Field Journal

The story of the car crash that nearly took Levison Wood’s life was told in Volume Seven of Sidetracked (published June 2016) alongside an interview with Andrew Mazibrada that explored why he chooses some of the most challenging places in the world to walk and how his own experiences help him prepare. Andrew catches up with Levison again, and asks what he’s been up to.

Last time we spoke, in mid-2016, you were about to begin another 1,700-mile trek along the spine of the Americas from Mexico to Colombia. You wanted to walk the entire length of Central America, through eight countries, and to attempt a crossing of the Darien Gap into Colombia and South America. Can you isolate a defining moment from that trip, and tell us about it and how it changed you?

Yes, it was an incredible journey. Apart from the process of walking through such beautiful places I think the best part was the fact my guide, Alberto Caceres was able to join me the whole way. He was a real inspiration, especially because he was going through a messy divorce, but somehow kept a brave face on the whole time. He motivated me to stay positive when the going got tough. I was having a few problems myself at the time and so we were able to keep each other’s spirits up. One day we met a shaman in Panama who offered to perform a traditional cleansing ceremony. I can’t say I’d ever really been particularly spiritual before then, and I’d certainly not tried any alternative practices, so approached it with cynicism and reluctance, but I have to say it changed my life, much for the better. I learned a lot about myself and it gave me a new lease of life and I’ve become a lot more self-aware and appreciative as a result.

You’ve just finished a new 2,600-mile expedition crossing the Caucasus mountain range between Russia and Iran. You took a new approach to exploring: making your way by any means necessary rather than only walking. Why the change and how did it affect your experience of the region?

Well, I was kind of following in my own footsteps with that one. In 2004 when I was 22, I hitchhiked from Nottingham to India along the ancient Silk Road. For the latest journey I wanted to recreate a part of that – the edge of Europe. And to be honest, I felt I’d walked enough – it’s been a great way of exploring and I’ve enjoyed the physical aspect, but I don’t want to be pigeon-holed as ‘that bloke who walks’. For me, the most fascinating part of my journeys has been meeting people and the concept of ‘by any means’ gives me the opportunity to travel as the locals do: by camel, donkey, motorbike, hitchhiking, boat, whatever. Obviously it still involves lots of walking…

You travelled with locals and lived as they do, and your journey took you through five countries, crossing wild lands on the tense frontier between Europe and Asia. What made you choose this region and do you feel that your military background had anything to do with that choice?

It’s a fascinating part of the world and represents the crossroads of cultures and civilisations, and the borderlands between Europe and Asia. I’ve always been interested in history and anthropology, and it’s so diverse in terms of scenery too. It really does have everything from snow capped peaks of the Caucasus to huge forests, desolate plains and sandy deserts. It was the extremes of environment but also the famous hospitality of the people that drew me back. The danger element was incidental; actually, in places like Chechnya and Dagestan, the people couldn’t have been more welcoming.

Few days seem to pass at the moment where news media isn’t reporting the tragic loss of life occasioned by those engaged in what might loosely be termed ‘adventurous activities’. If you were faced with a lecture theatre filled with eager young people, keen to explore and push boundaries, what advice would you give them?

Well, I’ve had my own fair share of tragedies, near misses, and close calls, so I think I’m fairly qualified to speak on this matter. Life is short and to quote Paolo Coelho: ‘if you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, it’s lethal.’ I’m not saying be reckless – I spend the vast majority of my time assessing risk properly. There’s lots of considerations to make sure my expeditions are as safe as humanly possible, but at the end of the day you can never eliminate inherent risk, nor would you want to. I’m convinced risk is essential to human development, not to mention personal and spiritual growth. So it’s important to push boundaries and accept risk in order to achieve great things.

‘I’ve always been interested in history and anthropology, and it’s so diverse in terms of scenery too. It really does have everything from snow capped peaks of the Caucasus to huge forests, desolate plains and sandy deserts. It was the extremes of environment but also the famous hospitality of the people that drew me back.’

San Miguel’s alternative Rich List returns in 2017 after a successful debut in 2016. Its focus is on finding and compiling 20 individuals and collectives that are rich in life experiences. How did you become involved and why do you consider it to be important?

I was approached by San Miguel to be on the judging panel which has been a great honour. It was tough work choosing the candidates from a really impressive selection though. For me it’s important to motivate people to focus on what’s really important in life and that’s positive experiences and making memories. It’s a massive cliche that money can’t buy happiness, however following one’s dreams certainly can. I’ve met a lot of people who have settled for less in their lives, and haven’t had the courage to follow their passions and dreams, and have regretted it all their lives as a result. It’s about fulfilling potential and encouraging people to see what they’re capable of by showcasing these inspiring individuals.