Press releases
Siberia
I am my own caravan, powered by the electricity of my calves, hair in the wind. I taste this sensation of ecstasy that's like a rare and mysterious wine where all the infinitely insignificant details seem to have their own place, like a global sudoku. I'm right where I should be: on the right latitude, the right temperature.
After more than a year, I can't think anymore... I've thought so much, exhausted by my words without written outlet. I've finally succeeded at tasting the raspberry of the taiga with its waterproof velvet robe, dotted with its own asian furriness. The experience leaves my taste buds wide awake. My ears seem to have grown, the forest's melodies now reverberate in my silence instead of rending it.
Is it possible that I have finally found the precious amniotic fluid of Mother Nature?
My heart is so quiet, as if drugged by the odors, the winds, the beauty that seems to speak to me once again.
Effort paired with the unknown has finally cleansed me, stripped my mind bare. This process could only have lasted so long this once, a birth in pain with a choice ingredient: time. It helped me, carried me, while the days, the months, slipped by.
Dangers that come from the woods
At the south of Lake Baikal, I was chased by a group of thugs, forcing me to jump in a car that dropped me off 30 kilometers down the road. Since this event, I've stayed hidden and avoided people and looks, camouflaging myself behind my homeless appearance. Nature, which had seemed a peaceful harbor until then, is peaceful no longer. I'm finding men in shelters made of plastic, living alone in the forest. Drugs, alcohol, and so much despair can be read in their creased faces. Many times they cross my path without a word, a bottle of water their only baggage. I discover later that it wasn't water, but vodka in a water bottle.
I live like an animal, supplementing my meals with wild mushrooms and fruits. Here, there's water everywhere, yet I won't risk washing myself.
Winter at my heels
The colors that surround me are golden yellow to intense red, nature changes tone before my eyes, as if everything must be made beautiful before the great leap: winter. My steps have accelerated their cadence, I can feel the winter coming, to the point that as I approached the Mongolian border this past day, it caught up.... as if to say, "Gotcha."
A few kilometers from the border, the barracks unfold across the land, training grounds, barricades of all sorts. The soldiers stop, saluting me each time with a light in their eyes I can't quite place... like a recognition of effort. Our similarities, however, end there.
More than 100 men in training salute me in unison under orders from a superior. I jump and giggle and salute them back; I'm in another world. Here, tanks drive around like cars while the men are visibly shocked to see me dirty and alone. But I don't slow down; the weather is frigid when I arrive at Kyarta, the endpoint of my Siberian trek.
A new departure: Laos
After leaving Siberia, I arrived in Bangkok, obligatory passage to Laos where my resupply had been planned. Four months have gone by since my last resupply.
Gregory, my expedition chief, was waiting for me with two big bags full of stuff. Ropes, harnesses, hammock, a new water filter, etc. I leave with my backpack only--no cart--and I'm so happy to have regained my freedom. If my cart made possible my long crossings of Mongolia and Siberia with no chance of finding food, Laos would be different. I'm counting in part on nature for supplying what I won't be able to find in the small mountain villages.
Northern Laos
I'm going to leave from the Chinese/Laotian border. But first I need to understand the jungle, tame it, feel it breathe.
I'm headed right now to Laos, where the expedition regains the trajectory of its origin. This time I'm going to plunge into a big, luxuriant bath of greenery. I feel like I'm in front of an unknown food. The discovery that's waiting for me leaves the beginning of a taste in mouth, and I like its promising freshness.
News from the Gobi & snow leopards
Following my visit to the Center for the Protection and Study of the Snow Leopard, I had the good fortune to spend the day with scientist Koustubh Sharma. Throughout the day we scaled several mountains in search of indices that helped us find a good spot to position a sensitive camera. I used a guinea pig to adjust the height of the lens. (See photo)
Mr. Sharma and his team later recuperated the camera and explored its contents. I am happy to share two of these photos with you here. (Copyright SLT/Panthera ) More info at
www.snowleopard.org
CSEM profile
CSEM is a private Swiss research and technology organization (RTO) with the mission – primarily within Switzerland - to develop microtechnologies and transfer them to the industrial sector, thereby reinforcing its competitive advantage. Our customers operate in established markets such as medtech, industrial control (including the machine tools industry), the watch making industry and aerospace as well as in emerging markets such as cleantech (including energy production and management) and environmental monitoring (in transportation or agriculture).
