16 votes

I attempted to cross Norway in a completely straight line (Part 1)

19 comments

  1. [5]
    cfabbro
    Link
    Part 3 out now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwzIwFPEGbA
    7 votes
    1. [4]
      unknown user
      Link Parent
      That peat bog. Yikes. I love Tom, but honestly it feels like he should have a support person with him who doesn't attempt to do the straight line mission for safety and security purposes. If he'd...

      That peat bog. Yikes. I love Tom, but honestly it feels like he should have a support person with him who doesn't attempt to do the straight line mission for safety and security purposes. If he'd been stuck in that peat bog just 1 foot deeper, with no easy access to a PLB, and the Garmin he threw to the other side of the bog resting just metres away from him, much worse things could've happened.

      3 votes
      1. [3]
        AugustusFerdinand
        Link Parent
        I haven't watched a lot of his videos, only these Norway actually, but I'm under the impression/assumption that his GPS is tracked by his companion, who's name escapes me, that drove the kayak...

        I haven't watched a lot of his videos, only these Norway actually, but I'm under the impression/assumption that his GPS is tracked by his companion, who's name escapes me, that drove the kayak around and should he not arrive within a predetermined window, or his GPS signal is active yet unmoving, can alert authorities to the situation and location.

        1 vote
        1. [2]
          unknown user
          Link Parent
          Hmm. In his pack list for Mission Across Wales II he only mentioned carrying a Garmin GPSMap 64s, which is a GPS receiver only. He didn't make any mention of a PLB or other type of communicator,...

          Hmm. In his pack list for Mission Across Wales II he only mentioned carrying a Garmin GPSMap 64s, which is a GPS receiver only. He didn't make any mention of a PLB or other type of communicator, like a Garmin InReach which uses the Iridium network to send and receive messages—so there's no way with his stated pack list of providing his coordinates to his girlfriend, Verity.

          Naturally though, you're correct that if he didn't show up at a predetermined point by a particular time the authorities can be alerted—unfortunately those types of scenarios have hours long lag, and it only takes 30 seconds to suffocate in a stream or be trapped in a peat bog[1].

          [1]: And even with a PLB/InReach, an astounding number of people get stuck or trapped, or break bones, and are physically unable to send out an SOS because they've placed their beacon out of quick access.

          6 votes
          1. AugustusFerdinand
            Link Parent
            Thanks for the info! Pausing a couple of times in the video looks like he's using the 64s from the Wales trip, but I'm the last person to claim to recognize GPS hardware from a screenshot. On the...

            Thanks for the info! Pausing a couple of times in the video looks like he's using the 64s from the Wales trip, but I'm the last person to claim to recognize GPS hardware from a screenshot. On the one had it is dangerous to not have a lifeline, on the other (and I'm not trying to claim to know his motivations) some of the thrill may be from the you-have-no-life-line-so-get-yourself-out-of-this/survival instincts motivation (say similar to free solo climbers) on top of the obvious one of accomplishing the goal of crossing in a straight line.

            2 votes
  2. [7]
    cfabbro
    Link
    Part 2 came out a few min ago: I attempted to cross NORWAY in a completely straight line. (PART 2)
    5 votes
    1. [2]
      unknown user
      Link Parent
      I was just about to mention this to you in Discord, but no need, you're well on top of this!

      I was just about to mention this to you in Discord, but no need, you're well on top of this!

      3 votes
      1. cfabbro
        Link Parent
        Yeah, no need. Much like with Baumgartner Restoration, you got me totally hooked on this channel too. ;)

        Yeah, no need. Much like with Baumgartner Restoration, you got me totally hooked on this channel too. ;)

        1 vote
    2. [3]
      jgb
      Link Parent
      I'm enjoying this series but must admit I preferred his previous ones. Norway is stunning but much of the intrigue and entertainment of his challenges tends to come from his interactions with...

      I'm enjoying this series but must admit I preferred his previous ones. Norway is stunning but much of the intrigue and entertainment of his challenges tends to come from his interactions with people which are more or less absent from this one so far.

      1 vote
      1. [2]
        Staross
        Link Parent
        Yeah Norway seems pretty easy, no property, no people, no bushes and dense forests.

        Yeah Norway seems pretty easy, no property, no people, no bushes and dense forests.

        2 votes
        1. unknown user
          Link Parent
          On the other hand... lakes interspersed with quicksand-like mud, multi-kilometre kayak trips across said lakes, and slippy as fuck cliff edges! I had some shower thoughts about how you could pull...

          On the other hand... lakes interspersed with quicksand-like mud, multi-kilometre kayak trips across said lakes, and slippy as fuck cliff edges! I had some shower thoughts about how you could pull this kind of challenge off where I live and I'm convinced it's not possible, after looking at some hypothetical lines in Google Earth.

          5 votes
    3. AugustusFerdinand
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Just a random side note, but the rocks used in the dam at 15 minutes or so in are absolutely gorgeous.

      Just a random side note, but the rocks used in the dam at 15 minutes or so in are absolutely gorgeous.

      1 vote
  3. [2]
    cfabbro
    Link
    Topic on the previous challenge attempting to do the same across Wales: https://tildes.net/~humanities/lcy/i_attempted_to_cross_wales_in_a_straight_line_part_1

    Topic on the previous challenge attempting to do the same across Wales:
    https://tildes.net/~humanities/lcy/i_attempted_to_cross_wales_in_a_straight_line_part_1

    3 votes
    1. Tardigrade
      Link Parent
      I was about to mention the wales bloke. Nice to see him try another country so thanks for submitting it.

      I was about to mention the wales bloke. Nice to see him try another country so thanks for submitting it.

      1 vote
  4. [2]
    Tygrak
    Link
    This, the Wales mission, and the how not to travel Europe series were so amazing. All of them are among my favorite things I've seen on Youtube. Whenever GeoWizard makes one of these missions it...

    This, the Wales mission, and the how not to travel Europe series were so amazing. All of them are among my favorite things I've seen on Youtube. Whenever GeoWizard makes one of these missions it makes me want to go on an adventure too! Just need to convince some of my mates, maybe the next summer :).

    3 votes
    1. unknown user
      Link Parent
      He's mentioned in a previous video he's going to be attempting Wales for a third time again soon, so clearly more content from Tom is coming!

      He's mentioned in a previous video he's going to be attempting Wales for a third time again soon, so clearly more content from Tom is coming!

      2 votes
  5. [3]
    cfabbro
    Link
    A follow-up video to the series was posted today, for anyone interested: Norway Line Analysis Video - How Accurately Did I Follow The Line?

    A follow-up video to the series was posted today, for anyone interested:
    Norway Line Analysis Video - How Accurately Did I Follow The Line?

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      unknown user
      Link Parent
      I love how Tom basically self-invented integral calculus here, likely without him realising: "You could measure the distance from the line every 2 metres, or even take the total area between the...

      I love how Tom basically self-invented integral calculus here, likely without him realising: "You could measure the distance from the line every 2 metres, or even take the total area between the line and the track."

      3 votes
      1. jgb
        Link Parent
        He's a smart guy. He probably knows what integration is. But in this context it's more sensible to talk about area since his line in no way corresponds to any sort of reasonable function.

        He's a smart guy. He probably knows what integration is. But in this context it's more sensible to talk about area since his line in no way corresponds to any sort of reasonable function.

        2 votes