At the Edge of the Map: Adventure Beyond the Headlines

Over the past two decades, the world of adventure and exploration has expanded dramatically. There are more expeditions and greater access to information about remote and extreme environments than ever before. Yet dedicated journalism in this space has not kept pace with that growth.

Publications that once defined the adventure community, such as Outside and National Geographic, have slashed budgets, reduced editorial teams, and, in some cases, gradually drifted towards lifestyle content. As a result, there is less space for the kind of in-depth reporting, analysis, and storytelling that many expeditions and exploratory discoveries deserve.

At the same time, the sheer volume of digital adventure content now available can make it difficult to identify the most meaningful and interesting expeditions. Likewise, while science has become an increasingly common element of expeditions, the quality and impact of scientific work varies.

There is, however, a real opportunity to cut through this volume of content and highlight both well-known and lesser-known adventurers and explorers undertaking remote journeys that are original, technically demanding, and independently led.

To that end, At the Edge of the Map, a subscriber-supported publication, is being launched to report on adventure and exploration with a different emphasis: slower, more selective, and more analytical. This is not about chasing every headline. It is about choosing the right ones and examining them properly.

At the Edge of the Map will:

• Report on selected expeditions spanning mountaineering, polar travel, paddling, caving, long-distance trekking, and other disciplines, including both adventure-led and scientifically driven projects.

• Offer independent, critical analysis of the expedition industry, addressing issues such as the rise of questionable records and manufactured “firsts”.

• Feature interviews with leading explorers and adventurers from around the world.

• Publish enduring feature articles on scientific discovery and exploration.

So far, we’ve published six articles, most of which have focused on water-based journeys above the Arctic Circle. In future, the content will become more varied in both location and type of travel. The initial focus will be on straight expedition reporting for the first month or so, before we get up to speed with interviews and enduring feature articles.

At the Edge of the Map is currently written and edited by me, Ash Routen, a freelance adventure journalist specialising in global expeditions, including polar travel, long-distance trekking, and kayaking adventures. My work has appeared in outlets such as ExplorersWeb, National Geographic UK, Sidetracked, The Guardian, The Great Outdoors, and Outside. I’m also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and The Explorers Club.

In addition to me, a small team of advisors are being compiled to provide an expert steer on the stories we cover. This includes polar explorer Eric Larsen (the last person to ski to the North Pole from land), polar guide and expedition logistics expert Lars Ebbesen, Piotr Chmielinski (the first person to kayak the entire length of the Amazon river), Denise Martin (one of the original polar guides and a multi-environment adventurer), and endurance adventurer Ray Zahab (the first person to run the length of the Atacama Desert). Further key figures from the adventure and exploration community will be appointed in future.

So far over 450 of you have subscribed to At the Edge of the Map, which means you will receive articles directly in your inbox. A further 16 of you have taken out a paid subscription which is greatly appreciated. Apart from a monthly column for a British outdoor magazine and occasional freelance commissions, my primary focus will be At the Edge of the Map. I will dedicate a minimum of one full day per week to the publication.

If you’d like to support the project, donations or paid subscriptions would be greatly appreciated. That said, there’s no obligation, and every post will remain free for all to read.