Under contract to the Swiss Confederation, CSEM develops technology platforms in microelectronics, microsystems, surface engineering including nanotechnology, and systems engineering. By expanding its knowledge and adapting it to the needs of industry, new products are brought to market and new ventures are created. Approximately 400 people with industrial backgrounds, mostly top level engineers and holders of PhDs, dedicate their passion to this mission.
CSEM has a wealth of experience in wearable systems which have been developed as one of the center’s main axes for more than ten years. Initially focusing on the elderly, this activity has since been extended to medical prevention and rehabilitation, well-being, the monitoring of sportsmen and women and, last but not least, to professional and protective wearable systems.
www.csem.ch
CSEM – CHUV – Sarah Marquis: Scientific collaboration (update)
In collaboration with Explorasia expedition, CSEM has developed a portable system capable of analyzing Sarah’s physiological status. The device consists on a robust optical sensor that Sarah will place on his fingertip some minutes every day, according to an experimental protocol defined by a team of doctors led by Claudio Sartori (CHUV). The recorded biomedical data will be sent to Switzerland, were it will be analyzed by CHUV and CSEM experts.
The goal of these experiments is twofold. On the one hand, we aim at investigating how Sarah’s cardiovascular system evolves during her adventure. In particular, we are interested in the evolution of the so-called sympathovagal balance: an indicator of physical stress. On the other hand, we wondered whether significant changes in this balance would help us to predict Sara’s health status and degree of fatigue and stress.
In the near future, these data may not only assist other athletes to organize their own endurance projects, but also help doctors to take care of their patients.
Sarah will be a speaker in TED 2011 / 1 Mars
The annual TED conferences, in Long Beach / Palm Springs bring together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers,
who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes).
Explorer Sarah Marquis will talk on LIVE from China during her expedition Explorasia : Siberian border to Australia on foot )
With a exclusive video of her Mongolian section.
Program: http:/
TED it’s also : ted.com
Mongolia: Gobi Desert
On january 8 2011 Sarah resumed her expedition from the exact same GPS coordinates where she had to interrupt it, when a serious tooth infection forced her evacuation to Japan.
Walking in her footsteps
In the beginning of this new year, the changes in the landscape are drastic: the Gobi desert is now covered in snow.
The mild temperatures of mid september are long gone and the desert is swept by violent, chilling winds. Max temperatures are -23° and sometimes drop until -35° C.
This does not discourage Sarah, who ventures where very few people dare to go in winter
After a night spent in relative comfort in a Ger, she is ready to sustain the harsh weather conditions thanks to her specifically designed tent and clothing.
A stormy beginning
A fascinating first day where she discovers an endless snow covered steppe. An encounter with a nomad riding a horse, sharing a few moments with her while rolling his cigarette.
The following night of her journey found her clutching her tent during the all-night snow storm that threatened to pull her tent away, making survival at these temperatures less than certain.
Sunrise came as a relief for Sarah, until she realised her thermos and food completely frozen, her portable stove unusable, and her tent ruined.
Difficult morning for Sarah, who packs her tent and gear. She knows the Gobi desert will keeps its secrets, but only for now.
Going with the flow
Sarah is now on safe grounds and decides what her next steps should be.
She decides to fly to southern China and walk back to the Gobi desert, arriving around fall 2011.
By travelling the initially planned route backwards like this, she will benefit from more friendly weather conditions.
As you read these lines, a plane is taking her to Kunming, southern China.
Parting notes
Twitter is blocked in China, Sarah will be connected to her team by satellite, and her messages will be relayed to her website and facebook.
Sarah Marquis Adventurer, explorer, speaker | Faites également la promotion de votre Page
Dreaming of Asia – ExplorAsia 2010-2012
One day I dreamt of Asia.
I dreamt of its planes that end where the eyes can no longer discern the line between earth and sky. August 14th 2008 the layout of my future journey appeared very clearly to me; a beautiful line that links north and south. From that day forward my journey has become so obvious to me and has been named “ExplorAsia 2010-2012”.
Alone with the elements; my only companion will be the rhythm of my own footsteps. The strength of my legs and the quickness of my feet will carry me through this incredible, 20’000 Km long epic. I have always found a second wind at the end of my personal limits. And so once again, I will set out alone on foot to reunite with a little tree I met a few years back. It grows at this specific location:
GPS : S32°23.002 E124°36.972
It’s where the running wind never stops; where the earth meets the ocean… in Southern Australia.
