Darien Gap 2016 Expedition
Donation protected
We are planning a jungle expedition through the Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia. The expedition expects to make history by beating the existing 30 day record set 37 years ago. The funding will procure flights to Panama and Colombia to gain governmental access and permissions, procure medical and food supplies for the indigenous people of the jungle that we meet, pay for legal fees to represent the expedition, and provide the necessary funds to procure equipment for the trucks and the expedition, as well as to hire local Indians as guides to ensure the best, routes are utilized which will best preserve the fauna and flora of the perfectly balanced ecosystem.
Please read on...
“Through the Darien Gap”
Allen Stanion, a Toyota Land Cruiser enthusiast, plans to cross from Panama into Columbia through the Darien Gap with 3 fellow expedition members, in 1985-1986 diesel powered Toyota Land Cruisers. Nobody has traversed the Darien Gap via 4 wheel drive vehicle since 1979, when Mark Smith, an ex-U.S. Marine, completed the journey in 30 days with 5 CJ-7 Jeeps. In 1972, a British expedition, led by Major John Blashford-Snell traversed the Darien Gap in 100 days, driving 2 new Range Rovers.
What is the Darien Gap? “The Darien Gap or El Tapon – “The Stopper” is a severe and swamping rain forest jungle of 250 miles (400 kilometers), almost impossible to cross with any vehicle. In this jungle there are no roads, no bridges, no continuous tracks other than those the Indian knows. The whole area is jungle, swamp and rivers, inhabited by a selection of objectionable mammals, reptiles and insects.” (80 Day Race website, 80dr.com)
Technologies like GPS and satellite phones, dried foods like MRE's, and drastically improved topographical maps would offer Allen's group advantages that previous expeditions lacked. At the same time, this team would also face perils that previous expeditions did not face. Not just “objectionable mammals, reptiles and insects” inhabit the Darien Gap. The proposed route would take the travelers though territory contested by the Columbian Army, Communist guerillas, drug cartels and right wing militias.
Who are the team members?
54 year old Allen Stanion of Greenville, SC, is a power industry Instrumentation & Controls Engineer and Department Manager, and has been an off road enthusiast, an ocean mariner, and an adventurist for 25 years. A US Navy destroyer veteran, Allen originated the 2016 Darien Gap Expedition. For him, the Darien Gap is the Mount Everest of off roading, and this challenge is history in the making. He would like to beat Mark Smith’s 30 day record of crossing of the Darien Gap, set in 1979.
33 year old Colombian American Frank Diaz works as a Network Operations Center Manager in Ashburn, VA. He has been a Land Cruiser enthusiast his whole life and has done countless off road expeditions in Colombia and continues to off road here in the US. Frank has roots in Colombia and many useful contacts.
21 year old Joe Tarnow, from Milan, IL, is in his final year of study to earn his mechanical engineering degree. His main interests lie in engine design and kinematic systems. He has worked on Land Cruisers with his father since he was old enough to hold a flashlight. An Eagle Scout, he loves anything and everything to do with the outdoors. He loves to combine camping and off road adventure. For him, crossing the Darien in Land Cruisers would be the fulfillment of a life long dream.
45 year old Kurt Williams is from Salt Lake City, UT, and has owned Land Cruisers since he was 15. Kurt owns a retailer of new, used and aftermarket Toyota Land Cruiser parts. Kurt is a mechanical engineer who specializes in automotive design and fabrication. Kurt has competed professionally in the United Rock Crawling and Off Road Challenge Series (UROC), and the Old School Rock Crawl. He finished the Baja 1000 and has traveled all over the globe in Land Cruisers.
Please read on...
“Through the Darien Gap”
Allen Stanion, a Toyota Land Cruiser enthusiast, plans to cross from Panama into Columbia through the Darien Gap with 3 fellow expedition members, in 1985-1986 diesel powered Toyota Land Cruisers. Nobody has traversed the Darien Gap via 4 wheel drive vehicle since 1979, when Mark Smith, an ex-U.S. Marine, completed the journey in 30 days with 5 CJ-7 Jeeps. In 1972, a British expedition, led by Major John Blashford-Snell traversed the Darien Gap in 100 days, driving 2 new Range Rovers.
What is the Darien Gap? “The Darien Gap or El Tapon – “The Stopper” is a severe and swamping rain forest jungle of 250 miles (400 kilometers), almost impossible to cross with any vehicle. In this jungle there are no roads, no bridges, no continuous tracks other than those the Indian knows. The whole area is jungle, swamp and rivers, inhabited by a selection of objectionable mammals, reptiles and insects.” (80 Day Race website, 80dr.com)
Technologies like GPS and satellite phones, dried foods like MRE's, and drastically improved topographical maps would offer Allen's group advantages that previous expeditions lacked. At the same time, this team would also face perils that previous expeditions did not face. Not just “objectionable mammals, reptiles and insects” inhabit the Darien Gap. The proposed route would take the travelers though territory contested by the Columbian Army, Communist guerillas, drug cartels and right wing militias.
Who are the team members?
54 year old Allen Stanion of Greenville, SC, is a power industry Instrumentation & Controls Engineer and Department Manager, and has been an off road enthusiast, an ocean mariner, and an adventurist for 25 years. A US Navy destroyer veteran, Allen originated the 2016 Darien Gap Expedition. For him, the Darien Gap is the Mount Everest of off roading, and this challenge is history in the making. He would like to beat Mark Smith’s 30 day record of crossing of the Darien Gap, set in 1979.
33 year old Colombian American Frank Diaz works as a Network Operations Center Manager in Ashburn, VA. He has been a Land Cruiser enthusiast his whole life and has done countless off road expeditions in Colombia and continues to off road here in the US. Frank has roots in Colombia and many useful contacts.
21 year old Joe Tarnow, from Milan, IL, is in his final year of study to earn his mechanical engineering degree. His main interests lie in engine design and kinematic systems. He has worked on Land Cruisers with his father since he was old enough to hold a flashlight. An Eagle Scout, he loves anything and everything to do with the outdoors. He loves to combine camping and off road adventure. For him, crossing the Darien in Land Cruisers would be the fulfillment of a life long dream.
45 year old Kurt Williams is from Salt Lake City, UT, and has owned Land Cruisers since he was 15. Kurt owns a retailer of new, used and aftermarket Toyota Land Cruiser parts. Kurt is a mechanical engineer who specializes in automotive design and fabrication. Kurt has competed professionally in the United Rock Crawling and Off Road Challenge Series (UROC), and the Old School Rock Crawl. He finished the Baja 1000 and has traveled all over the globe in Land Cruisers.
Organizer
Allen Stanion
Organizer
Greenville, SC
