Rhys goes for Mississippi adventure (From This is Hampshire)

Rhys goes for Mississippi adventure

9:46am Thursday 6th March 2008

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By Gareth Lewis »

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HE has conquered the highest peaks on all seven continents and survived an expedition across the Arctic wastes.

Now fearless Hampshire mountaineer Rhys Jones has unveiled his latest ambitious adventure - messing about in boats on the river.

But with whirlpools, fierce white water and fiercer crocodiles, this is no ordinary river cruise.

Rhys, 21, together with dad Alan, 61, plans to navigate the length of the mighty Missouri- Mississippi in the US in an environmentally- friendly boat made entirely out of paper.

The pair plan to journey 3,700 miles over three months on North America's longest river, from Montana in the very north of the US to New Orleans on the south coast.

Using minimal glue, their boat will be fashioned from special paper similar to thematerial used in fruit juice cartons.

The idea grew out of his dad's book on the Japanese art of origami, says Rhys.

"My dad is a professional armchair adventurer," he said. "After seeing me jet off he wanted to do something for himself and I thought I can't let the old man off on his own. My dad got an origami book for Christmas and had a Eureka moment. I thought he was going a bit mad, but I said it would be fun.

"It's a challenge to see if it can be done. There's a lot of uncertainty around this project.

Everyone knows you can sail around the world but no one knows if you can sail 4,000 miles in a paper boat.

"It's certainly a bit different and it's environmentally friendly and if we can bear to see it chopped up, we'll even put the boat in a recycling bin."

He is now embarking on the hunt to fund £25,000 sponsorship to turn the expedition, which has already interested a number of TV production companies, into a reality.

Rhys, from Bartley in the New Forest, hit the headlines when he celebrated his 20th birthday on the summit of Mount Everest, making him the youngest person ever to climb the seven highest summits on each of the world's seven continents.

Rhys was speaking at the launch of the Business 2 Business Show at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton. Click here to read more.

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