ADVENTURE MAGAZINE WRITER ROBERT YOUNG PELTON IN TRANSIT TO U.S.

NEW YORK (Jan. 24, 2003)-National Geographic ADVENTURE magazine contributing editor and columnist Robert Young Pelton, 47, was safely released Thursday by the right-wing paramilitary group that detained him and two traveling companions near the Colombia-Panama border earlier this week. Pelton is currently in transit to meet with Colombian authorities, the U.S. Consulate and the Canadian Consulate (he holds dual citizenship). After the debriefings, he plans to fly to the United States. Pelton's wife, Linda, has heard from officials at the U.S. and Canadian embassies that he is doing well, "Robert is fine and healthy and looking forward to coming home as soon as he can," she said. Pelton was on assignment in the region for ADVENTURE magazine, reporting on traveling the Darien Gap, reputedly the most lawless stretch of land in the Americas.

"ADVENTURE is always on the lookout for exciting and insightful stories," says Editor in Chief John Rasmus. "When Robert told us he was about to travel to one of the wildest places in the Americas, we were anxious to get his first-hand account. As it turns out, he apparently found himself in an extraordinary set of circumstances. While we were very concerned for him, we also knew how resourceful and experienced he is in situations like these. Once we knew he was safe from the immediate danger, we were pretty confident that he'd come out of it unscathed. We're relieved that he and his group are OK, and we're looking forward to Robert's story."

Last year, while on assignment for National Geographic ADVENTURE in Afghanistan, Pelton was able to gain access to John Walker Lindh, the "American Taliban," an interview that CNN broadcast in a worldwide exclusive and which first appeared in print in ADVENTURE's March 2002 issue. Pelton also produces and hosts the highly rated television series: "Robert Young Pelton's The World's Most Dangerous Places."

Pelton has personally interviewed elusive, wanted and/or dangerous rebel leaders in Colombia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Sierra Leone, southern Philippines and other hot spots.

He is the author of "The World's Most Dangerous Places" (HarperResource), now in its fifth edition, as well as "Come Back Alive" (Broadway), a humorous survival guide for the terrified traveler, "The Adventurist" (Broadway), a candid autobiography, and "The Hunter, The Hammer and Heaven" (Lyons Press).

Pelton is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in London and lives in Los Angeles.

ADVENTURE magazine, winner of two 2002 National Magazine Awards, for General Excellence and Personal Service, was launched in spring 1999 to serve an audience of active, adventurous readers and to expand the National Geographic Society's mission of exploration and discovery into the new century. Published 10 times a year, the magazine is available by subscription (800-NGS-LINE) and on newsstands in the United States ($3.95) and Canada ($5.95).

Adventure's Web site is at www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure; AOL Keyword: NatGeo.

Contact: Caryn Davidson
+1 212 790 9032
+1 917 273-5792 (cell)
cdavidso@ngs.org

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