Xtreme Endurance: Australia’s Simpson Desert Challenge 2009

The first annual Simpson Desert Challenge will be taking place in May of 2009.  The Simpson Desert Challenge is being billed as the ‘World’s Toughest Long Distance Team Walking Event’.  This Xtreme endurance challange will pit teams of adventurers together for a chance at becoming the first team to cross the Simpson Desert.

The Simpson Desert is a 170,000 square kilometer desert wasteland found in Australia.  It is home to some of the world’s longest sand dunes.  These dunes will present a formidable challenge to even the toughest of competitors as they try to navigate the sometimes 200 km by 40 Ft. high dunes in one of the world’s most arid landscapes.

Competitors will be crossing the Simpson Desert with their own support team.  Organizers will be transporting gear and essentials to specific checkpoints along the way.  Competitors will be trying to navigate and survive walking 40 kms a day throughout the competition.  Louis-Philippe Loncke successfully made a Simpson Desert north-south excursion in 2008 and you can be assured that he may have his hands in this competition, too.

The event will be running from May 21st-May 29th.  The Simpson Desert Challenge 2009 website will be providing more information as this event gets closer to taking off.  If you followed along with Loncke’s 2008 expedition across the Simpson Desert, then you know that this is going to be one tough event!  I can’t wait to see how this one turns out.  Good-luck guys (and gals)!!

Thanks to The Adventure Blog for this information.