Meet the People’s Choice Adventurers of the Year

“Without adventure you are not feeling real life.”
 – Sano Babu Sunuwar

We couldn’t agree more. The votes—nearly 72,000 of them—are in, and we are honored to announce that you chose Sano Babu Sunuwar and Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa as the 2012 People’s Choice Adventurers of the Year. The Nepali duo’s Ultimate Descent expedition to climb Everest, paraglide down, and kayak down the Ganges to the Indian Ocean truly embodies the spirit of adventure.

There were no corporate sponsors or social media blitzes behind their win. These underdogs managed to reach the goal of a lifetime with borrowed gear and a bare-bones budget. As an old adage reminds us, sometimes the best things (vision, creativity, friendship, audacity) are free — and can even make us extraordinary.

See expedition photos, then read their story and watch the video.