“Over 50 per cent of the world's population now lives in cities – we are the most disconnected we have ever been from the natural world. With the rapid pace and growth in which us humans live, it would be easy to believe that there is no area left unexplored.”
This is how British explorer Lucy Shepherd, the face of Channel 4’s new two-part adventure series Secret Amazon: Into the Wild, introduced her new televised expedition through one of the planet's last untouched wildernesses – the Amazon rainforest. Joined by a knowledgeable Indigenous team, Lucy covers 400km of terrain in 50 days, listening out for deadly snakes, dodging vicious wasps and, perhaps most importantly, playing by Mother Nature's rules.
But what drives someone, in an age of modern convenience, to go back to basics and embark on such a perilous journey? We caught up with Lucy to talk all things intrepid, what's next on her bucket list, and how her loved ones cope as she ventures on such treacherous trips.
Secret Amazon: Into the Wild recently aired on Channel 4, documenting your journey through the uncharted Amazon rainforest. What was your motivation for embarking on such a journey?
“This project was seven years in the making and, when the opportunity arose to cross this entire area from East to West, it felt like what I had been waiting for. It is largely unexplored and that was such a pull for myself and my team to see what secrets it held! Taking in the bigger picture, half of this area is protected, however, the other half is not, and my team and I really wanted to shine a light on just how incredible this region is by showcasing it and in the hope the protected area is extended.”
How did it compare to other trips you’ve embarked on? Were there any challenges unique to this expedition?
“This was on a whole other level. There was so much uncertainty – how long would it take, would we find food, would it even be possible? A big challenge was simply the inaccuracy of the maps we were using. They were 50 years old, taken by a pilot who took images of the land and drew what he could see. They didn’t represent the terrain well at all, especially in the eastern region. It means every day, we would wake up and just have to see what happens and overcome any obstacle thrown at us. What also made this hugely challenging and high-pressured environment was the inconsistency of the possibility of rescue. So much of the time, we were too far into the forest for rescue and that meant stakes were high.”
Early in the documentary, your trusted friend Anders Andersen called the adventure “absolutely insane.” Do peers and loved ones ever voice anxieties about your adventures? Does any of it deter you?
“Anders is brilliant; he says it how it is, and I was so lucky to have him as the operations manager. My parents, of course, can’t help but worry. They have got good at trusting my work now but will always voice concerns if they feel the need. Because that world is so far from what they are familiar with, often it is very mundane worries… which I go along with. It is best to leave the more serious concerns to the risk assessment and not let them hear about those! Luckily, my partner, Tim, is in this line of work, too, so he knows I take it very seriously, mitigate risks as much as possible, and work with the best people. Instead of deterring me, it ensures I am sharper and better prepared.”
The boat capsizes shortly into the trip, resulting in the loss of your water filter. You also note a few times that you were “a long way from help.” Did you ever consider turning back after such setbacks?
“When the water filter was lost, I never thought to turn back. I had been in similar environments before where the filters block up after a few days anyway so I knew we could manage. Any other setbacks were just things to learn from. There really wasn’t an option to turnaround, and that makes decision-making easier in a way.”
Did you ever go short on food? What’s the most interesting thing you stomached on the journey?
“Oh yes. At the end of each leg, we ran out of food and let me say, moving through the jungle where you have to constantly balance on logs, etc, is not easy when you’re deliriously hungry! That’s one of the reasons we just had to keep moving each day, too; we didn’t have the luxury of having rest days because we didn’t have enough food as we were not next to major rivers. We were careful not to eat too many crazy things but did enjoy grubs on several occasions. They are pretty good when you roast them!”
Coming across a watering hole, you say, “‘We may be the first humans who have ever bathed in this.” What does it feel like to see these hidden gems no other humans may have seen?
"It makes you feel like a child again. It’s magical! And to share it with the guys was just humbling. I think it’s so exciting to be anywhere remote; there’s a sense of freedom and a feeling of being purely human without any of the materialistic things we lust for."
How do you even start to pack for a trip like this? Do you have any tips for a severe overpacker?
"I guess it comes down to experience. You work your way into categories: sleep, shelter, food utensils, safety, water, etc. It’s not even possible to overpack when you’re carrying as much food and camera kit as we did because there just isn’t room. For an overpacker I would say: focus on quality over quantity, use multi-functional items, and pack for the most likely conditions. Test your pack’s weight/space for food, remove non-essentials, and trust your adaptability to handle unexpected situations."
While you’re mostly on the go for the 50-day expedition, you document having to camp out on the riverbanks while you wait for Carlos to arrive. How did you pass the time when you weren’t constantly moving, and did you have any small rituals to stay sane?
“Honestly, I was really sick during that time, as was Aaron. So I spent those days feeding the piranhas... if you know what I mean! My colleagues who weren’t struck by the sickness were just resting in the hammocks and fishing – we needed to recoup as much energy as possible before moving on again, and we didn’t know how long it would take before Carlos would arrive. It’s only when you stop that you realise just how exhausted your body is!”
You came across snakes and crocodiles, got stung by some pretty nasty wasps and had to dodge electric eels. What was the ropiest animal encounter you’ve had on your travels?
“One of the animals that keeps me up at night before any expedition away are polar bears. I spend a lot of time in the Arctic, and polar bear behaviour is becoming more unpredictable. I think they are the most incredible animals, but I also know just how much respect (and space) they demand, so I just try to stay away from spending too much time in their territory. I’ve had a few close encounters but never like to see them whilst on an expedition. I always like to say that they are best seen after you’ve been collected after your weeks/months away, so when it’s no longer just you on skis or in the tent, but instead waving goodbye after a good expedition after being picked up by a boat!”
What’s your dream holiday if you’re not venturing through uncharted lands?
“Probably ski mountaineering – does that count? Maybe it does if there’s a nice lodge to ski back to!”
What would your advice be for any budding explorer?
“Find out your capabilities and build up slowly. Learn skills from people who know their stuff, and if you can, try courses like the courses Anders now runs out in Guyana, for instance – The Wild Tales. You can then start learning how to be confident in these environments. It’s a fast-track way to learn the essentials, but then you really need to build up experience in all different scenarios, which admittedly takes a long time. But if you love it, you have all the time in the world!"
What’s next?
"I'm really happy to say that I have some really big adventures cooking that will hopefully also be televised!"
Secret Amazon: Into the Wild is available to stream on Channel 4 here.