tape then beer.
0:58.0	With additional support from REI,
1:01.0	Fireside Provisions and Kuat Racks.
1:06.0	For me personally, it's now over 130 first-ascents in 36 countries,
1:12.0	all six continents other than Antarctica.
1:15.0	This is Ben Stokesbury.
1:17.0	Chris isn't too far off from that.
1:19.0	I've definitely done the majority of my first-ascents with Chris.
1:23.0	Over the last almost 10 years, we're coming up on a decade of voting together.
1:28.0	Ben and Chris Corbjolik are the expedition kayakers.
1:32.0	Those 130-some odd-dissents, they've done them in places where people don't go kayaking.
	...

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