More than a journey it’s a philosophy of movement...
Specification sheet : ExplorAsia
• Departure: June 20th 2010 from Southern Siberia
• Arrival: planned for June 20th 2012 in Australia
Kilometres: 20’000Km
Estimated time (average): 2 years of hiking – approximately 1000Km per month – 30Km per day
Resting points: Total of 6 – every 3 months – a resting point is a place where Sarah will entirely renew her
equipment and stop for a few days.
• Documentary film (52 mins) directed and co-produced by Sarah Marquis and the Delarive Group.
How will Sarah nourish herself?
For the first part she will be able to do some fishing. She will use surface poppers (a technique learned during her childhood). She is going to have to find the right balance with nature. This explorer has been vegetarian since she was a little girl. She only hunts out of respect and to encounter harmony with Mother Nature. And so she will use a blowpipe and a slingshot to hunt and nourish herself. She has more than one trick up her sleeve… from seed patties on a bed of embers to grilled lizards; her instincts will again surprise us more than ever… she will tell us
about her thrilling life close to the earth.
How will Sarah find water in these desert zones?
Usually Sarah is able to sense water. She perceives it… but when the water doesn’t speak to her she uses an American Army technique: condensation.
- Wrap a bush up in a plastic bag and let it sweat for the day
- Make a hole in the ground and put a tarp over it. Wait until the next day to collect the drops of earth sweat.
But everything is so subtle in those desert zones, says the explorer, you have to manage your
body’s water content.
Aren’t you going to sweat more water than what you will collect?
Water hunting is the hardest: you must be mentally ready to not feel water run through your
mouth. Her house on her back She will start her journey wearing a 30Kg backpack. Each gram has been counted and thought out. She will then alternate, depending on the land, between the backpack and a cart that proved itself worthy during her last expedition in the Andes. Sarah is going to hike with 30Kg on her back.
How is Sarah’s expedition useful to science?
Through Dr. Claudio Sartori (altitude research specialist) a wonderful collaboration has been formed between the CSEM in Neuchâtel, the clinic “La Source” in Lausanne and the CHUV. A cardiac monitoring system called Spo2 will inform the scientists on Sarah’s state of health with only 10min of monitoring a day.
Eco-Energy, communication, press, web
Sarah will be able to communicate using a satellite-phone and a solar panel powered mini notebook. Communication when she desires at the rhythm she desires… that is, keeping in mind the solar panel’s capacity to recharge. This is how she will be able to send us texts, images and mini videos of her incredible immersion in hostile lands.
Sarah & her team
All of this organisation wouldn’t be possible without the precious presence of the ExplorAsia
team:
Expedition manager: Gregory Barbezat
P.A. & resting point manager: Gerry Lee
The Australian: Joe (Sarah’s dingo)
Sarah Marquis’ biography
Born June 20th 1972
Her tribulations
This isn’t her first attempt… when she was eight years old she took off with her dog to spend the night in a cave and didn’t tell anyone where she was going. At seventeen she crossed the Central Anatolia (Turkey) on horseback… without the small detail of knowing how to ride. Her taste for travelling brought her to Australia but it was in New-Zealand that she encountered the full experience of walking. She spent time on the wild lands of Patagonia.
She stayed in Moorea (French Polynesia) where she was attracted to the beauty of the islands. But the Australian Bush beckoned her once again. Over the years she has returned regularly to rejuvenate. She explored Canada by canoe and in 2000 she crossed the United-States, from Canada to the Mexican border… 4 260Km in 4 months and 6 days… it was a path full of obstacles.
From up in her snowy mountains in Switzerland, she thought up a wild plan: crossing the Australian deserts in survival mode. This adventure ended November 25th 2003. It took 17 months to travel 14’000Km across the Australian Bush on foot. She came back changed and accompanied by a dingo (wild dog). By saving his life she ended up with an accomplice named Joe. Then she dreamt of South America’s white mountains… she returned with “La Voie des Andes”. This expedition ended 8months later after 7000Km on foot in the Andes, from Chile to Peru via Bolivia. In 2010 she’s leaving again; his time from Siberia to Australia… from the cold to the desert and from high altitudes to jungles. She will come back and tell us her tale… more than an adventure it’s a philosophy of movement.
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