The Gone Walkabout Expedition is aiming to achieve one of the last great long distance treks, following the precedents set by earlier pioneering travellers who followed China's Silk Road from west-to-east across the dangers of deserts and mountains.

Gone Walkabout is the first expedition ever to attempt to forge a path of footsteps through deserts and mountains, from the western edge of China heading east to where the Great Wall meets the sea. Damian Fletcher, whose idea will become this expedition, will take no fewer than 12 months and 11,000 kilometres to traverse some of the most remote and challenging places on earth.

Alone and unsupported, Damian will begin his journey in January, 2011 in the Chinese town of Kashgar. Damian will walk solo, eastwards through the Taklamakan Desert to Jiayuguan, a feat like no other in history. Damian will traverse the Great Wall from West to East and end where the Wall meets the Bohai Sea. Like most expeditions, we will not even think of setting off without sponsorship / support and funding.

For planning reasons the route has been broken down into stages. Food and other basic supplies for each stage will be acquired en route. Damian and Steve's ability to use waypoints (town and villages) for re-supply will shape the route. All stores and equipment will be carried by pack over some of the most greuling and treacherous terrain known to man.

Start Position:
Kashgar, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region

Estimated Total Distance:
4871 miles
7840 kilometres

Start Date:
Early Jan 2011

Duration:
12 months

Pack Weight:
Decreasing from 95kg

Temperatures:
-50°C to +50°C

Terrain:
Hills, Mountain Ranges, Valleys, Deserts, Lakes, Grasslands, Snow

Weather Hazards:
Storms, Blizzards, Zero Visibility White-outs, Sand Storms, Flooding, Earth Quakes

Nutrition:
Damian will burn between 5000 and 6000 calories per day. They will Use a mixture of freeze dry food and fresh supplies picked up along the way.

Communication:
Communications will be an essential part of the expedition. This will be achieved by conventional telephone line, cell phone and email, plus satellite communications while traversing the remote parts of China. Damian will carry an Iridium satellite phone for voice and email communications and a satellite transmitter which will constantly transmit their position back to base.